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This week: Is it time to "upgrade your thoughts"?

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IN THE NEWS:

* Thursday, May 13th, 7:00 p.m., Chat and Booksigning hosted by Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast and Brownstone Books. 1708 16th Street NW (at the corner of R Street), Washington, DC

* The Life Enrichment Challenge... Check out week 17 at http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/Praise/challenge.
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This week's topic:
Is it time to upgrade your thoughts?

Dear Friends,

Living a consistently fulfilling life is a decision - and it begins with how you think. I say "consistently fulfilling," because true success comes from being fulfilled in every area of your life, living on purpose and growing every day. Doing so requires you to think purposefully, deliberately and openly about your life and your options. Your thoughts determine the actions you take, and your actions create your reality. Consider these five guidelines to upgrade your thoughts:

1. Know your values and live by them.
One of the reasons many people have difficulty making decisions about everything from relationships to money, is that they have not identified their values. Ask yourself this question, "What do I value most in my life?" For one person, it may be freedom, family and education, while for another it could be adventure, service and beauty. Knowing what is most important to you and living according to those values, makes it much easier to determine how you will spend your time, energy, money and life!

2. If the wheels are stuck, push!
The key to succeeding consistently is taking action consistently. The problem with most people is that they only take action when they feel motivated to do so - and that isn't very often. Choosing to remain stuck negatively impacts you emotionally, mentally, spiritually - even financially and physically. Take action toward your goals even when you feel stuck, frustrated or down. That may mean giving yourself an extra "push." Putting yourself in motion - even slow motion - is better than standing still, or worse - losing ground. Once you get moving, you often find the motivation to pick up the pace!

3. Recognize that you ALWAYS have options.
In Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, I talk about the power of choice. You are not stuck unless you choose to be stuck. You always have options to become more and to grow into the fullness of all that you have to offer the world. Have you considered all of your options?

4. Be creative about your life.
One of the reasons we can become frustrated is because we box ourselves into certain roles without much room for creativity or space to try new things. We act as though what we do now is all that we can do. If we want to try something, we'll have to give up what we've built and start all over. This is not necessarily so. Build on your strengths and experiences, and be bold about creating new opportunities. You will find that creating your own opportunities often leads to opportunities you never dreamt possible!

5. Trust your intuition.
Don't wait on the approval or actions of others to determine the path of your life. Spend time with yourself, pray, meditate, and reflect on what's important to you on regular basis. Intuition is a gift from God that acts as an inner compass to guide us in the right direction, even when there is no physical evidence to support it. Tap into your intuition by becoming tuned in to your "inklings," and listening to the nudges you feel in your spirit. When you trust your intuition, you trust God's ability to lead you in the right direction.

Until next time ...

Warm wishes,
Valorie

Talk and Booksigning Next Thursday evening in Washington, DC

Thursday, May 13 - 7:00 p.m.
Featured Author - Chat & Signing
Akwaaba Mansion Bed & Breakfast Literary Series
1708 16th Street NW
(at the corner of R Street)
Washington, DC

To inquire about a speaking engagement, contact Angie Steele at (919) 471-8540 or angie@asteeleinc.com.

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