• I can't count the number of times in the past that I've thought to myself something wasn't "spiritual." In my case, a lot of it had to do with money and not getting enough sleep. I didn't think that building a business could be spiritual (after all, it's just money, right?), and when I had really bad sleep problems and insomnia I didn't think sleep was "spiritual"... sleep was just another thing on the "to do" list in my already too-few-hours in a day. Even as I start writing this it's about 11pm and I have to wonder whether or not I'll finish in time to get a decent night's rest. For a long time, I had sleep problems. I've tried everything, and a combination of getting a new pillow, bed, and various behavioral changes have made a big difference. Most nights I sleep pretty well, but still there's times when I don't. For example last night, I woke up and was hot at one point, cool at another... had some fragmented dreams, and awoke to the early sound of God going bowling (that's what my Mom used to say thunder was). The night before I slept about just as poorly. Recently though, I started listening to a new sleep CD called "Tranquil Sleep Now." At first I was a bit skeptical that this CD would help. I've tried other audio technologies and they haven't helped me much, not even when my sleeplessness was at its worst, so I didn't see how this one could be any different. The CD doesn't use any hidden technologies like subliminal messages or binaural beats... it sounds like just a woman talking with various affirmations like "Whenever I want to sleep, all I have to do is close my eyes" and "Regardless of the size of my responsibilities, I always sleep well." Apparently there is some science behind it though, since it uses some mental conditioning techniques that break the chains of troubled sleep naturally by targeting and transforming the self-defeating thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that loom in many peoples' minds when they go to bed. I have noticed that whenever I listen to "Tranquil Sleep Now" before I go to bed, or even just during the day, I always sleep better that night. Since I've always had trouble regulating my body temperature, my favorite affirmation from the CD is "I can fall asleep quickly and easily regardless of the temperature or humidity." Obviously I haven't listend to the CD the last couple of nights! :) Now that I think about it, I haven't listend to tonight so I'm going to pop it in real quick before I continue this letter to you. That said, I don't exactly want to become dependent on listening to Tranquil Sleep Now every night to get a good night's rest. Fortunately, it's is a brain entrainment program so after I've permanently change my sleep habits, I don't have to listen ever again (although I do like it so I'll probably listen from time to time). Another affirmation I like from the CD is "My dreams are of a prosperous, healthy, and happy life." I like it because it's helping me with my other "un-spiritual" mindset... money and building a business. For a long time I've known I want to be of service of others, but I didn't think it was "okay" to earn money doing so. I had the belief that making money wasn't "spiritual" and I had the limiting belief that if I truly cared about others, I would just work my corporate day job and help people for free when I could. But then I thought, isn't that... insane? After all, why should me helping others be only possible during my 'limited' free time when I'm not working or spending time with my wife and son? If instead, I could actually earn money by helping others, then I could be of service to others more often and reach MORE people! That's when I realized business and making money could be one of the most spiritual elements of my life. My friend Steve Little has helped me realize this with his "PerfectBizFinder" program. When I heard the name of the program, I thought it was going to be mostly about what it takes to build a successful business. I was wrong! "The Perfect Business for you is one in which you are free to apply your true passions to the pursuit and successful accomplishment of your greatest life purpose." Now I see that it's really about showing me how to use my heart's desires to find the business that is perfect for me. I've already been moving in that direction with this website and newsletter, my new Spiritual Growth Writing program, and lots of other stuff I am inspired to share with you. But a piece was missing... focus. One single exercise (that I was resistant to doing) in Steve's program took me about 1 hour, and now I do have the focus that I needed to bring all of my inspiration together for you. So here's my pledge to you: "My purpose is to use insight, compassion, and the rapid empodiment of wisdom to empower others to experience meaningful states of inner peace, joy, and abundance." Now that I have discovered the focus of my life purpose, EVERY email I send to you must do exactly that, or else I won't send it. Thanks to the work I've been doing with my spiritual school (The Diamond Approach), and with Steve's PerfectBizFinder program, I'm now realizing more and more that my business IS my spirituality, and ironically, my spirituality IS my business (both literally and metaphorically). If you're interested in also discovering your life purpose AND discovering how to earn a meaningful income while pursuing that purpose, then be sure to check out Steve's free report "The Never Before Published Secret First Step to Finding Your Perfect Business" and his blog with tons of free info. But once you know WHAT you want to do, how would you actually do it? Well if any part of your vision involves reaching people through the internet, then my friend Christopher Westra has an answer to fill in that missing piece of the puzzle. In his "I Create Profits" program, he is teaching people step-by-step how to go from knowing nothing about an online business, to ultimately having their own internet business. The best part is, Christopher really does hold each person's hand every step of the way... he'll even register your domain name, host your website, and show you how to set up your website without any technical knowledge. All you have to do is have the determination to make your dreams and ideas become reality. Between Steve's PerfectBizFinder and Christopher's "I Create Profits" I'm now empowered with the tools I need to build my spiritual business... or one might say to build my business spiritually, from my inside out. I also have the right resource ("Tranquil Sleep Now") to help me get deep, restorative sleep so that during my waking hours I can make that vision a reality. Today, I have a corporate job... but here's my promise to myself and you: By this time next year, I will quit that job and be of service to you full-time. I'm declaring this publicly and in writing so you know what to expect, and I reinforce who I am becoming. I will provide a variety of websites, products, and services that empower you to experience the joy, inner peace, and abundance that you deserve. Many of my offerings will be free, but some will cost money - and I'm finally okay with that now that I understand money is just the flow of energy, money and business are spiritual, and in order for me to fulfill my life's purpose (and thus help enable you fulfill your life's purpose), I have to see EVERYTHING as spiritual... I can't separate my work life from my spiritual life. And now for the first time in my life, my spirit won't let me. I thank you from the deepest reaches of my soul for being a part of my spiritual journey... and for honoring me with the privilege of being of service to you. Your partner in spiritual growth, Spiritual-Short-Stories.com SpiritualGrowthWriting.com The-Course-In-Miracles.com

  P.S. It's about 12:30am now, and I am confident that at least for tonight, I will enjoy peaceful, restful sleep. :) I wish for you the same tonight and many night's to come...

  August 19th, 2008 at 3:46 am

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