Upside Quote of the Week
There are two great moments in a person’s life.
The first is when you are born.
The second is when you discover why you were born.
- Unknown
April 03, 2009
March 31, 2009
7 Facts Worth Remembering
Here are seven facts worth remembering:
1) You are where you choose to be.
2) Our choices create our outcomes in life.
3) Action, not goals, produces results.
4) Commitment, discipline, and consistency spell success.
5) What we think about we become.
6) An upside attitude is seeing unlimited possibilities in all circumstances.
7) Our mind can only entertain one thought and/or emotion at a time so make it a good one.
February 27, 2009
Upside Quote of the Week
If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.
- Thomas Edison
February 20, 2009
Upside Quote of the Week
Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt.
- William Shakespeare
February 14, 2009
Installing Love
Someone recently shared this with me and I thought it was worth passing on as it is Valentine's Day!!!
Have a lovely day!
Tech Support: Yes, how can I help you?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love.
Can you guide me through the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?
Tech Support: What programs are running?
Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, 'Error - Program not run on external components.' What should I do?
Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.
Customer: So, what should I do?
Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.
Customer: Okay, done.
Tech Support: Now, copy them to the 'My Heart' directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?
Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everyone gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before We hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.
Customer: Thank you.
January 09, 2009
Upside Quote of the Week
"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think."
-Benjamin Disraeli
December 22, 2008
My Upside List
Have dessert first. Read something interesting. Make friends with your neighbors. Smile often. Laugh. Find the joy in little things. Keep your promises. Honor your commitments. Bask in the warmth of the sun. Love openly. Cry. Think big. Try something new today. Create. Demonstrate compassion. Maximize your time with loved ones. Be kind to strangers. Hug someone who needs it. Breathe. Show up. Wish upon a star. Write a list of 20 things you will do starting today. Mentor someone. Give life your best. Ride the UpSide.
November 07, 2008
Upside Quote of the Week
If you don't know what you want, you won't recognize it when you get it.
-Unknown
September 23, 2008
Principles of Stewardship Spending
My friend Dr. Margaret Shepherd is a visionary and an upside thinker. Recently, she wrote an article about Stewardship Spending where she included an excerpt from her book Cash and Consciousness: 21 Days to 
Abundance. With all that is currently going on in the world, I thought that her message was worth sharing with you, especially since I speak so often about abundance and giving back.
Stewardship Spending by Dr. Margaret Shepherd
Guess we all know it's been a wild week on Wall Street and Main Street. Regardless of our personal circumstances, we'll all be affected. The pundits and politicians are slinging a lot of blame, but the core problem is that as a nation, we've been breaking a cardinal rule of metaphysics and money: STEWARDSHIP SPENDING. Stewardship spending means being a good steward of your money, spending it for goods, services and experiences that are in integrity with your values, sound financial principles and universal laws. Good stewardship allows for debt, but only with a reasoned expectation of timely repayment, and a plan and structure in place to do so, and even then, only for well-justified investments. Good stewards are mindful of the mindset they are spending from because they realize the laws of metaphysics are in play. They spend consciously, thoughtfully and carefully.
These three Stewardship Spending Principles might come in handy as you sort out how to respond personally to our national financial circumstances:
1.CIRCULATE, DON'T HOARD. Money must circulate. Its nature is to be out in the world as a resource. Circulation does not mean spending money you don't have on a Baja timeshare. Circulation means reasoned purchases, tithes, gifts and investments. Cash kept in old socks and safe deposit boxes is not circulating. Hoarded money finds a way to circulate. We had a family friend who hoarded tens of thousands of dollars in his house. One day when he was out, thieves broke in and relieved him of every penny. I've often wondered if it was the universe's way of enforcing the law of circulation.
2. SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN. This is important metaphysically because it keeps you in the consciousness of prosperity, instead of lack. Even $1 left over puts you in the mindset of abundance, so the law of attraction will attract more abundance. Evaluate monthly expenses, including debt service and savings commitments to be sure you have at least $1 remaining. (Then do with it what you will; what matters is the mindset the practice creates.) Build reserves so you can sustain yourself during periods of low or no earnings and so you'll always feel financially safe.
3. SPEND ONLY FOR AUTHENTIC DESIRES: Authentic desires are those that express your uniqueness and line up with your values and your vision. You instinctively know them; they feel wholesome and empowering. Inauthentic desires have a "should" quality - what you think you "should" acquire to gain status or belong, or anything to do with fear or ego. You have good instincts for authentic desires so you don't need a lot of rules, just pay attention to your inner voice.
As we sober up from our national spending binge, join me as a citizen committing to Stewardship Spending.
You can order the 2008 version of the Cash and Consciousness: 21 Days to Abundance e-book on Dr. Margaret Shepard’s website www.visionbuildersinstitute.com for only $15! Order one for yourself and a friend today!
January 19, 2007
Girl Nurture
My friend Joan Rudder-Ward owns a company called the Image Maker. Anyone who meets Joan knows that she's special and not just because she's a natural leader who cares about everyone she meets. It's the way she carries herself and the torch for the causes that are closest to her heart -- especially the plight of young girls today. Last year, Joan was recognized nationally as the 2006 Community Service award winner for the National Association of Female Executives. One of her other ventures besides the Image Maker is Girl Nurture, which she started as a resource to help fund scholarships for her self-esteem workshops for adolescent girls and young women.
The vision for Girl Nurture is to offer products that will nurture girls and women - body, soul, and spirit. Her products are meant to nurture fun and creativity So when you purchase her products, you are helping to make a positive difference in the lives of the girls and young woman they serve.
Visit her at www.girl-nurture.com and tell her I said "hi"!
January 13, 2007
UIP's -- Upside Impact Partners
I'm often heard talking about the importance of creating strategic partnerships. Having individuals who understand your vision and values for your business and personal life can be as powerful as having your own personal genie who utters the words, "Your wish is my command" daily . The old saying, "Two heads are better than one" refers the reality that challenges are often solved more easily by two people working together than by one working alone.
The same can be said for living out your passion. (Of course, it's important that these partners are also authentic connectors.....something I won't get into in detail, as you'll have to wait for the book Ursula C. Mentjes and I are writing to be released in the Spring.) There is power in numbers. If two or more people understand a concept, the forward motion of that idea has a greater chance to move ahead than if it were coming from only one person. Additionally, that forward motion can build momentum if there are even more individuals supporting that vision.
So, then, what is an upside impact partner? You already know that living on the upside is about finding the unlimited possibilities in your life and impact can be defined as "the power of making a strong, immediate connection". Most businesses look to make an impact on their customers and it is often done through the creation of a relationship using some form of emotional attachment. Upside impact partners aren't passive, they have a noticeable effect on the meeting of your mission in life. They are your cheerleader and confidate wrapped up into one. An upside impact partner or UIP is someone who understands your purpose and passion, your vision and values and carries your relationship with them in order to help you achieve all that you've envisioned for your life. UIP's are the people who not only believe in your amazing success but can be found standing in the bleachers, yelling, "You can do it!" even when you're not feeling like forward-thinking today.
I challenge you to make a list from 1 - 10 of all of the people who have made an impact in your life. How many of the people are still in your life? How many of them are fully aware of what you want from your life today? Do you have any UIP's currently helping you live out your vision? If you're having trouble thinking of someone, make a list of the 5 people who you'd like to recruit to be UIP's to help you achieve your dreams and the dates of when you will contact them. Remember, action, not goals, creates results. Best of luck on your upside journey!
December 07, 2006
The Power of Moreno Valley
Last night I attended the For You Network Holiday Extravaganza. The spirit of Christmas could be felt through the room -- not because of the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations but because of the wonderful women in attendance. The For You Network is known as the network with heart and the organization prides itself on encouraging connections from the inside out. I have witnessed these women coming together not only in times of joy but also in great sorrow. Even during this holliday event the women paused for a few moments of silence to honor and remember the women who served in the network and had passed away.
While I enjoy being part of For You, I love being the director of the Moreno Valley chapter. If anyone at the event last night demonstrated the ability to make a heart connection, it was those women. They ooze with kindness, compasssion and know how to have fun. The silent auction provided entertainment throughout the night as I fought for my prize....amongst with my friends in Moreno Valley!
There is power when women come together, heck, just when people come together, to support a common cause. The extravaganza was different this year but it wasn't because the format changed. Rather, it was different because of the the dynamic women who were there to celebrate each other and demonstrate the power of Moreno Valley!
November 24, 2006
Swap 'Til You Drop!
Calling All Ladies in Southern California! Swap 'Til You Drop is a way to exchange those great clothes that you don’t wear for something new, reinvent your style, clean out your closet and help those in need. Join me at the Holiday Inn Express, 24630 Sunnymead Blvd (Hwy 60 & Perris Exit), Moreno Valley, CA on Tuesday, November 28th from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Bring your gently used holiday and winter business attire to swap and trade for new ones. All unclaimed clothing will be donated to The Alternative to Domestic Violence and Women Helping Women.
For only $20 advance registration, you'll recieve snacks, refreshments, a large shopping bag for all of your goodies and a chance to connect with other fabulous women! Register on-line at www.circleofstrength.com or show up at the door and pay $25! I look forward to seeing you there!
September 19, 2006
The Go-Go's & Me
"Vacation all I ever wanted, vacation had to get away...." ( Yes -- I am a product of the 80's and every time I hear the word "vacation", I can't help it, I start singing.) After a heck of a week, Jim and I journeyed to the central coast in California for some much needed rest and relaxation. I requested no cell phones, no computer/email access and no PDA's. My husband reluctantly complied and I had a harder time than he did being without my many devices. Because I never quite turn off my leadership spidey senses, I connected with some incredible business owners and met a few upside thinkers along the way. During our time in Cayucos and Cambria, we explored the countryside and were in awe with its beauty. We laughed, ate fabulous food and laughed some more. One of the parts of the Go-Go's song that I disagree with is the next line which proclaims, "Vacation meant to be spent alone." I couldn't imagine "riding the upside" without Jim. Which brings me to one of the most exciting parts of our trip....the decision to launch a product line of Upside Thinking for all of the upside thinkers out there! Yeah for my supportive husband! I had to Go-Go it up and get away so I could get the creative juices flowing again. Be on the lookout for the Upside Living line in 2007!