Illness-A Good Test For Living The Secret

Apologies...Where Did the Time Go?

I can't beleive it's been almost a month since my last blog. With a very ill spouse coming home from a 2-week hospital stay, the month of January went by with what seemed to be no time to do very much including blogging- something I do enjoy. Maintaining a full-time job and nursing a spouse through a long term recovery has been exhaustive both emotionally and physically. Thank goodness I was able to embrace and live The Secret at this time.

This certainly did raise a number of questions ...How do you live The Secret when burdened with illness - your own or someone close to you ? How do you keep yourself in the right place and feeling good despite what is actually happening? For me it meant focusing on what was going right- focusing on every bit of improvement, appreciating that my husband was out of the hospital and out of danger, being thankful for all those friends and family who were their for us and how wonderful they were... It meant acknowledging the fear, anxiety, the 'sinking' feeling of not being able to fix the situation (its called powerlessness) and the exhaustion. Finally it meant 'letting go' and replacing these thoughts and feelings with all the good things mentioned above; that is sifting through what is to find the positive and never losing sight of what you want. I knew I had a choice and I deliberately chose it- hard work- yes... but it does work. Joanne

The Secret To Keeping Your New Year's Resolution

Every year millions of people (actually about 75% of us in the USA) make New Year's resolutions. However, whether its losing weight; going to a gym; quitting smoking; finding peace or reconnecting with someone..., the overwhelming majority of resolutions made are not kept. In fact, after the first few weeks of the new year most are forgotten and or given up on. But this doesn't have to be so. Make this the year that you actually achieve that resolution. The key is to FOCUS on it so that it becomes a dominate thought. Remember, you are a powerful creator and you can be, do or have whatever you want. Here are 4 simple steps to make it happen:

1. WRITE IT DOWN like any goal and why you want it, to intensify your desire. Put it on an index card next to your bed and read it to yourself morning and night. Write it in your journal and your thoughts about it nightly. An affirmation can be constructed that you can use daily. Talk to your friends about it.
2. CREATIVELY VISUALIZE it happening; you have achieved it. See yourself smoke-free or in a store shopping for a dress three sizes smaller.... Most important is to believe it and feel the emotion that accompanies your success.
3. DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN when the inspiration comes and it will. Again write it down and follow your plan consciously and deliberately.
4. PERSEVERE... don't give up... it will be yours. Keep yourself in a positive, joyous state until it unfolds in front of you.
Peace, Joy and Blessings for 2008.

Our Wishes For You This New Year

May your heart always finish first.
May your desires outweigh your fears.
And may tomorrow's prospects overshadow today's
hardships.

-Arrica Rose (www.myspace.com/arricarose)