Stop Worrying About How Until You Get To Yes!

4 Comments

I just got off the phone with a client who is preparing to leave her job. She already has a part-time position lined up and is wondering what to do with the two other weekdays that she’ll have available.

As we explored some options I noticed that every time she came up with an idea that perked up her excitement, she immediately went into figuring out how to make it work. Instantly her enthusiasm vanished as she allowed herself to become overwhelmed by all the reasons why it wouldn’t work.

The excitement and enthusiasm and potential inherent in her ideas and dreams were quashed within seconds of their birth. There was no room to explore the possibilities and play with the dreams and imagine what could be.

She was getting to no before ever getting close to yes!

So I told her to stop worrying about how until she got to yes. We created a space within which she could explore ideas without needed to figure out the how. The how could come later if, in fact, she did take one or more of the ideas to yes.

Most of us tend to jump into the how far too soon. We throw a wet towel over our blossoming ideas and squelch the excitement and enthusiasm that any project will need to succeed.

Do you give yourself space to dream, to imagine, to explore ideas without limits? Do you create time on a regular basis to play and brainstorm and have fun?

Michael Gerber, author of the The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, borrowed an idea from Walt Disney, when he created The Dreaming Room. It’s a place and time where people go to dream their biggest dreams without putting the fetters of what is possible upon them.

What big dreams might you come up with if you let yourself go into the Dreaming Room?

I’d love to hear some of your big dreams. Leave a comment below and let us know!

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Dreams, Inspiration, Productivity 

Five Things My Grandchildren Will Say To Me

3 Comments

I love this meme that Joanne, at the Nourished Blog began a few weeks ago. When working with the Law of Attraction, we often speak of envisioning the future we want. This meme brings those visions of a positive into such clear focus.

What will my grandchildren say to me? What future do I choose to envision for them (and for me) and therefore empower with my thoughts and feelings?

The beauty of this exercise is that – for me – it happens far enough in the future, that I can dream big. My daughter is only three, so I have at least 2-decades before I’ll be hearing these things.

I can’t wait! Here they are.

  1. “Guess what Grandpa! I’m getting an ‘A’ in my Attraction class.”
  2. “Grandpa, will you take me backpacking with you this summer?” (Yeah, I know. This could happen right now. But it’s most definitely one of the things I want my grandchildren to say to me. After all, some things won’t change no matter how much the world changes!)
  3. “I’ll drive now, Grandpa.” (This is a five year old talking. And it’s possible because, while many people still have family cars – hydrogen fueled – the freeways have one or more autopilot lanes that “drive” your car for you. When you are ready to exit, you take over manual control and exit the autopilot lane. And you know that five-year-olds love to drive – even on autopilot!)
  4. “Please Grandpa, can you tell me again about what happened when the oil ran out, and how everyone cooperated like never before and worked together to make all the big changes? I love that story.”
  5. “I’m so glad you’re my grandpa.” “And I sure am glad that you’re my grandson/daughter!” (Here again, some things will never change).

Those are my five things. And again, I want to thank Joanne for beginning this meme. It is a truly powerful exercise.

I’ll give a friendly tag to some folks I would REALLY like to hear from:

Another nudge to Brian Johnson at Zaadz (Joanne gave him a first tag).
No Impact Man (If you haven’t been following him, I highly recommend you do).
Robert at the Sustainability blog (a relatively local blogger I’ve recently discovered).
Marianne Williamson
Paulo Coelho (Ok, maybe great-grandchildren!)
Dave Taylor (Wearing his Attachment Parenting hat).
Wendy Piersall our friendly neighborhood emom!
Darren Rowse. (He’s a new father, so maybe he’ll play along with this one).

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Dreams, Inspiration, Law of Attraction 

Gotta Get Goals or The Grandest Version Of The Greatest Vision I’ve Ever Had

11 Comments

Alex Shalman at Practical Personal Development has initiated a new personal development meme. (Well, it’s not so new anymore, since this post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a couple of weeks)! This one is called “Gotta Get Goals.”Here is what Alex says about Gotta Get Goals:

“In a new blog post, list and write about the top 5 to 10 goals that you gotta’ get so that you can truly say you have achieved your wildest dreams in life. These have to be your best, most exclusive, and over-the-top goals that you can pick off your goals list.”

I need to acknowledge that I have a bit of a semantic problem with the term “goals.” Personally, I equate goals with the specific smaller steps you take along the journey to achieving your “wildest dreams.” When I think goals, I think SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-based).

When I hear “wildest dreams,” on the other hand, I think in terms of my life vision. The phrase “the grandest version of the greatest vision I’ve ever had,” that Neale Donald Walsch speaks of in his Conversations with God books comes to mind.

I don’t want my grand life vision to be SMART! I want a life vision that will draw out the biggest and best in me, and do so for a long time to come!

So how to approach this meme? Goals or dreams? SMART or outrageous? How about a compromise?

Here are a few of the long-term visions for my life, intentions that I will create within the next 6-months to 5-years.

Here they are:

  1. Grow my Law of Attraction/Personal Development Training Company into a million dollar a year company by positively transforming the lives of thousands of people through seminars, retreats and products.
  2. Write and publish two or more highly successful personal development books. Pretty self-explanatory.
  3. Achieve Total Financial Freedom: Financial freedom is not an end to itself. Rather, achieving total financial freedom – meaning that I never MUST work again – is a clear indication that I have fully aligned with the natural state of abundance that is my – and everyone’s – birthright. And it gives me the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever and wherever I choose. I like that!
  4. Lead An Environmentally Neutral (or even generative) Life: I consider myself to be a steward of this Earth. As such, I choose to walk with the lightest possible footprints. Unfortunately, we live in a culture and at a time when ecological neutrality, not to mention generativity, is hard to come by. One of my “wildest dreams” will become reality when my actions have a net-neutral (or even positive) impact on the sustainability of this planet.
  5. Have unfettered access to the wild mountains and the warm ocean: Nature is where I go to recharge and reflect. My “dream” life absolutely includes lots of time in and near wild places. This intention is still open in the specific form it will take. Will I own a cabin in the Sierras and on a beautiful tropical beach, or will I rent vacation homes in various places around the world? Not sure yet. I’ll keep you posted!

Now it’s your turn. If you have a blog, go ahead and post your biggest intentions, grandest goals and wildest dreams.

If you don’t have a blog, feel free to use the comments here to share your “Gotta Get Goals!”

I’m going to tag the following folks. Yes, many of you have probably been tagged already. (I told you, this post has been sitting in my drafts folder for two-weeks).

Dan and Jennifer – together or separate – of askdanandjennifer.com

My friend Niya – who still hasn’t responded to one of my tags. But that’s ok, I’ll keep trying!

Gleb Reys of Personal Development Ideas. I bet he has some great goals.

Lyman Reed at Creating a Better Life.

Raymond David Salas of ZenChill

Pam at Make The Most of You.

Steve Johnson at The Fast Lane

Noel Kingsley at Noel’s Blog

Richard Lemon at Mindplunge

And I’m going to tag the last 10 blogs that have linked to Evolving Times. I truly appreciate your links. So jump in and share your Gotta Get Goals.

Keeping the Secret
Attraction Hacker
Build Your Life To Order
Let’s Change The World
Working At Home On The Internet
Insider Weblog
Creating Abundant Lifestyles
Living Treasures
The Secret Bank
Real Opinionated

Well that’s probably a good list.

What about you? What are your Gotta Get Goals? If you’re a blogger, go ahead and post them. You don’t have to wait until you’re tagged.

And if you don’t have a blog, leave a comment with your Gotta Get Goals.

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Deliberate Creation, Desires, Dreams, Intentions 

Spring Is Right Around The Corner: Are You Ready?

2 Comments

Ok. You caught me. I got that headline from a post on Ken McCarthy’s System blog. Ken, in turn, got it from an unmentioned seed catalog company. But wherever it’s from, it’s a great headline, and a great question to ask yourself.

Are you ready for Spring?

Have you noticed that the days are getting longer? I really noticed it the other day. On my way out of the office at the end of the day, I realized that I didn’t have to turn the lights off because I hadn’t needed to turn them on!

This is the time of awakening. Within the cycles of the Earth and the seasons, this is the time that we begin to bring our visions into form. In theory, we have used the last few weeks of darkness to clarify and focus our visions and intentions. And now, like a thoroughbred horse waiting for the starting gate to open, we get to jump into inspired action.

I love this time of year!

So back to the question. Are you ready for Spring? Have you done your homework? Have you clarified and focused your vision so that you know where you are heading now that the starting gate is about to open?

If yes, congratulations. Enjoy the ride on your way to your clear vision.

If not, it’s not too late. Here are a few Evolving Times posts that can help you create a clear compelling vision:

See The Forest And The Trees
Dreaming Big Living Large in 2007
I Have A Dream – Martin Luther King and the Law of Attraction

And here are some great posts from elsewhere:

Knowing Where You Want To Be from Personal Development Ideas

Envision Success Like IBM Founder Tom Watson Sr. on Life coaches blog.

These should get you started. I’ll look forward to seeing you on down the road a ways!

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Deliberate Creation, Desires, Dreams, Inspiration 

Goals Belief and Determination

3 Comments

Steve over at the Fast Lane has an entry on the Two Ingredients Absolutely Essential To Success. His two ingredients are goals and belief.

I completely agree with Steve on this. However, goals and belief, on their own, will not get you to your destination. They will not propel you through those moments of doubt. Goals and belief will not propel you through the storms of doubt and across the chasms of fear that arise on your journey.

You need something to fuel your journey.

As Edison said, genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. That same formula can be applied to success. You need the inspiration to create the spark, to get you going, but it’s the perspiration that comes from taking action every day that gets you to your destination.

Goals and belief are absolutely essential to success, but so to is determination, and the willingness to take focused, inspired action, even when every bone in your body would rather be out playing.

It’s interesting that on my way back to the office after this morning’s networking meeting I was listening to Peter Gabriel’s song, Don’t Give Up.

Could that be other essential ingredient to success? You’ve got your goal.  You have the belief (most of the time). Now are you willing to not give up?

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Desires, Dreams, Inspiration, Intentions 

I Have A Dream Martin Luther King and the Law of Attraction

7 Comments

martin luther kingYesterday we celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When I think of this great man, I hear the words from his inspiring speech in Washington DC, “I have a dream”

This man understood the Law of Attraction. He knew that a vision, if held firmly, consistently and clearly, could influence those around him and shift the very fabric of the physical universe.

Martin Luther King dreamed himself a dream and he made it real, first within himself, and then, slowly, in the world around him. This dream of equality for African Americans here in the US, a dream that to those around him must have seemed, at first, impossible, became so real for him that the he attracted men and women of all colors and religions to help him spread this dream. Martin Luther King believed his dream with such strength, determination and courage that, ultimately, he “infected” millions of others with his dream.

And while the man has passed on from this physical world, his dream continues to grow. And we continue to stumble towards the reality he envisioned in which all men and women truly are created equal, a reality in which people are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

In his speech he said, “With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”

This is the power and the hope of the Law of Attraction. This is why I feel so much hope when I see the Law of Attraction being talked about on Larry King Live and discussed in grocery stores and office lunch-rooms.

The jangling discords we feel in this county today, are not so different from those present when Martin Luther King was spreading his dream. And those of us who are studying and integrating the Law of Attraction into our lives have the chance to “be the change we wish to see.” to borrow from another great visionary.

I too, have a dream. And I know that many others already share this dream.

I have a dream that one day, all women and all men will know that the power to create their lives comes, not from outside of themselves, but from within.

I have a dream that, one day, all of our children will be allowed to remember the great power of creation they bring to this physical world and will be taught to use this power with clarity, integrity and joy.

And I have a dream that, one day, when enough of us have embodied the limitless, co-creative powers that live within us, we will gather together to generate an unstoppable force, a dream and a vision that will lead us towards a reality of peace, prosperity and joy for all who choose to join us.

My dream is not so eloquently stated as Dr. King’s. My dream is not yet so clear and powerful as his. And yet, this dream is real. This dream and this vision lives, not just in me, but in all who believe in the power of co-creation, who believe in the limitless potential within each one of us and who believe in the power of the Law of Attraction to lead us towards the creation of this vision.

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Deliberate Creation, Dreams, Inspiration, Law of Attraction 

Dream Interpretation And The Law Of Attraction

Leave a Comment

Do you pay attention to your dreams? In the book, Ask And It Is Given, one of the “processes” is Evaluating Dreams. According to Abraham-Hicks, Dreams are a reflection of our deeper levels of attraction and may provide a glimpse into what we are in the process of manifesting.

This morning I woke from a dream in which I was the guest conductor of an orchestra performing a Beethoven Sonata. All was going well until the moment I was about to step up to the podium and realized I had never conducted an orchestra, had no idea how to read all of the complex lines of music, and had, in fact, never even heard this particular piece of music.

I was not prepared and couldn’t even fake it. So I did what any unprepared guest conductor would do…I went to the bathroom!

Of course, that only made things worse as it gave me time to explore the full depth of my situation and realize exactly how far up the creek I had gotten myself.

I don’t often remember my dreams with such clarity, so this morning, I took some time to evaluate this dream. Here’s what I came up with.

The obvious interpretation is that I need to prepare more. There is definitely truth to this. I am excellent at “winging it” I have, at times, put off developing curriculum for classes until the last day. This is an example of taking “ready, fire, aim” to the extreme. (The interesting thing is that some of my best classes have been almost completely spontaneous. Go figure!)

While the value the students receive from these last minute classes is still quite high, I know that I could provide even more value by preparing more fully.

On a more symbolic level we need to look at the word Sonata. I didn’t realize this when I woke up, but Sonatas, at least Beethoven’s, are works for solo instruments not for orchestras (music scholars, let’s not quibble over Sonata vs. Sonata Form). Many of Beethoven’s Sonatas were sketches or previews of his orchestral works. Many of the musical themes from his Sonatas show up in later works.

So in the dream, I was preparing to conduct a complete orchestra in a work for a single musician. Here’s my initial interpretation of this symbolism.

I have most of my “inner musicians” in place and they are ready and waiting to perform together. But I still insist on being one of the musicians. It’s more comfortable for me to blend in with the musicians than it is to stand up on the podium and lead the orchestra.

The message of this interpretation is that, as one of the musicians in this orchestra, I can only play a single instrument at a time. Sure, I can do that quite well, and create beautiful music. But if I step up to the conductor’s podium, I have the power to weave the music from all of these instruments together into a great symphony.

If, as Abraham-Hicks contends, this dream is an indication and preview of what is manifesting in my life, clearly, it is time for me to step up to the podium.

As I do so, it will be important for me to keep the other lesson in mind: be fully prepared so that when the time comes to take the stage, I will be ready.

Posted by Edward Mills | Filed Under Dreams, Law of Attraction, Personal Growth 

« Previous Page