Every January I try to pick a word that will set my overall intention for the year.

This year I chose:

flourish

Surprisingly, “flourish” wasn’t necessarily about money, but rather my entire life: from having more friends to being in better shape, and just feeling generally good about myself.

And guess what? That’s what has been happening.

The only real difference is how I’m managing my thoughts, and that I’ve been saying, “Yes,” especially to things that make me uncomfortable.

I’ve spent a lot of time in my life feeling like I didn’t have enough. I remember years ago my friend Cyndi was visiting from California and I had been trying to find a full-time job for quite awhile, with no luck. Though I had a nice roof over my head, clothes to wear, and food to eat, I kept telling myself that I didn’t have any money.

One day, toward the end of Cyndi’s visit, she said to me, “All I keep hearing from you is, ‘I’m broke, I’m broke, I’m broke.’ If you’re constantly telling yourself you’re broke, how do you expect to see the opportunities when they present themselves?”

Boom!

That really landed for me. If we are constantly focused on what we don’t want, how can we expect to be open to attracting and seeing what we do want? Just think about how you feel when you’re having thoughts like, “I’m broke,” or “I’m fat” or “I’m alone.”

For me personally, those thoughts make me feel defeated and desperate and closed off. How do you respond when you come across someone who seems defeated, desperate, and closed off? Do you want to be their friend? Do you want to hand them a great opportunity?

Most people would probably say, “No.”

This year, I’m attracting more opportunities than I’ve ever had, I have more friends than I’ve had in a long time, and I’m the happiest I can remember being.

None of this is easy.

It takes a lot of work.

But, much of that work I can do anywhere at any time by diligently steering my thoughts away from the unproductive chatter, affirming myself in some way, and allowing myself to say, “Yes.” Yes to stepping outside of my comfort zone, yes flourishing, and yes to life.

Have a beautiful week!
John (& Jami)

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Apprentice Editor: Kathryn Muyskens / Editor:  Renée Picard

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons