It's Not You, (Really) It's Me

Holy Hannah - sometimes I freak myself out! I just flipped through my notebook for a client quote to include in this new post I was going to write, and happened to run across the list I made a few months ago of what I wanted in my next web developer.

I just now realized the person I hired last month is all that AND a bag of chips!! I mean, to read this page and a half list of traits including:

• personable
• so knowledgeable
• great reputation
• very responsive
• proactive
• supportive
• tactful
• great new ideas
• 'gets' me
• loves animals
• refers perfect clients my way
• teaches me
• gives extra value
• is fun to work with
• easy to understand
• goes the extra mile
• appreciates my business

... I mean I go on and on. You'd think I was ordering up the impossible!! Or at least the very unlikely!

But here she is in real living life - working on MY site & blog. (& ecourse. I'm getting her in on that ecourse someday, too.)

I got exactly what I wanted. It's freaky! Even after all this time, it still amazes me how we get just what we ask for. In REALLY strange ways!! (If she gives me the good word to share her contact info, I'm all over it.)

WOW.

I had one majorly screwed up vibe on web people for a while. After my fourth service provider, I realized - hello - it's not them; it's me. So before I hired my fifth person I knew I had some cleaning up to do.

Which I've been aware of all year long. I was easy on myself for this work. I didn't require overnight change; rather gave myself plenty of time to develop a new expectation and thought pattern about web people.

Which is also why my site doesn't give a link to this blog - that's how long I've been out a web person.

(What are they really called? It's probably not "web person." Sorry, web people! Web designer? Web maintainer? Web expert? I don't know.)

Anyway, I'm officially proclaiming myself free and clear of that old vibe, and LOVING the new one I've got going!! WOO HOO!!

Does that mean everything will go perfectly from here on out? Well, probably, but I'm not going to be flustered if it doesn't. Sometimes there are bumps in the road; that's fine, it won't cause me careening off the path if we hit one.

Okay, I'll get back to the post I was really going to type up.

Before I go, let me ask what vibe are you cleaning up? Have you got one that consistently delivers what you don't want? Maybe you get incompetent wait service or ..

... oh, stop me now! lol ... I was just about to list a whole bunch of possibilities of what we might have bad vibes on. (No need to activate THAT.)

You are spared!

Bottom line, if you've got a subject that consistently brings trauma or drama to your life, consider perhaps it's not them - but rather your vibe that's responsible. Let them off the hook, clean up your vibe, and move on to the good stuff. It's all waiting there for us when we just take the time to get aligned. : )

Deliberate Creation: Take 2

After receiving an unprecedented number of personal emails (thanks, everyone) following the last post about recreating reality with my neighbor, I thought it would be helpful to offer another less dramatic example.

We all have small opportunities sprinkled throughout every day to show our commitment to the life we want. Sometimes those are the easier ones to start playing with, rather than the big deal that's got us tied up in knots.

Thursday I experienced a new challenge at the computer. Emails were coming in, but nothing was going out. My outbox was filling up, and each time I would try to send another email, I'd get another error message about being unable to connect to the server, or something to that effect.

After 20 minutes or so, my concern grew. I make a living by phone and email, so to not have email access is more than a minor inconvenience. I'd never experienced this problem before. It definitely wasn't my internet provider, because I was online and receiving emails just fine. Tried researching Windows Mail help. Sheesh. I should know better. It gave me a couple of suggestions that seemed irrevelevant and the fixes they offered didn't make a bit of difference. I shut the whole thing off, and rebooted. Still nothing going out.

I started wondering who I could call that could walk me through an easy fix. Everyone I thought of would have been happy to help, but I "knew" they wouldn't be available immediately. Plus, I have a tendency to prefer not to ask for help.

So then my frustration grew right alongside concern.

I started thinking about whose fault it was that there was a breakdown here. I thought about Microsoft, Geek Squad, and Comcast always gets thrown in this group, too, when I go down this road ...

I wondered about recent emails I'd received and tried to reply to, thinking maybe one of those was the culprit.

All the while the clock's ticking, and my anxiety is growing. Clients expect to hear back from me within a certain period of time. What if this was more than just temporary? What if ... ?

Then I got conscious to what I was flowing.

Frustration, worry, tension, anxiety.

How's a solution supposed to show up when THAT'S what I'm flowing?

Right, it can't.

I've got to get to relief, easy, smooth, pleased.

So I walked away. I took a shower, which always seems to help clean the vibe up. During the shower I smiled my big smile for seeing my outbox empty and everything flowing again just the way it usually does. I said out loud, "Ah! I KNEW it!" and imagined my pleasure with myself for remembering to shift the vibe.

After the shower, I thought about checking in on computer. "Ah, give it another minute," I thought. Meaning give ME another minute to get really solid on "this thing works great."

I swapped out a load of laundry and gave the dogs a treat, remembering to feel my "relief" vibe about the outgoing email.

Then I came back to the computer. "All is well," I reminded myself, as I sat back down. I could really feel it - not just a pretend "all is well" vibe - but a sincere one. (I get there pretty easy because I practice this one a lot. It gets easier the more you practice it.)

And sure enough, all was well. The outbox was empty, everything was in sent mail just as it belongs, and we were in business again. I couldn't explain what changed - except my vibration. Which is all that matters.

It doesn't matter whether we're shifting the vibe to create world peace or make it through the next green light - it's the same process. Remember what you want, feel how that feels, and relax.

This is what deliberate creation is all about, right? Flex your muscles, and have fun with the process. It will lead you to a whole new world. :)

Leaving Reality Behind

I've got three clients telling the same story: "I can't get the relationship I want." (Hmm, note to self: am I flowing any of that? When it shows up repeatedly on the outside, it's worth looking within to see if I'm vibing it too.)

But these LOA savvy people have a long list of reasons to back up that "truth." You know those reasons, right? "I've never been able to attract the kind of person I want." "There aren't any honest men left." "The women I meet are only interested in my money," etc.

Many of us have used similar "reasons" at some point to stay stuck in our story of reality.

I got stuck recently. My reason for being there was my mentally unstable drug dealing neighbor made multiple death threats against several of us in one weekend (including the vet who came over to euthanize my cat). My neighbor was the reason I was upset, angry, frustrated, and vengeful. And I had good reason to be (can you hear me stuck on it?). Here were some of them:

He was training his dog to kill my cats, laughed out loud when he knew he'd woken me up in the middle of the night, deals and does drugs in his front yard in the middle of the day (and night), tried to engage my boyfriend in a duel, swears at his grandmother when he catches her talking to me, threatened to kill me, drives recklessly down the street while kids are out playing ... the guy is truly off-kilter.

The "truth," as I told the detective, was that this guy was a drug dealing addict who respected no one (including the police) and was a danger to everyone in the neighborhood.

My list of reasons was long and well-documented by the police. My other neighbors had similar reasons too - which made it even more true. It wasn't just me - lots of us felt that way! And we reinforced it with each other. The "reality" was we were dealing with a dangerous psychopath who could take all of us out at any moment.

So that's where I was. Can you feel what a strong story I had going?

And I know how this works. I know that as long as I'm flowing anger, frustration and other negative vibes, that's all I can attract -more experiences that inspire more anger and frustration.

I know that as I continue to send this energy out, I continue this same reality.

And I know that to change the reality, I have to change my energy.

So before I have any "reason" to feel differently, I have to find a way to start feeling differently. Or I'll be stuck here forever.

I know moving isn't the answer, because I'll just take my "hate my neighbor" vibe with me, and voila -there will be a new problem neighbor wherever I go.

My work is right here. With my best next door teacher.

What do I want? That's the question I (sometimes) remember to go to when I'm tired of feeling awful.

Well, I want Peace, Quiet, Appreciation, and Love. I write these words down on a sticky note. They're still taped to my computer terminal as I type this, even.

That's what I want. How does that feel? I conjure up feelings of peace, quiet, appreciation and love. Okay, I got it. That feels good. That's what I'm after. That's a good start to shifting the energy.

And two hours later the neighbor is cursing at my dogs who are barking while he conducts business in his front yard with yet another shady character. As I connect with feelings of anger and resentment and fear again, I remind myself what I'm creating. That's not what I want.

What I want is peace, quiet, appreciation and love. I can get there. Even here, while I'm in the midst of something that would normally inspire very different feelings, I can get there. Because I'm in charge of how I feel. I'm in charge of what I create.

I talk myself to a better place. I conjure up the good feelings again. All is well. It's okay, Jeannette. He's just here to give you practice. It's all good. Where would you get a better teacher than this?! Tough to imagine. God bless him for being willing to wear the black hat to teach you unconditional love.

Sometimes I could go with those thoughts. Sometimes it was more like, "He's digging his own grave and can't last much longer," or "That sounds like a nasty cough - maybe he'll get sick enough to die" or "Maybe he'll move in with his new girlfriend" or "The recidivism rate is 87% for h*ll's sake, it's just a matter of time before he's back in prison."

So it wasn't always love and light, but I regularly practiced talking myself into a better feeling place. For weeks. I certainly didn't get there overnight.

And I've been getting better at it. I can feel the difference.

I knew that if I could consistently get on the vibe of Peace and Appreciation and Love, that he couldn't continue the way he has been. I thought he'd end up in prison or the morgue or at least someone else's neighborhood.

But I was wrong.

Over these last few weeks I practiced finding my way out of frustration and anger to Peace, Appreciation and Love. Late Monday night I got a phone call from him.

He spent five minutes apologizing for being a bad neighbor, asking my forgiveness, promising to change (including seeking out mental health support), and wanting me to know that he respects me and would never hurt me or anyone I loved or any of my property. He was in tears within seconds of talking, and so was I after we hung up.

There it is.

There's the Peace, Appreciation and Love I've been calling in. I didn't think he was lined up for it, but I was wrong.

I knew he meant it when he said it, and the next day he had a dramatic opportunity to prove it.

The German Shepherd he's been trying to train to kill my cats actually had a prime opportunity to do so. She took off like a bat out of hell when she spotted Elsa (Russ' favorite) across the street, and Elsa ran like her tail was on fire, and then my neighbor followed suit faster than both of them. He ran after his dog like his life depended on it, because he did NOT want a bad ending for my cat, certainly not at the jaws of his dog. I loved him for his sincerity.

We've turned a corner. I can easily feel the Peace and Appreciation and Love. Even as he's chasing down his dog chasing down my cat (who easily found a safe spot). Nothing but love for a guy that I ... well, didn't easily find love for before.

We live with our best teachers. Mine has taught me even better how to flow what I want, even in the midst of a very contrary reality. (Dad reminded me at lunch this from Carolyn Myss: "Your task is to learn the lesson that the teacher has for you rather than to resent the teacher.")

For my clients who continue to repeat the reasons they can't get the relationships they want - they have the same work ahead of them. Finding a way to feel what they want before they have any reason to. That's the deliberate creation work for ALL of us.

Once you're there vibrationally, the Universe MUST yield to you. And it will seem like a miracle when it does. :)

Feeling the Universe's Humor?

During yesterday's group course session, my coach partner, Amy, told a story about how she used to wish for fame when she was little. She distinctly recalls growing up with the desire that everyone across the globe would know her name.

Her maiden name was Scott. Years later she married a guy (with THE sexiest voice I've ever heard, by the way) whose last name is Grant. Which officially made her Amy Grant.

Not what she had in mind!! lol (Most reading this blog have likely heard of Grammy winning Amy Grant.) So my partner got her wish for having a name that everyone knew. Just not how she intended.

Her point in the story was:

Did she get what she wanted? No.

Did she get what she asked for? Yes.

I'm inclined to believe that Universe knows our true desires, and doesn't play games like this with us often.

But I realized Universe is playing with me along these same lines, too.

I've been toying with the idea of a new residence. One of the things I would love in a new place is dirt paths instead of cement sidewalks. Gravel drives instead of concrete driveways, and natural growing native plants rather than perfectly manicured landscaping. Squirrels, and neighbors that wave howdy each time we pass, whether we know each other or not.

Over the last week, I realize I got what I asked for, although not remotely what I had in mind.

My two young dogs have taken a toll on this yard that my senior dogs didn't. Whereas my senior girls kept an eye on the neighborhood from the porch, these pups run up and down the fence line which ensures no grass grows. In fact, on most days their muddy feet track dirt at least halfway up the cement path leading to the front door. Voila ... my dirt path.

And no matter how many walks they get, they dig like nobody's business. Which turns up a fair number of rocks, which somehow end up on the driveway. Not exactly what I had in mind for a gravel driveway ...

I met with a friend a couple blocks from my house at the library the other day, and saw a squirrel run across the traffic-packed road. (I think he made it across okay.) So there's my city squirrel.

It gets better ...

Since we've had trouble with one of the residents on the street, more neighbors stop by to chat than used to. My neighborhood's getting closer, although I didn't expect it would come about from having a drug dealing person in our midst. And on a dog walk today, several trucks passed us and responded in kind to my "howdy" wave.

So as far as Universe is considered, it can cross me off its "to do" list. Mission accomplished.

Got what she asked for.

While I appreciate the evidence that I've been heard and answered so succinctly, I recognize some clarity about what I really want might come in handy.

"A more relaxed lifestyle, closer connection to nature, surrounded by easy-going people."

Then my question becomes: What makes me think I have to move for that? Universe already proved its possible right where I am.

So this is where I get to be even MORE clear about what I want. I may just find I've already got what I want - right under my nose.

What are YOU asking for these days?

What's the true essence of that desire? Boil it down to the heart of it and consider letting the Universe deal with the details. Lots of times we micro-manage when we'd be much better off getting clear about what we really want and leaving the nitty gritty details to the Universe. (Or at least not being attached to the details.)

And Amy, if you ever wished for a Grammy on your mantle, just get that husband of yours out in the spotlight. He's got an award-winning voice if ever I heard one! (Just kidding! We all know fame and fortune is your destiny!)

Work Wanted

I liked this story from my girlfriend Anne so much, I asked her permission to share it.

She's been on the job hunt for a couple months now. After joining her boyfriend in California last year, she burned through a couple of different positions that for one reason or another weren't right for her. She's been out of work now for several weeks, and is getting unnerved by her extended unemployment.

Anne wrote the other day, saying she's been searching job listings, sending out resumes, writing cover letters, reviewing web sites, trying to line up interviews, all to no avail. She was frustrated, to say the least.

Her note to me said she recognized she was "needing" this new job, and knew from an LOA perspective that that was keeping it from her. So she was going to work on "believing" it.

But before she got around to that she decided to give herself a break and go see her favorite band perform live. Her boyfriend took her, and even though he's not nearly the fan she is, he stayed for entire concert and they had a really good time. (She's such a big fan that her personal email address is the band's name, and she's travelled the country to see them live! I mean, the band members know her name!)

Can you guess what happens next?

The very next day she got four messages. Three from employers asking to set up interviews, one asking her to come in that same day.

So now she's feeling in "high demand" and her whole vibration is turned around.

What a difference a day makes, huh? Especially a day that includes us doing something that feels fabulous!

You know as well as I do that lots of folks would have given her advice about how to "make it happen" in her job hunt. They'd counsel her to work her network, beef up her resume, or take some other conventional action to make herself more desirable to prospective employers.

Not too many "experts" would suggest a night out with her favorite band for the solution to getting a job.

But that's often exactly what shifts the energy - doing what feels good. Which is what allows our escrow to squeak through our "real life" door.

Congrats, girlfriend, on letting the Universe do some of the heavy lifting. And I know since you pre-paved this next job that it will be a keeper!

PS - that's not say that taking real life conventional action doesn't make a difference in getting what we want. For lots of people, that "real life conventional action" is what shifts the energy, right? We do what we "believe" will work, and that believing is sometimes exactly what creates our vibrational alignment.

It's just a matter of finding your way to what feels best to you. :)

Scripting Miracles

(This is the Scripting story I promised Martha in the Pray Rain Journaling post:)

Once upon a time I was in a lifeless job and dead end relationship. The only love I had in life was volunteering as a foster mom for animal rescue groups.

But my misery in my work and love life bled into my passion, which soon contributed to my first (and I like to think only) nervous breakdown.

For various reasons I'll spare you details on, I had eight big dogs in my 850 sq ft house. EIGHT. That's a lot of canines. (I also had cats and a boyfriend. It was a full house.) Sometimes that might sound fun, but after three months it was NOT. Five dogs were up for adoption, and I was breaking new records in the rescue community for length of time without an adoption.

Every weekend we hauled dogs to the adoption fair, and every weekend they came back home.

To my overcrowded unhappy home.

One hot August day I was scooping poop in the backyard when I realized I couldn't scoop poop any more, because there was no grass left. (I loved grass. And it was gone because of the high dog traffic in the hot summer.) The poop wouldn't scoop. It just rolled along in the dirt as I tried to scoop it. It was my breaking point.

I threw the pooper scooper in one direction (it landed on the garage roof) and the bag of poop in another (landed in the neighbor's bushes), and I went to bed for four days.

Which is when I read Adrian Calabrese's "How to Get Everything You Ever Wanted."

Now this girl was truly strange. She wanted me to set up sacred space and burn incense and weird stuff like that. It was very "out there" to me.

But before I could put the book away, I knew I would have to do at least one thing in it. Just to say that I did.

The least strange thing was Scripting.

Where you talk out loud about what you want as if you already have it.

So I did that. I came out of the bedroom Thursday night. I said to my boyfriend, "This is going to sound crazy. But just listen."

(He had seen my poop flinging moment four days prior and knew I was hanging on to a very thin rope. He didn't say a word.)

I started "scripting."

"Isn't it great how Jeff"(our hardest to adopt dog - I didn't name him, by the way) ... "Isn't it great how Jeff got adopted by that nice couple. That husband and wife. Who have two kids. And a dog. A dog for Jeff to play with. And how they live nearby."

(This story chokes me up every time I tell it.)

"They live nearby, so we can visit him whenever we want. And they have plenty of money, so we know they'll take care of whatever needs he has."

"Yeah, isn't that great?"

It was a fairly lifeless script.

But from the dark place I was coming from, it was the best I could do. It was two minutes tops.

I went back to bed.

Saturday morning Verrall drove the dogs back to the same adoption fair he'd been taking them for the past three months.

An hour later we got a phone call from Trish, who ran the event. "You guys have to get over here RIGHT NOW."

I was sick. I knew the only reason they call that early is because your dog is either sick, misbehaving, or there's no room for him. No one gets adopted that fast. And I needed them to be there all weekend. I couldn't make it another week with these dogs. I knew it. I didn't have it in me.

SOMEONE needed to get adopted. It just wasn't optional that we go another week without an adoption.

But Trish went on ...

"There are two families over here fighting over Jeff. And I don't know who to give him to!!!!"

Okay, that didn't compute. I didn't understand. This had never happened.

Verrall drove us to the adoption fair. I walked in. There stood two families on either side of Jeff. Two couples, with their two kids, and their one dog. I read their applications. Perfect. You know how often that happens? Never.

We usually have to take a dozen apps before we find someone we'd even consider adopting to. And this was two perfect apps within one hour of the first day of the adoption fair!

I handed the paperwork back, turned around, and went back to sit in the car. I was in a stupor. I couldn't believe it.

It was just like I said. TWICE. Two families! With their two kids! And their dog!! Living close by!!

It had happened! Jeff, whom no one ever even LOOKED at in the three prior months, was being argued over by two perfect families!!

And the next day Oakley got adopted, too. To an absolutely amazing guy with the patience of a saint who owned a crazy dog who needed a crazy friend.

Two adoptions in one weekend after a three month dry spell!!

I doubt you can imagine my relief.

Scripting. I was hooked!

From that moment on, I read everything I could get my hands on about law of attraction. Which wasn't much back then. I didn't even know that's what it was called. (This was before "The Secret" and "Ask And It Is Given.")

And I couldn't stop talking about it. Anyone talked to me about their problem, I was telling them about this great thing I just learned.

And I've been talking ever since.

Talked my way right out of that miserable job, unhappy relationship, financial fears ... and more.

Our words create our world.

Are you paying attention to what you're saying? Are you choosing your words deliberately? Are you talking about what you want?

When you do that, especially when you talk about what you want as if you already have it - miracles happen.

What are you creating with your words today?

To this day, I don't get out of the shower without thanking angels in advance for what I want as if it were already here. Shower is a safe place to speak it out loud so no one thinks you're crazy. Plus, doing it with gratitude - that's a good vibe. And then you add the water element, which amplifies energy - that's a powerful practice.

I highly recommend it. :)

All Is Well

I've been inundated with emails from kind readers who are wanting to help ease my pain and attachment to Sasha, based on the story I told in yesterday's (Oct 9th) ezine. Several also expressed surprise that I was married. (I'm not.)

I failed to mention in yesterday's ezine that those events took place over a decade ago.

Sasha was Kita's sister, both have been gone for a while now. As has been my dear husband. He didn't die, but we're still great friends to this day. lol (Okay, that just makes me laugh that I said "but" instead of "and" in that last sentence.)

Between Kevin, Sasha, Kita, along with many other cats, boyfriends, jobs, and girlfriends, I've had plenty of practice to learn how to release attachment.

We all have plenty of practice, don't we?

Learning to let this be easy; to recognize that how we feel is up to us, no one and nothing else; and to embrace our power to feel good right now, despite what is or isn't happening - that's what will set us free.

That's where life gets unconditionally good.

Anyway, I just wanted to set the record straight that this took place in the mid-90's and thank everyone for writing. Here's a reprint of the story for those who aren't receiving my bi-monthly ezine and have no idea what I'm talking about. (And if you want the tips & tricks to determine whether you're attached, sign up for the ezine using the sign up box in the right hand column here and I'll send you a full copy.)

Before you get what you want, whether it's money, the body, career or love life, you get to learn how to want it without attachment. Because as long as you're attached, it will elude you.

Here's the deal. Although strong desire is helpful in a speedy manifestation, when we desperately want something, or have to have it, or condition our happiness on getting it, we slow its progress. (Sometimes even halt progress.)

So releasing attachment to what we want allows cool things to happen.

Knowing to do it is one thing; practicing releasing attachment is another.

"I can't live without him/her." Have you ever heard someone say those words? Or maybe you have yourself.

I felt that way about my first dog, Sasha. She turned up missing last morning of a camp
trip. My husband went to work, but I searched for her on that damn mountain for three days before Kevin finally made me come home. I was devastated.

On the front porch steps I fell to my knees. I literally couldn't come home without my girl. (Kevin
thought he was going to have to take me to the hospital for a sedative. I was that kind of distraught.)

Can you feel my attachment? It's an extreme example, but it's important to be able to tell when you're attached to an outcome.

We found Sasha a couple days later (on a completely different mountain range). I'm certain the only reason we found her was because Kevin was still connected to Source; I surely wasn't.

He was able to follow intuition and discern inspired action, which led us straight to her. (A miracle, in my book.) I was numb, running nightmare thoughts of life without Sasha. To this day it's a
tough story to tell.

That's what attachment feels like: Shut down. Disconnected. Gotta have it. Won't be happy till it gets here. If this doesn't happen, my life is over.

How attractive is that? (Not!)

Universe doesn't flow good stuff there. It sends the good stuff where there's nice strong desire and "feel good" already present. Where it feels EASY, appreciated, and open.

Are you wondering whether you're experiencing attachment? Tips & Tricks below will help you determine whether you might be.

So just to have a happy ending here - when Kevin did finally get me through the front door, we came in to hear a voice mail message from one of the rangers. (This was before we had cell phones. Well, before HE did. I still don't.)

We had posted lost dog signs all over campgrounds and fishing spots and the ranger's place. The ranger from another mountain range was at our ranger's place when he saw our lost dog sign, and told a story about how a couple of his workmen who were making a new trail with heavy construction equipment had seen some sort of strange animal they could not for the life of them identify. (Sasha was a red chow.)

It was so strange they were telling the story back at the office. (They didn't even know it was a dog.)

So our ranger left a message giving a ROUGH idea of where he thought the other ranger's men saw what could have been Sasha. We waited till morning light to start looking on that new mountain, and after a couple hours of driving, Kevin felt a strange impulse to turn where there was no road, and right after he turned we looked to the left and saw her hiding behind a big bush.

She had not done well in the wild. lol

I was too numb to even be happy or relieved. I was just numb. And that was WITHOUT drugs!

Sasha, she was my girl.

Of course, so was Kita. And Sophie. And now Sadie. And I'm sure there will be more.

I don't have digital photos of Sasha, but she was a looker! Here's one of Kita, though - Sasha's big sister and my favorite girl of all (with Soph in the background - my other favorite girl).

As one astute reader said, dogs are particularly gifted at teaching us non-attachment. They are perfect models at how everything is okay, no matter what is or isn't going on.

God Bless the Dogs. :)

"I Secreted It ... "

Yesterday I met a new girl at the salon who asked what I did for a living. I told her I was a life coach specializing in the Law of Attraction, and asked if she'd heard of "The Secret."

Oh boy, had she heard of it!

The tone in her answer clued me in that she wasn't a fan.

She said doesn't believe in it. At least not fully. (She added that last part in an effort to minimize offense.)

She went on to explain that she used the Secret to get pregnant, but still had three miscarriages. So it didn't work for her at all.

Despite the fact that she was seven months pregnant as she told this story (happily expecting to deliver a healthy boy in mid-December), and despite the fact that she said she used the Secret to get pregnant (versus give birth) - four times no less! - she was steadfast in her belief that the Secret didn't work.

Her exact words: "I Secreted it and it didn't work." (I enjoyed hearing the Secret as a verb!)

I also njoyed not feeling compelled to point out the fairly obvious contradiction in her experience and belief. And I thought how odd that the very same situation is proof for one person it doesn't work and proof for another it does.

We each do truly get what we think.

I think it works, and I see in her situation the proof of it. She thinks it doesn't work, and sees in her situation the proof of it.

We really are each creating our own little world, huh?!

I offer this story as an opportunity for each of us to examine where a new perspective might serve us better.

My tried and true neighbor gave me such an opportunity this morning. A mobile vet I’ve never used before arrived to euthanize my 18 year old cat, Shadow, and mistakenly parked in the neighbor’s driveway instead of mine. My neighbor came raging out of his house with expletives afire about how he couldn’t park there.

As I met this new vet I learned he just arrived from Iowa, and has only been in Utah a few months. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. “Good people” is what my father-in-law would call him. And here he is getting a greeting like that from my neighbor. I was mortified.

And angry.

Which I caught on to pretty quick. As you know, I have much experience with the “angry at my neighbor vibe,” which I’m purposely deactivating. So I found my way to a new perspective fairly quickly.

After apologizing to my new vet friend and explaining that the neighbor’s on crack and isn’t in charge of his behavior, I realized my neighbor probably has very few things in life he can control. Who parks in his driveway is likely one of them.

We all know how good it isn’t to feel powerless, and when a stranger’s parked in your driveway, that’s likely to activate “powerless.” I can see that.

So, with those thoughts in mind, I can cut him some slack. I’ve probably been mad at someone blocking my driveway a time or two. He and I aren’t that different, I remind myself. And that feels better.

Plus, I’m probably feeling a little powerless myself as I have to say goodbye to my Shadow. So .. it’s easy to see how “powerless” would show up in my world.

And then I remind myself we’re far from powerless. We’re creating all of this! And when I practice managing my feelings, I’m creating the kind of live that makes it all worthwhile.

Hello, Honey!

This is too funny not to share! The LOA lesson is not lost on me, either. I think you'll enjoy it as well (plus I'll go for any excuse to post dog photos):

Those of you who remember my challenge with the neighbor's 35 year old grandson who was sleeping in a backyard tent and arguing with his girlfriend outside my bedroom window every night?

He's still here. Girlfriend's gone (I'm thinking jail); he sleeps inside now during the day (no job, living off grandma, parties with friends all night). He still works on his motorcycle in the early morning hours (outside my bedroom window - his favorite place). (And yes, I hear all my judgments here.)

The other neighbors still suspect he's dealing drugs and endangering their children.

I don't know about that. I haven't thought much about it since he brought home an 8 month old German Shepherd. He "rescued" her (I'm thinking stole) from his "friend" (I'm thinking dealer) who wasn't taking proper care of her. Honey (as he calls her) is a sweet girl, terribly unsocialized, who roams the neighborhood day and night. (Koda loves her.)

That's just not cool. German Shepherds are an intimidating breed! She's chased a couple of terrified boys on their bikes, sniffed a few babies in strollers with nervous parents frozen in fear, and allegedly bit two kids - which is when I told him he needed to do way better by us and her than this.

So he tied her up in the backyard. Sheesh. Nice answer. (Not.)

He did let me foil his plans to breed her, at least, and allowed me to drive Honey to the clinic for a spay surgery last week. (The vet asked why I was starving my dog - I didn't realize her ribs were showing.)

Needless to say, there's been a fair amount of contention between us (no surprise, since that's our vibe) over this issue.

We've had kind of a "you don't talk to me, and I'll pretend not to see you" arrangement going on since I let him have it about what it meant to "rescue" a dog and his responsibilities for her well-being as well as the neighborhood kids.

I was hot. He took it well.

Gotta admire him for that.

Anyway, that's the background.

As this girl has been tied up in the backyard and whining 24/7 (only a slight exaggeration), I occasionally throw a few treats her way and ask how her day is. She's always happy to say hello, and seems grateful for the attention.

Early this morning I stepped outside and was headed back in when I heard her chain jiggle. I knew she'd heard me so even though I couldn't see her, I gave her a proper friendly greeting in the sweetest singsong voice I have (yes, I have one): "Helloooo, Honey! How are you this morning?!" Dripping sweet. And filled with genuine love.

I don't know who was more surprised - my contentious neighbor to be addressed by me this way, or me when I heard his awkward reply, "Uhhhh, good." Long pause. Then a stilted and polite, "How are you?"

I was too surprised to answer. But I came in giggling.

I guess that was him jiggling some chain. Or else Honey instigating an ingenious rift repair.

Just like that the tension is gone! He mowed my parkway again today while I was on the Vibration Overhaul preview call with Amy. (Did you hear the mower in the background?) I looked at him and thought, "How could I ever have thought about stealing his dog?"

You just can't pretend to be mean to someone after an exchange like that takes place.

He's a good kid, I don't care what drugs he's on.

So the moral of the story? We get what we put out.

And finding a way to send out the good stuff, no matter the circumstances or one's justification in "witholding" the goods, is always a feel good way to go. Congrats to me on doing it by mistake, and for my neighbor for lettin' it in. We rock. : )

(He IS my best teacher, isn't he?! Just like Byron Katie says!)

Choosing a Good-Time Filter

Every week the dogs and I go hiking with my dear dad. His favorite trail (Mueller Park - shown here) has crazy bushes along the way that create nasty stickers for dogs. My ex won't even walk it. He says it's not worth the trouble of pulling out stickers from coats for several days.

Plus there's an abundance of deer and rabbits the dogs love to chase. And (I imagine) it'd be easy for them to get lost on this mountain.

So when Sadie or Joe launch an off-trail adventure, I'm not super encouraging of it. (That's my indirect way of saying I yell at them to get their butts back here.)

Last week Joe went off trail for quite a while. So long that I thought I lost him. There was a lot of hollering that day. I was unusually hot. He jeopardized our good time by risking getting lost?! What a Stinker with a capital S! (Indeed it was an s-word I used, but it might not have been "stinker.")

Anyway, as we're wrapping up this morning's hike, dad says, "I noticed Joe didn't get in any trouble today."

I realized he was right. There was no yelling, no hollering, no waiting. Joe was a very good boy today.

As I start to acknowledge agreement, dad says, "And it didn't seem like he did anything different."

Wait, what does he mean by THAT?

Of course Joe was different, because there wasn't any trouble or hollering or MIA dogs.

I think about it, and realize Joe did go on an off trail adventure today. He was gone for a while - twice even! But I didn't worry about him this time. I trusted he'd find his way back to us and all would be well. No yelling today.

Dad is not a master of subtlety. However, I realize today he is making a gentle point that we went on the same hike we always go on, this time there was no trouble. The difference was me.

Same Joe, same off trail adventures. No trouble.

Different Jeannette.

So the trick for a more enjoyable walk with the dogs doesn't have to do with dogs listening better. It has to do with ME and my CHOICES of how to be on this walk.

I can worry, or I can trust and enjoy. It's so much nicer for everyone when I trust and enjoy. I know this stuff - why aren't I practicing it more?!

Tonight I wonder where else I might spoil my potential good time by worrying instead of trusting and enjoying.

Well, I see it a lot more of it than I would have guessed. I thought I was the Good Time Queen! And now I see how I spoil my Friday night with Russ by fretting that he's not off the golf course till 8, which is too late for dinner, too late for a movie, too late for fun.

Uh huh.

I see that instead of being able to laugh at watching my ex and his dad try to re-trap nine feral bunnies (seriously, two Elmer Fudds lurking behind bushes with fishing nets and traps with carrots set on the trigger - classic humor!), I worry what fate might befall the bunnies if they're not relocated.

I see that I could have more purposefully enjoyed four kitties growing up in my house if I wasn't carrying the tendency to notice the absence of the two who didn't make it.

No change in situation. Just a change in my perception, my response, my vibration. Makes all the difference in the world.

Wow!! What ELSE can I change??

Okay, I'm liking this ... instead of being regretful about all the work that didn't get done this week, I could relax and know the important stuff got done and enjoy my accomplishments. Maybe even look forward to the next week, instead of feeling behind for it.

Instead of being annoyed with dad for pointing out that I'm the only good time spoiler on the hike, I could be grateful for seeing it myself now.

My perception. That's the difference.

The good time is always there. The only question is which filter am I using? Am I filtering for a good time, or filtering for a bad time? I'll find either one I look for. Universe is very accommodating that way.

Here's to a good time filter for all of us who desire it this (stateside Labor Day) weekend! Namaste.

Conquering My Nemesis

Dog pee on the rug.

That was my old nemesis.

For reasons I won't elaborate on (to not attract more of it), one of my biggest challenges was learning to walk in the front room to check for wet spots from inappropriate canine elimination, while holding the expectation of "nice dry rug."

If the dogs had been left in quite a while, or there was a suspicious smell, or the cats were acting funny near a particular corner, or the rug looked wet for some reason, I used to march over exclaiming, "This better not be what I think it is!" I would hold thoughts of a damp smelly rug, with the only question being whether it was still warm or had been there a while.

That dog pee situation was a big charge for me. No surprise it happened often, huh?

Yeah, a lot. (My carpet cleaner used to be on speed dial, and I used to buy two rugs, with one on standby when it was time to call it quits on the first.) All those wet rug opportunities gave me plenty of practice at changing my thoughts as I conducted rug sweeps.

When I would walk to the suspicious corner I would catch myself expecting to blame somebody (usually the boyfriend who made us late getting home, or the ex-boyfriend who didn't come over to give them a break), and anticipating that familiar feeling of wet rug under hand or foot.

So I learned to test the rug while saying "Ah, nice dry rug." "What good dogs. Thanks for holding it, everyone! That's right, nice dry rug!"

There wasn't a single time I expected dry rug that I was met with disappointment.

It's been a while since I've dealt with that.

Today I met my nemesis again.

My ex asked me to check on his dogs while he was out of town for a day and a half. Morning check-in revealed his mastiff foster escaped his kennel. And the house showed it. That guy wreaked HAVOC! I won't even describe the destruction I witnessed. Whew. It was bad.

Dining room chairs chewed up, couches on their backs, cushions missing, blankets in the kitchen, poopy paw prints everywhere, trails of urine in the hallway.

All right, I lied. That pretty much describes it. The poor cats looked like they were in shell shock.

My first thought was, "I'm not cleaning this up."

My second thought confirmed the first one. I didn't have time to, even if I wanted to. Which I definitely didn't.

My next thought was "I can't leave these guys here." It was a hazard zone! I only had 20 minutes before my next client session, so I loaded everyone in the car and took them to my house.

Notice what happened? Reactivation of my nemesis vibe, and lots of "good" reason to worry about what would happen at my place.

After all, I'm on the phone with each client for over an hour, and I had two sessions in a row. No time for supervising; seven dogs (his four and my three) were left to their own devices for a good three hours.

After my last session I walked out of the office to survey. Yeah, to survey damage. That's what I was expecting. What did they get into? What could be fixed? What was ruined?

I caught that familiar feeling. "Hey, I'm looking for trouble."

Maybe I should look for confirmation of what good dogs I have instead?

Looks like they rustled the garbage, but didn't remove anything. Cool. Cats look okay. Plants upright. Good. Couch cushions in place. Fabulous. Next the rug.

I immediately thought of "wet rug." That's what I didn't want. What did I want? Nice dry rug. I made a barefoot sweep across the rug, while repeating to self "nice dry rug." Sure enough, dry rug! Yay! My nemesis defeated! I truly have conquered my (former) biggest manifesting challenge!

That's when I noticed the slobber. On the chair, the couch, blanket, stereo, my favorite buddha statue. Lots of slobber.

Well, at least slobber doesn't smell.

No One Wants to Win the Lottery

This weekend my sweetie participated in two events at his employer's Corporate Games. As regular readers know, my boyfriend likes to win - not just play, not just compete - he wants to be #1.

His experience reminded me of the question people often ask in terms of how law of attraction works when people want the same thing but only one can win. Like a lottery, a job or even a girl.

If each competitor wants to win and they're each vibrating "win," how could everyone get what they want?

This could be a long post, but I'm shooting for short & sweet.

Whoever is in closest vibrational alignment to winning will do so. But just because you're competing to win doesn't necessarily mean you're vibrating "win." Your energy could be "want to win" or "wish I could win" or "what if I don't win" or "hope I don't lose" or even just "do my best."

Vibrating "win" with clarity and confidence is easier said than done. And truly, Universe is pretty creative in delivering to us exactly what we're vibrating, as Russ experienced.

Before I continue, though, let me say it's important to drill down to what we really want. It isn't usually as simple as "win."

Example: I don't think anyone truly wants to win the lottery. I suspect what they really want is a higher quality of life, to be free from financial worries, support loved ones better, etc. And sometimes that happens as a lottery winner; sometimes it doesn't. Getting clear on what you genuinely desire is crucial to achieving it.

Someone who thinks he wants to "win over" a particular person probably isn't seeing things clearly either. What he really wants is more likely the feelings he thinks being in relationship with that person would give him.

We often miss the real target.

Back to my sweetie's story: for these corporate games there were many competitors who wanted to take home the gold, Russ included.

When he came home Saturday with a gold medal for bowling, he was pleased but nonchalant. Turns out what he really wanted was TWO gold medals. Especially the one for golf, where the competition was steep. That would mean more to him.

He just phoned to report that he also won the gold in the golf competition. Was he satisfied with his two gold medals now? Not remotely.

Turns out there was a three way tie on the golf course. Instead of conducting a playoff, they awarded gold medals to all three four-person teams. So 11 other guys are carrying around the same gold medal my sweetie is. He felt a little ripped off.

Not at all what he imagined having two gold medals would feel like.

What he really wanted was probably something more like acknowledgement that he's the best. I'm sure if he'd walked away with the gold by default because no one else showed up or were disqualified due to violation of stupid rules, he wouldn't have been satisfied.

Aren't we funny?!

Last night I watched a portion of the girls gymnastic national competition trials on tv. One competitor wanted to defend her title as champion; another just wanted to make the national team; another was quite pleased at evidence she was the national favorite; another wanted to do her best and make her parents proud, another young one wanted to gain experience for future high level competitions.

It was easy to see how each of them could get what they wanted, and still not be the "winner."

In fact, the girl who scored the highest was talked about as being very relaxed, having a good time and clearly enjoying her performances. Not a surprise, huh?

My point: 1) it's worth getting clear about what you really want and vibrating that, and 2) don't underestimate the Universe's ability to deliver on it. Apparently they make extra gold medals just in case. :)

Vibrational Recovery

How many disappointing web designers does it take for me to realize that it's ME and not them that's challenged?

(Big sigh.)

Well, there was the Seattle designer who used a template that couldn't do what I wanted to do. Rather than say so, she just stopped responding to me. Then there was the nice Park City guy, who had amazing technical expertise but no time for the little fish in his big pond. Then my local girl, after a couple of months together, seemed to lose interest in web work. At least mine. My marketing guy is dying to redo my site (which he hates), but I'm afraid he'll follow all the "rules" and lose "me" in the process.

So I guess it's taken a couple go-rounds before I realized that until I clean up MY vibe, I'll continue to have less than satisfactory experiences with web designers. I see that hiring another service provider before I upgrade my vibration will be a waste of time and only lead to a repeat experience.

Today I posted to The Good News yahoo group that I was manifesting a perfect new web person. I imagined people might email me with referrals. I imagined having to explain that I couldn't work with just ANYONE; it had to be someone I felt REALLY good about, because I have this vibrational handicap about web designers.

And I realized that I perpetuate my "handicap" by talking about it.

I needed to find a new way to think about my situation. So in that moment I chose new language to give me a new perspective and new vibration as to what's up. Here's what I came up with: I'm in "Vibrational Recovery."

(That's my Marine Corps Vibrational Recovery team pictured above. Heavy duty, huh?)

I'm now expecting wonderful service from web designers. I know I deserve it, and so does my web site. I know my past experiences might not have been what I'd preferred, but my future ones surely will be. I'm finding my way towards the feeling of elation (Marines are breaking the trail for me!) at having a perfect partner on board, who has wonderful ideas, a passion for their work, plenty of time for me, lovely rates, and why not some marketing expertise?! He/she gets what I'm about and works wonderfully with me. Maybe they even have a partner or staff, so their vacations still allow for consistent service to their perfect clients.

No more need to explain the past, or lay out "what is." I'm in Vibrational Recovery. Those past experiences are old news. What I'm up to now is bigger and better and more satisfying. It's a lovely turn of events, if I don't say so myself.

As I speak (type) it, so shall it be.

Anyone else in recovery? (Or know a good web person? lol)

Hope for the Ex

My ex-fiance and good friend just phoned to ask why he's such a powerful manifestor of negative things, but not positive ones.

(There's a belief worth turning around. But we'll get to that later.)

Rob's story is interesting, and probably not uncommon. So I've challenged him to change it, and thinking some of us might be inspired to join him.

He told about driving a customer's car down the highway (he does custom remodel work on priceless classics), noticed a big work truck ahead of him, and started thinking, "You know, the last thing I need is a rock chip. I should probably change ... " and BAM! Before he was even done thinking the thought to change lanes, the windshield took a hit, leaving a lovely chip.

When he gets to the shop, he thinks, "I should call Todd to arrange for that repair today. But what if Todd's out? Thursday's his day off. Today's Tuesday. But what if he's not in?" Sure enough, Todd's out, even though it's not his regular day off.

Rob asks if he had fleeting thoughts of a million dollars spilling through the streets, would it suddenly appear?

I suggested he try it sometime. After he laughed, I asked if he has as strong a belief in free money in the streets as he does rock chips and bad timing for repairs.

Admittedly, and he's not alone in this, it's sometimes easier to believe in bad things than it is in really good things.

The good news is he/we can change that. Belief is just a strong thought. And we can change our thoughts. We humans are pretty cool that way.

So Rob's going to try it. He's going to practice thinking good thoughts and see how quickly they manifest. I ask him to report back.

Before he hangs up, he tells me how he's really good at reading people, too. He can tell in advance what they're going to do. He might think he's psychic. I think he doesn't yet realize the powerful effect his thoughts have on others.

For example, he says when his son comes over he knows it's to ask for money, rather than lend a hand around the house. He can tell when the neighborhood homeless guy is going to drop by his shop asking for a loan. He's got lots of examples of how he predicts people's behavior.

Is he predicting? Or creating? (And what if they were the same?)

I suggest he practice his good thoughts on people, too. I told him people live up to and down to our expectations all day long, and suggest he practice holding new expectations.

I got a funny feeling his world is about to get brighter. : )

Time Well Spent

"Why didn't I think of that?" That was my immediate thought after a delightful new client shared with me her strategy for incorporating self love every day.

She does it on the toilet.

Ha!

That's right - for those couple minutes she's sitting down every day, she uses her time productively. She thinks good thoughts about herself. Congratulates herself on accomplishments. Thanks herself for being her. In general, she lavishes doting attention on herself. For three minutes.

Badda bing, badda boom. Fits in her self-love every day; in fact, a couple of times.

Don't you love it?!

Now, I'm not normally a fan of multi-tasking, but some things naturally lend themselves to a higher use of our time.

So I'm now inspired to use my toilet time in a better way. I think I might remind my body what we're up to. I might remind her that we're thriving, getting younger, feeling better, more energy, more fit, more fabulous - every day.

I might congratulate my toe nails on a job well done. I might comment on those two beautiful elbows - how no matter how neglected they are, they keep doing their job so well every day! I might remind hips and butt that we're keeping things nice and firm. And I might congratulate all systems on a job well done.

Huh. Toilet time.

Just when I thought life couldn't get any better!! lol

PS - thanks, dearfriend, for letting me share your self-love strategy with my readers! We're going to create a whole new appreciation for potty breaks!

Lost and Found

I don't do this as often as you would think a business owner would, but this morning I happened to listen to voice mails and there was one from the Po-lice. (We say POH leese, not puh leese, extra emphasis on the first syllable so you sound really .. mm .. white trash, redneck whatever. I live in a neighborhood - that I love, by the way - where that's the norm.)

Anyway, it was a message about a missing 8 year old boy last seen just two blocks from my house yesterday. The whole neighborhood - at least everyone who listened to voice mails - was put on alert to bring him home safely.

It inspired some strange vibes in me.

First I was appreciating the swift and I think potentially effective action on the police's part. (Okay, when we talk about police in terms of finding missing children, we leave the emphasis on the second syllable: so "puh LEESE." Lots of respect and appreciation there.)

Second, I was wondering if his family was in turmoil or involved. As often turns out to be the case.

Third, I thought of him by himself. Was he really abducted and feeling alone? Or did his uncle just decide he was due for a vacation from mom? Who knows? But if he wasn't with someone who cares about him and he felt alone - ah, that thought is just heart wrenching for me. Especially because the voice mail gave a detailed description of him, so you kind of feel like he's yours by the time you're done hearing it. It's making me tear up just to go back to this vibe.

And then I wondered about the wisdom of those alerts. If they inspire these awful feelings in the whole neighborhood, is that helping? Well, obviously we know it wouldn't be. Let me do some work on this vibe.

Maybe the whole neighborhood doesn't feel awful. I think because this was particularly close to home it hit a little harder. So there was that for me, but maybe I'm unusual in that respect. I'm sure he's passed my house, because I live on a school street. He's practically mine. I probably let him pet my dogs. All right that's not helping.

But maybe everyone else - or at least someone else - hears it and responds differently.

When I imagined a different response others might have, it was easier for me to shift my feelings. I got to the absolute strength and power of community pulling together. And the enormous appreciation of technology that makes it easier than ever to put thousands of eyes on the street looking for our MIA friend.

And then I imagined the news clip I might catch (although I don't watch news) of his mom holding him, with grateful tears in her eyes, recounting how scared she was but how happy she is he's home safe and sound now. And maybe a sheepish grandpa in the background who was sure he told someone they were going to the park for the day.

Community! Technology! PuhLICE instead of POHlice! There's good stuff here. Even in a missing child alert.

Lots of love to you, Moses. You can do it; you're the best there is. They don't let just ANYONE sign up for big jobs like this. Only the strong ones get to play these parts. And you're doing a great job. Feel the love, Friend.

PS - this is the last time I'll post about anything missing. Nothing but joyful found posts from here on out. In fact, let's activate that now. I FOUND a perfect home for my old stove and fridge. (Or they found me actually.) I found Joe's tag for his collar. I found a perfect partner in Amy Grant. Elizabeth Smart found her way home. The utility guy just found his way safely through my yard with no dogs waking up to greet him. Lots of people find things and people they love every day. Shoot - my inbox is FULL of stories from clients finding their passion and joy and heart's desires! Yay!! Things are found every day. Including our compassion, our connection, our love for each other and our spirits. Every day! Love is found every day.

Fighting for Peace?

We crack me up. That was my thought, after I caught myself in a tirade directed toward Sadie, who saves her most ferocious bark for nice neighbors walking their dogs down our street every evening.

Peacefully engaged in Bruce Lipton's "Biology of Belief," I jumped two feet off the couch when Sadie launched a barrade of barks at the front door.

"All right, that's ENOUGH!" I shouted. "There is no barking here! That is NOT what we do!! There will be PEACE in this house, young lady!"

Even as I adopted as ferocious a bark as hers, attempting to enforce peace in our night, I laughed at my ridiculous self.

It reminded me of a friend who had just recounted how he told his (apparently ex) girlfriend that she shouldn't try to find happiness outside of her. (In this case, in the arms of an ex-boyfriend.) He wanted to lecture her on how happiness could only come from within, and she would continually struggle if she didn't learn this.

His words were right on, and yet the reason he phoned was because he was upset she'd reunited with another man. He was lost, and knew his happiness would return when she understood her mistake and returned to him. How could he make her understand?

It took him a minute to see how he was doing the same thing she was: looking for happiness outside of himself. (We all know it's an inside job, right? But how often do we forget to practice it!)

I suggested the best way to teach her this valuable lesson was by embodying it. Set the example. Show her what it looks like by living it.

As I'm laughing at myself for thinking my shouting will quiet Sadie's, and thinking of my friend who lectures his girlfriend to stop seeking happiness outside herself so he can get her back and regain HIS happiness, I think how easily we fall into the routines that we "know" better about.

Yesterday in the parking lot two young boys argued about pushing the shopping cart when dad boomed out, "Strike TWO!" The older one pleaded, "But daaaad ... " Dad admonished elder son for whining, which is when mom stepped in and said something that made dad whine back to wife, "But I already told him once!" in the same tone he just reprimanded son for using.

How funny are we? We think we'll return to peace with noise; or find happiness by controlling another; or teach our children to be different than the example we set ...

We get what we vibrate. So for me, that leaves my work to make peace with Sadie's barking, and maybe sprinkle on top a couple visions of how I'd like her to be. Lynn did it with her dogs; I'm sure I can do it with mine. It starts with releasing my resistance to what is, and finding my way to peace.

In fact, I'll start with the accompanying photo for this post. I started to look for a barking dog, but peaceful dog is probably a better start. : )

Manifesting Missing Kitty

Before I left town last week, a law of attraction savvy friend asked if I'd send good intentions for her missing cat.

That one always gets me. Well, pretty much anything to do with our companion animals. Sick cats, missing dogs, unwanted bunnies. Years of animal rescue have contributed to my (old) vibration of sadness and hopelessness when it comes to our furry friends. I've worked purposely to leave that vibe behind, but it's always there waiting for me when the opportunity arises to activate it again.

I told my friend I would send good thoughts for her and cat. Then I thought about how hard it must be for her to lose her cat. That's a scary time, not knowing what's happened; retracing the events wondering if you're responsible.

That's pretty much what I vibrated: sympathy, compassion, lost cat.

Not "reunion with cat."

Can you feel the difference?

I wasn't aware of it at the time.

But I became so, when I came home from my week in the Bahamas and discovered my cat was missing. Big surprise, huh? (not)

Yeah, that's how this works. We get what we vibrate.

So - as my cat sitter tells me he hasn't seen Elsa in five days, and he's worried some evil fate befell her, I feel my worry vibe grow.

I'll spare you (cat owners) the details of my anxiety so you don't go there vibrationally, but this is a good story of how LOA works when we remember to work it. Here's how it played out:

Early evening she still hasn't shown up, so I step out on the porch to call her. I bring tuna with me, but she's a no show. I optimistically try to imagine all the fun she might be up to. Maybe she's on a big adventure. Maybe someone found her and they're lavishing her with love.

But I don't really believe she's on a fun adventure. My thoughts easily slip to, "What was she doing outside?? How did she get out here? How well does she know this neighborhood?" I know she wouldn't go far. If she were here, she could hear me. Is she trapped? Hurt? Confiscated by animal control? Will AVID have her information properly recorded, so the shelter could contact me?

I continue this routine throughout the rest of the night, as my thoughts wander back to missing kitty. I pace the yard, calling her name over and over. I feel guilty for not being a better cat guardian, and worry she might think I left her. I knew I shouldn't have left town.

Okay, that's enough looking. You're doing no good with those thoughts. Go to bed!

I try imagining she'll appear in her own sweet time. That's a nice thought, but it quickly digresses to, "Will I see her dead body in the street tomorrow morning? And what is she eating? Is she finding water?"

Go to sleep, Jeannette! This isn't helping!

Before I go to bed I remember to run a quick errand. Driving home, I finally get to a good vibe. I recognize I've been carrying worry, and I know that can only keep her lost. I imagine my friend's lost cat, and what she should do to let her cat come home.

She should FEEL her home now.

Oh, HELLO! That's how that works. I remember now! Sheesh, Jeannette!! Feel Elsa home now.

Feel the relief of seeing her safe and sound on the back porch, waiting patiently to come back in the house. See how nonchalantly she flips her tail on the porch, as if nothing out of the ordinary has transpired at all. It's not a big deal at all to find her safe and sound, because you knew all along she was just fine.

She just didn't like your cat sitter. No big deal. She laid low. She's ready for some tuna now. She's safe and sound. Relief. There she is, safe and sound.

Yes, I can feel that vibe now. I've got it. I've got a good grasp of it. It feels good.

I'm home free now.

Having gotten solidly to "relaxing" about it, I finish up the night routine and head to bed. Once there, I hear a dog scratching on the door. Probably Koda wanting out. I get up, open the door to let him out, and see an empty tuna can that I may as well run out to the recycling bin. On my way to the trash in the dark, guess who I spy lounging on top of the old scratch post?

That's right. Sweet, nonchalant Elsa. Flipping her tail to let me know I'm disturbing her peaceful night's rest.

Hello, Sweetie. A couple pets confirm she's a-okay. Ready for her nightly sleep. Must have been a big day.

She lets me bring her in without protest. Too bad you missed out on tuna, young lady.

And before I drift off to sleep, I remember to thank Universe for bringing my cat home safely. Gratitude. Relief. Relaxing.

Wow, what a nice vibe combo.

It's hard for Universe to match us up with a reunion while we vibrate worry. I know it's even harder to vibrate relief while someone's missing. But - we know how this works. That's how we let it in. Vibrate it first, then it happens.

Someone remind me that next time Elsa goes on a big adventure. : )

Law of Attraction and Competition

The other night I caught a couple minutes of Last Comic Standing on NBC, which I loved for a couple reasons. One, these guys (and gals) are pretty funny. Laughing is a great vibe to hang out in.

Two, watching someone's dream come true - you gotta admit - is pretty cool!

So at the end of the show they announce which contestants are moving on (I was SO hoping Sabrina Matthews would be one!). One of the guys who really really wants it is Doug Benson. It's his second time auditioning; he didn't make it to the final round last year, and he's wearing it heavy this year.

Sure enough, the last name they call out is his. But instead of jumping up and down with excitement like everyone else did, (well, the first guy cried a little, but it was tears of joy) Doug says, "I feel like one weight's been replaced with another."

Oh boy.

You might guess who my money's on to win, right? (Probably not him. Unless, of course, he learns to REVEL in the feeling of winning.)

But what the comics said before names were announced was really interesting from a law of attraction perspective. Doug said "I think I have a really good chance of not making it to the final ten - AGAIN." And yet he did.

And Sarah Colonna said she kept repeating her name in her mind, hoping the host would say her name. And yet he didn't.

What's up? Are these two disproving the whole "get what you think about" theory?

Let's look closer. In Doug's case, remember that the Universe doesn't hear "don't," "not" or "no." So what he was REALLY signaling to the Universe with those words was "I have a really good chance of making it to the final ten." Although he was saying "not making it," Universe doesn't hear "not."

Then again, we also know it's not really the WORDS that matter. It's what we're vibrating. We might be saying one thing, but feeling another thing altogether. (Like when we say "sure, sounds like fun" and we're really feeling "ugh, please no.")

The two keys to successfully manifesting what you want are desire and belief. When you get strong desire and strong belief going, you're unstoppable. If you've got strong desire and less belief (which I suspect might be Doug's case), you've handicapped yourself vibrationally somewhat, but it's still possible. Especially if that desire is really really strong.

Let's not forget, Doug probably had a strong vibrational escrow from his last experience on the show, right?

The other thing this episode proved was that the most talented comics are not necessarily the winners. It isn't always the strongest, fastest, smartest, best looking, best performing person who takes the ribbon. It's the one who's most lined up with winning. And sometimes that person is an awful singer, or mediocre artist, or less than fabulous guy walking down the aisle with everyone's dream come true of a woman. I mean, sometimes it is!

Get your vibration lined up with what you want, and you can outperform, outsell, outmaneuver, outshine, out-whatever anyone. There is no holding you back when you are in alignment with what you want.

How cool is that?

The Beauty of Anger

Does anyone have any idea how annoying it is to hear "You can choose to feel differently" or "Is this really what you want to vibrate?" when all you want to do is complain?

Well, I suspect my clients do. (They've heard it from me.)

The fact is I'm still getting some juice from anger right now in this red hot moment, and I'm hanging out here as long as it feels good and certainly long enough to fuel incentive for positive change. If it didn't bother me this much, I might not notice it and I might not change it. ("It" being my relationship.) So this anger is a good thing. It's got my attention!

I refuse to feel bad about this anger, and I'm not letting anyone talk me out of it, because this feels better right here, right now.

In fact, it makes me wonder - what feels good about anger? For some reason, this anger does feel better. As I wonder why, and I look up my trusty emotional scale on page 297 of "Ask & It Is Given," I see that anger might be feeling fabulous right now because I've moved out of unconscious guilt and unworthiness. Mm hmm. No wonder I like it here!

Here's Abraham's emotional scale for reference:

1. Joy/Appreciation/Love
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
11. Overwhelment
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair

Man, me?! Guilt or unworthiness?! I've done so much self-love work, how is that even possible?!

But, it's not a huge stretch if you saw the circumstances that brought me to anger.

I see now I've denied what's important to me. Plain and simple. (I didn't see it until Anger got my attention and inspired me to look.) I've tried to live what's important to others (likely inspired by remnants of unworthiness), and I of all people know the trap door it is to follow someone else's "feel good."

Specifically, I committed to a weekend full of activities with my boyfriend that have kept me from giving my dogs, my health, my house, and certainly my work the attention I'd like them/me/it to have. Because everyone knows that in order to be in a good relationship, you must have some give and take. (What the hell ever.) That when it's your anniversary weekend, you don't say "I'm working" or "Maybe next time." You say "Yes. I'd love to."

The problem is my "yes" - as much sense as it makes in the relationship world - was a betrayal of what I really wanted. Look, I need some exercise. You got yours while you walked the golf course today, but I sat at the computer meeting an article deadline, and no, I'm still not done working. But that's not what I said. I said, "Sure, let's go." To a party that I could invest two hours in, not five. And on our anniversary night, frankly, I'd rather have done something more our style - maybe just the two of us.

I also see that I visited with revenge earlier tonight when I left him sitting at his friends' party for over an hour while I went for a walk in the neighborhood chatting with a girlfriend on his cell phone, which felt much better than hanging out with a bunch of drinkers. (No offense, guys. Just not my gig.) He thinks it's okay to keep me from getting back home for dogs' potty breaks and finishing the article? Oh yeah?? We'll see how cool it is.

I mean, those words didn't actually cross my mind, but that feeling sure did. I see how I went tripping right on through revenge earlier tonight on my way to this beautiful anger.

Anyway, I'm pissed off for right now and I'm staying here until I decide to go somewhere else. And no coach, or ex-boyfriend, or girlfriend, and certainly no boyfriend is going to talk me out of it. Anger is what feels good, I hear my "feel good" loud and clear, and I am more committed than ever to following it.

Now, I fully expect I will wake up with a completely different attitude (I might even set an intention, or not). But for right now, this is where I am, and it is okay. (Lorenzo, I still love you for that.)

This anger is serving me.

And it's given me clarity that I'm upset because I haven't honored what's important to me. I haven't fully followed my feel good. No wonder I'm so mad!! It isn't anyone's fault but my own and I get that.

Thank God, I get it.

I know this post is long enough already, but it seems helpful to note that I recognize a theme here from the email/computer challenge I recently experienced: disrespect. As this vibration of disrespect seems to come up here and there, it makes me realize that if the world is showing me disrespect, then it's worth looking within to see how I'm disrespecting myself.

And it's right there plain as day for me when I look for it: I haven't respected what's important to me. Hello!

Thank you beautiful world for showing me where I've got room to clean up my vibration.

PS - in the time it took me to edit this post, I've already moved out of anger and am feeling something more like peace and relief. So even though it's already old news, I'm still posting this, because if this isn't real world manifesting, I don't know what is. And I am committed to showing how law of attraction works in the real world! This is my real world, and I know it's not 100% beautiful and peaceful and lovely, but ... it still works for me. : )

PPS - sweetie, if you're reading this - happy anniversary!

PPPS - sorry for the swear words, everyone. (Keepin' it real.)