I am so excited to bring you this free Morning Meditation for Manifesting designed to support you in transforming your day.
Now, of course, we know that transformation + growth are both ways of life and life long journeys.
We also know, however, that moments of feeling better, moments of intentionally creating, moments of dreaming, moments of letting it be ease, moments of envisioning and imagining, moments of action and strategic + smart effort… all add up. The moments add up.
And next thing we know, we have a whole new life.
As this year ends, it’s time to begin again. It’s time to step into your life’s flow. It’s time to choose who we will be and where we will go. It’s time to trust ourselves more.
This is a meditation for guidance, protection, love and abundance.
Remember: You are deeply taken care of. You are fully protected. You are incredibly loved.
Feel into that truth. Feel into that universal truth. Feel that in your body.
From this place of love — everything comes.
Say it with me: I love myself fully. I trust myself completely. I am willing to let it be easier. I am ready to see things differently. I am here for growth, love, belonging, acceptance, love, abundance, and so much pure joy. I get to where I desire to go with grace and ease. My desires arrive naturally. I am always being guided.
I am excited to see you create and design your best life — while allowing this morning meditation for manifesting to support you in transforming your day in less than ten minutes.
I have to tell you this story about a girl I’ve had the privilege of working with:
Once upon a time a girl inquired about life-coaching via my website. Let’s just call her “P’…
P was 19 years old & from the Bronx — from what she calls the ghetto.
After we had a phone consultation, we immediately began working together doing online life-coaching sessions.
When I was in NYC a few weeks after we started, we got to meet.
She showed up to the coffee shop in sweat pants and with a bandana covering her matted hair. She walked with her head down. She seemed uncomfortable in her body. To large for any room. Too full of shame. The hurtful verbal abuse from her mother and alcoholism of her father (not to mention the shame, guilt and pain from all sorts of other abuses that I won’t go into) covered her. She didn’t smile that day.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. – The Bible
In life we get exactly what we have the courage to ask for. – Oprah
Be grateful for what you have now. As you begin to think about all the things in your life you are grateful for, you will be amazed at the never ending thoughts that come back to you of more things to be grateful for. You have to make a start, and then the law of attraction will receive those grateful thoughts and give you more just like them. – The Secret
Your entire life the universe has been giving to you what you think you deserve. Know you are worth more, and you will get more. – Me
“I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind. I am LIGHT.” —India Arie, “I Am Light”
When I was a young girl, I had a complete vision of how my life would look when I turned 35. I imagined myself married to a successful and dashing man, living in a beautiful home with a dazzling swimming pool filled with the laughter and frenzy of 3 children–two girls and a boy. I pictured myself staying at home to raise my children, making my home a nurturing oasis, full of warm memories and so much love. Busy with carpools, bake sales, soccer games, ballet recitals and piano lessons, the “picture” I had in my head seemed perfect & easily attainable. Yet, here I am at 35 years old without my 35-year old dream. And while some may view this as a major disappointment or failure, I simply see the lack of attaining my dream as MOTIVATION. [Tweet “You have to let go of old dreams and expectations to make room for bigger dreams to emerge.”] Sometimes we hold on to the “idea” of things, and do not understand the reality of that vision.
At this point in my life, I know my journey has given me more insight and opportunity than my “perfect family” vision could EVER have given me. I know I’m not a failure because I haven’t reached my “goal.” I have achieved so many OTHER accomplishments: I graduated from UCLA, obtained my degree, struggled through 4 years of pharmacy school and earned my Pharm.D., passed my CA Pharmacy Board exams the first try, was promoted to Pharmacy Manager within a year of working, and became a homeowner at the age of 30.
Although I look forward to the day I meet my romantic match, I have learned so much about myself as a successful single and fulfilled woman. Being a single woman has allowed me to realize who I am by myself, without the influence of a partner. Single life has given me freedom—freedom to live the life I want to live and the opportunity to travel without consulting another person. I’m not desperate or depressed that I have not found him yet. I know I am right where I need to be at this point in my life and look forward to the day when Mr. Right arrives. On the series Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw said so wisely, “Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens.”
But I’m only human. Sometimes I have a bad day and find myself in “Debbie Downer” mode. During these times I strive to replace my negative thoughts with positive, affirming ones.
Here are 5 tools I use in order to focus on my desires and ward off negativity:
Stay in your lane. God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. When we count other people’s blessings, we not only disappoint Him, but we also diminish our own journey. Learn to embrace the unknown and the excitement of the unfolding path ahead of you, because when you resent the blessings of another, it doesn’t push others off their path–it simply pushes you farther from your own. Release the expectations you have about what you SHOULD have now or where you SHOULD be now in your life. [Tweet “You are EXACTLY where you should be right now.”] You are learning and growing, preparing for the next part of your life journey. Stay positive and enjoy the moment you are living in NOW. Create the vision you have for your life, expect great things, have faith, and great things will happen for you at the RIGHT TIME.
Celebrate your accomplishments. Remember when you were a youngin’ and your mom or dad hugged & cheered you on when you did the smallest thing, like tie your shoe properly, or use the potty for the first time, or when you got your first gold star at school? Well, why does that suddenly have to change when you’re an adult? I feel like we don’t celebrate ourselves enough in adulthood. [Tweet “Everyday is a gift and every success should be celebrated!”] Rather than bathe in destructive and envious feelings, we should celebrate our progress, no matter how small. You finished all the items on your TO-DO list for the week? CELEBRATE!! You achieved your goal of 4 workouts for the week? I’d say that calls for a spa day! Self love is all about appreciating and honoring oneself, unconditionally. Not having accomplished everything you desire is an opportunity to get clearer on what you want and set goals to achieve it. Life would be dull if you didn’t have anything to work for! Always honor and cherish the blessing that you are to the world. Don’t let ANYONE steal your shine, especially yourself!
Create a GRATITUDE journal. The best way to get out of your “Woe is me” mentality is to write a list of at least 5 things you are grateful for. It could be ANYTHING! Focusing on all the blessings you have NOW makes it difficult for you to feel badly about your life. When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value. Giving thanks forces us to pay attention to the good things in life, rather than the negative forces which tend to overwhelm us day-to-day. So whether you believe in God or a higher power, be thankful on this day for your trusted friendships and loving family. Rather than focus on what is MISSING in your life, focus on all the wonderful things that are present. Focus on your blessings, focus on your fitness, focus on those things you CAN control, like your attitude and outlook on the world. Focus on keeping the faith.
Give back. One of the best things you can do to take the focus AWAY from the whirlwind of doubts and questions that plague you is to serve others. Whether you choose to volunteer at a shelter, become a mentor, give money to your favorite charity, donate clothing to an organization, or simply reach out to a friend or colleague, use your time productively to create sunlight in another’s life. The best way to get out of your own funk is to reach out and help someone else who may be having hard times. Do you know someone who may be going through a hard time? Give her a call, send him a card, make a phone call and spend some quality time serving others. Helping others not only creates a sense of community and fellowship, but also does wonders for your spirit.
Love yourself. Whether you need to pray, meditate, dance & sing in the shower, or enjoy a quiet afternoon in the park, do something that makes YOU feel happy and fulfilled. Meditation is a great way to quiet the mind, focus on your breathing, and find your center. It truly is amazing how simply taking 5 minutes out to BREATHE can truly relinquish tension & anxiety. Personally, I can’t get through the month without at least one massage or day at the spa doing nothing but enjoying me, myself, and I. If you can’t afford a spa day, light some scented candles, draw some bath water & luxuriate in yummy bath oils. There is nothing like a “Calgon evening” to make the stresses of the day disappear. One of my new self-care rituals is buying a fresh bouquet of tulips or roses for my home. When I’m surrounded by beautiful things, I really do feel uplifted.If you’re not kind and loving to yourself, how can you expect anyone else to be?
“i-love-me” flowers
In the meantime…
As I wait patiently for God to send me my King, I continue to love myself like no one else can and live my life to the fullest by traveling, becoming the best version of me, and pursuing all my heart’s desires. Life doesn’t stop simply because I’m not a “Mrs.” My happiness does not revolve around my single status; it is defined by my spiritual, physical and emotional fulfillment. Sometimes you have to stop worrying and have faith that things will work out, maybe not exactly as you envisioned, but just how they should.
In reality, dreams evolve and change. What I dreamt of achieving a year ago is not the same as what I dream for my future today. I’m learning it’s ok to let go of a dream that hasn’t come to fruition. I’m learning to let go and try not to control every aspect of my life. I am discovering how to surrender to the journey. Surrendering takes strength and it takes courage. Surrendering allows you to let go and make room for the miracle that will come. Every challenge in life is an opportunity to learn, grow and become a stronger individual; so I continue to stay strong, have faith, and never give up on my aspirations. As long as my heart remains open, I have no doubt that I will find someone or that certain someone will find me. I have a beautiful spirit, I emanate light and love, and deserve to be happy with a man who loves & adores me. It WILL happen. Until then, I will continue to be fabulous and live a life that makes me SHINE! Just as The Single Woman says, “It is in the waiting that we become who we are meant to be.”
When one opens a shoebox containing the work of Vince Camuto they will find the following words inscribed beneath the lid:
“I’m passionate about creating a product that women really want… infusing great style, comfort and unparalleled value, for every stage of her life.”
Based on the time I spent with Vince Camuto this weekend, I’d say this is an accurate reflection of his life and work.
AF: So, I intended to research you earlier this week, but I was graduating with my masters so I was, well, busy. I actually finished everything up yesterday! So this morning I turned to Wikipedia.
I of course knew that you were a co-founder for Nine West and was well aware of the brand that bears your namesake, obviously. But as I started reading I found out so much more: You developed the BCBG Max Azria and BCBGirls footwear lines, launched brands for Dillard’s such as Antonio Melani and Gianni Bini, have created lines for Banana Republic and Lucky Brand, designed for Jessica Simpson’s line, and have partnered with Tory Burch to create the Reva flat which is literally the most popular ballet flat in the world.
I found myself thinking, this man is literally responsible for a large majority of my shoe collection. And here we are now for a runway show for this season’s Vince Camuto collection.
VC: Yes, it’s been good. We started with quality shoes at a great value. Now we are putting it all together and focusing on the lifestyle. We are really proud of that. We have a full ready-to-wear line and have introduced a denim line called TWO. We now have 27 categories for women. The brand has really grown. I think we’ve been able to do this because we have what women like: an approachable designer with a fashionable product at a good price, using beautiful leathers.
AF: Out of all of this, what are you most proud of?
VC: [Personally…] My children. Seeing my kids grow. I have one that is in the business now. He’s 23 and has a great eye and I’m very proud of him, but very proud of all the others too. I have a younger one and older ones. We’ve got them at all different stages. To see the development of my children makes me very proud.
[Professionally…] I’m also very proud of our people. Our business is very people oriented. We have a lot of women working in the company, and I truthfully think there is a women’s movement going on right now. Our company consists of women who are mostly 25-35. They have a great energy, good fashion sense, and are incredible business-wise. I love working with them. Sometimes it can be challenging, but I don’t mind a strong woman. My wife is a strong woman, you know.
AF: It sounds like you can really appreciate this type of woman.
VC: At the end of the day if you’re in the fashion industry and you are a man, you have to be able to communicate and find out what women are looking for. You can’t be stubborn or have blinders on. So we talk to women all the time. I come to events like this and I talk to women, I listen to them and we find out what they want. I learn so much this way.
AF: How has this affected your creative process?
VC: We try to create a cohesive look within ourselves to serve what these women want. We are not just a ready-to-wear brand or a shoe brand. We have the entire look at a good price and that’s hard to come by. It’s what the American woman wants: a great style, at a great perceived value, and with consistent quality.
We are always listening. We knew they were going to like the moto-boot. It’s the big look this year, as we predicted. Our moto-boot called the Winchell sold out at Nordstrom. And we’re buying more into this. Booties are very big. We love the ankle boots and the short boots; they look cool. And with the weather being sometimes warmer in Texas you can wear it now and keep wearing it. Lower heels look cool with the current clothing. You can take the bootie or the low pump and wear it with tight pants or a dress for a change. Not everything has to be high heeled.
It’s unbelievable, you know, women all know and all like the same thing at the same time. How you guys do it, I don’t know. Truthfully that’s a woman’s thing. How does that work? And how can we plug into it?
AF: Well for me, I’ll be feeling something, and wanting it strongly and looking for it. I can’t always find it in stores when I want it, but once I do find it I blog it, tweet it, instagram it, and facebook it.
VC: Some of you advance it. You tell the rest of the women.
AF: And social media is causing trends to happen faster because we all know what one another is wearing instantly.
{at this point Vince and I were told we were out of time}
AF: One last question. My blog focuses on being an empowered woman, finding your passion, and doing what you love. How did you know that this is what you were going to do with your life?
VC: You know I started out working in a very expensive women’s shoe store in New York. What wasn’t there to like? I met with all the beautiful women. I was on Fifth Avenue. I was into the ascetics and beauty. Right style. Right atmosphere. I learned about the fashion.
AF: I’d assume you’d have to make yourself into a business man to do all that you have done?
VC: I was born in Manhattan and grew up on the lower east side. I did take some business courses along the way, but I had street sense and I loved fashion.
AF: And the passion just grew?
VC: And the passion just grew. I love it more than ever before.
Consider Me Completely Inspired.
Xo,
Amanda Frances
A big thank you to Melissa and Dillard’s for this opportunity.
