Affirmagy Blog

Two and a half years ago a friend and I started what has become a Mastermind Group of two. Once a quarter we get together and set goals, intentions and rewards for results in all areas of life from Friends and Family to Finance. We are tireless supporters of one another’s big dreams. Her friendship, insights and high level of expectation for her own life uplift and inspire me.

Last year we decided that what had been a lunchtime mastermind meeting should be a WEEK - we just had so many things to talk about, explore and research all in the name of living extraordinary lives. Then, we got really smart and decided that this new Vision Week should be held in somewhere in the tropics.
So, for the second February in a row I am off to the sunshine to dream, plan, read, contemplate, think, sit, relax, rejuvenate, and certainly experience many ah-ha’s, and several breakthroughs. That’s what happen’s when we take the time to listen for our heart’s desire and put in place structures to get there.

Won’t you consider creating a Vision Week, or at least a Vision Day for yourself? Over the next week, stay tuned for updates and ideas about how you can leverage the power of mastermind groups and visioning to design a life you love.

Life is good.

Kristen Marie Schuerlein knows first hand how to design a life you live by living intentionally. She is the founder of Affirmagy, makers of fleece blankets silk screened with positive affirmations called Affirmawraps. With themes like Gratitude, Love, Abundance and Joy, Affirmawraps are sweet reminders that life is good!

Today’s entry is an encore presentation of a post originally published November 30, 2007. Enjoy.

You know, I truly believe that we get to create our lives. One of my favorite quotes is one by George Bernard Shaw:“Life isn’t about finding yourself, its about creating yourself.”I subscribe to the thought that we have the power to create whatever life that we choose, and the beginning part of that is sitting down and taking the time to think about what do we really want.

What do we want for ourselves?
What do we want for our families?
What do we want for our communities?
The moment we each ask ourselves what’s possible in our lives, something inside shifts and our minds starts looking around for the answer. “What IS possible for my life?”
This is fun part. Think BIG and BOLD and OUTRAGEOUS. Grant yourself the space to think in a totally new way. Forget what things look like now. IMAGINE what they could be.
In that moment, the magic starts.

The Task is to Ask. I remember my mom wearing a button that said that one year when a trade organization she was a member of was recruiting new members. The Task is to Ask. I thought it was goofy.

Then last week a universal brick hit me in the head. The Task is to Ask. That’s it. That’s the key! That’s the genesis of all things being attracted, manifested and created in our lives. Alright! Now we’re cooking with gas!

Please allow me to dive in to this idea. First, we have to ask ourselves what we want. I call this our “heart’s desire”. Isn’t it easy to run around all day doing what we are ’supposed’ to do? A week goes by, then a month. Suddenly years have passed and we haven’t done a darn thing to move in the direction of our dreams.

So, here’s my request: ASK yourself today “what do I want?”. Do that 10, 20, 100 times and see what bubbles up. My bet is that the first 40 things are based in what you think you want, or used to want, or your family wants, or you think you should want. About time #41 - 100, amazing things will begin to reveal themselves. Be courageous… just listen to your heart. No need to be scared. Just be with it. We’ll get to getting into action another day. Today, just ask. And see. And be amazed at the brilliance inside of you.

Life is good.

Coming soon: Asking our boss, our mates, our friends, our mentors, our guides and the universe. Stay tuned.

When I started my design company in 1996, I posted this quote on the wall directly in front of my desk. Today I find it has an even deeper meaning for me. In my opinion these are some of the wisest words every written. Enjoy.

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

- Marianne Williamson

Who would think up such a great question? Jennifer Louden. In her own powerful way, Jennifer offers a fresh voice and sage insights into being a woman. Reading the question above instantly put a smile on my face. What a beautiful way to ask our heart’s true desire.

An accomplished author, speaker, consultant and mom, Jennifer has what look to be some of the most divine retreats on the planet. Attending one in 2007 is going on my goal list today.

Jennifer was introduced to me by Michele Lisenbury Christensen, co-founder of Working With Power (I literally just got the double entendre last week). Michele and Sara Harvey Yao are two experts in balancing masculine and feminine energies. What they teach is very, very cool.

Today I invite you to give yourself the gift of learning about Jennifer, Michele and Sara. In doing so, I have a hunch you’ll find something that touches your heart and nurtures your soul. Happy exploring.

Ok, perhaps I am getting a little redundant with my evangelical view on Vision Boards. But I HAVE to tell you about the coolest thing in my day today.

This morning in preparation for a call with our PR team tomorrow, I found that a national newsstand magazine is considering publishing an article that I wrote. What? I thought to myself. I had to read the memo twice.

While this may not seem significant to you at first, consider this: This magazine is one of a handful on my ‘oh-yeah-I-love-that-magazine. It-would-rock-to-be-featured-in-it” list. Funny isn’t it? Of all the things are we doing on the PR front to share with the world about Affirmagy and our vision to touch the lives of 1,000,000 people (more…)

Jack Canfield continues to make an impact on my life. Listening to “The Success Principles” in the car today after buying new socks at Nordstrom (the gal ringing me up had a hard time believing I wanted 9 pairs of the SAME black trouser sock. After a raised brow, I assured her I was simply a focused person who refuses to spend a minute of time finding mates for socks) I realized it’s been just over 5 years that I wrote my goals for when I would turn 40. I could have never imagined the impact those actions would have on my life today.

#1. Focusing on November 25, 2009 seemed like an eternity in 2001. Now it seems nearly around the corner. Thank goodness I have started setting goals for my 50th in 2019 - it’s on its way!
#2. While I can see the things I intended way back then coming into being, I have increased my “win” exponentially. That is, what I thought was huge then, isn’t so big, so I am shooting even bigger now.
#3. We really really really do get to invent our lives. The sooner we get that, (more…)

I am not sure where this comes from, but I am one of those people who likes the tempo of life moving at a fairly fast clip. My sense of urgency regarding things for which I feel passionate can resemble the Tasmanian Devil.

So you can imagine when things are not moving fast, fast, fast, I can get a little, well, grumpy. And for about the last week, that’s exactly what I have been. Being grumpy takes energy - so much that last night I gave up and went to bed about an hour early, and I slept in a half hour past my usual time. Boy, I needed it!

Thank goodness I took the time because something in me has profoundly shifted as a result. Laying in bed this morning, half awake, there were four words running through my head: “Everything in good time”. Huh? What? Who said that?

(more…)

Remember those bumperstickers “Practice Random Acts of Kindness”? Well, February 12th to 18th is Random Acts of Kindness Week! It’s our chance to really do it in a big big way.

Imagine if we all choose to consciously commit a random act of kindness a day. Wow. Wouldn’t life be lighter, easier and just a little more magical? After giving this some thought here are some ideas that I am going find ways to put into action:

Pay the toll for the guy behind you (OK, this is not an original thought. But it’s so darn cool!)

Smile. Smile. Smile. Be the first to smile at total strangers. (I do this all the time and it’s a joy)

Write a note to someone you cherish and simply say “Thank you for being in my life”

Get some tokens from the Kindness Project and pass them around! (OK, even if you don’t do this, check it out…. this is wonderful)

Have a GREAT day!

Ever come across a company and say “Geez, I wish I had created that!”?

That was exactly my thought when I came across this website, founded by two sisters in Ohio. ipop-in is all about bringing affirmations to techno-savvy, busy, iPod wearing people who want to kick it up a notch by putting good stuff in the brain.

After stumbling across ipopin.com yesterday, I immediately bought 5 of their recordings and am listening to them now! Here’s what I bought to start:
Everything I need comes to me easily and automatically

I am connected to the unlimited abundance of the Universe

I trust the process of life

I attract to me unlimited abundance

I let go and allow the Universe to guide me

Ah, life is good. Can’t wait to wake up tomorrow with these wonderful affirmations playing on my iBook!