Contributed by Dr. Helen Wood

What do Clint Eastwood and your dreams have to do with one another? Although he is a deeply respected actor and filmmaker, let’s face it… for most women, a Clint Eastwood movie is a “guy” flick. Translated: lots of violence, and men showing “what it takes to be a man.”

Then there is the movie “The Bridges of Madison County.” In 1995 Clint Eastwood directed and starred with Meryl Streep in this beautiful and bittersweet story about fragile dreams. When I saw it again recently, all the Clint stereotypes dissolved.

I was struck by how Francesca, the character Meryl Streep portrays, has locked her dreams away so thoroughly she’s forgotten she ever had any. In the story, Italian teacher Francesca met an American soldier during WWII and came to the United States with him, eventually becoming a housewife on a farm in the middle of Iowa. As she explains, a woman’s choice to marry and have children means her own life stops so her children’s lives can move forward. Her life fills up with details instead, and then the details leave when the children do. Francesca’s husband asks her to move again, and now she no longer remembers what moves her.

Francesca then meets Robert (Eastwood), a worldly photojournalist who comes to Iowa to do a photographic series on covered wooden bridges. Robert stops at her farm to ask directions, and the meeting stirs a reawakening: “In that moment, everything she knew to be true about herself until then was gone. Yet she was more herself than ever before.” In 4 short days, while her family is away, she and Robert find “the kind of certainty that comes but once in a lifetime.”

Have you ever felt that way? Like you’re finally “home,” and it takes more effort to resist the pull than to give yourself to it — at least for a moment, or 4 days, or perhaps longer? But for each of those moments to continue, you had to keep saying “yes.” Did you keep saying “yes”? Or did you start saying “no”? Or, did something stop you from saying “yes” at all?

What dreams have you placed way back in the vault of memory — and how long before you bring them out, breathe life into them, and truly feel yourself again?

Do you find reasons — like Francesca did — why you couldn’t possibly embrace living your dream? She couldn’t leave her husband because he wouldn’t know how to live life without her. And the children would certainly be devastated by the dissolution of their family. And what about all those people who couldn’t possibly understand? And how selfish it would it be…

The one person never honored in all of Francesca’s careful deliberations was… herself.

So what does it mean to be “selfish”? Is it “selfish” prioritize your own happiness and fulfillment? The answer requires deeper wisdom and a more expansive perspective than the collective opinions of those around you. Does pursuing your dreams — the heart-felt expression of your soul’s truth — really qualify as ‘selfish’?

If you’re not true to yourself, then who are you — and at what cost?

Answering that question is not easy. After Francesca denied Robert, she and her husband were stopped at a light behind Robert’s truck as he left town. Her hand — white knuckled and clenched on the door handle — revealed the strain she was under. She was trapped by the beliefs of her world, and weighed down by her fear of disappointing others.

The same things stand in YOUR way of living your dreams: the fears that rule you, and the limiting beliefs you refuse to challenge. When the part of you that wants life to be safe and quiet is in charge, there’s no joy or feeling of being authentically and fully alive.

So many people fall into a dreamless sleep. If we awaken, it’s almost always because we are in pain… the pain of a soul’s longing denied. Whether it’s a restless dissatisfaction, strained relationships, stress and burnout, anxiety, depression, addictions, illness, or excessive busyness — at some point, your soul will awaken you.

If you’ve locked your dreams up in the vault, what will awaken YOU? And what will you do when it happens? Sometimes the awakening is so complete and compelling that you can’t put your dreams back again…

Would you take that first courageous step? Would you follow the path that awaits you? Would you risk giving yourself to your dream, even if only for a short while? Are you willing to take your dreams out of the vault and start living them?

There is a path that awaits you, and ways to find that path. You can start to follow your dreams right now.

If you’re ready to start unlocking your dreams and find your path, I invite you to uncover the wisdom inside you – with this powerful video series: The Answers Are Inside You. Access these free videos here.

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope in all situations.

There are many things to be grateful for: our health, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, clients who appreciate your gifts, the opportunity to work from home, children, a home, the ability to read, roses, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

* Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

* Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

* Practice gratitude in every experience and interaction with others.

* Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.

* When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

* Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work and this impacts every area of your life.

I invite you to do one of these practices today and see what a difference it makes in your business and your life.

Check out the top 5 tools that I use to efficiently run my business.

1. Teleseminar conference line:

Why talk to customers one at a time when you can reach dozens, hundreds, even thousands in one shot?

Telseminars can (and should) be integrated into every company’s sales flows. I’ve used teleseminars for years to help build my business, and I’ve seen lots of tools come and go.

So which conference line do I recommend? This one:

InstantTeleseminar.com

Why? They’ve designed their tool to fit into the way your prospects think. They’ve figured out how to help you get your prospects to take the next logical step, from the pre-event salesflow all the way through to the action you’re trying to get them to take…

…whether that’s opting into your list, buying their first product from you, or buying that big-ticket item.

2. CRM, Email Marketing, Shopping cart system and Automation in one:

I’ve been using Infusionsoft for years and it has everything I need to track, market and process orders online. With all the capability to automate many of my tasks, its like having another assistant.

3. Create Videos

Create a stunning video with your photos, video clips and music to share with everyone. Its fast, free and shockingly easy.

To learn more, watch a sample video and/or start creating your videos click here.

4. Share files with your team
Always have your stuff when you need it using Dropbox.

The all-new Box for Office, a free add-on for Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010.
*    Easily open, edit, save and share using Box within Word, Excel and PowerPoint
*    Connect your Microsoft Office content to the cloud
*    Share documents and collaborate with colleagues

To learn more about Dropbox click here.

5. Credit Card reader on the go (no application needed)

I love this free tool to process payments on the go using your iphone. No applications or approvals needed to get started.
To learn more and get your free reader go to www.squareup.com

I’ve been using all of these tools and they have really helped to make things easier for me and have worked well for my needs so I had to share.

Bring on 2012!

It is so powerful to plan your year in advance and be able to hit the ground running in January. I’ve experienced some of the following reasons myself so now I want to support you with recognizing if any of these areas sound familiar to you and how to avoid them so you can move forward with a powerful year.

#1: Too Busy

This is probably the number one reason some entrepreneurs get stuck in their planning is because they are too busy running the business from the inside with the day to day projects. I can relate to this one until I recognized that if I didn’t spend time working on my business instead of just in it, that I would only make small progress instead of Quantum Leaps…which is what I wanted.

#2: Not Sure How

Many people get stuck in trying to figure all the details of how things will occur in their business that can lead to lack of action on the actual plan. I’ve seen this happen quite often and when you feel stuck, or confused it makes it very difficult in the moment to take any action at all.

#3: Lack of Awareness

This is when you don’t know, what you don’t know. So maybe you have never experienced what it’s like to map out your year and just conduct business as usual. Maybe you’ve wanted to make more progress and to do that you just work even harder, more hours etc. I used to believe this as well, until I learned that there was an easier way to accomplish more, yet work less…If you haven’t been exposed to structuring your marketing and business development this way then you wouldn’t know, right? Just like I look to a CPA to help me figure out my tax advantages, many times I don’t know what I don’t know without that support.

#4: Set them and then forgot about them

This is also another common area that keeps entrepreneurs stuck is not taking action on the plan. For example, many people set new goals in January…or new year’s resolutions, and if there isn’t any structure to support these goals, they are quickly forgotten and then it’s back to business as usual. Out of sight, out of mind…this really applies not only to goals but even your whole business in general.

#5: Really Big Unrealistic Goals

Now I like big goals myself but if it is so big that I don’t even believe it, I am likely to not take action on it and it they just come and go…it creates frustration and people often feel stuck here, setting the same goals over and over again. I believe that if you set big goals, then it requires massive action and support….you don’t have to know how it will all happen but You DO have to believe it will.

Okay so how you avoid these five areas where you can get stuck in your planning?

Let’s take them one at a time…

#1: Too Busy

The entrepreneur who is too busy has to make it a priority to get support and schedule time to work on the business. I know for me, whatever gets on my calendar is what gets done…so I would encourage you to take time each week, to work on your plan and ensure that you are taking action on the highest priority projects that will move you forward.

#2: Not Sure How

The good news is that there are mentors out there that can support you here. Don’t waste time trying to figure it all out yourself unless of course it is part of an area that you want to grow in, that will support your business.

For example, I am not interested in becoming a CPA so I don’t spend much time researching tax advantages. I just go straight to the source, create a plan for my business and implement. On the other hand, in my business I help entrepreneurs with marketing, business development, systems, time management and I spend quite a bit of time investing in mentors and training to be able to best support myself and my clients in those areas…plus it is fun for me to learn those things so I know I’m in the right place.

#3: Lack of Awareness

This is when you don’t know, what you don’t know. So now you know, there is a better way to be able to map out your whole year now, create the structure that you need and have clarity on where to best spend your time and efforts to act on the plan. I do this process with my clients and I call it, “Creating Your Prosperity Plan”. It is amazing to see what happens and the doors that fly open when you have clarity, focus and momentum all focused on your big juicy goals.

#4: Set them and then forgot about them

I am glad that you set your goals, now it’s time to set a plan to actually implement them and see them come to fruition. This is the fun part! When you set up a plan around your goals, use tools to keep them top of mind, and keep taking action, you build momentum that moves you forward in a big way…and now your goals become REAL.

#5: Really Big Unrealistic Goals

I want to stress here that I do believe in setting big goals but the key is if you believe in them and actually take the actions to move you forward. You don’t have to know how it will all happen but You DO have to believe it will and just be willing to take the next step, be willing to commit to your goals and create the structure to support them including the people or partners.

So now, think for a minute how it would feel if YOU had your step-by-step plan ready for action right now to be a step ahead in 2012? If you had all the areas that are important to you incorporated into that plan so you not only moved forward on your big vision, but also enjoyed the process along the way; you had the tools to support you in staying on track; and a simple plan supported all of your big juicy goals so attained or exceeded them…

Well, I want to say it’s possible right now! I invite you to get the support you need to make this happen for you in 2012, and do it now before the holidays.

If you are ready, then I invite you to join me for, “Create Your Prosperity Plan for 2012” right now…and I’m even offering a special birthday discount…but hurry before it expires on my birthday, November 14th at midnight.

I’ve used this plan to double, and then triple my income this past 12 months, and now I want to share it with you for a very prosperous 2012!
I wish you well and I invite you to take ACTION! You can learn more about it here: www.TheCreativeSolutions.com/ProsperityPlan

Mindset Marketing Magic: Seeing the World through Your Prospect’s Eyes
By Rosey Dow The Prospect Profiler™

Marketing at its core means writing and speaking powerful words for sound bites, headlines, articles, or social media. No matter what the point of contact, getting into your readers’ mindset is crucial for success. The vast majority of solo business owners write from their own mindset, using their own viewpoint and their own words to attract prospects. But is this valid?

Some powerful and famous coaches claim that your prospects are just like you. They give strong advice to use your own mindset to write and speak to your market.

But is this valid?

Sometimes. But then again, sometimes not.

If your business targets people on a journey that you have walked—such as coaches helping others through challenges they have faced themselves—then yes. You and your prospects are on the same journey. You are ahead of them on the path, and you can show the way, i.e. cancer survivors helping others through the emotional trauma they have also faced. In that case, your prospects will resemble you in some area. You share the same mindset in this area of your lives.

However, if you offer a skill or insights where your prospect is weak—such as a business coach who is a natural at spotting and developing scalability for business growth—then your prospect will not be like you. Your strong points will bolster their weakness. Marketing to your own mindset will attract people who look at your programs and yawn. They’ll take your freebies and run with them. They don’t really need you at all.

Mindset involves stress points and framing. Stress points are the inner tugs that we all have, the problem we live with at the deepest levels. For example, leaders who are also caregivers feel a tremendous responsibility to be sure everyone within their sphere is safe and well. They crave fulfillment, the sense of a job well done with the status and respect they deserve as a result. They also long for time off, with nothing to remind them of their responsibility—no phone calls, no email, no worries—where they can rest mentally as well as physically.

If your prospect is a leader and caregiver, those 2 stress points create a frame for your marketing campaign. You could say, “Ever wish you could afford to get away where the only sound you hear is surf and sea gulls? Where someone else minds the phone and takes care of everyone while you snooze on the sand?” Your leader/caregiver prospect feels a physical reaction to this word picture. This is a powerful frame for your marketing. Using this mindset, you could create many campaigns with various images showing how your product or service will meet a deep longing she lives with every day. Now you’ve got something that’s every business owner’s dream—an irresistible offer.

Still puzzled about your prospects’ mindset? Pick up your free assessment at http://TheProspectProfiler.com
Rosey Dow is a Prospect Mind Reader. She’ll help you get a grip on how your prospects think and ferret out what they really want—so you can give it to them. She is a multi-published author and Internet marketing specialist. That’s why they call her The Prospect Profiler™.

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut or just not getting the results you have been working so hard for? I know this feeling really well because I used to think having success meant working really hard, having to do it alone and felt like I was just running in place because I wasn’t feeling rewarded for all the hours I put in…until I was supported by a mentor who said, that isn’t how it works.

She supported me in BEING more of who I am and ENJOYING what I am doing. This led to many different breakthroughs and then…the biggest one most recently! I would like to share the 3 things that allowed this breakthrough to flow with ease…

#1 When the student is ready the teacher will appear – You may have heard this saying before, but embracing this actually guided me to the teacher everytime I asked powerful questions on any place that I felt stuck. I would ask to be guided to the mentor that could help me understand why I wasn’t getting the results in a certain area of my life.

#2 Embrace the teaching – Because I was really clear about what I was asking for, I would quickly recognize when the mentors appeared and began to teach me EXACTLY what I needed to know, experience and understand. As I mentioned, I went through a really powerful breakthrough recently, when the teacher, Jenn August, taught me how to break through a block that I was experiencing, that I didn’t even realize was holding me back financially. I embraced the learning and got to the root cause of my current experience. After balling my eyes out (which is very powerful in moving your energy) and FEELING what needed to heal in my life, I felt a weight lifted.

I felt lighter…like I had released the brakes and could move forward with ease. This was really powerful for me because I could now embrace the new learning and re-inforce this with the support of someone who had went through this themselves.

#3 Take Action – This is important in moving forward and reaping the benefits of the breakthrough. Taking action on the learning consistently is what will support you in moving forward with ease. This action can be baby steps or immersion, however you work best but the goal is forward motion.

I heard someone say once that “you are either moving forward, or moving backward at all times…there is no such thing as staying still”. I have found this to be true in my life…when I don’t take action, it takes me back to past experiences, beliefs and patterns…BUT when I do, new experiences, beliefs and patterns emerge…and what a beautiful place that is and can be for you…if you CHOOSE!

What is a Mother?…

A Mother has so many things to do,
From washing, ironing, cleaning to tying a shoe.
She scrubs, she mends, she cooks and sews,
She bathes the children and washes their clothes.

When they forget to wash their faces clean,
And their clothes are the muddiest you’ve ever seen,
Who repairs the clothes and scrubs them like new?

Of course, that is what a Mother will do.

Who becomes the doctor or the nurse when they are ill,
Applying a bandage or giving them a pill?
Who becomes a teacher when a child has homework?
A Mother must never her duty shirk.
Who becomes a detective to find a toy or a book?
For missing things she must look and look?

Who becomes a listener to every heartache,
To every accomplishment that a child makes?
Who scolds their children when they are naughty,
Or remind them of God when they are to haughty?
Who tends her family with love and patience, too?

Of course that is what a Mother will do.

- Unknown

Wishing you a special Mother’s Day!