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Things I WISH I had always Known: The Article that made a Difference

By
Home Stager with Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island #888

I wrote a post not long ago about the value of writing articles and suggested a few sites if you wanted to try to submit them to; they will review them and then publish them online.  On the advice of my webmaster to pull my site up higher, I did start to write but I don't consider myself by any stretch of the imagination A "WRITER."  I have so far about 45 articles that I have written, some good, some not what I would have written now, but they are still "out there."  I DID notice that I started to get calls from potential clients from the articles, however, and I also noticed that my "stats" and placement went up so I plugged away.

Just as some blogs that are posted on Activerain resonate with people, one article in particular started showing up in some of the oddest places.  I found it on My Space, under someone else's profile, I found it on other people's blog sites and I found that it  had been published in a Magazine called "Wisdom."  I thought that although this may not have been the article I resonate most to, perhaps you would.  And also would like to remind you:  Having my articles show up in other places is a wonderful thing for ME---I do not intend to write a book and do not copyright material for that reason.  If you write and place it anywhere on the Internet without a copyright, please remember anyone can use your material.  Something to consider if you plan on publishing it yourself at a later date.  Here's the article that people really enjoyed:

THINGS I WISH I HAD ALWAYS KNOWN:

What an exciting journey life can be!  We were taught so many things growing up, to be polite, to respect others, to go to school and get good grades.  We weren't taught some very important things, probably because they are only learned through the school of "hard knocks."  I must have been absent that day but life lessons and challenges presented themselves and through the years I've learned how to (hopefully) best deal with this wonderful life gift we have been given.

GO WITH THE FLOW:          Things are not going to always go in the way we would like.  Actually quite often they will go in the opposite direction from what we expected the outcome to be.  It's not what presents itself to us that matters as much as it is how we deal with it.  Recognize it as a learning lesson, a challenge but also as a new opportunity to grow.  By coming across different people, circumstances and challenges, we always learn a new (and hopefully) better way to deal with them.  When they come up again, we are old hands at it if we've learned from prior experiences!  When opposition presents, instead of fighting back so hard, sit back for a moment and see how to go with the flow of the life lessons that are being created.

SET CLEAR INTENTIONS:   Like attracts like, there is no getting around it.  We are beings of Energy, we are surrounded by Energy and we need to focus on what we desire to create in our lives.  It is essential to keep a positive attitude and just BE, knowing that the Universe has everything we need and want as long as we are sending the correct Intentions forth.  This is an especially difficult principle to relay to people that have become depressed by circumstances.  Changing your way of thinking from the negative to the positive has done amazing things that are documented:  cured cancer, brought wealth beyond someone's wildest dreams, attracted wonderful people into their lives to love and support them.  Stay in the positive and you will get back the best possible outcomes.

LEARN TO LET GO:  Difficult as it can be, reassess your life and the people in it.  Are they positive, like minded and do they support you when you need it most?  Do they truly care about you or are they around you for another reason?  I realized at one point that sadly enough, some of the people I called "friends" weren't there for me, for the joyful occasions or the sad.  And although some of them had been around for years, I needed to let go to be free to attract new people into my life that would truly care about me, support me and just BE there for me.  Family members were a bit more difficult and I just cut down some of my time with them.  Letting go of the old, and the known, is a difficult process but until we learn to let go we won't have room in our lives for the wonderful new people to come into it.

COUNT ON YOURSELF:       You are stronger then you ever imagined.  Learn to count on yourself and not rely on someone else for your needs, wants and successes.  You create your own life, not someone else and you are armed with everything you need to create all the desires in your heart.  Co-dependant became a big word years ago and unfortunately still applies today.  Learn to take charge of your own life and watch what you will create!

ALLOW THE MESSAGES:     Some people complain they never get messages, yet they are sent to us all the time.  From loved ones who have passed, from our Spirit Guides, from our Sixth Sense, from the Universe itself.  Trust yourself to take the time to SEE them; they are important as they are what guide us through life.  Often in these stressful times, we don't even take the time to listen to our inner feelings---and kick ourselves later on, saying "I know I should (shouldn't) have done that! We are working with Energy, learn to see, trust and believe in it and the messages will come to you.  It's the basis of Inspiration.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: I may sound like a broken record on this one, but it bears repeating (again and again sometimes).  When you focus only on the negative, you are going to get back more of the same.  Everyone has blessings, examine them, count them and as you keep those in mind, more will come.  Counted Blessings add up to more blessings coming your way and soon you will have more then you ever imagined.

FIND THE SILVER LINING: Every cloud has one.  It's our job to find it and many times not an easy task.  But it is there if we look.  That silver lining is our window of opportunity to change the situation around and if we miss it, we have missed a chance to change and grow.  A love has left you and you're devastated?  It also gives you more time to focus on YOU, things perhaps you didn't have time to do that you can now get involved with, an opportunity to meet and surround yourself with new people, places, things and ideas.  Find that silver lining and USE it.

A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS:            Oftentimes when we are "stuck" or just plain sad, we see things in only black and white.  We are unable to see the options open to us, to look at the world and our lives in a different way.  Open yourself up to learn something new, read a book full of inspirational stories, be open to things that you once looked at as "odd" or "different" as an opportunity to learn new things about yourself, your life and the way you are living it.  For years Feng Shui was a "fad" until people discovered that it actually works.  If you rely heavily on your doctors, for example, look into wholistic health alternatives as well.  Read subjects you wouldn't usually choose and make them inspiring---they will inspire you as well.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS:                Don't allow anyone to stop or deter you from your dreams.  Your life was not created to look back and wonder what would have happened if you had found your passion and not created it.  Negative people will sometimes give us the wrong information and try to deter us from achieving what we really want.  These are their own doubts and fears coming out and being projected onto you.  Don't allow it.  You will never have to wonder what would have happened if you had only tried.

KEEP AN OPEN HEART:      You meet everyone in life for a reason.  Open your heart to them; they were given to you as a gift or a learning tool.  Don't be too busy to pursue a new friendship, don't just tell yourself the timing is wrong for a relationship, first step back a moment and see what these people are bringing to you and why you have attracted them.  It is oftentimes for a wonderful reason, to meet a new and like minded person you have much in common with, a possible business partner or a new romance.  Sometimes it is for challenges we must face.  Just know they have come to you for a reason and keep your heart open to all who enter your own special space in the world. 

Remember, it is often the challenges in life we must learn that teach us the most. Without them, we would likely be stuck somewhere; they are what force us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on.         

By:  Carole Provenzale, Feng Shui Long Island

      http://www.FengShuiLI.com

 

Posted by

 

Laura Cerrano is a second-generation Certified New York City Feng Shui Consultant Expert. As a full-time Feng Shui consultant, Laura provides bicoastal consultations and workshops for residential, commercial, real estate developments, Fortune 500 companies and healing faculties. In addition, Laura is a resident teacher at the Metropolitan Institute of Design in Syosset, NY. She has been featured in highly respected publications and TV networks such as Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," PBS, CBC Television, BBC Radio and The New York Times. 

 

Comments (14)

Don Carter
All Star Mortgage, LLC - Haverhill, MA
I don't know, Carole, you seem like a fine writer to me - count this one among the "good"!
Jul 09, 2007 03:13 PM
Provadus Home Loans
Provadus Home Loans - Marietta, GA
Technology bringing you home.
I certainly agree with Don, you writing is perfectly fine to me.  It is a matter of opinion, keep up the good writing Carole!
Jul 09, 2007 03:31 PM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Carole...I have been debating with myself for the past few days about getting in touch with you.

It  must be that I was meant to read your Blog tonight instead because it answered all of my questions!

I am printing it off!

Jul 09, 2007 04:29 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes
These are all excellent points. You are a good writer. Always enjoy reading your materials.
Jul 09, 2007 06:49 PM
Cheryl Johnson
Highland Park, CA

Printed, bookmarked, rated, saved.  Thank you for an excellent post. 

You know what I wish someone would write about .... "do they support you when you need it most"  .... Just what exactly should I do to support the people around me?  I want to, you know... but I never seem to quite figure out the right things to do or say.  <s>

Jul 10, 2007 12:05 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Carole--My how you have grown! This is a great post...You are a wonderful writer with much to say!
Jul 10, 2007 08:20 AM
Loretta Buckner
Real World Properties, Inc.| Your Real Estate Consultant for Life - Palm Harbor, FL
Your GREEN Real Estate Consultant For Life!

Wow!  Really well said, Carole!  I went back to look as I'm commenting, and I cannot find my favorite part--they are all great, and bookmarked for future reference!  (and, yes, you are a fine writer!)

It reminds me of an experience in the past few days, where a couple I was consulting with seemed in shock at the 'coincidences' we could relate to one another...I've found such things have become so commonplace (since I began to pay attention, that is), that I expect it now.

PS:  I have passed these words of wisdom along to said friends mentioned above, with full credit due to the author!

Jul 10, 2007 12:50 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Don, Thank you.  I think the people that used it liked it as well and it was truly a compliment to me.

Thank you as well, Open Home.  I continue to write but not as frequently.

Joan, I sure wish you would, I would love to speak to anyone on Activerain!

Bob & Carolin:  Thank you again for your comment.  I know you started a group for Feng Shui but it needs to be moderated...and invitations sent to the many that don't know it exists.  That's why I never started one, it takes alot of time.  But the interest is growing, don't you think?

Cheryl, you give as much support as you can without draining yourself.  It's oftentimes hard to say "no" but we need to set bounderies....even with those we love.  For most of my years I took care of everyone else and then I got sick (probably because I didn't want to do it anymore!).  I take time for me now and don't feel guilty about it, EVER. 

Teri, thank you SO much.  I think I was afraid to blog on Activerain about the "real me" for a long time.  Many people don't believe in things that I do---but we're growing :)

Loretta, there are no coincidences, you know that....it's wonderful when we realize that, isn't it?  Evrything happens for a reason and the more open you are to things, the more they will come to you.

Jul 10, 2007 01:05 PM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Beautiful post, Carole !  Filled with so much wisdom and grace and style.  Thank you so much for sharing this here.

We will get around to our call sooner or later, this week for me is turning out to be pretty crazy however maybe Thursday night if you are home?  I still haven't even checked the time difference !

Jo 

Jul 10, 2007 01:07 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Carole, I wanted to feature this over at Inspiration, however I see it is not posted  there. Do you think you
could ? Our membership is growing bit by bit  ((-:

thanks

Jo 

Jul 10, 2007 09:36 PM
#10
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Jo, Thank you so much for the comment and compliment.....coming from you, A WRITER, it means a lot.  Let me see if I'm allowed to change groups and take it out of one and put it in Inspiration (sorry, I haven't done this before :)
Jul 11, 2007 01:43 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Carole, you are a WRITER too. I Love reading every post you put up and you are one of my subscribed blogs. Writing is what we do, pour out our heart and soul, you and I and so many thousands of others here on AR. It is one amazing group of people. Never have I ever seen such an amazing gathering of likeminded souls.

Thank you for posting your article at Inspiration. It is greatly appreciated that you went to the trouble of switching it from one group to another. I found out yesterday that you can also go directly to a group and post it to the group without removing it from any of your original 5. 

Jo 

Jul 11, 2007 06:09 AM
Cheryl-Anne Priest
Inviting Spaces - Home Staging Calgary - Calgary, AB
Inviting Spaces - Staging Calgary

Carole

Thank-you for the fabulous post.  In my book you are definitely a writer!  I have always admired artists and writers for the ability to take what is in their hearts and heads and to put that on paper.  I have printed this post and will read and re-read it often as well as passing along your wonderful wisdom to others. 

Jul 16, 2007 05:47 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Cheryl-Anne, thank you so much.  I don't see myself that way at all, maybe because I never even thought of it if my webmaster hadn't urged me to to pull up rankings.  That was only a few years ago and I have SO much to learn!  I appreciate your lovely comment.
Jul 16, 2007 11:45 AM