Sometimes when someone has been practicing self-development and spiritual principles for a long time, it can come as a shock when great challenges arise.  You are not alone in this experience!

It’s taken your whole life up until now to get to where you are now – you’ve learned habits and established beliefs, some of which serve you and some which you’re now ready to move beyond.  And because you have been experiencing great challenge, take it as a signal that you are working through some “stuff” that has likely been with you a very long time, up until now.  This means that you’re on the right path and the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight!

It’s like cleaning out a closet or a garage that hasn’t been touched in months or years – the stuff has piled up, and it’s time to give it a good scrub.  What happens?  You might fling everything into messy heap in the center of the room as you’re organizing, and often it appears to get worse before it gets better.  And soon, as you work to put everything in its right place, keeping what is of value and discarding what you no longer have use for – you begin to create order from chaos.

When you make a commitment to your personal evolution, and as you clean out your inner space, it’s common to have “stuff” come up and appear to create chaos.  The key is to recognize that this, too, is part of the transformational process.  Rather than reacting – by running away from the “stuff”, trying to suppress it, sedate it, or hide it – acknowledge it.  You have the power to transform it.

In the past you may have reacting instinctively as this “stuff” came up – with anger, fear, sadness, guilt, etc.  Now when the challenge arises, you can recognize the familiar old pattern; you have choice in how to respond.  Even if you choose to react in the old way – the awareness is a crucial step to releasing and transforming the old pattern.

Sometimes when life presents challenges despite your best conscious efforts to the contrary, it might mean that your Highest Self has a grander plan.  Though you couldn’t possibly conceive of consciously choosing to attract certain situations, these challenges create opportunities that can actually serve as initiations into a higher level of awareness, a deeper experience of truth, a more authentic relationship with the world around you.

Search for the gift in this experience.  What else could this mean?  What’s the treasure?  What positive life lesson are you gaining from this experience?  What empowering attribute is being called forth from you now?

Have you ever had a time in the past when something happened that at the time appeared to be the worst thing in the world?  And looking back now, you say, “I would never be who I am today, and I would never be where I am today, were it not for that one thing.”

Breakthroughs are often preceded by “breakdowns.”  So don’t be hard on yourself.  Continue practicing the disciplines and rituals that sustain you – mantra, meditation, empowering questions, affirmations, exercise, self-appreciation – whatever works for you.  And if you have a momentary lapse, just pick yourself right back up and start again.

There are two primary approaches to creating successful and powerful results: one is to commit with total conviction to your goal, and the other is to surrender completely.

Often, we grow up with the belief that to be successful we must create a clear goal, commit to it, and take massive action toward it.  This is an active, masculine approach to getting results.  It works a lot of the time.  But if we commit to this approach and find ourselves thwarted, it may mean that a better option awaits us.

Sometimes, the Universe has something bigger and better for us – grander than we could even imagine with our present awareness.  In these moments, the most powerful choice is just… to surrender completely.

The Universe fills a receptive vessel.  Just look at nature for evidence of this everywhere.  This is the feminine principle – it’s open, expansive, and allowing of the Universal flow.

As you surrender and open yourself up, the Universe will bring you the people, places and things that will support you.  Maintain a sincere and open heart.  The opportunities will present themselves.

Love yourself through this transitional time.  You’ll look back in awe at the quantum leaps in development you’ve made.

Remember…

One person’s awakening elevates the consciousness of the planet – You are the one!

Namaste.

Everyone has unique talents and gifts, including YOU!  I have a very powerful tool that will help you discover and cultivate your talents.

This technique will direct your focus so you begin to become even more aware of your talents.  This process is called, “Empowering Questions.”

I often say that Questions are the Answer. We are constantly in the process of asking and answering our own questions.  Some questions direct our focus toward what we want, while other questions expand on disempowering thoughts.

You can purposefully craft questions that direct your focus toward expanding empowering possibilities.

Here is the simple formula for asking empowering questions:

1)   Begin with “how” or “what.”

2)   Stated in the affirmative or positive.

3)   Build momentum with words like, “even more” or “right now.”

Here are a few empowering questions to help you get started:

• How can I be even more aware of my talents?
• How can I cultivate even more of my gifts and talents, right now?
• How can I acknowledge and appreciate my talents even more?
• How can I share my gifts and talents even more?
• How can I discover even more of my talents?
• What talents am I already aware of?
• What comes naturally to me?
• What do I love doing?
• What do I love about me?
• What can I do to appreciate myself even more right now?

In the beginning, this process may feel a little strange – especially if in the past you had conditioned your brain to believe that you didn’t have any talents.  So if you ask a question like, “what talents am I already aware of?” and your brain says, “nothing!” Then ask yourself, “If there were to be something, what would it be?”  “If I were to have a talent, what would it be?”  “If I were to become aware of a talent right now, what would it be?”  Just keep asking and the answers will come!

Ask yourself these questions every day… even several times a day.  It will cause your brain to look for answers, and empowering answers will come.  It may take some practice, but very soon you will begin to become aware of many of your talents.  You will soon realize that you have all kinds of gifts and talents that you may have overlooked in the past.

As you continually become even more aware of your talents, focus on them.  Notice them.  Appreciate them.  Feed them.  Continually give yourself credit for all the talents you have!

Namaste,

Niurka

What’s the difference between a goal that you’ve achieved, and a goal you set but that didn’t come to pass?

What are some simple steps you can take to ensure that when you create goals, you know with certainty you will achieve them?

Now, before I explain HOW to materialize goals, what are some of the reasons why someone might set a goal and NOT achieve it?  Here are just a few of the reasons that people fall short or quit on their dreams and goals:

• A part of them doubts it, doesn’t believe it, or thinks they don’t deserve it
• The goal isn’t clear or concise – it has too many moving parts or stipulations
• They feel like they HAVE to do it – they lack the JUICE & VERVE to attain it
• The goal is TOO specific – it seems impossible or unbelievable
• They micromanage their goal, without trusting their creative power or the power of the Universe to BRING IT
• They haven’t created the LIFE CONDITIONS for the goal to materialize
• They can’t see it, feel it, hear it – it isn’t real or compelling for them

How awesome would it be to have a simple and powerful system to not only CREATE goals, but also ATTAIN them (or even better!) – every single time???  There is a science to materialization.  This is not just philosophy.

Here are eight steps I’ve found are ESSENTIAL to materialize your grandest goals:

1. Recognize and transmute old doubt, worry, fear, self-sabotage or uncertainty that held you back in the past.

2. Create clear, concise, congruent and compelling goals, inspired by your deepest values.

3. Harness and purposefully direct your creative life force to fuel and energize your goals and generate heat and momentum toward their rapid (or instant!) materialization.

4. Design and practice specific rituals to invite sacred intention and Divine guidance to support you in realizing your goals.

5. Invoke states of total certainty and centered power within you so that you take the essential actions in alignment with your highest self.

6. Release your goals with full faith and gratitude knowing that it is already done.

7. Be completely open and receptive to the infinite possibilities and full materialization of your goals – which often emerges even grander than you could ever imagine.

But those are just seven steps, you say?  What’s the eighth?

It’s coming together with a supportive community who will encourage, inspire and nurture you and your vision.

Remember…

One person’s awakening elevates the consciousness of the planet — YOU are the one!

Blessings & Love,
Niurka

Greetings & Blessings from the land of 1,000 Temples!  I am so blessed to be in Bali enjoying a sacred retreat, creative sabbatical, and a time of healing and rejuvenation after a period of great intensity in my life.

You may already know that a few months ago, I broke my leg.  It was the most physically painful experience I’d ever had, and looking back, also perhaps one of the most profound.

Have you ever had an experience like that?  Looking back, you say, “I would never be where I am today or who I am today were it not for that one thing,” but at the time, that “thing” was one of the most painful or challenging experience imaginable.

Sometimes life brings lessons disguised as seeming madness.  These moments cause us to go deep within and really connect with our true essence.

So what do you do to maintain your balance in those moments? I’ll share with you one practice that has been miraculous for me. It’s been so healing that I’m considering creating a CD all about it, and in a moment, I’ll ask you for your thoughts!

Over the past few months, one discipline that has supported me in remaining in my center while gracefully moving through challenge is the practice of Mantra.  Since I’ve come to Bali, I’ve been practicing a few specific mantras consistently and I have experienced great inspiration, renewed energy and deep peace.  And because it’s been so powerful and healing for me, I thought you might love to experience some of the profound benefits of mantra, too.

Ancient Sanskrit mantras have been chanted, spoken and sung for thousands of years.  These mantras are imbued with a certain energetic frequency, and thus have the power to shift your internal experience when you repeat them with sincerity.  For example, the mantra “OM” (or “AUM”) is powerful to center yourself.  As you chant “OM”, remember to honor the space between the “OM’s.”

What practices do you have to support you in integrating valuable life lessons while consciously and gracefully moving through the most challenging moments of your life?  I’ve found that in the absence of a consistent PRACTICE, it’s easy to get sidetracked and knocked off center.  It’s much easier to remain clear, strong, focused and present when you practice a daily discipline.  It doesn’t matter what it is – whatever works for you!  It could be meditation, prayer, mantra, physical exercise, or just a daily ritual all your own – as long as you practice with awareness, specific intention and consistency.

So I encourage you to practice the “OM” mantra, or another mantra you may already know.  Practice it for one day and notice the power, observe the effects!  If an unpleasant thought pops into your mind, just immediately return to your mantra.  Throughout the day, just repeat it silently to yourself. Challenge yourself and practice a whole week of mantra, and notice how you feel.

I’d love to know your experience.  In fact, I’ve experience such profound benefits that I’m considering creating a CD series about the power of mantra while I’m in Bali.  Here are my thoughts on this: I can share with you a few of the most significant mantras that I practice, and I’ll explain their meaning and the scientific reasons why and how they have elevated my life and how they can elevate your life, too.  I can also teach you how to practice mantra, and guide you through the process.  What do you think?  I’m very interested in your thoughts about mantra.  How inspired would you be if I created this CD series?    And what else would you be inspired for me to create?  Let me know your thoughts, and join the conversation!

Remember…

When you change, the world around you changes – You have that much power!

Love & Blessings,
Niurka

Is there something in your past that you haven’t fully let go, or don’t know how to let go of?  Maybe a painful memory that you’ve kept replaying in your mind, or maybe someone you loved did or said something and you were hurt, or perhaps you’ve had a feeling of loneliness, anger, revenge, sadness, fear or just general dissatisfaction?

At some point, we’ve all experienced hurt, pain, disappointment or betrayal.  It’s part of the human experience.  But carrying the burden of the past only recreates the cycles of suffering that keep people stuck in old patterns that no longer serve them.  It can even lead to physical and mental dis-ease.

What if you could let go and be free of all the burden, negativity and pain in this moment? What if you knew how to let go and be free through the power of forgiveness?

Often people don’t want to forgive.  There is a common misconception that forgiveness means weakness, giving up power or condoning someone else’s wrongdoing.  Sometimes it even seems easier to hold on to resentment and pain rather than making amends or just moving on.  The fear of being hurt again can prevent someone from choosing to let go and be free.  Recurring thought patterns can keep a person stuck.  Often, people don’t know how to let go and be free.

You have the power to free yourself from the draining, damaging and deadly hold of old wounds and emotional baggage by choosing forgiveness.  Forgiveness is the choice to let go and be free of the past, which creates the space to be fully conscious in the present moment.

Forgiveness is the choice to let go and be free of past pain, fear, anger or resentment and claim your freedom now.  It’s the decision to harness your vital life force and direct that energy toward a powerful and purposeful future.

You cannot undo the past.  What happened is done.  But you don’t have to let the past run your life now.  Forgiveness puts you back in the driver’s seat of your life, free and clear to CREATE as you choose.

It’s about being authentic, being in your center, standing firmly in the present moment, fully conscious, aware and unswayed by anything outside of you.

So, how do you let go and be free?  How do you harness the power of forgiveness?

1) Change your perspective

When you totally and completely forgive with all of your being – heart, mind, totality, then you will observe those things that used to emerge as distorted perceptions, reactive tendencies, past resentments, repressed emotions or old energetic ties in a new light with enlightened eyes – you’ll have awareness and choice in how to respond.

2) Be fully present and conscious

Forgiveness releases reactive consciousness and brings you to your freedom.  It wakes you up to the eternal moment of now, so you live in your center, balanced, authentic, present and powerful! It’s what all the great spiritual teachers and enlightened masters call awakening.

3) Make forgiveness a practice

Freedom happens moment to moment.  You can feel free one moment, and not the next.  But the more you practice forgiveness, the easier it gets to maintain an experience of inner happiness and peace while enjoying deep, authentic relationships in each moment.

4) Surround Yourself With an Empowering Community

Who are the five closest people in your life?  You will always live up to the expectations of your peer-group.  So, if you want know how to let go and be free, surround yourself with people who choose that for themselves, too.  When you surround yourself with people who also practice forgiveness, you are called to a higher standard.  Otherwise, it can be too easy to fall back into old disempowering habits.

Practicing these four steps will allow you to harness your energy and let go and be free.

Through the power of forgiveness, you will be transformed:

• Free from reactive consciousness
• Fully centered and grounded in now
• Embracing creative conscious

Remember, one person’s evolution elevates the consciousness of the planet – YOU are the one.

When you change, the world around you changes – You have that much power.

I have created a series of audio recordings to guide you in how to let go and be free.  In this four-part series, I illuminate how forgiveness sets us free and guide you through a profound meditation to give you the freedom to make peace with the past.  I also share a riveting conversation with international peacemaker Aqeela Sherrills, best known for brokering the truce between two rival LA gangs, the Bloods and the Crips.  Get it now! Click here to Let Go & Be Free!

Article in Success for Women Magazine, February 12th, 2010

How do you know when you’ve made a great decision? Do you know immediately, in the moment of decision, or do you know in time, when you see the results? One decision has the power to transform everything. So what would it be worth to consistently make conscious decisions with clarity, certainty and confidence, knowing that no matter the outcome, you’ve made the most powerful choice?

The quality of your life is a reflection of the quality of your decisions. Are you fully aware of the decisions you are making from moment to moment? It’s easy to make decisions on “autopilot,” choosing today the same as yesterday, out of habit or repetition, or based on what other people are saying or doing. If you drink coffee every morning, 364 days in a row, it’s extremely likely that you’ll choose a cup of coffee on the 365th day—even when you have infinite choice! (You could choose water, or tea, or juice, or nothing at all.) Small decisions like this add up over time and create your destiny. That’s why it’s so important to stay alert each time you make a decision—so you can choose wisely and purposefully.

Whenever I find myself faced with a decision, I ask myself three questions that guide me in making the highest choice for my life. You can apply these questions for all decisions, even the little ones.

The most powerful decisions are those you make when you are fully aware and choosing in alignment with your purpose and values. Not just for the biggest and most important decisions, but for all the choices you make in life. Here are the three questions I ask myself to guide me in choosing wisely:

1) Is it essential? By “essential,” I don’t mean “necessary” or “required.” I mean, is it of my essence? Is it in alignment with who I really am and what’s most important to me?

2) Will it elevate and uplift my life? By that I mean, does it empower and inspire me? Do I feel energized by it? Each decision you make will either advance you toward your ultimate vision or hold you back. When faced with a choice, consciously follow the path that will make you stronger, wiser, healthier and happier.

3) Having made the decision, how do I feel? Imagine yourself in the future looking back on now, having realized the successful outcome of your decision. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Try on all the possible scenarios by visualizing the result of your decision in your mind before you make the choice. If hindsight is 20/20, give yourself this gift in advance.

Asking these three questions will inspire meaningful decisions. Usually, people make decisions emotionally and then justify them logically. This process brings awareness to both the emotional and logical reasons so that you discover and pursue the greatest options in support of your ultimate vision.

Wholeheartedly commit to your decision. The Latin root of the word decision means “to cut off.” So a decision is the choice to cut off other possibilities and clearly focus your energy in one direction while remaining open to the infinite possibilities around you. Asking those three questions provides the clarity, certainty and confidence to make wise decisions based on who you are and what’s most important to you.

Namaste.

Thanksgiving can be a sacred time where we nourish our community and ourselves with love and thanks. Rather than just stuffing ourselves like the turkey (or tofurkey!) on the table – how can we bring even more presence and appreciation to this holiday?

How can we make every day, and every moment a sacred feast of love and appreciation, so we reap the rewards of Thanksgiving not just one day a year, but always?

Below are three powerful practices you can apply and share with your loved ones around the thanksgiving table – and you can even practice them all year round. It’s not what we do once in a while that makes the difference, it’s what we practice daily that shapes our destiny, which is why I offer specific daily practices on my multimedia set, Faith & Gratitude.

1) Allow yourself to receive. Often people are conditioned to “go out and get things done” and to “make things happen.” While this can be a powerful masculine energy, it can also constrict the flow of abundance to you, because you cannot “go out and get” and create the space to “receive” at the same time. Giving thanks is the perfect way to be receptive and invite abundance into your life. When you give thanks, you create the space for abundance to flow to you. Take the time to nurture yourself and allow others to be nurturing with you. Ultimately, giving and receiving are one continuous flow, so it is essential to allow both energies.

2) Create sacred rituals. Rituals inspire presence and awareness, so create a ritual of appreciation when you eat. Many families pray or give thanks before they eat. Remember, everything in the Universe is energy, so instilling this energetic frequency in your food makes it even more nourishing than just the nutritional value of what you eat – not only on Thanksgiving, but always. You’re not just digesting calories; you are experiencing the sacred circle of life and the connection of us all – from the bounty on the table, to the farmers who harvested it, the grocery workers who sold it, the chef who prepared it, and you who enjoy it! So savor each delicious morsel and give thanks for the total nourishment – the flavors and sustenance of your food, the community you share it with and the people who have contributed to bringing you this meal.

3) Acknowledge your community. The closest people in your life have a profound influence on your success. Often, we see ourselves the way others see us, and others live up to our expectations of them. One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is to look for the best in them. Catch people doing things right! When we choose to actively love and appreciate the people in our lives we bring out the best in them, and they bring out the best in us. Remember, even the most challenging people can be our greatest teachers! Give special thanks and blessings to your loved ones and acknowledge them for the unique gifts and talents they bring to your life.

These are just three disciplines I use to invite even more abundance in my life. In fact, I have a massive array of tools and practices I use consistently, and it’s my joy to share the most powerful ones with you!

My multimedia set, Faith & Gratitude, offers some of these most profound practices to cultivate even more empowering states in your life. It teaches how you can transform the circumstances of your life by directing your energy wisely, practicing empowering questions, and consistently putting yourself in resourceful states. As you apply these lessons in your life, you will quickly materialize your desires and realize a greater sense of power and presence in each moment.

When you change, the world around you changes – You have that much power!

Peace,
Niurka

Have you ever scheduled an appointment or made a commitment, and then an unexpected challenge arose that required your immediate attention? What did you do?

Did you improvise, adapt and overcome?

I’m a big believer that you can have your cake and eat it, too – when you have just a little creativity, flexibility and resolve.

My life has taught me that beyond every challenge is a seed of great opportunity, and the greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity. Haven’t you ever said to yourself, “I would never be where I am or who I am if it wasn’t for __(blank)__?” (The “blank” being a past experience that you perceived at the time as incredibly traumatic or negative, and with hindsight 20/20, now you have the wisdom to recognize the gift beyond that challenge.)

When you look for the gift even in the midst of the challenge, you can give yourself the gift of hindsight now. What would happen to your life if you consistently sought the treasure beyond challenge?

Remember…

When you change, the world around you changes – You have that much power!

Love & Light,

Niurka

We’ll feel it.  We’ll share it.  We’ll give it away.  And we’ll be it.

Quick question…

Do you think Limitless, Boundless Happiness is a bit too radical an idea?  Seriously, do you think it’s really possible to experience it authentically and continually?

I was surprised that my last posts on this topic generated some controversy!  Apparently, some people don’t believe it’s possible to continually experience Limitless, Boundless Happiness.  But whether you think you can or think you can’t… you’re right!

I’m not talking about putting yourself in a bubble and closing yourself to “reality.”  Happiness is about your perception and your attitude.  Happiness isn’t something you “achieve.”  It’s a state, a way of being.  Happiness happens in the eternal moment of now.

Here’s what the Dalai Lama has to say about happiness:

“Everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.”

And here’s what Helen Keller had to say about it:

“Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do.”

And what do you have to say about happiness?  Let’s talk about it!

Remember…

When you change, the world around you changes – You have that much power!

Love & Light,
Niurka

What would NOT happen if you didn’t know unhappiness?

But wait! Only answer this question if you’re really serious about quantum transformation, because it has the power to blow the boundaries out of your previous thinking and launch you in a whole new direction toward the indestructible experience of… Limitless, Boundless Happiness.

Oooh! That sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

Let’s explain that first question… Without seriously expanding the boundaries of thinking and paradigms beyond stale old limiting beliefs, authentically experiencing “Limitless Boundless Happiness” might seem way out of reach for most people.

So asking, “what would NOT happen if you didn’t know unhappiness?” will cause your brain to search in previously unexplored dimensions of thinking to find the answer, and in doing so, you might actually annihilate past patterns and associations of unhappiness in your brain wiring. It begins shifting your experience of unhappiness, discontent, frustration, agitation, etc.

Now that’s one powerful question! With one powerful question you can elevate your thinking and your entire experience of life.

Here’s where it gets really interesting: Sometimes it’s easier to know what you don’t want than what you do want; and when you get crystal clear about what it isn’t, then you can skyrocket into infinite possibility, and total, authentic happiness.

In a previous post, I explained some of the more thrilling consequences of being in a state of “Limitless, Boundless Happiness”. Things like spontaneous smiling and laughter, heightened energy & elevated vibration, relief from negative emotion, increased productivity & goal achievement, and generous outpourings & receiving of love, appreciation and abundance.

But is that state too inconceivable for many? Does it sound too good to be true? Let’s first understand it’s opposite to really get to the heart of its beauty and power… So rather than tell you what “Limitless, Boundless Happiness” can do for you… here’s what it WON’T do for you:

• * You won’t feel stressed, anxious or overwhelmed
• * You won’t be annoyed with people or easily angered
• * You won’t feel lazy, unproductive or experience creative block
• * You won’t have insatiable cravings
• * You won’t experience a lack of purpose, or lack of meaning in your life
• * You won’t walk around miserable, bored or apathetic
• * You won’t feel tired, lethargic, or emotionally drained
• * You won’t let rewarding opportunities pass you by
• * You won’t repulse other people or yourself

In fact, it’s just about the OPPOSITE of these conditions. Can you imagine that?

Well, if you’re looking for some juicy high-amperage happiness that will shake up, loosen and annihilate any sticky, stagnant bits of unhappiness, or any of the aforementioned conditions – join me for one of my live trainings!

P.S. – Did you know that the first question I asked… “What would NOT happen if you didn’t know unhappiness?”… is type of question is called “Quantum Linguistics.” I teach Quantum Linguistics at Supreme Influence into Action, our transformational seven day training. It’s one of the tools of the Linguistic Jedi. In fact, I have a whole series of these powerful questions that will blow the boundaries out of the problem, or sticky old way of thinking. Supreme Influence into Action is coming up soon.

Remember…

When you change, the world around you changes – You have that much power!

Love & Light,

Niurka