Mike Dooley: "Thoughts Become Things!"

Book Review: Choose Them Wisely: Thoughts Become Things!

by Mike Dooley

copyright 2009; published by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

If you haven't read or listened to this book yet, you're in for a treat! (It's also available as an audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio, copyright 2009, unbridged. I experienced the audio version.) The book is encouraging, inspiring, and soothing.

Dooley wrote the book from the point of view of the Universe as he understands it, and he speaks to the reader directly and casually. This style and use of a persona allowed him to add gentle humor and convincing but gentle nudges to the brief messages that make up the book.

I'm sure I would enjoy the print version, but the audiobook is great...it's read by the author in a very centered, soothing, and reassuring way. I like to listen to it before I go to sleep at night!

In his "Universe" persona, Dooley reminds us that we are all parts of something grander and larger than we can even imagine. The "Universe" reminds us of our full power and potential!

I'd like to add a bit of inspiration here for you writers and other creatives out there. When Dooley first started doing this type of writing many years ago, he felt very unsure of himself. Can you relate?? Most of us can! Now Dooley has at least 4 books out, he's an inspirational speaker, and he was one of the featured teachers in the movie "The Secret"!

And wait till you see his website at http://www.tut.com/. I think you will love it! There are lots of free, fun goodies there! As with the book, the site is great for Law of Attraction fans who are looking for practical understanding but who don't want and/or need the scientific details. (By the way, scientific support for the Law of Attraction is out there from other sources, for any of you who aren't fans of it...yet!)

Please share your opinions and experiences with the book and/or the site with my other readers and me!

Thanks,
Susan

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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Getting Your Ego and Intuition to "Play Nice"

Why is it that even when we dearly love to paint, write, dance, etc., we circle our studio or office like a plane waiting to land at a busy airport? We love our craft, we love to work on it, we love to get lost in it...so why are we sharpening every pencil in the place to a nub when we don't even plan to use any pencils?

I believe the answer lies in the phrase above, "...we love to get lost in it...." Yes, the creative and intuitive facets of our psyche love to get lost in it. They have no issue with surrendering to the mystery of the process.

The ego, on the other hand, fears "losing itself" in anything. I believe that our egos are necessary parts of our personalities. But the ego can be like a well-meaning but over-bearing friend to your creative side. He or she is afraid that if you "get lost in the process," you may never come back, or you won't want or need him or her anymore.

So it's the ego's fear that keeps us from diving into the work we love. The ego is also concerned about the end result and how it will be received.

To get our egos to "play nice," we have to remind them that they do their best work near the end of the process...in the editing, pricing, and marketing phases of a project. It's a yin-yang thing; each partner must contribute, but each must also rely on and trust the strengths of the other.

Please share a comment about your experiences with this natural law of the creative process!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. I invite you to try a one-on-one complimentary intro session by phone or in person...on this topic or most any other in the realm of life coaching! Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766 to set up your appointment. I look forward to talking with you.

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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Resolution Check-In

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." --James Joyce

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Sweet Victories or Sour Grapes?

Are you on your way to manifesting your resolutions, or is your enthusiasm sagging? Either way, I'd suggest that you go back to my December 11 post and brush up on the basics of carrying out creative resolutions. Then check out the common pitfalls discussed below.

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Pitfall #1: Trying to Swim Upstream

Have you ever seen the ads for a space-saving exercise pool? They are only about 8 ft. long, 5 ft. wide, and operate on the principle that if you try to swim upstream, you will likely end up staying in the same place. The pool sends a current of water forward and you swim against it.

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This is fine for space-saving exercise, but I don't think it's what you had in mind for your resolutions! The Universe can't help us if we are struggling to go the other way. We've heard it a million times because it's true: go with the flow.

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You'll have to decide what this means for you in relation to your own resolutions, but here's an example. Did you set up a resolution that forces you to focus on your weaknesses and fix them? Instead, rework it so that you are building on your strengths. It's easier, it makes you feel better about yourself, and it attracts more strengths, because that's what you're focusing on!

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Pitfall #2: Believing It Has to Be Difficult

We've been trying to swim upstream for so long, we've come to believe that where there's no pain there's no gain. Sure, you need to take action, but check in with your intuition first for help with your decisions and timing. It'll help you sail right around those pesky boulders in the river of life.

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Pitfall #3: Blaming Others

So, are you going to sail around the boulder, or are you going to blame nature for putting it in your way? Blaming others or blaming institutions or circumstances puts us in a powerless mindset, because it follows that we think there's nothing we can do to change the situation.

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This doesn't mean we have to blame ourselves, it just means that we have to accept responsibility for doing what is needed to get our resolutions back on the right track.

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Pitfall #4: Lack of a Support Structure on Which to Build Your Goal

Can your current life circumstances support the personal growth it'll take to get to your goal? How are your finances, health, relationships, etc.? Do you have accountability and moral support in place?

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I'm offering personalized complimentary email support, once a week for four weeks to the first ten people who request it. If you're interested, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

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To your success,

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Susan

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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Castles in the Air

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." --Henry David Thoreau

This is one of the greatest lessons I learned in my coach training! I wish I'd known it when I was a freelance children's writer. From my viewpoint now as a coach and Reiki Master, I can see how I failed to provide a solid foundation for myself. I did well in terms of learning the ropes and staying up with changes in the field. I knew the foundational stuff for my sole proprietorship, but I forgot to take care of the proprietor!

Soon I became the weakest link in my own chain, often dealing with creative blocks and stress-related illnesses that led me away from being the "principal" of my business and toward being the "principle" reason it failed!

I did not take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or energetically! It was like walking on stilts, which was certainly not a firm foundation for my "castle"!

Even if your creative activity is a hobby rather than a business, if you've been walking on stilts, where are you going to find the energy and inspiration to create? Keeping your values in mind, take a look at these three areas:

Simplify

• What routines can you institute to lessen your stress?
• What positive energy resources can you cultivate for yourself? Maybe a walk in nature?
• What boundaries do you need to set with others to lessen your stress?

Clarify

• What strengths can you leverage?
• What kind of people do you want to surround yourself with?

Amplify

• What is your vision or mission for your life, and how does your art fit in?
• What goals support your vision or mission?
• What's one small step you can take today to start building a firm foundation?

Please share your comments on the step you choose and your results to inspire the rest of us!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary introductory tele-coaching session for more help on this topic or most others!