Diamond Days take many forms, they can happen in any aspect of your life. Perhaps it the thrill of a day when everything flows in your business and career. Perhaps it is a day when your connection with someone you love was exquisite. Perhaps it is a day when your spirit intermingles with the universal. Or perhaps it is something else entirely for you. Like the diamond’s many facets, possibilities abound.

Wealth and abundance is the collection of “Diamond Days” and memories that you hold in your heart. Diamond Days energize the spirit and set the stage for a bright future.

“Perceive the world with appreciation in your heart and an attitude of abundance and many diamond days will be be yours!” So create your own Diamond Days.

The video was inspired by an Adirondack Diamond Day. This Enrichment Meditation takes you on a journey through a Diamond Day, a precious and spiritual day, in the Adirondack Mountains in the fall. This meditation combines images, music, and narration to stimulate and move you in positive directions. My hope is that inspires you and reminds you of your Diamond Days!

Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude is a great way to remember to count our blessings every day of the year and is a testimony to the life changing power of doing so.

I’m very excited to be a part of this book! Gratitude is so critical to well-being, motivation, happiness, and discovering the full meanings in life. This book will encourage you to remind yourself about what you are grateful for every day.

My entry is about Precious Moments and the life embracing choice to notice and appreciate the precious moments in daily life.

This book is full of inspirational stories and appreciation, not only for the things and people we sometimes take for granted, but for challenging circumstances and often less than desirable events.

Expressing appreciation for the good things in our lives, though sometimes overlooked, is fairly easy. But imagine expressing your gratitude for things such as not fitting in, Muscular Dystrophy, bankruptcy, or the loss of a job or a loved one. That’s when the practice of gratitude really starts to take on a life changing power!

Net proceeds from all books in The Gratitude Book Project® series are proudly donated to the following charities:

• Feeding America
• Women for Women International
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.)

These books make great holiday gifts for friends and family and the book is a wonderful way to remember to count our daily blessings. I hope you will join me in supporting these organizations and in keeping gratitude in motion throughout the year.

Pick up your copies at Amazon, “The Gratitude Book Project: Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude.”

Sweet Fruit from the Bitter Tree: 61 Stories of Creative & Compassionate Ways out of Conflict by Mark Andreas!

Rosemary’s story from the book was featured on Steve Andreas’ Blog.

About the story he said:

This is a passionate and moving story of courage and the influence of language. It’s a great example of entering another person’s world through mirroring — and much more — in an extremely dangerous situation.

We think you’ll enjoy this story, from Rosemary Lake-Liotta, sharing her experience working as an EMT in tough neighborhoods.

Her response was the opposite of the classic instructions in such situations. You are usually told to respond to conflict with placating words like “let’s all calm down and discuss this rationally.” I think you can easily imagine how that would have worked here.

You can read Words Save Lives here. Steve Andreas posted it on his blog.

The book is full of valuable stories!  You can read more about the book at this website, SweetFruitBook.com.

You can also purchase it on Amazon.

Rosemary added the following comment to clarify a few points about her story:

You can read Words Save Lives here. Steve Andreas posted it on his blog.

The book is full of valuable stories! You can read more about the book at this website, SweetFruitBook.com.

You can also purchase it on Amazon.

How do you cope with change? Do you deny that it happens? Do you embrace it? Do you get swept away in it? Or do dance, adjust, and grow in the dynamic matrix?

Embracing change is accepting that it happens. Embracing change is appreciating that shifts are inevitable. Embracing change is finding your way of dancing within the grander processes that surround you. Your plans and intentions are played out inside processes of renewal, creation and transformation.

How you view change, personally, philosophically, and spiritually impacts your effectiveness on the journey that is your life.

The following video is the result of my own reflections inspired by nature’s constant changes. I hope it encourages you to reflect mindfully and with eyes wide open.

Video Transcript:

The idea of the whole thing is that all of these processes [Reflecting, Appreciating, and Creating] facilitate Doing and also facilitate Abundance.

We feel that appreciation is really an energizer. Appreciating yourself, appreciating other people, appreciating various things in your life is really appreciating some of the abundance that exists out there; and that appreciation creates energy, which is going to help bring more positive things to you in your life.

Not necessarily in a purely law of attraction type of way because I think, at least by my way of thinking, one of the things missing from the law of attraction, though it has a lot to offer and a lot of good messages, is okay – what about the doing?

Is all this going to be, if you just believe it strong enough it’s going to manifest? Well maybe, but generally it’s really difficult to believe something that purely; and second, it’s often doing that is going to bring more opportunities to you. Both in a practical way, whether you think about it in terms of the higher energy of the universe way of thinking about it, but just practically if you’re out there doing things and interacting with the world it is more likely that things are going to come to you!

Part of having that happen is appreciating what is out there. If you like people you’re going to interact with them more. It just creates an energy about you if you’re in a state of appreciation, if you’re appreciating, if that’s part of the eyes with which you look at the world…

To read more see the article on the 4 Practices Necessary to Achieve Abundance and explore other articles on this site.  More posts are coming soon.

The conference was held in Grand Junction, Colorado (the home of L. Michael Hall, an originator of Neuro-Semantics) July 1 through July 3, 2011. Representatives from 14 countries attended: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Hong Kong-China, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. Seventeen presenters delivered 20 workshops on the themes of Business, Coaching, and Personal Development along with 3 keynote presentations.

Dr. Hall commented that “…the passion and energy at the Conference was incredible! It was exciting. It often felt like a burning fire of passion and care for what we have and what it can do in the world…” I agree wholeheartedly Michael! The conference was lively, inspirational, and practical. The collective wisdom, optimism, and hope expressed by the presenters and participants was amazing. This gathering of diverse people, a global community, with the common mission of promoting excellence and self-actualization to change the world for the better – one person at a time – was something to behold!

My contribution was a workshop entitled “How to Make Meta-States Stick.” Meta-States in Neuro-Semantics are the frames we create, the meanings we create, about ourselves, our possibilities and potentials. Our frames limit us or they can unleash us toward growth and transformation. While it can be relatively easy to visit useful frames, the challenge is making them home, making them stick, for lasting change.

I presented a framework for understanding what makes changes become integrated into who we are for lasting and robust change.

The audience offered a lot from their own extensive experiences helping people sustain positive frames to improve their lives. This all made for a lively, stimulating, and thought provoking 75 minutes! As I had hoped, participants left with new ideas, practical strategies, and inspiration regarding how to make changes that last – and how to assist others to achieve their goals.

For me a successful workshop is one where I have the opportunity to teach and share useful ideas AND where I learn from the knowledge and creativity of the participants! This workshop met both criteria.

Indeed the whole conference was characterized by learning, sharing, and exploring possibilities.

The next International Neuro-Semantics conference will be help in Malaysia is 2013. To learn more about Neuro-Semantics you can visit http://www.neurosemantics.com ; and look for more articles here, coming soon.

Through appreciating, reflecting, and doing you are creating your life; awakening possibilities and inviting opportunities for abundance. This theme is explored featuring beautiful Adirondack images in this Enrichment Meditation. Quiet your mind, open your heart and focus lightly on what follows. Use this video to reduce stress, encourage relaxation, spark your inner wisdom, and to feel the spirit of abundance and possibility.

Narrative transcript for Enriching Abundance:
©2010 Rich Liotta, Ph.D.

-I invite you to breathe deeply and to open your mind gently. Allow the energy within you to greet the energy that surrounds you, creating your abundance and enriching you inside as you focus lightly on what follows.

Know that appreciation is the doorway to more than you can imagine and to more that you can dream. Be curious, because with childlike eyes again you will see more, see color and details with fresh eyes and feel possibility.

Appreciate the wonder nature offers every day. Now enjoy the serenity of a woodland stream. (video interlude)

-See the beauty in flowers and in the eyes of animals. Feel the vibrations of life. Reflect on what is and on what can be because reflection is an art that serves your purpose. If appreciation sets the stage, reflection can suggest your next adventure on your journey.

You may find that you are reflecting on many levels as you notice the sights and sounds by this lake, now. (video interlude)

-Your scope will expand and the universe will look back at you as you look upward and beyond limiting beliefs and toward what you feel in your heart. You know more now than you did once, so take action toward what your generative wisdom offers along your path.

Breathe in expanding vistas and allow their sacred power to grow inside of you as you continue to create your life. (video/music interlude)

-Yes there are patterns of a grand design in motion out there that you are connecting with as you are appreciating, reflecting, and creating your personal form of abundance. Take action inside yourself and in the world and your path will lead to bright and wonderful places.

Now is a new dawn, appreciate what is and choose what will be. Move forward with peace, hope, and passion.

Sometimes goals and resolutions are empty and disembodied from our spirit and soul. No wonder they fail! Often they are not authentic; they are not true to who we are. If a goal is not something you fundamentally want, if it is not a decision made by your authentic self, you will be fighting yourself every step of the way; perhaps not consciously, but certainly on the levels of your deeper and higher self!

Goals and resolutions per se are not my topic to bring in 2011. Rather this article is about 7 steps to greater authenticity. I am proposing that authenticity is a prerequisite to setting your goals and making resolutions that you will actually accomplish. When you are authentic you open the door to “passionately riding the wave of who you are,” which will make your pursuits more effortless and obstacles more surmountable. Personal authenticity and self awareness are not discussed often enough in relation to designing your goals, resolutions and choosing our life path. My experience has taught me that if you get authentic first, the rest falls more naturally into place. So greater authenticity will help you succeed at whatever you choose to pursue!

Here are the 7 steps:

1. Grateful Awareness: The first step is entering a calm and relaxed state of mind. Choose the method that works best for you, options include relaxation or visualization processes, self-hypnosis, or meditation. What is important is that you do this with the intention of clearing your mind, centering yourself, and connecting with your awareness in the present moment.

Then reflect on where you have been during your life journey so far and on where you are right now. Encourage and allow grateful awareness and appreciation for all you have learned and for all that is. Invite grateful awareness and accept and appreciate deeply where you are right now. Reflect with lightness, noticing your thoughts but letting them pass by rather than dwelling on them. What I am recommending in this first step is essentially a mindfulness state (as in mindfulness meditation) with the addition of some directed reflection; inviting grateful awareness, appreciation, and self-acceptance.

2. Reflecting on your beliefs: From the state of grateful awareness, reflect on the beliefs and values that direct your life. We all have beliefs and assumptions about who we are, what is possible, and the nature of reality. Often we do not take time to reflect on these beliefs or meanings, instead we take them for granted and don’t question them. Our beliefs and meanings influence what we see, what we choose, what we know, and ultimately what we do. In this step simply notice what your beliefs and values are and appreciate the feeling of what is important to you, as this will help you make authentic choices.

3. Evaluating whether your beliefs serve you: In steps 1 & 2 you observed where you are now with grateful awareness and reflected on your current beliefs and values. In this step you evaluate whether or not your beliefs serve you. This step is often challenging! For many it is a new idea that they can choose their beliefs and that they can create meaning. Ask yourself whether or not your beliefs serve you. Are your beliefs helpful to you? What are you limiting beliefs? Do your beliefs hold you back or do they prime you for action? Evaluate where you are at right now. Don’t just evaluate intellectually, also evaluate intuitively and notice what your gut is telling you.

Once you have done some work with these first three steps you will be more self aware and authentically centered. You will be more prepared to start thinking towards what is next and what you need to adjust to make the changes that you want in your life. Part of these first three steps is assessing whether you are ready for change. Are you centered enough? Can you feel some grateful awareness? Are your meanings positive enough? Do they serve you? Also how does it resonate with you? Is your spirit ready for change? When your spirit is ready for change, change becomes much easier, growth becomes easier, and achieving your goals becomes easier.

4. Appreciate possibility: Appreciate the possibility that the beliefs you have, if they do hold you back, can be different. Imagine what beliefs would serve you better in your life and what beliefs would direct you toward a more authentic future. Appreciate that you can change your beliefs! Appreciate the possibility that some of your values are really not so important compared to your higher values. Consider what ifs. What if I believed in myself? What if I believed that I was capable of anything? What if I believed that I know what to do to take the next step? What if I confidently believed that I have talents to offer to help people and make the world a better place? Appreciate possibility and embrace the options that emerge. Do you have beliefs that allow you to boldly pursue what you really want, among the possibilities you are imagining?

5. Trust yourself: Without some degree of authentic self-awareness you cannot truly trust yourself. You need to trust yourself and have some faith in yourself to let go of old patterns, habits, and beliefs. Because many do not trust themselves they choose the status quo rather than possibility. The unfortunate fact is that many people are comfortable with the way things are even if they are miserable! The hell they live is not as bad as the hell they fear. Since they do not trust themselves fear wins and they never change paths or progress toward their dreams. To authentically make changes, follow through with resolution, and pursue goals you need to trust yourself. (The exceptions to this include changes made out of desperation and the drive to survive physically or psychologically.) You need to trust your capabilities and your ability to make good decisions. You need to trust your purposes and intentions enough that they compel you! Your purpose and intention need to resonate with your spirit, with who you are-trust that! But aren’t there degrees of trusting yourself? Absolutely, and that’s okay! Sometimes trusting yourself enough is a leap of faith; jump!

6. Energy focusing: Focusing your energy is the next step. Once you centered yourself with beliefs and values that serve you, have begun to appreciate your possibilities, and have increased your trust in yourself you are ready to direct your energies. Through this process your energy has been shifting already. Your energy is stronger because your beliefs and values are clear, you know they serve you, and the possibilities you can imagine are compelling now. It is time to direct your energy congruently with your intentions. Decide how to utilize your energy toward the steps you want to make to move you toward your goals and your dreams.

7. Resource appreciation and development: We all need resources to achieve what we aspire for. These include your life experience, strengths, talents, personal qualities, and the support of others. Notice and appreciate who you genuinely are and what you have to offer! If you don’t have all the resources that would help you yet direct your energy toward developing, enhancing and enriching your resources. Trust your instincts. If you need knowledge, learn more. If you need a coach, find a coach. If you need a healer, find a healer. Determine your action steps and trust yourself to know where best to put your energies. Realize that resource development is a step by step process and that every step is movement toward your future!

Practicing these seven steps to greater authenticity prepares you for setting your goals and making resolutions that you will actually accomplish. After you have explored all them genuinely at least once, appreciate what have discovered. You will likely feel more balance and strength. You are now ready to resolve to change and choose to move forward with your life with clarity! Often an unrecognized part of going for goals and making changes is preparation. When preparation is in place, things fall into place. You need the pieces of the puzzle in order to complete the puzzle. As your authentic self you can have all the pieces!

When you are aligned you are also more apt to do what will move you forward and attract the support that you need from other people and from the universe. With greater authenticity you have much more potency and direction. This will also open doors to creativity and the capacity to make substantial changes and to really be successful in your life!

In summary, GREATER is an acronym for the seven steps to authenticity. I like acronyms; I find them fun, useful, and easy to remember.

G = Grateful awareness.
R = Reflecting on your beliefs.
E = Evaluating whether your beliefs serve you.
A = Appreciating possibility.
T = Trusting yourself.
E = Energy focusing.
R = Resource appreciation and development.

I hope you embrace your authentic self, make aligned resolutions, design effective goals, and have a fulfilling and abundant New Year!

We also just finished a new Introductory video which we think you will enjoy. If you are new here it will also give some information about us, our values, and our mission.

Find out more about this DVD by FOLLOWING THIS LINK.

Enrichment Meditations are a synergy of majestic nature photography, music, and words crafted to inspire reflection, discovery, and the freedom to feel your highest potentials. I invite you to experience them with an open heart.

Enjoy fully the themes visited here. Notice how it is drinking in abundance and appreciation. See what resonates as you align with nature’s energy. Touch the seeds of transformation and watch them grow! Relax and unwind while simultaneously energizing mind and spirit.

Enjoy!

Rich

Find out more about this DVD-CLICK HERE!.