Working with Wisdom

How to Have a Really Happy New Year!

In the book, The How of Happiness, author Sonja Lyubomirsky recommends 12 scientifically proven ways to boost our happiness. They are:

1. Express Gratitude


2. Cultivate Optimism


3. Avoid Overthinking and Social Comparison


4. Practice Acts of Kindness


5. Nurture Social Relationships


6. Develop Strategies for Coping


7. Learn to Forgive


8. Increase Flow Experiences


9. Savor Life's Joys


10. Commit to Your Goals


11. Practice Religion and Spirituality


12. Take Care of Your Body

I resonated with all of them. Do you?

Abraham Lincoln said that most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. To make your new year happier, I recommend you identify three of these strategies that you already do, appreciate the positive impact they have on your attitude and continue to do them. For me, that's express gratitude, cultivate optimism and nurture social relationships.

Then, consider three more strategies to start or recommit to for the new year. Mine are savor life's joys (stay in the moment), commit to your goals (I've got some bodacious ones for 2011!) and take care of your body (back to my yoga practice).

What do you already do and what will you begin to do in 2011? I hope you'll share your wise strategies by posting your comments here and inspire others. Have a Really Happy New Year!

What's So Good about "Good Business"?

"Good Business: Putting Spiritual Principles into Practice at Work" (Unity House, 2010) is an inspiring compilation of essays from 22 conscious business leaders. I share my "CRAVE Your Goals!" formula for success in Chapter 20.

Editors Charlotte Shelton and Martha Lynn set the tone in the book's introduction: "Ethical, accountable, responsible, collaborative, service-oriented, vision-focused and mission-based are words that describe good business. In short, good business is principled business--business that recognizes there are foundational principles in life that cannot be violated without great consequences."

As the economy begins to recover, those who lead large companies and run small businesses are recognizing that employees, customers and stakeholders expect much more. Conscious and compassionate organizations that appreciate and encourage sound business practices like meditation, gratitude, affirmations, visualization and taking care of the environment have a distinct competitive edge. The book highlights SAS Institute, Timberland Shoes, the Container Store, BioGenex, Tyson's Foods and Malden Mills--enlightened, successful companies that prove doing good is good business.

Here are some excerpts that resonated with me.

• From Daryl Conner: We each travel within a particular current that brings us into contact with the very people, situations and circumstances that enable us to learn the lessons waiting for us and use them as a catalyst for growth...We get into trouble when we decide our egos know more about what's best for us rather than allow ourselves to follow the natural flow of the Divine guidance we're offered.
• From Bil and Cher Holton: Enlightened business leaders know that all work tasks, procedures and organizational objectives have sacred components, whether they involve entering or collecting data, monitoring business processes, speaking to customers, driving company vehicles or emptying trash receptacles. Each task, every molecule of effort, is important in a soul-managed work environment. And the employees who perform these functions are valued and respected for being in alignment with the sacred dimensions of work.
• From Martha Lynn: The key is courage. Do we have the courage to set intentions that come from a place of love rather than lack or self-preservation? Do we have the courage to self-observe and take responsibility and be accountable for our thoughts, feelings and actions? Do we have the courage to shift from habits we have relied on for decades--our frame of reference for how the world works?
• From Brian Tracy: Since fear represents the greatest obstacle to creativity and high performance, when businesses drive out fear, they create an environment where creativity and high performance are free to flourish.
• From Charlotte Shelton: The skill of quantum feeling has enormous impact on issues such as motivation, stress, burnout and job satisfaction. Organizational life will change significantly when enough of us can release our dependence on external rewards and take full responsibility for bringing purpose, passion and vitality to our jobs by choosing appreciation rather than frustration, faith rather than fear, and accountability rather than victimization. I can't wait!

Neither can I. How about you?

Spring Cleaning for Success

Out of the 10 universal principles in "Divine Wisdom at Work" and the five that make up the "CRAVE Your Goals!" formula, the one that resonates most with people is: Clean Out the Clutter.

That's because clutter is a universal challenge. It distracts and confuses us and drains our energy. It gets in the way of what's most important. It often keeps us from achieving our goals.

There's the physical clutter of a messy office, a closet filled with clothes that no longer fit our bodies and/or our current lives, and shelves at home with books we'll never read and gifts we don't like but feel obliged to display. Am I hitting a nerve?

There's the technical clutter of information overload, too many emails, e-newsletters we'll never open and an over-reliance on our cell phone.

Then, there's the emotional clutter of the what ifs, the regrets and resentments, the things we haven't forgiven about someone else or ourselves, the unnecessary obligations, and toxic people who zap our energy.

The law is very simple: "The universe abhors a vacuum." So, when we clear out the clutter, we create the space for the universe to fill with what serves our highest good. For example, if you want more ideal clients, release the ones that drive you crazy. Better ones are waiting--I promise.

Capitalize on this envigorating time of year to "spring clean" for success. Share on this blog what clutter you've released and the gifts that have come from it.

The Answers Are All Inside

It's wise to remember that the same awe-inspiring infinite intelligence of the universe that creates each unique, intricate snowflake is also ready to guide us to our highest good.

All we have to do is go inside and:


• Ask. Pose a question before meditation, during a quiet walk or just before you fall asleep. It could be as simple as, "What do I need to know right now?"


• Listen. Your guidance could come as a still, small voice in your head, disguised as a friend's comment, a synchronicity or coincidence, or perhaps an image. When I was writing "Divine Wisdom at Work," I fell into the trap of many new authors. I began to doubt myself. I remember thinking, "Who am I to write this book? Would anyone--besides my immediate family and friends--actually buy it? Could it really be the catalyst for a whole new speaking and mentoring career?" The universe heard my questions and I began to see this image in my head of a waiting room full of people. Each one was looking up at me and tapping their toes, shrugging their shoulders and pointing to their watches. "What is this?" I wondered. The message was clear: "Get your fear and ego out of the way, Tricia. People are waiting for your book." Once I got over the hump, completed my book and sent it to the printer, the image changed. I saw those same people in the same waiting room but this time they were flipping through my book and smiling and nodding and a few were even giving me the "thumbs up." I smiled, too. That's how the universe might speak to you.


• Trust. We live in a world of instant gratification. Don't give up just because the guidance doesn't come immediately. It often takes time. Be patient and be flexible. The message you receive may not be what you expected but it may be just what you needed. When we let go of the details and the illusion of control, when we release our own expectations, that's when miracles happen. This or something better. And so it is.

CRAVE Your Goals! Five Steps to Reduce Stress and Stay Positive, Focused and Productive

(This article appeared on www.women-drivers.com, a site that connects women and families to certified Women-Drivers Friendly™ car dealers. You can go there for information on how to enrich and empower your dealership visit and to write your own dealer review.)

What do you want to achieve? Are you hoping for a promotion? Do you wish you could start your own business? Ready to lose those final 20 pounds or become debt free? When we commit to our goals and crave them with our heart and soul, we engage the energy of the universe and receive what we need to make our dreams come true. Follow these five CRAVE steps to attract what you desire and deserve.

1) Clean Out the Clutter.
Clutter distracts and confuses us and drains our energy. It often keeps us from doing what's most important and gets in the way of our goals. There's a universal law that states: The universe abhors a vacuum. So, when we clear away the physical clutter, as well as the emotional (like regrets, toxic relationships and unnecessary obligations) and technical clutter (like too much time spent on Facebook and other social media sites), we make room for the universe to fill it with what serves our highest good. Commit to begin cleaning out the clutter today.

2) Raise Your Vibrations.
The universal law states: Energy attracts like energy. We are all energy beings and we all vibrate at different levels at different times. Vibration is just another word for feelings and emotions. It's our attitude. When we vibrate at a high level, it is governed by love, trust and peace and is positive and constructive. We will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that same level. Conversely, when we are consumed by fear and worry and we're not taking care of ourselves, we will vibrate at a low, negative level and we will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that low level.

To increase and maintain a high vibration, commit to love and nurture yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, enjoy a hobby, play, sing, laugh, forgive, limit your time watching TV news, seek out positive people, practice random and not-so-random acts of kindness, give thanks, spend time in nature and smile more often. Commit to make your own list and schedule these activities into your day until they become habits. Form a "High Vibration" club with your coworkers, family and friends so you can have fun supporting each other.

3) Affirm Success.
Affirmations are powerful statements to remind us what we know to be true, despite what others may say or when our own ego plants that seed of doubt. The most effective affirmations are short, positive and in the present.

Here are a few examples. If you want to be chosen for a supervisory position, your affirmation should include the qualities you possess that would serve you in that role. You might affirm: "I am a dynamic, empowering leader." If you tend to wake up each morning wondering how you'll ever get through your burgeoning to-do list, you might affirm: "I have more than enough time and energy to accomplish all my goals." If you are struggling with direction and finding the right resources to get the job done, you might affirm: "I am open to receive guidance and support." Commit to write down your affirmations and post them prominently-on your bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car and at your desk. Say them out loud throughout the day and share them with others.

4) Visualize.
Every top athlete has harnessed the power of visualization. The runner sees herself breaking through the tape at the end of the race and the golfer sees the hole in one. What can you visualize about your goals? Perhaps it's making a persuasive presentation that motivates your audience to take action. Or, you might visualize living in a clean, organized home.

It takes more than just seeing to get the results. Visualization is a three-step, repetitive process. To give it the power you need to succeed, engage all your senses. What do you hear, smell, touch and taste? And, infuse it with the positive emotions you would feel if this were a reality-like happiness, pride and maybe even relief. Commit to seeing your goals as "real" and they soon will be.

5) Express Thanks.
What you focus on expands. It's a universal law. That's why it's so important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Commit to write in a gratitude journal a few nights a week, listing all the things you're thankful for that day and include at least one unique entry each time. That programs you to become more aware of what's going right. Take the time to express your sincere appreciation to others. As it relates to your work and personal goals, give thanks for what is and what will be in anticipation of your accomplishments.

By committing to CRAVE your goals, you will enhance your journey and accelerate your success.

Tricia Molloy is a professional speaker, mentor and author of "Divine Wisdom at Work: 10 Universal Principles for Enlightened Entrepreneurs" and the "CRAVE Your Goals!" ebook. Visit www.triciamolloy.com. Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter for more information and inspiration.

How FarmVille Changed My Life

Or — How I used FarmVille to change my mind.
By Cathleen Hulbert

(A mutual friend, Julie Herron Carson, recently introduced me to Cathy through this blog post. I could tell we were kindred spirits, playing with the sometimes challenging task of staying positive. I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I did.)

For those of you who use Facebook, it might interest you to know that FarmVille is now the most popular application on this social networking site. A million people use it. Some pay actual money to get things for their farms. But you don’t have to.

I love Facebook but I resisted this game for a time. After all, I am busy with “important things” (or Important Things as it would be said in the books of Pooh). I am a healthcare social worker, a slayer of dragons and a writer. No time to waste, says the adult side of me. But I do have a lively inner child. And there is a very bright, active 9-year-old in my house. Games are played with a positive purpose, computer games included. Fun is an absolute requirement before bedtime, particularly on stressful days. We became neighbors on FarmVille, exchanging tips and stories about how things were going on our farms. It was fun chewing the fat with this kid I adore and sharing our thoughts about farming. That is how all of this began for me.

So a typical FarmVille spread includes these things: Horses, cows, chickens, goats, pigs and maybe a circus elephant thrown in for fun. Crops are a staple. That’s the main point of the game, the planting and harvesting of crops. Farm bling and buildings are present on the typical virtual farm. They include toys such as benches, hay, wheelbarrows, a toolshed, a workshop, a covered rest tent with a little drink inside, wagons and even houses, all of which can be bought at the marketplace with points that you earn for being a good farmer. When it’s time to do something productive and farm-like to one of the cute animals, say milking it or collecting its eggs, they actually get a little halo to tell you they need some attention.

It’s sweet, really. Can you imagine your spouse and your children getting a halo when they needed some attention? It sure beats sprouting horns.

Anyway, the point of this blog is that I have noticed a highly positive shift in my life experiences since I started playing FarmVille. No, I have not lost my mind. And no, I’m not being paid by the FarmVille designers to say this. If I knew how to actually reach them I would complain about the fact that there are no Farmville cats and dogs. Why are their elephants, but not dogs? But I digress.

There are different types of crops from which to choose. You can create your own crop shapes (not necessarily crop circles, but something like it), choosing symbols that mean something to you. The T-shape is the Mayan symbol for spirit. That’s one of the symbols on my farm.

So I started thinking. What if playing FarmVille could play into my not-evil plan to change my negative thoughts into positive ones? And what if my time management skills came into play, allowing me to accomplish “meditate daily,” “radically change your outlook on life” and “have some good, clean fun” all in one simple little game? The wheels started to turn as I calculated the time-saving benefits of playing FarmVille.
Soon I had jotted down some little mantras to go with each crop that I planted and harvested. I say them to myself while I work on the farm a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes in the evening.

Most of my mantras are about planting and harvesting, but when I’m tending to the animals I see them as book agents producing fantastic results for me. Eggs are contract offers in this little mind game. Milk hasn’t been assigned yet, but I’m still thinking about it. Trees get fruit that has to be harvested, and while I’m working on the trees I repeat to myself that I am standing tall in the world. Pumpkins equal “abundance of good things.” The grapes are “grapes of laugh.” When I plant cotton I’m thinking about “cotton-pickin’ fun with all of the success in my life.” When I’m harvesting those cute purple eggplants I’m thinking about “egg-citing things coming my way!”

Pineapples allow me to say over and over, “Hawaii, here I come.” This is relevant because my novel takes place in Hawaii. While I’m thinking positively, I see myself spending more time in that lovely place when my book becomes a screenplay then becomes a movie. Hay, it’s going to happen.

When I’m harvesting those strawberries, I know that I will be berry happy when I realize how blessed I am. I have not yet reached the mastery level that allows me to plant corn, and many of you might be thinking that there already is plenty of corn here. It’s okay. I have to be this way sometimes. It helps restore balance to my universe.

So when the aloe vera blossoms show up, I say over and over that all is very well, or “aloe vera well” if I feel resistance and want to sneak one past my subconscious. If you do this enough, your subconscious mind resists less and less and actually seems to get into it. At least mine has.

Therefore, I just know it, deep in my heart, that FarmVille is one of the reasons that I have started experiencing incredibly wonderful things. In fact, wonderful things seem to be lining up, like rows and rows of crops, to manifest in my life. (No agents are waiting to be milked, but I’m still working on that one.)

There’s nothing magic about it. What is magical is that I found a way to change my way of thinking with a simple little game. I must have been really ready.

Skeptical? Squash those thoughts and have fun. Have some grapes of laugh. Pig out on joy. Horse around for the heck of it. And plant your dreams in fertile ground: the happy playground of the mind.

Cathleen Hulbert, LCSW, is a clinical social worker in the healthcare field and a free-lance journalist with a background in newspaper reporting. She also is the author of “The First Lamp — A Story of Cosmic Illumination,” a time-travel tale about love, forgiveness and redemption. She lives in Roswell, GA. For more information about the author and the book, go to www.cathleenhulbert.com.

What's on YOUR Success List?

In my December Working with Wisdom newsletter, I encouraged readers to delay writing their New Year's resolutions until they had written their 2009 success list. Why? Because you're much more likely to be focused and confident that you can achieve new goals when you first acknowledge and celebrate your past accomplishments. Few of us take the time to do that.

Start by making room by writing numbers one through 20 down the left margin of your paper so you'll list at least 20 successes. Consider what you're most proud of this year, including family and friends, health, work, finances and fun. Then, go deeper to the lessons learned and gifts that come from disappointments and setbacks. Once your list is complete, share it with those you trust and encourage them to do the same. Celebrate all you've accomplished. Now you're ready to write your resolutions!

The successes on my list include improving my Working with Wisdom website, launching my short-term, one-on-one Wisdom Mentoring for Entrepreneurs program, creating an 11-part webinar series called "Working with Wisdom for Project Managers" for PDUs2Go, losing my excess weight and spending nearly two months at the beach. What are some of your successes this year?

How I CRAVEd My Ideal Weight

At the end of this summer, I made a decision. I decided to begin the New Year at my ideal weight. Several things prompted this realization. A good friend had slimmed down recently and inspired me to follow her. At my annual checkup, my bad cholesterol was a dangerous 131 (under 100 is healthy) and I was prescribed medication to get it under control. I also just didn't like the way I looked or felt. If I was to be an inspiration for others to live their best life, my extra weight was not in alignment with that message.

So, I chose a weight loss program and began the journey. Knowing I would need all the help I could get to remain focused and diligent, I relied on my CRAVE formula. Here's what I did.

• Clean Out the Clutter. I cleared the pantry and refrigerator of tempting, fattening foods, replacing it with healthy alternatives. As I dropped a size, I removed the old, larger clothes from my closet and bagged them up for Good Will. In anticipation of more weight loss, I bought my favorite black jeans in the next two smaller sizes.
• Raise Your Vibrations. When you're on a diet, it's easy to focus on what you can't have and that can bring you down. Instead, I planned activities that brought me joy, like spending a long weekend at the beach in October with my Mom.
• Affirm Success. My positive self talk includes: "I love to exercise!" and "I feel great when I eat healthy." A sign in my bathroom states: "Thank you, God, for my healthy, fit body. I honor it today."
• Visualize. Passing up decadent desserts when dining out with girlfriends was especially difficult. However, it was much easier when I pictured their chocolate cake covered in dirt and crawling bugs. Of course, I kept that visualization to myself as they marveled at my self control. Another visual that worked for me was a story I read about Renaissance master sculptor Michelangelo. When he was asked how he created his statue David, he reportedly replied, "It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David." I was just chipping away what didn't look like me to reveal the real Tricia.
• Express Thanks. Last but not least, I cultivated an attitude of gratitude about my healthier lifestyle and body. I journaled about all the gifts that come from my wise decisions. And, I expressed thanks to my family and friends who supported me.

In the last three months, I've lost 27 pounds and have just a few more pounds to go. My cholesterol plummeted from 131 to 52. The best thing is that I know for sure that this is the last time I will ever lose weight. With tools like the CRAVE formula, I will joyfully maintain my ideal weight. And so it is.

If you'd like information on the weight loss program I chose, check out the website of my coach, Rob Scales.

What are your goals for the New Year and how will you use these CRAVE tools to get there?

Time to Give Thanks

As Thanksgiving approaches, thoughts turn to gratitude. For some, it's the once-a-year holiday ritual around the dinner table as each person proclaims what they're most thankful for. Family. Health. My job. This meal.

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude throughout the year, however, is nothing short of transformative. That's because of the universal law that states: What you focus on expands. In other words, what you appreciate appreciates. And, where attention goes, energy flows.

Here are three ways to demonstrate the power of gratitude.

1) Feeling fearful? Who isn't these days? The good news is that fear and gratitude cannot coexist. The next time you're worrying about money, your business or your children, stop and take a moment to count your blessings. One of the best ways to get a good night's sleep is to write in a gratitude journal before bedtime.

2) Dealing with challenging relationships? It might be your boss, client, spouse or teenager. Refrain from criticism (what you think, as well as what you say) for one week. Instead, focus on the qualities you most appreciate about that person--even if it's just that they teach you to be more patient. You'll begin to notice that the energy will shift and the relationship will be more positive and productive.

3) Turbocharge your goals. As you begin to plan for the New Year and list your resolutions, be thankful for what is and what will be in anticipation of your success.

For more inspiration, check out my friend Vanessa Lowry's "Days of Gratitude" blog.

That's Why They Call It a Practice

I just read an interesting article in the Harvard Business Review on "The Secret of Success in a Failing Economy."

The "secret" is that the most successful people practice--a lot. Whether you're a concert violinist or a computer programmer, practice--more than sheer talent--will be the determining factor.

That made me think about spiritual practices like meditation, gratitude and mindfulness. The more we practice, the better we'll get and the more wisdom and peace we'll reap. That's why they call it a practice.

So, set up rituals, find the time in your busy schedule and make your spiritual practices a priority. It's one of the best investments you can make in your personal and professional success.