Thankful

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because, well, frankly, I'm seriously into food! But Thanksgiving also evokes some of my favorite childhood memories of being at my grandparents' house with all my aunts, uncles and cousins, enjoying the smells and sounds of the beginning holiday season. It just warms me up inside remembering those wonderful carefree times. .

Because it is our household policy to not travel at the holidays, our Thanksgivings vary from year to year, depending on who is available and staying in town. This year, we spent the holiday with a small group of friends, dining on traditional Thanksgiving fare. Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, my homemade cranberry relish, my famous baked corn pudding, and much, much more. It was a lovely dinner, but I like to focus on being together around the table. Sure, the food is important but it always comes second to spending time with those we love.

I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful (and filling!) as mine.

Getting Organized -- It's a Head Game

We all have areas of our lives we'd like to be more organized. Your area of disorganization might be something as small as wanting your pantry to be easier to navigate or craving order in your email inbox or it might be as large as every room in your home needing an overhaul. No matter what your organizing challenge, one of the most important steps in conquering it is the your attitude and the thoughts you produce.

James Allen, author of the timeless classic, As A Man Thinketh, wrote that as human beings, we are the product of our thoughts. He said we literally become what we think about. If you're feeling stuck and disorganized in any area of your life, if you're feeling like a slave to destructive habits such as procrastination or self-sabotage, consider that changing your thoughts can change your life for the better.

The beliefs you hold about yourself are based in the past and in the present; you believe what you have seen and you act in accordance with those beliefs. You believe you're disorganized, and so you are. However, if you can change your beliefs you can change your results. Whether you want to lose fifty pounds or change your disorganized ways, taking control of your thoughts and words will change what you believe to be true about yourself and your life.

The first step is to choose one area of your life that you'd like to change and become more organized. Let's say you want to eliminate the habit of procrastinating. Each morning when you wake up, and before you go to bed each night, say aloud to yourself, "I am an organized person. I handle every task right away and I enjoy doing each one in a timely manner. I accomplish great things because I meet every challenge head on."

The second step is to change the self-talk -- that's the endless tapes that run in your head. You may not even be aware of them, but try to tune in to them. They'll tell you what they're saying if you just pay attention. When you notice yourself procrastinating, stop and immediately think a positive thought to combat the old negative tape playing in your head that says, "I'll do that later." You must stop it mid-sentence and replace that destructive thought with your affirmation of, "I'm an organized person and I handle every task right away." It's not enough to stop a negative thought -- you must replace it with a positive thought, and preferably two! Your thoughts are immensely powerful, so try this exercise for one week and see if you don't begin to feel, think, and most importantly act differently.

November's Suggested Reading List

I decided to create a monthly suggested reading list here for you. This is the first month, so we'll see if I can keep it up on a regular basis! I've pretty much given up on reading fiction. I can't remember the last one I read, actually. One of my clients loaned me two fiction books, but thus far I haven't cracked either one and I tend to not return borrowed books so I better get them back to her asap before they become part of my permanent collection!

Anyway, this month I'm recommending three books.


The Success Principles, by Jack Canfield.
If there's anyone qualified to write a self-help book on success, it's Jack Canfield, who's worked his way from scraping by as a teacher to holding a Guinness world record for having seven books simultaneously on The New York Times® Best Sellers list.

As a coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, he's sold more than 80 million books, and now lives "in a beautiful California estate" with his days of dining on spaghetti and tomato paste long behind him. "All you have to do is decide what it is you want, believe you deserve it, and practice the principles in this book," he says, and success is yours.

His advice is straightforward (examples: "reject rejection" and "surround yourself with successful people"), but rather derivative, with quotes from the likes of JFK, Colin Powell, Aldous Huxley, and fellow motivation author Napoleon Hill.Canfield's definition of success is primarily monetary, and he includes plenty of anecdotes depicting average folks who saved themselves from the brink of bankruptcy after following his principles. He could tone down the braggadocio; readers don't need to know that he's stayed in resorts in Hawaii, Italy, Australia, and Morocco. Despite those gripes, his cheerleader-caliber enthusiasm should benefit anyone looking to improve their lot in life. --Erica Jorgensen

The Wealthy Spirit, by Chellie Campbell.
The Wealthy Spirit is the only book that offers an approach to achieving both spiritual and financial wealth. Through a series of daily affirmations that focus on the reader’s internal strength and capacity for change, this book will set them on a path toward personal enlightenment and wealth in body, mind, and spirit.

Using a day-to-day approach, readers will learn six keys:
1. Think positive. Like mind over matter, mind over money begins with believing you deserve it and can get it.

2. Send out ships. You can wait for your ship to come in, but if you don’t send any out, it’s going to be a long wait.

3. Count your money. Money is a game and you have to know the score. The money score will tell you how well you’re doing at steps one and two.

4. Swim with dolphins. Being "in the swim" will depend largely on who you’re swimming with. Find "your people" and avoid sharks.

5. Survive the storms. You must weather interior storms as well as exterior ones. Persistence is key.

6. Seek balance and enlightenment. Only from their perspective will you know when you have "enough."

The Wealthy Spirit offers readers peace of mind to help them build financial muscle and a successful, stress-free life.



The Aladdin Factor, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (co-creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series)
Personal happiness, creative fulfillment, professional success, freedom from fear, and a new promise of joy: they're yours for the asking. Anything is possible, if you dare to ask -- and The Aladdin Factor will show you how!

I hope you'll check out these books on Amazon.com or your local bookseller.