Taking ACTION by doing almost NOTHING . . .

All know the way; few actually walk it. ~Bodhidharma

Action. Taking action. This week, we are focusing on taking actions towards the manifestation of our dreams. This is something that scares many people. And, you know, at first glance, it can be a really scary thing. Somehow, when you put together the words action and dreams, people freak out. I think it's because our minds make it a much bigger deal than it really is. Those that are working horrible, life-sucking jobs think taking action means quitting their jobs and jumping headfirst into poverty all for the sake of dream fulfillment. Other people aren't quite sure what they want or if they even have any dreams they'd like to fulfill. So, they think that since they don't know what they want or what their dreams are, they can't really take any action.

Well, I'm here to share my experience with uniting those two words, action and dreams, and surviving . . . thriving! I can promise you that it's not as scary as it seems and if you just trust the Universe and most importantly BELIEVE that you will be alright, no matter what, the action part of the equation will literally take care of itself. At least the big actions, the physical ones where you actually have to move and do things.

As the quote above says, we all know the way. I say this all the time, we all have the answers we seek. And, the first step in taking some action towards fulfilling our dreams is to actually do very little at all, at least physically. I'm talking about meditation of course. This is the first thing I tell someone that seems to be having a hard time dealing with life or not sure of what they are doing. Like I said, we have the answers inside, the way to get to them is by listening to the stillness within.

This is an action step of the spiritual kind. And I think one of the most valuable ones on the road to manifestation. Again, some people just don't get the whole meditation thing. They can't quiet their minds. They can't sit still. They can't keep thoughts from popping up every single minute. It seems impossible to be able to get any answers when all they keep hearing is the melody to Gaga's "Pokerface." I personally don't accept any of these as excuses to not meditate. As with anything else that might tackle in this life, the more you do it, the easier it gets. And, I'm one for doing away with rules for just about everything and meditation isn't spared.

The goal is to have what Abraham calls, pure positive thought. They believe it's easier to teach us to meditate than to have just pure positive thought. And, I believe they are right. But, on the way to pure positive thought, which can be achieved via a great meditation practice, feel free to try other meditative practices.

For example, although I do meditate and love my meditation practices, my biggest form of meditation is my art. When I am working on my art, I am taking part in almost 100% pure positive thought. Why? Because I love it! I can do it all day and night if I could get away without sleeping. When I am creating a piece of art, my mind is so focused on the work and I am in such a state of JOY that hardly a thought enters it. What does that remind you of? Meditation! By doing what I love, I am connected to the creative power of this Universe and nothing of a negative nature can be attracted to me at that moment. Hence the reason I am in BLISS. I am able to reach pure positive thought and in a sense practice hours of meditation while I am doing my art.

So, if meditation scares you and quieting your mind seems like an insurmountable feat, I urge you to do something you love doing for at least 10 minutes a day. Find something that will help you focus and be able to rest your mind, quiet those thoughts. Listen to some music and make it your intention to just concentrate on the music itself, on every single note of the song. Paint, draw, sing, go for a walk in the park . . . do whatever it takes to get you as close as possible to having pure positive thoughts. This is an important and life-changing step on the road to your dreams. Believe. Listen. Allow.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

What if it's only . . . HOPE?

Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope. ~ Author Unknown

Photo courtesy: fall out of line

Someone asked me recently, "What if all they're selling is "hope?" By they, she meant people like Oprah, Abraham-Hicks, The Secret, Marianne Williamson, Louise L. Hay, etc. etc. I know this because I asked her to tell who they were. She wanted to know if that's all they were really doing? If there was nothing behind their books and TV shows and seminars? If the only real truth they were giving people was . . . HOPE. My answer was, "Maybe that's all they're giving. But, maybe, that's all we need."

As many of you know, I'm a huge Oprah fan. I love the teachings of Abraham-Hicks and find great comfort and truth in the words and affirmations of Louise L. Hay. I've just practically begun my journey into my own personal truth. I'm still learning every single day to break down the patterns of old thinking. There isn't a day that goes by that an old tape wants to start playing in my mind and therefore, competing with my current play list. The old tapes filled with doubt and self-image issues want to get into rotation. The ones that go on and on about how we have to work hard and suffer and nobody likes to work but that's how life goes. You're not supposed to like what you do for a living, you're supposed to just work to make money and have two weeks vacation. And on and on these tapes can go.

But, from listening to Abraham, The Secret, Louise L. Hay and the rest, I have gained the knowledge needed to stop those corroded tapes from spewing their tired old lies. In their place, a symphony of hope begins to play. With a simple affirmation, I can erase the damage of years past. By watching a YouTube video from Abraham, I can raise my vibration to a better-feeling state. By opening a book and reading the soothing and comforting words of Dr. Wayne Dyer, I can view the things around me in a different way and thereby changing the way I let them affect me. By playing a good Oprah episode filled with some one's dreams coming true, I can see evidence of the possibility!

Maybe all they're "selling" is in fact hope. Maybe my friend is correct in asking that question. The thing is, I have no objection to that. There is nothing better than to hope for something. It's what dreams are made of. Little particles of brilliant, smashing pieces of HOPE. Every time I shoot a rocket of desire for something I want, it is HOPE that propels it into the air. I'll delve a little deeper into the connection between hopes and dreams on Thursday. Until then, you know I have to give you a little assignment. :-) Take stock of the little things that bring or give you hope on a daily basis. Those little miracles that keep you moving in the direction of your dreams. They are PRECIOUS* gifts and the more we take notice of them, the more they will multiply to help us on our journey.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

*I went to see Precious this past weekend and I urge you all . . . URGE!!!! . . . to take the time to see this movie. It will leave you breathless, inspired and filled with great HOPE. Talk about believing in the impossible and making it POSSIBLE! Outstanding!

Right from the start, you "know" . . .

"It was much more important to you to recognize the existence of your own Guidance System, and to utilize it, than to be deemed correct by, or to find approval from, others." - Abraham-Hicks (The Vortex - Where The Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships)

The sentence above comes from Abraham-Hicks' new book, The Vortex. It appears as part of a chapter dealing with our relationship with our parents and how from birth, we already come with our own sets of beliefs, desires and actions we want to take in our lives. This is something I completely relate to and wholeheartedly believe in. I might not remember many things, such as what I had for breakfast this morning or the plot to a movie I've seen 100 times, but I distinctly remember this feeling of "knowing" all I needed to know when I was very little. I have vivid flashes of looking at my parents and thinking, "What?! Are you kidding me lady? Don't you know this is how it's done?" And, I also had no inhibitions whatsoever! Don't you remember a little of that? Or, if you don't, just observe a baby or a toddler and see how free they are. They know what they like and don't like and let you know with high-pitched screams, either of delight or anger. :-) They're not afraid to do anything and try everything. Brilliant little beings still so fully connected to the Source from which they came from.

As we get older and our well-meaning parents have taught us a thing or two, and we start dealing with other children in school, we start to lose that pure connection to Source Energy, or our Inner Being. As the connection begins to fade, our ability to trust ourselves implicitly also takes a beating. We start asking ourselves a myriad of questions before we take action. "What would mom and dad think of what I'm doing?" "If I wear this to school, I might get made fun of or picked on." "If I act this way, people will think I'm weird." And on and on and on. By the time we make it to the teenage years, it's a wonder we leave our rooms at all. It feels as if the entire world is always judging you, ready to make fun of you, or controlling your every mood.

How we survive these years and the shape in which we make it to adulthood depends on a variety of factors. Such as, what type of parents you have, religious influence, environment, etc. Personally, I was raised by Jehovah's Witnesses, lived in Communist Cuba until I was 8 and knew I was gay since I was about 4 or 5 (well, I knew I was different). Ha! With all of these factors active in my life experience, I learned to fake it to survive. But, luckily enough, I somehow kept that connection to Source that told me I was alright. I never felt a need to fully compromise myself in order to fit in or please other people. Even when those other people were my parents. I faked my way through the many years of going to Jehovah's Witness meetings and preaching door to door. What I mean is that I would do what they asked of me, up to a point. They wanted me to go preaching door to door on a Saturday morning? I'd go, but they weren't going to make me speak to anyone. They wanted me to participate in the weekly meetings and give short speeches? I'd do it, but I wasn't going to be the one preparing the speech or doing any of the research for it. I politely explained to my mother that if she wanted me to do it, she'd have to prepare the entire thing for me.

Many times we give too much of ourselves over to others in order to please them or have them like us. This is especially easy to do when it involves our parents or family members and we think that because we're blood related, then we must love and like each other no matter what. It becomes too important how another person feels about us. Too much control is then given to another. I've always had a different way of looking at these relationships, but I'll continue this on Saturday. Until then, take a few minutes and check on your connection to your Inner Being. Who's in control of your feeling good? Who are you trying to please and why? Does your happiness rely on what another person thinks about you or the way you live your life?

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

A lesson about living in JOY . . . no matter what!

"The basis of your life is FREEDOM. Your quest is JOY!" ~ Abraham

This past Tuesday, in the midst of a beautiful Day-Dreaming Tuesday as a matter of fact, I found myself in the middle of an interesting predicament. I found myself without any money. There was literally $1.50 or so in my bank account. My wallet was absolutely empty and since I don't have credit cards, I didn't have the option of using them. This meant that I was out in the world, at my day-job without the ability to buy any lunch or a way to get back home. By the time I had realized my situation, I was already at work. Maybe if I had seen this coming, I would've packed a lunch or asked my partner Jhon for some money, but I hadn't seen it coming. Well, it was a possibility in the back of my mind but I kept ignoring it for some reason.

So, there I am and it's a little past Noon. I get a text from Jhon and he asks me how I'm doing, hoping I'm having a great day. I answer back that I was indeed having a great day even though I was starving and had no money for lunch. Being the extremely loving and caring human being that he is, Jhon immediately sends me a text back. He's worried about me and he says that he is so sad. What I wrote to him made him very sad. I understood his concerns because if it would have been the other way around, I would've felt the same way.

For some reason, this is what I wrote to him: "Don't be sad. All is well. I'll find something to eat. Don't worry. I love you! It's a beautiful day!! Spend it in JOY! I'll be fine."

Jhon at first didn't understand this. He said that how could he find JOY when his favorite person was going hungry?!! I asked him to just trust that everything would be alright. To please join me in seeking out joy and beauty and happiness in the day. He reluctantly agreed . . .

So, I went about my day. I kept working. I kept daydreaming. I kept feeling hungry. Most importantly though, I never let go of my connection to feeling GOOD. Even when I came to the point where I felt a bit dizzy as I moved about my office, I was still in JOY. Sounds crazy, I know, but I had made it my intention to remain in a constant state of happiness, no matter what. This experience had presented itself for a reason and I was determined to live through it and learn from it.

I wasn't really hungry!! The possibility of going without food for 8 or 9 hours is nothing compared to the millions of people on this planet, right this very instant, that REALLY have nothing to eat. Eventually I was going to be able to get some food. Eventually, I would have money in my bank account, or in my wallet. So, this temporary state was just that . . .temporary. There were lessons to be learned and I looked forward to those lessons.

One of the most important things I learned on Tuesday was the truth behind the messages of always looking for a better-feeling thought. That was exactly what I did all day. I have to admit that I had started my day in a pretty good place. But, once I found out my monetary status, I didn't let that bring me down from that place. In fact, I used the experience to get me to an even higher vibration. I used my time to give thanks for everything that I had. The money and the food would come, but at that very moment, how many things did I have to be grateful for? How many incredible people were in my life? What could I be appreciative of? I found out that the list was pretty long. Everything was perfect just as it was. I accepted the situation and thanked the Universe for it. I continued to daydream of all the amazing projects and opportunities that were already here for me. I lived "as if" in a world filled with abundance and constant joy. I saw myself looking back on this day and feeling those hunger pangs and laughing. Everything was just perfect.

The outcome of all of this is pretty remarkable. As it turned out, I was able to find $5 that enabled me to get myself a large cup of coffee and a lovely and delicious piece of chocolate pound cake. I have never, ever, enjoyed anything more. Every single bite of that cake was a religious experience. It was as if I had never in my life eaten this before! The coffee, one of my favorite things, was one of the best coffees that deli across the street has ever made! When I finished, I was full and satisfied. And, I still had enough left over to get myself home.

Right after finishing my meal, I received a text from Jhon. As it turned out, extra money had literally just been handed to him. This wasn't money he had been waiting for or expecting. This was extra money that was presented to him without explanation. It was a beautiful thing!

When I got home and had a delicious dinner and we went over the day's events, it was pretty obvious that our attitudes during the day had made all the difference. Instead of allowing ourselves to wallow in misery and poverty and beating the drum of "NOT ENOUGH MONEY", "NO MONEY", we both made it our intention to beat the drum of FEELING GOOD! We looked for ways of being HAPPY, especially in our current situation. I believe this made all the difference. The things around us changed to meet up with our intentions. Situations and opportunities presented themselves to match our better-feeling thoughts.

I was also able to learn a few things about why I found myself in that situation. Even though I wholeheartedly believe that anything is possible, I found out that a lot of the time, my vibrational offerings are matching up with a sense of lack. Although I'm not constantly beating the drum of poverty and not enough money, I do let those thoughts play in my mind enough times that I found myself in that predicament. I'm still learning from the experience since its manifestation in my life means I was fully responsible for its presence. At the same time, I am so grateful for it.

Therefore, in times of challenge, do your best to keep a connection to well-being and feeling good, being happy! Whatever it takes, do it. Like Abraham says in the video above, it is our quest! We are here to find and live JOY! And in those times of hardship, if we can simply ease into the moment and reach for a thought that feels better, miracles will happen. From nothing, something will appear. All you have to do is trust that you will come out the other side in one piece. All is well.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Finish each day and be done with it . . .

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote from Emerson is one of the magnets that adorn our refrigerator. As it happens, we get accustomed to the things that surround us and we forget. So, it wasn't until last week that I stood in front of the fridge and read this quote and was struck by it. What a wonderful message of truly staying in the NOW. If we follow Emerson's advice, we'd have no choice but to live in the NOW. And how amazing to start each day anew without any feelings of regret or "shoulds" and "shouldn't haves".

I do my best to start each day this way but ever since re-reading that quote and consequently posting it on my Facebook page, I have had the words in my mind as a mantra running quietly in the background . To live my life without regrets is something I've been striving for. Regrets are truly a waste of time and energy. That energy can be directed to the NOW, to something that has the potential to lift you out of whatever your current state might be, get you moving forward in life, not looking back. So, I've got to say I've done my share of work on regrets and have arrived at a point where I understand and take full responsibility for the part I've played in my life and how each decision was made to the best of my ability at the time. "When you know better you do better."

What I'm really taken with in Emerson's quote is his advice to forget any blunders or absurdities that are committed during your day. That ability to not beat yourself up for something that you should have done or shouldn't have done. For example, there was a small part of me that felt that this blog posting should have been done earlier today instead of after Midnight. Well, obviously that is not correct. How do I know that? Because it's after Midnight and now is when I'm inspired enough to write it. It's the right time. I can't go against reality. It doesn't matter if I think I "should" have done it earlier because the truth is I didn't.

'Should' is one of those words that can get you in trouble whenever you use it. Louise Hay would like to have it removed from our vocabulary and I have to agree with her. She goes on to say that whenever you use the word 'should', you're either wrong, going to be wrong or were wrong about something. Isn't that the truth! Most of the time when the "S" word is used, it carries with it a lot of judgment and limitations. Emerson would certainly not be down with that! So that's one thing to try and start doing. Get rid of the "shoulds" that don't bring anything positive into your life. That can get you one step closer to the Emerson ideal of being done with your day and going easy on yourself.

Abraham likes to always say "Be easy about it", meaning to just take it easy. Learn to forgive yourself for anything you see as a shortcoming or for the things you think you should have done differently, or better or not at all. Let's start treating ourselves with kindness. We are constantly doing our best. At the end of the day, let's be grateful for every single breath we've taken, and for every single experience we've brought into our lives. As we close our eyes for sleep, let the promise of a bright new tomorrow light the spark of possibilities once more.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

I intend to only give my best . . .

The best you can do for anyone is to thrive fully and be willing to explain to anyone who asks how it is that you are thriving, and what it is that you've discovered—and then, just relax and trust that all truly is well. ~ Abraham

I finished my first IntenSati 4-week workshop last night. Like I wrote in my first IntenSati entry, I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into when I took the first class or really, even when when I signed up for the entire 4-week workshop. I trusted my instinct that told me "You're gonna fucking love it! Just do it!". So, I signed up and you know from my first post that I did indeed love every second of the classes.

(Erin Stutland photo courtesy of www.erinstutland.com)

For those of you that might not know what IntenSati is about, please go here: ErinStutland and here: Sati Life And you can also visit this NY Pix Morning News blog to see Erin in action: IntenSati

Great! So now you know that the class also involves spoken affirmations that you say sometimes OUTLOUD, at times in a whisper and other times to yourself. Speaking the affirmations throughout the workout is a great gage on how well you are doing with the physical part. As a certified Urban Rebounding & Spinning instructor, I'm a firm believer in the fact that you should always be able to carry out a conversation while doing aerobic work. Maybe not a full out debate about Gay Marriage but at least a few coherent sentences that lets you know you're still alive! :-) So, that's one great thing about the spoken affirmations and of course, the other is the intentions behind each affirmation as it ties in to the work you are doing, both physically and spiritually.

How the class works is you start with one affirmation that corresponds with specific movements and then you continue to add until it becomes a full cycle of affirmations and movements. It's quite a journey. Towards the end of the journey, during lower body work, my favorite affirmation is spoken:

• I intend
• To only give my best
• My best gets better
• I'm leaving all the rest

Those words are the ones that stay with me every time I leave class and for the next few days, they become my mantra. How wonderful that is! I keep being reminded that in all situations, my intention is to only give my best. As I do this, my best gets better, meaning I do better, I feel better and in turn whatever it is I'm dealing with gets better. While focusing on doing better, I then leave all the rest. Everything else just falls behind me and I'm able to let go of it. I'm able to let go of the negativity that can try to seep into my every day. I let go of self-doubt. I left go of habitual thinking that has only kept me trapped doing things I don't enjoy. I let go . . .

When I started the IntenSati practice, I was asked by Erin, our fabulous teacher, to pick three or four intentions for the month. Things I wanted to work on. This being my first workshop, I decided to work on a few things that were important to me but not anything too major. This was a testing of the waters in a sense. I intended to have FUN every single day of the month. I also intended to do my Ah Meditation every day. And, I intended to get my Whirling Art products to a new level. I have to say I did pretty well on each of my intentions. I did have fun every single day this past month. I did do my Ah Meditation almost every single morning. That's alright though. I loved every time that I got to do it and it showed me that it is something I enjoy so much, so of course I'm going to make time for it. I was able to create beautiful clothing with the help of Zazzle and my clothing line, along with a few other more personal items, will be ready for a full out launch very, very soon . . . hmmm this weekend perhaps!

Therefore, IntenSati was a success for me in the sense that I was able to follow through with the intentions I set out for myself at the beginning of the course. And for that I am grateful. But, I'm even more grateful for the way the practice spilled over onto other areas of my life that I had not included in my intentions for the month! That's where the real excitement for me has come from. As those words above kept repeating in my mind, I noticed the areas in my life where I wasn't doing my best because I wasn't giving it my best. This way of thinking then leads you to a myriad of questions that can unearth some pretty startling revelations about why exactly you're not giving your best! For me it all boiled down to a few fears that I've had to come face to face with. I'm still in the process of working through them but I'm so glad to have gotten here.

I'm definitely continuing with IntenSati. The next set of intentions that I'm going to work with and focus on for the next 6 weeks are huge for me! I can't say that I'm not scared but I'm not as scared as I think I would have been before starting the practice. I now know that I've got a great group of people that have my back. Being open to the flow of positive energy and a strong connection with Source will only make the work easier to handle.

Through it all I intend to give my best and that's all you can do really. Always give your best in every situation. Lean into the things that you need to work on. Nice and easy does it. Always giving your best. As you give your best, things will get better. As you focus on your intentions, all other things that aren't serving the higher purpose of these intentions, will fade away. The path will open up for all the goodness in life to come through for you.

Just remember to always . . . give . . . your best.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Namaste,

Gene-Manuel

In CHANGE there is POWER . . .

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." ~ Alan Cohen

I recently received a phone call from a good friend of mine, Erica, and since I was rather busy at the time of the call, I let it go to voicemail. Erica left me a very nice message, asking me how I was and hoping that all was well with us. Since Erica is quite funny, I love receiving her messages because the message will undoubtedly make me laugh. At the end of this particular message, Erica wished me what ended up being, much bliss. Erica had a hard time finding the right words since this was sort of new to her. You see, Erica was trying to speak "that crazy, wacko talk" I now have. Those were her words. Meaning, my new-found spirituality and positivity.

Now, I don't want you to think that Erica was trying to be mean or disparaging. There was a lot of love in the message and in her own way, she was trying to acknowledge my new state of "blissfulness" and let me know, she had been paying attention. This was just Erica being Erica and I loved her for that very much. But, I must say that I found the comment interesting. I immediately knew I'd be writing about it and that's always exciting news. With all of the other projects I'm involved with, being inspired to write and making the time to write is sometimes not so easy.

Erica's comment about my "crazy, wacko talk" made me realize how over the last year or so, I have indeed changed from the old me, to this new wacko talking me. How the person that I was several years ago, no longer really exists, but only a minor glimpse of him can be found every now and again when there's a slight glitch in my connection. Like a ghost. It also made me truly see how much happier I am with the me that I've finally let shine through.

This transformation, if you want to call it that, has been a long time coming. I've been attracting all kinds of teachers along the way since my early 20s when a friend and her girlfriend gave me Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love. I read it then and although some of it made sense, I wasn't ready for it. At the time I had issues with the word God and anyone that spoke to much about God, just wasn't for me. I had just escaped from my religious background and I could not get past the G word.

Then a couple of years later, I was introduced to The Magic of Believing in an interview with comedic genius Phyllis Diller. Phyllis was asked about her start in comedy when she was already in her 40s, with five children. She said that she had read a book that had changed her life. That book was The Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol. I immediately ran out to get this book which at the time was basically almost out of print. I found a copy and devoured it. Loved it to so much that I photocopied the entire book and gave it to my friends for X-Mas that year. I don't think any of them cared for it but for a brief time, this book had made perfect sense to me. In fact, in hindsight, I've used the principles in that book ever since I read it. Most of the time, I wasn't really aware of it but I know I did. I don't think I was completely ready for what I was learning but what is obvious is that these kinds of teachings have always been around me. I've always been attracted to them and they've always been presented to me in one way or another.

It just took a while for me to really make a connection with it all. For years I think I was afraid to truly believe in anything. I didn't want to be thought of as crazy. I also didn't know who I would become if I stopped being this bitter, sarcastic, people-hating, rage-filled Gene-Manuel. Who would I be? That had been my identity for so long! That's the person I had been hiding behind because it was much easier to complain about life and how much I hated it, than to do something about it and get out of my fucking way. I had also surrounded myself with beautiful people that accepted me as that bitter wise-cracking individual, warts and all. Who would I be in front of my friends? Would they all think I was nuts or even believe me? Would we have anything in common anymore? For a long time I had a fear of letting go of the familiar, of being miserable, for what I thought was only fantasy. There is great comfort in accepting what you think is your toll in life without venturing out and really living.

Once I became aware that I had to change in order to save my life, in order to start enjoying my life, all other concerns paled in comparison. Being stuck in an endless cycle of depression and anger was definitely not a way to live. All of these new ways of thinking that I was attracting, such as The Secret, Abraham-Hicks and Eckhart Tolle, were breaking through that exterior I had created to protect me. Eckart Tolle's writing made me aware of my ego and the part it played in the things I did or did not do. Once you're able to understand how ego can take over your life, then what others think of you becomes less of a concern. People will either accept you or they won't but you can't ever live your life worried about that. And once I became comfortable with who I was becoming, and believe me, I was as surprised at first as anybody, the Universe took care of bringing the right teachers and people into my life that I could connect with. The right books and movies came into my hands. I was more open to the messages. I became more understanding of what I was meant to be doing with my life. I slowly said goodbye to the old Gene-Manuel.

I had a rather interesting dream that was a sort of farewell to him. Luckily, Louise Hay was there to help me do it. In her calm and gentle way, she basically told me that the old me was no longer. He had served a purpose but it was time for me to say Goodbye. I no longer needed to hide behind that facade. It was a beautiful dream that I can still remember vividly. When I awoke, I felt a sense of loss for that old me but a renewed sense of self as well. So many things made sense, not only in regards to my actions in the past but of what I was doing in the now and things to come.

So it's ok if people think I'm talking crazy with all my positive posts, Day-Dreaming Tuesdays, Thank You Universe Rampages and Louise Hay quotes. That is just wonderful! I'll keep doing things this way as long as I feel the connection and keep floating downstream. I thank all of you that have joined me on this journey. All of your encouragement and kind words about what I'm doing now really keeps me in the flow and I am so grateful. Let's continue our wacko talk together! What amazing things we'll be able to create!

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Finding a better-feeling thought . . .on the way to feeling GOOD

"There is always an even-happier thought than the happy thought you're thinking now. There is always even a better feeling--your capacity to achieve a better feeling is unlimited." ~ Abraham

So today I spent most of my day really reaching for a better-feeling thought. This was the day that I put these words to the test. And I mean, I started doing it this morning, from the minute I woke up until right about now as I type these words. I usually wake up and say an internal "Thank You" to the Universe as I take a peek at my vision board and pick out a word or phrase for my day. This morning's word was OM (the Universal symbol of Creation). Right when I looked at the word and proceeded to step off the bed, (our bed is quite high and I'm short so I sort of jump off of it every morning), I had a small pang of "not-quite-rightness" which I immediately followed with another big "Thank YOU" to the Universe for another day.

I wasn't looking forward to dealing with the IRS. Yes, I truly believe that we live in an abundant world and I know that I am alright and on the right path, but when you have to deal with the IRS, some times it can become overwhelming. Without going into details, being a freelancer has put me in a position where I owe back taxes. It's all being taken care of but it can be a little stressful. Ha! So, I knew that today was the day I had to take care of the matter and I was determined to continue loving what is no matter what.

Luckily, it was Day-Dreaming Tuesday and I made it my intention to really concentrate on my dreams and focus as much of my attention as possible on the dreams I want to make reality. This helped immensely. Although I knew I had to make the phone call, being involved in a wonderful and magical daydream of things to come was just what I needed. This kept me reaching for a better-feeling thought every step of the way up to the dreaded phone call. Right before I picked up the phone to dial, I made it my intention to have a pleasant conversation and a solution to the matter. I was determined to feel good about the whole thing.

Well, I have to admit that even though the conversation went quite well, after I hung up the phone, I did have a good cry. I allowed myself to cry over the events and decisions in the past that landed me in this situation. But, surprisingly enough, the cry only lasted about two minutes or so. It was abundant but short. I immediately reached for a better-feeling thought to pull me from any kind of "woe is me" mentality. I brought my attention to the present moment and all of the things I have to be grateful for. I also broke the IRS issue down into smaller pieces. When you break down a "problem" or challenge into smaller pieces, it is much easier to handle. For example, if you have 100 lbs to lose, thinking of the 100 lbs can be quite overwhelming. But, if you break it down to losing one pound or five pounds at a time, that's much easier to comprehend and not as insurmountable. That's what I did with my problem. I can only do what I can do at this very moment. One step at a time.

I spent most of my day doing things that made me feel good. I listened to music that I love. I worked on my art and designed some products. On my walk home I created a game to occupy my time and keep me in a constant state of appreciation and yes, feeling good. I'm not saying there aren't times when I break down and feel low. It happens to us all. But, nothing productive can come from that low point. At least, it's never helped me. The answer to our problems or challenges is not found at the deepest levels of despair. But, if we can move one level up from depression or that feeling of despair to maybe anger, we'll be moving in the right direction. There's energy in anger and if we continue to move up, slowly, we can get to those better-feeling thoughts all the way to optimism and hope and ultimately JOY!

I never made it all the way down to depression today and for that I am so grateful. In fact, I can honestly say that I wasn't too far from joy for any long period of time. I took each moment as it came my way and always made the decision to feel good. Everything I did today had the intention of making me feel good. Come to think of it, even making the phone call was an act of reaching for a better feeling. With the phone call out of the way, I didn't have to think about it anymore, and once you get something unpleasant out of the way, you always . . . feel GOOD.

I'll be writing more about how we are all hereon Earth to basically feel our best all the time. Every single decision we make is usually with the intention to, you know it: feel good. For now, I'm going back to my new whirling dervish piece since spending time doing what I love is always the quickest way to BLISS. Aaaahhhhh

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

I am In Ten Satis Fied . . .

IntenSati ~ A practice for your body, heart and mind.
"Inten" derives from "intention," and "Sati" is a Pali word which means mindfulness.

My insanely talented friend Erin Stutland (pictured), actress, dancer, writer and most importantly, a beautiful human being, had been after me to take this class she was teaching called IntenSati. She had been following my posts on Facebook and knew that I was a fan of Abraham-Hicks and Louise L. Hay and all of the wonderful teachers that have been placed in my path. Therefore, she just knew that I would love this class. So, she kept inviting me to her workshops and for one thing or another, I kept not being able to do it. I also didn't quite understand what Louise Hay had to do with an exercise class. It made no sense to me.

Erin tried once more and this time it worked. I asked my friend Nikki Walker to come take the class with me and she agreed. In all honesty, I had read some of the information on Erin's website but it had been a quick scan and not much had sunk in. When I invited Nikki I didn't really give her much information other than that Erin was teaching and that it sounded like a good time. On our way there, Nikki asked me if I knew anything about what we were about to do. I said, "well, I think we're doing some kind of yoga class while saying some "You Can Heal Your Life" affirmations mixed in with a little aerobic work. . . . I think . . ." I had no idea what was about to happen to us!

We got to Chelsea Studios and waited for Erin to arrive. It was a lovely reunion of old friends (Nikki and I had done a show with Erin years ago that made everyone in the cast become like family). Class began and Erin explained a bit about what IntenSati was about. This was a one-off class, therefore, it was not the beginning of a workshop, but just a teaser. She warned that it was going to be a little harder than usual.

Nothing that I had read on Erin's site or anywhere else could have prepared me for this class. It was one of those life-changing experiences that makes you ask yourself, "why haven't I been doing this FOREVER?!" The combination of high intensity aerobics, with yoga moves, dance and martial arts plus spoken affirmations made perfect sense to me! There was this immediate connection with every single person in that room. We were all there as one united force to be reckoned with! But, this wasn't just another exercise class this was an intensely spiritual experience, at least for me. Many times during class, my eyes teared up from a sense of belonging and serenity of mind and spirit. Underneath the music and the sweat, and believe there was sweat, there was this incredible feeling of empowerment. There is a reason why IntenSati is considered a "practice."

After class was over, I knew right then that I would be taking part in Erin's upcoming 4-week workshop. I was also so very proud of my friend for it was so obvious how much she loved what she was doing. Erin was pure loving energy. She radiated her brilliant and beautiful light and guided us every step of the way on our own personal journey. Her teaching went beyond the physicality of the class, but much deeper into the soul of each student. What a privilege to be led through yet another glorious path in life by such an accomplished and loving teacher.

I'm up to the third week of the workshop and I've already seen changes in many areas of my life, not to mention the way my body feels. I'll be writing more about the whole experience once I'm finished with the last week of the workshop. I cannot recommend IntenSati enough to anyone that is looking for a practice that has the potential to change EVERYTHING!

Namaste.

Gene-Manuel

For additional information on IntenSati, please click here: SatiLife

"Thank you Universe for . . . "

I've started to do what I call Thank You Universe rampages. It's my way of thanking the Universe for all the good in my life and showing appreciation for it all. I've taken the idea of the rampages from what Abraham-Hicks sometimes does where Abraham will go on what they call a rampage or a verbal rush of words on a specific topic. You can experience one of my favorite Abraham rampages here:

It's really quite simple to do and we all know that the simpler something is, the more likely it is for us to do it. A Thank You Universe rampage can be done at any time and since it doesn't necessarily have to be done out loud, you can do it anywhere. I usually like to do it out loud in the mornings but there are times when I do it in the crowded bus and turn my commute into a game.

The object of the rampage is to not only show gratitude and appreciation for all the things in your life, no matter how small, but it's also a way to recharge the energy around you. It's really an amazing tool to use when you're not particularly feeling very upbeat. I've done a rampage when I've been feeling just a bit low in energy and mood and the shift that occurs after I'm done, is absolutely amazing! The simple act of pointing out all of the things in your life, at the very moment you are doing the rampage, that you are grateful for, opens up an entire realm of positive energy you might not have been tapped into before doing the rampage.

I start by saying "Thank you Universe for. . . " and I mention the first thing that pops into my head. It can be as simple as the coffee pot that's brewing in front of me. Then I go from there. Feel free to start with "Thank you Universe for. . . " and then list the things you're appreciating one after the other. That is just fine. Personally, I like thank the Universe for each individual thing in a separate sentence. For me it gives each thing its proper acknowledgement. It's fascinating where the rampage can take you. Since I try to say one thing right after the other, I'm never really sure where the rampage will take me.

For example, if I start with the coffee pot, I might then be thankful for the coffee, then that takes me to the coffee bean, and the place where the coffee bean was ground, then the water, the heat in the pad to keep the coffee hot, etc., etc., etc. Sometimes, in the midst of a rampage, I'm made aware of how many steps there are and how many people are involved in doing something so that I can benefit from it. These are things and people I never would've even dreamed of thanking and being appreciative of if it wasn't for a rampage of appreciation! I mean really, how many times do we thank the person that delivered the eggs to the store so that I could go buy them and enjoy my Denver omelet?

While doing them on the bus, I turn the rampage into a game. As I pass by different parts of the city, I search for things to be grateful for. The sun, the rain, the pavement, the trees in the park, the fountain, the streetlights that do their best to keep us safe in traffic. The opportunities to be thankful are endless and my sometimes long and traffic-filled commutes become more of an opportunity to be grateful than a time being stuck in traffic.

The rampages don't have to last very long. There's no specific time limit for them. The goal is to feel good and get into that state of appreciation where then all things are possible. If you're being grateful and are fully appreciating everything that is happening in your life, then you have entered a state of allowing. There can be no resistance coming from you when you are so open to the Universe's abundance and wisdom.

I can't recommend these rampages enough. If you're alone in the house and can really let go, do it. Do as the definition for rampage states: rush wildly about. Let loose and really get that energy flowing. Radiate appreciation for the more you appreciate and are thankful for in this world, the more things you'll be given to be grateful for.

Peace and Light and Keep Dreaming!

Gene-Manuel

Visualizing your dreams

Excerpted from the workshop in Boston, MA on Saturday, October 9th, 1999:

Act a little less and think a little more... We're not saying stop acting and do it all in mind. We're saying work your 8 hours or your 10 hours or your 16 hours.. Just spend at least 10 or 15 minutes -- in a day where you are working 8-10-16 hours of physical action in order to maintain the physical stuff that you've gathered around you -- trying to find pleasure from some vision.

Afford yourself that. And that 10 or 15 minutes that you are finding pleasure, will cause a focalization of Energy within you that the Universe will actualize around. You will begin to notice that you are more productive, because of 15 minutes of visualization, than you were from 16 hours of hard labor. --- Abraham

When I received that quote in my Inbox yesterday, I started to smile. Every single word made so much sense. It is exactly what I have been doing for the past several weeks. Not so long ago, I finally understood that fine balance between what is going on in the physical world; the job, the appointments, the family issues, the love issues, etc. etc. All those things that feel real to us because they are happening around us and we can feel and touch them. And, then the flip side. That other world, that for my purposes I like to call my Day-Dream World. It's what I believe Abraham is talking about in the quote above.

I start my mornings with an Ah Meditation session, where as I recite or chant the sound of "Ah", I clear my root chakra and visualize the things I'd like to manifest. This is the start of my day and it affords me a peek into that Dream World. The world where I am already doing what it is I am longing to do. Where I am already able to accomplish the many things that are on my agenda. I won't go into them here because these things are filled with magic and should not be shared too often. But, needless to say, as I do the Ah Meditation, I am able to see and most importantly, feel all of the things I want to manifest and do in this world.

This feeling, this peek into that other world stays with me throughout my day. I try to go to that space as much as I can during my day, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. And, especially on Day-Dreaming Tuesdays, I make sure to set aside times during the day to daydream and "live" in that space for at least 5 minutes.

It has been written that daydreams have the power to show us what our lives can be like. And, if you pay attention, they can guide you towards a better life simply by giving you something to compare your present state with this "dream state." In other words, if you daydream of an amazing vacation and you see yourself enjoying all this vacation has to offer. Maybe it's an entire week of lounging at the beach or by the pool and doing absolutely nothing. Or, you're backpacking through Europe letting yourself go wherever the wind blows, truly being adventurous. If you daydream these scenarios, you are more likely to try and make your next vacation match this dream vacation and the Universe will get on board and help you get just what you've been visualizing.

That' s also what I believe Abraham is saying when they mention that you'll find yourself being more productive in those 10 - 15 minutes of visualization or dreaming. I've experienced that myself lately. I've been concentrating on making a few dreams come true with my art just by spending time daily on the feeling of having already done the things I'd like to do. I can assure you that all of a sudden, I've turned around and seen the work multiply and I've produced more and more so effortlessly that it seems as if these things were done without me. It's amazing!

I can't encourage you enough to spend some time, 10 or 15 minutes, 5 minutes if it's all you can afford to spend, and just dream a little. Enjoy the process. Let it be a pleasurable experience and not a chore. You really have nothing to lose and so much to gain. If nothing else, you have given yourself a small break from the craziness around you. Your mind and body will feel the shift and the more you do it, the more you'll want to do it and for longer periods of time.

Peace and Light and Keep Dreaming!

Gene-Manuel

A boulder in the road . . .

In the wonderful DVD, You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay speaks about our spiritual paths and how we never stop learning. How when we start out on our individual journey, at first, there are all these boulders in our path. As we continue the journey, we start getting the boulders out of our way, up to the point where the path is just gravel. She says, "gravel you can handle . . .you can do things. . . and then occasionally, there's an old boulder." And you think, "hmmm, I thought I had taken care of that one" or "I thought I had learned all the lessons this boulder had to teach", "I did this one already." Louise then asks, "Well, how do you know you've done it, (learned the lesson) unless it comes by once more and see how you react? Have you really learned it? Or are you going to go right back to the same old reaction?"

I was speaking to a dear friend today and this topic came up. The one about knowing better, or thinking that the lesson was learned way back in the day, and all of a sudden, you're back to what feels like your old behaviour. That boulder in the road, blocking your progress.

I was recently greeted with a boulder I know well: depression. I thought I had conquered it, done it, lived in, out and through it so many times in the past. I thought that finally, I really had come out the other side. But there it was. Faced with situations that made me feel uncomfortable, helpless and hopeless, I once again felt the grip of depression take hold. Even the things in my life that were bringing me so much joy, such as my art, seemed to lose their power to bring me joy and peace. In fact, a piece I had started prior to this depression bout, has taken me longer than any other piece I've ever done. My heart was just not in it.

But, this time, things were a little different. Although there was the day where all I did was sit in my recliner and play solitaire on my iPhone, I was able to at least for an hour or two, rise above the misery. Even though the next day I cried on and off for two hours before leaving the house, I was able to reach for a better feeling thought and spend a few hours in what I call mind-relief. I was able to focus on something else that wasn't my depressed emotional state. In the past, I would've marinated in the feelings of despair and would've come up with every single reason why I was justfied in feeling this way.

This time around, I was able to face the depression head-on and instead of it blocking my progress on my life journey, I only stayed put for a couple of weeks. And even while I was there, temporarily stuck in the road, I was still able to look around the boulder and see that the path was clear. Behind this boulder of depression, there was only gravel. And, yeah, gravel I can handle.

And you know what, I was also able to appreciate how much I loved and enjoyed my life prior to the depression kicking in. I realized that the only thing that had changed, was the way I was thinking about things. I missed that new me that had emerged from the years of self-inflicted pain, despair, anger and rage.

As it turns out, I guess I have been paying attention. All the wonderful teachers that I've attracted to me, and their words of wisdom and hope, had given me something I lacked before. Eckhart Tolle taught me to be as present as possible. Byron Katie's work allowed me to do The Work on the issues that were causing me such pain and rage and suffering. The messages and rampages of Abraham-Hicks were a blessing and a comfort. Every now and again I would hear Wayne Dyer's voice in my head, reminding me that by changing my thoughts, I could change my life.

I'm happy to say that I was able to slowly and carefully remove that boulder from my path. It has rolled to the side of road and although I hope I don't have to meet with it again, I feel pretty confident that I'll able able to handle it if I do. It just takes a constant awareness of what I'm feeling and what thoughts I'm focusing on. I can't always control the things around me, but I do have the power to control how I react to them. And, really, I feel it all boils down to trusting that the Universe is always looking out for me. If deep in my core I know that I'm being taken care of by an all-loving, peaceful and generous Universe, then I've got nothing to worry about.

Until next time.

Peace and Light and keep dreaming,

Gene-Manuel