Think Positive! Blog - official blog for ipopin.com

Gift from an angel - Rich Griffith

I have been dealing with a big flare up with my health problems.  I have severe chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome.  I am at a point that I am nearly completely disabled.  It has been a rough road for me.  In addition to the physical symptoms, I have also struggled mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.  Recently I was at a low point and I had withdrawn from the online community.  In part because I had some folks blame me for my illnesses. They basically told me that I wan't "doing it" right or trying hard enough.  I was so surprised by this reaction! 

I have been a leader in the field of positive thinking and tapping into our inner resources for health, happiness, and success for many years.  While my personal and spiritual practices have not (YET) healed my illnesses, I can honestly say that it is my positive attitude and my deep spiritual beliefs that help get me out of bed each day and carry on my life.  I believe that the goal of my positive attitude and my spiritual practice is to find peace and happiness.  I mean true unshakable peace and happiness that is there depsite challenging life circumstances.  I have not yet managed to attain this 100% of the time(nor do I know anyone who has); however, I believe that I have done very well and generally live a happy life - even with my disabilities and pain.  

While I was still feeling the sting of some comments and less than compassionate responses from some folks, I received a notice that Rich Griffith had mentioned me in a blog post.  I clicked to read his post and was stunned (in a very good way).  Rich's post touched and moved me beyond measure!  It was as if he had been reading my mind and had a direct line to what I have been going through. I was unable to get through the post without tears welling up.  This beautiful gift came from a generous and wonderful man at the perfect time in my life!  I do not think words can ever convey how much this post meant (means) to me.  I have printed it and will keep it near me to read when I have a bad day.  It was a nice affirmation that I am on the right path and what I do is making a difference in the world.

Rich, from the bottom of my heart and the core of my being, thank you!  My kindred spirit... my friend... you are an incredible gift to this world!

Attitude of Gratitude

Thursdays are Attitude of Gratitude days here at Think Positive! Blog.  Today I have a very special video to share.  It is the gratitude dance video.   So thank you Brad and Matty from Junior Attractors for the video.  It makes me smile and feel good.

What are you waiting for... get up and do the gratitude dance!

Update on Lynda Winter

On April 5th, I wrote an attitude of gratitude post about Lynda Winter.  She was a phenomenal woman!  I had the pleasure of spending some time with Lynda at a mutual friend's house.  Lynda also granted me the privilege of interviewing her for a project that I am working on called "in their own words." 

Lynda died on August 5, 2007 - or as she would say, she left on her ultimate trip (one she didn't have to pack for).  Lynda left this world with grace and dignity.  She did not fear death, she saw it as a transition - one that she was ready for.  Rather than having a funeral, she planned a party for her friends and family to celebrate her life.  Lynda was truly one of the most inspirational people I have ever met.  She touched my soul and I will be forever grateful! 

Attitude of Gratitude - link love to Women Bloggers

On August 7th, Valerie Valeria Maltoni from the Conversation Agent wrote a post about the top 20 PR Power Women.  This top 20 list was extracted from Ad Age's Power 150.  Valerie had a brilliant idea to add to this list and get the ball rolling to create the "W" list - a list of Women Bloggers.  The "W" list idea took off in the blogosphere and has grown into a fabulous list of women bloggers.

On August 17th, Carolyn D. Townes from Becoming a Woman of Purpose created a wiki page for the W-List to live. 

Thanks to Valerie for starting this list!   Thanks to Carolyn for creating the wiki page!  And, thanks to each and every woman who is blogging and making a difference in the world

I am honored to be included on the list!  Here are a few more wonderful women written blogs to add to the growing W-list:

You Already Know This Stuff by Jodee Bock
Spirit in Gear by Debbie Call
My Beautiful Chaos by April Groves
Becoming your StellarSelf by Mary Kearns
Affirmagy Blog by Kristen Schuerlein
eMoms at Home by Wendy Piersall

The rest of the list:

The Artsy Asylum by Susan Reynolds
::Surroundings:: by Linda Merrill
45 Things by Anita Bruzzese
A Look at Art & Design: Lisa Mikulski
advergirl Leigh Householder
Andrea Dickson at Wise Bread - Humorous, honest voice on the serious matters of money.
angiemckaig.com: still a great pair of legs Angie McKaig
AnjaMerret.com by Anja Merret
Ask Dr. Kirk
Avedon Carol’s Sideshow by Avedon Carol

Back in Skinny Jeans by Stephanie Quilao
Belle at Abundance Journal - Explorations in the Law of Attraction.
Beth's Blog by Beth Kanter
Biz Growth News by Krishna De
BizInformer by Deborah Chaddock Brown
BlogWrite for CEOs Debbie Weil
Boardroom for Women: No Nonsense Business Coaching by Norma Rist
Brain Based Biz by Dr. Robyn McMaster
Brain Based Business by Dr. Ellen Weber
Brand Sizzle by Anne Simons

Branding & Marketing by Chris Brown
Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk
Build a Solo Practice, LLC by Susan Cartier Liebel
Christine Kane by Christine Kane
CK’s Blog CK (Christina Kerley)
Colloquium by JHSEsq
Communication Overtones Kami Huyse
Confident Writing by Joanna Young
Conscious Business by Anne Libby
Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni

Corporate PR Elizabeth Albrycht
Creative Curio by Lauren Marie
Customers Are Always by Maria Palma
Customers Rock! Becky Carroll
CustServ by Meikah David
Damsel-in-Progress
Debbie Millman by Debbie Millman
Deborah Schultz by Deborah Schultz
Design Your Life Ellen and Julia Lupton, identical twins
Design Your Writing Life by Lisa Gates

Designers Who Blog by Cat Morley
Diary of Claudine Hellmuth Claudine Hellmuth
Digby’s Hullabaloo by Digby
Dishn'Dat
Diva Marketing Blog by Toby Bloomberg
Do It Myself Blog by Glenda Watson Hyatt
Dooce by Heather B. Armstrong
Edith Yeung from EdithYeung.com
Email Marketing Best Practices Tamara Gielen
Emily Chang - Strategic Designer Emily Chang

Enter the Laughter by Marti Lawrence
Escape Blog by Melissa Petri
Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim
eSoup by Sharon Sarmiento
Essential Keystrokes by Char
Every Dot Connects by Connie Reece
Exploring the trends driving small business by Anita Campbel
Feministing by Jessica, Vanessa, Samhita, Ann, Celina, Jen and Courtney
First Person PR by Kari Hanson
Fish Creek House by GP

Flooring The Consumer CB Whittemore
Forrester’s Marketing Blog Shar, Charlene, Chloe, Christine Elana, Laura and Lisa
Forward Steps by Thea Westra
Franke James by Franke James
FunnyBusiness by Elana Centor
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.c
Get Fresh Minds by Katie Konrath
Get Shouty by Katie Chatfield
Graphic Design Blog by Tara
Great Presentations Mean Business by Laura Athavale Fitton

Helping Bloggers Make Money by Paula Neal Mooney
Hey Marci by Marci Alboher
Holly’s Corner Blog by Holly Schwendiman
ifelse by Phu Ly
Illustration Friday Penelope Dullaghan
Inspiration Bit by Vivien
Inspired Business Growth by Wendy Piersall
J.T. O’Donnell Career Insights by J.T. O’Donnell
JHSEsq from Colloquium
Jinx!

Joyful, Jubilant Learning by Rosa Say
Kammie at Passion Meets Purpose - A passionate, clear, cheer leading voice to help you go for your dreams.
Kara-Leah at Be Conscious Now - Great explorations in thinning the veil and bringing yourself to the moment.
KDPaine’s PR Measurement Blog by Katie Paine
Kelly Curtis from Pass the Torch
Kinetic Ideas Wendy Maynard
Kirsten Harrell at Think Positive! - Kristen provides daily affirmations and even publishes a 60 second daily audio.
Kora-in-Hell
Laura Young at The Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life - Hostess of the Carnival of Courage.
Learned on Women by Andrea Learned

Learning Optimism by Nataly Kogan
Lindsay Pollak by Lindsay Polla
Lip-Sticking by Yvonne DeVita and Lena West
Little Red Suit by Tiffany Monhollon
Live the Power by Karen Lynch
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog by Liz Strauss
Lorelle on WordPress by Lorelle VanFossen
Mad Kane’s Humor Blog (and Mad Kane’s Political Madness) by Madeleine Begun Kane
Making Life Work for You by April Groves
Mama Duck at Lil Duck Duck - Cute pictures and stories from the mom of a precocious toddler. It warms my heart.

Manage to Change by Ann Michael
Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
Mandarin Design Daily:The MEG Blog Michelle Goodrich
Marketing Roadmaps Susan Getgood
Melissa McEwan at Shakesville
Moda di Magno by Lori Magno
Modite by Rebecca Thorman
molly.com Molly E. Holzschlag
My Secret Spiritual Dance by Pamm
Narrative Assets by Karen Hegman

Netdiver Carole Guevin
Niquimerret.com by Niqui
Nneka from Balanced Life Center-Spirituality applied to Life
On My Desk Linzie Hunter
Pamm from My Secret Spiritual Dance
Pass the Torch by Kelly Curtis
Peace Love Harmony by Kirsten Harrell
Presto Vivace Blog Alice Marshall
Priscilla Palmer: Personal Development Demands Success by Priscilla Palmer
Productivity Goal by Carolyn Manning

Purple Wren by Sandy Wrenshaw
Purse Lip Square Jaw Anne Galloway
ReputationExchange by Leslie Gaines-Ross
Shakesville by Melissa McEwan
Sheriar Designs Mani Sheriar
Small Biz Survival by Becky McCray
Small Failures: Sustainability for the Rest of Us Jess Sand
Spare Change Nedra Kline Weinreich
Spirituality Blog at Balanced Life Center by Nneka
Strategy Stew by Ivana Taylor

swissmiss Tina Roth Eisenberg
Talk It Up Heidi Miller
Tech Kitten by Trisha Miller
Technical Made Easy by Lauri Burkons
Tertia.org/ by Tertia
That’s What She Said by Julie Elgar
The Artsy Asylum by Susan Reynolds
The Blog Angel aka Claire Raikes
The Brand Dame by Lyn Chamberlin
The Copywriting Maven Roberta Rosenberg

The Engaging Brand by Anna Farmery
The Floozy Blog by Kate Coote
The Heavy Chef Project with Nicola Perk
The Kiss Business Too by Karin H.
The Origin of Brands Laura Ries
The Parody by Sasha Manuel
The Podcast Sisters by Krishna De, Anna Farmery and Heather Gorringe
Think Positive by Kirsten Harrell
this is rachelandrew.co.uk Rachel Andrew
Veerle’s blog 2.0 Veerle

Versa Creations by Vivienne
Water Cooler Wisdom by Alexandra Levit
Wealth Strategy Secrets by Money Gym author and Founder Nicola Cairncross.
What’s Next Blog B L Ochman
Wiggly Wigglers authored by fellow Podcast Sister Heather Gorringe
WomensDISH by Diane K. Danielson and friends
Words People Read by Deborah Chaddock Brown
Ypulse by Anastasia Goodstein

Attitude of Gratitude - link love

Each week I like to share my gratitude for folks who have written something that inspired me, have helped me out in some way, and/or have touched my life.

This week I want to express my appreciation to folks who are helping with the Positive Thinking Day event. 

I want to start with a great big thanks to a few of the teachers from the Secret DVD:

Joe Vitale - Joe has donated an audio titled A Dinner with the Divine to the Positive Thinking Power Pack. In this audio, Dr. Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len talk about Ho’oponopono - a Hawaiin healing method.  Dr. Vitale will also help promote this event.

James Ray - James has donated a 75 minute audio for the Positive Thinking Power Pack.  This 75 minute audio clip has been edited from a live presentation that teaches you how to create wealth in all areas of your life: financially, relationally, mentally, physically & spiritually.

I have many more people to thank.  The following people have contributed to PTD and are helping to make Positive Thinking Day a fabulous event: 

Phil Gerbyshak - Phil is a co-sponsor.  He has been a sounding board for me and has contributed to the planning of PTD

Sandy Renshaw and the team at Purple Wren - Purple Wren is a co-sponsor and did a fabulous job designing the logo for PTD

Thom Quinn - Thom is a co-sponsor of the event and is writing some great articles for the PTD site

Kristen Schuerlein - Kristen is a co-sponsor and has been involved in planning and promotion of PTD.  Affirmagy has donated an Affirmawrap as a prize.  In addition, Affirmagy will be donating 20% of PTD proceeds to CRF

Kris Knopp - Kris has donated a great ebook to be used in the Positive Thinking Power Pack

Suzanne Burns - Suzanne has contributed an ebook (How Divine Inspiration Can Lead to Product Development) for the Power Pack

Mary Kearns, Ph.D. - Dr. Kearns has offered a copy of her newly released book - Growing Toward Balance - to be given away during the PTD events.

Kirsten Solly - Kirsten has donated a beautiful bubble wish wand as a prize.

To all of you...I am so pleased and honored to have your help.  I am so very passionate about changing the world, one thought at a time AND rasing money for Christopher Reeve's Foundation... thank you for helping to make this event a reality!

Attitude of Gratitude - link love

I have a very special attitude of gratitude post this week.  I want to express my deep appreciation for Sandy Renshaw and her team at Purple Wren.  The Purple Wren group (a co-sponsor of Positive Thinking Day events) stepped up to assist me in creating a logo graphic for the Positive Thinking Day events.  I am so thankful for their work!  Here is what they came up with:

Pretty nifty, don't ya think?!  Nice work Purple Wren!  Thanks for doing what you do!

If you want to support the Positive Thinking Day effort, you can grab this logo (link it to www.positivethinkingday.com) to use on your website or in your blog's sidebar.  To express our appreciation to those who support these efforts with this logo link, we will enter you in a drawing to win an iPod and you will get a permanent link in the sidebar at Positive Thinking Day Headquarters as a supporter of Positive Thinking Day.

Attitude of Gratitude - link love

I know that I have missed a few of my attitude of gratitude posts, but I am getting back on track.  I like to give some link love each week to express my gratitude for some exceptional blog posts.  Here are links to posts from this week that have inspired me, touched me, or brought me joy.

Kammie Kobyleski (Passion Meets Purpose) wrote Why is Scott Baio 45 and still single?  Kammie discussed the need to clear out our old junk in order to make room for new things in our lives.  She lists some great tips to help you get started with this process. 

So dig deep, bring the garbage out into the light and then let it go. Forgive it. Release it. Hug it and kiss it. It’s a piece of your uniquely beautiful puzzle that makes you who you are NOW. No need to harbor anymore anger, animosity, hate or fear. It’s over. It’s done. Finit-o. Buh-Bye!

Lyman Reed (Creating a Better Life) posted And now for something completely different...  In this post Lyman shares a video clip from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  The movie happens to be a favorite of mine and this clip is a classic.  If you are not a Monty Python fan, it may not be for you.  While you are checking out this video, you might also check out I'm not supposed to tel you this.  In this post Lyman shares a very personal and heartfelt account of the personal growth process.  Lyman reminds us that sometimes it is difficult and ugly, but with persistence and good coping skills you can pull through the difficult times.

I wrote this to let you know that, no matter where you are, and how many times you “go there” in your own head, you can always pull back… if you want to.

Steven Aitchitson (Change your thoughts) wrote 10 ways to show you care for your family.  This one hit home for me, because I have been thinking of a very dear friend that I miss.  I haven't been very good at staying connected lately.  This article was a good reminder that I just need to pick up the phone and all.  The whole list is great!

Thanks Kammie, Lyman, and Steven for your great posts this week!  You are making a positive difference in this world!

Attitude of Gratitude - link love

Here we are again... it's Thursday and here at Think Positive that means it is Attitude of Gratitude Day!  This week I have some great new posts to share with you.  This is my time to express my gratitude for posts that have inspired me. 

Phil Gerbyshak (Make It Great) wrote Are you really successful?  In this post, Phil shares a personal look at evaluating success by checking if our actions are in line with our values.  This is a great post with good tips.  This is an area that I frequently work with my clients on. 

Troy Worman (Orbit Now) wrote Consider Yourself Lucky.  Short, sweet, and right on target!  I am with ya Troy!

Donald Latumahina (Life Optimizer) wrote What is the key to success?  Donald declares that the key to success is helping others as much as possible.  I would agree with Donald on this.  He shares some great ideas for ways to be more helpful to others.

Karin H (Stop/Start) wrote Do you have... Again this is short and sweet.  It shows that a smile really is contagious!

Thanks Phil, Troy, Donald, and Karin for inspiring me and making me smile this week!  You are making a difference in the world!     

Attitude of Gratitude - link love

Happy Attitude of Gratitude Day - well, I am a day late on this, but here it is!  Typically, on Thursdays I express my gratitude for articles that inspired me during the week.  Since I had a bit of a crazy day yesterday I am posting a short attitude of gratitude list this week.  Actually, I am sending out one giant thank you to Aaron Potts from Today is That Day and the new social site that is all about linking folks who are interested in personal development. 

Here is a bit of what Aaron wrote about Personal Development Partners: "Personal Development Partners is a free site where you can go to meet others who are making an honest effort to create and/or maintain a wonderful life for themselves."

As soon as I read about Aaron's latest project, I headed right over to join and see what it was like.  I haven't had a lot of time to explore, but so far it looks promising.  If you are interested in networking with like-minded folks head over to Personal Development Partners and fill out your profile.  Be sure to look me up and we can connect as friends.

I can't even imagine the amount of work that went into creating this.  Thank you Aaron for creating a space for us to connect and support each other!  You are making a positive difference in this world!

Attitude of Gratitude - link love

Happy Attitude of Gratitude Day!  It's Thursday and here at Think Positive, it is time to express my gratitude for some articles this week that touched me or inspired me in some way.  Here goes...

Liz Strauss (Successful Blog) wrote a fun little post called Gosh, Aren't We Supposed to Be...  Liz reminds us of the importance of playing and having fun.  While I always enjoy Liz's thoughtful and inspiring words, this post came at a perfect time with the perfect message for me today.   

I’m not confused about this one.
Sometimes we’re supposed to be playing.

I’m sure about that.

Erin Blaskie (Business Services, ETC) wrote 5 Ways to Improve Your Company's Vibe. Erin's tips are great!  I must be in need of some fun and play... because her tip number 5 (Make someone laugh each day) hit home. 

Most importantly, be yourself and be authentic.  Don’t try to develop another person’s vibe for your own.  Let it come naturally and grow organically and I can assure you that your vibe will remain in tact for a long time to come.

Christine Kane (Christine Kane's Blog) shared 13 Bodacious Ways to Be Nice to Yourself.  Ooohh... I'm loving this list.  I think we ought to each have our list of bodacious ways to be nice to ourselves and then be sure to do something from the list each day.  Imagine how much happier the world would be.   

And I also know that we’ll always have days when - no matter how hard we try - trying hard won’t do it. On such days, the best thing to do is to just give in and be really nice to us. Tomorrow we will thrive because of today’s kindness.

Chris Cree (Success Creeations) wrote Success Principle #13 - Run Your Own Race.  Very good reminder that comparing ourselves to others is not the best measure of success. 

Take the time to find the best race for you to run. Then don’t let yourself get distracted by how others are running the race you were meant to run. Run your race to the absolute best of your ability.

Thanks Liz, Erin, Christine, and Chris!  Great articles... you are each making a difference in the world.  Thanks for doing what you do!