What is your favorite season? Mine is summer. I love the sun. I love longer days. But mostly, I love being on the water and sailing.  While I love summer, others prefer spring, fall, or winter as their favorite season. Rather than bemoaning the seasons you aren’t so fond of, wouldn’t it be more fun to look for the opportunities within each of them?

I find seasonal changes very similar to personal changes. When we are on a new path there are times of great love, happiness and excitement similar to of our favorite season. There are times where doubt and fear filter into the experience not unlike how we feel when our least favorite season is impending.  When you are able to look at the big picture of life and see how the ebbs and flows, the peaks and valleys, and the happy and contrasting experiences blend together to create a life filled with amazing opportunities to love bigger and live better, wouldn’t each experience be more vibrant and love filled?

Affirmation:  Each season allows me a time to love deeper.

(S)he Said:

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.”  ~ George Santayana

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy”  ~ William Blake

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:  if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”  ~ Anne Bradstreet

Music to my ears:

Seasons of Love ~ Rent

Seasons in the Sun ~ Terry Jacks

Seasons Change ~ Expose

For the next week I invite you to celebrate the current season by:

Appreciating whatever season you are in. Find the beauty in the moment; even if it’s not your favorite, there is great love there.

Looking for the good in all experiences as when you look for the good, the challenging moments are lessened.

Mostly, my wish for you this week is to enjoy life moment by moment, experience by experience, by seeing that each season offers the opportunity to love, laugh, grow, and become your best self.

Until next time, season’s greetings!

How is your memory?

When someone transitions that meant a lot to us, we often forgive and forget perceived wrong doings, and focus on the joys that they brought to us. We focus on the laughter and love they shared with us. When someone leaves us do to divorce, break-up etc., we often focus on all the perceived wrong doings and focus on the pain they shared with us.

If we could remember that everyone in our lives serve a purpose whether it’s a season, a reason, or a lifetime, perhaps we could live happier and healthier lives today in this moment. How would your living relationships change if you realized they served a purpose or they wouldn’t be part of your life to begin with?

Affirmation:  Today is tomorrow’s memory, so I will make them loving ones.

(S)he Said:

“We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us.” ~ David Seamands

“We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in the memories we have forgotten.” ~ Cesare Pavese

“Memory is the diary we all carry around with us.” ~ Oscar Wild

Music to My Ears

Memories   ~ Cats

Memories ~ Elvis Presley

Memories   ~ Backstreet Boys

For the next week, I invite you to remember to:

Love you, others, and the world. When you approach the day from love, relationships and experiences become easier and better.

Be gentle with yourself and others by knowing everyone is doing the best they can in the moment. Take a deep breath, know that it’s an experience you get to choose to see as good or bad, and be gentle.

Mostly, I wish you a week filled with making happy and loving new memories for yourself and those you love. When you go about your day knowing you are the creator of your experiences…the good and the perceived bad ones, you are empowered to create a happier and healthier day…you know, the kind of day you deserve!

Until next time, my memory is pretty good. How about yours?

As we celebrate ‘Labor Day’, I encourage you to do what you love, and love what you do by celebrating your natural talents that have made you who you are.

Two work theories that I find interesting are: you have to work hard to get ahead and be successful, and do what you love to do and you will be successful. How many times have you heard these phrases? You have to work hard. You must pay your dues. You must put in your time.

How many of you scoff at the idea that you can be successful by doing what you love to do? That’s not surprising as you’ve been taught to be successful you must work hard and put in your time. When you are doing something you love (which is often something that is a natural talent) it comes easy to you, it’s graceful, it’s fun, and it’s simple. Time passes quickly as eight hours feels like four. How could someone pay you for something that is so simple for you to do and you enjoy doing it? Our natural talents are often taken for granted because they come with such ease for us. Think about someone else’s talents that you are in awe of. They come with ease to that person, so I guarantee you someone is amazed by your natural talents as well. Do what you love, and love what you do!

Affirmation: I am loving to myself, to others, and to the world.

(S)he Said: 

“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of abundance in your life.”
~ Wayne Dyer

“If you find out what it is you love to do and give your whole life to it, then there is no contradiction, and in that state your being is your doing.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

“You’ve got to love what you’re doing. If you love it, you can overcome any handicap or the soreness or all the aches and pains, and continue to play a long, long time.”
~ Gordie Howe

“If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.” ~ Billy Joel

Working My Way Back To You ~ The Spinners

Working for a Living ~ Huey Lewis and the News

Everybody’s Working for the Weekend ~ Loverboy

For the next week, I invite you to love what you do by:

Appreciating your natural talents and sharing them with others.

Dreaming about what you love to do and allowing your natural talents to be your pathway to success.

Loving yourself, loving life, and loving others as when you are working from love, all is right in your world.

Mostly, my wish for you is to work from a space of love regardless of what you are doing. Whether your job requires 4 hours a day or 14, when you love what you are doing, all is well. Whether you are living in your dream job, or working at what others consider a ‘dead end’ job, show up in a space of love, compassion, trust, honor, service, and a fun spirit and all will be well.

Until next time, have a FUN, EASY, AND SIMPLE week at work.

Do you ever wonder how some people do what they do? It’s as if it’s effortless for them while others struggle for the same results. When I think of the creators of the Internet and the realization that it’s simply energy exchange, I am blown away. When I look at a skyscraper, I am in awe of the structure and those who designed and built it. When I think of the tonnage of planes and how they simply seem to glide across the sky, I am astonished with aviation talents. I love seeing the creativity in people when they follow their passion.
Everyone has unique talents that come so easily they appear innate and most likely are. These abilities are so easy for you that when someone applauds your gifts you often say “oh that was nothing or no problem”. It’s so easy to you that you often lose the awe and appreciation that you have for things that you find difficult to do. We take for granted things that come easily to us yet get frustrated over our challenges. I encourage you to appreciate your natural talents and take that feeling into the challenging moments and situations in your life.

Affirmation: I allow life to easily flow through gratitude and appreciation.

(S)he Said:

“It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinions; it is easy in solitude to live after your own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” ~ Mother Teresa

“Diligence is a good thing, but taking things easy is much more restful” ~ Mark Twain

“All things are difficult before they are easy.” ~ Thomas Fuller

Music To My Ears:

Take It Easy ~ Eagles

Easy ~ The Commodores

Easy Lover ~ Phil Collins

For the next week I invite you to be easy with:

Others knowing they are doing the best they can at any given moment. Send them love and see the qualities/talents which come easily to them rather than the struggles/challenges they may be focusing on.

Yourself by appreciating all of your amazing talents from the smallest thing to the largest as when you live in a state of appreciation, gratitude, and love – everything comes easier to you.

Life and forgiving yourself and others you perceive holding you back from living your best life.

Mostly, my wish is for you to focus on joy rather than sadness, ease rather than struggle, abundance rather than lack, love rather than fear, and peace rather than conflict as when you shift your focus to love, peace, compassion, gratitude and appreciate, life becomes easy.

Until next time, take it easy.

Thank you Lorii! We are grateful for all you are and all you do. Extremely grateful to have you part of the PF Family.

Positive Focus is a lifestyle for the free-spirit.  Upon moving to Chicago 5 years ago, I have since been a follower of this group because it supports the momentum of nurturing my spiritual life.  I have volunteered to initiate “Cultural Expression”, a fundraising event because I believe in its vision.

As a free hugger, it is only natural to come across the other part of you in the midst of other people; waiting for your longawaited spirit’s union.  It is a constant reminder that We are all One and ultimately connected to each other.  As a result of  of my spiritual growth and journey, I have manifested my soulmate.  It was once said that you just have to ask the Universe and it will be given to you.  This is what happened to me and to share my good fortune, I now have taken the responsibility of coaching other people on how to find one’s true love.  I invite you to come visit www.manifestingmydestiny.com and learn more about love.

Lorii Abela

PF Advocate

The fact is – you are powerful beyond measure. The fact is you have the ability to change the world through kindness and compassion. The fact is you have the ability to live the life of your dreams.  The fact is you are perfect in this now moment and have the ability to shift and adjust when experiences no longer serve you.

The fact is – we sometimes let fear lead us and sometimes it comes disguised even when we are feeling positive. Last week, I blogged on Putting a Positive Spin on when you have to dig deep. The blog was about finding the positive regardless of the circumstance and I stand by that. However, I found out today that the article written about Christina Santiago, which compelled me to blog in the first place was not factual. CLICK HERE for the factual account of the coroners office.

After reading the retraction, I realized I had jumped to conclusions of assuming the worst of someone rather than assuming the best. I assumed a coroner from a conservative state would do exactly what the original article said – not release Christina to her partner due to discrimination rather than checking to make sure it was a factual story.

Sincere apologies for spreading fear although I packaged the fear in hope. I believe my old self of decades ago defending the underdog, met up with my new self, the one who knows all is well and perfect in this moment, blended together in that post. This apology/retraction is a good reminder to always ask yourself – is it better to be right? Or better to be kind. I choose kindness. How about you?

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

PF Founder & Vision Keeper

Have you ever heard the saying it’s like watching grass grow? You watch it and nothing seems to happen. You look the next day and again, it still appears to be the same. Day by day you don’t see any progress on the grass growing and then PRESTO, all of a sudden you are a week late in mowing it as it’s gotten so long. You didn’t see the adjustment of height. You didn’t notice it going from 3” to 3.25” to 4” and eventually the height that requires you to get involved, but the change has occurred. I have a small palm plant in my home that I water weekly, sometimes twice a week and it remains the same. It’s in my living room, I see it daily, but look at it a few times a week. One day as I approached the plant to water it, PRESTO, two new palms leaves had sprung!

Living your best life can be that way as well. When you place your attention on happiness, appreciation, and gratitude rather than the how and whys of the outcome, your dreams will appear out of seemingly nowhere. The stress of begging for them to come, doubting their arrival, and the ‘work’ that takes place in creating them will be replaced with grace and gratitude. Your dreams will feel like ‘miracles’ instead of ‘work’.

Affirmation: My love of life grows through appreciation and gratitude.

(S)he Said:

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” ~ John Maxwell

“You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.” ~ Irish Sayin

“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.” ~ Dr. Robert Anthony

Music to my ears

Grow Old With You, ~ Wedding Singer

When I Grow Up, ~ The Pussycat Dolls

Let It Grow, ~ Eric Clapton

For the next week, I invite you to let your dreams grow by:

Planting the seeds of living your happiest life by visualizing them. You can be general and plant seeds of love, health, peace, and abundance. Or you can paint the picture on what those would look like showing up in your life while adding on to the end ‘this or something better.’

Nurturing your dreams through appreciation and gratitude. When you appreciate the little things in your life, you allow that to expand into the bigger areas of your life.

Allowing the dream to unfold in the easiest and joyous way for all involved.

Mostly, my wish for you is the knowingness that even when you don’t see your dreams unfolding, that unseen changes are occurring to bring you the best version of what you are focusing on. Focus on love, health, laughter, happiness, and abundance, and let your dreams grow.

Until next time, simply let it grow.

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

Positive Focus Founder & Vision Keeper

In 2011, the PF Advisory board has been focusing on how to bring awareness to Positive Focus. Certainly bringing focus to Positive Focus, the nonprofit organization that I founded and run so we can expand to our full vision and potential. But also in the more expansive meaning behind our name – simply bringing a Positive Focus to your life inside and outside of the organization. We hope to be a doorway to the positivity in your life, a beacon shining that light on you, and hope that you join us on this amazing journey called life.

With PF Awareness, I’ve asked people to send me their feelings for PF and positivity. Whether its the affirmative messages via newsletters or Facebook, or if particular events have had a positive impact on their lives. Its a privilege and an honor to share the messages of the PF Community and invite you to share them too.

Our first why PF comes from Preston and Emily Klik….

As leaders of a PF sister community, we love that PF is also nurturing and supporting
the simple virtues that the world so sorely needs: kindness (Free Hugs), happiness
(email inspirations), compassion (helping the needy), understanding (event programs),
and fostering uplifting community bonds (parties and gatherings). By focusing on the
positive, we undermine the influence of the negative, and we co-create more and more
beauty and love and smiles. The simple & pure joy of living begins to inform the quality
and texture of our daily lives, and a keen sense of sacred gratitude fills our hearts to
overflowing. Thank you Positive Focus for all you do!

Preston & Emily Klik
www.GivePeaceADance.com

So grateful to have Preston and Emily on this journey. If you would like to share what having a Positive Focus means to you, please send the to me.

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

Positive Focus Founder & Vision Keeper

carol@positive-focus.com

UPDATE: Although the intention of this blog was about finding the positive in adversity, the story about Christina Santiago  about compelled me to write the blog was false. I chose to believe the article linked on Facebook rather than confirming it’s validity and I deeply apologize. CLICK HERE for the factual account.

As you know, I am the glass over flowering person, the sunny side up, and 98% of the day have a smile on my face. Each moment I offer positive solutions on how to live your best life and how to find the gem in the contrast as it’s truly there.

On a rare occasion, I have to dig deeper and deeper to find that positive spin on the ‘wrongs’ of the world. To keep that positive vibe going, I rarely watch the news or engage in fearful conversations. If I do get caught into a cycle of fear based news, I feel it and then look for the positive in it.

My news often comes from Facebook. I seldom open a link that wants to pull me into fear based reporting. Even if it’s from a well meaning friend. Today I was pulled into reading an article about a young woman who lost her life over the weekend with four others at the Indiana State Fair stage collapse tragedy. Five people and numerous others were hurt and lives will forever be changed.

Can I pull the positives from tragedies such as this? Yes. I can see how many people came together to rescue those hurt and how people felt a little closer to family and friends as the reminder of the preciousness of life was pulsating in the air. I can be sad for those gone too soon while fully believing and understanding the eternity of our souls.

What compelled me to write about this tragedy you ask? Well, one thing is writing allows me to clear my mind. Secondly, one of the people lost at the fair grounds, a woman I’ve never met or was even aware of until the tragedy, Christina Santiago, was a well loved woman in Chicago and the Manager of the Lesbian Community Care Project. Her partner was hurt as well and is still hospitalized. The Indiana Coroner won’t release Christina to her partner as she isn’t a legal family member. Tragedy occurred with this young woman’s death and continues to be spread through laws that serve through fear and hatred.

You won’t find me joining protests on these laws, or signing any petitions that continue to ‘fight against’ the ‘wrongs of the world’ as I am a believer that simply perpetuates the problem in the first place. Two quotes that I love that help me with my decisions basically say:

“I will never attend an anti-war rally; if you have a peace rally, invite me”. – Mother Teresa

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein.

I know love is what saves people, heals people, and allows for forgiveness and compassion. I know that at my core. I weep for the people who are grieving, healing, and rebuilding their lives after this tragedy. I weep that I live in a society that won’t allow someone to take the person they love home because they aren’t ‘legally’ bound to each other.

My attempts at positivity seem trite at this moment. I find courage and positivity in knowing the VAST majority of people in this world feel as I do, a young woman regardless of her sexual orientation was gone too soon and those who love her deeply should be able to say goodbye with decency, respect and compassion.

That’s all I’ve got for today, tomorrow I’ll work towards positive solutions.

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

Positive Focus Founder & Vision Keeper

Have you ever thought about life as being one big spice rack? You get to choose which ingredients to add to your life. You can choose loving ingredients, or you can choose fearful ones. You can choose peaceful or hateful. You can choose abundance or scarcity. You can choose light or dark.

Be the best chef in your life by taking a pinch of several ingredients you choose, blend them together, keep them at a nice simmer, add more as needed, and enjoy your Happy Life recipe.

Affirmation: My life has the perfect blend of love, health, peace, and abundance.

(S)he Said: 

“What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.” ~ Benjamin Fairless

“There are three ingredients to the good life: learning, earning, and yearning.” ~ Christopher Morley

“The ingredients of health and long life are great temperance, open air, easy labor, and little care.” ~ Philip Sidney

Music to My Ears

Old Spice

Recipe for Love

~ Harry Conick Jr.

For the next week, I invite you to create your recipe for a Happy Life by mixing the following ingredients:

Gratitude: A healthy blend of gratitude is a key ingredient. When you can be grateful for your contrasting experiences it is a tasty treat of knowing you are on a path for a happy life. You simply know this is just a momentary experience that is helping you grow and evolve.

Love: loving you, loving life, and loving others should be a daily ingredient and used often. When challenges arise, ask yourself, ‘What would love do?’

Forgiveness: forgiving others is truly a benefit for your well being. Even more importantly is forgiving yourself for allowing others misdeeds to permeate your being. Forgive yourself for taking things personally or your involvement in the contrasting experience.

Trust: Trust in yourself knowing that each experience you choose whether caring or contrasting are part of your life path – you chose, so trust you chose well.

Allow: Everyone’s path is slightly different, some have more bumps, twists and turns, but each is the right journey for that person. Allow everyone to mix their ingredients for their life without judgment.

Mostly, I want you to remember that even the best cooks ruin a recipe on occasion. But a true chef doesn’t give up, (s)he just works on perfecting it. Have fun blending the ingredients to create your perfect recipe.

 
Until next week, happy cooking!

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

Shout out to all who volunteered for the Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon. You were fantastic! Despite the rain, you made a huge difference in making the runners comfortable and your enthusiasm was contagious. Thank you again for all your help. The City of Chicago is lucky to have such a great community of people!

Dr. Sharyl Truty, Positive Focus Advisory Board Member

As I was driving this afternoon, listening to my Live Love Laugh Hug playlist, something my sister told me years ago popped into my held. We discussed a business colleague of mine that was driving me crazy. I’m a jump in and learn along the way person. She’s a study, read, think type person and then slowly move forward.  Neither way is better than the other, and on some level, I knew that to be true.

After listening to me discuss (okay – vent) about how SHE was taking forever to do something and SHE just didn’t seem interested in moving forward with the project at hand, my sister, who is an educational trainer, said “You know if you are frustrated with her, she is most likely frustrated with you too.” YIKES – it opened my eyes to the fact that I (lil ole me) could be frustrating to someone.

In that moment I was able to see that my ‘jump now think later’ methods and her ‘study, contemplate’ methods both have their time and place. My sister thought we would make a great partnership in business to balance each other. In the end, we were both too far on the spectrum of jumping and sitting, but our partnership ended amicably.

That scenario visits me from time-to-time when I’m ‘thinking’ someone isn’t moving fast enough for me – knowing the other person is thinking, slow down and lets think this through. It’s been a great reminder to me that true change comes from within. I am responsible for changing my frustration, not the person I’m frustrated with. Of course it’s nice if they do…but it isn’t needed for my happiness.

Today it popped into my head when I was listening (perhaps singing) to Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror – “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change.”

Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror

Music has always been a big part of my life since I can remember. I remember making up dances to songs with my cousin Sarah to perform when my grandma would come to town and those dance numbers continued through much of my childhood and even young adulthood by making up a dance routine with my niece.

I’ve attended hundreds of concerts throughout the years from John Denver, Barry Manilow to Def Leppard and Ozfest. Favorite concerts I must say (were) John Denver, and are Jason Mraz, Bon Jovi, and Meatloaf.

So I often turn to music to elevate my mood – which frankly is often good anyway, but just better with the right tunes playing in the background. I have a play-list on my iPod called Live Love Laugh Hug filled with and continue to be added to songs that inspire me to be my best…to be happy.

I thought I’d share the songs of my play-list and possibly inspire someone to turn to music for a pick-me-up. And if there are songs that inspire you, please share with us….I’m always looking for new songs to add.

LIVE     LOVE     LAUGH     HUG

Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In – Forrest Gump Soundtrack

The Best Thing About Me is You – Ricky Martin featuring Josh Stone

Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson

Change – Tracy Chapman

The Climb – Miley Cyrus

Dog Days Are Over – Florence & The Machine

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

Feeling Good – Michael Buble

Firework – Katy Perry

Heal The World – Michael Jackson

Here Comes The Sun – George Harrison

I’m Moving On – Rascal Flatts

I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

Imagine – John Lennon

Jai Ho – Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack

Jesus Take The Wheel – Carrie Underwood

Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

Let it Be – The Beatles

Live High – Jason Mraz

Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson

My Wish – Rascal Flatts

Never Alone – Jim Brickmann featuring Hilary Scott

Never Surrender – Corey Hart

No One – Alicia Keys

One Day – Matisyahu featuring Akon

Peace Train – Cat Stevens

Pocketful of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield

Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti

Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Sunshine Song – Jason Mraz

Sweet Serendipity – Lee DeWyze

Three Little Birds – Bob Marley

Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield

Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & the Wave

What the World Needs Now – Four Weddings and a Funeral soundtrack

Will You Be There – Michael Jackson

With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker

With Arms Wide Open Creed

Here is to wishing you the perfect soundtrack for your life allowing you to dance in even the muddiest of puddles.

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

Have you ever wondered what’s holding you back from living your dream life? Do the Smith’s and Jone’s across the street truly have it better than you? Were you dealt with a hand that isn’t easily played and/or you choose to fold rather than play it out?

What hold us back from our truth, our destiny, our dream life, is our fears of not being enough to create that truth, destiny, or dream. We can easily identify big fears when we are worrying about finances, relationships, world crisis’s as they are prevalent. Because they easily show their ugly fearful heads, we can make needed adjustments as we are aware they exist.

How about the subtle fears that lie just beneath the surface? The ones that itch, but you don’t see any blemish on why it itches. The ones that cause you uneasiness, but you can’t put your finger on why you are uneasy. Those subtle fears are the hidden ‘I’m not worthy’ of living a life meant for Kings and Queens. They are hidden in judgment and jealousy for what others have or don’t have. They are hidden in the ‘I can’t do that. They are hidden in the little digs we make about ourselves and others that seemingly seem trivial.

Real life bogeymen often look like the nice neighbor rather than a monster we’ve seen at the movies. Our subtle fears hide behind a mask as well. Fear itself isn’t bad, it’s when we allow it to consume us, to paralyze us, and to imprison us in the belief that they are real concerns is when we allow fear to win.

Affirmation: I courageously step into living a life filled with love and laughter.

(S)he Said:

“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” ~ Mark Twain

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ~ Nelson Mandela

“Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.” ~ Mark Twain

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” ~ John F. Kennedy

Music to my Ears:

Thriller ~ Michael Jackson

For the next week, I invite you to toss fear aside by:

Loving what is. Love this moment. Love that you can feel fearful as you aren’t numb and continue to move up to a better feeling place.

Forgiving those fears that hold you back. When we allow anything to hold us back from living our best lives, it is serving us for that very moment. Perhaps you aren’t quite ready for that next step – and that is OKAY.

Mostly I wish you a week of being aware of those subtle fears so you can thank them for serving you, but now that they are in the light of day, you see there is no truth to that fear

Until next time, become the light of your life!

Big hugs and mucho love,

Carol

Positive Focus Founder and Vision Keeper

We had an Advisory Board Meeting today for PF that went quite well. Even an organization that is built on positivity and the good that the world offers, we too can get bogged down on the hows and whens. Well – I should say I can.

I want to shout from rooftops the power of your thoughts in your life. I want to empower everyone in the world yesterday that they have exactly what it takes within them to create a life filled with love, health, and peace.

My heart knows that everything comes in perfect timing; my head says I’m not doing enough and we should be further along in creating positivity worldwide. My heart reminds me that every time I smile at someone I am making a difference. Every time I live in appreciation and gratitude, I am making a difference. And every time I forgive myself for not building PF to its full potential yesterday, I am making a difference.

As in truth, it’s when I practice what I ‘preach’ that it’s the journey not just the destination where change occurs and love resides. And when I get out of my own way, and allow this amazing journey I started four years ago with a book club called Positive Focus, I sit in deep gratitude for an amazing group of people who are on this journey with me – the advisory board who are passionate about positive thought leadership as much as I am. For each of them who sees love over fear, health over illness, peace over conflict, and abundance over lack – now that is an amazing journey!

So when you hear me telling you for the umpteenth time that it’s the journey and not just the destination, know that I am reminding myself of that from time to time too.

Big hugs and mucho love!

Carol

Positive Focus Founder & Vision Keeper

Did you know that having a Positive Focus doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time? What it does mean is finding the gem, the wisdom, the lesson, the empowerment, the rainbow in those moments when things are awry.

The quickest way to return to a positive focus is through gentleness, appreciation, gratitude, service, and love.

Gentleness- Don’t beat yourself up for fearful thoughts, words, or actions

Appreciation – Appreciate the contrast as a reminder to return to a better feeling thought

Gratitude – Be grateful for all the good – big or small – things in  your life that make you happy in this moment and allow them to expand

Service - Be of service to others is as simple as smiling at a stranger, holding a door open for someone in a rush, thanking people, or volunteering your time, talents, and abundance to those in need

Love – Love is the quickest way back to your truth. Loving yourself, others, and the world expands greatness in your life and lessens sorrows. Truly all you need is love as love takes care of all else

So for those who think it’s easy for me to be positive because my life is easy. My life is easier because I choose to see all situations, those I perceive as good or bad, as moments to grow, evolve, and become an even better version of myself.

So can you be angry and have a positive focus? The answer is a resounding YES.

Welcome fearful thoughts for a visit – just don’t invite them for an extended stay.

Truly yours,

Carol

PF Founder and Vision Keeper

August:

9th: PF Tuesday Teaching – Laura Day

9th: Synthesis

10th: Movie Night – The Help 

11th: PF Reiki night

12th: Oneness Blessing

14th: PF Gives Back – Volunteer for Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon

16th: PF Tuesday Teachings – Byron Katie

16th: Synthesis

19th: Oneness Blessing

20th: PF Gives Back -  Free Hugs

20th: PF Gives Back – A  Just Harvest

22nd: PF Gives Back – Sack Lunch Social

23rd: PF Tuesday Teachings – Wayne Dyer

23rd: Synthesis

26th: Oneness Blessing

30th: Synthesis

Note: Our Gives Back programming is in bold.

MONDAY

OPEN DAY - Focus on what’s right in your world. Live Big, Love Big, Give Big

TUESDAY

(7:00 – 8:30PM): Join Fenesha for TUESDAY TEACHINGS – LOUISE HAY and learn how changing how your thoughts and beliefs about yourself, can heal your life.

(8:00 – 9:30ish PM): Join Preston and Emily for contemplation and healing at their SYNTHESIS MEDITATIONS, featuring “The 7 Sacred Choices of the Hero’s Journey”. Visit the calendar for this week’s topic.

WEDNESDAY

(6:45 – ???): Join Carol for a Fun-Social event as we head to the theater to watch THE HELP.

THURSDAY

(7:00 – ???): Join Kevin for PF – Reiki Night where Reiki and Energy Work enthusiasts gather to exchange energy and knowledge while mingling with a great network. We love doing Reiki and we love to have fun! All Reiki nights in

FRIDAY

(7:00 – 8:00 PM): Join Judy for ONENESS BLESSING, a unique energy meditation. 

SATURDAY

OPEN DAY - Focus on what’s right in your world. Live Big, Love Big, Give Big

SUNDAY

(6:00 AM – ???): Join Sharyl for a PF Gives Back event as she leads a medical tent at the Chicago Rock & Roll Half Marathon.

NOTE: Please make sure to RSVP as if we have to make a change in timing or cancel an event, there is no way to let you know if we don’t know you are coming.

Around Town – August

8th – Bodhi With Love Concert

13th: Please Hear What I’m Not Saying

OPEN CALENDAR DAYS – Whenever you see an open day on the calendar, we invite you to suggest something fun, educational, charitable, or inspirational – anything positive to add to the calendar – that you would like to lead.

We all need a hero, right? If our politicians solved the (insert name) crisis, they would be our heroes. If corporate leadership would put more attention to people over profit, they too could be our heroes. If our religious leaders would join together and promote peace in unity, they too could be heroic. If the next door neighbor mowed the lawn, wouldn’t he/she become your hero?

Often we look for outside sources to be our heroes and sheroes. Having people to look up to allows us to see that potential within us. Rather than expecting or waiting on others to be heroic, look within and become that hero for your family, your friends, your community. Frankly – become that hero for YOU!

When we start seeing small steps forward as heroic efforts to become that which we want to be, well then, that is where true change can take place. Little by little, one small step connected to the next allows politicians to work together, companies to start seeing the benefits of valuing their team, and religious communities to realize all communities benefit when diversity and love shine bright.

(S)he Said:

“To think great thoughts, you must be heroes as well as idealists” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” ~ Christopher Reeve

A boy doesn’t have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn’t like pie when he sees there isn’t enough to go around.” ~ Edgar Watson Howe

Music to My Ears

Hero ~ Enrique Iglesias

Hero ~ Mariah Carey

Holding Out for a hero ~ Bonnie Tyler

For the next week I invite you to become a hero by:

Speaking about all the good in the world – If you find a ‘don’t want’ in your life, talk about the opposite of that and make it into a positive statement.

Helping someone up – whether it’s figuratively or literally, help someone up. Give them a hand, share your abundance, give a hug, and simply let people know they matter…especially if they are facing challenges.

Doing what you want to see the world become even if it seemingly seems small. You want world peace, be peaceful in your world. Rather than pointing fingers, put your fingers to work on solutions rather than problems in your world.

Mostly, I wish you a week filled with the realization that you are a hero each moment you have the courage to live your highest self. Each time you stand up for what you believe in through compassion and love. The world needs heroes like you!

Until next time, look in the mirror to see a hero.

Compassion takes your hand. Faith walks in front of you showing you your next few steps. Courage is at your heals. Motivation is tapping your shoulder. Encourage is whispering in your ear ‘you’ve got this’. And LOVE is lighting the way.

With Compassion, Faith, Courage, Motivation, Encourage, and Love on your team – your destiny awaits. Go Team U!