Christine Lewis - 365 Positive Intentions (flipbook version w social back cover)

are, the things they like to do, their favorite food, the places they have traveled—whatever it is that will help us create the story. Not only do we remember their name, we also create a sense of connection and community. It does not remain as just a simple introduction, but it also turns into a connection. Become more connected with the people we meet. Start with a name and let it end with a feeling that we are connected to all the people in our community so that no one is left a stranger. We are all neighbors living together in a beautiful community where everyone knows each other’s names. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 110. Mind Control We have all heard stories about mind control in which people can be programmed to think a certain way, do a certain thing, or act in a certain way at a certain time. It is almost like self-hypnosis. When we watch television, listen to the radio, or read news stories, we are programmed in a way to think that the world is a certain way. If we can be programmed by something outside of ourselves, why not try to program ourselves? If we have a routine that we have been trying to stick to—maybe we want to wake up in the morning and meditate and exercise, or we want to start eating, thinking, and being better—start by programming the mind- 8-00 AM, we want to spend time in meditation; at 10-00 AM, we want to smile, feel happy, positive, loved, comforted, and secure. Maybe at 12-00 PM, we want to eat healthy, feel good, and digest. At 3-00 PM, we want to boost the energy and feel reinvigorated and rejuvenated. In the afternoon, we would like to set a little time out for exercise. Whatever schedule that works for us, start to assign emotions and energies to certain times as if we are creating a schedule for our happiness, vitality, and energy. It wouldn’t hurt to use a little mind control on ourselves, so just see how it works. Set an intention and try to program the mind to create what we want and need. Assign it to happen at certain times throughout the

day and allow it to be our own experiment in mind control. Try and program our mind to create more of what we want and deserve. Put mind control to work for us. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 111. Make a Plan In life, it seems that we are always planning. We are planning our day, our vacation, and even what we will pick up from the grocery store. With all this planning, it just makes sense to also plan for our life. We can awaken our consciousness and our mind by having a set plan of what we want to create. We are more efficient when we follow a plan. If we were to go to a big department store and walk around with no plan, it would be difficult to figure out what we need or want that we might wind up spending hours wandering around, and still not get what we went there to pick up in the first place. The plan helps focus our minds, our intentions, and our actions. That is why planning for our life just makes sense. Think about the goal. Too often, we acknowledge a problem and spend too much time focusing our energy on that single problem so that we get lost in it and lose sight of the solution. State the goal and the destination instead—where do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we want to create? Figure out how to carry out the plan. What steps do we need to take to make the plan happen? What is needed to reach the goal? Make certain that as we make progress in reaching the goal, we relish and feel victorious in every little milestone and even in the simple feeling of having accomplished something. We aren’t just waiting until we get to the final destination or waiting to feel like we have made progress. Instead, we acknowledge that all the steps we make along the way to accomplish the goal already is progress and certainly are reasons to celebrate.

Focus on a plan today. Decide what the destination is and think about what we need to do right now in order to get closer to that destination. In that way, we are not just planning for the daily tasks, but we are also planning for our life. Plan wisely and make it a great day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 112. Sustainable Energy The concept of sustainable energy does not only apply to the resources of the earth. We know that if something is not sustainable, it will eventually run out. In the same way that we are careful not to be wasteful by leaving the lights on all day or leaving the water running, we must think of how we can sustain our energy. Where we choose to focus our energy has to have the ability to give some of that energy back to us. In order to continue to evolve, build, and grow, we need to tap into a sustainable resource, and that sustainable resource is the energy that we hold inside. It is the ability to inspire and empower with our thoughts, to encourage with our words, and to use our actions as an example of everything we want more of in the world. We need to make sure that everything we invest our energy in is sustainable. We must not allow our energy to be wasted in anger, frustration, and judgment or waste our energy on something that does not have the ability to fuel our soul and spirit. Think about how sustainable our energy is. Every conversation—is it sustainable? Every thought—is it sustainable? Is it something that we can consistently do on a regular basis? Can it contribute to what we want more of? Everything we invest our energy in is sustainable. Use what we already have to create more of what we want—one thought, one word, and one action at a time. Blessings. Blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 113. Make Defeat Disappear It is so important to check in with what inspires us to live especially in those moments where we feel discouraged or defeated. What inspires us to wake up in the morning? Why do we want to live? What contribution do we want to have in the world around us? How can we inspire the people we touch today? By checking in with our purpose, it eliminates that feeling of defeat. It pushes out that feeling that things are working against us. We realize that even in the midst of the most discouraging circumstance, we have the power to inspire change in others, but it always starts with inspiring that change in ourselves. Try to remind ourselves- why do we wake up in the morning? Why do we want to live? What do we want to do? What impact do we want to have in the world? The moment we check in with that innate drive, that passion, that energy that propels us forward and inspires us to do more, the feeling of defeat disappears. Check in and live enthusiastically in the purpose-driven life so that everything we create for ourselves and our minds is helping us to impact the world and change the lives of the people we touch. Allow that inspiration to make the feeling of defeat disappear. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 114. What We Believe, We Are Right Whatever we believe, we are right. We can believe that we can do everything, or we can believe we cannot do anything. Whatever our belief is, that is the fuel for our dreams. The belief in ourselves, in our potential, and in our ability to manifest our dreams is really all we need to make it happen. Whatever we believe, we are right, and no one can convince us otherwise. The beauty of belief is that it gives us the power to convince everyone else of what we believe. All we need is the conviction and consistency in that belief in order to make it true but be mindful— anytime the words I can't come into our space, flush them out and replace it with I can. Convince ourselves of everything that is possible, everything we can do, and everything we know we have the potential to make happen. The slightest seed of doubt will sabotage a dream, so all we need to do is believe we can. That is the fuel that propels us towards our dreams. One thought at a time can affirm that belief; one moment of confidence can eliminate an entire history of self-doubt. Believe in our ability to create everything we know we need in order to make it happen. All we are ever focused on is what we can do and leave no room for I can’t to even exist. Believe in the ability to create everything we want our lives to be knowing that what we believe, we are always right. Believe in the ability to change the world, and that is exactly what will happen one thought, word, and action at a time. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 115. Love Can Change the World Our energy has the power to change people. Simply by offering a gesture of love, we have the power to change the energy of everyone we interact with. Anytime we are greeted with frustration or anger, offer more love because that will counter-balance the anger and frustration in others. Anyone who is angry comes from a place of lack, a place of fear, and a place that they are not enough. If we offer more of ourselves, we can make up for that void that they feel even if they do not express the appreciation right then in that moment. Be clear that our energy has the power to change the world. I try to say I love you to people who are not used to hearing it and to people who are not expecting it. That means very often, that person does not say it back—which is fine because the love that I offer is not dependent on what someone's response to that love is. The love I offer is a reflection of the love I want more of in the world. Take it as a challenge to tell a stranger that we love them. Find someone who needs a little love and give it to them generously and unconditionally because the love we offer can change the world. There are so many people who are searching for validation, searching to be empowered, and searching to be inspired. We have the power to do it. One word, one action, and one gesture can change the energy around us. It is up to us to be the change that we want to see in the world.

365 Positive Intentions Tell a stranger we love them. Tell somebody who might seem a little frustrated or angry that we love them and know that love has the power to change everything. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 116. Bitter versus Better Our experiences in this life can either make us bitter or better. We have to choose how we are going to process every experience. Instead of holding on to what happened or being anxious about what might happen, we spend the energy creating something better. Experiences have the potential to affect our heart, our energy, and our perspective of the world. We do not want to become bitter. Instead, we want to be better so that in every moment, our perception of what is possible expands. Focusing much more on creating a positive perception of everything helps us become better. When we create a negative perception, chances are we will become bitter. The choice between better and bitter seems like an easy decision to make until we are already in the moment. It is very easy to get caught up in the bitterness, the frustration, and the aggression; but instead of allowing the bitterness to take hold, spend every ounce of our energy creating something better. Instead of allowing ourselves to be a victim of something that creates bitterness, we become empowered by something that makes us better in every experience, circumstance, and interaction. One thought at a time, we are able to shift our perception of everything so that we have the choice. We have the option to create something that will make us bitter or better. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 117. Good at Anything We Practice We become better at anything that we practice consistently. If we have ever tried to learn a language, learn to play an instrument, or if there was a sport you are trying to improve at, all it took was practice, repetition, and consistency. Practice, practice, practice, and all is coming because in the practice, we eventually find perfection. The perfection is the feeling that the work and energy that we are putting in is being rewarded. Anything we practice, we get better at. Practice leads to progress, and all we need is a little progress. Eventually, we will arrive at the destination. Focus on the practice of positive thinking because the more we practice positive thinking, the more likely that positive thought becomes our default reaction to everything. Regardless of what happens out there, we practice positive thinking, positive perception, and positive belief in our ability to shift it into something positive inside ourselves. Practice positive thinking and know that the more we practice, the better we get. Nothing can rattle us out there because we are so focused on the positive energy we want to create in here. Practice, practice, practice, and all is coming. Practice positive thinking and just know that it will inevitably lead to progress. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 118. Real Dream Think for a moment about what is real. When we close our eyes at night and dream, we are convinced that our dreams are real. Everything we smell, taste, and touch in our dream, we believe exists. So what is real? In the moments of our lives when we are focused on what is happening out there in the circumstances and the actions of people, we often internalize it. We make it real. Sitting in traffic, we think that is real. Confrontation, we think that is real. But why? If we have the option to focus on something else as our reality and close our eyes at night and create a completely different reality from what exists in the physical space, why not do that all the time? We create what is real. There are several philosophers that believe that our dreams are an alternate universe and another dimension. They believe that we live in the existence of this alternate universe, but it is really just one that we have created in our minds. Allow our dreams to convince us that they have the power to decide what is real. If all we need is the time to close our eyes, look within, and create an alternate reality, allow ourselves that freedom in every space and in every moment. Through that, in real time and in this space of now, we are living our dreams. Decide what is real today. Make certain that in this moment, what we have decided to be real is everything we want our life to be and everything that we dream. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 119. A Morning Mantra Decide today to pick a morning mantra—something that we say to ourselves when we wake up in the morning before we get out of bed, before anything else happens, or even before we open our eyes. Give ourselves a morning mantra, a word or phrase that brings us into this space of power where we want to be for the entire day. The first thing we think when we wake up is like a foundation. The beginning of everything we are going to create for the entire and the rest of the day is rooted on that first thought. It stems from that thought that we had when we woke up in the morning, so create a morning mantra that encompasses the power, the energy, the focus, and the love that we want to harness for the day. Whatever we want to be for that day or however we want to feel, make that our morning mantra. Every day, we start off with the foundation that is strong enough to create the life we want. We start with the foundation that supports our dreams and makes every moment slightly easier than the last. A little mantra helps us get our mind frame back into a space of power and control and keeps our thoughts from wandering. We are focusing, and that focus on the mantra is all we need for a foundation. Enjoy the day. Create a foundation that is rooted strong enough to support our dreams. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 120. We Are Being Recorded In this day, age, and technology, it isn’t hard to imagine that everything we say is recorded—it does not need to be on YouTube, Facebook, or Snapchat for it to be recorded. The universe is listening, and we are giving it direction. Everything we say is recorded, including when we say, “if our dreams come true,” “they might happen someday,” or “we hope it might happen.” Instead of being more definitive, say “when it happens” and know it is going to happen. Believe in the fact that we are making it happen. The beauty of everything being recorded is that we can correct ourselves and have a second take. If we say something that does not serve, empower, or encourage us, backtrack and say it correctly the second time. Be very mindful with our words because we are recorded. Our energy is being recorded by the universe and by every cell and fiber of our body; and because we are recording our energy, we must be very specific about our word choice. Say \"when it happens” or “I am doing it.\" We are not trying anything because we are either doing it or not. It is a very clear distinction to make about how powerful we are as individuals to create anything we choose because we are being recorded. The energy in every thought we think, every word we speak, and every action we take is ingrained in every cell and fiber of our bodies. We create our destiny in this breath, and in this moment, we affirm our power. Be very mindful and aware of our word choice because everything we think, speak, and do is being recorded. If what we are saying

365 Positive Intentions now is not exactly what we want, remember that we can make a second take. We can correct ourselves, make it right, and make it even more powerful in order to create what we want right now. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 121. Spend Time With Strangers The old cliché that birds of a feather flock together means that people with the same ideologies often congregate together. People with the same belief systems, awareness, and understanding congregate together because they feel an instant connection and think inherently the same thing, but how will we evolve and change if we are always with those people who think the same way all the time? Being in a group of people that empowers and inspires us can propel us towards greatness, but the biggest changes that we can make in the world as individuals happen when we put ourselves in circumstances with people who do not believe the same things that we do. We are not there to change their minds, but we are there to learn, to build, to grow, and to exchange ideas rather than just to repeat and reiterate the same things over again. Next time we are in an event or a dinner party, sit with people who probably do not believe the same things we do, who do not think the same way we do, or who have not had the same experiences. Talk to somebody who is from another part of the world and has a different belief system. Expand our awareness of the different beliefs that exist in the world not because we want to argue, create a separation, or convince someone of our beliefs, but because we know that by opening ourselves up to something new, we expand. Our perception of the world expands, and if we want to make a change in the world, what better way to start than to create a connection with people who we would never ordinarily connect with.

365 Positive Intentions Open the range and the realm of possibilities of people we can have in our lives. We do not need to believe the same thing. We all share the same place. We are all neighbors. We are in a community. It does not matter what the person next to us believes. We exist in the same space and have a common ground. Focus on what brings us together more than what separates and divides us because by simply being in that space of community, of collective consciousness, and of sharing and exchanging energy, we make a deeper connection. It does not matter what the belief is; what matters is the energy that we are creating together in a space of community. That is what creates connection. Enjoy the day. Connect with somebody we might never otherwise connect with. Open ourselves up to a new possibility in order to broaden our perspective of the world. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 122. Commend Ourselves After the yoga class, as the students were leaving, I was commenting on what a great job they did, how amazing they looked, and how powerful they were. This one student in particular, I commented on the improvement I noticed in her yoga practice and told her how strong she looked today. She looked at me with a doubtful expression and said, “You tell everyone how amazing they looked and how beautiful and magical their practice was that day.” I looked at her, smiled, and told her that I saw what she did in class; it was amazing that she persevered through the heat and the sweat. She was noticeably uncomfortable, challenged by the balancing postures, and confronted by the hip openers. And yet, she stayed with it one breath at a time. Discouraging thoughts might have crept in, but she remained focused. That was amazing. I asked her if she noticed the woman in the front row—how amazing she was, how strong she was and her postures, and how focused she was. Then I said, “Everyone has made progress today, and that is what's amazing. They could have been at home, sitting on a sofa, watching television, eating pepperoni pizza—whatever people do when they are not in yoga. Instead, they chose to come into the room, step onto the mat, and make life magic.” Taking that time for ourselves on the yoga mat—that, in and of itself, is amazing and commendable. Just because everyone gets a compliment does not mean it diminishes the compliment that we receive. The fact that we are making an effort is commendable. Take the time to commend ourselves today. Regardless of what it is, tell ourselves that we are doing a good job at it. Tell ourselves how

365 Positive Intentions amazing and how magical our practice was. Whatever that practice is—whether it is yoga, just getting out of bed in the morning, checking off the daily tasks that we have to accomplish—let ourselves feel that sense of accomplishment. We all need a little more positive affirmation and reward for our effort. It does not matter what the effort is; the fact that we are making the effort at all is commendable, so I commend you today. Good job listening to your positive affirmation. Now go and share it with the world. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 123. Move the Average Up Who wants to be average? Why just conform to what the masses are doing when we can be exceptional in what we are doing? Let’s not be average. Instead, try to move the entire average up and raise the bar. We are the example of the exceptional energy that we wish for the world. Instead of trying to be average, following the status quo, or just wanting to be normal, be exceptional. Whatever it is we are doing, try to do it at the very best of our ability. Instead of falling to the average, we lift the entire average up. We inspire the people around us and create more of what we want. We live life with this drive and purpose to make everyone around us a little better. We can be the beginning of the change. If we do not start the change that we wish for the world, who is going to do it? It is up to us to move the entire average up, so be exceptional today. Be the example of everything we want more of in the world. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 124. Formula for Success What is our formula for success? What do we believe is making us successful? What are we doing now to shift what is happening in this moment to create more success? I like to create a formula that is rooted in a ratio. I always try to create three positive emotions for every one negative emotion. If I feel frustrated or anxious, I think of three positive things to counterbalance that. If I feel like I am rushing or moving too fast, I think of three calming and relaxing thoughts that slow me down. If I feel angry, I think of three happy, loving, and compassionate thoughts. For every negative emotion, I create three positive emotions. That is my formula for happiness. I feel that focusing on those three positive actions erases the negative feeling completely—three-to-one ratio. If we find ourselves thinking anything that borders on a negative thought or anything that is not uplifting, inspiring, and empowering, counterbalance it with three positive, uplifting, and empowering thoughts. Create a formula for happiness and success and be proactive in making it our reality. Know that it will balance and equal out to the magic, the joy, and the blessings that we deserve in every moment. Three-to-one ratio is a perfect formula for success. Enjoy the day. Three positive thoughts will cancel out one negative thought. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 125. Get to Versus Have To Decide today to change the way we perceive every action in our lives. When we think about the things that we are doing today, think about the fact that we get to do them. We have the opportunity to do them. It isn’t that we have to; we are really not obligated to do anything. We could choose to do anything we want, but we decided to be responsible. We decide to be considerate. We decide to do all of the things that we think need to be done, but in doing so, give ourselves the sense of awareness that we are able to do them, and we have the opportunity. Getting to do everything is better than having to do anything. Having to do something feels like an obligation or an imposition as though it is something that we are struggling or forcing ourselves to do whereas getting to do something almost seems like an opportunity. It seems like a pleasure—like we are rewarding ourselves with the opportunity to do it. Next time we go to the grocery store, think about how we get to go to the grocery store even though we do not have to. We get to stop and get gas even though we do not have to. We get to spend time with our loved ones even though we don't have to. Think of the things that we get to do every day, and it will shift our perspective of our life. It will make things seem a little more enjoyable and a little easier because getting to do everything is more enjoyable than having to do anything.

365 Positive Intentions This simple shift in perspective can change the entire way we perceive our lives. Enjoy all the things we get to do today. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 126. Somebody Made Me Do It We've all had one time or another, especially as children, when we put the blame on someone else for our actions. If we ask a child why they did something they were not supposed to do, every once in a while, we will get the response “she made me do it.” No one can make us do anything, and truly, no one can make us even feel anything. We always think that someone else is provoking our emotions or initiating our actions, but just think about how silly that sounds—that someone else would have the power to make us do something or make us feel something. No one else has the power to make us hold on to painful emotions from the past. We decide how to perceive every situation. We decide what action to take. Think of how taking control of our ability to create what we want gives us more power. In that way, no one can make us do anything. People say and do a lot of things, but whatever someone says or does has no ability to really influence our actions unless we allow it. Take control today because no one can make us do anything. Let other people inspire us towards greatness. Let them remind us of the kind of person we want to be, but do not let them influence the person we are right now. Take control. No one can make us do anything. No one can make us feel anything. We take control of creating everything we want our lives to be. Enjoy the day and realize we are the only one that can make ourselves do anything. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 127. No Regrets Trauma We have all known people who have had traumatic experiences that wind up propelling them forward to live life with fewer regrets. No one ever looks back on life and wishes they had worked more. People wish they had spent more time with friends and lovers traveling the world, enjoying the moment, and living a life that is true to their dreams instead of living a life for what they thought others expected of them. No one looks back on life and wishes they had spent more time working, struggling, or complaining. Everyone wishes they took more time to enjoy life and live it with fewer regrets. We do not have to experience trauma or catastrophe in order to appreciate the moments of life. People we have known who have beaten cancer or survived an accident have decided to change their life and make it more enjoyable to make the most out of the moments they have. We do not want to wait until trauma comes into our space or catastrophe happens before we decide to change our life. The time is now, so instead of waiting for a reminder of how important this moment is, assign an importance to every moment and live it to the fullest. Get the most out of the moments so that there are no regrets when we look back on life. All that exists is an appreciation for the fact that every single moment of our life was truly lived with purpose. Live with passion. Live in a way that makes us look back with no regrets at all. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 128. The Potential of the Proper Seed There is an ancient Hindu saying that talks of the potential of the tree being held in the seed. The potential of a mango tree resides in the mango seed; we are not going to get a mango tree from a coconut seed. The potential of the mango tree resides in the mango seed. This might seem a little out there, so let me bring it closer to home. The potential of our dreams resides in the thought, and the thought is the planting of the seed. We do not see the tree just like how we don't see the dream existing right now. All we see and think is the seed. The thought is planting the seed for the bigger dream, and the only possible way to create the dream is to plant a seed that is as big as the dream. The seeds we plant, the thoughts we think, must be rooted in the belief that we can create the dream. We cannot possibly get a mango tree from planting a coconut seed. Similarly, we cannot possibly create a dream by planting a negative thought or a doubt or having any sort of conflict about the fact that we can create anything. Make certain that the seeds that we plant today are the beginnings of the dreams we want to create so that the seeds we plant are the beginning stages of everything we want our life to be. Obviously, we cannot get a mango tree by planting a coconut seed, so make certain that the seeds we are planting are the beginning of the dreams we want to grow. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 129. When Everything is Going Wrong If we are having one of those days when we feel like everything is going wrong, we have to remind ourselves that somewhere in the balance, everything is going right. The circumstances of our life are always pointing us towards a destination. That destination might be far off in the distance somewhere, nevertheless, the destination exists. What we experience right now might seem like we are treading through mud to get to where we are going. It might seem as though there is an obstacle between us and where we want to be. The time we take to get stronger to move past that obstacle and the patience that we need to persevere through whatever the present moment circumstances are lessons that are giving us tools to prepare us for something else. There is really no point in getting angry, too frustrated, or too perplexed about any one thing that is going on because they are all falling into the grand scheme of things. Even if the destination seems really far away and even if we had a list of things that we wanted to get done today but got sidetracked by whatever else is going on in life at this moment, be confident in knowing that all of these trials and tribulations are strengthening us and preparing us for greatness somewhere down the road. That is my strategy. I just keep telling myself that even if I feel like I am being thrown off track right now, somewhere in the big scheme of things, that track is guiding me towards my destiny. I just have to stay focused. If I get distracted by what is happening in the present

circumstance, it is going to take me longer to get to where I want to go. Just stay focused and allow ourselves the confidence to keep working in the direction of our dreams. The destination is there on the horizon, even in the face of whatever obstacles might seem present right now. Stay focused, one thought at a time. Eventually, we will arrive where we are supposed to be as long as we stay focused on the destination. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 130. Picture Says a Thousand Words The old cliché that a picture says a thousand words seems to be less and less accurate the more pictures we post. In the day and age of everything running in a feed on social media and people documenting both the pivotal and not-so-pivotal moments of their lives, we feel that we know people better than we actually do. Maybe there is a friend we have not seen in several years, but instead of picking up the phone to talk to them, we check out their Facebook page and feel like we know what is going on in their life. In reality, we do not. That one picture is just one dimension. It is just a single view of what is going on, and there is actually so much more. If it is a video, at least then we get facial expressions and body language. We can hear energy in their voice, but even then, that is just a small snippet of their lives. It almost feels like we are communicating less because we are seeing more of the lives of the people we think we know. Wouldn't it be great if that picture did say a thousand words? If we are really able to feel someone's heart, energy, and emotion through that picture? Unfortunately, it isn’t possible. We need to reach out and offer a little of our energy in order to connect a little deeper with theirs. Instead of basing our relationships on what we see in a still photograph or video, make more effort to build on the connections with the people in our lives. Certainly, we can enjoy Facebook and Instagram to get little updates, but do not allow those little updates to limit the depth of our connection so that we will not walk through life thinking we know the people we love when all we are

really getting is a sterile still snapshot image of one moment of their lives. Reach out, pick up the phone, and make a telephone call. Connect deeper, maybe schedule tea or juice or lunch with someone we have not talked to in a while. Instead of just living life through Facebook or Instagram, build the connections in real time. Connect deeper today. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 131. Express Freely Imagine talking to someone who gave no facial expression whatsoever—just stone-faced. When we were telling them a funny story, they never even cracked a smile. When we were expressing a deep feeling or emotion, there was no look of compassion or empathy at all—just stone-faced. How would we feel in our communication with that person? We all want someone to be engaged in what we are saying so that when we express ourselves, they will offer an expression. So much of communication is not just words; it's energy, facial expressions, and body language. There is so much more to communication outside of what we say- the look in our eyes, the tone of our voice, and the way that we carry ourselves. These things communicate much more about what we are saying than what we are actually saying. Make an effort today to be more engaged. Look people in the eye when speaking with them and respond with a facial expression or body language that shows we are completely engaged in the conversation. The communication is not just dependent on the words that are spoken. There is much more there, and the depth of that communication of the body language and the physical energy that we are communicating makes the conversation much more significant. It isn’t just words that might go in one ear and out the other. It is a deeper connection in communication. Maybe it starts with just a compassionate glance when somebody expresses something that is deeply emotional, or maybe with an encouraging smile when someone is expressing a want, dream, or desire.

So much of our communication is rooted in our body language, facial expressions, and the energy behind the words. Today, allow ourselves to express freely and be emotionally engaged. Allow that to be expressed in a smile, in a compassionate glance, in an attentive facial expression—just something that communicates more than the words and deepens the quality of our conversation. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 132. How We Say It Communication isn’t so much about what we say but how we say it. We can tell anybody anything, but it is the presentation, the tone of voice, the level of enthusiasm, and the expression of the communication that determines how somebody will receive it. We could tell somebody that the world is ending tomorrow, but if we say it in a positive way, it can shift the way they receive it. We could say that we can do anything we want for the next 24 hours, or we could just tell them that it all ends tomorrow, and we will never have a chance to do anything again. It changes the way we approach things. In speaking to others, it makes sense to be authentic in the energy that we want to communicate. What about when speaking to ourselves? Why not put a positive spin on everything so that we almost become our own PR director? We are marketing our lives to ourselves and putting things into a positive perspective to make our life more interesting and exciting. The traffic, for instance. It's not that we are simply sitting in traffic for an hour, we also get an opportunity to sit in stillness and contemplate our life without feeling rushed to go anywhere because the traffic is preventing us from getting there anyway. Next time we are delayed in some way, instead of thinking about the time wasted, think of a way to use that time so that we feel efficient and productive. All it requires is a simple shift in perspective. It’s like working on public relations with ourselves in which we are our own marketing person, our own advertiser, and even our own PR representative. The way we communicate things

is not so much in what it is but always in how we are communicating it. Feel free to put a positive spin on everything and notice how that changes the way that we perceive everything in our life. We might as well put a positive spin to make it a great day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 133. Types of Complainers Have you ever known someone who complains about everything? Are you one of those people who complain about everything? It is important to identify useful critiques, constructive criticism, and flat out complaining. We all know people who complain. Some of those people are just venting. They have a specific issue that they want to get off their chest, but they have no interest in getting any sort of constructive criticism or advice. They do not want any help with the problem; they just want everyone to know they have a problem. There are those people who complain because they really want sympathy. They are hoping somebody will help, empathize, and offer some solutions to their problem. Finally, there are those people who just chronically complain about everything. It does not matter whether the wind is blowing the wrong way, the sun is shining too bright, or the rain is falling too hard because whatever it is, they will find something to complain about. It is obvious when these people are complaining that they are wiring their brains to process every experience as a critique or a complaint. Anything we do consistently, we get really good at it. In fact, it becomes second nature. If we have ever started a new routine, all it does is take a little while of being persistent in that routine to make it stick to the point where even if we are eating meals at certain times during the day, we will start to become hungry just around that meal time because we have trained our brain to recognize hunger at that time. It is the same thing with complaining.

We can train our brain to automatically complain or we can train our brain to find happiness, joy, and bliss, in everything that we are doing. Think about what the motivation is behind the complaint. Are we just venting and putting it out into the matrix? Are we actually looking for some solution or advice or are we just stuck in the complaining? Constructive criticism gets us farther than a complaint ever will. There is no point in complaining about it if we are not willing to do anything about it. We are much better off creating a positive and productive spin for everything that exists, so let go of the complaining. Try to replace it with a compliment, a constructive criticism, or an affirmation that reminds us of how grateful we are for everything because gratitude gets us a lot farther than a complaint ever will. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 134. Flower of Life In every major civilization, the flower of life has been a representation of the sacred geometry, the universal consciousness, the balance, and the connection in everything. The flower of life is a sacred symbol that represents how everything is connected and perfectly balanced in perfect alignment all the time. This one moment is just a glimpse of our entire lives. Whatever is happening now is just one piece of the puzzle—one petal on the flower of life. If every evolved civilization has had an awareness of this balance and inner connectedness of everything, then certainly, what we are experiencing right now in this moment is just one piece of the puzzle. The earth's frequency, the dimensions of the universe, the electromagnetic fields that connect everything, the gravity, the inertia, and all the forces that exist around us exist in balance. Our thoughts, words, and actions should also fall into the same alignment that everything else in the universe does. The flower of life is a reminder of the sacred geometry, the universal consciousness, and the underlying force of balance and equilibrium in everything. Even if we feel a little out of balance now, know things will inevitably fall back into place. Just have faith, persevere, be consistent, and know that in this space of now, it’s just one moment in time and one petal in the flower of life. Everything falls into perfect equilibrium. All we need is time, space, and patience and everything falls into place. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 135. One-Tenth of Our Brain Power Scientists have documented that humans are only using about one tenth of our total brain power. Consider all that humans have accomplished using just one tenth of our brain power- the cars we drive, the planes we fly, the World Wide Web. We could be on a remote island somewhere and video conference with anyone in the world. Modern day science and technology has evolved using one small compartment of our brain. Imagine what might be possible if we tapped into some of those dormant centers of our brain and some of that brain power that is just lying in wait to be accessed. As we clear our mind of distractions and clutter, the mind expands. We create space, giving us the potential to access more of our brain power. Imagine breaking beyond the barriers that exist, being able to transcend the physical space to create something more powerful than what we have already created. In silencing the mind and allowing space for something brand new, we expand the potential for what is possible, so make the effort to access just a little more of your brain power today. By letting go of something that does not serve us, we make room for something that will, and potentially, that space might be the space that is necessary to change the world. If we have created all this technology using just one tenth of our brain power, imagine what we might create if we accessed just a little more. Spend all the energy focusing on the things we want

365 Positive Intentions more of and allow those things to expand us into infinite possibilities. Use just a little more of that brainpower to create everything we want our lives to be one thought at a time. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 136. Never Late to Create the Dream As children, we were often asked what we wanted to be when we grew up; but I would ask, who do we want to be now, as we continue to grow? What type of person do we want to be? What impact do we want to have on the world? It almost seems a shame that no one ever asks us as an adult who we want to be when we grow up. We are not finished growing just yet. It seems a shame to reserve all our dreams and visions for the future to childhood when we should consistently be dreaming right now. Who do we want to be when we grow up? What impact do we want to have on the world? What legacy will we leave behind? It is never too late to set a new intention, to create a new dream, and to start a new beginning. Right now is giving us the opportunity. If someone were to ask us who we want to be when we grow up or who we would like to be five, ten, twenty… fifty years from now? Think about the legacy we would like to leave behind. Think about how we would like to make people feel. Decide in this moment what we need to create, who we need to be, and what we need to do to make it happen. Who do we want to be when we grow up? How do we want to make people feel? What better way to motivate our action and energy right now than deciding what impact we want to have in the world? With every thought, every breath, every moment, every action, we are making an impact. We just have to decide who we want to be not at some point in the future, but right now. Who will we be when we walk out the door this morning? What impact will we have on

365 Positive Intentions the people we touch? The time to decide who we are going to be is now. Allow our thoughts, words, and actions to define our dreams. Make it a great day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 137. A Unique Masterpiece There is no one else like you in the universe or in the solar system and no one else like you that exists anywhere. Each of us is a unique masterpiece. Too often, we feel as though we are mass-produced. We have been caught up in a system that makes us feel like we must conform to the status quo in order to be normal. Don’t be normal. Instead, be the opposite of normal in order to share our unique energy with the world. Instead of moving along like a herd of cattle running through the daily practices or tasks and doing the same routine over and over, feel like we are living our life for someone else instead of just for ourselves. Remind ourselves that we are unique and a masterpiece. Take advantage of the energy that we create inside so that we do not feel like we are caught up in a system or in a domesticated state, just following an instruction and moving along with the pack. Feel free to share our unique gifts and energy with the world and decide not to be normal. Decide to do everything that is outside of the realm of normalcy, and to offer something exceptional. Make it a great day for ourselves and for everyone we touch. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 138. The Placebo Effect A doctor friend of mine mentioned the fact that the placebo is the only drug that has cured every disease. In every test that they do in pharmaceutical drugs, they add in placebos so that some people are taking the actual drug while some are just taking a pill that does nothing at all. They compared the results from the people who took the drug itself to the people who took the placebo. They found out that there are always people who have taken the placebo and had the same healing effects—or even better—with those that took the actual medication. The placebo is an evidence of the power of the mind. People who took the placebo did not know that they were taking a placebo. They thought it was the actual drug, and they would report the same improvements—sometimes even better than those who took the actual medication. Ironically enough, those that took the placebo would report the healing effects without the negative side effects of the medication itself. My friend also emphasized the fact that those taking the placebo often came out with better results than those taking the medication. This obviously indicates that the power of the mind is stronger than any medication that could be prescribed. Understand that the power of our mind is more powerful than anything that exists outside of ourselves. If a placebo can heal, we certainly also have the power to heal ourselves. Use the placebo effect as evidence of the power of our minds, the power of our thoughts, and the power of our words. Use it, not just to cure an ailment, but to create our dreams. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 139. Clear About the Outcome Visualize the outcome of everything we want to accomplish today. We become the director of our destiny, and we start with a vision of exactly how we want it to go. Be very clear about the outcome. Include the what, when, where, who, how, and why to be very detailed in directing our destiny that every action we take falls in line with that vision. Everything we think already falls in line with the vision, so we are already manifesting exactly how we want it to go. If there is a task you need to accomplish, a conversation we need to have an interaction or anything in our life that we want to go a certain way, visualize the outcome before we even get started. Even before we start the task, we already know exactly how we want it to finish. That will help direct our destiny. Do not be surprised if things do not go exactly as we wanted in the physical space; our vision will give us the motivation, inspiration, and the feeling of empowerment that we need to make it happen. Be so detailed and clear about the outcome that everything we want is already aligned with our intention to make it happen. All we need is the vision; and from that vision, we can create our dreams. All it requires is a clear vision of the outcome and the knowledge of what, when, where, who, how, and why. Realize that in outlining that vision, we already set the foundation to make it happen. One thought at a time, begin to direct our destiny and allow the vision to define our dreams. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 140. Epiphany in Divine Inspiration An epiphany often feels like some divine inspiration. Our instinct and intuition are always speaking to us, but it is in those moments when we are open to receive the clarity and understanding that it happens. What if we could consciously create that opening to receive the understanding and awareness that we need in order to solve most of the problems in our lives? Many spiritual philosophies believe that epiphany, that moment of clarity, is coming to us from a source of energy. They believe that the universe is abundant with sources of energy that are fueling all sorts of epiphanies on different levels, as well as all sorts of awakenings and understandings. If we are consciously asking the universe to provide us with that understanding, certainly, the universe will give it to us in time. If we ask the universe to provide us with this energy source, awareness, understanding, and clarity, we can make ourselves more open to receive it. Start by asking. What do I have to become and create what I want? What do I need to let go of to create what I want? What do I need to embrace? What else do I need to know? Ask for these divine interventions of tips and tricks to create more of what we want in our lives. Allow that source energy to give us the epiphany, the awakening, and the clarity that we need to create everything that we want. It is opening ourselves up to receive it. The epiphany really is a divine inspiration, but if we can consciously let that space allow in the intuition, instinct, and awareness that already inherently reside within, imagine how much easier it will be to navigate through this life.

Allow the source energy, the divine inspiration, the intuition, and the instinct to create an epiphany of place, of clarity, of awareness, and of understanding that gives us access to everything we want our lives to be. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 141. Ultimate Test of Non-Attachment Love is the ultimate test of non-attachment—a test of loving unconditionally with no attachment to how someone receives that love. When we tell someone we love them, it does not matter whether they say it back, it matters that you said it at all. Too often, we sabotage our love relationships. We impose an expectation or condition on the love that we give or that we will love a person more if they act a certain way or do a certain thing. The love must be pure and unconditional for it to exist at all. There is no way to truly love someone if we will only love them under certain conditions. The love we give is not a reflection of the person we are loving. It is a reflection of us and our ability to open our hearts unconditionally and offer the best of ourselves generously to someone else. The moment we impose conditions on our love, it is no longer love; it turns to fear. The only reason we would not love totally, unconditionally, and generously is because we are fearful of the response of the other person. Instead of worrying about what someone does with the love we give, it is our responsibility to give it freely, unconditionally, and generously with no attachment to how that love is received. The moment we let go of expectations and attachment, that is when we are truly free to give the best of ourselves, to offer our love, and to receive the love we deserve. There is no room for disappointment. It doesn't matter what the result is once we offer our love. Letting go of the attachment and expectation and allowing ourselves to

love generously and unconditionally are the only possible way to truly invite in the love we deserve. Love a little deeper. Love a little more. Love a stranger and know that unconditional love is the purest form of connection possible. Love a little more today. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 142. Powerplant of Energy Take a moment to consider how powerful our energy is. When it is freezing cold outside, our body still has this ability to remain warm. Think about that process. Even if we are standing outside in 50- degree weather, our body is still at 98.6-degree temperature—that is almost a hundred degrees. Where does all that energy that is heating our body to 100 degrees come from? Even as we pack on layers of clothing to keep ourselves warm, that warmth initiated inside of us. We are just putting the clothes or coats on to keep that warmth in. Think about what is creating that warmth. That is energy. Every molecule in our body is generating energy that is heating our body to almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That in and of itself is miraculous. Sometimes, room temperature water feels cold not because it has been refrigerated, but because we are so hot that in relation to our heat, the water feels cold. The funny thing is that by just sitting in one place, we already generate energy. Imagine if we were to put that energy to work for us; if we really tap in to how powerful this energy is that is heating our body and use it to fuel our dreams. We are fuel. We are a walking powerplant of energy, and all we have to do is tap into the energy that we hold inside and allow it to fuel our dreams. It is already fueling our thoughts, our words, and our actions. We want to make certain that what we are putting out there is worth sharing with the world. Consider how powerful our energy is and make certain the energy that we hold inside is being used to fuel all the things we want more of in life. Feel how