Irving Berlin - "Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it."
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Prosperity. Abundance. Opulence. Plenty. Is your heart resonating "Yes" to these words? How about moolah. Dough. Greenbacks. Bread. Cash. Is your heart still saying "Yes," or are you having a more complicated reaction? Money and fear tend to be intertwined--especially right now, as the stock market flips and flops, and the word "subprime" gets tossed around. In this gallery, Dr. Susan Corso offers counsel on what we can focus on instead of the anxiety--like connecting with unlimited abundance and prosperity, the ultimate Federal Reserve.
What is your money history? Take time to write about this in your journal. Write whatever comes to mind, no censoring. Make time to reflect on your past actions with money and make peace with it. No matter what it is. Where you see flaws, forgive yourself. It is only when you accept where you're starting from that you can begin to go forward.
Ask God for Help
One of divinity's traditional names is Providence, the all-provider. God/Goddess/Spirit is intimately involved in all aspects of our lives, and finances are no exception. If human economics hasn't worked for you in the past, what do you have to lose? Try spiritual economics: where there is demand, supply will appear. Address your request to God, let go, and joyfully expect an answer. Give thanks every day and listen within: You'll be guided if there are actions to take.
Remember That Debt Is Trust
First, think about what debt means: Someone (or some company) trusted you would be good for the money. Now turn within and from the place inside you that knows what's so, look to Providence and give your trust over to all provision, a.k.a. Spirit, God/dess, Nature, Wonder. Clearing up debt is about learning to trust yourself and Providence.
Visualize the Flow
There are two major modes for dealing with money in life: circulation and congestion. Circulation is paying bills, tithing, giving to charity. Congestion is hoarding, saving for a rainy day, being stingy. It's no coincidence that one word for money is currency; it comes from the word current, which means flow. When you congest around money, the flow stops. Money, by its nature, flows. Picture yourself and your money in the flow.
Set Your Intention
Intention is everything when it comes to manifestation. What do you want money for? Do you want a new pair of shoes to match your new suit? Great. Do you want to start a foundation for homeless children? Great. The wild thing is, it doesn't matter to God as long as you intend the highest good for all. Tell yourself your intention, share it with God through prayer, and listen for guidance.
Pray Your Bills
Yes, of course, pay your bills, but first, PRAY your bills. Put them all in your lap, sit quietly, and pray for each bill. Give thanks for the service you received, and pray that you and your loved ones may continue to enjoy what each bill represents. For example, your utility bill can bring to mind a warm home in winter, hot meals, and clean water to drink. While you're at it, send the same blessing to those who helped provide for you.
Be Conscious of Your Judgments
Okay, let's really get into it now: resentment, envy, finger-pointing. Where you have judgments, you only hurt yourself! Try these on: Rich people are miserly; the IRS is a dirty, rotten scoundrel, the oil companies are greedy, money is the root of all evil (the misquote most often used about money). It's really very simple to get clear around money: Just wish for others what you would wish for yourself!
Bless Your Money
Whatever you praise increases. Praise works to increase anything, both the positive and the negative. Why? Because you are showing interest in it. The activity of praising is blessing. Bless your money! Every penny of it. Blessing is also a form of gratitude. You are thanking God for the money you have in order to create more money.
Share the Wealth
You do not need to have a lot of money in order to give to others. Ask yourself, Where am I wealthy? Start your giving there. Do you have extra time? Give time. Extra money? Give money. Extra talent? Give talent. The feelings associated with genuine joyous giving are to be cultivated.
Secret: Wealth attracts wealth!
Want to make your spending spiritual? Here's how.
By Patton Dodd
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Living spiritually requires both intention and action. As you click through our How to Make Your Spending Spiritual gallery, consider these next steps for applying our nuggets of financial wisdom.
#1: How to Pay for Your Future
Advisers recommend saving at least 10% of your salary. If that is too hard, try saving 1% (or less) of each paycheck, then increasing by 1% every month until you've met your goal. Whatever you save, be sure to open an account (like those offered at ING or HSBC) that makes automatic withdrawals on the same day you are paid. In time, you won't even notice the savings. But you will notice greater comfort about your future.
Recommended: Check out David Bach's The Automatic Millionaire for an easy explanation of the principles of saving
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#2: How to Reduce and Recalibrate
You can't reduce spending without knowing how you spend, so the first step in recalibration is to track your spending. Gather all your receipts for a month, or better yet, keep a notepad with you and jot down every purchase you make. Once you have this short history, you will see clearly where your dollars and cents go. Then you can ask yourself: What do I really value? Cut expenses that are not necessary or important—you can add them back later if need be, but at least give yourself a trial period of simplicity.
Recommended: Consider Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball Plan
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#3: How to Love Yourself
It's not selfish to spend on yourself—it's wise. Especially if you do it as part of your overall financial plan. Strike that balance between being a miser and a glutton by scheduling regular indulgences. Choose something that will feel truly rewarding. Maybe it's a vanilla latte on Mondays and Fridays, a massage once a month, or a weekend getaway. Make it part of your spiritual spending strategy by having a savings account or petty cash jar reserved for your fun, and reap the rewards of your efforts.
Recommended: Splurge on yourself at Aveda
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#4: How to Perform Random Acts of Kindness
To make generosity both spiritually and financially sound, it'll need to be part of your planned spending. (The "random" part is for them, not you!) Create a Random Kindness Budget that you give a few dollars to each month. Make a note when you hear a loved one mention an item that's on their Wish List, and save for it for them.
Recommended: Give the gift of chocolate by L.A. Burdick
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#5: How to Love Your Enemy
As with Random Kindness, loving your enemy could be a part of your planned spending. Then, simply take note when you encounter a discomfiting situation with someone at work, home, church, or anywhere else. In many cases, your willingness to overlook someone's faults will be met with an opportunity to do something for that person. Wait for it, and you'll have a chance to love your enemy.
Recommended: Try flowers, coffee cards, or more chocolate
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#6: How to Teach Your Children
Think about your values and your hopes for your children. Do you want to help pay for college? Would you like to help them start a small business someday? Do you want to help them purchase their first home? You can create special accounts for all these purposes, including a tax-friendly 529 Education Savings Plan for college expenses. As imporant as these financial details are, your chidren will benefit most from time spent in conversation with you as you coach them about what money is and how it works. Plan regular times to talk with your kids, or make money an open subject of discussion in your home.
Recommended: Check out Joline Godfrey's Raising Financially Fit Kids, and visit our Parenting page.
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#7: How to Serve the World
Many charities and non-profit organizations offer automatic giving through a bank or credit card account; just call your organization or visit their web site. If you want to diversity your giving, open a separate savings account, put money into it regularly, and make withdrawals when you find a cause worth serving. Be sure to tally your giving—not only will you have a tax write-off in most cases, but you'll have a record of how you've improved the world.
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OPIO'S NEW VIDEO:
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J. DILLA IS GOD, FOR REAL:
one of the best hip hop songs of all time:
peep this:
fuck tha hip hop police!
wow. i didn't know he produced this too!!!
J DILLA KEEPS MAKING MAGIC IN MY LIFE.
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man... I am sorry I am not putting more of m personal life on here, but I really am crazy busy.
enjoy what i got for now!
I understand why Kanye's blog posts are so short, LOL
Mindbender loves you
P.S. PEACE TO THE MOTHERFUCKIN' GZA GZA GENIUS!!! THAT SHOW WAS FUCKING PHENOMENAL!
Monday, February 11, 2008
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