Lessons Learned from Competing #4: Stay in the Light

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Be the Light!

Whatever invokes your higher nature, honesty, kindness, love, or generosity is light.  The light represents happiness, positive energy, virtuous qualities, noble deeds, faith and hope.  Whatever increases your energy, makes you more virtuous, gives you certitude and hope, and makes you happy and hopeful is light.  Conversely, whatever makes you doubtful, angry, fearful, drained, or want to give up, is nothing but the darkness.  In those instances, all you need to do is turn toward the light.  Think about the light, focus on the light, and with God’s help, BE THE LIGHT!

Be A Well Wisher of Others

As with physical sight, the more light there is, the more you see.  The more you see, the more you believe.  The more you believe, the more you manifest.  It is within the light that our powers strengthen, that our energy increases, that our power of perception is heightened, and our creativity unfolds. One way to stay in the light is to be well-wishers of others.

Darkness Comes in Many Forms

But staying in the light can be a challenge for we are surrounded by darkness.  Darkness, just like light, comes in many forms, greed, competitiveness, resentment, envy, despondency and selfishness.  Whatever entices you to lie, cheat, doubt, fear, be mean, or to hate is just darkness.  The eyes cannot see clearly in darkness. The heart cannot receive in darkness.  The ears cannot hear in darkness, for we were created to see, hear, and feel and our natural senses are stunted in darkness.

When we cannot see we cannot move with certitude and assurance.  We are bound, afraid, and helpless.  But when we spot a ray of light, our spirit is refreshed, hopeful again, and joyful. The possibility to get a show on the Oprah Winfrey Network was a ray of light and hope.  At first I hesitated because many other competition type shows seemed to bring out the worst in people.  My life mission is to stay in the light and help as many people as I can to do the same.  One of my sons even questioned my understanding of “competition” when I told him I had voted for several other “competitors”.

Compete Against Yourself and Not Others

Life is a constant test, but mostly within our beings. You see, I choose to believe that I am only competing against myself, against my very best.  Each one of the other contestants is putting forth their ideas and dreams and hoping to win too.  I can genuinely appreciate them and wish them well and still be in the same game.

I can’t resent their success and expect to attract blessings and light to myself. So, to make sure that I was not envious or jealous of the front runners, I said a little prayer for each of their success.

Choose What You Will Allow in Your Spiritual Space

In the midst of writing this section on staying in the light, I got a phone call from someone asking if I was staying in the competition in spite of the controversy.  First of all, I hadn’t heard of any controversy.  Secondly after she shared it with me, it did not make me feel better. I could feel my energy draining and my excitement waning.  Just listening to the negativity was pulling me out of the light, so I just stopped it.  I’d have to do this often as some would contact me to ask why I got in the game so late or to ask somberly how I was doing.  It was as if they were watching the scores and wondered if I understood the odds.   But, I’d already decided to get in the game.  I’d already defined winning.  I had chosen to stay in the light, so I had to make a conscious effort to choose what I would allow into my spiritual space.  Once I made the mental shift, I began to see new ideas on how to get more visibility.   Later that day I got a few more distressing calls, but I still managed to stay in the light in spite of them.  One reason I was able to remain encouraged was because of all the positive people who were showing up to help me.   And that’s the topic of our next lesson, asking for help.   I’d like to close with these words spoken by Nelson Mandela at his inauguration, but written by Marianne Williamson, in ‘A Return to Love’

‘Excerpt from ‘A Return to Love’

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”   Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.  There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.  We were all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to manifest the Glory of God that is within us.  It’s not just in some of us: it’s in everyone.  And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence liberates others.”

Until Next Time, “May God shine a light on the path to your dreams.”
Barbara

Lessons Learned from Competing #3: Get In The Game

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The Third Lesson I Learned from Competing is: Get in the Game

Once you’ve made a decision to do something, you must immediately act.  Acting is the key to attracting.  When I heard about the Oprah opportunity, I did not immediately jump into the game.  I had to think about what it would mean to my family.  I had to decide what kind of show would make a difference to the world and at the same time be something that I’d be excited and committed to for the long run.

You’ve heard it said before, “Do what you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”  And, one thing is for sure, I love this kind of work.  I talked it over with some of my family members and then I knew I had to do it.  I made the most important decision of my future and I did it with certitude.

Commit to Doing Your Best

Once you’re in the game, you must commit to doing your very best and be open to learning.  If this weren’t a challenge, I wouldn’t be pursuing it.  And since it a challenge, I know that I am going to learn, grow, and be transformed by the experience.  Every experience prepares us for an even greater challenge in the future.  This experience definitely raised the bar higher than I’ve ever raised it before.

Entering the competition was a self- affirmation that I believed enough in myself to at least take a chance on me.  Now back to those internal and external critics, they will reappear from time to time.  But, when they did  I had to consciously think about and focus on all the reasons why I should enter the competition as opposed to why I shouldn’t.

Once You’re in the Game, Have Fun

And, once you’re in the game, have fun.  Be detached from the outcome.   What is supposed to happen will happen, getting upset or stressed won’t change the outcome for the better, and they sabotage your happiness in the moment.   Of course you’d like to win, but never if you have to compromise your values.  And while you will be learning new things, there will be some things that you will want to protect from change.  So, don’t lose sight of your real values.  Don’t compromise your integrity.  And, make sure that you stay in the light.  That’s the topic of our next lesson, stay tuned.

Lessons Learned from Competing #2: Decide and Commit

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Decide and Commit

Everything isn’t for everybody.  And, even if it’s your thing, sometimes the timing is not right. But when you know it’s the right thing, the right time, and you are doing the right thing for the right reasons, then stop procrastinating, just decide and commit.  Nothing happens until we commit. We can think about, pray about, talk about, and complain about the odds or the possibilities, but nothing happens until we make a decision.

The Act of Deciding Unleashes Latent Powers

The act of deciding is in itself powerful.  It unleashes new untapped energy and attracts powerful ideas and people to you.  It informs our spirit, our allies, and even our detractors that we are serious and committed.  Commitment focuses our energy on a single point so that we can make greater strides.  It is difficult to stay focused when we are too distracted trying to do too many different things at once.  When we are iffy and not fully committed, we have less energy, less creativity, less faith, and less support.  In fact some even become paralyzed by indecision and can’t seem to make up their minds at all.   But, when we do decide, something magical happens.  It is even as though the angels come to aid, the waters of wisdom begin to flow, and the denizens of doubt begin to disappear.

Nothing Will Happen Until YOU Commit

So, if there is a goal that you are attempting, realize that nothing will happen until you commit.  I heard about the Oprah competition by accident.  I already had my plate full at the time, but opportunity was banging on my door. I had to make a decision and I didn’t have much time to make it.  Was this the big chance, I’d dreamed of and if so, how could I not take a chance?  I thought about it for a few days, and then I decided.  There is a big difference in thinking about something and committing to it.  There were lots of doubts and excuses before I made the decision, but when I decided, faith stepped in and silenced both the internal and external critics.  You can’t expect support, resources, and encouragement from others until they see that you are absolutely and wholeheartedly committed to your own success.  If there is something that you truly want to do right now, realize that the ball is in your court and the first step to manifesting your dream and making it real is simply for you to DECIDE.

Lessons Learned from Competing #1: Define or Be Defined

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Define or Be Defined

In life there are people who derive a lot of power, esteem, and wealth by defining others.  They will dictate what you should wear, what you should eat, what kind of car you should drive, what type of jobs are important, and the list goes on.  Those with little self-esteem will fall into this trap and willfully step into the boxes defined for them.  What constitutes achievement, success, and winning are just of few of those boxes.  We can either define what constitutes winning and success in our lives or allow others to do it for us.  One theme that runs through all of my presentations is, ‘Define or be Defined!’ We are each creators of our own lives and have the authority and responsibility to create our own reality.  At any juncture I can choose to see myself as a winner or as a loser and so can you!  I choose to see myself as a winner and to define what winning means to me.

“When You Change the Way You Look at Things, The Things You Look at Change.”

9,504 people decided to take a chance on getting their own show on the Oprah Winfrey network, how many others who wanted to did not?  Let’s say hypothetically that another 50,000 others wanted to submit a show idea but allowed others or talked themselves out of entering the competition.  Wayne Dwyer quoting an unnamed author in one of his talks said,  “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” You could say instead that the 50,000 did not win, can not win, and did not try to win but that all 9504 entrants are already winners.

Let Me Define Winning

To some, the traditional definition of winning is the one who gets the prize, get’s there first, or who demolishes the opponent.  They might also argue that there can only be one winner and that makes everyone else by default, a loser.  Everyone is allowed their opinion; let them have it.  But realize that you and I are also entitled to ours.  I choose to see all 9504 entrants as winners.  Now let me define winning.  Everyone who takes a chance on their dream is a winner.  Anyone who has courage to get in the race is a winner.  Anyone that believes enough in their dreams to at least try is a winner.  Anyone that doesn’t give up or make excuses even though the odds are not in their favor is a winner.  Anyone who chooses to believe that the journey is just as important as the destination is a winner.  So, I choose to define as winning any effort that gets me closer to my goal, teaches me important life lessons, increases my faith, makes me more courageous, and expands my horizons.  Entering the Oprah Competition does all that.  That is why I say emphatically, “I WON!”

I Won!

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Oprah Had A Competition and I Won!

I thought that might get your attention.  Yes, Oprah is having an on-line competition to find the next big star.  That person will have their own show on the new Oprah Winfrey network.  But they haven’t yet announced the winners.  So, how can I already have won, you ask, especially when the front-runner had over 8 million votes when I got into the race.  How can I possibly see myself as a winner when the competition ended with me having 5,297 votes?   Well, just getting in the game taught me quite a few life lessons.  I’ve already changed and doesn’t that make me a winner?  In the next few posts, I share the lessons I’ve learned from competing.

  1. Define or be defined.  http://wp.me/ppImQ-xq
  2. Decide and commit. http://wp.me/ppImQ-xx
  3. Get in the game. http://wp.me/ppImQ-xG
  4. Stay in the light. http://wp.me/ppImQ-yl
  5. Ask for Help.  http://wp.me/ppImQ-xi
  6. Integrate faith and works.
  7. Play smart.  Play to win and win so you can play.
  8. Keep your eye on the prize.
  9. Stay balanced and focused.
  10. Give it your best and finish.