Freeing Ourselves from Limits

On my birthday this week I received a most unusual gift, a letter from a woman named C. She is currently in a correctional facility and then the library she found a copy of Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. She wrote to tell me she had been a student of manifesting for many years and named a number of other prominent authors in the field. She said that the information in Manifesting 1,2,3 was on par with the best that she had ever read on the subject but with this big difference, “This book has made it so easy to understand!” She went onto say that the understanding she gained has changed her life. That’s a very nice present to get on one’s birthday and it got me to thinking about what sort of changes could happen within the limits of a correctional facility. Regardless of where we are, we have our limits. It’s very likely that we are not going off on an international flight tomorrow, quitting our jobs, or abandoning all of our responsibilities. Our lives are full of limits and there’re a great many of those we would like to be free of. That’s where the manifesting comes in. Thinking about C., what is it that she could be doing? She is confined to the space she is in and would surely like to be elsewhere. It sounds similar to a restrictive job or relationship that we commonly find ourselves in. At a minimum, there are a couple of positive things to manifest in this situation. The first would be to imagine a future where our present situation becomes a very pleasant one. Instead of going through all of the details, manifest a future where you are happy and fulfilled your present situation and that your best and highest good is being done and that you were so grateful for how it all worked out. Can that happen during an incarceration? Yes, just as easily as things could pleasantly turnaround at work or a difficult relationship could miraculously re-blossom. Here is something else to consider that we don’t always think of. We can manifest how we feel and react to present situations. Regardless of what’s going on around us, we can manifest that we are calm and at peace with our present position. We can create a future where we are not stressed by our problems or others that cause them. From the hundreds of stories from readers of this book a common theme emerges. When individuals begin to manifest changes within themselves, those adjustments happily appear and sometimes very quickly. A number of people, myself included, have literally woken up happier, others with less stress, and another woke up knowing that they would never experience the feeling of loneliness again. Also, be very aware of the words you speak. Every utterance is a command to create and our thoughts create whatever we say or think. As we repeat positive or negative thoughts, we are creating form. Create the changes you desire. Get the book or listen to my informative interviews on the website. Either way, all the information you need is there to help you change what limits you now and set you on the path you choose for your happiness and fulfillment. Ken Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.   Photo credits: left, Huffington Post Boxed In Article and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

Is Manifesting Fast? Slow? Does it Work?

Thank you, Gary for your revealing story. Manifesting does not always happen as we expect it, nor in a straightforward fashion. In Gary’s case, he was always moving toward his manifesting goals even if it didn’t look like it at the time. I’m glad he stayed with it and passed his story on to us. Ken Gary writes: Hi Ken, well my story … I believe this story started about a year ago when I moved to the Taos, NM area.That’s when I had my first reading of Manifesting 1,2 3. I’ll have to say that I wasn’t sure how and what to think about what I was reading and how to put it into practice. My first Taos place was a small house on a very dusty dirt road, I felt in my heart that it wasn’t really right for me. Long story short, I got evicted when after 2 months for asking my landlord to fix the back door so that in case of a fire, I had another way out of the house. He replied “Your lease is broken, you ask for too much.” This was my start of manifesting. I had to move into an Airbnb for $100. a day for 27 days, I knew this wasn’t what I wanted in my life and future. I now had every incentive to perfect my manifesting. I believed I could get this right, but I needed more understanding. Using the instructions in the book, I saw myself in a future of my making, the movie as I read about, with me in a Taos-style house with a wonderful view of Taos mountain, and oh yeah, a detached studio with lots of natural light. After much looking, I found what I thought I had visualized in my movie. I felt I had finally been able to manifest my house. I read and reread your book, all the time thinking had realized my ideas. Well, just after I had moved into the house and studio, I asked a beautiful woman that I knew to come live with me in my new home, and she did for 2 months.This was a part of my manifesting as well. I met her i Paris in 1993 had kept in touch with her. At the time, I was teaching with the Santa Barbara City College abroad. I thought I’d been successful with my manifesting, but alas, we couldn’t live together and she moved to Nebraska. Part of my movie was that she would do the computer work necessary for an artist and I’d do my art and handle the shipping. There was still something to my manifesting my partner because she continued to do my computer work, a very nice thing for her to do. Apparently, my manifesting movie was still working but in ways I couldn’t see coming.One morning I went out to my studio and there was water pouring out the front door. Inside, almost all of my printmaking career was under water, 435 prints were now completely wet. Once again I thought, “What’s happening here?” I went back and doubled down on my manifesting, concentrating what I thought I needed to do. I had to destroy those prints and when I did, I viewed my studio even better than I had first seen it. The prints were taking up a lot of space and not actively selling. Once I could see more open studio space, I began to finally understanding what I needed to do! My movie was finally coming to me. I have to tell you this wasn’t an easy thing for me. With a bit more space, I finally got to paint in the studio and all seemed to be falling into place. I felt like I could ease up on my manifesting and enjoy what I had attained. THEN, while I was being complacent with my house, which is built on a slab, a water pipe blew out and I had to get 2 plumbers over to fix it. They had to dig through the foundation to find the broken pipe and repair the leak. I began visualizing my house being repaired and it was, but with one problem. My insurance company told me that it was my responsibility to maintain the pipes and they were not going to pay for fixing it. AGAIN, I went back to manifesting to counter this and subsequently, they dropped my policy,Afterwards, when I hired a lawyer, they reinstated me, but I still had to pay for the plumbing repairs. So this manifesting is working it seems, but not in exactly the way I would have planned it. I began to visualize that in my movie that this too will pass, that my art would become more popular and that I was finally enjoying life again.Did I get all the bugs out of the house? Yes. Did I have the money to pay for it? Yes. Things were looking up so I began to visualize further, putting an addition onto my house. It has been a journey, but it seems my movie is coming to fruition.I now believe my manifesting to be spot on. I believe I have reached what my movie was trying to get me to realize – what I truly needed and wanted in my life and I am now living it. I know I can’t stop manifesting. The new addition should be finished in a couple of weeks. Gary Gary Paul’s fine art website   Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.   Photo credit: left, Taos Ski Valley and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

Manifesting the Dreams of a Child

Helga was singularly focused on her dream career from a very early age. On hundreds of occasions and over many years she was repeating the same idea. She wasn’t doing ‘formal’ manifesting but her repetitive thoughts were building what she desired. Her story describes how the thing we seek will sometimes meet us halfway. She did her part, beginning her training and then, what she desired came to her in an unexpected way. Ken Helga writes, My dad took us kids to see Fantasia, the Disney movie, when I was around 7 years old. I fell in love! The music, the colours, the animation… all spellbinding. I was smitten and knew that’s what I wanted to do from then on. At 18 or so, I was enrolled in a London art school. Although I liked it, I just didn’t “find” myself there. Something was missing. At the end of the first year, we all had to leave our portfolios for assessment and I hauled my huge portfolio to the school and would have to pick it up the following day and bring it back home. The next day I picked up the portfolio and started back home. The journey was a long tube ride from the East part of London to the West part. I normally had to change trains halfway. On this day, I was in a mood. I didn’t want to be around people. I wanted to be alone with my down mood! So on this day and this day only, I changed at another station knowing it would be mostly empty. I only saw this one guy, sweeping the platform. The next train was due in 8 minutes. Good. No one around. I propped my heavy portfolio up against the wall and wandered down the platform, looking at the advertising posters. I turned to go back and saw the sweeper stooping over my portfolio, turning it and inspecting it. Duh, I thought, irritated, and hurried towards him. I apologized about my leaving it there. “I know” said the guy, “Are you an artist?” No, I sighed, just a student. He straightened up and said: “Well, I was a film student, but I didn’t like it…. so….” I stared at him. “You were a film student? Here? In London?” “Yeah,” he said, “London Film School, in Covent Garden….”  I couldn’t believe it and wanted to ask more but my train approached. I hurried home and grabbed the telephone book (no internet in those days either!) I found the London Film School! “Oh my, he wasn’t fibbing!!” The following day I rang them up and as it was the end of term, they were viewing students for the next season and I was allowed to come in to show my portfolio. I talked with the head of animation, Smithie, and got in!! The first year I had to do a general film course (great!) and the year after, I was in the animation department. For all those years I was focused on the idea of animation and now it was actually happening. The school got into some financial troubles but I was told about animation studios in London, where I could look for work. Wow, animation studios in London?  Fantastic! I spent the rest of my working life freelancing in London. I worked on T.V. series for kids and commercials. Later, the big U.S. studios came to London and I worked for Warner Brothers, Steven Spielberg and….yes, Walt Disney Studios! Ahhhh…….  My dream had come true. At the art school, the teachers didn’t really help me find animation in London. Odd really, that they didn’t seem know about the film school, so Fate stepped in! I often think of that guy sweeping the platform. He changed my life! I have your book, it’s by my side all the time as I need the inspiration. 🙂 Helga, Sweden More about Helga: Isafold Art & Design The first movie I worked on was Watership Down, a classic in the UK. Some of the other, better-known movies I worked on include: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, All Dogs Go to Heaven II, Thumbelina, Duck Tales The Movie, Rover Dangerfield, Pebble and the Penguin, The Thief and the Cobbler, Quest for Camelot. Some of these movies will have a long file in film heaven!   Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.   Photo credit: Fantasia by Walt Disney and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

What Dreams are Made Of – Build Yours Now!

What is Manifesting? It is repeated intention, layer upon layer, that actually builds reality.  Start young or later, but begin creating your dream. In this story, someone starts with a singular idea, to be an architect, and with dedication, work and adherence to that goal… Well, you will see. Thank you, L. for this story. You and your husband get a lot of credit for being the observant and supportive parents here as well. Ken P.S. From the newsletter archive, learn how Manifesting works right now!   Hi Ken, A couple of months ago I spent a Saturday at your home and you gifted me with a signed copy of Manifesting 123 in exchange for a manifesting story. Thank you so much! I love the practicality and common-sense approach of your book and the fact that it has no hidden information like some of the other books on this subject do. It is very straightforward and easy to apply, if of course, one chooses to make it part of their life. My oldest son C. came into this world with talents beyond his age.When he was a very young child he would sit and draw for hours (mostly floor plans). I signed him up for an art class when he was just 4 years old and he quickly flourished. Every year at Christmas my husband and I would purchase an intricate Lego set for our 2 boys and on Christmas morning they and their dad would build it together. When they were older and in school full time, I decided to go back to school for interior design. One evening I was drafting a floor plan as part of my homework. It was a long and tedious assignment and I finally announced I had finished. My son came over to inspect my drawing and announced (at the ripe age of eight) that I had missed a crucial line that created the corner of the room. He was 100% correct. The years went by and it became C’s turn to go off to college. He had been announcing from a VERY young age that he wanted to become an architect and his father and I both encouraged him to follow his dream. C. was raised with a mom that is very open to spirituality and the power of thoughts and she encouraged her children to go for their dreams, whatever they were. The school of Architecture carries the second highest work load in the school behind Microbiology and C. spent many sleepless nights perfecting his craft. I am proud to say he graduated with honors. This is where the story gets good. While C. was studying architecture, he discovered an internationally recognized firm in Seattle, WA that he felt was very prestigious and exactly where he wanted to work.This architecture firm was highly acclaimed and very selective with who they hired and selected for internships. It would not be an easy task, so after graduating with his architecture degree, he began the long and laborious task of creating an impeccable portfolio. It would be directed strictly to this particular firm for the purpose of being chosen as an intern. He sent it to the company and let it go to the universe.This was his choice, he had worked hard for it and it was a constant goal for him. Remarkably, it was the only firm he applied to. A couple of months later he received a call from the firm requesting an interview for their internship program.The interview went perfectly and he was invited to join the firm for three months. But where would he find a place to rent in Seattle for just three months when most leases are for a year? Everything continued to flow and all that was required to support his move to Seattle began to unfold.About a week after the Seattle invitation, he received a call from one of his ex-college roommates that happened to work for this same firm. He heard about my son’s offer and had one of his own. The friend needed someone to take over the remainder of his three-month lease in Seattle! He was leaving the company to pursue a dream of walking the Pacific Coast Trail and had already signed up for it. The apartment was fully furnished, had one bedroom, a much-valued space to park his car and a spectacular view that looked down upon the Seattle skyline, including the iconic Space Needle & Mt. Rainier, it was just minutes from the firm and completely affordable. It was a miraculous offer and happily accepted! The universe had opened up every single door he needed to pursue his dream.In a little less than two months into his internship he was offered a highly coveted full-time position with the company. Since then he has worked on many different projects since and achieved the task of a competed CD (construction drawing) set at the age of 25. Later he completed a full project with just a supervisor above him, an undertaking many do not complete until their late thirties or early forties. He remains at the firm nearly five years later, and continues to “defy the odds.” How is that for a manifesting story? L.   Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.   Photo credit: Redmond Family Smiles DDS, and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

Ask Yourself, Where Do You Want to Go? What Do You Want To Do?

Ken writes: This is my story, something that happened long before I was aware of how manifesting works and later wrote a book about it. Years ago, I worked at a large gallery in Houston and when that ended, the architect next door recommended that I sell something they use a lot of: glass, furniture, wall coverings, carpet, etc. After looking around, it seemed the carpet idea would be a good place to land a job for a time. It wasn’t as easy as it looked, but I was with a company that did a lot of large, commercial work, giving me access to some large contracts to bid on. After a time, my experience grew and I was in the middle of a massive carpet sale and install contract for a large retail mall in town. The project created a lot of buzz with a number of carpet manufacturers that wanted to supply the goods. It took months of working with those manufacturers directly and they were watching how I was handing the competitive bid process with them all. I did get that big contract and with it, a call from a manufacturer’s VP. His company didn’t supply the carpet we used, but he was interested in the possibility of my working for his large, national firm. A time was set up and he flew in for an interview over lunch. Since I was 17, the art business was like a home to me, the picture framing shops at first and then as a gallery manager. Although I met a number of wonderful people in the carpet business, it was not an appealing vocation compared to the fun I had in the art business. During the interview, the VP explained that the territory being offered would be the central US and it would require constant travel during the week. This was pre-internet, so having one of those thick airline schedule paperbacks was required to serially book flights every day. I was beginning to zone out hearing the complexity of it and there was the other factor that carpet is a lot less interesting to sell compared to artworks. I think the VP detected that I was drifting away. Then out of the blue, he directly asked me a question I had never asked myself, “If you could do anything in the world you wanted to do, what would it be?” The answer came back quickly without my thinking it and surprised me to hear it. “I want to be an artist.” Well, that was that and I can’t remember another thing that happened at that lunch but I didn’t forget what I said that day. Did I act on it right away? No…. like so many of us, it became a “gonna, fixing to” kind of thing. But a couple of years later, I bought a how to draw book, got a note pad and pencil then started to teach myself. Since I had years being around pretty good to great art, I had an idea of what good art should look like, good to know but not very helpful for making it. I had to stay with it and get better day by day. During the day I worked other jobs but I stayed focused on the idea of being an artist, drawing and painting when I could. That focus resulted in two very big breaks. A friend told me to apply for a month-long class with the esteemed artist Wolf Kahn at the Santa Fe Art Institute. I knew Wolf casually and happily, I was accepted. He told me I was accepted on my merits as an artist, a kind thing to tell a new artist of few skills. Looking back, that month was fundamental to my progress as an artist and I use what I learned there every day. After that class there were more occasional sales of small things. It was encouraging to see and I began to spend time after the workday in the struggle to make better artworks. My wife at the time, Linda offered that my day job wasn’t bringing in a valuable or necessary wage and she recommended that I quit the little job and start making art full-time, a Very Big break. Thank you, Linda. Now I start each day stating 7 grateful things, and there is much to be grateful for, including these two big breaks. Looking back, I recall the initial catalyst. A stranger asked me a simple but incredibly important question, “If you could do anything in the world you wanted to do, what would it be?” My answer provided a direction, the focus was up to me. Now I’m asking you the same question. Manifesting 1,2,3 and you don’t need #3 shows you what your thoughts can do. Now you have the tools to make things happen. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? We are all rooting for you! Ken Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.   Photo credit: Moreni Agricultural Machinery and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

A Peek inside the Angelic Lost and Found Office?

J. writes: I lost the brown box I put my essential oils in.I spent a week looking for it everywhere and I so mean everywhere, repeatedly! Finally, I stopped looking and decided to pray to the angels to have the box returned to me. I knew the last place I left it was with my car.I was going to carry it out of my car to the juice bar, but my arms were so full with other things I decided to leave it on top of the car and come back for it, but I didn’t. I suspected someone picked it off the top of my car when I was inside, but didn’t want to believe that it was gone. To be certain, I looked and looked in places that it could have been and where it could not have been, but still couldn’t find it. So after a week of looking and lacking any other options, I made my prayer request and the very next day there it was, sitting by the praying angel statue on an altar I had made for it! I knew the box was never in my bedroom. I was sure of this because I have never taken those oils into that room. It was like the box time traveled, disappearing and reappearing in this obvious place. I asked Kerry if he had found the box and put it there, but he said that he didn’t know about the box or the essential oils. He was confused, and my saying that it apparently manifested back to me only added to his confusion, but it is only Kerry and I in the house. But the box and oils did come back somehow and of all the places for it to show up, in my bedroom, right beside my praying angel.Don’t forget, I had already looked for a week and it was never in my bedroom. When I did first see it, I was a bit shocked but I instantly knew it had been manifested. You couldn’t fail to see it sitting there. Interestingly, a number of my essential oils were missing out of the box, so I knew someone had handled it, but I got the box and bulk of the oils back anyway. Then I remembered something important: In my prayer I requested that the pretty flower box of oils be returned to me even if some of the oils are missing.I got exactly what I asked for. The next time something goes missing I will request that it comes back to me in its complete form. I feel the angels were trying to teach me something and show me the power of prayer and manifestation.I am in awe over this experience and grateful for the amazing demonstration of what is possible. I was shown that there are no limits. Just ask and manifest! J. Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you. Photo credit: ABC Lost TV intro and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

I Ditched that Crisis Driven System and then the BIG BREAK Happened. Hello NBC

By Nancy Rynes, author of Awakenings from the Light Nancy’s book website    Nancy’s art website As an artist and author, I have used prayer and manifesting to create some amazing results. Sometime back I used manifesting to create a very nice PR break for my paintings – an article and free ad in a national art magazine. That was just the boost I needed at the time and I was very grateful for the nice break. Funny what we commonly do after something good like that happens.Did I continue to put out good thoughts for my continued success? Not really. Like most people, we carry on until the next problem presents itself and then we go back into asking mode again. It’s a classic, crisis driven system. We are comfortable at the time and besides, we can take care of everything on our own, right? Ken is a good friend and I remember our conversation about ‘Planting the Flag,’ a way to add a little extra oomph in manifesting.I could use another PR boost, but this time for my book,  Awakenings from the Light.  In the book, I wrote about surviving a very serious accident, but just barely. I was declared dead for a short time in the hospital and during those minutes I found myself in what you would call Heaven for the equivalent of 2-3 months in that realm. My book is about what happened and what I was taught during my time there. I feel it is my life’s purpose to get that information out to a wider public. The Planting the Flag idea is to create a future by thinking of it just like it is described in Manifesting 1,2, 3 and you don’t need #3  but with a twist. In order to manifest this idea, one might have to make an investment of time, money or some extra effort. You put a ‘flag’ out there in the future, marking the desired event and instead of saying I can’t do this because, because, you tell yourself in advance that you will do what is required at the time and not get in the way of your goal. So starting last July, I declared that I would interviewed about my book on a large, national TV program.There are a couple of problems with this, the first being that everyone would like to be interviewed nationally and that line is very long. Also, it is common wisdom in publishing circles that a self-published author like myself is never considered for big broadcast interviews. I have seen plenty of miracles and manifesting successes so I went the extra mile, saying that if I got that big interview, I would make a donation to a favorite charity and allow more of my time and energy to go wherever  this additional publicity might lead me.In addition, I put out a prayer for the same thing. No angels or guides for this prayer – I went to the top and asked God for it to be done. Oh, there is one more complication. I learned I was going to be laid off from my steady job in one week. Tick, tick, tick. I had a premonition that the contractor I worked for would not have their contract renewed but I also felt that the next good thing would flow in for me. With four days of steady employment left I got a phone call from NBC.It was a producer for Megyn Kelly on the Today Show. I didn’t quite get what was happening at first. “You’re a producer for what? NBC?” I asked. It was a real shock to hear what was unfolding but I hung in there and kept saying yes to the interview requirements. They wanted to do a series of interviews with people that had experienced near death as I had. Wow! This asking and manifesting really works! What are the odds of that happening out of the blue like that? Apparently, I had this new job and there would be much to do. I called Judy Goodmanfor her always good advice and the media expert Marianne Pestanafor precious pre-interview advice. Then I prepared for the crews to film me at home and later, live in NY with Megyn. Everything I needed fell into place and in a timely way. Interesting that I now had the free time to make it happen. Here’s the 6 minute, 30 second interview  What did I learn? Never give up and let God make the difference.I am allowed to pray and we are allowed manifest our heart’s desires. This time I’ll stay with it. Nancy Nancy was a contributor to this newsletter last week, writing about the power of asking for things to come with an Ease and a Grace. Read all about it here. Here’s another Planting the Flag story from the archives. Thank you Nancy! Ken Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.   Photo credit: Wishing Star Foundation, right: Albert Einstein and Manifesting123 on Pinterest

With an Ease and a Grace

Nancy Rynes is an author and dear friend. She was involved in a serious accident resulting in her having one of the more remarkable near-death experiences (NDE) I have ever heard of.She was in what many would call Heaven for the equivalent of 2-3 months. Her book is a must-read. I am passing on Nancy’s newsletter this week, a part of which includes a conversation we recently had.She is discussing the topic of using prayer and intention to help another person. FYI, earlier this week Nancy was interviewed by NBC’s Megyn Kelly on the Today Show.There is a very nice manifesting story in this and it will be next week’s Manifesting 1, 2, 3 newsletter. Here’s the link to her interview. Ken By Nancy Rynes, author of Awakenings from the Light Nancy’s website Have you ever wanted to help a friend make a positive change in his life but didn’t know how, or even if, to step in? This can feel especially challenging since we know it’s not in anyone’s best interests to try to make decisions for another adult.Sometimes all you can really do is pray. But what is the best way to pray, and what should you ask for? * A few months ago, a friend who I’ll call Melanie (not her real name) called me for help about her brother, John.John was in his early twenties and seemed to be going through a very rough patch in his life. Low self-esteem and depression haunted him and to Melanie, it looked like his life was taking a very dark turn. Melanie and I knew that at this point, there was little we could do to “force” John onto a brighter path. She vowed to continue encouraging her brother to seek psychotherapy but we both wanted to do more for him, something spiritually-based. So we prayed. We asked Spirit to bring the best and highest good into John’s life. While that seemed like a helpful, basic prayer, I wondered if there was something more we could do. I know from my own NDE and life experiences that it’s unwise and unhealthy to try to make decisions for another responsible adult. Sure, if John was in immediate danger, Melanie would have had cause to step in. But outside of crisis situations, it’s disempowering and plain wrong to try to control, manipulate, or steer another adult into a decision that you and you alone believe is best for him. Each person is on his or her own life path and there is no way you or I can know what decision is truly right for another adult. If John were to ask for help or advice, I certainly would have given it. But he didn’t. He kept to himself and refused to confide in his sister. Feeling that there might still be something more we could do to help John, I called my friend Ken Elliott. Ken is an expert at using the power of visualization to help people achieve their goals. I explained to Ken that I knew I couldn’t use visualization to make someone else’s change.Sure, I could pray and visualize John working through his darknesses, but would be more powerful coming from John himself. I explained to Ken that we had tried praying, “Spirit, may the best and highest good be done in John’s life.” Ken’s insight into that prayer turned out to be almost magical. He said to add, “…ease and a grace. Make sure you specify that the best and highest good be done in his life with an ease and a grace. We want this to be as easy as possible on John.” Wow, something really clicked for me. I definitely didn’t want John to experience something harsh that would come and turn his life around.I wanted whatever unfolded to be as easy and graceful for him as possible. So Melanie and I began praying, “Spirit, may the best and highest good be done in John’s life, with ease and grace.”I also added some visualization of John with a smile on his face and loving life, just as a little bit of a spiritual boost. It worked. A week later, Melanie and I had set up a time to have a serious but loving conversation with John. We wanted to tell him that we cared and were prepared to do whatever was necessary in order to help him work through this rough patch. Melanie knew her brother well and expected a lot of pushback, even some loud arguments. And it wouldn’t have surprised her for John to storm off. But we’d been using “with ease and grace” for a week while visualizing the best outcome possible, so I secretly hoped things would be different this time. In the first few minutes of the conversation John became a little defensive, but to Melanie’s shock he quickly regained control and thoughtfully listened to what his sister had to say.This was so unlike his normal personality that later, Melanie said it was as if there was some imposter sitting in place of her brother. John continued to listen as Melanie explained her concerns and gave him a few options they could pursue to get him some help. Soon, John’s spirits visibly lifted and he started to seem truly excited about one of the plans his sister had presented to him. By the end of the evening, John and Melanie were excitedly planning out the next steps in helping him take control of his life again. He was laughing too, and telling funny stories about the family. Yes, something definitely shifted for him that evening. Maybe it was simply the care and compassion Melanie showed to her brother that did the trick, but I think there was something else at work too. Helping John choose a path out of his darkness was much easier and more graceful than either Melanie or I could have dreamed. Our concerns that he might start an argument or storm off simply dissolved away. Instead, the entire evening’s conversation was so

Make it Happen with a Good Business Plan and Manifesting!

Bob is a fixture in the Denver art scene as an independent artist that doesn’t need gallery representation to get by. He has work in a prominent Denver museum and is a big supporter of other artists, showing them how to be successful in their careers, each in their own way. Here is another story showing the simplicity and power of thought when it is coupled with desire, gratitude and common sense. Thank you, Bob! Ken Bob Ragland writes: I have been a successful, self-supporting artist for decades now.It takes a lot of hard work and the dedication not only to be an artist but to also be good on the business side. People don’t get up in the morning saying, “I just have to buy a piece of artwork today,” we have to work to be seen. I’ve been in some financial fixes before and I have strategy to get through the difficulties.For starters, I always have a number of artworks on hand. I work directly with people and not through galleries so it’s up to me to make things happen. Not too long ago, I decided I was pretty close to paying off my mortgage, so instead of plodding along until it was paid off, I decided on a plan to make that payoff a reality. It was a combination of good business practices and knowing that my thoughts have the power to make things happen. Here’s what I did. The amount of money I needed wasn’t that big but it was going to require a lot of sales.I figured the best way to do that was to create some sort of event and make the sales happen in a short amount of time. What to do? Create a powerful intention and get to work on it. I got out a piece of paper and wrote down my thoughts. I know that writing something down crystallizes thought, so I put it to work. From a business point of view, I knew what the numbers needed to be and I made that a part of what I wrote down as well. I am going to make this happen! Next, I called the Denver Post with the story idea of a long-standing local artist who works out of his home studio.The artist has a large body of work, each with a good story and the artist is not very well-known publicly but widely known in the artist community. He would open his home / studio for short period of time and happily invite people in for an entertaining afternoon of art and conversation. The day the story came out I got 26 phone calls from people that were intrigued by the article and wanted to drop by.Very quickly there were 17 purchasers of artworks and the proceeds were enough to pay off my mortgage, a happy day!  The whole thing was a resounding success and looking back, it all came from a simple intention and business plan. The power of thought and common business sense is a powerful thing! Tough times never last, but tough people do. Bob View Bob’s artworks on Facebook  NPR radio interview Bob’s Tools 4 Artists on Lori McNee’s-Fine Art Tips Bob’s “How To” of Artistic Success Contact Bob directly by email Go to the Interviews Page to see and hear Ken talking about Manifesting 123 and you don’t need #3. There is new information here and you won’t hear it anywhere else. It is so simple. Make it work for you! Have a manifesting story to share? Please email it in and if it is used for this newsletter I’ll send you a free, signed copy of the book as a thank you.