Give Yourself a Present – Blog 498

March 17, 2024

This weekend is a busy one for me, so I decided to repost a lightly-edited blog I wrote at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on a topic that still resonates with me and likely always will.  I’ll bet it does with you, too: How to fully live in the present, experiencing each precious moment with ease and gratitude, while still getting stuff done. I hope you will take a moment to sit quietly, with a favorite beverage perhaps, in a comfy chair and enjoy it once again.

P.S. I hope you will read my special request message at the end of this blog and act on it. If you do, it will be more appreciated than you can know!

April 25, 2020

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.” – Peter Marshall

The message that came to me over and over this week is one that most of us need to be constantly reminded of: Stay present and live each moment of life as it comes.

As I thought about the word “present,” it dawned on me that this one word has at least three main meanings which, while different, are all related.  First, as a noun, it means “gift,” like a Christmas present. It also means “now,” as in this present moment in time.  As a verb, “present” also means “to offer something” (as one might offer a gift).

In all these interconnected meanings, being present is a gift because it enables us to fully experience and appreciate every precious moment of life.  Now, more than ever, the whole world is keenly aware of the precious fragility of life — that we could be here today and gone tomorrow. 

A recent daily inspiration from Joel Osteen also reminded me of what special gift each moment of life is, especially in all the simple things we often overlook or take for granted in our daily routines:

Enjoy the Simple Things — by Joel Osteen

“Don’t miss a great season in your life wishing you had more, complaining about what you don’t have.  The real joy in life is in the simple things – making memories with your family, riding your bikes together, watching the sunset with your spouse, or staring up at the stars at night.  You don’t have to have big vacations or lots of money to have fun.  Learn to enjoy the simple things in life.

Could it be that you’re at the right place for the season that you’re in, but you’re not enjoying it?  Maybe if you would step back and see it from a new perspective, you would realize that God has you in the palms of His hands.  He knows where you are, what you like, and what you don’t like.  Instead of living discontented, frustrated, always wishing you were somewhere else, embrace the place where you are.  See the good. Be grateful for what you have.”

My job is to help my coaching clients get what they want.  Each has their own special Big Goal, and I help them with the mindset tools, strategy and accountability that will enable them to reach it, even if it seems far-fetched to someone else.

In my 20-plus years as a Personal Success Coach ™ I have learned that there are TWO fundamental keys to reaching any Big Goal:

1) Focus on what you WANT (not on what you don’t want). Keep your eye on the prize and use positive mindset tools daily to strengthen your BELIEF that you will get it.

2) Take ONE step at a time toward that outcome you want. Don’t try to figure out the whole “How” for getting there.  You can count on God/The Universe to help you with that, rolling the plan out for you one step at a time.  YOUR job is to take the step that is in front of you right NOW.  Looking too far ahead will only distract you from taking the right action today and make you doubt that it is possible to reach your Big Goal.  If you will stay in the NOW, focusing on carrying out today’s action step, the next perfect step will come to you when the time is right.

A week ago, on a coaching call, one of my clients seemed close to having a panic attack.  She was feeling totally overwhelmed by all the tasks she felt must be done simultaneously – caring for her family, staying mostly inside when she wanted to be outside, trying to come up with an entirely new distance learning curriculum for her students, while trying to consistently work her side business.  I understood why she wanted to stay in bed with the covers pulled over her head rather than try to organize ALL the many steps she needed to take! 

During our call, I got her to take a calm look at things and focus on what specific small steps she could take NOW to begin to make progress on her many tasks.  As we talked, she thought of some resources available to her that she hadn’t been utilizing, and she promised to take just ONE action as soon as we hung up — to call her mentor teacher for lessons plan suggestions and emotional support.

She also came up with a brilliant plan for shaking off her paralyzing sense of overwhelm. She vowed to complete just ONE to THREE action items per day — no more, no less.  That number was emotionally and mentally manageable to her, and she knew that she could prioritize those specific few actions per day and get them done.  Completing them each day would give her a sense of control and accomplishment, which in turn would restore her self-confidence and expectation of success.

When we talked a week later, she sounded like her old can-do self again. She had been carrying out her daily “One to Three Things Action Plan” and was feeling much better. She was getting up early and enjoying her daily walks with her dog again, and grateful to be able to spend more precious time with her family because she wasn’t away all day in the classroom.  She is “embracing where she is” and “being grateful for what she has” in the PRESENT moment, just as Joel Osteen suggests.

We can all emulate my client’s simple approach to creating greater productivity and happiness:  Accept calmly whatever is going on right NOW in your life, do what you can right NOW, and let tomorrow’s steps unfold in God’s perfect way and timing.  When we allow ourselves to be fully present in each moment, we will find joy in recognizing the many precious gifts that surround us right NOW.

WE COULD REALLY USE YOUR HELP!

As you may know, I am a long-time volunteer for a local dog and cat rescue, The Little Red Dog. I walk up to seven of their rescue pups daily that are being fostered while waiting for their forever homes. One of the organization’s kitty rescues, Juli, was adopted by another volunteer, who has entered her in a national contest to be named “America’s Favorite Pet.” If Juli gets the most online votes (which are FREE), she will not only have bragging rights, but most importantly, The Little Red Dog will be awarded the $10,000 prize, which is very much needed right now.  She has moved ahead of a huge field and is now high in the voting. But that can change frequently, as her competition also works to pull ahead!

So, I am asking everyone I know to join me in voting online DAILY (once every 24 hours) for Juli. I would be forever grateful if you will do this, even if you only do it once. (But I hope you will set yourself a reminder to do it daily until the contest ends.)  Here is the link to vote for Juli and help us win well over 100 deserving pups and kitties a lot of kibble and cat chow: https://americasfavpet.com/2024/juli-ce4a

If you or your friends would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to https://www.practicalprosperitycoach.com and enter your name and email at the top.

 

Unlock Your Full Potential – Blog 497

March 3, 2024

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Today’s post is something COMPLETELY different.

I am excited to share this with you because it reveals the #1 KEY to unlocking your FULL potential for success. But, instead of reading about the topic, you can listen to me talking about it!

Below is a link to a 21-minute conversation I recently had on “The Sparking Entrepreneur” podcast with host Subrat Sahoo. With over 32,000 subscribers on Spotify and Apple, the topics are aimed at an audience of entrepreneurs and creatives, as well as those who coach, consult and otherwise serve them.  There are many other great guest interviews on there with a wide variety of entrepreneurs and business experts that you might want to check out too!

The topic was: What must you do to successfully reach your full potential and exactly how do I help my clients do that? I am passionate about spreading this message because it has worked for over 2,000 clients over the past 20 years and I believe it is my true calling as a coach.  

As part of the interview, just as I do in my written blogs, I share an inspiring story from one of my clients who experienced RAPID acceleration in her career and financial success, as well as many wonderful changes in her personal life. Her secret? She used ONE simple tool I gave her. The tool itself isn’t a “magic bullet,” but the WAY she embraced and used it changed everything in her life.

Here is the link to go directly to my guest spot.  Sit back for 21 fast-paced minutes and learn how YOU can unlock your full potential:

https://tinyurl.com/Sparking-Entrepreneur-Podcast

P.S. Feel free to share this post/podcast link with anyone you know who might benefit. They (and YOU) are welcome to request a F.R.E.E., no obligation one-hour phone coaching session with me to learn more, but these openings in my schedule are very limited, so do it SOON!

If you would like your own F.R.E.E. subscription to my (regular written) blog three Sundays a month, please go to https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and enter your name and email at the top. 

 

Your Problem-Solving Secret – Blog 496

February 25, 2024

“Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.” – Charles Lamb

I am deep into tax preparation (as I know many others are), so I decided to share again a lightly-edited post from last year that is one of my personal favorites.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

January 22, 2023

“You can’t sow a seed without reaping a harvest.” – Joel Osteen

As we begin another new year, loaded with positive possibilities, we still must inevitably drag some unwanted baggage into it from the past.

Chronic illness, debt, career disappointments, relationship issues, family issues, emotional issues — we ALL have something that we have struggled with for a while and cannot seem to find a way to resolve on our own.

That’s why I was so inspired recently by a YouTube talk by my favorite positive thinking pastor, Joel Osteen, entitled “The Secret to Solving Problems.”  YES, I thought. What’s the secret? I definitely want to know!

Turns out, it’s what I have been studying for the past 30 years or so.  It’s the Law of Attraction, which says “energy attracts like energy.”  From a spiritual point of view, it goes back thousands of years. You could call it Karma or the Biblical principle “As you sow, so shall you reap.”

As Joel explains it, “We all face challenges.  The secret is to take the focus off yourself and help others. While you are working on their situation, God is working on your situation.” 

Focusing all your attention on trying to solve your own problem just makes the problem grow bigger. That’s the negative side of the Law of Attraction, because your energy vibration (your thoughts plus the emotional energy those thoughts generate) must inevitably attract people and circumstances that are a match for whatever you are focused on. Like a magnet attracts a nail, negative thoughts will only attract negative things to you. In fact, it’s been said that “Worrying is like praying for what you DON’T want.”

So, how DO you solve a problem that you cannot handle with just your own strength and smarts?

Joel suggests, “Look around.  Where is there someone who needs support?  A lonely or sick neighbor, a co-worker who is struggling, a child who needs a mentor, a friend who needs help with their dream.”

Your energy of compassionate helping will attract people and resources to help YOU with whatever you need.

Joel goes on to say, “Get your mind off yourself and go be a blessing.  When it is in your power to do good, don’t put it off.  You set a miracle in motion for yourself when you help someone else. When you show favor, favor will come to you.  When you give, it will come back to you multiplied.  When your dream seems impossible, help someone else’s dream to be born.”

I recently read an inspiring true story written by Beverly L. Jenkins on www.inspiremore.com that is a perfect example of this principle that when you take the focus off yourself to help someone else with their problem, it causes God/The Universe (via the universal Law of Attraction) to help YOU with your problem. I quote the article here verbatim:

“Tom Agnes is the store operations manager at Brooklyn Center Liquor in Minnesota. While he was out to lunch one day, one of his employees spotted a man rummaging through the free cardboard boxes at the front of the store. When she saw him selecting two boxes to use as shoes for his socks-clad feet, she took immediate and decisive action.

“When Tom returned to the store, he found his star employee, Ta Leia Thomas, who goes by Ace, working the cash register in her socks. He asked what happened, and she told him she saw a man with no shoes, so she gave him her own sneakers.

“Tom checked the store’s security footage and, sure enough, there was Ace pulling off her purple retro Jordans and handing them over to the stranger without even a second of hesitation.

“Ace says her reaction was automatic; she saw that he needed shoes, so she gave him hers. Not only that, but the shoes she gave him were her favorite pair and can’t be easily replaced. Still, the decision was simple for her.

“’He said nobody would ever give me shoes like that,” Ace recalled of her conversation with the stranger. ‘And I said, well, I’m not everybody.’

“You can say that again.

“Ace later explained that she was raised to help others, because ‘you never know what their problem is or what they are going through.’

“Even though the shoes were special to her, she realized instantly that they can always be replaced.

“’If my shoes can make somebody’s world a better place, you can have them,’ she said, adding, ‘Everybody in the world deserves to be loved.’

“Later that day, [Store Manager] Tom bought Ace a new pair of shoes so she didn’t have to work in her socks. He shared the video of her giving away her Jordans on social media, and the story went viral! People everywhere were quick to praise Ace for her kindness, and they raised $450 to replace her shoes.

“Then, Tom heard about Ace’s mom, someone she says is ‘all I have in this world.’ Ace helps care for her and, since they only have one bed, she lets her mom take it while she rests on the floor. That’s when Tom realized the best way to repay this generous employee.

“’And I’m like, ah, we don’t need to get Ace a pair of shoes we need to get Ace a bed,’ Tom recalled. ‘So, I gave her cash instead of the shoes to get mom a bed.’

“It goes to show that, sometimes, what goes around truly does come back around!” concludes the story’s author, Beverly L. Jenkins.

Here’s my recommendation, from personal experience:  If you want to solve your problem, the next time you are tempted to sit around worrying or having a pity party for yourself, raise your head instead and look around for someone or some cause you can help.  Give of your time, resources and talents and you will plant seeds that will keep on producing good fruit in your own life and many others.  Because as Pastor Joel says, “You can’t do good for others without God being good to you.”

Coaching Results

“Caroll has been a powerful catalyst for positive change in my life, both personal and professional.  She has helped me recognize spiraling negative emotions and behaviors and guided me to a more powerful positive place.  She has shown me the power of positive, grateful thinking that has resonated with and changed me and even the people around me.” – J.T., Accountant

If you would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to my website at https://www.practicalprosperitycoach.com and fill in your name and email at the top.

****************** The Gift of Dreams Fulfilled! ********************

I invite you to give yourself (or someone you care about) a truly unique gift that can change their life — ONE HOUR of Success Breakthrough Coaching!  It is absolutely F*R*E*E* of charge, with no obligation! 

To schedule a F*R*E*E* HOUR of phone coaching that will help clarify your Big Goals and get you into ACTION to make this the BEST year yet, please email me at caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com.

 

Timing is Everything – Blog 494

February 4, 2024

“Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.” – Malcolm Muggeridge, journalist

Did you take the time to do the exercises in the last two blogs?  I hope so!  If you want to get your 2024 off to a great start, it is time well invested to really think about the lessons you learned last year and apply them to what you want to accomplish now.  And creating your 2024 goals vividly on paper at the beginning of a new year is a sure-fire way to start the process of engaging the help of God/Universe to make your Big Dreams a reality. The only thing required of YOU is to give up worrying about the details of HOW and WHEN your dreams will manifest.

Today’s topic is about how you can more easily manifest your dreams by asking specifically for what you want and then trusting in God/The Universe to deliver it at the perfect time because Divine Timing is never one second early or one minute late.

I am sure you have experienced “perfect timing” more than once in your own life.  You probably thought in amazement how “lucky” you were, and wondered how different your life would be today if you hadn’t just “happened” to be in the right place at exactly the right time to meet the love of your life or best friend, or make a connection that opened a new opportunity to you.

I assert that it’s not luck but Divine Timing that delivered your treasure. When you learn to trust it and truly expect it to work in your favor, it does.  But if you ignore the subtle signals that you must follow to align with it, you may miss some wonderful opportunities, both big and small.

Sometimes Divine Timing works outside of our human control, or even our knowledge that it’s working.  I had an experience of that recently, when several urgent needs cropped up at once that exceeded our normal monthly family budget by a lot.  I had no idea where I would get the extra money for these necessities. So, I simply ASKED God for them, expressing gratitude in advance, which demonstrated my faith that they would come at the perfect time, even though I didn’t know HOW.

That is a key tool I learned from The Gratitude Formula by May McCarthy.  Expressing gratitude in advance of actually receiving something you ask your Higher Power for helps you to truly BELIEVE it is going to happen.  EXPECTING the BEST outcome opens your eyes to new possibilities and attracts the right people and resources to you because the Law of Attraction says that “energy attracts like energy.” You must believe it before you are going to see it.

Two and a half years ago, I received a notice in the mail that I had been included in a class action suit against my former long-term care insurance carrier.  The company had raised the rates exorbitantly without notice several years before the lawsuit was brought. I thought it was a great idea to hold the company accountable for forcing me and many other policy holders who had been paying our premiums for years to abruptly drop our coverage when we could no longer afford it. But I was in the middle of moving when I got the notice and life was hectic, so I filed it away and pretty much forgot about it.

Occasionally, the lawyers representing the class action group would email me an update that there had been a delay in the lawsuit for one reason or another.  I was busy and it was out of my control anyway, so I just filed the updates away and didn’t think more about it.

Then, on January 18, just a couple of weeks after I had ASKED God for a way to pay for the items I needed that were beyond my normal sources of income, I went out to the mailbox and found a settlement check for $6,700. I had done NOTHING to make that money appear, but I recognized that it was the answer to my prayer and that the timing could not have been more perfect for my needs.  It had been in process a long time, but it was not one second late for what I needed when I needed it.  That’s Divine Timing in action.

Most of the time, though, I’ve found that Divine Timing works through you.  It starts as an inner “nudge” – like the whisper of a “still, small voice” that the Scriptures talk about.  I believe your Higher Power uses your intuition, or inner wisdom, to direct you to the solution you need.  This happens to me frequently.  Because I am human, sometimes I ignore the whisper and then regret it.  But because I regularly remind my coaching clients to listen to that divine whisper, I am more aware of it and I try to follow its directions myself.  I am always rewarded when I do.

One recent example of this is when I randomly came across an online article titled “How to Unclog a Drain in 3 Easy Steps.”  I didn’t have a clogged drain and wasn’t worried about having one, but an inexplicable inner urge told me to print it out and save it.

Exactly one month later, out of the blue, my husband told me my bathroom sink was clogged.  He had used a tool to dig out some gunk but water was still standing in it for a long time before it would drain.  He suggested we call a plumber because the pipe under the sink probably needed to be removed and cleaned out, which was beyond our home remedy capabilities. That’s when my subconscious mind (which never forgets anything we do or hear or see) suddenly reminded me of the article I filed away about how to unclog a drain and save a lot of money on professional plumbing.

The first step listed was “Start with a Plunger.” (They don’t call it a “Plumber’s Helper” for nothing!)  I got a plunger and followed the instructions (except I skipped “put on goggles.”) In about 10 seconds, the clog was cleared and the water was running freely down the drain. I had just saved us whatever large fee plumbers are charging these days to make a house call and undoubtedly do the exact same thing.

A far bigger, smarter Mind than mine knew what I was going to need before I needed it, and I am so glad I followed that inner nudge to do something that made no sense to me at the time.

Best practice: Avoid the Ego’s desire to force your own limited view of the right HOW and WHEN on a situation.  Instead, stop, get quiet and call on your Higher Power to show you the right actions to take at the right time. Demonstrate your trust by following the Divine Directions you receive (even when they don’t make sense to you). If you don’t get an immediate answer, be patient. Ask again each day until you do. Stay quiet and keep an open mind. The answer WILL come to you…. or from someone or something outside of you. If you follow this path consistently, I promise you will begin to experience being in the flow of life, manifesting everything you truly need and desire with greater ease and speed than you might now imagine is possible.

P.S. I HIGHLY recommend The Gratitude Formula by May McCarthy, which will teach you a simple, sure-fire method of connecting with your own personal source of Spiritual Guidance each morning that will provide you with actionable direction for every facet of your daily life. With just a few minutes a day of consistent practice, you will begin to see Divine Timing showing up in everything you do.

COACHING RESULTS

“Caroll, of all the coaching programs I’ve ever done, working with you was by far the most productive. First, you really took the time to get to know me and my life, so your approach was always targeted to my needs. You had me set specific, measurable goals, then helped me with clear suggestions and actions I could take in small bites that I could handle.  You taught me to make time for myself with a morning mindset practice that gave me daily focus and direction. It helped me gain clarity on what I really wanted and empowered the Divinity inside me to help me achieve my Big Goals.  Most of all, your coaching helped me to overcome my fears and limiting beliefs and step up to be a Servant Leader who helps others achieve their goals. You have a great ability to help people “steer their ship” with confidence and integrity and I am so grateful.” – Mary W., Entrepreneur 

MY INVITATION TO YOU

If a qualified mechanic offered you a F.R.E.E., no-strings, tune up for your car, would you accept? How about a F.R.E.E. mindset tune-up from a certified Personal Success Coach?  I am offering to help you pursue your Big Goals for 2024 with greater ease, speed and success. No strings attached.  Slots are very limited. For a F.R.E.E. one-hour phone coaching session, contact me right away: caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com

If you would like your own F.R.E.E. subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to my website at https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and fill in your name and email at the top.

 

Boldly Believe in Your Dreams – Blog 493

January 14, 2024

“As you step into this new year, be bold enough and daring enough to believe in the abundant good that has been prepared for you.” – Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

In the last blog, we discussed the importance of completing your old year before you attempt to create your new year the way you want it to be.  Once you have released any disappointments, lingering resentments, incompletions and regrets over what did or didn’t happen for you last year, you are ready to co-create (with God/The Universe) an even BETTER new year for yourself.

I have been doing a New Year Creation exercise every year since 2004. I can’t say every year turned out exactly the way I had envisioned in every area of my life. In fact, the past few gave me (and others) a number of surprises, not all of them positive. Still, as I re-read each New Year’s Eve what I had set out to create that year, I have been consistently amazed to find that much of what I truly wanted did come true.

By the way, if you haven’t yet completed the “Reflections Exercise” from last week’s blog (Put the Old One to Rest – Blog 492) to help you powerfully complete 2023, identify your main lessons from it, and create the mental and emotional space for a year of new manifestations, please take all the time you need to finish it before you begin this next step. You can find it in the blog archives at https://practicalprosperitycoach.com.

CREATING YOUR NEW YEAR

Once you have completed the old, you are ready to co-create a brand NEW year how YOU want it to be! We know that life can definitely throw us some curve balls from time to time, but this is a very effective technique for creating your year intentionally, rather than passively waiting to see how it all “turns out.”

I was so pleased to receive an email from one of my longtime clients about the outcome of her New Year Creation exercise: “In re-reading my Year Creation, I see that what I put down for what I wanted in a new home manifested exactly how I specified – the realtor, house location, everything!” As hundreds of my clients have proven, year in and year out, you CAN ask for what you want – and get it!

And NO, I am not suggesting that the Divine Plan for your life doesn’t matter!  I personally believe that in order to manifest our Highest Good, we must first ask God/The Universe clearly and specifically for what we want, and then trust that if it is good for us and doesn’t harm anyone else, we will be shown HOW to get it.  You can be sure that if God/The Universe has different plans for you, you will be guided to fulfill them and they will be EVEN better than the ones you suggested!

STEP ONE: Create a THEME for the year. How would you like this year show to up for your life?  Make it catchy so you can remember it on a daily basis. This year, my theme is “2024: The Year of Purposeful Prosperity” because I want to expand my means for sharing mindset tools and prosperity principles in new and much bigger ways that align with my Life Purpose AND I want to prosper financially from sharing my unique and special God-given gifts with my target audience.

STEP TWO: Create a list of personal qualities to describe how YOU want to show up in the world this year. State it in the present tense, as though it’s already a fact. Here’s mine: “In 2024, I am God’s richly-rewarded Prosperity Messenger: Magnetic, Intuitive, Confident, Peaceful, Joyous, Patient, Empowering, Faith-Filled, Loving and Giving. I attract effortlessly WHO I AM and everything I desire.”

By declaring who you want to be in the present tense, you will automatically begin to become this person. The qualities and attributes you begin to embody will then attract the right people and resources to manifest your Big Dreams with ease.  As the Law of Attraction states, “energy attracts like energy.”  So whatever qualities you cultivate in yourself will show up in those who will be attracted to you – in business, friendship, romantic relationship – everywhere!

STEP THREE: List the main areas of life that are important to you.  Then simply state what you desire to have in each area this year.  Remember, you do not have to know HOW you are going to get those desires fulfilled!  Each dream you describe is simply a declaration to God/the Universe that this is what you desire – stated in the present tense, with GRATITIDE, as though it’s already happened.  (NOTE: This “gratitude in advance” wording is a really important part of the format!)

Declaring “I am so grateful that…” above the first one and then describing in a few sentences what you desire in each area of life that is important to you tells your own subconscious mind that it’s already a done deal, as far as you are concerned.  You believe that your Higher Power will figure out the HOW and convey it to you by whatever means are best for YOU. It’s your job to quietly listen for Divine Direction and then take bold action when you get those Divine “leads.”

Visualizing, Declaring and Believing in your dreams being fulfilled before you see any tangible evidence is key to making them a reality.

EXAMPLE YEAR CREATION

A few years ago, one of my clients created an outstandingly simple, clear, graceful and powerful Year Creation – all on a single page, which is much shorter than my own!  I share it as an example of what the format looks like when complete.

Remember, the areas of life she wrote about are the most important to HER; your Big Dreams may be in different areas, which is perfectly fine. If you see something in hers that you would like too, feel free to “borrow” it for your own!

20XX: The Year of Growth, Grace and Grit

 In 20XX, I am a vehicle for dreams to be achieved and goals to be attained: Joyful, Confident, Determined, Enthusiastic, Graceful, Insightful, Loving and Unstoppable. I attract effortlessly WHO I AM and what I love.

I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT….

Love and Family: I love spending time with my husband and daughters learning about the world. We vacation often and have incredible trips where we learn, enjoy and explore amazingness. We have time to enjoy each other and be fully present, but we also take time for ourselves. We love each other deeply, have thoughtful conversations, celebrate our success and help each other through the failures.

Business:  I am so grateful for the excitement, challenges and rewards that my skin care business gives to me every day. I am the leader of an amazing team and have very loyal customers who feel appreciated. I get time every day to work and inspire the men and women on my team.  It will be a source of joy that radiates into every aspect of my life including my primary career. At convention, I am wearing my blue, blingy lanyard and I am so thrilled to be a part of the leadership summit!!

Friendship: My friends are so very important to me. I have time every day to check in on everyone – a phone call or a series of texts. I’m so very grateful for their love and humor!  We find time at least once a month to all go out together for dinner or movies and drinks! We are there to support each other through hard times and celebrations!

Health: I am eating healthier and feeling great. My morning walks are a time for ME. Sometimes it is for reflection, listening to a podcast or an early morning phone call with a friend on the east coast. I wake up every morning excited to go out and hit the road. My husband is cooking fantastic meals!

Self-Care: My mental state is clear and focused; my stress levels are low. I am able to attend my monthly meetings with other women entrepreneurs where we can help each other with whatever we need in life and in our businesses. I take time to read 30 minutes every day in peace and quiet. I have conversations with friends who feel similarly to me about what we learn, feel and think.  The Law of Attraction is so present in my life that it is a natural part of my time – all of the time.

 What matters most to YOU right now? 

Think of your 2024 Year Creation exercise like a Vision Board that uses words instead of pictures. Nothing is required of you. You don’t have to make an action plan or a to-do list from the heartfelt intentions you wrote! All you need to do is EXPRESS GRATITUDE IN ADVANCE to your Higher Power for it and BELIEVE it will show up for you at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

Some of my clients like to read their New Year Creation at the beginning of each week or the first day of a new month, just to stay emotionally connected to it. But you could put yours away in a drawer and not take it out until next New Years Day– and you will be amazed that your own subconscious mind has been working with your Higher Power throughout the year to create opportunities for you to make your Big Dreams a reality.

That’s the Law of Attraction in action! So don’t delay — The BEST year of your life (so far) is just waiting for you to create it!

PLEASE NOTE: To give you some time to finish the Reflections and Year Creation exercises, the blog is taking the next two weeks off and will return with a fresh Cup of Caroll on Sunday, February 4.

****************** Give the Gift of Dreams Fulfilled! ********************

This New Year, give a friend, colleague or yourself a truly unique gift that can be life-changing: a ONE HOUR “Success Breakthrough” coaching session by phone.  It is absolutely F*R*E*E* with no strings attached! To schedule this F*R*E*E* session, email me at caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com ASAP, as I book up fast!

If you would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to my website https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and fill in your name and email at the top.

 

Paying it Forward Pays – Blog 489

December 10, 2023

“The willingness to share does not make one charitable; it makes one free.” – Robert Brault

I hope you enjoyed all the wonderful stories in the last blog about the variety of creative ways many of my readers found to participate in my annual Pay it Forward Challenge. (See “You Brought the Joy” – Blog 488). 

I hope to share many more such stories to make you smile in my final blog for the year. So, if you have done a big or small kindness for someone this Holiday Season (or are planning to), please email me your story ASAP so I can include it in next Sunday’s blog.

My goal in sharing readers’ PIF stories is to inspire others to do something kind or generous for someone else – even just putting a smile on their face. This is how we can each demonstrate our own personal gratitude for all the blessings that we have experienced this year.  Paying it Forward is more than just feeling “thankful.” It puts your gratitude into ACTION that can change lives in ways you may not imagine.

I recently came across a post that highlights how expressing your gratitude can benefit YOU in concrete ways, too. I quote verbatim from it here:

How to practice gratitude this holiday season

By The Salvation Army of Orange County (usw.salvationarmy.org)

“Have you ever noticed how grateful people tend to be the happiest people?  Practicing gratitude focuses your attention on what you have as opposed to what you don’t and helps to remind you of all the good in your life. Therefore, learning how to practice gratitude is one of the best things you can do for yourself and one of the easiest ways to increase your happiness. By slowing down and making space for gratitude, you will become more attuned to the Lord’s loving provision in your life.

“Here are some things you can do to feel great by being grateful:

• Start by keeping a notebook and writing down three things you are grateful for each day. Journaling is one of the best ways to keep track of all of life’s blessings.
• Say what you are grateful for out loud because hearing yourself say it helps cement it to memory.
• Try to thank someone each day since showing appreciation for others will add joy to both their day and yours.”

These are all great suggestions for putting more gratitude into your life.  And, in keeping with The Law of Attraction (“energy attracts like energy”), it’s said that gratitude is the #1 positive emotion for attracting MORE good things into your life.

But with a Pay it Forward act of kindness or generosity toward someone else, I believe you are doing even MORE to put the power of gratitude into action for yourself, as well as for the recipient.

By all means, we should establish a regular personal practice of expressing our appreciation for all the good things that come to us. AND I hope you also will choose to spread that GOOD further by bestowing some on others.

As I mentioned in the last blog, one of the ways my wonderful husband Rick and I like to put our gratitude into action is helping deserving dogs in need of a good home through volunteering with The Little Red Dog, our favorite local grassroots rescue organization (that recently started also rescuing kitties).  I help by walking rescued dogs five days a week, and Rick helps with transporting the pups to adoption events, vet appointments, and meet-and-greets with potential adoptive families. We also donate as much as we can to them because the need is so great, especially right now, with animal shelters overflowing with surrendered and abandoned pets.

In the last blog, I wrote about “Lupin,” a wonderful young pup being fostered near me that I walk regularly. He is a handsome husky-mix with beautiful blue eyes and the most winning combination of enthusiasm and obedience I have ever seen in a rescue. Rick and I drove Lupin 45 minutes each way to participate in a virtual adoption event a few weeks ago. Our hope was that spotlighting him on The Little Red Dog’s YouTube channel would catch the attention of a potential adoptive family.

The Little Red Dog currently cares for over 100 rescues with a very small staff and a few dozen volunteers, so it was easy for Lupin to be overlooked, especially since he was housed away from their new facility where the pups get regularly showcased in daily videos posted to social media.

For the better part of a year, Lupin has been housed in his own large pen in a heated/cooled garage, along with two other rescue pups. While the accommodations, vet care, food and regular daily walks provided for him were 100% better than what he would get at a shelter, it was not the same as being inside a family home, with all the attention, love, exercise and socialization he deserves. For weeks, I had been telling him on our walks that I was SURE that God was working on finding him the perfect adoptive family so he could be “Home for the Holidays.”  He seemed to understand.

After the adoption event was posted on YouTube, nothing happened immediately for him.  But this is the Season for Miracles, so I kept praying daily and turning the “How” details over to God. The more I told Lupin that I had absolute faith he was going to be inside a real family home by Christmas, the stronger my own belief became.

This past Tuesday, after I walked Lupin in the morning, telling him once again that I was SO happy he was going to be “home for the Holidays,” I got a text in the afternoon from the woman who generously has turned her family’s garage into his makeshift kennel.  It said simply, “Lupin went to a foster home today.” I was stunned.

When I checked with PJ Rosch, the co-founder of The Little Red Dog, she told me that the family who took him in were seasoned fosters for them. Their last foster pup had been adopted, so they contacted TLRD asking for a new foster pup that is housetrained, good with other dogs and well-behaved.  That’s Lupin!

I had promised him he would be inside a real home before Christmas with a family to play with him and give him love and exercise.  Just like that, out of the blue, my prayer for Lupin was answered. And, as often happens when we turn the How over to God/The Universe, our heartfelt desire gets fulfilled, but in a different way than we had envisioned.

PJ reminded me, “When a dog gets taken into a real home, their temperament shifts for the positive. Often, soon after they are fostered, they get adopted.  This is the power of fostering.”

As I said, when you put your gratitude to work by helping another being (two-footed or four-footed), it changes lives in ways you cannot imagine.  I will certainly continue to pray for Lupin to have a forever home, but in the meantime, I am SO grateful to know that he really is Home for the Holidays!

Speaking of “Home for the Holidays,” that is the name of the current fundraising campaign for The Little Red Dog. Their goal is to raise “$100,000 by the end of December, which will enable them to rescue 100 more deserving pups (and kitties).  It costs a lot to house and feed them, provide vet care, spay/neuter them etc.  They are currently one third of the way to their goal. So, if you are an animal lover, looking for one more good deed to do to Pay it Forward, you couldn’t find a more worthy 501 C-3 registered non-profit organization than The Little Red Dog.  Here’s their website with all the details.  A donation of ANY size is very welcome and will make a huge difference in a deserving four-footed life this winter: www.thelittlereddog.org

Watch for my final blog of the year next Sunday. I hope to hear from you ASAP with your story of a good deed you have done or are planning to do to participate in our Pay it Forward Challenge. I am sure it will inspire others to participate too. Please email it to  caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com

If you or your friends would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and enter your name and email at the top of the page.

 

For Your Own Good – Blog 485

October 22, 2023

“Everything that has come against you is going to turn out for your good.” – Joel Osteen

On the road to your dreams, you can expect to hit some potholes.

As I work with my coaching clients to help them reach a Big Goal, they often encounter setbacks and obstacles along the way.  When they do, it’s tempting for them to think “Maybe it’s a sign that this goal isn’t right for me!” or “I knew I couldn’t do this! Why did I even try?”

When that happens, I always encourage them to first remain calm and then re-focus their thoughts on what they WANT, not on what they don’t want.

As I have seen with hundreds of clients and in my own life, obstacles and setbacks are really just temporary roadblocks, likely put there to test our belief in ourselves, our dreams and our faith in our Higher Power’s desire and power to help us reach them.

Your human Ego wants to throw in the towel at the first sign of trouble. But if you are willing to stay in faith and keep moving forward, you will almost always see the “bad” situation turn around and then you will realize that the obstacle was really a necessary steppingstone to help you reach a good outcome.

A recent example of this in my own life illustrates the point:

Early one morning, one of our two beloved little rescue pups, Emma Lou, was lying on the floor, just snoozing as usual.  But when she got up, she held her left eye tightly shut and kept it that way for the next hour. Clearly, something was wrong, and I was concerned.

To be honest, my first thought was, “WHY did you have to have this problem on a weekend, Emma?” Unluckily, it was a Saturday morning, and I knew it would be tough to get a vet appointment right away.  But, knowing that we usually get exactly what we EXPECT – for good or for bad — I coached myself to take a breath, close my own eyes and focus my mind on expecting only the BEST outcome.

When I called our vet clinic, the receptionist said the first available appointment was on Wednesday.  When I told her it couldn’t wait that long, she suggested I call around to some other vet clinics we had never been to. Undeterred, I told her I didn’t feel that was a good option for us. That was when she offered to check and see if the vet on duty could squeeze us in the following day.

She could.  So, first thing Sunday, we arrived with Emma, still holding her left eye closed and looking very unhappy. My husband and I were none too happy to be spending our early Sunday morning there, either, but still very grateful to get her seen quickly. Dr. Yoo has a limited schedule there and we had only seen her once or twice before for our pups’ routine check-ups, so I honestly didn’t really remember her.

Emma had just been seen a couple of weeks prior for her annual check-up by a different vet. That eager young woman, probably fresh out of vet school, was very positive and personable.  She noted that Emma had a growth on the outer corner of her left eyelid, and I confirmed that it had been there for at least a couple of years and didn’t seem to be growing or bothering her. The young vet said we could just keep a watch on it, and if it seemed to be causing her any trouble, we could have it removed sometime in the future.

Dr. Yoo is a much more seasoned vet, and after examining her carefully, she said Emma had an ulcer in her left eye. The growth on the lid may have caused it or irritated it, but regardless, the growth should come off right away. She said if it grew any larger, it would be more difficult (and expensive) to remove.  Dr. Yoo also noted a new growth on Emma’s rear end. That growth had also been noted by the eager young vet at the routine check-up, who recommended taking a “wait and see” approach with it, too.

Dr. Yoo said the second growth would be relatively easy to remove at the same time, while Emma would already be under anesthesia. But if it grew bigger, it would be tougher on Emma to remove it at a later time.

We scheduled Emma’s dual-end procedure for Wednesday, and she came through with flying colors. Happily, the two growths both turned out to be benign tumors. Dr. Yoo gave her several extra check-ups at no charge to make sure the eye ulcer had healed, and now Emma is as good as new.

We are so grateful that Dr. Yoo was the only vet available to see Emma on a Sunday. Without that annoying “shut eye” episode happening on the weekend, we wouldn’t have known that Emma needed and could get help right away. That vet’s experience and skill ensured a good outcome for Emma.

This episode proved to me, once again, that what looks like “bad news” often turns out to be the BEST thing for us in the end, if we will just wait patiently and keep our belief strong that God/The Universe is working behind the scenes to turn everything into our highest good at the perfect time.

PLEASE NOTE: The blog is taking next weekend off and will return on Sunday, November 5. In the meantime, I wish you and yours a safe and spooky Halloween!

If you or your friends would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and enter your name and email at the top of the page.

*************** Give Yourself the Gift of Dreams Fulfilled! ******************

To schedule a F.R.E.E., no-obligation, ONE HOUR Breakthrough Session of phone coaching that will help clarify your Big Goals and get you into ACTION to make them a reality, please email me at caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com Slots are limited so please act quickly!

 

Something Even Better Part 2 – Blog 482

September 17, 2023

“If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you.  You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” – Mary Pickford

In the last blog, I shared how one of my clients used three key manifesting principles to triumph after suffering for years in the wrong career, only to have an opportunity she thought would become the career of her dreams fall apart too.  She “fell down” but she didn’t STAY down. Ultimately, she joined another company in the same niche that offered her much more than the one that disappointed her.

Now, I want to share with you the updated story of another client, which I first wrote about in August, 2022 (What You Were Made to Do – Blog 443).  She used the same three manifesting principles to create a jaw-dropping triumph out of what looked like a shockingly sudden setback in her ideal career.  Her story holds important lessons for all of us in how to bounce back from a loss (or multiple losses) to create something EVEN better than what we originally had.

At the beginning of her story over a year ago, my client believed she had a bright future right where she was. She and the owner of the small insurance agency where she had worked for years planned that in a couple more years, when the owner retired, my client would take over the business.

That’s why, when a bigger family-owned agency in town approached my client with a better job offer, she turned them down, partly out of loyalty to her boss, and partly because she thought she had a much bigger opportunity where she was.

Unfortunately, her boss didn’t have the same strong work ethic as my client and she began to show signs of “short-timer’s syndrome” – coming in late and leaving early, slacking off in her work and generally appearing to be coasting into retirement.  The whole agency didn’t book as much business as it could have, since my client was generating most of it by herself. Frustrated that she was missing out on monthly bonuses she could have earned, she finally had to face the truth that when it came time for her to purchase the business from her boss, it likely would be much less valuable than what she had imagined.

My client then took my advice and called the family-owned agency that had tried to recruit her months earlier to see if they still had an opening.  The position in residential insurance was filled, but a new opening had just come up on the commercial side, and they were excited to offer it to her, even though she didn’t have any experience in that area. The owners knew she was smart and a hard worker, so they committed to train her and support her in getting leads.

Her salary, commission and benefits were all much better and she was amazed at what a perfect fit her new company was in terms of corporate culture and the owners’ leadership and work ethic. It was hard for her to give notice, but even her old boss admitted the new opportunity was a great one and wished her the best.

My client could have been discouraged when her career “Plan A” didn’t work out. But instead of focusing on the unexpected obstacle, she focused on what she WANTED and humbly revisited the missed opportunity, which turned out to be perfect for her. Even the delay she caused herself turned out to be a godsend, because the new commercial position was MORE lucrative and challenging than the residential position from their original offer.  (Lesson learned: When we stay focused on our Big Goal and trust Divine Timing, we usually find that a delay simply means something EVEN better is being prepared for us.)

Now, exactly one year after joining the family-owned agency, here’s the surprising update on what happened to my client:

Like my other client in last week’s blog, this client had an unexpected medical condition come up that had to be dealt with. Her boss and co-workers were very supportive. The needed procedure wasn’t an emergency, so she planned to take three weeks off to recuperate at home at the end of August.

But her intuition nudged her to move up the procedure to “get it over with,” so she had it done at the end of July instead.  Her three-week recovery went well, and her boss assured her all was fine at the office, and they were looking forward to her return.

On her first morning back, she got a huge shock: In the few weeks she had been gone, the family owners of the agency got a surprise offer and decided to sell to a major East Coast insurance company.  The family didn’t tell any of the other staff until the day of her return that my client and all her co-workers would be laid off at the end of August.

Fortunately, she kept her cool and asked if she might apply to the new agency that was taking over the facility.  Yes, she could.  The corporate HR person they sent to do initial screening interviews was not particularly warm and welcoming, but my client used the positive mindset tools she learned in our coaching to expect the BEST and focus only on being HER best.

She then had the opportunity to interview with the female Vice President, and they hit it off well. After her year of challenging training on the much more complicated commercial side, it turned out that the new company didn’t have any openings in that department.  However, the Vice President told her they would be pleased to have her stay on with them in residential insurance, which was my client’s original area of expertise for many years.

The only sticking point was the same as for my client in last week’s blog: compensation. She had been eagerly awaiting her one-year raise review in September, which was now off the table. The salary offered her to start, while more than she had been making, was less than she believed she deserved, given her years of experience with residential insurance.

She told me she did a lot of mindset work, especially in focusing on expecting the BEST outcome, and wrote a strong email to the VP making her case for a larger starting salary. “I was at peace, using all the tools you taught me. I had confidence and sold myself.”

The Vice President didn’t hesitate to accept her counteroffer, which gave her a $15,000 raise over her current salary PLUS commissions. In fact, the whole package was more than she would have dreamed of getting from the family agency, including four weeks’ vacation, more breaks during the day, and a matching funds retirement plan.

Even though some of her former co-workers expressed concern that the new agency’s more formal corporate culture would be challenging to work for after enjoying the easy-going “family” atmosphere, my client looked only at the positive side. She told them, “I know I can make a difference.  I am going to be the change.  I will help them see things differently.”

I was SO proud of her!  She used the same three key principles for manifesting any heartfelt Big Goal as my client did in last week’s blog to transform what could have been a devastating loss into an EVEN BETTER outcome for herself (with considerable support from God/The Universe, of course).

To recap, here again are those three keys to manifesting ANYTHING you desire:

1)         First and foremost, focus on what you WANT, not on what you don’t want.  She knew she wanted to keep her job and to make the most of a difficult situation that was not of her making. She focused ONLY on the positives that the change offered her and didn’t let others’ naysaying pull her down. She expected only the BEST to come to her and she got it.

2)         Secondly, when things don’t seem to be panning out, don’t give up.  Stay patient and trust that there are forces working behind the scenes on your behalf and that everything will sort itself out in due time. She didn’t let herself be discouraged by the unexpected loss of what she thought was already the “best” and allowed Divine guidance to lead her to create something  better for herself.

3)         Finally, have the courage to ASK for what you truly believe you deserve. Even though my client very much wanted the position, she didn’t settle for the initial offer.  She knew she could provide beyond-expectations value, and after her strong email, the Vice President believed her and happily agreed.

When faced with apparent failure and disappointment, if you will follow these key principles as both my clients did, you, too, can watch God/The Universe work on your behalf to bring you something EVEN better than what you thought was possible!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The blog is taking next week off.  Look for your next fresh Cup of Caroll on Sunday, October 1.

If you or your friends would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and enter your name and email at the top of the page.

*************** Give Yourself the Gift of Dreams Fulfilled! ******************

To schedule a F.R.E.E., no-obligation, ONE HOUR Breakthrough Session of phone coaching that will help clarify your Big Goals and get you into ACTION to make them a reality, please email me at caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com  Slots are limited so please act quickly!

 

Something Even Better – Blog 481

September 10, 2023

“Many of us are afraid to follow our passions, to pursue what we want most because it means taking risks and even facing failure.  But to pursue your passion with all your heart and soul is success in itself. The greatest failure is to have never really tried.” – Robyn Allen

This past week was a very fulfilling one for me as a Personal Success Coach, because I got to see two of my wonderful clients succeed BIG in their careers. Both women received something EVEN better than they had expected because both dared to follow their passions and believe they were worthy to receive the BEST.

I have told both their stories in past blogs, but this week brought some stunning, delightful updates which none of us could have foreseen.  I wanted to share the latest twists to their stories with you because they hold important lessons for all of us who seek to manifest our Big Goals with greater speed and ease.

My first client’s story about a career change that resulted from a serious health challenge was first told in October 2022 (From Patient to Physician – Blog 450).  She came to coaching because her high-paying, high-powered career was stressing her physically, mentally and emotionally.  She needed to make a change but wasn’t clear on what she might do next. She has a lot of marketing experience and great people skills, but the only job offers she was getting from her online resume were in the same field she wanted to exit.

After using the mindset tools I taught her to overcame her fears and limiting beliefs, she began to get clarity that what she really loved was the field of health care, but she was unsure what specific capacity she could serve in.  She knew she wasn’t up for going back to school to get a nursing or other degree in a whole new field. She had always wanted to help patients, especially elderly people, who were facing daunting challenges with the complexities of the health care system because of her own past experience helping her mother navigate the medical “maze” that comes with a cancer diagnosis. She wasn’t sure what direction she should take to start.

Then one day I received a mailing from a daily devotional I subscribe to which included an advertisement that caught my eye.  It was from a home health care assistance company that helps patients (including seniors) live independently in their own homes by providing the medical and emotional support they need.  They were looking for new staff members in various capacities, and even though I suspected the pay would be far below her current position, I thought it might be something my client could look into, as a place to start.

She was intrigued and ended up interviewing with a man who owned one of the franchise offices for the company that was located just a few miles from her home.  She and the owner hit it off immediately.  As they discussed her unique marketing skills, the owner came up with the idea of creating a position they hadn’t even advertised for — a new marketing position to help them grow faster through cultivating relationships with hospitals, nursing homes and other organizations that can refer new clients. Knowing his franchise operation was still too small to pay her what she was worth, the owner said he would propose to four other franchisees in the same county area that they might share my client’s marketing services for all of their locations.

There were a lot of details that would need to be worked out with this unique “shared” approach, and he told her it would take some time. He said, “I can’t promise anything” but he really wanted her, so he would try to put it together.  Initially, that was fine with her because she had been dealing with a serious health challenge that came up unexpectedly.  The one “bright spot” was that it required her to take an extended leave of absence from her current job to rest and recuperate at home.  The owner was happy to wait until she was ready to work.

During her recuperation, she realized what a great weight had lifted from her by being away from her stressful job.  She re-connected with her family, took better care of herself physically, had time to do more spiritual and personal development, and although her body was taking a long time to heal, she was truly thriving in so many ways.

Finally, after a far longer recuperation than she or her doctors had anticipated, she re-contacted the owner of the home health care franchise to see what the status was.  He still hadn’t made much progress at bringing the other owners on board in a concrete way.  They were open to the idea, but they still had not hammered out any of the details yet.  Again, he asked her to be patient and he would “try his best” to get a job description and salary offer put together in the next few weeks.

She was understandably disappointed. This had seemed like her “dream job” – at least as an entry into the field where her heart told her she belonged.  Yet, with months to put something together, this owner she liked and wanted to work with had proven that he was fairly overwhelmed with the day-to-day functions of his business and hadn’t made hiring her a priority.  She had to get back to some kind of paid position, so she reluctantly agreed to return to her old stressful job, but only on a part-time basis while she sorted things out.

My client and I were both puzzled as to why God/The Universe had seemed to lead her directly to this new opportunity, and yet it now seemed to be unravelling. I reminded her to keep expecting The Best outcome, and to be patient while the Divine details took time to emerge.  We both trusted that whatever was happening “behind the scenes” would surely end up being for her Highest Good.

Then, I got another “out of the blue” home health care advertisement online – this time from my own provider, Kaiser.  It recommended a different franchise chain that also had offices throughout our local area.  Something nudged me to forward it to my client, even though I didn’t know if she would be open to exploring this same niche again, given her disappointing first foray.

She surprised me by jumping right on it.  She found an opening that seemed like a good fit for her in an office that was even closer to her home than the other franchise’s and uploaded her resume and a strong cover letter.  She got an immediate call from the HR person and had several great interviews, including with the owner.  It turned out that particular owner was a woman and all her staff were women.  They all loved her and she loved them from the get-go.

In a little over one week, she went from applying to having the owner come to meet her during her lunch hour and offer her the job.  My client was elated.  The benefits, the training, the support were all better than what the first franchise owner could offer her.  The only sticking point was salary, which was a little lower than she felt she deserved.  She believed in herself and believed she had been Divinely guided to this position, so she countered with what she felt was truly fair.

The owner agreed to her proposed increased salary and bonus structure, sent her a written offer immediately, and my client was able to quickly give her two-week notice to her stressful old job.  The old job’s HR person told her, “I know health care has always been where your heart is.  We will really miss you, but I am so happy for you.”

As for the franchise owner at the first company, he ended up surprised and very sorry that he had foot-dragged too long and lost her. Still, he had gotten the bright marketing idea that his company needs to grow from his discussions with my client, so he benefitted as well. When he is truly ready to hire someone, my client believes the perfect candidate will appear for him, too.

Here are some useful take-aways for all of us from my client’s experience at manifesting a heartfelt, long-shot Big Goal:

• First and foremost, focus on what you WANT, not on what you don’t want. She knew the field she wanted to be in. So, even though she didn’t have any direct experience in it, she believed that the dream in her heart was purposeful and God/the Universe would find a way to help her fulfill it.  She worked daily on building her BELIEF – in her Big Goal, in her Higher Power and in herself and her value.
• Secondly, when things don’t seem to be panning out, don’t give up. Stay patient and trust that there are forces working behind the scenes on your behalf and that everything will sort itself out in due time. Even if it’s not on OUR timetable, we must trust that the Divine Plan always unfolds at exactly the right time. When she was fully ready to go back to work, her REAL Dream Job appeared “out of the blue,” ready for HER.
• Finally, have the courage to ASK for what you truly believe you deserve. Even though my client very much wanted the position, she didn’t settle for the initial offer. She knew she could provide beyond-expectations value, and after their conversation, the owner believed her and happily agreed.

When faced with apparent failure and disappointment, if you will follow these principles as my client did, you too can watch God/The Universe work on your behalf to bring you something EVEN better than what you thought you wanted!

NEXT WEEK: In Part 2, I will tell you the jaw-dropping story of how my second client turned an apparent career tragedy into triumph for herself by following these same principles.  Stay tuned!

If you or your friends would like your own free subscription to receive this blog three Sundays a month, just go to https://practicalprosperitycoach.com and enter your name and email at the top of the page.

*************** Give Yourself the Gift of Dreams Fulfilled! ******************

To schedule a F.R.E.E., no-obligation, ONE HOUR Breakthrough Session of phone coaching that will help clarify your Big Goals and get you into ACTION to make them a reality, please email me at caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com Slots are limited so please act quickly!

 

Perfect Timing – Blog 478

August 6, 2023

“Set your sights high, the higher the better.  Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future, but right now.  Realize that nothing is too good.  Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way. – Eileen Caddy

The manifesting lesson my client learned in last week’s blog (You Are Ready for Great – Blog 477) is that you never have to worry about HOW your Big Goals are going to be fulfilled.  You just have to ASK for what you want and BELIEVE that it is possible and leave the rest to God/The Universe to work out the details.  When we are willing to surrender the HOW, what we want often comes to us in ways we never would have thought of, even seemingly “out of blue,” without any specific action on our part. 

You will recall that client was doing her very best in her new position to use the right mindset and energy to attract the clients that would triple the income she was making in a commission-only business.  Then “out of the blue,” a new position came and found her.  Someone had given her name to a recruiter for a much bigger company in a different niche of her industry, one that she was very familiar with. If you believe in the Law of Attraction (“energy attracts like energy”), as I do, you will see that her faith, her consistently positive attitude and her service-focused actions had everything to do with it coming to her.

Now, I want to share a similar story about another coaching client of mine which also features a surprising “out of the blue” answer to a Big Goal.  And it also illustrates another specific advantage to leaving the HOW up to your Higher Power – Divine Timing, which we can trust is always perfect. 

This client and I had been working together to manifest a well-paying job that could provide for her immediate needs, while allowing her time to pursue her dream of creating her own fulfilling creative business. Her ultimate Big Goal was to become her own boss, doing creative work she loves, with great income potential, that also allows her the time freedom to spend with her family. 

She had been working for a number of years in fundraising for a private school and, although she didn’t particularly like the pressures of that job, she was nevertheless blindsided and hurt when they called her toward the end of the school year and told her they were eliminating the position. 

In our coaching, we worked on helping her to maintain a positive mindset after that blow. While she felt relieved to be out of the pressure cooker, she still felt understandably de-valued.  Thankfully, she embraced the positive mindset tools I gave her and continued to scour online postings for any type of position that might use her skills.

Over the summer, she found a listing for a similar fundraising position at a private school that looked like it would be a great fit for her. The position was hybrid, allowing her to work from home three days a week and come into the office two days. The campus was beautiful and she liked the school’s educational philosophy.

Because it was part-time, she knew the pay wouldn’t cover all her needs, but she saw it as an opportunity to use her extra time to work on creating a business of her own and to spend time with her family and pick up her young son from school every day.  The interview went well, and it seemed to have many positives to it.  She courageously asked for a substantial increase in the offered pay and they accepted.

Unfortunately, when she started in the fall, things turned out to be not nearly as ideal as she had envisioned.  The desk they gave her was right in the middle of the open office, making it very hard for her to concentrate.  She had to learn new software and got conflicting instructions from different staff on what they wanted her to do on different projects. Worst of all, her supervisor often gave her extra tasks like shopping for and serving food at events that were not in her job description and took up a sizeable chunk of her allotted 20 hours a week, making her feel pressured to put in extra unpaid time just to keep up with her assigned projects.

She began to really dread going into the chaotic office, and didn’t get much feedback from her supervisor, so she wasn’t even confident that they liked her work. She continued to look for a new position online, but anything that interested her was at a fraction of her pay or wouldn’t allow her flexibility to pick up her son from school.

In an unhappily deja-vu scenario from one year before, the school let her know in May that they would be terminating her position at the end of June and replacing it with a new position in the fall that combined her current position with another part-time position.  It would be full-time and offered a salary that was very tempting. Her husband was all for it because of the big salary, but she was secretly dreading the idea of having all the current drawbacks now take up ALL of her time.

And, to her further surprise, while they offered her a chance to interview for the new position, they were interviewing other candidates as well.  We both agreed this was NOT the “Ideal Career” position she has been seeking, but to honor her husband’s wishes, she reluctantly agreed to at least interview for it.

Meanwhile, we re-doubled our efforts to engage the power of the Law of Attraction and to seek Divine Guidance to connect her to something ideal before the end of June, when she would be out of work, with no immediate prospects to get her though the summer financially. She kept putting feelers out to her contacts and looking online, but nothing was showing up.  In a definite step of faith, she invested several hundred dollars in an online course to help her start her own creative business.

Soon after, “out of the blue” someone she plays tennis with asked if she would be interested in a newly-created part-time fundraising position at a school right in her town.  The woman knew about it because her son attends that school.  The friend introduced her to the incoming board president and my client realized they knew each other from years ago. 

After a great interview, they were eager to offer her the position, promising her complete autonomy and the ability to work entirely from home.  Everything seemed ideal except the hourly pay, which was much less than she was making now. She bravely countered with a figure that was much MORE than she was currently making and they accepted. 

About that time, her current school sent her a letter stating with “deep regret” that they had chosen another candidate for the new full-time position.  With perfect synchronicity, in the middle of her last paid month at the old job she didn’t want, she was offered the new job she really wanted.

After a couple of weeks off for vacation with her family, my client started her new position in July, and got her first paycheck.  True to their word, the board members are showing her professional respect and appreciation by allowing her complete autonomy to set up everything the way she believes it should be.  She also has time to pick up her son from school and to complete her online training to start her new creative business on the side.

Not only did the HOW come “out of the blue” from a completely surprising place, but it arrived just as she was completing one job and ready for a new, much better one. 

That is what happens when we willingly follow the simple, proven formula for manifesting anything we desire: ASK, BELIEVE, surrender the HOW to your Higher Power, expect the BEST, and be ready to gratefully RECEIVE it in the perfect way, and at the perfect time – which is never one minute too early or too late.

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To schedule a F*R*E*E*, no-obligation ONE HOUR Breakthrough Session of phone coaching that will help you clarify your Big Goals and get you into ACTION to make them a reality, please email me at caroll@practicalprosperitycoach.com today.  Slots are limited, so please act quickly!