This time I want to share with you how all the components of an inspired life are connected, specifically how to receive undeniable guidance.  Yesterday was one of those days which I would NOT consider living an inspired life (April 30, 2010).  I woke up feeling awful – I attracted a cold from my lack of sleep and the change of seasons.  So if I had to choose a feeling on the feelings scale we talked about it would be #10 frustration/irritation/impatience and #11 – overwhemlment.  These feelings stayed with me for the day and my day was a result of all these things.  And the worst part is that my energy (lack of it) affected all those around me – my four boys, husband included.  In fact at the end of the night he said that my lack of energy was wearing off on him, which this is rarely the case as I intentionally focus on living out the higher feelings on the scale (optimism, gratitude, love).  So this means that my thoughts and beliefs were more negative as well since they are a reflection of my feelings.
I spent the day home with the boys and was very impatient with them.  They were whining and not in a good mood either. I had some work projects that I couldn’t focus on that seemed too overwhelming for me to complete. It all kept spiraling down as I keep being more reactive and negative.  I knew it was happening and yet it was hard for me to change it all when I knew that I needed to rest and start over with a fresh day.  I wasn’t myself; this did NOT feel good and I did NOT get positive results that day. So this is what I did. I got a good night’s sleep.  Before I feel asleep – remember how I shared that the last 45 minutes of what we do when we are awake – makes a difference in what we subconsciously think about while sleeping? So going to bed, I prayed sharing my gratitudes with God.  I then consciously said (intended)  that I was going to wake up feeling good and having a GREAT inspired day. I knew and believed I could do this!
I awoke with Garrett in the morning around 5:30/6:00am.  I got up automatically like I use to before I had Garrett (and thus not sleeping through the night). I sat on my favorite chair in the office to do my morning meditation and prayers.  This is one way of how I receive undeniable guidance.  I like to start out my day this way so I’m tapping into my soul to set intentions with my vision and receive divine guidance in doing so first thing in the morning.  So here is one example of what I did. I said the affirmation that I have for my role as a mother: “I am my best and enlightened mother protecting, guiding and loving Gavin, Grant and Garrett unconditionally giving them spiritual roots and inspirational wings.”  I envisioned us having a wonderful day together.  They would treat each other nicely, we would do our special work together. I envisioned that today would be the day I would work with Gavin again to do his mission, vision and values. They would be respectful of me when I had a conference call for work and allow me some working time.  While visualizing this, I felt the feelings of what it’s like when we really connect together and how good it makes us all feel (like my extraordinary day example).  I then was quiet mediating to see if I received any direction for making this happen.  I did receive the idea for using the Book of Virtues movies as my foundation to work with them. Remember how I shared that movies are a motivator in our household? I once heard a speaker share that you have to give your kids what they want (movies) wrapped in what they need (learning).  The Book of Virtues movies is a set of movies that are more faith-based and teach virtues, so it qualified for both of my objectives.  This would help me later with helping form the mission, vision and values part AND know that they are watching something meaningful as their reward. 

So I then shared at breakfast over eggs/bacon (protein to give me energy as I could still feel my cold some) our plan for the day.  That if they did a good job playing and watching Garrett in the room by me while I had my call then they could watch an episode from that movie.
So during my call, Gavin and Grant came up in the office giving me cracker and water to help me on my call, delivering it “with style” using the cover of Tupperware container.  I shared this sweet gesture with my colleague over the phone and he said to cherish it as they will grow up and technology will replace mom.  So I did thank them and continued on with my call.  They continued to pamper me with their food – more crackers, apple, cheese stick, fruit snacks on more Tupperware containers.   Then they even delivered me my favorite – a piece of chocolate.  During this time I also got notes too – lots of I love you mom and hearts.  SO SWEET.  When I got off my call, I heard the swifter on as they were CLEANING. YES CLEANING up the kitchen BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT HAVING ME TO ASK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  I was in awe.  They also informed me that they made their beds AND cleaned up the bathroom, along with tidying up the living room.  The best thing of all is that they had a GREAT attitude like they do when they are playing with their favorite toys. Now all of this cleaning usually takes me asking them over and over and the result is complaining, timeouts and eventually getting it done.  So I was so excited and knew that I was receiving what I had asked, envisioned and felt!!

They then got to watch their movie and experience the first part of the reward.  While they watched, Garrett took his morning nap and I got to do some work (like this) which I wanted to get done today!!  Wow and it’s not even noon yet! The boys have even asked to play by themselves together and are not getting frustrated or fighting with each other.  It felt so wonderful and effortless, something that I could experience each day if I take the time to intend it and follow up with all we’ve learned to believe and receive it.

I had to share with you about my special day today ( Feb. 25, 2010) and how it’s a wonderful example of living an inspired life.  Here’s how it happened.  The night before I was very inspired about having a wonderful, deep conversation with a friend and using God’s gifts his given to be a mentor in that conversation.  Coming home from that conversation that night, I was truly inspired and grateful that my dear friend was willing to share her life with me and I was able to help her not only lighten her load, but also inspire her see to the good that lies ahead. 
So needless to say, when I got on the computer last night, I was on fire.  My hands couldn’t type fast enough as I was connecting with many people via email, getting things done and having ideas flow through me.  My energy level was vibrating on a very high frequency in which I felt so alive and things came effortlessly to me.  For example, when I was looking for some files, I knew just where to find them despite not looking at them for years.  As soon as I formulated a thought in my head, an answer would come for how I should handle it. Even though it was past midnight, time stood still as I was not tired at all. It felt magnificent and I believe set the stage for my next day.
So I got to bed around 1:30am and I continued to wake up a few more times that night with my son of 4 months, Garrett.  While resting in bed, I took the time to be intentional about the upcoming day with my boys.  I said and felt with my whole heart it was going to be the best day we would have together.  I also thought about how I would like to use tomorrow to talk about the second habit, Begin with the End in Mind, from Stephen Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  (FYI:  I committed this year to starting to teach Gavin these habits once he entered Kindergarten.  A friend and colleague who I taught The Seven Habits course to said that “only Janae’s kids would have a mission statement in Kindergarten.”  So of course I’ve needed to live up to this challenge!  He didn’t have it entering Kindergarten, but he will have one leaving it.) I continued to thank God for all he’s given me and felt “tears of joy” that Rhonda Byrne discusses you need to really feel gratitude.  All of these things I was doing and feeling were in fact helping me to be able to receive more blessings the next day.

Little did I know that what I asked for would happen so soon, in fact just a few hours later.  Gavin, my oldest at 6 years of age, comes into our bedroom sometime after 6am to lay with me.  He lays for a bit, but then wants to talk, talk, talk.  Most of the time, it’s about something he’s made up, a funny scène from a show he watched or he asks about our day.  This morning it was totally different, it was about God. Since it was so early in the morning, I thought I was hearing something wrong.  But then he asked a profound question about God and eternal life.  I’m not kidding!  So I really got excited to talk to him about something really important. So this led me into sharing how my dad, grandpa, use to tell me how God had a special purpose for my life.  We then talked about purpose and what that meant.  When I asked him what was the most important thing he could do for himself, he talked about loving God and Jesus.  When I asked what he could do to be the best big brother, he talked about being a good role model.  I thought here we go, we are creating his mission statement! I was so excited. When I asked him to write and draw what he was saying, then he was done. The moment was over.  Back to normal Gavin talk.  Yet I asked for and had the moment – that’s what counts!

But it wasn’t over for me, I was feeling inspired and aware of my intentions from the night before.  By Gavin speaking language that connected with my heart changed, if only for a moment, my whole demeanor with him changed.  It’s hard to explain, but it set the foundation for the whole day for the two of us to vibrate at a higher level.  The three boys and I had a blast making breakfast together – eggs and pancakes.  They wanted to help and we did teamwork to make it all. It was so nice and they were loving, polite and willing to help.  For anyone who has children or are around children 6 and under you know that this kind of attitude isn’t the norm.   Again, my gratitude, love and positiveness for them was heightened.  That is what I attracted – us all being out best selves with each other.
We played a game that Gavin picked out that we never played before.  An adult game called Life Stories.  It’s a wonderful game that encourages storytelling and reminiscing. We had so much fun playing as he could practice his reading and we could also share stories at the same time. He was genuinely interested in hearing my stories about growing up and life lessons to teach him. He focused long enough to finish the game too. Throughout the day I continued to get lots more hugs and “I love you’s” from all three of them, especially my middle son, Grant.  I say it a lot of them, but I know that we could all just feel it.

The boys were excited to go to the library as we hadn’t been there for a long time.  Usually I use this as a reward so I can complete my errands first.  They wanted to go to the library first so I went along with the clear intention about how we were going to act.  Right away Grant says his “no whining, no screaming, no running” speech.  However, I usually get all three of these since this is our focus.  Of course I would since the law of attraction just brings what I asked for.  So today I said, yes that is what we don’t want to see.  What do we want to see and focus on?  We talked about whispering, walking and sitting quietly.  My previous library experience I especially remember getting so frustrated because every time I would try to find a book myself, the boys would be misbehaving (whining/running).  I remember saying that I didn’t want to come back for a bit because of that.  I’m not exaggerating, they were the BEST they have EVER BEEN in the library.  It was so nice and I was able to find multiple books for myself too!  Let me tell you I attracted in just a few minutes so many different books I was hoping to find.

Then I needed to go grocery shopping.  This usually is a stressful experience with one child, let alone three of them. Yet I was confident we would have the best experience like we did with the library. I’ve never had it happen to me to have store employees seek me out like they did today.    I get out of the car and the “cart man” in the parking lot gave a cheerful hello and we exchanged a brief friendly conversation.  He watched the older boys for me while I got Garrett out of the car.  The boys listened so wonderfully and I was able to focus completely on getting groceries verses on discipline.  Again THE BEST they have ever been.  I’m checking out my groceries and the cashier asks if I would like help bagging the groceries.  They don’t do that at Cub unless it’s for a fundraising event.  I said, yes!  Actually this time I didn’t need the help as much as I have in the past when the boys have been out of control.  After she rings me up, she helps me bag.  I’ve never had anyone offer or help in all the years I’ve been shopping there.  Then mysteriously as I’m trying to fit all my grocery bags into an already-stuffed vehicle, a different “cart guy” came to help me. He helped me pack everything into the car.  I’ve been going to Cub for 10+ years and this is the first day I’ve had people approach me without asking to help me.  And not just one person, but three people!

The rest of the afternoon was super too, no fights or complaining about cleaning.  It was wonderful! I was still in awe in how much I could feel and appreciate those little moments of living an inspired life in one ordinary yet extraordinary day.

P.S.  What even makes this day even more extraordinary is that I haven’t had any parts of it repeated again.  My sons have continued to wake me up in the morning talking about anything else but God; I’ve gone to the grocery store multiple times without any additional unsolicited help; and so forth.

Happiness is something that we all want and seem to not be able to get enough of.  What are the latest trends in happiness?  How can you instill within yourself happiness habits?  What does it really take to be happy?  What do happy people do that I don’t?  These are some of the questions and more that I’ll be exploring in these happiness posts.

How do you influence others, whether at work, home or in your community, when you don’t have the authority to do so?  The more and more I study the power of influencing others, the more I believe it’s one of the lifelong skills you should be fostering all the time.  Expert influencer and bestselling author John Maxwell agrees, “If your desire is to be successful or to make a positive impact on your world, you need to become a person of influence.  Without it, there is no success.”  Influence traits, tips and tactics are a few of the key aspects that I’ll be writing about in these posts.

According to many different experts, the importance of gratitude is to key to living a fulfilling life.  While this might seem obvious, very few people actually take the time to work on integrating gratitude into their daily lives.  Examples, studies and gratitude practices are a few of ways that I’ll share with you in these posts on how to cultivate gratitude.

Whatever you want to achieve personally or professionally it is critical that you understand and apply goal-setting and effective planning strategies.  I’ll share with you in these posts a variety of goal-setting techniques and tactics to help you accomplish your dreams.  Those who intentionally have a strategic plan in all areas of their lives are those that tend to make it closer to accomplishing their goals even though things don’t always go as planned.

One of the most important ways to deepen what’s most important in our life, is to strenghten your faith.  In these posts I’ll highlight ways that myself and others use to grow our faith and become more spiritually enlightened.

The intent of the posts is to give you creative ideas and meaningful resources for ways to celebrate those important people and occassions in your life.  Whatever the milestone is taht you want to celebrate – whether it’s honoring the birth of a baby or someone’s retirement, you’ll be inspired with examples of how to do make these celebrations memorable to all who are involved.

With these posts I’ll be sharing with you ways to gain a deeper appreciation for your life, work and those you connect with.  It is my hope that you’ll learn the power of appreciation so that you and others will benefit from the many rewards appreciation brings.