Who’s Memorialized on Memorial Day?

Sacred reverence came upon me in hushed whispers when years ago I visited Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Headstones of honor placed with care began in May 1864 with Civil War soldiers. I was impressed with how the planning was precise, and the headstones created patterns no matter which direction I looked. As of June 9, 2016, Arlington contained the remains of more than 400,000 people from the United States and 11 other countries – about the population of Minnesota. Each headstone represents a life someone gave because they believed in an idea so great that they were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice – themselves. In recognition of those who believed in the idea of freedom, here’s approximately how many Americans have given their lives for their country’s freedom starting from the beginning of the United States until present time. If you’re from a country other than the U.S.A., you have compatriots who have given their lives for you to be free, too. Here are statistics from www.awesomestories.com. American Revolution:  4,435 deaths; 6,188 wounded War of 1812:  2,260 deaths; 4,505 wounded Mexican War:  13,283 Deaths; 4,152 wounded U.S. Civil War:  620,000 deaths; 476,000 wounded; 400,000 captured or missing Spanish-American War:  2,446 deaths; 1,662 wounded World War I:  116,516 deaths; 204,002 wounded World War II:  405,399 deaths; 671,846 wounded Korean War:  36,574 deaths;  103,284 wounded Vietnam War:  58,209 deaths; 153,303 wounded Persian Gulf War (1990-91):  382 deaths; 467 wounded “Global War on Terror,” including the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars:  +6,800 deaths; more than 970,000 disability claims registered as of March 31, 2014 By Memorial Day, 2015, at least 1,266,304 people had died fighting for America. Consider this: You are not living under dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong-un demanding that people treat him like a god or be executed. You are so free that you have a choice to care if others fought for freedom or not. You can choose freedom of thought or bondage to old hurts and conditioning. You are so free that you have a choice to be a prisoner of your past and be afraid of the future – or live in the now. You can create a life of choice or be a victim of limitation. You are so free that you can make a decision to change your life for the better… and do it. Get it? You are free to create your life however you choose… to be happy or otherwise. What life do you choose? Have you considered you have a choice? You do. In the United States, we designate Memorial Day to honor those who fought for our ability to be free. Living your best life honors those who believed so strongly in this ideal that they gave of themselves for your freedom. With gratitude, Virginia P.S. Know someone who might like this? Please forward.

I work with people who choose to share their gifts or business in a BIGGER way but don’t know how or feel stuck. I help them ignite their Soul’s goals and be richly compensated doing what they love.

When Jimi Hendrix Matched Up With The Monkees

For seven concerts, the not well-known Jimi Hendrix Experience was the opening act for the top-rated, pop group The Monkees. Micky Dolenz, then vocalist and drummer of the Monkees, wrote about Jimi Hendrix in his autobiography I’m a Believer: “It was evident from the start that we were witness to a rare and phenomenal talent. I would stand in the wings and watch and listen in awe.” The band enjoyed him personally, too. “It was really just a pleasure to have him around for company.” With the audience, who were looking for The Monkees style of music, this is how it played out. “… Jimi would amble out onto the stage, fire up the amps and break into ‘Purple Haze,’ and the kids in the audience would instantly drown him out with, ‘We Want Davy!!’ God, it was embarrassing.” Peter Tork, keyboardist and bass guitarist of The Monkees, said that “it didn’t cross anybody’s mind that it wasn’t gonna fly.” After six more performances, Hendrix left the tour. Embarrassing – Check Frustrating – Check Disappointing – Check Confused audience – Check Groundbreaking, iconic, genius guitar player – Check Shortly after, both “Purple Haze” and “Are You Experienced?” started to climb the charts, revolutionizing modern music in the process. Just because these two groups weren’t a fit didn’t take away one iota from Hendrix’ greatness. Nor did it stop his eventual matching up with those who could and would both recognize and appreciate his talent. A woman carefully planned and was excited to talk to a group about her business offering. It seemed like the perfect target market because there were many people of the same demographic who already used and were grateful to have found her product. Part way through her presentation she was cut off. They repeatedly asked her the same question. However, each time she answered, they just weren’t getting it. They misinterpreted her, and without even being able to finish, she had to leave. Although we hadn’t talked in a while, I happened to call her when she was driving away – hurt, bewildered, doubting herself, wondering if she was in the right business. By the end of our conversation, she realized that even though it appeared to be an ideal group, they really weren’t in a place to “get it.” She presented a progressive perspective; her audience identified with a traditional approach. They couldn’t understand and weren’t open to new ideas. Round peg. Square hole. In the past, many times when things went wrong with people, I blamed myself. In hindsight, I realize most had become mismatches that I tried to make work. They were good for a while, sometimes very good. And then they weren’t. If I was myself, I wasn’t understood. If I tried to fit in, it felt like I was selling my soul. A clue was that I wasn’t happy but tried to find a way to rise above it. I now see that if I stayed on those trajectories, it would’ve been sadly limiting for me. They’re not wrong, but neither am I. The key is to identify and attract vibrational matches. Choose to attract the people who appreciate you and your gifts just the way you are. How? Start by getting clear about what you want and set an intention to receive it. Listen to your voice within and the guidance it’s always offering you. Revolutionize your world, business or work with your awesomeness. Enjoy being well-matched so others aren’t screaming they want their version of Davy. Let your unique genius rock on. With gratitude, Virginia P.S. Know someone who might enjoy reading this? Please forward.

I work with people who choose to share their gifts or business in a BIGGER way but don’t know how or feel stuck. I help them ignite their Soul’s goals and be richly compensated doing what they love.

How You Speed Up (or Slow Down) Money Coming to You

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A saleswoman told me that people were irritating her – a lot. She was both “losing her cool” and her patience with small thinking, ridiculous behavior and demonstrations of a lack of kindness, consideration and common sense. To make things worse, she was baffled by her client’s petty issues that almost blew a $1.5 million deal. It reminds me of the country western lyrics by Billy Currington: “God is great. Beer is good. And people are crazy.” Recognizing that she’s attracting whatever is going on in her life, she wondered how she created this. She pieced together cause and effect and saw that her frustration with annoying people was magnetizing others with disgruntled attitudes. Her energy was drawing negative people to her! By the way, the saleswoman later discovered that the sale represented to her client family disappointments. She was like a volcano ready to explode at anything that could go wrong – or she’d make something wrong to blow off steam. According to Abraham-Hicks, it only takes 17 seconds to create a thought that attracts more of what you’re thinking and feeling. Yikes. That’s about a quarter of a minute to design your world – consciously or not. This is a universal principle. Positive attracts positive; negative attracts negative. Thoughts build upon each other by attracting other thoughts of a like nature creating thought forms. 17 seconds + 17 seconds + 17 seconds… Complaining, being hard on yourself, sharing your sad story with others, which invites them to feel as sorry for you as you feel sorry for yourself, attract more circumstances to make you want to pull your hair out. “When you give your attention to it, if you maintain your focus for as little as 17 seconds, you begin to include its vibration, whatever it is, in your vibration. When you see something you want, and you give it your attention, and you say yes to it, you are including whatever its vibration is in your vibration. When you see something you do not want, and you shout no at it, you are including whatever its vibration is in your vibration.”    “Most everybody is looking around and vibrating in response to what they are seeing. So, what is the solution? Look around less. Imagine more. Look around less. Imagine more. Until your imagery is the most familiar vibration that you have.” Abraham-Hicks   What’s your brain chewing on? Feel bad because you don’t have more money? You slow down or stop money flowing to you. Feel good about the idea of having more money? You speed up money coming to you. Your choice.  The way out is to decide what would inspire you to feel happy. Then whenever your thoughts turn to the not-so-sunny side of the street, redirect your focus on what creates good feelings. “I have to face reality” can be the very attitude that holds you back from your heart’s desires. If your current conditions aren’t what you want, and you continue to focus on them and feel miserable, you’ll get more of the same. Take care of business, but focus your energy on what you choose to create not on what you don’t like. You control the way you feel. Don’t give your power away to others or to circumstances. How would having more money feel? Next focus on other positive ideas about money. Let yourself go to another like-thought. And on and on. With gratitude, Virginia P.S. Know someone who might enjoy reading this? Please forward.

I work with people who choose to share their gifts or business in a BIGGER way but don’t know how or feel stuck. I help them ignite their Soul’s goals and be richly compensated doing what they love. Copyright © 2017 Resolved for Results, All rights reserved.

Has This Kept You Up at Night?

Have any of these kept you up at night? Procrastination. Fear of making a (wrong) decision or making a mistake. Trying to figure out what you’re going to do. Indecisive. Avoid people or dealing with things. Have trouble marketing yourself or asking for the sale. Averse to taking risks. Don’t stand up for yourself. Afraid to speak up. Let others control you. Need to fit in. Turn into a chameleon to blend in with others. Let people run over you. Have a hard time being yourself (whoever that is). Wonder what people will say or think. Say yes when you want to say no. What bogeyman lies beneath this thinking? Personal honesty reveals a deeper insight beyond blaming circumstances. During multiple mastermind group meetings, I noticed a theme that held people back until they got wise to a game the ego was playing. It reminds me of a scene from the 1986 comedy The Money Pit with Tom Hanks (who played Walter) and Shelly Long. Rock star, 12-year-old Benny lounged in his mansion smoking a cigarette while chics waited for him in the Jacuzzi. His help feared him, and his mother wore a maid’s uniform while waiting on him hand and foot. His temper tantrum, when he refused to loan Walter money, revealed a spoiled, insecure, little boy. Walter: There is a house I want to buy. Benny: Let’s cut to the chase, okay? What do you want? Walter: I want you to loan me $200,000 in cash. Benny: No. Walter: [raising his voice] Benny. Benny: You shout at me? Walter: I shout at you! I need that money, and you are going to loan it to me. Benny: No, I won’t! Walter: Yes, you will! Benny: No, no, no! Walter: Yes, you will! I saved you ten times that in taxes last year. Benny: So what? Walter: Benny, if you don’t loan me that money. I’ll… Benny: You’ll what? Huh? You’ll what? Walter: I’ll…not like you anymore! [Long pause and subdued.] Benny: …All right. Walter: Thanks. Here’s the funny clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LY5dV3xghY A leading cause of fear is wanting approval, so people limit themselves by worrying about what others will think. A client procrastinated making a big decision. During a session, she realized she was afraid of her family’s disapproval if she didn’t get it right… again. When the light turned on for her, she was able to research her options. She got clarity, aligned her energy with her decision by feeling good about her choice, and then took action. Even if she made another unwanted mistake, she knew she could choose again. She chose wisely. Since then, her business is at the highest it’s been in years. Several clients realized that they were so intent on being nice to others that they weren’t nice to themselves. Resolved for Results Mastermind Principle #3 provided guidance: “I trust my Self and listen to the voice within.” This served as a valuable GPS instead of the need to people please. Nobody can please everybody. There will always be those who won’t like you or what you do. How much simpler life is to accept that instead of resisting it. Don’t let fear of disapproval hold you down. Keep moving forward anyway with good intentions. You have no control over what others think, but you can tune in to your Self and take charge of what you think about you. Listening to your Self is part of your innate intelligence, so you can do this. How? Choose to redirect your focus to hear You. With practice, your ability improves. A key is to love and accept yourself just the way you are. You’ll sleep better at night, too. With gratitude, Virginia P.S. Know someone who might be uplifted by reading this? Please forward. Copyright © 2017 Resolved for Results, All rights reserved.

I work with people who choose to share their gifts or business in a BIGGER way but don’t know how or feel stuck. I help them ignite their Soul’s goals and be richly compensated doing what they love.

What Pruning & Cleaning Clutter Teaches Me

Last week, when I wasn’t coaching, I was outside doing yardwork. Before that, I cleaned every single paper off my desk (yikes, that took weeks of chipping away at it), deleted or filed hundreds of emails (still got more to go), cleared out pockets of clutter around my house and completed projects I’ve been meaning to get to for seemingly forever. I finally washed 40 jars and bought new spices for a rack I bought three years ago. I updated my password list. I’ve been receiving regular bodywork to support my back, now that it’s aligned. I glued the lining of a favorite shoe. I’m deepening my meditations. We leak our energy when there are things that need our attention, but we put off or ignore them. In my twenties, I sat very close to the stage and watched the late, great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. He gave everyone in the audience a wooden round Tuit to remind us to get around to it – whatever we’ve been putting off. _____________________________ As I gaze out my window, sunlight shines throughout the day on areas that used to be completely covered in shade. What a metaphor. I learned that the shadows disappeared by allowing more light to come through because I cleared out the clutter and dead branches. Life can grow in places it couldn’t before. _____________________________ Spring cleaning my office, home and yard opens space for my next steps. While doing in-depth sessions, I had the inner space to remember and use techniques I learned decades ago that are helping clients break free of their egos’ self-sabotage. Beyond mulching and clearing, I’m planting what a neighbor calls jewelry – pretty flowers in my yard. Step at a time, I’m preparing my soil for future growth in all areas of my life. Sometimes the old gets cleared out through nature and evolution. Fires clear weaker trees and debris and returns health to the forest. Challenges clear out limiting thinking and beliefs that sabotage greater success and happiness. Last year at this time, my biggest goal was to sleep. For a year, I was the caretaker for my cat who woke me throughout the night to cope with her illness, which left me feeling like a sleep-deprived zombie. Before that, my attention was focused on getting rid of a devastating mold caused by torrential rains that affected my body, head, home and finances. That was two years ago this month. _____________________________ Since my cat passed last June, I realized the energy of “catching up” and feeling “overwhelmed with so much to do” were visualizations that would only create my having to dig out of a bigger hole. I would have liked everything in my life to be in order yesterday. Instead, I see myself being “in front of” my life, business and finances. This focus has placed me on a new trajectory. It’s working. Things are getting done. I’m feeling good. I see new horizons. _____________________________ If you’re clearing out the old through challenges, may you find greater peace with a perspective of gratitude and see light that graces your life in ways it couldn’t before. Blue skies follow storms. If you’ve been putting off taking care of things that you wish were over and done, consider getting around to it. One step at a time will do. Begin. The rest is easy. P.S. Know someone who might be uplifted by reading this? You’re invited to pass this on.

I work with people who choose to share their gifts or business in a BIGGER way but don’t know how or feel stuck. I help them ignite their Soul’s goals and be richly compensated doing what they love. Copyright © 2017 Resolved for Results, All rights reserved.