Q: Why do people make such a big deal about gratitude, and how can I be more grateful everyday?

A: Expressing gratitude is one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to manifest what you desire. This is because you are an energetic being living in a universe where your reality is a reflection of your consciousness. When you express gratitude, you are expressing a consciousness of HAVING. If you emit the frequency of I HAVE, you experience more HAVING in your life. Conversely, when you focus on lack, you experience more lack.

First, make the decision that you want to see and acknowledge all the blessings life offers you. Then play around with ways of thanksgiving. Keep a gratitude journal where nightly you list five things for which you are grateful. Play the game of giving thanks to people ten times per day. Practice saying ‘Thank You’ to the Infinite, in your heart, all day long. Give thanks out loud in the car with the radio blaring. Do a few rounds of giving thanks with the kids in the back seat.

Whatever you do, understand that gratitude is a powerful force. If you make it a top priority, your consciousness will expand. And soon, gratitude will become a way of life, creating a snowball of well-being and abundance!

Let me know how it goes!

What It Is

To “Act As If” is to imagine who you’d be, how you’d feel, and what you would do IF you were the YOU in your manifested goal. Then, as life presents you with opportunities, decisions to be made, and situations to respond to, you practice being THAT YOU. Moment by moment, opportunity after opportunity, situation upon situation, you have a CHOICE:

a) act as if you are your “future Self,” or
b) default to the familiar present day version of you.

When you choose to act as if you are the You, you are called to be, the Universe rises up to meet you and provides you with everything you need to move toward and experience your manifested goal. When you choose to default to the familiar present day version of You, you and your current reality remain unchanged.

Why It Works

The reason this practice works is that the moment you set a goal or claim an intention, you give birth to it on an energetic level. Not only that, but in that instant you expand into the bigger, better, “future” you (energetically speaking). You may not feel it. Life may not look any differently. But THAT YOU, now exists – in the energetic realm.

Additionally, once THAT YOU exists, the Universe rolls out an energetic bridge for you to walk toward THAT YOU, so that you may merge with and embody that expanded version of yourself.

How to Work It

What does that bridge look like? How do your recognize it to begin the process of walking over it? The bridge reveals itself as a series of leads. Some leads show up as next step opportunities for you to act upon in faith. (I call these stepping stones.) Other times a lead will appear as an obstacle for you to recognize as a smaller aspect of yourself that you need to outgrow and let go of, in order to expand into the bigger version of you. (I call these landmines.)

When leads appear as stepping stones, they show up as opportunities, ideas, inspiration, people, conditions, situations and insights for you to act upon as if you are already that person (i.e. THAT YOU). Sometimes these leads will feel wonderful and exciting. However, because you are not yet fully experiencing yourself as THAT YOU, other times taking these steps will require an act of faith and courage.

Note: You must take action as the YOU you are becoming. There is no avoiding it. Why? Because your dream will engage with you at the level you engage with it. Period. If you want your dream to engage with you in the physical realm, you must engage with it in the physical realm. If you only engage with your goal in the energetic realm of visualization, affirmation and imagination, it will engage with you only in that realm.

When the lead appears as a landmine, you’ll recognize it because you’ll find yourself face to face with a challenge. Landmines can appear as fear, doubt, insecurity, set-back, procrastination, and/or limiting beliefs. Sometimes the obstacle is so huge that it appears as an insurmountable obstacle, failure, or irrefutable evidence that you cannot succeed. When this is the case you have an opportunity for a major breakthrough, a chance to liberate yourself from a belief that has controlled you (usually most of your life), or a major paradigm shift. These kinds of landmines usually call for guidance or coaching, a profound spiritual awakening, and/or some degree of deeper emotional work.

Simply put, with the right understanding, “Acting As If” is a beautifully effective energetic tool for manifesting any dream. It works for this reason: You can’t be the current version of you and experience a different reality. For example:

• You can’t BE the single version of you and experience a marriage reality. You must BE your wife or husband-self.
• You can’t BE the employee version of you and experience successful business ownership. You must BE your entrepreneur-self.
• You can’t BE the homebody version of yourself and experience the life of a world traveler. You must BE your adventurer self.

Many times we don’t know how THAT version of ourselves would be. We don’t know how to act. We don’t know how it would feel. We don’t know how to proceed. For this reason role models, coaches and teachers make all the difference. When you don’t know what you don’t know, you can’t possibly Act As If effectively. But when you find people to emulate, teachers to guide you, and support to summon the courage to be the BIGGER version of you, Act As If leads to inevitable manifestation!

Choose YOUR Reality! TM
Sonia

(This article is part of a series that began with the May 18, 2011 issue of Soul Food. To go back to the beginning , CLICK HERE)

As we bring our series on the Ultimate Manifestor’s Code of Being to its conclusion, we now move to Tenet #7: Do What’s In Front Of You

In some of the earlier tenets, we addressed the difference between DOING manifestation and BEING the Ultimate Manifestor of your life. When you make this shift, it means you’re expanding your consciousness away from the “effect” which is your physical reality, to the “cause” which is Source (i.e your consciousness – where your TRUE power rests.)

Now then, our consciousness is comprised of our thoughts, words and ACTIONS. And so, one of the challenges seekers encounter as they expand from DOING to BEING lies in understanding how to relate to the necessary actions one must take in moving through life powerfully.

The key to our Code of BEING… is that we are always striving to be one with Source. Open and receptive to the Infinite power, grace, love, wholeness, joy and abundance that is always here.

We must operate from the assumption that we are always being guided to our highest good. That the highest good is here for us always. Our job is to accept and receive the abundance that abounds. For you see, there is no lack of abundance. Source has already provided it. That’s what is meant by “Ask and It is Given”. But just because it is given, doesn’t mean we are in a place to receive it. The experience of lack is on our end. Not on the end of Source.

So… when we take action there are only 2 ways of BEING.

1. Take action on that which is INSPIRING you.This is because Divine Guidance comes in the way of inspiration, OR
2. Simply DO what’s in front of you. (Because if you are seemingly not receiving inspiration, it means that what is in front of you is exactly what you need to be doing for your highest good.

This guidance is vital because the common trap many seekers fall into regarding taking action, is that they think they “should” be strategic, figure things out, or that there is a right or wrong way to approach something.

As soon as you get into “figure it out mode,” you have shut yourself off from Source. You are now trying to “make things happen,” according to your ego’s perception of reality. And you’re resorting to control energy, which is, quite simply, a whole bunch of unproductive resistance.

PRACTICE:

When you don’t know what action to take. When you find yourself asking, “What should I do?” and no guidance or inspiration reveals itself… DO WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOU. And practice trusting that what you’re doing is exactly what you should be doing for your highest good.

AFFIRMATIONS:

• I am willing to be guided and inspired in all of my actions under all conditions.
• I accept and receive guidance and clarity regarding which actions to take at all times.
• I am willing to trust that what is in front of me to do is for the highest good!
• I am willing to feel safe, guided and peaceful as I surrender to Divine Guidance and Divine timing in all things!

Try it and keep me posted!
Choose YOUR Reality! TM

Sonia

Choose YOUR Reality! TM

Sonia

As promised, here’s everything you need to apply for the 2nd FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP CURRENTLY AVAILABLE for the Ultimate Manifestation System Intensive starting THIS WEEK! (Value $1146 each) FOR INFO OR TO REGISTER GO TO: http://www.successforthesoul.com/90dayumsi

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH 7:00PM

For info and to apply go to:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J5KKHYK

HOW TO APPLY: (APPLICATION SUMMARY)

1) Attend and/or listen to Audios for Part 1 and 2 of the recent teleclass.

(Go to: http://www.successforthesoul.com/escape-doom-and-gloom.  Register.  Audios will be delivered via email upon registration.)

2) Submit your UMSI Scholarship Application by taking the Scholarship Quiz based on the teleclass.

GO TO:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J5KKHYK

3) Upon completion your name will be entered into a lottery for 1 scholarship award. The drawing will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 8:00pm. Scholarship awardees will be notified by phone and email.

“ESCAPE THE DOOM AND GLOOM TRAP!

How to See World Events as the Illusion They Are, Soothe Your Fear When You’re Afraid, and Reclaim The Power You’ve Always Had!”

Class Highlights:

• Connect with the TRUTH about Cause and Effect. (So many of us have it all wrong and this causes us to work really hard for meager results, at best.)

• Understand WHY there is suffering and challenge in the world and exactly how this serves you in accessing your infinite power!

• Uncover and correct myths and distortions about the Law of Attraction so as to move into a more consistent experience of fulfilling manifestation!

• Learn how to see “Reality” for the “Illusion” it really is and how to begin living in the power and freedom of TRUTH!

• Identify the REAL purpose for goals and how to use them in a way that truly works!

• Hear from seekers just like you, who’ve begun to lift the illusion of fear and limitation to experience their lives’ fullest possibilities.

===============================================

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

CustomerCare@SuccessForTheSoul.com

or call 503-961-1228

Choose YOUR Reality! TM

Sonia

I’m very aware of how this can make people feel fearful, hopeless and even powerless?

In a hurry? Go to:
http://successforthesoul.com/escape-doom-and-gloom/

Some recent conversations have inspired me change the class topic I had planned for next week to address this very issue and offer support.

I’m very excited to announce my upcoming f.r.e.e. teleclass:

“Escape from the “Doom and Gloom” Trap!
How to See World Events as the Illusion They Are, Soothe Your Soul
When You’re Afraid, and Reclaim the Power You’ve Always Had!

In this content-rich class you will:

Connect with the TRUTH about Cause and Effect. (So many of us have it all wrong and this causes us to work really hard for meager results, at best.)
• Understand WHY there is suffering and challenge in the world and exactly how this serves you in accessing your infinite power!
• Uncover and correct myths and distortions about the Law of Attraction so as to move into a more consistent experience of fulfilling manifestation!
• Learn how to see “Reality” for the “Illusion” it really is and how to begin living in the power and freedom of TRUTH!
• Identify the REAL purpose for goals and how to use them in a way that truly works!
• Hear from seekers just like you, who’ve begun to lift the illusion of fear and limitation to experience their lives’ fullest possibilities.
• Walk away with at least 3 energy-shifting, result-producing tools to implement into your life immediately!

If you’re ready to move beyond having a few insights to experience a real break-through, this class is a must-attend!

To learn more or to register go to:
http://successforthesoul.com/escape-doom-and-gloom/

Hope you’ll join me!

Sonia

P.S. As usual, f.r.e.e. audios will be
available for those that register.

P.S.S. Door Prizes will be given to those
that attend LIVE (books, home study programs,
laser coaching sessions, etc.!)

P.S.S. And if you’d like a dose of
inspiration. Read below to hear about a seeker,
just like you, who tapped into HER power to
live ABOVE AND BEYOND what “reality” said
was possible!

Check it out!  Here’s “The Attraction Distraction” with her Swedish and Polish sisters!  And Czechoslovakia is on the way – fun or what!!!?

And even more fun, I got an email from a seeker in Denmark who just read the book in her own language… she liked it, found it compelling, AND asked a question I get asked a lot…

What about karma?  What about destiny?  What about soul contracts?  In other words, who or what is REALLY in charge when it comes to manifesting?

I thought I’d insert a bit around this conversation here, because I’ve been getting these kinds of questions for a long time, but even more since I started to share “My Story” about all the adversity I’ve been navigating in my own life.

There is much to say on the topic, but I’ll make two short points and we can go deeper in the posts that follow…

1) We are multi-dimensional beings and we operate from multiple levels of consciousness. 

2) Manifestation can be Magical AND it can be Messy!

These are advanced manifestation concepts which I’m talking and teaching a lot about these days.

To begin exploring some of these ideas feel free to sign up for the free summer series I’m wrapping up this month entitled: “Beyond the Law of Attraction: How to Let God Work Through You!”

When you register you’ll have access to the audio from the first three Live calls.  And we have one more coming up this month if you’d like a shot at getting YOUR questions answered.  My gift to you, but you must register so we can get you the audios and updates.

Go to: http://www.successforthesoul.com/beyond-loa 

Choose YOUR Reality! TM

Sonia

P.S.  Also, here’s a sneak preview.  I’ll be launching the Manifestation Mastery Circle this fall – a year-long group coaching program limited to 30 people.  This is the next evolution BEYOND the Beyond the LOA tele-series.  Stay tuned!  (And if you really want to make sure to get the latest breaking news sign up at: http://www.successforthesoul.com/beyond-loa – you’ll be among the first to know the scoop!

On this call I talked about how easy it is to let the world tell us what is possible.  People, circumstances, the media all tell us how it is… and what do we do?  WE AGREE.  Consciously or not, most of us simply agree, and allow ourselves to experience only what we can imagine.

The Law of Attraction is great and all, but let’s face it, all the “stuff” you seek to manifest, you do so for one reason:  because of how you “think” that stuff will make you feel.  Even if you DO manifest the stuff, and it makes you feel good, how long does the feeling last?

The truth is that eventually, you are faced with the opportunity to look BEYOND the stuff you want to manifest to the TRUTH of what you seek: Your Self.  The TRUTH of your SELF.  The TRUTH of who you really are.  And who you really are is BEYOND the you you see in the mirror.  It is the you that you sit with in the stillness, when there is no “stuff” to entertain you, distract you, or scare you.

Today was a rough day for me.  It was a day where I had to deal with lawyers and phone calls and emails and decisions around a legal dispute and my divorce.  Frankly, I got overwhelmed.  The “stuff of life” was looming big and scary.  My mind went on overdrive.  So, I called a bunch of friends till I reached one live.  Vented, cried and calmed down.

Then, when the kids went to bed, I sat in stillness.  Om Namah Shivayah. 

Came back to myself.

Went on the computer and guess what I found?  A prayer from Teresa of Avila, the mystic nun Carolyn Myss speaks of often.  For now, it is my new favorite prayer:

“Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him/her who possesses God.
God alone suffices.”

… Did you catch that?  “Nothing is wanting to him/her who possesses God.” 

When we focus on the Divine.  Think about the Divine.  Contemplate the Divine.  Declare our willingness to know the Divine… we commune with the Divine.  We remember our Oneness.  And when we do, ALL blessings can then grace our life.  Why?  Because the Law of Attraction makes it so.  Where our attention goes, the energy flows.  The Divine is Infinite LOVE, well-being, power, freedom and abundance…  When we look beyond the “stuff” to the true Source of all we desire, we ALLOW ourselves to remember and experience our oneness with ALL of it. 

Choose YOUR Reality! TM

Sonia

This is a very personal message from me to you, which I truly hope
you’ll take the time to read. It has turned out to be a bit long. I
hope you’ll print it out and read it over a cup of coffee or tea.
It seems that I’ve written this type of letter to you several times
in the past year and a half. The kind of letter that goes something
like… “Sorry I’ve been absent for a while, this is what’s been
happening, and… I’m back!” Well, for someone like me who has
identified a bit with herself on being the “pillar of strength” and
the “dependable one”, this recurring phenomenon has been a bit
frustrating to say the least.

And yet… now that I’ve been on this path where my only choice has
been to SURRENDER, ACCEPT, and ADAPT long enough to see a
bigger picture emerging, I’m here today to tell you that I have a
message for you. And that message is coming to you through the
experience of my life.

Before I get into the message, I’d like to give you some background
so that the message makes sense.

Anyone who has read my book or done any work through Success for
the Soul knows that I’ve prided myself on not only being able to
make my own dreams come true – big giant life dreams – but that I’m
pretty darn good at helping others make their dreams come true. And
the truth is that none of that has changed. Since 2002 my soul-mate
husband and I manifested an amazing life in wine-country Oregon, we
had two beautiful children after struggling with infertility, and I’d written
and published my dream book, which became a best-seller… to name
a few.

SIMULTANEOUSLY, life was presenting me with tremendous personal
challenges: In 2005 my mother had been diagnosed with lung cancer
and I became her primary caregiver for four years until she passed in
May of 2009. As I looked forward to healing and reclaiming my life,
extenuating circumstances triggered a series of “earthquakes” that
affected our sense of security and safety regarding our home life
(which, among other things included the joys of a legal dispute), and
most recently, in the wee hours of Easter Sunday morning, I discovered
that my marriage was ending, in a most shocking, unexpected and
painful way (by divorce not death).

At a time when my life’s work was taking off like a rocket, as Source
Energy was supporting me in reaching an international audience, as
new and improved coaching programs were coming on line… my
personal world was turned upside down.

As all spiritual beings living a human experience I had to give myself
the space to process the shock and pain. I was living a paradox…
part of me wanted the space and permission to make it all about
ME… to curl up into a fetal position, hide under the blankets and
disappear for a few months. While the grown-up part of me knew I
had to be strong for my children. I had clients who had entrusted
their hopes and dreams with me. I had financial responsibilities to
honor. I simply didn’t have the luxury to “go away”.

So, what did I do? I did what I’ve been doing, what I’ve been
teaching, and what I’ve been practicing for all these years. I turned
to Source. I turned to God. But I did it in a way and to a depth I’ve
never gone before. I turned it ALL over, really and truly ALL to God.
Every day. Every minute. Every care. Every question. Every decision.
Every concern. I turned over my need to know. My addiction t o
reasoning. My love of control. My desire for order. I turned over my
fears. My worry about the children. I turned over my business. My
clients. My finances. I turned over difficult conversations I needed
to have. It turned over my physical health and well-being.

I THOUGHT I had let God live my life for me and through me before.
But like this? Never.

With all of my God time, some things became clear very quickly.

Firstly, I KNEW WHY this was happening…

I HAD ASKED FOR IT.

You’re thinking to yourself WHAT?! How could you have possibly
asked for this? Well, this sort of thing happens ALL the time. We
set goals and intentions. We ask the Universe for change. But when
things DO change, we forget we asked for it! Not only that, but we
don’t like HOW the change is unfolding. We ask God for help, but
try to tell God how to do her job. (And don’t even THINK about
trusting God!)

As for me, what happened is that back in 2009 I had declared to the
Universe, “I want to KNOW that God is my Source. My ONLY. My
EVERY. My ALL! I want to get it at a cellular level, so that I no
longer have to try to convince myself of this. I want to move BEYOND
intellectual understanding to deep, spiritual KNOWING.”

So, what happened? I manifested the exact experiences I needed to
have no choice, but to turn to God for everything. Every external
structure in my life that I used to count on to feel safe and secure
was stripped away. With my mother’s illness, my freedom (my
ability to live life on my terms) was confiscated. When my home
life crumbled into a chaotic mess of conflict, threat, and
abandonment… the illusion that safety and security come through
external comforts vanished. And when my marriage ended, my
“religion of relationship”, and my earthly identity burned away to
ashes.

As a result, I was left with nothing but my relationship with and
trust in God. I knew I could be strong and loving for my children,
because there is just something super-human that gets activated
when a woman becomes a mother. But I had no idea how I could
possibly be present and helpful to my clients, let alone get
through each day. And yet, I had to. So, before each client
session, before each class, and before each Q&A session, I’d turn
everything over to God. I would say, “Okay God. The life-coach
formerly known as Sonia is no longer here. Work through me so
that I may serve this person in the highest way.”

I did this for EVERY single professional interaction and exchange,
and what happened was quite astounding. Not only would amazing
wisdom come through and my clients felt served, but I felt better.
Letting God work through me, FOR another, uplifted me. Of course I
alw ays knew about this phenomenon. But to experience it when it
took everything I had just to answer the telephone… this was a
whole new level.

And then… the feedback started coming in.

“Sonia, I don’t know what’s happened to you, but something is
different. I’ve never heard or felt you be so powerful.”

“Sonia, I got off the phone the other day crying, and I knew that I
had to have you as my coach for the rest of my life.”

And then… I started letting my clients know what had happened in
my life and the feedback continued.

“Sonia, I have no idea how, but what you’re bringing is more
inspiring, confident and clearer than I’ve ever heard from you.”

My response was always the same: I’m letting God work through me,
because there is nothing of “me” left.

Which brings me to why I’m writing this letter to you today:

As a result of this unfolding in my life, my work is changing. I
don’t know where it is going for sure, or for how long it will be
this way, but I’m clear about what I need to do right now. I
haven’t written an ezine or a blog post in two or more months.
Instead I’m being guided away from writing toward staying
connected with all of you in a more interactive, intimate way.
So… for a while, instead of providing my Soul Food electronic
newsletter as my primary way of offering tips, tools, inspiration
and information, I will be facilitating a Free LIVE Q&A Forum call
twice a month. This tele-conference series is called:

Beyond the Law of Attraction: How to Let God Work Through You

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

What will happen on the calls?
The calls will be up to 60 minutes in length. I will begin by
delivering whatever inspired message seems to be coming through
at the time. (There’s a lot of that happening these days.) And then
I’ll open the lines up for Q&A. Anyone on the call can ask any
questions they have about personal success, healing,
transformation, manifestation, navigating the illusion that is our
physical experience here on earth, the law of attraction, letting
God work through you… things like that. My intention is and always
will be to answer questions and support those that are called to be
there in the highest way, as guided by Source.

Who Are These Calls For?

These Live Forums are for YOU, if…

• You feel a calling to something deeper or bigger in yourself or
  your life, but don’t know what that is or how to connect with it.
• You feel in your soul that life is about much more than
  “manifesting things” in your life.
• You read “My Story” about the unfolding experiences of my
  life in the past year-and-a-half and feel like you need to know
  more… (or my story resonates for you).
• You would like a chance to receive live support from me as a
  gift.
• You would like to connect with like-minded and like-hearted
  seekers.
• You’re curious.
• You feel that you’re supposed to be there.

What if I can’t make the times?
The calls will be recorded. Simply register by visiting the link
below. This will automatically place you on the email list which
we’ll use to send you the recordings when they are available. 
There is no obligation of any kind associated with registering. 
You’ll simply be on the mailing list which will update you
regarding the dates, times, telephone numbers and pass-
codes you’ll need to get on the call.

The first call is scheduled for Thursday, June 24th at 1:00pm
PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.  A tentative call schedule for future
dates will go out as soon as possible.

Please join us for “BEYOND the Law of Attraction: How to Let God
Work Through You”, by registering at:
http://www.successforthesoul.com/beyond-loa/

How long will this series last?  Will the audios be available later?
I have no idea.  This is an entirely new way of working for me.  I
hope you’ll join me in this glorious adventure!

What if I have other questions?
Please click on the link below for the full scoop. If you have
additional questions, my admin team would be very happy to help
you!

Email:  CustomerCare@SuccessfortheSoul.com
Phone: 503-961-1228

I hope you’ll join me and the like-minded seekers that you are
meant to connect with through this experience.

Beyond the Law of At traction: How to Let God Work Through You

Choose YOUR Reality! TM
Sonia : )

Woo Hoo!  Happy New Year!  Drum roll, please…………

The Ultimate Manifestation

Tele-Series !

Dear Energy-Minded Individuals, Manifestation Students,
Spiritual Seekers, Law of Attraction Devotees, and Fans of
“The Secret”…

Do You Long to Shift from Wanting and Wishing
to Actually LIVING and HAVING
the Life You Desire?

3 F.R.E.E. Powerful Tele-Classes Show You How!

Do any of these scenarios sound or feel familiar… maybe too familiar?

• You can see your dreams. Taste them, smell them, feel them…, but no matter how close they seem, they still remain just out of reach…
• You wonder why dreams come true for other people, but not for you…
• You’ve been an A+ student of all things metaphysical. You do your visualizations, affirmations, collages, and read all the Law of Attraction books, but still NO RESULTS…
• You know exactly what you want, and are more than willing to do the work, but just don’t know where to begin… (or maybe feel too overwhelmed)
• You’ve successfully manifested certain “easier” dreams, but the big, closest-to-your-heart dreams still elude you…
• You are still searching, longing, and yearning for that “special missing puzzle piece” that will finally turn everything you’ve worked for into reality…

If any of these experiences are familiar to you, you are not alone, and there ARE solutions that make ALL the difference!

CLICK BELOW

www.UltimateManifestClass.com