November 24, 2009

In This Issue

Featured Article: The Power of Gratitude

Announcements

Speaking Schedule

Daddy's Little Girls

Welcome to this week's issue of Appreciation (and Authenticity) in Action.

I hope you and those around you are doing well.  I also hope you are looking forward to a wonderful holiday this week – such a great time for us to slow down, take a step back, and focus on the many things we have to appreciate in our lives.

Last week’s article was all about having a great Thanksgiving – low-stress and positive.  It got picked up and published on Oprah.com.  You can read it there by clicking here.

Thanks so much for being on my email list – what an honor it is for me to connect with you this way each week.  Have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday!

With Appreciation,






The Power of Gratitude

(For this week's audio, click here.)

I’ve been speaking and writing about gratitude for almost ten years now – and I’m still amazed at how challenging it can be for me to focus on what I’m grateful for at times (especially when I’m feeling sorry for myself or complaining).  I’m also blown away by how powerful and transformative gratitude is when we choose to pay attention to it, experience it, and express it.

I met a man recently who had been in prison for almost thirty years.  When he was asked what he appreciated most about being out of jail he said, “Seeing the stars, listening to children laugh, and hearing dogs bark.”  Wow – think of all of the simple things we take for granted that we could choose to be grateful for each day.

What are you grateful for?  How often do you ask yourself and others this powerful question?  Sadly, many of us don’t take the time to ask or answer this question on a regular basis – especially in the midst of these difficult times.

Hopefully, you and your family will spend some time acknowledging what you’re grateful for this week on Thanksgiving and over the next few weeks during the holiday season.  However, focusing on gratitude is something that we can do all the time, not just on special occasions or during the holidays.

There are many reasons (i.e. excuses) we have for not focusing on what we’re grateful for:

• We’re too busy and stressed out
• We’re waiting for things to work out “perfectly” (which they almost never do)
• We don’t want to brag (especially these days with lots of people going through tough times)
• We focus on what needs improvement, the many things we still have to get done, and all of the “bad stuff” in our lives, about others, and in the world
• We feel funny about it or get embarrassed expressing our appreciation

While all of these “reasons” make sense and are understandable, they simply and sadly get in our way of tapping into one of the most powerful emotions and states of beings we have access to the power of gratitude.

I saw Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles and co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, on Larry King Live a few years ago.  He said that gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.

Gratitude not only makes us feel good, it’s also one of the greatest attractors of abundance, love, peace, success, health, connection, and more.  The more we focus on what we already have, the wonderful aspects of our lives, and what we appreciate; the more we end up having to be grateful for.

Stop for a moment right now and think about some of the things that you’re grateful for in your own life.  Make a list – either in your head or on paper.  We each have so much.  When we take the time to acknowledge our many blessings, we utilize the power of gratitude in a way that benefits us and those around us in a profound way.

Create gratitude practices

We can expand our capacity for gratitude in our lives by creating simple and genuine practices.  It doesn’t really matter what we do or how we do it, just that we come up with easy and meaningful ways to focus on what we’re grateful for all the time.  Below is a short list of some different possible gratitude practices.  Pick one, use many, or choose something else:

• Write cards or emails expressing your gratitude for others – and do this for no specific reason or occasion
• Meditate/pray and focus on what you’re grateful for
• Have everyone at the dinner table share something they’re grateful before you eat (or go around in the car or other times you’re together with your family and play this “grateful game”)
• Ask people what they’re grateful for (and/or ask this question as part of your outgoing voice mail message)
• Use a “gratitude journal” and write in it regularly

While so many of us understand and know about the power of gratitude, it’s the practice and expression of it that really has impact.  When we take the time to think about, feel, and express our gratitude and appreciation for life, others, and ourselves – we can literally transform our lives and relationships in a beautiful way.

What are you grateful for right now?  How can you expand your capacity for gratitude in your life – for Thanksgiving and in general? Share your thoughts, action ideas, insights, and more on my blog here.



For this week's audio message (including additional tips and suggestions) - click here.

Michael Beckwith’s PBS Special – airs nationally
11/27 – 12/10

Michael Beckwith’s amazing and inspirational PBS special, “The Answer is You,” begins airing on PBS stations around the country this coming weekend, 11/27.  I had the honor of being invited to the taping of this program in Los Angeles a few months ago and it was a magical, transformational evening.  Michael Beckwith is one of the most profound, wise, and insightful thought leaders and teachers of our time.  You will love this program and it is FREE on your local PBS station (I love public television)!  For a short video featuring Will.I.Am, Debbie Ford, Les Brown, Lisa Nichols, ME, and others about who Michael Beckwith is, click here.  For a short preview of this program, click on this link.  And, to find out more information about this special, as well as when it will be airing on your local PBS stations, check out this link: http://www.the-answer-is-you.com/

Great New Book – A Child at Heart, by Jamie Landon

Every parent wants the best for their children, and in a time when so much is painted so bleak, A Child at Heart: A Guide for Raising a Loving Child and for Reawakening the One in You, by Jamie Landon is a book that truly brings home the value of staying close to your children, loved ones, and the child within you.  It’s a heart-warming read that lays out exactly what it takes to make all the relationships that mean the most to you as strong as possible.  It is chock-full of light-hearted humor, cherished moments, and fun-filled ideas to bring families closer.  Jamie tugs at our heart-strings and inspires us to live the fulfilled and happy lives that we deserve...with the heart of a child.  For more info and to purchase copies of this wonderful new book, click here.  

Listen to my Interview with Debbie Ford

I recently had the honor of interviewing best-selling author Debbie Ford on my radio show, “Let’s Get Real with Mike Robbins.”  Debbie and I talked about the importance of shadow work, her new film The Shadow Effect, and her latest book, The 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse, among other things.  It was a fascinating and delightful conversation, and I think you will enjoy it.  To listen, click here (and then click on the link to my show with Debbie to download the MP3 of our interview for free).  My show airs on Energy Talk Radio daily at 7:00 AM ET and 5:00 PM PT (as well as each Friday at noon PT).  Check it out!

My Articles on Oprah.com

As you know, the folks at Oprah.com have recently published a number of my articles in the Spirit section of their wonderful and popular website.  I’m honored, humbled, and grateful for this.  They are planning to publish even more of my articles throughout the holidays and into the New Year, as well as feature some of them in their weekly Spirit Newsletter.  I’ve signed an agreement with them to be a regular contributor to Oprah.com for the next year and am so excited about this!  It would be fun and exciting to get as many people as possible to read my pieces on Oprah.com, which may possibly lead to more opportunities with her magazine, radio network, and, of course, TV show.

Here are a few ways you can support this:

• Sign up for a member account on Oprah.com (it’s quick, easy, and free)

• Make comments on any or all of my articles (you need to be a member to do this)

• Sign up for Oprah’s Spirit Newsletter (it’s emailed each week on Sunday night and may often feature one of my articles – you also need to be a member to get this)

• Share my Oprah.com articles with others on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc.

• Check out my pieces that have been published so far

Healing with the Masters – Free Teleseminar Series

You are invited to "Healing with the Masters" a free teleseminar series hosted by acclaimed author, healer and speaker, Jennifer McLean. This 13-week series provides you exclusive access to 24 of the world's leading experts in spirituality, wellness and healing (I am also one of the featured speakers!). Renowned leaders such as Neale Donald Walsch, Marci Shimoff, Gregg Braden, Gay Hendricks, plus 19 more, are providing an intimate portrait of how they achieved success in their respective fields as well as giving you personal insights on how you can easily accelerate your own consciousness and evolution.  The series has been going for a while, but you can still join.  My session takes place on 12/1.  For more info and to sign up for this free teleseminar series today, click here.

Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter

If you'd like to connect with me on Facebook or Twitter, click one or both of these links:

Where I'm Speaking:
Below is a list of where and when I'm speaking for the next few months. Most of these events are for my corporate or organizational clients (i.e. not open to the public). The ones in bold, however, are public events. I hope to see you at one of these!

For all my upcoming public events, check out this link. And, if you live in any of the cities where I'll be traveling and want to contact me about setting up a speaking engagement for your group or company while I'm in town, feel free to contact me.

12/10/09 - Redwood City, CA

12/13/09 - Santa Rosa, CA (CSLSR)

12/15/09 - San Ramon, CA

1/7/10 – Martinez, CA

1/8/09 – San Jose, CA

1/11/10 – Palo Alto, CA (Unity Palo Alto)

1/19/10 – San Rafael, CA (Marin HR Forum)

1/26/10 – Las Vegas, NV

1/27/10 – Palo Alto, CA

Again, for a full list of my upcoming public events, check out: http://www.beyourselfbook.com/events.htm.

"We love expressing our gratitude –
it is fun and easy! Happy Thanksgiving!"
- Samantha and Annarose Robbins

To see more photos of us and
our mommy and daddy, click here.