Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about 20 minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ‘ Tell me what you see.’ 

’Carrots, eggs, and coffee,’ she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. 

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, ‘What does it mean, mother?’

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? 

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. 

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

You might want to share this story with those who help you to see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life. 

May we all be COFFEE–strong, stimulating and awake to the joys that are in our live every day.

Get good at living!

I wanted to share a simple and powerful idea to help you appreciate the abundance in your life so you can learn to attract it in other areas where you desire it–friendships, health, clients, finances, etc..

Here’s how it works. Make it a practice to recognize the abundance that already surrounds you each day and celebrate it. As you feel your sense of appreciation grow, ask that the fullness you feel be shared by everyone in the world. Then keep expanding your vision of abundance so you begin see it everywhere you go.

I’ve found it helps to affirm this idea and have made it a part of my daily practice. This works to train my brain to see what’s already present, expands my sense of gratitude and helps me to create a positive mindset. Here’s what I read and feel each AM & PM:

I am filled with joy as I see and appreciate the abundance that surrounds me every day. I ask that this energy and perspective be shared by everyone to create more happiness in the world. Brimming over!

I have tell you…it works. I’ve felt the power of this idea in action. It makes me feel happier and more content. And it’s helped me to see beauty in the moment.

Just last weekend I saw my neighbor’s pumpkin stand with fresh eyes and stopped with my daughter (Kate) and her friend (Skyla). As we picked out our pumpkins, we experienced abundance on two levels–variety and number. More importantly, we met Wes. He told us about his harvest and how he came to grow so many different types of pumpkins, apples and raspberries. This week we’re going back to pick fresh raspberries. (Who knew there were white raspberries?)

I encourage you to practice seeing abundance in your life and give thanks for all you have. It feels great and it’s a simple way to get good at living.

Keep expecting the best!

Maryanne

As we made our way to Hana, winding through an amazing rain forest, we made several stops to see the eucalyptus trees, waterfalls, black sand beaches and swim in the natural pools. We took our time exploring and taking in all of the incredible beauty as the locals sped past us to their destinations. It was a powerful reminder of how easy it is to take things for granted that we see and experience every day–no matter how spectacular they may have seemed at first.

I quickly recognized how much had become wallpaper in my life. I made a list of all of the people, experiences, places and gifts that I’ve inadvertently started to take for granted and decided to remedy this situation. I’ve expanded my daily practice to include a reminder to look at the world with fresh eyes each day. To make sure I anchor this perspective, I’ve written a goal that I affirm each day as a positive reminder to stay awake and fully appreciate all that’s fabulous in my life.

I encourage you to do the same. Spend five minutes right now and take an inventory, reflecting on all of the aspects of your life. What have you started to take for granted? What do you rush by and overlook as you focus on your next destination? Then, commit to appreciating the beauty and gifts that are present each day. Remind yourself to enjoy the journey that is life.
Get good at living,

Maryanne

Here’s a simple and profound insight–What you tolerate will not change.

So, if you’d like to find yourself complaining less and feeling more energized, take a look at what you’ve been tolerating and address it. It’s those everyday annoyances that sap your energy and creates the low-level stress that makes life harder than it needs to be. And who needs that?

Here are a few tips to help you move into action.
1. Make a list of life’s little annoyances–home & work.
2. Start small. Tackle an easy issue and keep going.
3. Feel & appreciate the positive energy returning.

Here’s to creating positive life skills that make life easier, happier and joy-filled!

Get good at living,
Maryanne

We also know that we create new cells every day. How we feel creates the polarity in these cells. And the polarity of our cells creates our predominate way of being. This means that we can expand and create who we are in 3 months (that’s how long it takes to replace every cell in our body). Amazing, huh?

What I love about science is that it proves that the investment you make in yourself pays off. So, Spiral Up today and commit to creating positive changes in your life. Here are a few small steps you can put into action right now to stay positive and build momentum. Go!

• Find 3 things to be grateful for right now. Feel it!
• Breathe. Take 3 deep breaths, exhale and release.
• Meditate. Find the peace and joy in being still.
• Move your body. Do something physical and shift your energy.
• Keep your language positive. Focus on what you want.
• Reframe challenges. Look for and expect the best.

Keep expecting the best,

Maryanne

I’ve had a habit of over scheduling for as long as I can remember. I’m a high achiever, pretty social (okay, that’s an understatement) and have always loved to maximize every moment. However, as life seems to gain speed each day and my responsibilities increase, I’m finding I no longer enjoy being booked day and night. So, I’m learning to dissolve this habit by setting boundaries for myself and saying “no” more often. And it’s paying off.

Knowing that summer is a time I can easily try to pack too much in, I wrote goal on June 1st around creating space this summer and easily flowing through each day, feeling energized, happy and satisfied. So far, so good. I’ve been experimenting with different ideas and wanted to share two that are working quite well.

1. ON, OFF, PREP days. I schedule my days and protect my time. ON days are when I’m out leading Live Dynamite sessions or meeting with clients. OFF days are 100% work-free days, no emails, no voicemials…nada. And PREP days are just that–days where I prepare to be either ON or OFF.

2. JUST SAY “NO!” Before I automatically accept every invitation, I move into Pause & Reflect mode. I ask myself three questions and feel my way through it 1) Is this a valuable way to spend my time? 2) Does saying “yes” align with what matters most to me? and 3) How will I feel if I say yes/no? This discernment process has made it much easier to say “no.” The saying “no” part is still a bit challenging, but I do it. And it feels great knowing that I’m making the right decision for me.

I’m not saying it’s always easy put these ideas into action. In fact, most days it requires I draw upon all of my discipline and focus to do so. What keeps me going are the results. I’m accomplishing more and staying focused on my goals. I have more time to relax with my family and friends. And I’m breathing easier.

Setting boundaries is a life skill I’m committed to mastering and so I practice at it every day. I encourage you to look at where you would benefit from setting a few boundaries and give it a try. Experience how good it feels to do what matters most.

Get good at living!

Maryanne

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.”
–Jim Rohn

Yes, genuine appreciation is one of life’s greatest gifts. It has the power to quickly snap you out of a bad mood. It creates loads of positive energy. And it makes you smile. What’s better than that?

Experience gratitude and you’ll see what I mean. Really, try it. Make a list of everything you have to be grateful for. See how good it feels to really appreciate what you already have. It’s powerful.

Want to give the gift of gratitude? It’s easy. Simply go back to your list and expand it to include all of the people you appreciate. Then go out and tell them. Let them know they matter. Be specific and give them reasons why you’re grateful they’re in your life. It feels great!

Make it a habit and you’ll have a new life skill that smoothes the edges each day. Learn to live with gratitude and keep expanding your list. When you find you’re feeling crabby pull it out and read it–out loud. You’ll feel the energy shift.

Here are three ideas to help you easily expand your gratitude practice and keep it fresh.
1. Engage your senses. Pick one of your six senses (I include intuition) and discover what you appreciate through that sense all day.
2. Reframe a challenge and find the silver lining. Look for best…it’s always there.
3. Become mindful of all you take for granted. Appreciate the everyday things that go right, like the fact your car starts, you have a hot shower and electricity…you get the idea.

Know that our Live Dynamite gratitude practice includes all of you who are willing to make positive changes. This is how we will all thrive and shine. Join in. And keep getting good at living.

Expecting the best,
Maryanne

I’d heard the question a thousand times, “How do you invest your time?” It’s always seemed like a valuable question, but one I’d never pondered too deeply.

Then one day this simple question hit me as truly profound. I suddenly saw time as this valuable commodity; a limited natural resource. One that cannot be expanded and so must be wisely invested and preciously guarded.

This led me to create a new weekly ritual–a time success review. I’ve found it to be simple and profound. And goes like this.

First, I set a goal for how I want to invest my time. I keep the buckets pretty big. And I think about it in terms of percentages, including both my personal and professional time investments.
1. Creating and refining my vision. (20%)
2. Building relationships. (40%)
3. Tasks/getting it done. (40%)

Next, I make it a practice to review my calendar each Sunday and look at how well I hit my goal. I look for where I made great progress, felt energized, inspired and maximized my time. I also see where I wasted time, procrastinated, allowed distractions to pull me off course. I ask myself what I’d do again knowing what my time investment actually produced.

Sometimes I like what I see. Other times I cringe that I invested in areas where there was no return. (That’s when I move into daily review mode). Either way, I learn and move forward with new insights. I then look at the week ahead and apply what I’ve learned. I make adjustments to ensure I’m investing wisely. And I recommit to hitting my goals next week.

This week I’m feeling extremely good about how I invested my time. I hit my goal. And I clearly see that the time I’ve spent visioning and building relationships has yielded focus, insights and happiness that will make me even more effective this week.

It’s true that sometimes you have to slow down to go faster. And so I highly encourage you create your own weekly success review. See what more you can learn about yourself. It’s all good!

Expect the best,
Maryanne

A Dog’s Purpose (from a 6-year old).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life–like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?’ The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

A great reminder to get good at living. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.Speak kindly.

Remember, if dogs were our teachers you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Want to see more positive results in your life? Become aware of your language and learn to make it a habit to speak positively. How does this work? Well, your words have energy and they direct your mind. So what you say, especially when it’s emotionally charged, begins a creative cycle in motion.

There are several books that go into great depth on the power of language. They describe how and why our minds focus in on the subject of what we’re saying and how negative words do not even register. It’s a perfect design when we speak positively, but it doesn’t serve us when we speak negatively. That means that when we say things like, “I don’t want to be late.” the direction the mind (subconscious) hears is, “I want to be late.”

This ideas is especially powerful when you have children. Most of us tell our kids what we don’t want. So, when when we say things like, “Please don’t leave the lights on.” they hear, “Please leave the lights on.” And that’s just what they do…leave the lights on. Positive direction, “Please turn the lights off.” gives us positive results.

In quantum physics this idea plays into a principle called the Expectancy Theory. Simply put, we get what we expect in life. (It’s the self-fulfilling prophecy.) Our language tells the world (and our subconscious mind) what we expect. Somehow we seem to have become a society conditioned to expect disappointment. And guess what we get most often? Disappointment. Exactly what we don’t want.

In our Live Dynamite Circles we give people orange rubber bands to put around their wrist as a visible reminder to check in on their thoughts and language. When they recognize negative expressions they switch the rubber band to the other wrist. Change begins the moment we become aware of what we’re doing and commit to new actions.

The beauty of this dynamic is that we can control our thoughts and language. If you’d like to create and attract what you do want, here’s how it works.
1. The first step is awareness. Listen to what you say. When you hear it’s negative, restate it in a positive expression.
2. Drop all negative words (don’t, can’t, never, won’t, etc…).
3. Use visual reminders, and enlist the help of others, to help you check in and stay on track.

Give it try. Learn to become mindful of your language. And believe you can do it.

I can is 100 times more powerful than IQ.
–Anonymous

Expect the best!
Maryanne

Last night we watched the Robin Williams movie “Jack” and again…the same insight was shining through. The movie is about a boy who ages at a rate 4x faster than normal, so at age 10 he looks like he’s 40. Yet, he has the spirit and sense of adventure of a 10 year old.

And so I share with you a few strengths we all had as kids and encourage you to find a way to recapture this perspective.

PRESENCE. Kids are all about NOW. They live in moment and instinctively lose themselves in whatever they are doing. They give their undivided attention to what’s happening NOW. As adults, we tend to live in the past or the future. All too often forgetting to enjoy the moment we’re in, which is all we ever really have.

POSSIBILITIES. What does MAYBE mean to you? Yes or no? I heard a Jack Johnson song the other day, “maybe…pretty much always means no.” It got me thinking, “Well not when you’re a kid. To kids maybe means, YES! The door is still open.” Kids see everything as possible. They believe they can create whatever they want in life. They don’t go to, “What if….” As adults, we tend to stay in our comfort zones. We set goals we believe we can achieve and no more. We brace ourselves for disappointment and expect the worst. In doing so, we miss the opportunity to see what more is possible and keep attracting what we don’t want.

PERSISTENCE. Kids campaign for what they want without fatigue. They’re resilient. My daughter Kate (7) is on a mission to get a hamster. She visualizes where its cage will go. Thinks up names. After prayers, the last word she whispers in my ear each night is “hamster.” She sees it happening and is in the game until she wins. Why is it as adults we’re so willing to drop out at the slightest sign of adversity? We can become so afraid of failure and disappointment that we don’t even get in the game sometimes. Where did our spirit of persistence go?

I encourage you to find that child like spirit that’s still inside of you. Live in the present. Imagine what’s still possible. Practice persistence and create what you want in life. Oh, one more child like skill that would serve us all well…laugh until your sides hurt!

Expect the best,
Maryanne

I was hooked when I read about the studies that show how the average person gives themselves 50,000 messages each day–and that 80% are negative. I remember quickly doing the math when I first saw this stat and thinking, “Wow, I sure I hope I’m not average!”

I couldn’t help but start my own self-study (that continues today). I immediately began to pay attention to my thoughts and language. I must say, I was surprised at how often I slipped to the dark side. I’d start talking about what I didn’t want or what was wrong. I’d swirl in some situation that made me feel “less than” for far too long.

Not being too thrilled with what I was seeing (or feeling), I set out on a course of self-discovery and change. I devoured every book and CD I could find on the power of intention, raising your consciousness, creating positive energy, attitudes and happiness. (My amazon.com profile still prompts me with the latest in self-help books.)

Here’s what I learned. First, I am not my every thought. Whew! Second, my thoughts, words and emotions are a guidance system of sorts that help me stay on track (that is when I’m conscious of them). Third, I’m average. I need to work on creating and protecting a positive attitude like everyone else.

So, I thought I’d share my four-step program. Here’s how I shift from a negative to positive mindset.
1. I observe. I stay conscious of my thoughts, language and feelings. I check in on my attitude to see where I’m at throughout the day.
2. I reflect and look for the wisdom. I learn from each experience–there’s always something to learn. And the faster I learn, the faster I can move on.
3. I take action. I do something to move the negative energy out of my body. I exercise, I take deep breaths, I count all I have to be thankful for, I say an affirmation (and try not to think of Stuart Smalley on SNL)…and I shift.
4. I express gratitude for all I’ve learned and I let it go. I appreciate what I’ve learned from the experience and then I release it. (Sometimes I have to release it a couple of times before it’s really gone.)

Here’s an example. I’ve been known to set some pretty big stretch and life-changing goals. At first I’m really energized and excited about what I’m setting out to accomplish. I dive in with loads of enthusiasm. As time goes on, and I’m still plugging away at my latest challenge, fear surfaces (as it always does). I find myself wondering, “What was I thinking?” And I begin to question if I can really do it. Doubt (fear’s faithful side-kick) creeps in.

Eventually, I recognize the pattern. I snap out of it and ask myself what is there to really be afraid of? I think back on all of the other times I’ve succeeded. And I move right back into action. Pretty soon the fear dissipates (as it always does). Then I thank the fear and doubt for reminding me to keep moving forward. (For me, fear comes when I’m spending more time thinking about doing something than actually doing it. That’s why action is the fastest antidote.)

Like everything, my four-step approach took practice and commitment to make it a habit. I still work at it every day, but it’s so much easier now that it’s an ingrained behavior. I catch my downward spirals pretty quickly now. And I take action every day to spiral up so I stay on track and centered.

If you’d like to learn more on the power of thought, here are two fabulous books I highly recommend.

“Power vs. Force” by David Hawkins. His 20-year study, using kinesthesiology (muscle testing), proved that the mind thinks with the whole body. It quickly deepens understanding of the power of thought and intention.

“The Biology of Belief” by Dr. Bruce Lipton. He’s scientifically proven that our thoughts have the power to change our physiology and cellular structure (positively and negatively). This is a great book if you really want to understand how your thoughts literally affect your health and why.

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that
a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.”
–William James (1842-1910)

Expect great things!

Maryanne

Being on the show got me thinking about when I was first introduced to the idea of living with intention. It was about seven years ago. I was asking my friend Beverly for advice on some situation and she asked me, “Well, what’s your intention?” Her words ran through my head for the next week. I kept asking myself, “Why am I doing this?”

What I found was that many of my intentions were genuine, but there were also times that I saw fear, or the need to control things, driving my actions. That’s when I became very thoughtful about what I was doing and where I was investing my energy. I started making changes in my life. And as I became more intentional, I began to really see how my intention charged the energy around my actions. Ultimately, what I put out is what I got back.

So now I practice living on purpose every day. I still read books that inspire me to stay on track and keep expanding my understanding. We’ve also made intention a core element in the work we do with Live Dynamite. As they say, we teach what we most need to learn. And I am definitely still learning. I’ve seen the power of intention positively shift the direction and focus in so many lives that I’m continually inspired to keep up my own reflection.

If the idea of intention feels new, listen to tomorrow’s show. And I highly recommend two books that have helped me live more intentionally–“Quantum Success” by Sandra Ann Taylor and “The Power of Intention” by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

“Our intention creates our reality.”
–Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Maryanne

It’s a great reminder that our thoughts and emotions are constantly creating our experiences. Here’s to feeding more positive thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Expect great things!
Maryanne

Two Wolves.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

I use to call these times “my season of discontent,” when I felt out of sorts, but wasn’t sure why. I always knew my life was pretty darn good and that I have little reason to complain. And yet, I still felt restless.

Well, it’s August and that feeling is here again. Why? Well, a little self-reflection quickly surfaced a few personal insights. I realized I’ve been inconsistent in my daily practice–spiraling up, expressing and FEELING gratitude, taking action toward my goals and meditating. I know that consistency is the key, but I wasn’t living it.

So, I took a dose the Live Dynamite.

I refreshed my goals and started practicing intentional creation again–30 uninterrupted days of saying my goals out loud, taking action and believing in positive outcomes. New habits and new nueropathways here I come!

Happy to report that after just 13 days I feel like I’m back on track. I’ve already accomplished two of my immediate goals. (How I love accomplishment.) And I’m really FEELING thankful, energized and happy again.

Here’s to crossing the bridge between knowing and doing!

A moment of personal insight.

Maryanne

Two years ago I read “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. I then read it again, and again. And it changed my life. It connected all of the dots of knowledge I’d plotted over the years.

Success is about taking responsibility for your life. It was that simple and that hard. I got it. And I was determined to do it. I was now fully charged (or manic). I became a walking infomercial for this book and decided I wanted to meet Jack Canfield and really get to know him. And so I wrote a goal and intention around it. I wasn’t sure how it would happen, but I believed it would. I could feel it and see it.

I then had a chance to meet him in May ’06 when he was in Minneapolis taping a DVD of “The Success Principles” with Better Life Media. (Highly recommended). At the taping I met him, but I wouldn’t say I got to know him. And so I kept the dream alive–one day I’d get to know him.

Fast-forward nine months and I’m having dinner with Harvey Mackay (Mr. Make-It-Happen) who hears my story. He can see that I’m a huge Jack fan and offers to make in introduction. Less than a week later I’m connected with Jack. (Easy to see why Harvey’s networking book was such a success!)

A few weeks ago, I had a fabulous lunch with Jack in Santa Barbara and my goal was achieved. I really feel like I got to know him. Must say, he exceeded all of my expectations. He’s genuine, whip smart, altruistic and super funny.

I share this story to show that sometimes your goals (or dreams) don’t happen immediately, but if you persist and believe–they will. And because I was super psyched to meet Jack! Plus, it gives me another chance to recommend “The Success Principles” to all of you. Our podcast (#8–Taking Responsibility) will give you a good idea of the impact this book has had in my life. And you can buy the book at www.jackcanfield.com. Expect great things!

Expectancy is one of the keys to expanding and creating. And so I’ve adopted the mantra, “Expect great things.” Here’s a recent example of how it works.

It’s Tuesday and I’m off to Target to buy a Wii for my son’s 10th birthday. I need it by Friday so I figured I’d stop in and pick one up. I quickly learn that the game is in high demand and nearly impossible to get.

Later that day I see a Wii at our high tech web developers, who have a passion for video games. I ask how I can get my hands one by Friday. Turns out that they’re giving one away at their Vernal Equinox party the next day. They say, “Maybe you’ll win it.” I say, “No maybe, I’m going to win it.”

I went home and wrote out my intention on one of our expand & create cards. It read, “I’m so grateful and thrilled that I won the Wii at ideapark’s party and surprised Will at his birthday party on Friday at 6 pm.”

I read it out loud several times and visualized that I had won it. I could see it all happening. When I was a kid my mom won a car. She said she knew as soon as she entered that she was going to win. And that was exactly how I felt.

I’m sure by now you know–I WON! Must say everyone was a bit surprised–except for me. I had expected to win.

There was just one minor glitch. Even ideapark couldn’t get their hands on the Wii. The next day (Thursday) I’m driving home. I get a strong feeling that there’s a Wii in Target if I’ll just go in. (Guys call it gut. Gals call it intuition.)

Again, I’ve had enough positive experiences that I’ve learned to listen to my intuition. So, I go in expecting it to be there. I’m already happy walking in the store. I know I’ll soon have a Wii ready to wrap for the party the next night. And there it was sitting in the locked case. I walked away with both the Wii and another experience that reinforced my belief in expecting the best.

I can’t encourage you enough to expect the best! Send out the positive energy and have faith. Even a small shift in your attitudes and energy can have a big impact in your life. Come on and give it a try!

I was completely charged after reading “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill www.napoleonhill.com and “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. I immediately started practicing the principles and converting everyone I could.

Then last April I saw a DVD called “The Secret” that brought the Law of Attraction to life. I bought a bunch of copies and gave them to my friends. I realized the key was to surround myself with people who would commit to doing this with me–practice gratitude, stay positive and take responsibility for their actions. No more blaming, complaining or being a victim.

These experiences became the seed ideas for Live Dynamite™ and the upside™. We wanted to create a structure so people could practice these principles and make it a habit. Real power comes from consistently applying what you know. So, find you’re people and get started. Join a Live Dynamite Circle or work through the upside practice with a buddy. Expand and create momentum. You can do it!

There’s always time to be grateful. We ran into Harvey Mackay ringing the bell for The Salvation Army a few weeks ago.

There he was in his finest fur, braving subzero temps, giving his time (and money). In the Mackay way–he set a new record for hourly contributions. And showed us all that he walks the walk.

If you’ve read his column or many books, you know Harvey is a big believer in the power of showing gratitude. And so are we. We’d like to express our gratitude to “Mr. Make It Happen Mackay” for all of the support he’s given us!

His column is one of Live Dynamite’s Picks (read:favorite stuff you should check out). Sign-up for his weekly column at www.harveymackay.com.

Remember to live with an attitude of gratitude and express it daily!

So create a great attitude through positive self-talk. You know those internal conversations you have each day? That’s self-talk.

When you begin to listen to your thoughts, you may be amazed at how often they’re negative. The point is to start paying attention and take control.

What you think is completely within your power. So intentionally support yourself through positive thoughts. Redirect the conversation when it turns negative.

Give it a try. Commit to actively listening to your thoughts for one week. Check in. See if they are supportive or destructive. Change the tape if you need to–focus on your strengths. Experience the lift you get from positive self-talk.

Come on–spiral up!