Ever since the movie The Secret made an age-old spiritual principle that “you sow what you reap” famous and glamorous, people have certainly been more aware of the power of their thoughts. However, I’ve also noticed something interesting about how some people have interpreted this law.

People can sit back and wait for the law of attraction to bring the wealth,
abundance, business deals, financial prosperity, and relationships into their lives as if it was going to drop down like manna from heaven. Have you been waiting for the law of attraction to manifest amazing things in your life? Have you hoped that you could create the life of your dreams without any work? Have you heard people say that they “are wanting” something and then expect to get it in the next Fedex delivery?

I have often commented that every person I watched in The Secret has a very active and busy life. Bob Proctor, despite his advancing age, is still a going concern. Michael Beckwith runs a very busy Agape Center. Some of the less known participants have traveled the country, speaking to groups and writing books. I don’t see them sitting back and waiting for the good things to fall into their lap.

One of the Bible texts around faith I certainly had drilled into me as a child says, “faith without works is dead”. So does that mean we actually have to work for what we want? Yes, I believe it does! There isn’t a farmer out there who just dreams, thinks or prays about harvesting a crop. He needs to buy the seed, plow the field, plant the seed, water the ground, weed the field and then harvest the crop. There is nothing laid back or apathetic about the activity of a farmer.

As we near the end of 2008, it is critical to lay the groundwork for 2009. What do you want? Watch what you say. If you say, “well, I sure don’t want more of the problems, hassles, stresses, frustrations, or headaches I just had,” you are putting out to the Universe exactly what you will get…problems, hassles, stresses, frustrations and headaches.

Be clear on this. Be specific in identifying your wants. For example, you may
say: “I really want financial freedom which means” …and then clearly state what you want in terms of financial freedom. That could be that you have more leveraged income than expenses every month. Otherwise, financial freedom is ambiguous. And for anyone reading this newsletter, you are in such a privileged and elite place in the world, the Universe can look down and think: “they are financially free!” Compared to most of the world, you probably are.

So what do you want? Many people were never taught to decide what they really wanted. Parents let us make choices between having a red lollipop or a blue one, between reading one book or another, but when it came to something big, usually those decisions were made for us. They also made sure to remind us of our limitations (or more truthfully their limitations) if we started dreaming too big or got too carried away with our list of wants. Consequently, many of us were actually trained to think “small”, not prioritize our real desires and to minimize our dreams and goals.

If there is one thing that I encourage you to get clear on for 2009 is what you really want. I recently heard someone say that they had never shared their dream with anyone before they attended a certain workshop. How sad! We need to have “dream parties” where we share our goals, dreams and aspirations and get supported in them rather than shut down or ignored. Share your dream with someone over the holidays and just watch how you feel inside at a soul level when you speak about it. It´s time to state your faith boldly and clearly. What are you waiting for?

I know that I want to travel the world. I would hate to die without having seen the pyramids, visited Machu Pichu or taken cooking classes in Tuscany. Most of my list of things to do before I die are countries and places I want to visit. Greg and I constantly talk about spending time in Bali, in Egypt, at Stonehenge and in Brazil and that´s just the start. It fuels our desires and motivates us to do whatever it takes to realize our dreams.

If you have shut down your dreams – that could be one of the reasons you are apathetic or lethargic about making your dreams come true. So start talking about those dreams because those are “God-driven” and “God-given” dreams. Remember, you are in partnership with the Universe. But you need to do your part! You are 50% of the equation.

I have never met anyone who had life handed to them on a silver platter. No
one. I haven’t met anyone who got everything they wanted through thought,
prayer or wishful thinking. Everyone I know who is successful has been focused on what they want and then they went after it. When I have a goal in mind, like I did when I moved to Mexico a year ago, I become like a pit bull with lockjaw! Forty days and I sold everything, organized my life and was on the plane, never to look back.

What about you? If 2008 didn’t deliver what you wanted, then go get it yourself! My Mom used to say to me when I got too demanding as a youngster, “what happened to your slave last week. Did she die of exhaustion?” It was her way of saying, “get off your own butt Jan and stop relying on me to make your life easier!” Mom was right. I needed to take responsibility for what I wanted. My faith needed to be accompanied by “works”.

So my end of the year wish for you is that you take charge of your life and make it happen. I’m sure you have a dream or two you would love to see come true for you. Remember, you sow what you reap and that means taking action, probably lots of it!

Here’s to the best of 2009!

Blessings,