The Best Thing About Abundance

What’s the most fun thing about having a lot of money? Giving it away!

The same goes for love, generosity of spirit, kindness, blessings, whatever you’ve got to give!
Examples of this happy theory have filled my life in the last few days.

I just got back from a wonderful visit with the now famous, Joe Vitale in Wimberley, Texas. You can see a snippet on http://drjoevitale.blogspot.com/, scroll down a bit.

I admit I wondered what my old friend would be with all that success, all those fancy cars and yes, all that money!

It was fun seeing the stuff he writes about with such glee and pride – cheering us on to our own prosperity as well.

But the most fun of all was watching Joe light a fire of encouragement in every single person we came across. Like the smile on the lunch server’s face when she realized her tip was larger than the bill. The old guy (probably my age :-)) with the self-published novel at a booth we strolled by at the local Market Days. Joe not only offered encouragement, he bought a copy.

Then there was dinner at the Cedar Grove Steakhouse. But the best part? The owners, Bruce and Holly Collie are just learning the business. So Joe took out an ad, an insert coupon in every copy of a local paper. He created it, packed it with marketing magic and paid for it. After our delicious dinner, Holly came out with her 12 – yes 12! beautiful children to sing a song of thanks they had written for Joe. One of the littlest guys, about 5 years old, added his own gleeful, “Thank you little Mister Joe Vitale!” to the end.

I was there for 4 days. It never ended. Most of those people had no idea that Joe is a bestselling author, teacher in “The Secret” video and book, sought after marketing guru.

I left with my suitcase bulging with books and video gifts and a firmer than ever conviction – the best part about having anything is giving some away.

At the airport bookstore, I noticed a big stack of copies of “The Secret.” Isn’t it grand to see someone walk the talk?

Today I opened a message from Kate Nowak that blew me away. You can find it at www.bettertobless.com/6-10-08.html . Click! Bless! Be Blessed!

So many people doing so many amazing things. I love to hear about yours. What will we think of next?

Love and Blessings,
Mandy

Take the Money -- Or Not

I received as much response from the email about prayers for healing Danny the Dog as anything I have ever sent out. All but one person said I should take the $200 Danny's owner sent me.

I was touched by those caring emails. And I understand what they said about accepting gifts in the spirit they were offered, gratitude, not offending the giver, not blocking the flow.

But I just couldn't do it. I returned it with my thanks and suggested he might donate it to an animal shelter or animal related charity.

Danny's owner not only understood the spirit in which I declined, he thanked us for our kindness and said he's be glad to donate $500!!

I thank you for your kindness and sharing your thoughts with me and each other. There's a saying, "The essence of communication is intent." With what generous intent we all communicated!

To Your Health and Happiness -- and Danny's!

Love,
Mandy

Do This Instead of Giving Up

Since Joe Vitale’s bestseller, “The Attractor Factor” lists me under “Healers, Counselors and Mentors” I get some pretty unusual emails.

A man sent a request for a healing prayer and asked about my services. I told him I was not any kind of expert in that area but I’d be glad to offer a personal prayer for his healing.

He wrote back. The healing was for his dog, Danny, who has a kidney problem.

I sat quietly for a moment sending loving and healing thoughts to Danny and asking for his healing.

This caring pet owner emailed that he was sending a check for $200.

I quickly typed “No! No! Please don’t send it!” and clicked “send.”

The check arrived yesterday with a thoughtful note. He acknowledged my no-check-request, but said he wanted me to have it.

What a lovely predicament. What to say when I send the check back without being ungracious? Maybe I’m just being stubborn and short-sighted, but I really can’t see myself accepting money for praying.

It got me thinking about requests, prayers, gratitude, generosity, kindness and good stuff like that. How when you run out of ideas and actions, you can always meditate and pray instead of giving up in anger or despair.

Maybe you would like to offer a prayer for Danny too. He has such a generous and loving human friend, I’d like to help.

Seems like a step in a good direction – sharing our caring, concern, prayers and kindness. Ah, what a world it could be.

Sending love and healing thoughts your way,
Mandy

Creating in the Empty Space

To lift your spirits and boost your creativity sometimes you have to clear out some clutter, let go of worn out routines and give yourself space to breathe free. 20 minutes of meditation may do it for you or a nice nap. I took 9 glorious months!

Last summer I sent out a message, “Dare to Face the Empty Place,” (http://www.mandyevans.com/emptyplace34.html). So many of you wrote back – far more than usual. You confirmed my suspicion that a lot of us get so cluttered up in our lives sometimes that we get lost in the tangles.

There’s not a lot of support for the empty place -- no game plan, no goals! -- so I thought I’d encourage you with some of my sweet adventures from the empty place.

For 9 months, no career building, no seeking new coaching clients, scheduling workshops. I turned away work I love! That left only a few previously scheduled events with NO plans for more.

I’ve had a wonderful time. I made a bunch of money in the stock market, hung out with old and new friends. I read for sheer pleasure, swam, spent precious time with my son and his girlfriend, Sheri.

Here are my son Barnaby and me at a happy reunion with two actors from a summer theater I worked at in 1960!

We gathered at my little cabin in the mountains for my 67th birthday week. In the first photo From left to right: My dear Barnaby. Then Harry Cauley (actor/writer/director/author of the fabulous novel, "Millersburg." Then Bob Burgos actor/writer/director with a hit play running in L.A. now.

When we met Bob was 17, Harry was 28, I was 19 and Barnaby had not even been thought of yet. Amazing we all turned out just fine, given some of our adventures between then and now.

I tackled some health problems. Like 12 years of bursitis in my left hip. After an MRI, 12 weeks of physical therapy many well wishes and the healing power of Robert (Dr. Buzz) Edelburg, it healed.

Dr. Buzz took the last "BREAKOUT Weekend" in Palm Springs. He loved it. We combined his vast knowledge with what he just learned in the workshop to uncover the limiting beliefs that had blocked healing. There were plenty of them too! Amazing how hard it is to find and challenge them all by yourself. More about this to come!

Barnaby is starting a new adventure too; his new company, http://www.foodista.com/ aims be the go-to site for everything about food. Getting hungry? Check it out!

What else filled up all that space? Bubbling over enthusiasm and then, oops I did it again! I scheduled a BREAKOUT Weekend for Palm Springs in October.

Details will go out in June. Enrollment is limited. For an early notification and advance registration opportunity let me know and I’ll put you on the list.

Plans and goals are fine and fun. But when in doubt about what to do, where to go – check out the empty place. Fill it with love and life!

To Your Spacious Success and Happiness!

Mandy

Struggling Like a Crazy Goose

That crazy goose is back. He arrives with his mate every year about this time. When all of the geese who visit our man-made pond have flown off to cooler climates for nesting and mating, this duo swoops in.

She builds a nest by a bench in a rose garden and lays her eggs. He defends their territory. He hisses at the gardeners, charges at anyone who wonders near. He wages war on the ducks and drowns every fuzzy little duckling that paddles near his end of the pond.

What does all that hissing, charging and drowning ducklings get him? Nothing! As our desert temperature rises, then soars, the eggs don't hatch. They cook.

It's easy for us to see how crazy-hopeless their efforts are, but they obviously do not get it.

Everyone I know struggles like a crazy goose in some way. We have little chance of catching on by ourselves. That's because our belief systems, comprising our personal un-examined versions of reality, dictate our behavior and our choices. You are not likely to stumble on these beliefs as you wander through life. You have to know how to look for them and what to do when you find them.

For example: a man I worked with recently summoned the courage to tell me that he felt lonely and lost after a divorce. He had never in his adult life told anyone how he felt when he was hurt, sad or lonely. Resolving his beliefs and fears around that issue in an open way set him firmly on a new path to adventures in human connection. He knows he has a lot to learn and looks forward to it.

Here's personal example. If you've been reading these messages for a while you know I have struggled for years with health issues and physical pain. It was a personal breakout to share that with all of you. Your response has been amazingly kind and helpful. Thank you.

I found a great crazy-goose pattern! For years, I focused on how to endure limitations, and pain rather than how to cure my body. Who knew?! I got really good at it too, but the mastery didn't provide any rewards to write home about.

With a new goal of feeling good and being really healthy, I'm getting help and already making progress. A big bonus is working with someone special on how to teach this to other people. More about that soon.

Is there something in your life you do over and over like a crazy goose? If you can pinpoint one, celebrate. Now you can look for solutions to help you thrive and flourish.

Start with what you want instead of the way it is now.

Do not let other people, X-Rays, your bank statement or anything else stop you from the amazing grace of experiencing that desire! Notice, I said "experiencing that desire" not fulfilling it. I do not know what will happen. I do know experiencing desire is an excellent first step, one that many people forget about or try to avoid.

Then find your limiting beliefs.

Is there any reason you can't have that desire?
Are your reasons/beliefs true?

If you want to create new results, all you have to do is turn, sometimes ever so slightly, and take the next step in a clear new direction.

Cheering you on with love,
Mandy

PS - Coming soon, new openings for coaching students and at least one more BREAKOUT Weekend in Palm Springs, CA. There is a waitinglist for coaching sessions. If you'd like to be on it let me know. If you are on it, I'll check with you soon.

Why Not Ask for More?

In his haunting song, "Bird on a Wire" Leonard Cohen says,
"and a young man leaning in his darkened door
he called out to me
why not ask for more?"

There are many reasons we do not ask for more. Most, if not all, of those reasons are limiting beliefs, misconceptions about the infinite possibilities available to us all.

Our desires always conform to our beliefs. We will never truly desire something we believe is impossible or something we believe we do not deserve. We will not actively, joyfully open ourselves to welcome something we disapprove of, even unconsciously -- like prosperity, if we equate seeking abundance with greed for example.

To break out from the limits we place on our own desire requires a change in how we perceive ourselves and our universe. For example:

A man who believes he cannot learn to read will focus his desire on how to hide his illiteracy, not on how to learn.

A woman who believes asking for help will make her more vulnerable to attack will never seek support.

An addict who believes he can cannot survive without his substance will not seek freedom from addiction.

Someone who believes greater fortune would make her a bad, greedy person will not be open to great prosperity.

Would you like to have an inner adventure today? Think of something you want. What would you like to welcome into your life this very day?

Now what would be more? What would be beyond your wildest dreams?

Will you dare to ask for it in the privacy of your own being? In most endeavors the first step is the challenge. When you take that step into expanded desire, what does it feel like to "ask for more?"

Love,
Mandy

PS There are free belief quizzes, articles and info about my books at http://www.mandyevans.com if you want more support for breaking out from limiting beliefs.

Mastering the Power of Release

I received an email from Buz McGuire, the director of the Viral Happiness Expansion Initiative. He's launching a e-book and audio CD combo, "Mastering Your Power of Release." I liked what I read so much I contributed a chapter on how to "Make Your Own Declaration of Independence."Check it out! Here's the link: http://breakout1.buzrelease.hop.clickbank.net/

To your happiness and success!

Mandy