Shine as brightly as you can- for your own sake.

I’ve been remembering this exchange I had in Portland a couple of months ago with this random woman in the bookstore.  She was one of those lovely people who you just run into “on accident.”  You don’t know each other, but the brief exchange you have shapes your life in a good way.

I remember her primarily because she said a series of things that were such good quotes.  I wrote them all down, and I remembered them.  The one that has been coming to me lately is one she said to my girlfriend and I.  She said, “You two are like the woman in that movie (Stardust) who just shines and shines to get out of trouble.  You’re so bright.”

Now I can’t really remember what we were talking about.  I mean I actually have no recollection of what my girlfriend and I were saying or doing at the time other than reacting to this lovely woman who was clearly shining as brightly as the brightest star herself.  But the idea and image made an impact on me.

This week, I’ve been thinking about that shining– and how good it feels.  And wondering what would happen if we all shined as brightly as we could– just for our own sakes.

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Inspire others– because you can!

Instead of following up this month’s inspiration saying with a story, I’m following it with an action. Here’s the deal.

I’m a huge fan of mail. I mean of actually getting something cool in your snail mailbox. But it is also seems like such a rarity these days. I was thinking of how great it would be to start the year off by getting a whole month’s worth of inspirational mail… and presto, an idea was born. So this year, I am offering a unique holiday gift giving (or receiving) opportunity. With the one month subscription of your choice. I will create and send to you (or the person(s) of your choice) one month’s worth inspiring snail mail. If you are tired of giving socks, and sweaters, or trying to decide exactly what to give– you can let me put my creativity and years worth of collected quotes, poems, jokes, and inspirational sayings to work for you, or your sister, or your mother, or your aunt, or your brother, or whoever you want.

I’ve created three subscription levels, to accommodate the variety of gift giving that we all do. But I can only make so much mail. So put your orders in soon to secure this unique gift for the person(s) of your choice! The details are below– and the order cut off is December 10th!

Give a unique gift they’ll never forget:
One month of
inspirational mail!

Start 2010 off right by giving or receiving one whole months worth of inspiring mail.

Don’t know what to give for the holiday season?
Looking for something unique, inspiring, memorable?

How about one month of inspirational mail! That’s right, I mean snail mail–right to your street mailbox.

Start 2010 off with a bang.
This is one gift the recipient or you will never forget.
Order deadline: December 10, 2009

PROJECT INSPIRATION:
Extraordinarily Inspired!– $100 for 20 pieces of inspirational mail, all sent during the month of January.

Very Inspired! — $50 for 10 pieces of inspirational mail, all sent during the month of January.

Inspire!– $25 for 4 pieces of inspirational mail, all sent during the month of January.

Selections will include: post cards, cards, (hand made and store bought), inspiring quotes, collages, poems, jokes.

All orders must be confirmed and paid for by December 10, 2010.

Credit cards accepted at:
http://www.spreadingblessings.com/CLASSES__PRODUCTS.html

Do you know someone who might like to give this gift to their own family and friends? Help me reach my goal of 400 pieces of mail! Please pass this on to your friends and loved ones.

Brought to you by
Spreading Blessings Media
www.spreadingblessings.com

Providing tools for inspired living!

Ask yourself, “What adventure awaits me today?”

I got this from my mom a couple of days ago.  She told me that she often looks at the day as an adventure.  Instead of thinking she knows it all, or even thinking that nothing special, interesting, or inspiring will happen, she shifts her mindset by looking at each day as an adventure.

“What adventure awaits me today?”  seems like the best thought to open yourself up to all sorts of solutions and experiences that you might not have known were waiting for you!

Bon voyage!

Be sure to tell us about it in the comment section if something particularly fun, surprising, or delightful happens to you.

Aimée Cartier is an intuitive, author, speaker, and the founder of Spreading Blessings Media.  More about her work can be found at www.spreadingblessings.com.  Sign up here to receive these regular blessings and inspirations in your email inbox.

Now is New!

Think about this.  It is.  Right now is not the same moment that you experienced before.  Neither you, nor it are the same than anything you’ve experienced in the past.  Since then, you’ve had new ideas and new experiences that have changed you.  So has the rest of the world.

I find this thought especially helpful when I have experienced a series of disappointments, or if I am in a situation similar to one I’ve experienced before but that didn’t turn out so great in the past.  Usually when this happens, my worst fears come up.  Almost automatically my mind starts to remind me of the past failures.

That’s when I take out this slogan and paste it on my forehead (well inside- I wouldn’t want to distract other people!)  Now is new.  Now is new, I remind myself.  This moment is not the same one that I experienced in the past, everything about this moment is different.

Two different ideas relating to “now is new” have been percolating in my brain recently.  And paradoxically, although they are both true, they are also opposites in a way.

The first is this:  for every idea that gets born in a tangible way, there were hundreds (maybe thousands) that didn’t.  That means that even all of those bogus ideas you’ve had, have actually added up to something.  If nothing else, they’ve pointed you in the direction of what would work.

The second is, just because something didn’t work out in the past, doesn’t mean it won’t work out now.  Sometimes things not working out has more to do with the particular circumstances not being aligned in that moment.  But since now is new– what didn’t work in the past, just may be your ticket this time.

Which one or both apply to you?

Aimée Cartier is an intuitive, author, speaker and the founder of Spreading Blessings Media.  To find out more about her work or sign up to receive blessings and inspirations in your inbox go to www.spreadingblessings.com.

Be yourself. It’s what the world wants.

Lately I’ve come across a lot of people who have actually become oppressed by the notion of doing good in the world. What I mean by that is that they have such a strong desire to add and contribute to this world, coupled with such specific notions of how one does that, that they have actually begun to feel powerless because of it.

The crazy and totally ironic thing is that most of the time we make the biggest impact on people completely on accident. Someone once told me that Bobby McFerrin’s song “Don’t worry, be happy” was actually made in a sound check. He was just goofing around! It was his biggest hit.

When we walk around with this erroneous notion of what it takes to contribute positively to this world— thinking that it can only come if we become doctors, or nurses, or teachers, or save the day in some measure— in most cases it actually prevents us from being ourselves (which incidentally is who we have to be to truly contribute.)

Last week I was blown away by this so fun, beautiful, and really uplifting video of a bride and groom and their wedding party dancing into their ceremony. I felt inspired watching it. I had goose bumps and I cried when I saw the bride dance into the wedding with such joy, in the wake of all of her friends who had been doing their own fun and goofy moves. Watching it actually made my night. 28 million people have now seen this video. The couple was actually interviewed on talk shows because of it! Do you know what they were thinking when they planned this into their wedding? “Wouldn’t this be a fun thing to do!?” It actually got on YouTube only because one of the couple’s parents wanted to share it with some relatives who weren’t present. It would be impossible to measure the amount of joy and positivity that was generated, entirely accidentally by this couple— during one 5 minutes minute period of their lives.

Do you see what I mean here?

My point is this—never underestimate the difference you can make in the world just by being yourself. You may, or you may not ever know of it, but guaranteed, the only way you can truly add to this world is by shining in your own unique way.

Aimée Cartier is an intuitive, author, and speaker/teacher. This is an excerpt from her October newsletter.  You can subscribe to receive her free monthly newsletter by clicking here. To schedule a reading or find out more about her work go to www.spreadingblessings.com.

Simple Formula for Life: Notice what brings you joy. Do it again.

Inspired by a conversation that I had with a friend the other day, I’ve been thinking of things that bring me joy. Yesterday at the end of the day I made the following list.

Today’s Joyful Actions
∗ submitted speaking proposal to East West Books
∗ Meditated
∗ Ran
∗ Talked to my dad
∗ Watched a movie
∗ Put my pajamas on at 6pm, and then drove into town in my PJ’s to get a root beer float.

Honestly, the last one was my favorite. And it was actually prompted by me making my list. I wrote it down before I did it. That simple simple action of reframing my day in terms of the things that brought me joy and satisfaction had a huge affect. It actually caused me to think of other things that I could do that would be fun. Let me tell you, I had an ear to ear grin last night as I got in my car wearing the fleece sesame street character pants that my sister made me when she was about 10 (text messaging her on the way) and drove into town for my root beer float. It was totally out of the blue and so much fun!

A lot of times in our lives we try to make things complicated—and we succeed. We tell ourselves we can’t do this or that, because of this or that reason. But the truth of the matter is that no matter how complex a system or life you have gotten yourself into—the simplest formulas always apply. They work. Always. Feel unhappy? Turn toward joy. How? Notice what makes you happy. Then do it again.

It’s really not hard. And it truly does work. It may take you a while to dig yourself completely out of your hole, if you’ve dug yourself a big one— but even the simplest steps will get you there. Even baby steps are movement in the right direction. Make it simple. Then repeat.

Aimée Cartier is an intuitive, author, and speaker/teacher. You can subscribe to receive her regular blessings and inspirations in your inbox by clicking here. More about her and her work can be found at www.spreadingblessings.com.

Accept Grace

I made a new motto the other day, “Accept Grace.” It felt like the antidote to my usual do-it-yourself kind of attitude. I’ve always been an independent person, even as a girl, but sometimes the knowing you are capable can get to be a little too much. “Take a load off, take it easy Aimée, you don’t have to do everything yourself,” I heard myself thinking. Then I asked myself, “How can I accept more grace into my life?” The first answer that came was an action verb, “Accept.”

Instead of thinking I have to do everything myself, I’m making my action be accepting the plethora of bounty and beauty that comes my way, without me even trying. I’m saying yes to the delicious experiences and support that arrives. I’m relying on the help of the benevolent Spirit beings that are always guiding my life.

Within hours of me making that motto someone came up to me at the grocery store and said “Hey thank you for your writing. I’ve been following your blogs. Also I heard you are looking for more speaking opportunities. Would you like me to put you in touch with some people who are doing this for a living? I’m a member of the National Speakers Association.”

“Yes.” Grace accepted.

Next, the grocery bagger offered to carry my one bag of groceries and bottle of wine to my car for me.

“Yes.” I accepted.

At the post office I was surprised to find a whole box of books waiting for me. All “Chicken Soup for the Soul, What I learned from the Cat,” books to which I am a contributing author. The books were sent to me to give away.

Then, a person who has been trying for weeks to find a quote he had jotted down of something someone said in response to my work, finally and easily, just walked up and handed it to me.

The quote was so beautiful it was like poetry.

“Aimée speaks from such a clear and centered place. Her voice has the ring of honesty—it was like listening to a bird sing.”

Is accepting grace all I ever need to do? I don’t know yet, but it’s an experiment I am willing to try.

Aimée Cartier is the founder of Spreading Blessings Media, a company dedicated to providing tools for inspired living. You can sign up to receive her regular blessings and inspirations in your inbox, or for her free e-newsletter here.

Finding Security in Insecure Times

My sister got a new job recently. A nine-five salaried position for a company she has worked for in the past. I was thinking about her position the other day as I was driving down the road. I was remembering what the “security” of a nine-five job with regularly scheduled checks in previously-agreed-upon-amounts felt like.

As an intuitive, writer, and speaker/teacher, it’s been years since I experienced that sort of regularity and consistency in my income. At the moment I was thinking about it, I was driving home from a booksellers conference where I had gone to make connections and find a publisher for my new book. Like most things I do, it was another example of how I live my life by the seat of my pants. I move, as I go along finding the solutions that are best for me in any given moment. I follow my intuition to the next step wherever and whatever that is. My security is not provided by the timing of my paychecks, it is provided by the fact that I know I am actually living what I am here to do. I am on course for why I came to this earth right now.

As I envisioned myself in the kind of job/life that my sister was in, I felt a huge sense of unease. I could see that what was perfect for her, was far from perfect for me. For me, choosing that alternative would actually create insecurity because I knew that it would only be a matter of time, (and probably sooner rather than later) before that so-called “secure” option ended, and forced me to get in line with what I was really here to do. My sense is that with the drastic changes we are experiencing in our life right now, those are the kind of choices and opportunities that many of us are facing.

We are each of us, right now, being asked to get on our own particular path,whatever that is. Security no longer comes from having a regular paycheck, because as we’ve all seen, that can change. It comes from knowing that you are living the life that your soul intended—that you are living a life that is authentic to you, and that you are offering the particular gifts you came here to give. There is a security in finding and living this that doesn’t come from external circumstances. You don’t know exactly how it is all going to work out, but you know for certain that it will.

We are each here to offer something special and specific that the world needs at this time. It is something that no one else can offer in quite the same way that you can. The road to your personal security lies in being able to identify this and in choosing to continuously move in that direction. It might not happen overnight, but if you keep preparing, and stay on course, the Universe will support you, even monetarily, in doing what you are here to do.

If you don’t know what that is yet, I’ve included the some guidance and a book recommendation in my free September newsletter. You can sign-up here. It also includes inspiring quotes and a great video clip. If you do know already—keep up the good work. If you don’t know– thank you for inquiring. And to all of us, wherever we are on the journey– have faith. Remind yourself often that the world needs your knowledge. Trust that by fulfilling who you are and what you are here to do, support will arrive, is arriving, has arrived!

All my love,

Aimée

Aimée Cartier is an author, intuitive, speaker/teacher and the founder of Spreading Blessings Media. This is an excerpt from her September newsletter. To subscribe to this newsletter click here. To contact Aimée about scheduling a speaking event on this subject or on the subject of her upcoming book entitled, Getting Answers: How to get the answer to any question you have. Email us at info (at)spreadingblessings.com.

You ARE significant!

A little man arrived in my dreams this morning.  He had white hair parted down the middle that was sort of brushed straight down and curled out at the end.  He had a very distinct jaw line that mirrored the chin of the person I had been thinking about when I went to bed.  The first thing that he communicated to me was, “Have you ever considered that things are going this way for your own good?”  He was talking about my disappointments.  He was showing me what I had failed to consider— that even the actions of others that I experienced as painful were actually to my benefit.

Then he said, “Most people spend their whole lives thinking that they are insignificant, never understanding that just being here has already made them important.”

When he said this, I began to cry.  Washing over me simultaneously I felt the grief of feeling I was insignificant, and the notion that I was more loved and significant than I could possibly imagine.

I knew this man was an envoy.  He was a spirit being that had taken pity on me and come to me in my dreams.  He told me things about the person he looked like, pointing out why he was behaving certain ways and doing certain things—giving me background that I wouldn’t have understood otherwise.

But his most significant message was universal:  “You are significant.  No matter who you are and what is happening in your life, you are significant.  The idea that it could even be otherwise is simply absurd.”

When he communicated this, in my minds eye I saw the millions of people who go about their lives everyday never really truly understanding or even considering their own significance.  They move around their lives thinking that they and their lives don’t matter.  I saw also how we are all being watched.  How there are spirit beings who are watching all of our lives with interest.  Who we are and what we do is significant to them.  They care about us.

Like the being who stepped into my dreams this morning to set me straight—we are all, always, being watched and loved by benevolent beings who have an interest in our lives.  No matter who we are, we are significant beyond imagining.

Aimée Cartier is an author, intuitive, speaker and the founder of Spreading Blessings Media.  To sign  up to receive her blessings and inspiration regularly by email click here.

It will all be clear in hindsight

Let’s face it—bizarre things happen in life.  Unexpected occurrences, events or interactions that didn’t quite work out the way you anticipated.  Plans that you had that were dashed, just when you were ready to move forward.  Experiences that didn’t quite take shape the way that you had hoped.  These things happen.  Disappointments happen.  They can.  And they do.  They are something that most of us experience in this life.

So what do you do when these things happen?

One of the most comforting thoughts I have during these periods is, “It will all be clear in hindsight.”  It is—it always is.

I’ve found that whole periods of my life sometimes became clear only after they happened.  At the time, I had no idea why this should be happening I knew only that it was.  Looking back upon it though I’ve always found that whatever that experience gave me, it was essential to me later.  I needed it.  I built upon it later.  What I learned was essential to me, sometimes for the rest of my life.

So if you can’t find the reason (why this is happening) now, it’s because you don’t need to know, yet.  Focus on what you do know.  What is in front of you that needs your attention?  Do that.  Follow your instinct.  And if it helps you, take comfort in knowing that it will all be clear later.  Because it is, it always is.