Three Reasons to Be Optimistic Right NOW

I’m always surprised when a quick note on Facebook gets more attention than I expected. Maybe it’s because often my “well thought out” topics are more ego driven than I’d like to admit and the “quick posts” often come from a deeper part of me. The part that really knows what’s going on. The same divine part that’s in you.

One of those posts came through a few weeks ago. I remember that morning being aware I “needed” to post on my business page when this popped into my head and I quickly typed:

Three reasons to be optimistic:

1. You're alive.
2. You're responsible for the life you create.
3. The tools/resources/opportunities you need are within your reach NOW.

Go inside and ask the divine intelligence within you for guidance. Keep asking, be open to answers and ALLOW the divine to work through you.

Yes, it can be that simple! I've found that when my life was the hardest, my thinking greatly contributed to my difficult experience.

There's always another way. Your ego loves the drama, your divine self loves to see you happy and peaceful. Which inner voice will you listen to?

So why did people respond to this? Maybe it resonated with a current personal issue or maybe it reinforced their own beliefs. Here’s a few more thoughts on each point:

1) You’re alive. 
No matter the physical or emotional condition, humans on some level know where there’s life, there’s hope. There’s a chance to change something of consequence even when the only thing that can be changed are your thoughts about the situation. THAT changes everything. When your perspective changes, your experience changes.

2) You’re responsible for the life you create.
Here come those pesky thoughts again! While you may not believe you create issues such as family drama or serious situations like tragic accidents, natural disasters or acts of war, you are totally responsible for how you react to everything in your life. Your thoughts about life situations – big and small – create the quality of your life. Will you grow from challenges or stay a victim of circumstance? Do you want a more peaceful, happy life? Are you willing to stretch out of your “comfort zone” to find new ways to be in the world regardless of the situation? It’s not easy. 

I find encouragement from the words etched on a favorite bracelet: “If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.” These words remind me that I must change my thoughts and actions to create anything new in my life.

3) The tools/resources/opportunities you need are within your reach NOW.
When you can relax into this truth, everything changes. EVERYTHING. Just like MacGyver can think his way out of any dangerous situation, so can you. And you don’t need fancy science tricks to do it (but that IS super cool). While your ego thrives on fear, stress and overwhelm the true part of you, call it your soul, divine self, highest self or whatever you believe it to be, knows only peace, love and joy. Even in the most brutal situations, it is possible to tap into your divine core for guidance and to find the peace you crave. 

Remember this: the divine intelligence that is in you knows exactly what to do. Use prayer or meditation to go inside and ask that part of you, the part connected to all there is, for direction. I often ask, “what is my next best step here?” Sometimes I have to ask more than once. Or several times. That ego is strong when I’m fearful. But it’s not stronger than love. Love is the energy that will manifest in new ideas, a call from an old friend with an exciting opportunity or a new workshop on just the topic you need. Whatever you need to go forward will be provided when you allow divine intelligence to direct your actions.

And yes, that divine part of you is present in everyone else on the planet. While it’s tempting, and sometimes feels justified, in pointing out when others are acting from ego, it’s not your job to judge others. You’re responsible for your own thoughts and actions. Period. Trust that everything is happening for your ultimate good and, just maybe, the actions of others are giving you an opportunity to choose a more loving life.

Yeah, I know that doesn’t seem fair, but I didn’t make up this life thing. I just know life is better when I understand, accept and act from these truths:

1) I’m alive.
2) I’m responsible for the life I create.
3) The tools/resources/opportunities I need are within my reach NOW.

Here’s Your Sign

I believe in signs. I mean Divine signs. From God, Universe, Source – whatever you call the intelligent, creative energy that makes the flowers bloom, causes the ocean tides to come in and out and organizes the solar systems.

And I believe you can ask for Divine guidance and have your answer delivered by signs. You just have to pay attention to what’s happening around you and be open to receive.

A few months ago, I was working on a proposal to speak at a large conference and remember thinking to myself, “I’d love to have a little help with this from someone who already does keynote speeches to large groups.” Within days I had heard the name of a lady who does just that in the Northern Virginia area. Not once, but her name came up in a couple conversations. Hmmm…

I sent her a Facebook message and got a response the same day. After an initial call, I hired her to help me with my project. It’s a perfect partnership! She’s EXACTLY what I needed and I became aware of her EXACTLY when I needed someone with her expertise. Good thing I pay attention to signs.

Some people will say this was a happy coincidence or perhaps a case of serendipity, but I know a Divine sign when I see or hear it. And I’m not the only one.

I had a new client who had been referred to me by a coworker. Although we’d had a lovely conversation on the phone when she made her initial appointment, this lady was nervous. She’d never had any type of coaching before and as she left her office to drive to our first session, her nerves were getting the best of her.

She told me she was scared and wondered if she was doing the right thing. As she was stuck in traffic, she said out loud in her car, “What should I do? Please give me a sign.”

As she finished uttering those words, a utility van in the lane next to her moved up so she could clearly see the advertising sign on the bus behind it. On the sign was the photo of a kind lady staring at her wearing a phone headset. The huge headline read DIANE CAN HELP.

“As soon as I saw that sign, I knew I had to keep our appointment!” she told me as she recounted the story. I’m so glad she noticed the sign and started her healing journey that very afternoon. She was able to release traumas from her past and create a new life complete with a job she loved and a healthy romantic relationship.

Maybe not all Divine signs are quite that direct…or maybe we’re too busy to notice?