Out of Darkness Comes Light

Yes, it is inevitable that we will go through hard times. I see these as challenges and blessings in disguise. These are times of reflection and humility. What can you learn from these challenges? Did you ever think about how much stronger you will become?

Have you ever seen those karate fighters who break blocks of wood or cement with their fists? When these fighters first start out they may break the bones in their hand and arms. When the bones heal, the bones become stronger every time. Eventually the bones are so strong that it is possible to break a block of cement.

And so it is the same with people. We may fall and we may fail, but every time we get back up we are stronger and wiser. Every time something "bad" happens, think about the silver lining. It may be God's way of keeping us humble.

Whatever darkness you may encounter through this journey of life, always keep in mind that you will see light again. It is in knowing this that will give you a sense of peace. If you are going through some hard times, it’s a good idea to jot down things that you are grateful for. This will put life back into perspective. Think about how much worse your situation could be. Think about all those people in the world who may not have what you have.

As Forest Gump’s mother said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” Who knows, tomorrow may be the day you get your big break and overcome the obstacles that keeps you from having a happy life.

Let the light in….

Live the Life of a Child

Movement and energy fills the air... Two toddlers are in my care today and they fill me with smiles and energy. I close my eyes and try to take my mind back to that time of enrgy, innocence, and free spiritedness. Shouldn't we live our lives in the same mindset as young children? They live with no fear, no real worries, no boundaries, and no limitations in the spiritual sense.

It's the little things that make children smile. All they desire is a smile and some attention. Kids want you to give them hugs and play games with them. Wouldn't that be great if all we needed was a smile to make our day brighter? What if we could just go for one day and not have a care in the world?

Our lives should not be spent in fear and worry about what might happen in the future. All we have is today. If you have kids, spend some real quality time with them and just live in the moment as they do.
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"Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives."
--Maya Angelou

Exchange Your Gifts

We each have some kind of gift that we may or may not use to help benefit others. Do you know what your gift is? What are you doing with your gift(s) to help others? Wouldn't it be great if we could all just exchange our gifts instead of having money?

I always love to imagine a world without money. The way we would acquire things would be to barter goods and services. Each one of us has some type of good or something we're good at that can be exchanged for something we need. This is how it was done thousands of years ago.

This past year I hosted an art auction fundraiser for the Monarch School, a school for homeless and at-risk youth in San Diego. Ever since that event I've attracted many more opportunities to help other non-profits raise money for their organizations. It is very rewarding to be able to use my gifts to help others. I encourage you to do the same.

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If you would like to exchange advertising or links with this website or one of my other websites, please contact me by sending an email to: maria@salondemaria.info Please choose a website that complements your website.

Here is the list of my websites:
Salon de Maria (My art website): http://www.salondemaria.info
Home Solutions San Diego (San Diego Real Estate): http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com
Beauty and Fashion Blog: http://www.beautyiswithin.blogspot.com

Prosperity Affirmations

Prosperity comes to each and everyone of us. For some it may be material prosperity and for others it may be intangible.

There was a time in my life when all I thought about was the lack of money in my life. Little did I know back then that you attract what you think about. If you feel yourself constantly thinking about how "broke" you are, say to yourself,

"The abundance of God flows in and through my life. I am prospered."

Write this down and post it in a place that you can see everyday. It's going to take some time to change your mindset from "lack" to "prosperity". Writing down affirmations is one of the best ways to embed prosperous thoughts into your subconscious. This I learned from a prosperity teacher, Marilyn Jenett .

Here are some ideas for affirmations you can write down to begin your journey to propserity:

-Prosperity flows to me and through my life.
-I am blessed with overflowing abundance
-I am a child of God, worthy of abundant living. I welcome my good.
-I have a prosperity attitude that draws good to me.
-I am open to new ideas and welcome an increase in income

Helping others to achieve a fulfilling and abundant-filled life is one of my life's missions. If you would like more information on achieving prosperity in your life, contact me at: maria@salondemaria.info
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Recommended Resources:

Dynamic Laws of Prosperity

How To Be Wildly Wealthy FAST: A Powerful Step-by-Step Guide to Attract Prosperity and Abundance into Your Life Today!

Do What You Love and The Money Will Come

I can't express enough how important it is to do what you love. In my own life I've been questioning some of the things that I'm doing. Am I in it just for the money? What is motivating me to keep doing this? What is my real passion?

I had a dream the other night that told me that art is my real passion. And the funny thing is, I haven't been able to do much of it because of other obligations in my life. This past weekend I began to feel unhappy about the whole situation, but I've snapped out of it today. There's no point in feeling down and out. It just sucks more energy from you and it's not a good feeling.

Do you dread going to work everyday? Then why are you still working there? Why not find a new job? NO EXCUSES! Get out of your comfort zone.... Write down your goals and dreams and make a commitment today to start doing something to change your life for the better. You'll thank me for it later.

Well, it's time for me to live my dream! Ciao :)

"The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent."~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

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I really believe that you can achieve all that you set your mind to. Looking back on my life, I've realized that I have done so much in my short time on earth. Sometimes things came fast and sometimes I had to fight battles, but in the end I always achieved my goals. And yes, you can be successful in anything that you want. Did you know that you can have everything you want?

Sometimes my "human" side creeps up and gets frusterated because things are not happening fast enough, but I'm practicing patience. My spiritual side knows that all happens according to the Universe's time.

Stay focused. Don't get distracted. Keep your eye on the prize.....

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Recommended Reading:
I Will by Ben Sweetland
- Truly an inspiring book! This will definitely turn your I CAN's into I WILL's. A dream is only a dream unless you take action!

An excerpt from an article by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D

I have been feeling pretty sad about what's going on in the world today and then I receive this from a friend of mine which helps to keep my focus on the "bigger picture"...

"My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now … the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes.

For years, we have been learning practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement.

I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in the history of humankind... Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for grace? Don't you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the voice greater?

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing.

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these — to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both, are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.

There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it; I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate.
The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here.

The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours: They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here. In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall:
When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.

This comes with much love and a prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth.”

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D

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"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-- Harold Thurman Whitman

Find Inspiration: No Opportunity Wasted

I was thoroughly inspired today when I watched today's Oprah show on "Once in a Lifetime Dares." Phil Keoghan, author and host of NOW: No Opportunity Wasted which airs on Fit TV and the Discovery Channel was on the show. I never heard of this show until today. Phil gives you 72 hours and $3,000 to go out and follow your dream. It's all about living your life now!

For a long time I was stuck in the past or dreaming of the future. I was unhappy about mistakes made in the past and thinking I would only be happy in the future when I had this and that. Little did I realize that I was losing time in the present. I kept thinking about all the things that I wanted to do, but felt like I needed more time or money to make my dreams come true. Now I know that all I have is now to start making things happen.

What are your dreams? Is it traveling around the world? Becoming a published writer? What are you doing today to achieve those dreams? You can start with baby steps, just as long as you get the wheels in motion - that's what is most important. I have one dream that I've been working on for about three years now. It takes action to turn your thought into a dream.

Where do you start? I suggest using creative visualization first. Every morning and at night before bed meditate on what you want to accomplish in life. Picture yourself in the situation you want with full details....what you're wearing...sights...sounds... You can even create a folder or scrapbook with magazine clippings, articles, notes and thoughts about your dream. Look at this scrapbook every day to keep you motivated towards your goal. By the time you know it, you'll begin to take action towards your dream!

Read my other posts related to this topic:

• Life Begins Now
• A Commitment
• My Dream Home

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Suggested Reading: No Opportunity Wasted

Take Action! Action! And More Action!

I'm a recovering procrastinator! Things that have been put off are no longer... I overcame the mental obstacles that got in the way of progress. I am taking action now!

When we don't do something, most of the time fear is involved. Fear of failure? Fear of success? It's fear nonetheless - and that is simply not an excuse. Why fear? It should be taken out of our vocabulary. All we can do is dive in and view everything as a journey. There are no failures, just lessons. Life is just one big learning experience.

I find inspiration in watching the movie, Forrest Gump. Whenever Forrest set his mind to do something, he just did it with no fear. When he was younger and had the braces on his legs, that didn't stop him from running as fast as he could!

Is there something that you've always wanted to do but haven't done anything about it? Today is the day to take action! Time is no excuse either :) There's plenty of it. If it'll help, don't watch TV today. Ready? Set! Go!

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"My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate... at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in a maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, or slow up."~ Robert Moorehead