Trust Your Life

Happy New Year !!!

What I love about the New Year is that it’s this special, juicy opportunity to BEGIN NOW…with a renewed, fresh sense of what’s possible.

The new chance at this time of year has unique potential.

I could do the the traditional thing of setting intentions for what I want this year.

However, the idea of today’s importance becomes richer when we go beyond merely setting goals for 2012.

I think that along with clarity about the outcomes we want, the true key for optimizing a great year is to CHOOSE how we want to BE and FEEL in the days & months to come. Bottom line, what we really want from the intentions that we set is actually the way it makes us feel. So the idea here is to go straight to the feeling states to leverage experiencing what we want.

In 2012, I choose to BE sacredly productive, confident and relaxed.

My 2012 vision also includes wanting to FEEL joy, freedom & an abundant, grace-filled sense of accomplishment.

So you can see it's my choice to be happy right now...even before I have what I want. From experience, I know these choices will contribute to having one great day after another.

I begin now to activate these choices. One of the action steps that powerfully supports these yummy being & feeling states is gratitude…gratitude for all the people that have blessed my life --- friends, family, clients, students, colleagues and those of you who simply read this ezine.

I am so grateful for you and I want to honor all the ways you have made a difference in my life. Because of your courage to create the lives you want and to face into your challenges --- you’ve inspired me, helped me to grow and provided that all important sense of a supportive community. And…what I know is that the impact that I’ve felt by our connection ripples out for the betterment of all.

You are brilliant. You are appreciated.

Make every day a great day…a memorable day that sets the tone for the year. Choose how you want to be and feel. This becomes your benchmark and firmly puts your line in the sand for a deeply satisfying and fulfilling 2012.

Celebrating you and your power of choice to have an amazing year...
Love,
Max

It’s that time of year when that proverbial “cup runneth over”.

It’s not only the time of the Winter Solstice, but it’s also the year-end holiday season celebrated in a variety of traditions around the globe. How cool that we have so many opportunities to experience life with joy & meaning. But for some it can also be the season of off-the-charts stressful emotions.

So I come bearing gifts.

Here’s what I think: Whatever the occasion you always deserve to be celebrated with gifts. Really-- that’s my simple holiday & New Year’s wish for you…that you be honored by yourself & others for what you have achieved, for any ways you’ve turned around a challenge, and, most importantly, for just being you !!

And here are my gifts to celebrate & support you:

My first gift is some food for thought regarding tips to reduce stress and to diminish the super charged busyness that can happen at this time. You know what I mean...the endless to-do lists, the high expectations, and the perceived obligations. When it gets like that, what can you do to introduce some ease & grace into the mix? I say ‘tis the season for some extra added TLC.

You may be immersed in thoughts of gifting others, but how might this season become even more heartfelt when you choose to make self care a priority and gift yourself with ways to soothe heightened emotions & slow down the pace.

• Can you resist the temptation to make this hectic season the time to resolve sticky issues in your relationships…family or otherwise?
• Can you forgive yourself for all the ways you think you may have fallen short or not measure up in your own eyes or in the eyes of others?
• Can you simply do your best and call that good?
• Can you take a sweet moment to appreciate yourself for all the ways you have been a blessing and all the ways you have blessed by others?

My second gift is an invitation to adopt new strategies for the New Year...the much anticipated 2012! This is a year that has been talked about with extraordinary expectation...supposedly a year like no other.

To be sure there are some fear-based opinions swirling around this coming year. But I am squarely in the camp of those who believe that this will be a year for unprecedented opportunities. Opportunities for empowering breakthroughs in consciousness and innovative inspired action.

Doesn’t the creation of a whole new chapter sound just about right? In any case it’s a natural time to take stock of what we’ve experienced while also looking forward to new beginnings with these New Year strategies:

• Dare to dream as you never have before – dust off the “who-am-I-to-dream-such-a-BIG-dream” and bring it out into the light of day
• Become an ambassador of the possible – walk the talk of that hopeful message in your thoughts, words, & deeds
• Take advantage of the inspirational support you need – you are not meant to do anything alone
• Don’t shy away from operating in your zone of genius – express your gifts fully (“hiding your light under some bush” just isn’t an option anymore)
• Keep it simple – so much gets done with this kind of pure focus 

My final gift is to support you in envisioning yourself immersed in the Winter Solstice while allowing your heart and soul to reveal a vision for a fresh out-f the-box, amazing New Year that will reflect your true brilliance and unique purpose. Enjoy the new guided visualization recording I have added to my website as my gift to you to help you do just that

Click here. Or go to my website and click the “Bonus Gifts” tab at the top of the page. Find a comfy chair, cozy up to the fire, or wrap yourself in a warm blanket and simply relax & listen.

At all the times of the year, appreciating you for the gift that you are…
Max

Autumn is my favorite season of the year because I get this yen to breathe some life into my life. There's a tangible promise of a special, fresh start that seems to be in the air.

Do you feel it too?

Or maybe, based on the circumstances of your life, starting anew and feeling refreshed may sound too good to be true. As fast as life moves now and as uncertain as things can be, igniting or creating new opportunities can feel out of reach or impossible in the face of “what is”.

So the question becomes… How - in any given moment - do we leverage or transform the reality of “what is” so that we are happily down the road to having what we want?

I realized today that my yoga practice held some answers for me. Now, admittedly, I am an imperfect yet earnest practitioner of yoga. But, over the years, this practice of moving my body has always had the extra added benefit of waking me up to some profound & practical ah-hah moment life lessons.

From all that I have studied to live a more conscious life, I already knew that transforming a difficult reality was not about resisting & fighting what’s not working. I also knew that shifting a familiar & comfortable reality was not about cruising along in the mediocre zip code of the known. From the proverbial school of hard knocks, I definitely knew that effort and striving to make something new and extraordinary happen wasn’t the answer either. Something else was being called for to break through into something juicy and new.

In a light bulb moment, here’s the 2 gems I got from yoga today:

1. There’s unthought-of potential in non-attachment to what I think is good.
2. There’s authentic freedom in non-resistance to what I think is bad.

I got that there was a sweet spot beyond attachment to the good and resistance to the bad that quite literally opened the door to possibilities for greater flexibility, innovation and the holy grail of better results.

If I resisted and struggled with a hard yoga pose, I noticed myself grumbling internally. I sometimes judged myself harshly and also judged the teacher. More often than not, I found myself doing the pose in a way that wasn’t doing me any good or trying to force a pose to the point of falling out of it and possibly hurting myself. But if I relaxed and did the best I could, it changed everything. I was more fully in the moment – not lost in the internal stories of unkind, limiting self talk or blame. I was free to try something new. I often found myself flowing into the pose in surprising ways. I hadn’t squandered the moment. I hadn’t missed the opportunity for something unexpected, real and beneficial to happen.

If I become attached to feeling good about an easier yoga pose, sometimes I can get lazy and distracted. My mind wanders and I don't show up fully to reap the full gifts of the pose practiced with focus. I don't live up to my potential and I don't stretch beyond what I know. But truly engaging with the pose and mindfully surrendering to what’s possible, I often found my stretches deepening and my balance strengthening…again with surprising results and long range benefits. Sometimes I even achieved a whole new level of mastery with a pose.

I know this seems to be about doing yoga better but really these are awarenesses that can be applied directly to life.

We live in a society that says push, make it happen, rush, get ‘er done no matter the cost. My yoga inspired wisdom flies somewhat in the face of all that.

Yes…action is called for but not from a place of attaching to an outcome or resisting & fighting what’s not working. Rather the impetus to take action is based on clear intention, following trusted internal guidance and positive alignment. When it’s inspired vs. forced action, a better outcome is guaranteed.

Really and truly…you have nothing to lose by being willing to try a new, more elegant game.

The game becomes this:

• Stop running from what you think is hard...stop trying to force something to happen...stop languishing...stop playing it small.

• Instead, show up for yourself, lean into what’s going on in your life and mine all that you experience for all it’s worth. There’s gold in them thar’ challenging hills and valleys. There’s valuable richness in taking the time to celebrate, honor & appreciate what’s working.

• Claim what's possible by providing a context in consciousness for new innovative thinking and being. Right action becomes simple and self evident.

• And finally, and perhaps most importantly…receive, Receive, RECEIVE !!!! New fresh opportunities and a new way of being will flow to you…but it's crucial to have the willingness to open the door and let it all in.

Find the courage to embrace What IS to create what’s possible.

And…hallelujah…you just might find yourself living life in the sweet spot.

Wishing you one sweet moment after another…
Love,
Max
 

I want to share a cool new resource with you called the Law of Attraction magazine. Even cooler for me is that I was privileged to have an article I wrote included in the very first issue.

I have received great feedback about my recent article entitled “Recreating a Business Based on Trust”. You can check it out in the brand new Law of Attraction magazine available on news stands now.

My article describes how during the last two years - catalyzed by an important personal challenge as well as these uncertain economic times - I re-defined my business based on the power of trust. As often happens in life, what looked like game changing issues actually became exactly what I needed for a fresh, overall new start.

One of the most exciting opportunities turned out to be a new level of creative innovation in my business. But, truly, my entire life has been enriched.

In the most fulfilling ways, what unfolded for me and my clients has been more impactful than anything I have experienced before. Fueled by a courageous exploration of what it means to trust life…especially the deep recognition of self worth…gratifying breakthroughs and miracles became the order of the day. This has been true for individual clients as well as for the students involved in my ongoing Trust Your Life Experience program.

Beyond fear -- beyond overwhelm -- beyond any temptation to get derailed by the very real challenging stories in these volatile times, we have strengthened our trust muscles around a profound faith in what’s possible for each and every one of us. Living life with renewed hope in this way just doesn’t get more win-win than that.
 

Besides my personal story, you will also find fabulous articles on harnessing the empowering principles of the law of attraction to have a good life. You will discover how to create a sustainable flow of money, attract the love of your life, insure vibrant health, and find joy in your work. The real life success stories make it real. Some of the articles are authored by colleagues I know and their expertise is golden. Simply, the magazine is a rich resource for practical inspiration! And – really - can’t we all use that nowadays.

Intrigued?? Then do look into what the Law of Attraction magazine has to offer. It will be on news stands until the end of September and can be found it in bookstores and major retailers nationwide.

Enthusiastically standing for your brilliant success based on trust and claiming your true value…
With love,
Max

Well this is it...a new year, a new month (and the beginning of a new decade).

With all this hopeful energy of new beginnings, how did you wake up this morning?

Did you wake up excited for what the day would bring? Were you filled with a calm trust that you had everything you needed to create your most treasured dreams?
or
Did you wake up anxious and nervous that maybe you had set your expectations  too high? Did you have that sinking feeling that now you are obligated and burdened with actually making your New Year's resolutions a reality?

The New Year is a blank slate. No matter what the circumstances of your life, a new year is a chance to "get it right" and a time pregnant with possibility.

Traditionally, there is incredible energy to support new beginnings at this time of year, but the spark of creativity begins with YOU.

What can you be, do or have to leverage this beginning of the year opportunity to create a life that delights you? How might you be inspired to make the most of each day so that even the ordinary experiences of your life become extraordinary?

Without past regrets or longing for unfulfilled expectations, we begin now !! I invite you to be proactive. The way you begin anything sets the tone for the unfolding of your experience and the ultimate outcome.

• Allow a heartfelt vision to pull you toward inspired action - not pushed by the pain of unfulfilled desires.
• Courageously stand on the leading edge as a truth teller of your unique vision - not side-lined by what others think or the temptation to align with the status quo due to fears or trying to be safe by playing it small.
• Discover that even your challenges are calling you to greater clarity, a focused sense of purpose and your highest self.
• Be innovatively creative as you operate in the zipcode of your gifts & talents - knowing you can't do business as usual.
• Be willing to be compassionate towards yourself & others - beyond any temptation to stray into self judgment or blame of another.
• Play it large by standing for a world that works for everyone - confident that you can make a difference and everyone wins!!

And, no matter what, please know that in this New Year of 2011 - I wish you love, wonder, adventure and abiding trust that your dreams not only can but will come true...
 

There is a profound gift in the natural seasonal changes that occur four times a year. With each seasonal shift, Nature provides us with opportunities for moving toward new beginnings. But, as always in life, we have a choice:

One choice: Continue in the default mode of doing things in the same old way – maybe even a bit fearful of change.
or
A better choice: We can leverage and embrace the transition.

During previous months, I have been immersed in my Trust Your Life program. Together with my incredible “trust tribe” participants, we have been exploring the power of trust to ignite and insure a fulfilled life. We are a committed group of adventurers in the zip code of conscious creation anchoring the confident ability to know ourselves more fully, to realize treasured dreams and, most importantly, to have a lot of fun.

Just this last week, as the trust tribe delved into the topic of “staying the course and enjoying our life journey”, we collectively came up with quite a few perspectives and strategies for creating a smooth, productive and ultimately successful transition into the Fall season. Here are just a few of those ideas:
 

• Show up! You can’t even take advantage of new beginnings if you don’t join the party and show up for yourself. Showing up for yourself means getting clear about who you truly are and what you really, really want. More specifically, showing up for yourself means being willing to embody and live the principles and tools of a new perspective or endeavor. We have learned in the Trust Your Life experience that it is not enough to just have an intellectual understanding of life enhancing practices and principles…it is a bold call to action to actually implement them.

• Take advantage of all the support available to you. Support is vital. As my colleague and fellow coach Elyse Killoran says, "you can't cut your own hair." Connect with the vast energy of Universe in fresh ways that you trust (I do this daily). Rest in the support of family, friends, counselors and communities (such as the Trust Tribe community that I know has my back). The bottom line here is that we are not meant to be lone rangers in the human condition. Also when two or more come together for co-creation and collaboration, you amp the energy of what’s possible.

• Self care almost has to be priority 1, 2 and maybe 3 for daily consideration. The truth of this realization has been BIG for the trust tribe. Loving self care provides the juice -- the bandwidth for sustaining creativity, productivity and our life force energy in order to “be, do and have” what we most want.

• Do the inner work and energetically align with what you want to create. A real disconnect occurs between affirming what you want and it actually showing up in your life when you are simultaneously running stories of negativity, judgment, lack or limitation. But there’s good news. There are a banquet of tools and inspirational materials designed to help us release the ways we consciously or even unconsciously sabotage manifesting our dreams. These tools can spark creativity, evoke inspired action, shift challenging situations, and move us beyond any scary stories that we tell ourselves about not being enough or worthy of what we envision for our lives. As they say in twelve step programs, it works if you work it. So once again it’s about putting the emphasis on practicing these transformational tools. If you are still putting your trust only in external solutions you are missing the “conscious creation” boat. It truly is an inside job. More good news is that when you come from the inside => out, creating what you want is balanced, elegant, practical and effective.

• Clearing cluttering your physical space and your mental / emotional space creates incredible possibilities for clarity of vision, expansive creativity and getting so much done. In fact, it is not overstating it to say…clear your clutter, change your life. (See more about how I can support you with clutter clearing below.)

• Honor and celebrate what you have accomplished. Feel the gratitude for what’s worked in your life. Energy follows focus. When you bring delighted, thankful focus to what’s working in your life, you are assured to get more of what’s working.

As I said, these are just a few of our ideas for embracing transition. For the trust tribe, implementing these strategies has meant such dreams-come-true as career clarity, debt elimination, healing of long-standing negative family patterns and improved health & wellbeing. Most importantly for all of us it has meant saying “yes” to a life that works on all levels.

So what are your strategies for a transformational transition? I encourage you to try out what the trust tribe has suggested, add your own insights and make them come alive in your life. There is nothing to lose but missed possibilities and everything to gain in terms of a life lived full out !!