Please take this opportunity to Stand Up,  show your Beautiful Smile, and shine your Light to the World!

Consider taking a moment to enter yourself in the Fast Company Search for the Top 100 Most Influential People Online for 2010.

By participating in The Influence Project, you will have your picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company magazine as part of an amazing photo spread. The more influence you demonstrate, the bigger your picture will be.

You may discover that you’re more influential than you think.

EASY TO FOLLOW STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Goto: http://fcinf.com/v/dy3u
2) Wait patiently as it loads very slowly
3) Click on Get Started in the top right hand corner
4) It will ask your first and last name, email, password and also it will ask for a 140 character BIO. (make sure it accurately describes your gifts, talents and offerings)
5) Next it will ask you to upload your picture (make sure it’s a close up that shows your beautiful smile and eyes.)

You will be given your own unique influence url which you may then post on to others.

Hope you join me in this fun social media experiment!

Wishing you Peace, Love and Abundant Blessings,

Coach Cecily

Every morning around 7:00am, my new dog “Chewie” and I walk 2 miles along the spectacular beach near my home.  As part of this routine, we have joined a special morning community of other dogs and their owners and various joggers, walkers, bicycle riders, breakfast at the beach folks, early swimmers, and the trash removal crews.  Many people admire Chewie and we like to stop to chat and get him petted.  This morning I was talking to a kind-hearted man about how I had adopted Chewie from a local shelter last month, and he said to me “How great of you to rescue him!”  Without thinking, I responded “No.  He rescued me!”  I was surprised by my response, but when I thought about it, it was definitely true.

Over the last several months when I considered what I it was I truly wanted in my life, wanting a dog was always at the top of the list.  It had been 25 years since I owned a dog.  I had been a single mother making ends meet, and then a corporate consultant with long commutes, long hours and frequent business travel.  Now that I was doing work that I love from my home and enjoying the life of my dreams, I still hadn’t given myself permission to fulfill my long time desire to have a dog.  Finally, I made the decision to get a dog.  I started telling people close to me about my decision.  I made a list of what I was looking for in a dog.  I started looking on “PetFinder.com” at dogs available locally for adoption.  I called on a few, but they were taken.  I kept saying “the right dog for me will show up.”

In the middle of June, I was driving to an appointment, and was stopped at a traffic light.  The road immediately to my right went to the local animal shelter.  I had been there once, several years before, when my son was looking to adopt a cat. Now, sitting there waiting for the light to turn, I got a strong intuitive hit “Your dog is there!”   I got extremely excited, and on my way home from my appointment, I stopped at the shelter.  They were closed but the women who answered the door told me to go on the website.  On the website, I found an incredibly beautiful dog that met all of my criteria!  I made an appointment to meet Chewie the next day, and I knew immediately that this was my dog.

Having Chewie in my life has fulfilled a deep desire and a long standing dream, and this has provided me with some wonderful, new gifts that only dogs can give to us.  The first gift is a constant reminder to stay present and savor the moment.  Dogs are so present to the moment and to what is in their environment; noticing smells, people, objects, noises, emotions, and energy.  Chewie’s excitement and enthusiasm for the smallest discovery is palpable. Sitting together on a bench by the sea, I am reminded to take a deep breath and let go of thinking about what has happened in the past, and to let go of worrying about what is going to happen in the future, and simply be in the moment with the unconditional love from the dog in my lap and the incredible beauty of the ocean before me.

The second gift is the opening of my heart to the unconditional love that dogs give so well.  I have always had cats, and they can be loving, especially around breakfast or snack times, but they definitely don’t love with the complete adoration that dogs do.  Chewie is a cuddler and kisser, and even if I’m gone a short time, he is so happy to see me he literally jumps up and down with joy.  And that deep sigh of total contentment when he is leaning up against me with his head on my lap just melts my heart.

The last gift is what I mentioned in the beginning about having joined a community of dog lovers and making such positive human connections when we are out walking.  In this last month with Chewie, I have met so many wonderful people and have connected on such a compassionate level.  Even the grumpiest of person passing by can’t help but smile at this dog that just radiates beauty and joy.  I have met and had conversations with all of my neighbors on my street, where previously we had only shared an occasional greeting or a wave from a distance.  And I feel like I truly know now what it is like to embrace each day with love in my heart.

So, yes.  Chewie has rescued me.  Having him in my life, with all the gifts that he has brought to me, was just what I needed to live my life more fully and to experience more joy every day.  I am so happy to have him here with me now, and my heart is overflowing with love and gratitude for my wonderful new companion.

To the love of dogs,

Coach Cecily

Here’s a rare opportunity for a FREE, LIVE teleclass TODAY, Wednesday, July 21st, taught by world-renowned author, Mary Morrissey.

It starts at 5:00 PM PDT- 8:00 PM EDT (United States). You can register here:

http://LightBeamAcademy.com/Mary

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WHY AM I BRINGING YOU THIS CLASS?

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Because Mary Morrissey’s message is incredibly good.  And it’s important that you hear it. Mary has spoken at the United Nations three times, personally met with the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela, and is the spiritual coach for some of the biggest names in the personal growth industry.

Why is she in such high demand? Because the concepts that Mary gives you are cutting edge. She teaches on how to design your specific dream, and dissolve the fear, doubts, and worries that come along with stepping into a much bigger life.

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AND YOU GET HER FREE.

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Just register for this exclusive live teleclass we’ve put together for you here:

http://LightBeamAcademy.com/Mary

I know you will enjoy this special event!

With love and gratitude,

Cecily

These 12 Laws of Karma came to me on one of my internet journeys.  I sensed that they are important to share.  Try reading each one and then pausing for a moment and asking yourself “On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is nailing it, and 1 is failing it, how am I doing with this Law right now?”

The 12 Laws of Karma

1. The Great Law

As you sow, so shall you reap.  This is also known as the Law of Cause and Effect. Whatever we put out in the universe is what comes back to us.  If what we want is happiness, peace, love and friendship, then we should BE happy, peaceful, loving and a friend.

2. The Law of Creation

Life doesn’t just happen. It requires our participation. We are one with the Universe both inside and out.  Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.  BE and DO yourself.  Do what you want to have in your life.

3. The  Law of Humility

What you refuse to accept will continue for you.  If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.

4. The Law of Growth

Wherever you go, there you are.  For us to grow in Spirit it is we who must change and not the people, places, or things around us.  The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES, and that is the only factor we have control over.  When we change who and what we are within our heart, our life changes, too.

5. The Law of Responsibility

Whenever there is something wrong, there is something wrong in us.  We mirror what surrounds us and what surrounds us mirrors us.  We must take responsibility for what is in our life.

6. The Law of Connection

Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done, as everything in the Universe is connected.  Each step leads to the next step and so forth and so on.  Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.  Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance.  They are both needed to accomplish the task.  Past, Present, and Future – they are all connected.

7. The Law of Focus

You can’t think of two things at the same time.  When our focus is on spiritual values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.

8. The Law of Giving and Hospitality

If you believe something to be true, then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.  Here is where we put what we SAY that we have learned into practice.

9. The Law of Here and Now

Looking back to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW.  Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams prevent us from having new ones.

10. The Law of Change

History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.

11. The Law of Patience and Reward

All rewards require initial toil.  Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.  True joy follows doing what we’re suppose to be doing and waiting for the reward to come in its own time.

12. The Law of Significance and Inspiration

You get back from something whatever you’ve put into it.  The value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.  Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the whole.  Lack luster contributions have no impact on the whole or work to diminish it.  Loving contributions lift up and inspire the whole.

So, how did you score yourself?  Was there one Law that had a particularly high score?  Which one did you score the lowest?  What did you learn about yourself from this exercise?  What Law stands out as a place to begin some focused practice?

To your ongoing growth as a magnificent human being!

Coach Cecily

“The new paradigm is a joint venture between head and heart intelligence, which generates a continuity of intuitive creative intelligence. Intuition cuts time and effort. As you gain intuitive intelligence, you become more energy and time effective .” – Doc Childre, founded the Institute of HeartMath

I had a surgeon in my “Developing Your Intuition” workshop this weekend. I spoke to her afterwards to understand more about what brought her there.  She explained that she is a third generation surgeon; her grandfather, father and sister are all surgeons. She had also been told that she had been a healer in several lifetimes. In her current practice, she has consciously worked to integrate intuition and energy healing. She uses her intuition to help know which patients to choose and how best to treat them.  By listening to her heart, she just “knows” this, and as long as she trust this part of herself, she has never been wrong. She was at my workshop to get a better understanding of her gift, and to develop more of that trust. I truly admired her courage to pursue a new paradigm.

What is intuition? Intuition is the instinctual knowing you get when you listen to your inner senses. This inner voice of wisdom connects us to our “higher self,” or what Wayne Dyer calls “the source.”  Some refer to it as being in the Flow or connected to divine knowledge.  Some consider it a direct channel to a Higher Power, whoever you consider that to be. Bob Proctor explains it this way; “Prayer is when we talk to God.  Intuition is when God talks to us.”

We are all born with the gift of intuition.  Unfortunately, as it is not valued in our head-based society, most children lose touch with their intuition by the end of first grade. As adults, we have all experienced times when we had a gut feeling, a dream, something told us, or we just knew. The researchers at the Institute of HeartMath call it ‘heart intelligence’. They define heart intelligence as “the intelligent flow of awareness and insight that we experience once the mind and emotions are brought into balance and coherence through a self-initiated process. This form of intelligence is experienced as direct knowingness and manifests in thoughts, emotions and actions that are beneficial for us and others.”

HeartMath has been studying the complexity to the human heart for the last 20 years. They have confirmed that the function of the heart is far more than simply pumping blood. The heart directs and aligns other systems in the body to function efficiently and in harmony. And, although the heart is in constant communication with the brain, it makes many of its own decisions and sends signals to help govern our lives. Doc Childre, the founder of HeartMath, talks about those “signals” from the heart in this way “Intuition brings clarity of thought and a warm sense of knowing. It’s a feeling of Aha! Now I see what to do! You know it is solid when you act on the intuition and things get better.”

Within each of us is the ability to reclaim our gift of intuition. By acknowledging, practicing and trusting this extraordinary part of being human, we can receive information and knowledge that will help us make decisions, take action and improve our own lives, the lives of others and, ultimately, the whole world.  We can tune into the energetic nature that connects of all things. We can connect with Love.

Listen and follow your heart!

Coach Cecily

I just found out this morning that a dear friend lost her mother last night.  Her mother, Dorothy, was 91, and lived an incredibly full and active life right up until having a heart attack last week.  In that odd combination of sadness and joy for Dorothy’s transition, I am remembering my own mother and the “mother-like” women in my life who have also passed, but left me with a wonderful legacy of love, strength and role models. As we approach Mother’s Day, and in this open and vulnerable place that someone’s passing leaves us, I’m moved to share some “mother wisdom” these wonderful women have taught me.

• Life is like making a great soup; putting everything together and letting it simmer.  The key is to remain flexible with the ingredients. Use whatever shows up in the moment.
• Always make time to stop and watch the birds, and to experience the joy that connecting with God’s creatures can bring.
• It’s OK to make mistakes. That’s why God put an eraser on the end of a pencil.
• When you use something, put it back in its place. Order helps make room for the heart to sing.
• Cherish your friends and family, show appreciation for their love, and party with them often.
• Connect with strangers, show compassion, and acknowledge their light.
• Ask for help.  Give those who love you an opportunity to be there for you.
• Practice forgiveness.  Don’t let what others do to you poison your life.
• No matter what happens, always keep your sense of humor.  Lighten up!
• Learn to laugh at yourself and enjoy your imperfections.
• Surround yourself with beautiful treasures that fill your soul.
• Take care with your appearance, and always present yourself at your best.
• Tend to your garden, get your hands in the dirt, and help nature create beauty.
• Do what you love doing, enjoy the process of doing it, and share your results with others.
• Never stop taking risks and trying new things. This is how we grow.
• There is a solution to every problem. Be creative.
• Love never dies.

Wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all!

With Love and Gratitude,

Cecily

Mrs. Madison and Olivia sat on the cozy bench tucked under an arbor of flowering vines, and Artemis curled up between them.  It was a great spot to look out at the fountain and across the entire butterfly garden.  Together they watched the butterflies go from flower to flower drinking the nectar.  “Look!  There’s a white butterfly.  There’s a yellow one.  There’s an orange one and a blue one.”  Olivia had never seen so many butterflies. It was very exciting and made her laugh with joy.

Then Mrs. Madison asked Olivia “What would it be like to have a butterfly land on your arm?”  “Oh, that would be so wonderful!  But it will never happen to me.” Olivia replied sadly.  “Let’s try an experiment.” suggested Mrs. Madison.  “Close your eyes and hold out your right arm.  Good. Now, in your mind, imagine a butterfly landing on your arm.  Keep focusing on the butterfly, and tell me what it feels like.”  Oh!” cried Olivia.  “It makes me feel so happy!”  “Great!” encouraged Mrs. Madison, speaking quietly.  “Now, very slowly put your other hand where you feel happy.”  Olivia put her left hand on her heart.  “Terrific!” Mrs. Madison whispered.  “Now without moving your arm, open your eyes.”  When Olivia opened her eyes, she could hardly believe what she saw.  There on her arm was the exact butterfly she had pictured in her mind!  “Oh my!  How did this happen?” Olivia asked.  “You did this.  You did this with the joy in your heart.”  Mrs. Madison answered.  “Yes.”  Said Olivia in a knowing way.  “I did this.” And with that, the butterfly flew away.  “Well, I think it’s time for some lemonade.”  Suggested Mrs. Madison.

Please vote for Mrs. Madison’s Magic Garden for Next Top Spiritual Author!

Click Here:  http://CoachCecily.com/vote

Hi Everyone!
I’m asking for your help! Not an easy thing for me to do, but I’m taking a huge leap of faith and going for my dream…because I have entered my book “Mrs. Madison’s Magic Garden” into the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest!!!

This is so incredible! Here’s the story about this competition:

It was created by James Twyman and Robert Evans, creator of the Messenger Mini-Book Program, and Hampton Roads Publishing has agreed to offer a book contract to the winner. Click here if you are interested in learning more about the Messenger Mini-Book Program.

This competition is focused on finding authors who have a message about personal and spiritual growth that appeals to the spiritual market. This market includes authors like James Twyman, Neale Donald Walsch, Wayne Dyer, James Redfield, Abraham Hicks, etc.
In this first round, the authors rally the support of those they know and learn the art of promoting their message and book. The votes they get from their efforts, random votes from people who visit this site, and peer vote from another author will generate a final score at the end of this first round, on May 3rd, 2010.

The top 250 authors will advance to the next round where they write and submit a book proposal to a panel of judges that will make up the majority vote for 25 authors to advance to Round 3. In Round 3 an expert panel of authors, publishing experts, the publisher Hampton Roads Publishing will review final Round 3 submissions and then choose the final 5 authors where among them will be a winner of the grand prize.

Please support me in this huge, exciting opportunity by going to coachcecily.com/vote to watch my video (so proud!), vote for Mrs. Madison’s Magic Garden, and get your FREE gift! Also, please pass this email on to your friends and family and ask them to vote, too…

Thank you so much for your help and support!

With Love and Gratitude,
Cecily

I love the video clip below about laughter as a daily practice.  It brings to mind how much negativity we allow in our lives each day; watching or reading the news, watching violent, frightening, and/or depressing movies and television, hanging out with complaining, whining and/or gossiping folks, beating ourselves up and berating ourselves with negative self-talk, playing the victim and holding resentments, etc.

So, watch the video and make a commitment to yourself to cut back on negative input, avoid negative people, be more compassionate with yourself, and above all consciously seek out things that make you laugh.  Enjoy!

Benefits of Laughter Yoga with John Cleese

“Change says, ‘I am not, and I must become.’ Transformation says, “I am and I am yielding to a process.”

Jim Richards

The weather here on the coast of Massachusetts has been unseasonably Spring-like for several days now. I have made a point of spending some time outside each day and enjoying it while I can, because I know Winter is not quite finished with us hearty New Englanders, yet. I was walking down a path in a wonderful park by the ocean, when an older couple was walking towards me. I always enjoy connecting with people on my walks, so I looked up at them both and greeted them with “Beautiful day!” The woman replied “Isn’t it?” And the man replied “It is.” I was struck by the different sound and feeling of the two responses. With her voice going up at the end, “Isn’t it?” sounded questioning and felt tentative. With his voice going down at the end, “It is.” sounded declarative and felt like solid truth. “Isn’t it?” missed the moment of truly experiencing a heartfelt connection to “Beautiful day!” with its suggestion of doubt. “It is.” was in the moment, connected, knowing, with no doubt at all.

So if we believe that “thoughts are things” and in the importance of choosing our words carefully, we know that these seemingly small distinctions can be important. It is especially important when thinking and speaking about ourselves. Notice the difference between “I am not.” and “I am.” Notice how different it feels in your body when you say these words out loud. How much of the time are you focused on what you are not? Do you have a list of all the things you have to fix about yourself? What would happen if you turned that around? What would happen if you had faith in who you are in this moment?

Napoleon Hill, in his book “Think and Grow Rich,” says this about faith. “When faith is blended with the “vibration of thought,” the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translates it into its spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to Infinite Intelligence, as in the case of prayer.” He goes on to say we can develop faith through repeating affirmations to our subconscious mind. So let’s try an exercise.  Get out a piece of paper and write “I AM” at the top. Now spend some time writing all of the positive things that you are right now; all of your strengths, all of your talents, all of your gifts, all that you like about yourself. If you find this difficult to do, try asking someone you love and trust to tell you what they see as your strengths.

Once you have your list, go back and circle all the things that you wrote that have an emotional question mark at the end; the ones you are tentative of, the ones where there is some lingering doubt about this being true. An example for me is “I am lovable.” I know in my mind that I have many people who love me, but there is this small area in my heart that still holds on to “I am not that.” These are the ones you want to practice as affirmations until you can feel and know them as solid truths about who you are. Try practicing 3 affirmations twice a day for a week, and then, if you feel ready, pick three new ones. Keep this up until you can read your whole list with belief in everything you wrote, with the transformation of faith that connects you to the divine being you truly are. I am. So it is.

To Your Magnificence,

Coach Cecily

P.S. For the creative types out there, check out “Write an I Am Poem” http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/iampoem.htm.