“The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round” popped into my head this morning, as I was considering writing about the subject in my mindset.  These words, to one of my grandson, Kenny’s, favorite nursery school songs, tell the story of a little bus that travels in a circle but always ends up at the same spot.  It started me thinking about “mindsets” and how continually focusing on negative thoughts keeps us from getting what we want in life.Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  Yet we go on thinking, believing, and allowing the negative mind chatter to influence us and guide our actions. 

Then we wonder why we are not getting the happiness we want in our life.  The answer is simple: we are standing in our own way.

If you want to see your life change, challenge your mindsets. 

After all, a belief is just a thought you’ve been thinking long enough to believe it’s true.  Allow a kernel of a new idea to come in, and watch things change.  Play the  “wouldn’t it be nice if game” and create whatever you want the “if” to be.  Spend time each day thinking, and dreaming about things that make you feel happy and soon those things will begin manifesting into your life. 

Copyright Jean Summit-Riker, June 30, 2011

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LIFE IS ABOUT THE JOURNEY NOT THE DESTINATION                 

Shortly after leaving on a family outing, my young son and daughter would begin chanting from the back seat of the car, “Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?” 

Impatient to get to their destination, they insisted upon knowing when our journey would end.

While most of us have outgrown that stage of life, too many of us are still “destination” focused not realizing that they are missing the fun and joy of life’s journey.

I was 52 years old when my husband of 31 years was killed in a plane crash.  He was my childhood sweetheart and my best friend.  Unfortunately, fate did not mean for us to reach the destination together, but as I reflect back, the thing I am most grateful for is that we enjoyed every moment of the journey.

We did not wait or put off doing things that brought us joy.  Instead we lived in the “now” and found ways to do what made us happy.  When our children were young and money was limited, a day at the beach, an afternoon flying a kite in the school yard, or a picnic and badminton game in our backyard brought laughter and fun.  True it wasn’t a vacation at Disney World; those things came later.  But laughter is laughter, and the happy memories that come with it are the same whether it’s created doing simple, inexpensive fun things together or a grand vacation far from home. 

As a Life Coach I speak with clients all the time about what they want in their lives, what makes them happy, and what dreams they would like to see come true.  Too often they don’t know, or if they do, they believe they have to wait; wait for more money; wait for more free time; wait for the kids to get out of school; wait for when they will retire.

We create our tomorrows by the way we live today.  Life doesn’t come at us -- it comes from us. The Law of Attraction is continually making a match to the energy we send into the universe and then returns more of the same to us.

Stop waiting.  Go out and find the pleasure in your “now.”  The key is to be willing to give as well as receive.  Try brightening someone else’s day and watch your day become brighter.  Make someone laugh and enjoy being surrounded by the sound of your own laughter.  Go to the playground with the intension of feeling like a kid again.  Slide down the slide, soar high into the air on a swing, or take a bottle of bubbles to a park and don’t be surprised if within a few moments people begin gathering around wanting to be part of your playful energy.  Nurture your inner child, and your life will take on new meaning.

There are times when we are faced with great challenges, but even in our darkest hour there is a light that shines within each of us.  It grows in brightness as our higher power, call it God, Spirit or by whatever name you choose, guides us to the knowledge that we came here to experience the joy of the journey not simply to arrive at the destination.  Take pleasure in every moment of your trip. 

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Jean Summit-Riker is a life coach, motivational speaker, consulting hypnotist, Reiki Master, a Certified Laughter Leader and author of, “Forever Is Still a Long, Long Time.”  She has a private practice in Patchogue, New York, where she works with small business owners, professional people and others helping them eliminate the false illusions and defeating beliefs they have of themselves. She teaches them how to use The Law of Attraction to tap into their genius potential and become conscious creators of the joy, happiness, business and personal success that is within them waiting to be set free. She does teleseminars, workshops, and seminars, as well as private and telephone sessions.