Celebrate When Things Get Crappy?

I find myself saying this A LOT lately to clients and the like, so I suppose it bears mentioning here on the blog.

I'm inviting you to celebrate when things get crappy.

Huh?

OK, if celebrating is a stretch, at least stop fretting. And I'll tell you why the crappiness is actually a good thing.

In my experience, for those of us who are "on the path," whenever we come up against something particularly tough (i.e., something crappy), we are likely about to push through it to experience a MAJOR breakthrough.

Case in point:

A huge, unprompted argument with your spouse or partner (i.e., one that seems to come 'out of the blue') can often mean the two of you are about to enter the next level of your relationship. So the breakdown is actually an opportunity to break through something, and achieve something magnificent.

If your business is going along OK and all of a sudden, the proverbial you-know-what seems to hit the fan, it's likely time to grow. Either you, or the business, or both.

And whenever my clients start relating stories about things that are suddenly going very, very awry, I smile just a tiny bit, because I know we are onto something HUGE.

Personal example:

Last night, I cried myself to sleep. I won't bore you with the details and perceptions that prefaced it, just suffice to say that I was in an oh-so-crappy place myself.

I poured out all the unspoken words (most of which started with "I hate..." and what I wrote even shocked ME) onto the pages of my journal. When there was nothing left to write, I rolled over, turned out the light, and intended sleep to come. But first I had a little conversation with God. Who in this particular scenario, showed up as "the moon."

The moon comforted me, and offered to take my burdens. I finally gave them up. "I'm sick of this crap. Here, take it!" and I dumped it all on her.

And I instantly felt better, and was asleep within minutes.

Slept like a rock until morning. At which point I woke up feeling at least a million times better.

Got up and after getting Sally ready for school, I went straight into my first client appointment of the day -- an early one at 8AM. When that ended, I checked my email and was delighted to find an in-box PACKED with compliments, requests for one-on-one coaching and clearing, and people who for some reason or another were excited and couldn't wait to connect with me.

My 8AM client re-upped for another coaching package with me. Money and opportunities came in all day long. A friend called from the UK with an invitation that, if I accept, will lead to massive, massive exposure for my message. And all it will cost me in return is one hour per month, just me, sharing my gift with the planet, across a telephone line.

This afternoon, I had an absolutely extraordinary session with one of my own coaches, and together we unlocked the final barrier in a long and arduous process of clearing all my issues related to....well, suffice to say it's something I've been working on since JANUARY. An eternity for me, little miss lightning-fast. So you know it's big. MASSIVE.

And besides all of that, my husband and I managed to have one of the most powerful, breakthrough conversations of our 12-year marriage so far.

And all this is magnificent, wonderful, spectacular. But do you know what impresses me the MOST about all of this?

I am leaving town tomorrow for Austin, Texas. We travel a lot, and we love traveling, but I am always a basket case the day before leaving town. I overschedule myself, forget things until the last minute, and always seem to be up until 1 or 2 in the morning the night before, tying up loose ends before I leave town.

Not today.

Today I had a massage, I went to Pilates, I conducted a few coaching sessions with one-on-one clients, I worked a tad, I spent time with my family, I got coaching and clearing from one of MY coaches, and it's not even dinner time and I'm already packed.

In fact, I'm SO caught up, I'm thinking I might not even bring my laptop on this weekend.

After all, I'm leading a transformational spiritual weekend. I won't really need it.

Is this really ME saying this? Yes, that's how new and bizarre this really feels.

Like I said, impressive.

So the next time something in life gets crappy and it seems totally unexpected and inexplicable...just remember -- you are probably on the verge of a MAJOR breakthrough.

and you just need to power through some resistence to get there.

Trust me, you'll be glad you did. I'll be back in town and online Monday.

Is This the Best Compliment I've Gotten All Week?

I just finished being a guest expert on Kristen Moeller's "What Are You Waiting For?" radio show, and someone wrote in and gave me the best compliment I've gotten all week.

He said:

"I've got an inkling that this chick isn't actually trying to sell us anything"

Woo-hoo!!!

It's so true....I'm delighted if you buy, and neutral if you don't. If I can impact your life in a profound way, that's really all I care about. You can listen to the recording of the audio here:

Listen to Amy...Who isn't selling you anything.

Kristen's book "Waiting for Jack" will be out soon....I personally can't wait to read it.

Truth Testing: How to Use a Pendulum Part 3

Here is Part 3 of my Truth Testing video series on How to Use a Pendulum.

In this installment, I explain how to ask multiple choice questions using a pendulum.





Stay tuned for Part 4, where I'll talk about bias...can you influence a truth testing method? Of course you can! But you want to be sure you're not biasing the answer one way or another, otherwise, what's the point?

I look forward to reading your comments! And if you love this video, feel free to find it on YouTube and rate it 5 stars, post a comment, or subscribe to my videos on YouTube.

Amy Scott Grant Featured on BlogTalkRadio

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008

For more information, contact:
Amy Scott Grant
Co-Creator, Free the Power in You
success @ newsuccess.org

Are You Struggling More Than Necessary?

Whether you perceive this as good news or bad news, the simple fact is: You are more than likely struggling far more than necessary. This Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8PM Eastern time, Nan Akasha and Amy Scott Grant will appear as guest experts on the “Follow Your Bliss!” show on BlogTalkRadio.com. Grant and Akasha are teaming up to present a new teleclass called "Ego Power: Synergize Your Inner Team to Create with Ease and Velocity" with an exclusive pre-debut preview call on September 25, 2008.

In the realm of personal development, many experts in the field have explained methods for working against the tendencies of the ego, including methods such as ignoring, overriding, overcompensating, and counterbalancing with positive self-talk.

According to Nan Akasha and Amy Scott Grant, those methods are old, outdated and “too much work.”

Akasha and Grant propose a refreshingly unique and remarkably powerful approach to what other new thought teachers dub “the cursed Ego.”

“The ego is your greatest ally,” explains Nan Akasha. “Your ego has an unwavering commitment to your well-being and safety, but the ego is misunderstood by most. In fact, it seems as though only a few people on the planet have learned to negotiate their desires with their egos, to create a win-win situation that leads to massive results and total harmony. When you can dissolve struggle, you can clearly feel what you want and move into it. No one else is teaching anything like this – it’s truly cutting edge.”

The cutting edge is where Grant and Akasha seem to spend most of their planning time. The duo’s recent “Spirit of Money” teleclass series was attended by countless individuals across the globe, and participants continue to rave about their remarkable experiences.

The synergy of Grant and Akasha intuitively taps into the essence of life, clearing obstacles and challenges. Amy Scott Grant regularly hosts an internet broadcast called “Messages from God,” during which she receives channeled information directly from Source, and Nan Akasha has been tuning in to Divine communication and coaching from source including conducting intuitive healing work for more than two decades.

“The ego is grossly misunderstood, and it gets a bad rap,” remarks Amy Scott Grant. “We’ve spent far too much time and energy trying to master, dominate or manipulate it, and it just doesn’t work. This is a radically new approach, and the results are shockingly good.” Grant adds with a mischievous grin, “Besides which, our way is much more fun.”

Amy Scott Grant and Nan Akasha will appear on BlogTalkRadio.com this Wednesday at 8PM Eastern. Tune in by visiting this link.

Grant and Akasha are hosting a free preview call (regular long distance charges apply) on Thursday, September 25, 2008, at 8PM Eastern. Admission to the preview call is free, but registration is required by visiting this site: FreeThePowerInYou.com

The five-week “Ego Power” teleclass led by Amy Scott Grant and Nan Akasha begins October 9, 2008 and continues through November 6, 2008. Registration for the live course will be available immediately following the September 25th preview call.

###

Is Your Ego a Friend or Foe?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Is Your Ego a Friend or Foe?

What if your greatest personal asset is actually disguised as the most irritating aspect of your personality? Amy Scott Grant and Nan Akasha propose just such a possibility, presenting a refreshingly unique and remarkably powerful approach to what other new thought teachers dub “the cursed Ego.” Grant and Akasha are teaming up to present a new teleclass called "Ego Power: Synergize Your Inner Team to Create with Ease and Velocity" with an exclusive pre-debut preview call on September 25, 2008.

“The ego is your greatest ally,” explains Nan Akasha. “Your ego has an unwavering commitment to your well-being and safety, but the ego is misunderstood by most. In fact, it seems as though only a few people on the planet have learned to negotiate their desires with their egos, to create a win-win situation that leads to massive results and total harmony. When you can dissolve struggle, you can clearly feel what you want and move into it. No one else is teaching anything like this – it’s truly cutting edge.”

The cutting edge is where Grant and Akasha seem to spend most of their planning time. Their “Spirit of Money” teleclass series was attended by countless individuals across the globe, and participants continue to rave about their remarkable experiences.

“I believe it has changed my life,” says teleclass participant and real estate investor Michele Ashton Dysert. “Since beginning the class I filled two of my properties with great tenant buyers, sold a property for a profit of $35K and getting ready to close on another sale for a profit for of $25K.”

The duo of Grant and Akasha are known for their ability to intuitively tap into the essence of life, clearing obstacles and challenges. Amy Scott Grant regularly hosts an internet broadcast called “Messages from God,” during which she receives channeled information directly from Source, and Nan Akasha has been tuning in to Divine communication and coaching from source including conducting intuitive healing work for more than two decades.

“The ego is grossly misunderstood, and it gets a bad rap,” remarks Amy Scott Grant. “We’ve spent far too much time and energy trying to master, dominate or manipulate it, and it just doesn’t work. This is a radically new approach, and the results are shockingly good.” Grant then adds with a mischievous grin, “Besides which, our way is much more fun.”

Amy Scott Grant and Nan Akasha are hosting a free preview call (regular long distance charges apply) on Thursday, September 25, 2008, at 8PM Eastern. Admission to the preview call is free, but registration is required by visiting this site: http://FreeThePowerInYou.com

The five-week “Ego Power” teleclass led by Amy Scott Grant and Nan Akasha begins October 9, 2008 and continues through November 6, 2008. Registration for the live course will be available immediately following the September 25th preview call.

Truth Testing: How to Use a Pendulum Part 2

OK, here is the 2nd installment in my series on Truth Testing Methods.

In this installment, I'll explain the best way to phrase your question when using a pendulum (or ANY of the truth testing methods) -- remember, the answers you get are only as good as the questions you ask! So it pays to know the most optimal way to phrase your question in order to get an accurate answer.

Here's the video...I look forward to hearing from you! And you can post your questions here.





Watch for part 3 coming soon.... (how to ask multiple choice questions using a pendulum)

Have You Created a Mind Movie Yet?

Everywhere I turn, people are talking about Mind Movies. I had never heard of the concept until a couple of months ago, when a colleague asked me if I wanted to participate in a huge upcoming launch.

Naturally, I said I would need to try out the product before I would promote it.

I was kind of skeptical, since it was created by some guy in Australia I've never heard of.

But I was delightfully surprised when I received the product and used it to create this professional-looking, totally custom mind movie, in less than 4 hours.

Here's my first stab at a Mind Movie. Amy Scott Grant's Mind Movie

IF you go into YouTube and do a search on "Mind Movie" you will find more than 320,000 results!! That's how many folks have already created THEIR own totally customized Mind Movie.

I don't have to tell you how powerful this manifesting tool can be -- if you viewed mine (or any of the other 320,000+ ones out there), you can see it for yourself.

Are you ready to create yours?

Get the Mind Movie Creation Kit now.

Enjoy! (And be forwarned...making these movies is somewhat addictive!!)

It's Not a Secret Anymore

I don't know about you, but I'm growing more than a little bit tired of seeing sales pages everywhere I turn online touting the "secret" to this or the "secret" to that.

For those of us who saw the movie "The Secret" more than 5 minutes ago, these tactics just aren't working.

Are they?

Are you buying products online just because they promise this secret or that secret? I personally am sick and tired of home based business sites with flashy headlines and splashy graphics, self-appointed self-help gurus who are broke and unhappy and a zillion other things I don't need cluttering up my brain space.

I'm done with "old school" marketing tactics.

From now on, you'll only see MY stuff marketed under the "truth in advertising" principle.

I'll tell you what I'm offering, tell you why you can benefit from having it, tell you what other people who already have it think about it, and why I think you need it.

And then it will be up to you to truth test to see if it's optimal for you to buy it.

How's that for personal responsibility?

I won't be coaxing or coercing you into anything.

Truth be told, most times, you already know if you're gonna buy from me BEFORE you even GET to the sales page.

How's that for vibrational marketing?

You won't find any manipulation from me, no matter what the so-called internet marketing gurus are telling me I should do to sell more stuff.

If I say the price is going up in a week, you can bet your boots it'll go up in a week.

If I say there are only 17 copies remaining, then that's what's left and when it's gone it's gone.

OK, don't go dredging up OLD sites of mine, pointing out the obvious old-school internet marketing tactics. I've got a FULL plate of new and very cool things I'm cooking up for you, and I don't see the point in wasting time going BACK through stuff I've already put out there and promoted.

Besides, I know how you think. You're like me -- you want TODAY'S special, whatever is cutting-edge, no-- bleeding edge, and you want the latest and greatest, not yesterday's news. So more than likely, you won't even go through that old stuff, unless I decide to re-market it (at which point, I would likely revamp the marketing strategy).

Why am I doing this?

Because the internet is already far too cluttered with websites from folks who attended one internet marketing workshop and think they can manipulate or mentally muscle people into buying.

and I'm all about authenticity.

I'm all about standing OUT from the crowd.

I'm all about sharing the Truth, as I see it. And that's why I'm teaching you how to ascertain Truth for yourself, so you won't have to be force-fed garbage any longer.

As always, I invite your comments, even if they don't agree with my personal opinion.

And that's the Truth. (at least for me).

Truth Testing: How to Use a Pendulum and Access Your Highest Self

Ever felt like you needed guidance in making major decisions (or even minor ones)?

Ever wondered if someone was telling you the truth?

Ever looked at a website, considered buying a product, and wondered if it would REALLY work for you?

Well, stop wondering and start checking. In a new (and FREE, I might add) video series, I'll be showing you exactly how to use any or all of three Truth Testing methods to help you access information from your Highest Self, and make your life a whole lot easier.

Here's the first video:







I look forward to reading your comments. Yep, it's posted on YouTube too, and on my Facebook site.

How to Talk to Your Ego...And Get It To Do Whatever You Want

I absolutely love the work I do, because I just never know where it will lead me. And lately, it's been getting pretty trippy. In a really, really cool way.

I've been having conversations with people's egos. (Including my own.)


Talking to someone's ego is kind of like talking to an abused child, or to a teenager, or to a homeless guy.

They don't trust you, and they're not interested in making small talk. Friendship is not really an option.

But then again, I'm not trying to befriend anyone's ego. It's all about negotiation and partnership. Creating a win-win scenario.

Why would you want to create a partnership with your ego? Here's a few reasons:

1. You get access to deep insights that you wouldn't otherwise have access to

2. Harmony within. You can create a partnership with your ego, instead of trying to make it go away (which it never will anyway) It's kind of like, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

3. Greater access to clearings. Just think how many kingpin beliefs you can uncover when you can pump your greatest spy for information?

4. Power. Your ego is exceptionally powerful, and just imagine what you can do with that power working WITH you instead of AGAINST you.

5. Peace. When your ego gets heard, and its needs get met, it doesn't have to pound you over the head with life's lessons in order to get acknowledged. And the monkey chatter naturally quiets down from there.


It's a rather strange experience. For starters, you kind of step aside and let your ego talk --- which means you have no idea what will come out of your mouth until it comes out. And you might be surprised by your tone, which could sound mean, curt, wounded, or anything else that may shock you.

I think when someone else talks to your ego through you, it must be a little like what it feels like to channel....you're sitting there, physically participating in a conversation that you are clearly NOT a part of.

Told you it was trippy stuff. But VERY cool

OK, let's understand a bit more before I show you HOW to talk to your ego.

Consider that the source of all resistance occurs when what your Higher Self (God) is guiding you to is NOT in alignment with what your ego wants and needs.

So if you're like most people, you're trying to appease both. But then nobody wins. You do a little of what your higher self wants, but not full-out because your ego won't let you. Or you go along with what your ego wants, all the while feeling that nudge from your higher self about your highest good and the neglect of your life's work.

If you try to ignore the ego and do what your highest self is guiding you towards, it's an uphill climb. Your ego will create all kinds of crazy situations and drama to hold you back.

If you try to ignore your higher self and do what your ego wants, you'll be safe but miserable. Lonely. Unfulfilled. Dissatisfied. Longing.

So what's the answer?

Shift what your ego believes, to bring it into alignment with what your highest self wants for you.

So easy! So remarkable! So fun!

Usually when you can't clear a belief, it's because your ego won't let go, and that's usually because it's an identity belief, or a belief about who you know yourself to be.

And your ego thinks it IS your identity, so it doesn't want you clearing anything that might make your identity get smaller or disappear completely.

This is the ego's greatest fear.

Now, when you understand what the ego is and how it serves you, you're in a better place to talk to it, and to begin negotiations.


Your ego's main goal is to serve you by protecting you. It takes the identity beliefs, and your entire network of beliefs and uses that as a framework for decision-making and risk assessment.

Your ego wants to keep you from getting hurt, looking stupid, and repeating mistakes. And it is DEAD-SET SERIOUS about its job. We're talking 100% commitment, 24/7, no matter what.

When you understand that, you can begin to step into its shoes and understand where it's coming from. Mutual respect goes a long way when dealing with the ego. Your ego loves you, 100%, even when it feels like tough love, it's still unconditional love. It will protect you at all costs.

So here's the nuts and bolts of how to do an ego conversation:

1. Ask permission. If you remember that your ego has its own agenda, this rule will be easy to remember. After all, you wouldn't walk into your boss' office and just start listing all the reasons why you deserve a raise -- you'd ask if THIS is a good time to talk (might sound like "can we talk?" or "got a few minutes to chat with me?"). This is no different. Essential in ego negotiations.

2. Let the ego know that YOU know it doesn’t trust you. It's outrageously skeptical (that's it's job) and it's thinking it anyway, so you might as well acknowlege it so it doesn't have to sit there and wait for "the catch" the whole time you're talking.

3. Find out what it wants. This will vary for each person and each ego. Some egos want to have fun, others want to be stoic about the job they do, others want to know that they're not hurting you, others want to not work as hard, etc. This is where some good probing questions are helpful. And don't expect your ego to be chatty -- one- or two-word answers are common until you get it talking a bit.

4. Negotiate a win-win outcome. I recommend that you go into the conversation knowing what YOU want. Then you can focus on what the ego wants, and what motivates the ego, and then you can create a win-win situation for you both.

5. Get the ego to commit (verbally, sign a contract, shake hands, pinkie swear, etc.) Remember, the ego is wiley and will do whatever it takes to fulfill its commitment of protecting you. Which means not actually agreeing to something it thinks is dangerous for you. So get it to agree, perhaps by saying, "So can I count on you to be on board with me?"

6. Be authentic and open throughout the conversation – I can't stress this enough, an ego can smell BS a mile away so keep it real. If things aren't going well, and you can't salvage it, just try to end on a good note and ask if you can pick up the conversation at a later time.

Ready to give it a try?

If you want to have me lead you through the experience of a conversation with your ego, visit my website http://AskAmyAnything.com and sign up for a single session. We'll not only talk to your ego, we'll create a partnership that serves you both, and we'll clear some of your most debilitating limiting beliefs -- some of which you may not even be consciously aware of at this moment! And once you experience me doing it with you once you will most likely be able to successfully do it on your own in the future. Well worth the one-time investment!

And if you do try it on your own, why not post your results here? Share with everyone -- these are truly profound experiences.

If you have a truly profound experience, feel free to buy me some crystals using the link below...I've got an upcoming trip planned to my favorite rock shop and would love to bless and think of you as I choose new treasures to come and live with me.

Within 24 Hours, I Had 200 Friends...

Addiction, thy name is Facebook.

For at least a year, I have ignored countless requests to join the social phenomenon called "Facebook."

And this week, I succumbed.

And the reason I caved is as silly (yet understandable) as Facebook itself.

My husband joined a few months ago and said "but honey, I can't add 'is married to...' until you sign up!"

And so it seemed like a harmless request. But little did I know...

within 24 hours, I had 200 friends and had spent about 12 hours on Facebook.
within 72 hours, I had nearly 300 friends and had spent slightly less time online (especially since Thursday was my workday so there was less time available for carousing around Facebook)

My friend Dana (along with my hubby) swears the addiction only lasts about 2 weeks.

We shall see. I will keep you posted.

On the upside, it is an absolute delight to connect with people I haven't seen or heard from in years. To hear what they are all up to, see pix of their adorable children, and remisce about old times -- now THIS is what Facebook is all about.

But I am glad the Olympics are nearly over -- between my new Facebook exploration and these late nights in front of the boob tube, I'm not getting nearly enough sleep!

(No wonder I haven't blogged in a few days, right?)

So if you haven't already, log into your Facebook account, do a search for "Amy Scott Grant" and add me as a friend.

Why not, I mean what else have you got to do? Sleep????

Truth about Trash Talk

Did I tell you I started playing racquetball with my husband Andy?

It's only been about 3 weeks now, but we're playing 2-3 times a week and I'm getting pretty good, if I do say so myself.


Andy still creams me every time, but the matches are getting closer, and he's definitely having to work for each win. And I usually win the 3rd or 4th game each time, because I know how to work him when he starts getting tired.

He typically wins because I have a major weak spot, and he knows how to exploit it on the serve. He also knows that my serve is getting better by leaps and bounds, and if he lets me serve, he'll probably lose. Ha! Fun times.

Anyway, what does all this have to do with success, you ask?

Excellent question.

I recently found out something about "trash talk" and I wanted to share it with you.

According to Wikipedia, "Trash-talk is a form of boast or insult commonly heard in competitive situations (such as sports events). It is often used to intimidate the opposition, but can also be used in a humorous spirit. Trash-talk is often characterized by hyperbolic, figurative language, e.g., "Your team can't run! You run like honey on ice!" Puns and other wordplay are commonly used."

I don't know about "honey on ice," but I've definitely slung a few zingers in my day. Mostly phrases like "Prepare to be annihilated" or "you're going DOWN!"

Then I read somewhere that "trash talk" lowers everyone's vibration.

Hmmm, that makes sense actually. It lowers the vibration of the person hearing it, because it's mean and degrading (even when done in a 'playful' or joking way, the ultimate vibration is meant to demean or weaken). And it lowers the vibration of the person saying it, because, well, honestly -- WTF?

If the trash talker were that good, their actions would speak for themselves. They wouldn't need to mouth off or play some kind of mind games to win.

Believe me, I know what it's like when you're losing by a lot, or you're on the verge. Most of us will exploit any angle we can to get the upper hand. I was using a nasty little trick on Andy when he was beating me but I was starting to catch up -- if he hurt a shoulder (usually by slamming into a wall to make a play!) right before he served, I'd ask "How's your shoulder?" I wanted to keep him in the space of thinking about how his shoulder hurt, instead of thinking about how to crush me on the serve.

Yeah, I know it's a low blow, but I hate to lose! Don't we all?

But then I found out this bit about trash talking lowering everyone's vibration. And I thought, wow -- it may be hurting his game a little bit, but it's hurting mine, too! And I thought about the way the greatest Beijing Olympians have been playing, and how the little bit of trash talk that was publicized seems to come back and bite the trash talker in the ass... So I thought, let's see what happens if I stop?

And you know what? My game improved by at least 35%. Holy crap! 35%! That's outrageous! I started playing better than ever. I didn't worry about Andy or how to mind-muck him up, I just focused on what I was doing, and focused on staying in the moment, staying in the game.

Sweeeeeeet.

And then I noticed that when I played like that, he didn't get pissed or frustrated when I had a good run. The whole vibration of the court was raised significantly -- we were even able to compliment each other on great plays -- even when those great plays meant we lost a serve or the other person scored a point. For sure, a much more fun way to play.

And besides, good sportsmanship is always in style.

Look at that classy move by Dara Torres the other day. What a great example of vibration-raising at its finest!



In case you missed it, Dara was about to race a heat but one of her competitors had torn her suit at the last minute and was going to attempt to change into a new suit. (And we're not talking about a bikini, right? It was one of those high-tech full-body suits)

So Dara walked over to the official and told her they should wait -- not a requirement by Olympic rules. And so they waited, and she appeared momentarily, and they raced. And even though Dara Torres had been all fired up -- concerned, quick to tell the official, surely adrenaline pumping -- she kicked ass in her race and finished FIRST! (The other girl didn't qualify, but at least she got to race, and won't spend the next 4 years wondering "what if")

It is likely that the other swimmer would have missed the race entirely if it wasn't for Dara's extreme compassion, consideration and magnificent display of sportsmanlike behavior. Now that's a winner in my book.


Like Dara herself said, "They may be my competitors in the pool, but they're my friends outside of the pool."

Amen to that. Hey -- my fiercest racquetball opponent is one I wake up with every morning. So in the long run, it pays to dump the trash talk and play nice, don't you think? (But that doesn't mean I won't beat him whenever I can!)

By One 100th of a Second...

We've been watching the Beijing Olympics every day since the Opening Ceremony and I gotta tell you, this 1/100th of a second thing is throwing me for a loop.

I mean, can you even fathom what 1/100th of a second is?

Let's put it into perspective, ok? What letter do you see here?

K

If you're slightly quicker than average, it took you about a HALF a second to recognize that letter as a "k." A half a second is 50/100ths of a second, which is about FIFTY TIMES greater than the difference between Michael Phelps' Gold Medal time in the 100m Butterfly yesterday, and Milorad Cavic's Silver Medal in the same race.

We're talking about quicker than the blink of an eye...now THAT is a close race!





And what exactly was the difference between these 2 athletes?

Arguably, you could say:

1. It was a tie, but Michael Phelps fingers are longer so technically he won
2. Michael Phelps gave that extra half a stroke while Milorad Cavic coasted in
3. It was just a race like any other race, and it happened to be on a day that "counted" and so people are making a big deal out of what isn't a big deal
4. Phelps wanted it more than Cavic

Personally, I'm leaning toward reason #4. Michael Phelps just wanted it more. You can literally feel the guy's drive and determination to hit his goal of 8 gold medals in a single Olympics -- he can't see anything else but that.

Even when his competitors start talking trash (Cavic was reported to have said "If I beat him, it will be good for him" prior to the race) it only fuels his fire.

So what's Michael Phelps' secret? Other than training 8-12 hours a day?

Well, for starters, he admitted how much he uses his imagination -- when other people told him it couldn't be done, or he needed to rethink his goals, he would visualize himself winning, achieving what other said was impossible.

Secondly, you could consider that he had little to no beliefs that said he COULDN'T do it. You know, those pesky limiting beliefs that try to convince you that you can't do what you want to do. Yeah, I'd wager Phelps had less than 50 of those coming into the games, and right now, he probably has 5 or less.

I am a firm believer that once you clear all the limiting beliefs that are blocking you (can show up like fears, old wounds, doubts, or simply beliefs about it), you can achieve absolutely anything.

Look at me -- after more than a decade of using every plan and method under the sun to lose weight (and succeeding a couple of times -- temporarily -- and only by the sweat of my brow or by severe restriction of my wants and needs), I decided to take a different approach.

This January, I started clearing truckloads of limiting beliefs around my body, weight, mass, sex appeal, being seen, and about 40 other topics that you wouldn't think were related to weight. And after months of digging and clearing and digging and clearing, finally, I struck gold.

I dug down to the major kingpins in my belief network, and man, they were NOT what I was expecting. And after clearing them, I am now easily and effortlessly reshaping my body. I'm not dieting, I'm not forcing myself to "exercise" and I'm not denying myself one damn thing. And in the past 3 weeks, I have reduced my overall body fat percentage by about 7.5%. Without denial or pain! or pills or surgery! I'm loving it.

And I'll tell you exactly how I did it, too! But more about that coming soon...

The point I'm making here is that if you clear the beliefs, and then take action, and NEVER give up -- just keep rocking until that last 1/100th of a second, you WILL prevail! You will emerge victorious.

Even last night -- I was at a networking event for a new local group that's forming in my town. Truth be told, I've never actually been to a networking group! But this was fun, and I decided I wanted to join. And they asked me to put my business card in the fishbowl, they were drawing for prizes.

"What kind of prizes, I asked?"

Turns out it was for t-shirts and other crap I don't want or need -- BUT they were also drawing for free memberships to the group. "Ah!" I thought. "Now I would like to win that!"

Later in the event, my husband asked if it was optimal for us to join. "I don't know about you," I said, "But I'm winning my membership."

Three names were drawn, and I was only slightly surprised when the third name was called and it wasn't mine. But I wasn't disappointed -- which means I wasn't attached.

And lo and behold, the 3rd person they called had already left, and you must be present to win, soooooooooooo can you guess what happened next?

They drew another card, and of course it was MINE. Congratulations to me.

See? A lot can happen in the last second (or 1/100th of a second). So the key is to stay focused on your intention and NEVER, NEVER give up.

Commitment, Thy Name Is Michael Phelps

My husband Andy and I are having a great time watching the Beijing Olympics this year. Thank goodness for TiVo!

Andy is an official Olympics junkie, and I would call myself an avid fan.

There's just something so inspiring about the level of commitment and dedication to perfection that these athletes have -- you'd have to be lacking a pulse to NOT be inspired by these amazing people and their captivating stories.

There are so many magnificent athletes in these games, but oh my goodness how can you not be impressed by the outrageous commitment of Michael Phelps? The guy is truly extraordinary, and I just love watching him win.

I was getting a massage this morning, and, being a talker, we tend to talk throughout. Today's topics was largely around the Olympics, and I thought I'd share this mini download I received.

There are essentially only 3 factors that separate Olympic champions from everyone else. Do you know what they are? If not, I'm gonna tell you, because it's a HUGE lesson in success to realize this.




1. Clearly defined goal.

Take Michael Phelps for example. He doesn't just have a goal of winning a gold medal...heck, he doesn't even have a goal of winning the MOST gold medals by a single athlete (done!) or the most gold medals in a single Olympics (nearly done!). He also has very specific goals for each event -- for example, a new world record (done! multiple times!) or what time he wants to beat. Did you see the butterfly swim where he won the gold and clearly looked disappointed? His goggles had filled with water, and he didn't hit the specific target he wanted to hit, so he was bummed about that. Are you getting the magnitude of this? The guy just won a GOLD MEDAL and was disappointed! Now that's an impressive commitment to a specific goal.

2. Absolute commitment.

Most of us can't possibly imagine living the kind of life these athletes live while training for the Olympics. Michael Phelps says he swims, eats and sleeps. Clearly, he's not exaggerating, because the guy is outperforming virtually every swimmer alive. Absolute commitment means doing whatever it takes, no matter what, for as long as it takes. Period. How often do "average" people give up when the going gets tough? It is only your commitment that allows you to focus unwaveringly on your clearly defined goal. Definitely not a skill the average person has mastered.

3. Complete ability to be in the moment when it counts.

I love watching Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh play beach volleyball. And I was asking myself WHY I loved watching them so much. I realized it's because they are so IN IT, every moment! Even when one of them makes a mistake or misses a shot, they high-five (low-five, usually) and offer encouraging words. And they almost never get into a slump, because they stay in the moment. When I walked on hot coals (about 1300 degrees, to be more specific), I remember the instructor telling us during prep time: you MUST stay focused on what you're doing! You cannot let your mind wander - that is how people get burned! These two gals have mastered the art of staying in the moment when it counts (e.g., during a game) and I would venture to say Michael Phelps and ALL Olympic champions have as well.




Can that really be it? Just 3 things separate YOU from the world's greatest Olympic athletes? (Not to mention, the most successful people in the world)

If that's true, that means there are only 3 things for YOU to do in order to accomplish ANYTHING:

1. Set a clearly defined goal
2. Make the absolute commitment
3. Stay in the moment when it counts

Now let's see what YOU can accomplish!

Empowered Women Speaker Series in Denver, CO

Just a quick update, if you're going to be in or around Denver, Colorado on September 9th, you might consider signing up to attend the Empowered Women Speaker Series.

I'll personally be speaking in the late morning, and I've seen the lineup for that day and it looks to be a well-rounded speaking ensemble. I'll be talking on the topic, "How to make the Right Decision -- in time, every time!" OR something to that effect....in other words, Truth Testing methods 101.

The two-day event is being coordinated by Boutique for the Soul -- here's the flyer for the event (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Today is an Auspicious Day: 08-08-08

Welcome to August 8, 2008 -- not your average Friday! Today is 08-08-08, and other than being a cool date, what is so auspicious about it?

Well, for starters, in numerology, 8 is the number of money -- 8 is a prosperity number. You might recall that if you participated in my blockbuster Feng Shui course called "Cracking the Feng Shui Code" (still available here if you want to learn about all Feng Shui made incredibly fun and simple).

In feng shui, 8 is the key number used in the prosperity corner of your home.

In short, "Eight is Great" for money matters!

And speaking of money matters, Nan Akasha and I are committed to filling up our Spirit of Money Small Group Coaching that starts next week.

So I'll tell you what I'll do....in honor of 8/8/08, I'm giving you a one-time-only deal for the next 48 hours.

Purchase your admission to the Spirit of Money Small Group Coaching in the next 48 hours, and I'll give you a private laser clearing session with me -- absolutely free.

You pick the topic (could be money, or anything else) and in 15 minutes, we'll clear at least a dozen (maybe even hundreds, just depends on what's optimal for you at that particular moment) of your most debilitating personal beliefs around the issue.

You can't get a deal like this anywhere else from me, and you have to act now. The offer ends on Sunday at 5PM Eastern U.S. time.

How do you get your laser coaching session? Buy your spot in the Spirit of Money Small Group Coaching now and then forward your purchase receipt via email to: support [at] newsuccess.org with this subject line: "8-8-8 special" and either I (or someone on my team) will contact you to schedule your laser clearing session with me.

See you there!!

P.S. if you want to learn more about how to enhance the prosperity corner of your home (as well as the rest of your house) and learn ridiculously simple prosperity, romance and health tips with Feng Shui -- that really work -- grab my 10-week Feng Shui teleclass: Cracking the Feng Shui Code: Super Simple Secrets for Health, Wealth and Happiness. Buy in the next 48 hours, and I'll give YOU a free laser clearing session with me, too.

Buy BOTH before 5PM Eastern this Sunday and get TWO laser sessions as a bonus (or a single 30-minute session, your choice).

Rock on -- it's 08-08-08 !!!!

RockIt to Destiny Card Game - Strategy Tips & Tricks

If you haven't yet played RockIt to Destiny (a.k.a. "RockIt", this post won't make much sense to you. So go back and read the rules and find a play mate and try it out, ok? Then come back here....

Now, if you HAVE played already, here are a bunch of additional tips to enhance your RockIt pleasure:

NOTE: don't read this part until you've played at least 1-2 times, otherwise it will only confuse you!

No player is obligated to explain what they just played for the benefit of an opponent who was not paying attention. You can, you just don't have to.

Trash talking is completely optional. And yet, highly recommended. Typically in a two-person game, loser shuffles. Which is a PAIN with two decks. Loser may also have to make a snack/drink run, go check on the kids, and perform various other less desirable tasks. :-)

No player is required to make a play. During any given turn, a player can choose to draw a card and end their turn -- even if they have a valid play they could make. This is especially useful if your opponent only has a few cards left, as your new lay down could result in your opponent's ability to go out and win the game. You cannot "pass" however -- you must either make a play OR draw a card.

One strategy with a two-card game (with two different color decks, i.e., one red deck and one blue deck) involves only picking cards from the same color deck. There are advantages and disadvantages to this strategy...which is why we suggest you try it out both ways once you've got the hang of the game.

If you jack up the board only to discover that you CAN'T actually make it work the way it seemed to make sense in your mind, you can either put the whole board back the way it was, or just end your turn (IF you didn't play any cards), either way is fine BUT you must ensure that every play on the board is a valid play.

If a player jacked a play (for example, let's say they played a 4 of spades and two 4s of diamonds) and no one noticed it until the end of the NEXT person's turn, then they "got away with it" and play stays jacked. It is not recommended to attempt to make dishonest/illegal moves, but from time to time it happens and we have found that after the next player's turn, it becomes impossible to remember who jacked what, so it's easier to leave it as is. If someone DOES catch the error before the NEXT player says "RockIt" then the player who made the error has to make it right (pick up cards, or play the correct card if they have it in their hand).

You gotta watch people with Joker stealing -- I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone try to steal a Joker and then combine it with a card from the board -- when you steal a Joker, the WHOLE NEW PLAY has to come from inside your hand. AND you can't even steal the Joker unless you're holding the card it represents IN YOUR HAND. (Yes, I'm watching and you cheater-babies know who you are...)

When you've been playing RockIt all night and you're getting bleary-eyed, you've also got to watch that someone isn't playing invalid tricks. It's rarely intentional, but it just gets hard to concentrate after a couple of hours because this game is so intense.

"Killing" a Joker. When a Joker is played and the only cards that could replace it are already on the board, we call that "killing the Joker." In other words, if someone plays the Joker as the 3 of diamonds, and you're playing with 2 decks and there are already two 3 of diamonds out on the board, they just killed the joker because you can't borrow the card you need to steal the Joker. Can also kill it by playing the final 3 of diamonds instead of stealing the Joker (why would you do that? Because you don't have a play in your hand to make with a stolen Joker, so you can't steal the Joker and you'd rather kill it than have to draw another card).

When you can't come in because you don't have a 30-point play and you have to keep drawing cards and you start to get a hand cramp, we call that a "CT" or "carpal tunnel" hand. A hazard of play of course, but totally worth it when you nearly go out in one round. Woo-hoo! :-)

If one of your playmates seems to take FOREVER to complete their turn...you might consider using a timer from Scattergories or the like, to keep each game from running ridiculously long. Or you can always hum the theme song from "Jeopardy."

We have not yet configured a way to play the game for money....if you figure that part out, let us know. Right now, we're just teaching it to as many people as possible

OK, I think that's it. Have fun with RockIt!

NOTE:
The name RockIt to Destiny, the game itself, and these rules are (c) 2008 Amy Scott Grant and Francois Camenzuli. All rights reserved. So don't be a weenie and try to claim it as your own! Just have fun playing :-)

How to Play the NEW Card Game: RockIt to Destiny

Finally! Here are the rules of the fluently-received card game I've mentioned a few times already on this blog.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

As you might know, my family and I took a recent vacation to New Orleans and Sandestin, Florida this summer with our good friends Francois & Kelly and their daughter (and Kelly's mom Susie). Francois and I go waaaaaaaaay back and our spouses sometimes joke that we share a brain.

And one night we were playing cards and just messing around near the beginning of the trip, and we fluently received this card game. It was definitely a joint effort: me, Francois, and higher powers. We continued to perfect it until it evolved into what I will describe in detail here.

The game is called RockIt to Destiny (I don't know why, that's just what we got was optimal to call it) and this is the logo for the game:




Why? Because you play just ONE time and you will be HOOKED like a fish! (But in a good way.)

WARNING: Do not play this game while intoxicated! You will need every last brain cell to win...and besides which, the game provides enough of a high on its own.

NAME
The game is called RockIt to Destiny. Like I said, I don't really know why. And how important is the name -- I mean, what the hell does "pinochle" or "rummy" mean, anyway?

OBJECTIVE
To get rid of all your cards by creating new tricks or playing the cards in your hand on existing tricks on the community board.

WHAT YOU NEED
Two people can play with one standard deck of 52 cards + 2 jokers, and a single deck is recommended while learning the game. Things really get juicy with the addition of a second standard deck and 4 jokers total (although shuffling becomes a pain), and the game is particularly challenging if both decks are the same color (because you could wind up with a lot of repeat cards in your hand). Up to 5 people can play RockIt with 2 decks. Three decks are not recommended -- if you have more than 5 people who want to play, why not play tournament style with multiple games going on separately yet simultaneously?

SETTING UP THE GAME
Since this is a completely Fluent game, the cards are not "dealt"; rather, the cards are shuffled thoroughly and spread out (Go-Fish or accordion style) and players take turns selecting cards randomly. Players are not allowed to look at their cards, as it is generally thought that a person could influence the selection of their hand if they knew what cards they were already holding. Each player draws at random until they are holding 14 cards. The remaining cards are kept face down and moved to the side, to be used as the draw pile.

Any "chance" method may be used to determine who goes first (rock-paper-scissors, odd man out, flip a coin, etc.) In subsequent games, the winner of the previous game goes first.

TRICKS
The term "trick" or "lay down" refers to any one of the following legal plays:

three or four of a kind, all of different suits (e.g., 3 diamond, 3 heart, 3 spade) Cannot repeat suits from multiple decks in a single trick. Can repeat tricks on the community board (e.g., 2 separate tricks of three of a kind 7s)

straight flush, three or more sequential cards of the same suit (e.g., 7, 8, 9 of diamonds). Ace can be played high or low and can continue in either direction (e.g., King, Ace, 2 of spades is a legal play).

Every lay down becomes part of the community board, and no play "belongs" to any particular player.

COMING IN
In order to come in or enter the game, you must play a single trick of 30 points from your own hand. (NOTE: This is the only time in this game when points are tallied.) Ace = 1 point, number cards are worth face value, Joker = 0 points, and face cards are 10 points each. Any three-of-a-kind play is worth 30 points. You may not add to an existing play as your "coming in" trick. Jokers may not be used in your "coming in" trick.

HOW TO PLAY
Once everyone has drawn their cards, and it's been determined who goes first, the play begins. The first person must either "come in" with a trick worth 30 points, or draw a card. Play commences in clockwise order.

During each player's turn, they must either make a play or draw a card. Once a player draws a card, their turn automatically ends.

Once you've "come in," there are three ways you can make a play.

1 - Create a new lay down. This happens when you have an entire trick in your hand, and you lay it down as a new trick. Once you end your turn, subsequent players can add or change up this play. For example, you play 7, 8, 9 of clubs from your own hand.

2 - Add to an existing trick. The only "complete" tricks are 4 of a kind. Straight flushes can be added to in either direction, and can be split up and turned into multiple tricks (as long as each separate run is a valid trick on its own). For example, you can add a 10 of clubs or a 6 of clubs (or a 5, 6 of clubs) to an existing trick of 7, 8, 9 of clubs. Additionally, if there is a run of 5,6,7,8,9 of hearts on the board, you can play a 7 of hearts from your hand by splitting the existing trick into 5,6 (add your 7) and a separate trick of 7,8,9 from the original trick. Capisce?

3 - "Jack up" the board. A player can move, change, build or destroy any existing tricks on the board in order to create new tricks. Three 7s and three 6s are split into straight flushes to add cards from player's hand such as 6,7,8 of one suit and 5,6,7 of another suit and 5,6,7 of yet another suit. Jack up the board any way you like, but you must play everything you mix up (can't add cards from the board into your hand -- you can only ever take cards from the draw pile, and only then if you don't make a play). Remember, when you end your turn, ALL tricks on the board must be valid tricks of 3 or more cards. If there is a 9,10,J,Q,K of diamonds on the board, you can steal the 9, the 9,10, OR the K, or the K, Q, but you can't steal the J unless you can make a play with the remaining cards. Make sense?

At the end of your turn, you declare "RockIt." This is not only a cool thing to say, but it also lets the next player know that you're done for now and they can begin their turn. Once you say "RockIt," your turn is OVER -- you cannot make another play once you've said "RockIt." No exceptions. Review the board and your hand carefully before you say "RockIt" -- you will be surprised how many plays you miss if you don't do a complete review before ending your turn. As a courtesy, please remember to say "RockIt" after you draw a card, as this ends your turn.

PLAYING A JOKER
Jokers are wild, and a joker from your hand may be used in place of any card to create a new trick or add to an existing trick. However, the rules are slightly different with a Joker stolen from the board.

When a Joker is played, it is played in place of a specific card. For example, Ace of diamonds,2 of diamonds,Joker,and 4 diamonds means the Joker represents the 3 of diamonds. Q,Q,Joker means the Joker represents a Q of a DIFFERENT suit than the other 2 in the trick (since there can be only 1 card of each suit in a 3 or 4 of a kind).

When you "steal" a Joker from the board, you MUST replace it with the card it represents from your hand AND you must use it with cards from your hand to create a new lay down. In other words, in the above scenarios, you could take the Joker to use it in a new trick if you have the 3 of diamonds AND the new trick is made completely of cards from your own hand (NOT the community board).

A joker that you drew (already in your hand) is not subject to this rule and can be played in any legal manner.

WINNING THE GAME
The game is won when a player has played all the cards in their hand (also called "going out,") AND every play on the board is a valid play.

And let the swearing begin.

Have fun, and when you start playing (hooked!) be sure to post your questions here -- it's possible that I may have omitted something important and your question will benefit all who follow and read this after you. In a subsequent post, I'll add some tips.

Have fun practicing!!! The more you play, the more this game will sharpen your mind, that's for SURE. You'll start seeing opportunities everywhere you look. Why? Because you trained your brain to look for them. :-) Enjoy!!!

NOTE:
The name RockIt to Destiny, the game itself, and these rules are (c) 2008 Amy Scott Grant and Francois Camenzuli. All rights reserved. So don't be a weenie and try to claim it as your own! Just have fun playing :-)

New Success Anniversary Savings

Happy Anniversary to you,
Happy Anniversary to you,
Happy Anniversary dear NewSuccess.org,
Happy Anniversary to you!

And YOU get to benefit with significant savings on all NewSuccess products and services.

To save 10% off the published rate of any NewSuccess product or service, enter this coupon code during checkout: ANNIV03

Please note: There are currently 3 spots open in the Catapult Coaching program...taking advantage of this anniversary discount represents a savings of $300 ! When spots are taken, they're taken -- if you've been procrastinating about signing up, NOW is your chance!

Coupons expire Wednesday, August 6th. Happy shopping!

(and Happy Anniversary to NewSuccess!)

It Happened! It Finally Happened!

It's been said that your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between sarcasm and truth -- in other words, your unconscious mind can't take a joke.

And today I see proof of that.

For about a year or so, I've been making a joke about something, and today it ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

Let me set the stage for you:

As you probably already know, my name is Amy Grant. Since there is a famous singer by the same name, I use my maiden name as part of my "official" name, i.e., Amy Scott Grant.

AND as you can imagine, since I do have a famous name, people often make comments to me. Such as, "as in 'the' Amy Grant?" and "do you sing" or "like the singer?" or "isn't there a singer with that name?"

And I've always joked to friends and colleagues that I can't wait for the day when my own fame and reputation actually precede that of the singer's.

And today it ACTUALLY happened!

Today I was at a place where I was being introduced to a number of new people. And as I met this particular man for the first time, I stuck out my hand and said, "I'm Amy Grant, nice to meet you."

Then HE said:

"Amy Grant? Isn't there a...."

And thinking I knew what he was going to say, I attempted to finish his sentence for him:

"Yes, there's a singer by the same name."

And then HE said:

"Yes, but I was going to say...isn't there a famous marketer by that name?"

And my husband and I looked at each other, and I laughed out loud and said, "Yes, actually, that's me."

And it was a full 2 hours later until I realized the impact of what had just happened. Now I don't rightfully know if this guy read my chapter in Inspired Marketing!: The Astonishing Fun New Way to Create More Profits for Your Business by Following Your Heart, or if he saw the article that recently was published about me in the local paper, or perhaps he saw me speak at Pat O'Bryan's Un-Seminar earlier this year, but who cares?

The point is, I made a joke and it ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

So don't think you can go around innocently joking about your mother-in-law getting hit by a bus or your ex filing bankruptcy. Anything you consistently and intensely (and humor is definitely a form of intensity for me) speak or think has the imminent potential for manifestation.

Mark my words.

Now if you have info about the SECOND part of my joke coming true, please do let me know.

(That's when someone meets the singer Amy Grant for the first time and asks, "Oh, Amy Grant the prophet?")

Oh yeah, that could definitely happen. And I'll be the one laughing when it does!

Solar Eclipse and a New Moon...Means What, Exactly?

Today there was a solar eclipse and a New Moon. So what does that mean?




Well, to be completely honest, it means nothing. Or it means whatever you think it means. New Moon is often the time when we create newly, when we set intentions and allow the power of the moon to assist in manifestation.

And as for a solar eclipse, well some may say it represents a "reset button" for us earthly beings. A tiny winking out of the sun marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. Others say this time represents healing, or the opening of a portal.

But I'm not one to take what others say at face value. (You know me well enough by now to know that, don't you?)

So you - what do YOU say it means? Because I would venture to say that for you it will mean whatever you think it means.

As for me, I'm not getting any earth-shattering info on this, and since my goal is to THINK LESS, I'm not concerned about it.

But I do always love hearing what you think, so feel free to post a comment.

The Truth About "Churches"

It must be really confusing to be a kid.

Looking back, I can see with perfect clarity some of mixed messages I received while growing up.

My dad used to always tell me, "You can do anything you set your mind to." But my mother was always telling me what I could and couldn't do.

He also used to say, "Find a way to make money doing something you love, and you'll never 'work' another day in your life." But I always wondered why he chose a career he clearly didn't love, and didn't make much money at anyway.

I'm sure I'm not the only kid who feels that kind of confusion -- what's really true? I remember challenging my dad once...I was whining about something I couldn't do, and he pulled his classic "you can do anything" line on me.

And I can remember the face I made -- skeptical, scrutinizing, a face that said "Yeah right. Prove it."

And I said, "That's not true. I can't be President of the United States" (because...at least back then...kids like me didn't know what a dull-ass job that must really be.)

Dad replied, "Of course you can. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to."

I said, "Yeah, but there's never been a woman president."

My dad said, "So?"

And I walked away from that conversation even more confused than when it started.

But that particular conversation is not what I'm writing about today. I'm thinking of another conversation from childhood -- this time with my mother.

In eighth grade, I had decided I didn't want to be confirmed. Confirmation was a big deal, everyone was talking about parties, receptions and new dresses. Seemed like much ado about nothing to me, so I opted out.

My mother was furious. She insisted that I just wanted to be "different," to "stand out" (as if that were a crime). I told her I was listening when the teachers at my Catholic school were talking, and I wasn't sure that at age 13, I was ready to make any life-long commitment kind of decisions. Besides, I wasn't so sure Catholicism was the way I wanted to go.

And then SHE said (in an exasperated tone):

"Amy, you can't just shop around for a religion! You're born into whatever you are, and that's that."

Since she couldn't actually MAKE me get confirmed, I did in fact opt out. And instead, I hung out with the 2 protestant kids who weren't being confirmed either.

But I never believed her about not being able to shop around. Why the hell couldn't I? I mean, wasn't it bad enough that I had been born into a poor family? I sure as hell knew I didn't have to stay poor my whole life, so why did I have to be stuck with being Catholic forever?

Plus, it didn't seem to me that God really gave a crap one way or another, so long as you kept in communication with him. I had a hard time believing God would let certain religious backgrounds into heaven, while others were banished elsewhere.

And come on, get serious -- by my mother's reasoning, God was only going to let into heaven those who were BORN into the "right" or "one true" religion? And what about free will? I could poke holes all damn day into this old-school way of thinking. (But I won't bore you...at least any more than I already have ;-)

Gimme a holy break.

Of COURSE you can shop around for whatever you want -- and if you don't find what you really want anywhere, you can go out and create it for yourself. Because there just might be others who want "in" too.

Churches are going out of business left and right around the world, and why do you think??!?

Here's a hint: it's not the economy. It's because people are sick and tired of being fed such lines of CRAP! As a collective, we are beginning to see that there is another way -- in fact, countless other ways! Alternatives abound!

A few years back, when I was first learning about personal responsibility, prosperity consciousness, and the spiritual laws of the Universe, I had a conversation with my friend Becky. Becky had just broken up with her boyfriend, and didn't want to go to her same church, because she wanted to find something new where she could start over.

Andy and I wanted to take our daughter to church (since she had started talking, it seemed like a good idea for her to belong to some kind of church community) but we were both dissatisfied with Catholic masses at my old childhood church.

I was toying with the idea of church shopping again (maybe I did believe my mother on some level, because even though I never got confirmed, I never did do any research about what else was out there...remember, this all pre-dates Google, where research used to be something HARD and TIME-CONSUMING).

And then Becky told me something surprising. She said, "Amy, you'll never find a church that believes everything you believe. You just gotta find a place where you feel comfortable and like the people."

Well, that didn't sit well with me at all. And I still wasn't buying that old line.

So I DID get on the internet and I DID start researching churches. And since I didn't know where to start, I started close to home, by searching for all churches within a 5-mile radius of our home (this was pre-Hurricane Katrina, so we were still in New Orleans).

And would you believe, lo and behold, the 2nd church I found was "the" church?!? Yes indeedy, they believed everything I believed, except for maybe 1 statement I didn't understand at the time.

(Incidentally, if you're wondering what ever happened to Becky....she met a Mormon guy, converted, and gave up everything she used to believe in, in order to adopt the Mormon belief system and way of life. I suspect she's popping out her ninth kid by now.)

After convincing my husband to try out this new non-denominational church with me, we were both pleasantly surprised. I started jokingly referring to it as "Self-esteem church" because it was amazing how GOOD I felt there, each time we went. The people were warm and friendly, and the meditations and songs were so right-on with what I was learning in my quest to understand Universal truths. And our daughter was absolutely thriving there.

It was only later that I found out that one of my favorite authors at the time (Catherine Ponder, author of "The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity" and dozens of other books) was actually a minister in this same church (not the one in New Orleans).

So what is my point, in this long and elaborate posting today?

My point is that it pays to consider what you believe. If I didn't know what I believed (or wasn't at least willing to explore it), then I'd probably still be sitting in a pew every Sunday, clock watching until Mass was finally over.

And if I believed what my mother and Becky told me, I definitely would NOT have found peace and freedom -- and true JOY -- in a church of any sort. And what else would I have given up on, if I thought I was just "born" into ...... (fill in the blank).

And consider this:

What are you SETTLING for in life?

For a long time, I was settling for Catholicism, even though I didn't resonate with it at all. For awhile because I was lazy, and for awhile because I didn't really know where to look or what else was out there.

Right now, are you settling for unsatisfying relationships? a career? job? lack of excess money?

For sure if you're watching the news, you're settling for substandard programming. (but don't get me started on that!)

And what would happen if you STOPPED settling and started shopping for what you really want, knowing it's out there somewhere?

Hmmmm, now THAT's a delicious question worth answering!