When it is Essential to be Present!

The Beatles song goes “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans” and it’s so true that unless you are truly “home” to experience every moment of your life, it will go by and you won’t notice.

If you expect life to be smooth sailing you will likely get very frustrated as soon as stuff comes up, but life is designed to send challenges your way so you can keep learning and growing.

To get the most out of life and stay anchored in spite of what comes your way, it is essential to understand that we operate in a dual mode, I think of it as a cross. On the horizontal axis we move through time and “stuff” comes our way. On the vertical axis your connection to source energy and presence brings focus and resources, and there is always a calm here. Just like it is always calm at the bottom of a lake, even on the windiest of days.

If you think that your life is the ups and downs on the surface of the lake (the horizontal axis), you’re in for an exhausting roller coaster ride. But if you become aware that there is another reality within you, what comes your way during life is less daunting.

It is always important to be present to get the most out of your experiences, and to be able to be your best for yourself and for those in your life. But it is essential to be present in these 3 circumstances:

#1	As You Maneuver Rough Times

If you allow yourself to identify with emotions and thoughts when the going gets tough in your life, chances are that challenges, big and small, will take over your life and keep you stuck and likely in suffering.

Through presence you gain the clarity to see the difference between challenges you can do something about, and those that are out of your control, and then surrender to what is. This seizing of resistance will miraculously allow solutions to come in to your life that you are not privy to when you operate from resistance mode.

#2	So you Don’t Miss Those Special Moments

It is easy to fall into a pattern where we live for the big milestones in life and keep waiting for certain things, like a job or a relationship, before we start living for real. That way of thinking is nothing but an illusion and will likely rob you of those everyday gems your life is sprinkled with.

When you can be present in every moment you will be there fully to enjoy a happy hug from your child, the smell of grass in the summer, and other precious moments that easily are lost as you hurry towards the next big thing in your life.

#3	So You Stay On Purpose

Unless you consciously set your direction for what you want your life to be about, chances are that you are operating in default mode and are living somebody else’s agenda or even life! If that is the case, no wonder it is not bringing you that deeper meaning you are looking for…

To connect with what you are all about and what you are here to do it is crucial that you are fully in the moment. By being present you will find the expression of your purpose that is right for you right now. Those answers can only come from within yourself and only when you are “home”.

Don’t wake up to the realization that you have lived a life that wasn’t yours when you have run out of time and energy. Connect with your purpose and make it come alive by being in the moment everyday of your life starting with today.

Getting your “Life Purpose Profile™” will quickly and easily present you with the framework for your Purpose in life. It is then up to you to make it come alive by being in the now. Click here to order your “Life Purpose Profile™“.

2 Powerful Steps to Lift the Fog Around Your Purpose

Have you ever wondered why you have such a hard time seeing with clarity what you are here to do? And why can’t you just have your purpose delivered with ease and be done with it?

That is as unlikely to happen as sounding like Itzhak Perlman the first time you pick the violin, and that you will play tennis like Serena Williams the first time you pick up a tennis racket.

What I am saying is that getting great clarity around your purpose is in many ways no different that accomplishing great achievements in other areas of your life. To play at your full potential, whether on the musical stage, tennis court or the grand stage of life, takes dedication, courage and faith. The only difference here is that there is no competition to be your very best and most authentic self. Everyone has the potential to be a winner!

You may not think it is fair that you have to put in effort to be able to step into the big shoes of your full potential and purpose, since it is yours, but let me explain with this simple analogy.

Imagine that your 16-year old is finally old enough to drive a car. On her 16th birthday will you hand over the keys to the brand new family car at her first request? Most of us wouldn’t because she has never sat in the driver’s seat before, and letting her drive your car will endanger herself and others on the road, along with the car and other material things she may drive into. Instead you would encourage her to take driving lessons and learn the rules of the road. It is for the exact same reasons you don’t get your grand life purpose handed over to you as soon as you are ready to find out what it is.

It is essential both for a new driver, and for those who search greater clarity around their purpose in life, to prepare so they are ready for the responsibility that is part of the package. So this initial resistance doesn’t mean that your teen will never get the to drive the family car, or that you won’t gain clarity around your purpose in life, it just means that you have some work to do before you are ready to receive the keys to the kingdom.

Here are two powerful steps, that when combined truly sets the stage to empower you with both energy and clarity around your essence.

Step 1 – Focus on Self-Care

Become acutely aware of how you manage your limited resources, such as time, money and energy, since they all have the potential to drain you if not managed with mindfulness.

Care for your body in such a way that you treat it with the respect it deserves since it is your vehicle during your journey through life.

When taking a close look at how you spend your resources and how you fuel your body you will likely become aware of habits, cravings, commitments and people that does not support your growth and drains your energy. Only you can correct that situation, nobody else. Make a plan to deal with them one by one, and be open to asking for and receiving the help you need if it is too much for you to handle on your own.

Step 2 – Understand Your Individual Life Purpose Profile

By becoming aware of the energies that must move through you on a continuous basis at your soul level during your life, is a very powerful way to understand what you are all about at the core. You will become aware of what energies you must have an outlet for to experience a deeper meaning, peace and purpose in your life.

Your Life Purpose Profile will also bring out into the light where you are most likely to get out of balance and what your blind spots are. When you “digest” this information and transform it into awareness around who you truly are, you are inviting greater clarity into your life.

By combining the suggestions under step 1 and 2 you give yourself a tune up both in body and mind and can expect powerful synergistic results. Learn more about your Individual Life Purpose Profile and how you can have yours done by clicking this link.

What Are You Resisting?

When you are stuck or feel powerless in life it is usually because you are resisting something. You may have heard the saying “what you resists persists”, and it is so true.

A resistance is usually something that your ego mind is attached to. Your resistance fuels this lower part of yourself, and it has a vested interest to keep you exactly where you are, in resistance mode.

The limited vantage point of your ego mind has likely painted the issue in question into a corner and there is no apparent way out. You feel stuck, trapped and likely fed up, since matters seems to be out of your control…

We can resist at many different levels of our lives, from small issues to being stuck on a life size scale.

So how do we turn such a situation around and release you from the invisible bonds of resistance?

Below are two steps you can follow to identify and release resistance with conscious awareness:

1. Where Do You Feel Powerless?

Look at your life and identify where you feel powerless. Do you feel out of control when it comes to your income, career, relationship, your home or your weight?

The list can go on, what is important here is that you zero in on where you feel most stuck and out of control in your life.

2. Release and Reclaim

Now ask yourself honestly what you would have to give up to reclaim your power in that part of your life. You will be surprised at how quickly you have the answer. The answer is not coming from your limited ego mind; instead you have tapped into your higher self.

You may realize that for your career to move forward you need to move to a different city, or that you must risk rejection and put yourself out there in a new way to raise your income.

These insights present you with a clear choice, and when you have a choice you are never powerless. True, not all choices are easy to make and we often have to give up something that is dear to us to move forward with meaning in our lives.

Regardless of what you choose to do, you are now in a position to release the resistance and embrace what is, or take the plunge and give up something you have resisted to let go of.

It is when you are able to let go of things that are indeed a big deal to release, that big shifts happen. You have made room for new energy to enter your life by letting go of what no longer fits.

I have experienced this several times in my own life and one of the most profound shifts I had was when I was able to release my desire to move back to my country of origin, Sweden. It was huge for me to give up my home country and closeness to family and friends. When I stopped resisting my new home in Canada, things began moving into place with speed.

Do the exercise above and become aware of how much energy it takes to be stuck and in resistance, then enjoy reclaiming that energy and channeling it towards your purpose in life.

If you are looking for more clarity in your life with regards to your purpose if life, a Life Purpose Profile

where you fingerprints are decoded to reveal your unique energy profile, including that of your life purpose energy, may be a good place to start.

Harness the Power of Single Tasking – Get My Top 5 Reasons

In recent years with the emergence of technology in the form of Blackberries, iPods and laptops, there is really no excuse left for anyone not to be multitasking and reachable at any moment.

We check email while having dinner, text while at meetings, work on a spreadsheet while watching TV, and browse the web while outlining our goals for the next year…

One may think that mankind has increased its productivity many times over in recent years, but have we really? Studies show that the opposite is actually true; multitasking uses more time per activity and increases stress.

As an entrepreneur I understand that I am extra “vulnerable” to multitasking since I wear so many hats in my business. I admit that I have been guilty of multitasking in the past, however as my business grows and my awareness of how essential it is to use my time wisely, I have shifted to single tasking more and more and seen great results.

Also, as I study other successful business owners I have noticed a common theme of “doing less and doing focused” being attributed as a main component for their successes. So it is not always about working harder, it is about working smarter and with greater awareness, and that brings results in line with your purpose!

Here Are My Top 5 Reasons for Single Tasking:

• Makes You More Creative

You are more creative when you single task since you fully immerse yourself in the task at hand and surrender to the present moment and harness the power of Now.

It is when you are truly present that you open the channel for “divine downloads” to happen. The depth of the insights you get during those intensely focused moments may bring forth to your conscious awareness the Big Idea that will take your business or life to the next level.

• Makes You More Productive

Single tasking actually increases your productivity for a couple of reasons.

First, you are being proactive instead of reacting to stimulants from your surroundings, as you choose the task at hand. As a “single-tasker” you are unlikely to decide to do things like “aimlessly surf the web for 30 minutes”.

Secondly, you save more time the more complex a task is, since complex tasks require deep concentration, and it takes time to achieve that state of deeper focus. So lots of time is lost each time you must re-enter that deeper state.

• More Enjoyable

There is nothing quite as satisfying as being able to dive deep into a project and stay with it until it is completed. If you have never done that I urge you to give it a try, and experience first hand the satisfaction and increased enjoyment single tasking will bring to your days.

• Increases Quality

It should come as no surprise that the quality of the work you produce, or the relationships you build, are greater if they don’t have to compete for your attention with another task or gadget.

• Gives You Natural Boundaries between Work and Home Life

The importance of boundaries for both productivity and health has been downplayed in recent years. The line between work and home life has become increasingly blurred, and it is easy to never have time off, aside from when you sleep. This is especially important if you work from home, as most entrepreneurs do.

Boundaries that give you true downtime may not be exciting, but are essential to recharging your batteries. Constantly checking email actually produces a steady flow of adrenaline, a stress hormone linked to premature aging and degenerative disease.

Now go ahead and use my reasons above to re-evaluate how you use your time and rediscover the power inherent in single tasking!

Have You Decided? – 3 Steps to Harness the Power of a Word

By Annika Ek – Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst

Whether big or small, once you decide to make something happen you can “move mountains”. The key here for those mountains to move is to actually decide with a capital D. You may think you have decided, but your actions, words and thoughts are telling a different story…

Some of the words in the English language are more powerful than others. One of those words that hold an expansive energy is the word “decide”. It is often used loosely and decisions are made as fast as they are reversed or changed, diffusing the power that was at your fingertips.

Let’s look at the root meaning of the word “decide”. There are two parts to this word; we have “de” and “cide”. “De” has the meaning to reduce and remove, as is seen in the words decelerate or debug.

The second half of the world is “cide” (or “cise”) which means to cut or kill, as we can see in the word “homicide“, and in “incisor” which is a sharp tooth for cutting food.

Once you know the true meaning of the word Decide you see that it means to make a cut and remove yourself from something. That something can be physical, like when you move to a different city which entails removing and cutting yourself off by going from one place to another.

A decision can also be applied to your internal world. When you decide to do something you must stop doing it the old way and figuratively (or literally) cut yourself off from the old way of doing, thinking or acting or you have actually not made a decision that has the “teeth” to shift things in your life. What we are saying here is that you can’t keep doing things the same old way and expect things to turn out any differently.

Let me summarize the above by giving you 3 steps to parse your decision making through that will allow you to harness the power your good intentions and allow you to decide with a capital D!

Step 1 Make a Firm Decision – Until you decide with all of your being, the Universe, or God (or what word you prefer to use to describe the Creative Power) has no reason to show you how that can be accomplished. This is significant since you don’t need to know how, all you have to do is to decide what.

Step 2 Align Yourself – Doing in a new way always feels awkward in the beginning so don’t let that stop you from staying true to your Decision. Our creative power comes when you stick to your Decision and align what you want in your heart, with what you think and with how you take action.

Step 3 Catch Yourself - It is impossible to control our thoughts, so don’t even try, instead focus on catching yourself when you think in an old way that is not serving you, and use your raised awareness to shift your thoughts back to your Decision.

Bonus Tip – Don’t give up! it is always darkest and coldest right before dawn breaks. This is also true for major shifts in your life; it is when it seems the most hopeless that you are closest to a huge breakthrough, provided you stick to your Decision, no matter what!

Now go and experience the force behind making a Decision according to the true meaning of the word. I hope that decision will be to Live Your Life’s Purpose!

If you have no idea what your Life Purpose is, I would love to have you join me at my upcoming “Discover Your Life Purpose” 5 Teleseminar Series, where your Life Purpose blueprint will be analyzed and presented to you in bite size pieces that you can apply to your life right away. Click here for all the details.

Want to Reprint this Article in Your Ezine or Website? No problem, just make sure that it remains intact and you include this complete blurb with it: Annika Ek, Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst. Annika’s experience range from Business & Technology to Healership. As a Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst, she is uniquely positioned to take her clients from Discovering their Soul’s Purpose to turning it into a profitable business and becoming Purpose Entrepreneurs who thrive in our New Economy. Annika is the founder of TrulyU. For F^REE Purpose2Business Tools visit www.trulyu.com.

Imagine that! – Unleash the Power of Your Imagination

By Annika Ek Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst

When I remember my childhood, especially the early years before age 7, I recall enchanted years were my physical reality seamlessly mixed with my inner reality, or imagination.

Stories like my own are very common, and you can probably reconnect with bright memories from your own imaginary library. We all come here “hardwired” with the ability to create, or imagine, an inner world that at times can be as or more real than what is going on in the so called “real” world.

However, as we grow up and with the beginning of formal schooling we are re-programmed to look outside of ourselves for information and the inner imaginary world is not valued or encouraged to stay in shape.

Today it is commonly accepted that the world we perceive is just an appearance. A solid table is really not solid, instead it omits a vibrational energy frequency we perceive as a solid table. We also know that our thoughts are vibrational energy frequencies, so what is the difference really, between our outer and inner worlds, since they are both vibrational energy frequencies?

The difference is a lag in time, the outer world today, is the mirror of yesterday’s inner world. This is possible since human beings are creative beings, and we create whether we are aware of it or not. Your inner world is where creation begins, what you consistently accept as your reality and the “movies” you run in your head will manifest as your physical reality once the “time buffer” has passed.

When you focus on what is not going well in your life; you think about it, you talk about it and so on, you are ordering more of the same… That is the definition of being stuck! This awareness that your inner world is like the order desk for how your outer world will show up in the future, I hope will make you more conscious and cautious about what you allow yourself to speak, think and rehash…

You may have heard about this kind of thing before and “the law of attraction”, but it is not really working for you… The proof that you really understand this as truth is seen when you take your inner imaginary world more seriously than your outer world.

So what are you waiting for, get started ordering the life of your dreams! If you have no idea what that looks like, you are not alone. Like I mentioned before your imaginary muscle may be out of practice. To strengthen this muscle you must use it, and that is most easily done when you give yourself space in your life to do “nothing”. Give it a try and see what happens, imagine yourself living the life of your dreams in your “inner now”. (Be prepared for your ego mind to show up to let you know you are wasting time, and try to pull you into the future or the past…)

If you feel stuck you can collect “clippings” of what you would like for yourself from what you see others having, doing or being. Use what you see around you as the “magazine” you are cutting from. If you catch yourself reacting with jealousy when you see someone have something you don’t, transform that emotion into an emotion of gratitude and a deep knowing that you can also have the exact same “thing” (it could a physical thing, a relationship or a state of mind), as long as you allow yourself to receive it… So “cut” that image and paste it onto your imaginary clip board.

If you are surrounded by exhausting drama and misery in your own life, or see it in the lives of those around you, be creative and search out people and environments that better reflect where you are headed, instead of where you have been. Remember that you can use people in the public eye if inspiration is not easy to find in your immediate life. Also keep in mind to tweak the “clipping” in such a way that it reflects you in that situation and not the person you “cut”.

Now work with these imaginary images on a daily basis and attach strong emotions of gratitude and excitement to them. Don’t let the word “imaginary” fool you, it doesn’t mean “not real”, instead it represents your current inner vibrational reality that according to natural laws and principles has no choice but to take physical form in your outside life, as long as you keep your faith strong and your imagination consistent!

Want to help fuel your Imagination by discovering your Life Purpose? Particiapate in the upcoming “Discover Your Life Purpose” TeleSeminar Series! To learn more click here

Want to Reprint this Article in Your Ezine or Website? No problem, just make sure that it remains intact and you include this complete blurb with it: Annika Ek, Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst. Annika’s experience range from Business & Technology to Healership. As a Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst, she is uniquely positioned to take her clients from Discovering their Soul’s Purpose to turning it into a profitable business and becoming Purpose Entrepreneurs who thrive in our New Economy. Annika is the founder of TrulyU. For F^REE Purpose2Business Tools visit www.trulyu.com.

Follow the Music in Your Life – 4 Beats to Success

By Annika Ek – Purpose2Business Mentor

What sets the alive apart from what is lifeless, whether its a person, plant or a piece of art, is that it has a pulse. All that is in harmony with Life with a capital L, is a continuously cycle through a pattern of beats or pulsations.

The famous psychoanalyst and the father of Orgonomy, Dr. Wilhelm Reich (1897-1957) was able to establish that Life always moves through 4 distinct beats or pulstaions, and captured the essence that each of those beats hold. With his discoveries around the “4 Beat Cycle”, he unveiled the pulsating blueprint for Life and the creative process it must go through to continue to unfold and further express Life.

At first encounter, Reich’s “4 Beat Cycle” may appear to be limited to sex, as the 4 beats are Tension, Charge, Discharge and Relaxation. But sex is no more or less than one way to create. All creative or alive activities will go through the same pulsation, although it may not be as obvious.

By having an understanding of the 4 Beats we can apply that template to everything in our lives and allow it to help us see where we are getting stuck and how to move forward towards a healthy expression in all that we do.

This 4 beat rhythm can be observed in everything from the seasons, to the shifts relationships go through, to creative work and so on. In life we will do much better if we follow the innate universal rhythm everything “dances” to. It is when we are not aware of the cycle of 4 distinct beats that our lives and bodies can get out of sync and chaos and maybe even disease will result.

Let’s take a closer look at the 4 distinct beats and what signifies each one, along with some examples that you are hopefully able to relate to in your own life.

Beat 1 – Tension: This beat is about restlessness and a stirring to begin something new or to initiate a shift. In the seasons “Tension” is represented by spring. In the life of a Purpose Entrepreneur tension is seen in a desire to keep expanding and in new ideas. In the creative process this step is often referred to as “creative tension”.

Beat 2 – Charge: In this second beat the energy is escalated and movement/action is intensified. In nature this is seen in the unfolding that summer brings. For the Purpose Entrepreneur it is when a project is launched from an idea and resources are gathered and creative work is done.

Beat 3 – Discharge: This third beat is about giving it all and then letting go. In nature we see this happening in the fall when the fruits have ripened and are harvested. For the Purpose Entrepreneur it can be the launch of the new project like a book, or a new product or service. It is important that this stage is achieved in a timely manner or the project will lose its natural momentum.

Beat 4 – Relaxation: This beat is like the rest or pause in music. The moments of silence are as important as the notes you play for beautiful music to result. In nature this is represented by winter, when a temporary contraction and period of rest takes place. In the life of the Purpose Entrepreneur, beat 4 is a time and place where we exhale and just enjoy the creative process we have just been through. It is also about rejuvenating and recharging before that stirring with a new idea brings us back to “tension” and beat 1.

If beat 4 is missed, disharmony will likely follow. If immediately after completing one project we jump into the next, it is like going from fall to spring! Winter needs to happen, and this on the surface less active beat allows for a big picture view that ensures that we are moving in the right direction when “spring” and the next project arrives.

As you can see this fundamental rhythm of Life must include all 4 pulsations. If you get stuck at one of the stages, or never allow for one of the beats to play, the result will be unsatisfying or outright unhealthy.

Practice seeing this 4 beat rhythm of Life throughout your own life, both in your personal life and in your business pursuits. You will be amazed at how it appears everywhere when you know what to look for.

Another great way to propel you towards success is to discover your personal “Energy Profile” interpreted from your fingerprints. Your “Energy Profile” includes your Life Purpose, Life Lesson (where you tend to get stuck) and more. Join me at my next “Discover Your Life Purpose” Event where your fingerprints are analyzed, to learn more click here.

Want to Reprint this Article in Your Ezine or Website? No problem, just make sure that it remains intact and you include this complete blurb with it: Annika Ek, Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst. Annika’s experience range from Business & Technology to Healership. As a Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst, she is uniquely positioned to take her clients from Discovering their Soul’s Purpose to turning it into a profitable business and becoming Purpose Entrepreneurs who thrive in our New Economy. Annika is the founder of TrulyU. For F^REE Purpose2Business Tools visit www.trulyu.com.

What is Your Story?

By Annika Ek – Purpose2Business Mentor

I recently met a lady who told me the story about her sister, she said that her sister described herself as old (almost 60), alone and poor. What energy do you think she is putting out and receiving in return, if she quietly to herself and to others keep repeating her story that she is “old, alone and poor”?

You guessed it, she is putting out low vibes that attracts more “no fun” experiences into her life, to further add to her story and confirm that her life is a mess…

Let’s pretend that this lady experiences a shift in her awareness, and can see how she by repeating this story is getting more of the same. That is quite an eye opener! This insight may be received with joy, enthusiasm and empowerment, or not. Why would someone not be delighted to gain awareness of how “their story” is self perpetuating and self fulfilling? Because that makes the individual responsible for their story and they can no longer be “The Victim”.

To snap out of “Victim mode” it is essential to understand how being a “Victim” serves you, although a less conscious part of yourself, since it brings attention and pity, and any attention is often better than no attention at all…

To fully take ownership we need to look at that part of our self that benefits by being a victim “straight in the eye” and acknowledge it. The next step is to choose to operate at a higher level, and to begin telling ourselves and others a different story about ourselves, this story is equally true, just empowering instead of dis-empowering.

Let’s return to the lady who inspired this article. How can we help her re-write her story that shifts her from “Victim” to something more empowering? Let’s begin by looking at her age, 60 is just a number, it is older than someone who is 40, but a lot younger than someone who is 80. With age comes wisdom and experience if we allow ourselves to become empowered. So let’s switch “old” to “wise”.

The next word in her story was “alone”. Alone is also relative, in a way we are all alone as we go through life and go in and out of relationships with different people, they appear as family, friends or romantic relationships. To help this lady out we can suggest that she is independent and has the freedom in her life (no need to check with the spouse before doing something fun and exciting). We re-write “alone” with the words “free and independent”.

Then she called herself “poor”. She may be “poor” compared to the financial freedom she previously enjoyed, but she may be a lot richer than many others she crosses paths with that have a lot less but see themselves as rich. Our riches don’t lie in the money we have (or don’t have) in the bank. Being truly rich is about our ability to be resourceful. And it will also be a lot easier to manifest monetary results in her life if her story shifts to “Wise, Independent, Free and Resourceful”

How do you think her reality will shift if she begins describing herself to herself and those around her as “Wise, Independent, Free and Resourceful” consistently? Well, she will not longer get the attention of being a victim, but in its place she will get something much better that no one can take away from her, Empowerment from Within!

My Coaching Challenge to You: Now it is time to take a close look at the story you are telling yourself and those around you, either out loud or in your actions and self care. Spend some time connecting with your story and see where it can use some re-writing to give you a powerful boost towards creating a life that resonates with who you truly are. To further connect with with and manifest who you truly are, Hand Analysis is an invaluable tool. Join my next “Discover Your Life Purpose” class where your fingerprints will be analyzed!

Want to Reprint this Article in Your Ezine or Website? No problem, just make sure that it remains intact and you include this complete blurb with it: Annika Ek, Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst. Annika’s experience range from Business & Technology to Healership. As a Purpose2Business Mentor & Hand Analyst, she is uniquely positioned to take her clients from Discovering their Soul’s Purpose to turning it into a profitable business and becoming Purpose Entrepreneurs who thrive in our New Economy. Annika is the founder of TrulyU. For F^REE Purpose2Business Tools visit www.trulyu.com.