FREE Articles

Written by Tricia Molloy,
America's Working with Wisdom^® Expert

These articles are filled with ideas and inspiration to help anyone work with wisdom. Feel free to use them as content for your own website, e-newsletter, company newsletter, magazine or newspaper. Each article must be published as is, including the author byline. Simply copy and paste into your own document.

If you prefer an article customized to your industry or focusing on specific principles, please email your request.

Job Seeking?
Here are Five Ways to Use Universal Principles to Find Your Ideal Job

Searching for a new job can be one of the most challenging and emotional experiences of your life. When you capitalize on the power of your subconscious mind and use universal principles—like Affirmations and Gratitude—you will have the clarity, confidence and commitment you need to succeed. By following these five strategies, based on the "CRAVE Your Ideal Job!" program, you’ll have a competitive edge to not only find another job but the one that’s right for you.

1. Clean Out the Clutter.
New opportunities and helpful people can’t reach you if physical, technical and emotional clutter is blocking the way. The law is: The universe abhors a vacuum. When you clear out the clutter (paperwork and old emails, as well as forgiving your last employer for letting you go), you create the space for the universe to fill it with what serves your highest good.

2. Raise Your Vibrations.
Looking for a job can be frustrating and often creates fear and doubt. That leads to vibrating at a low, negative level. We are all vibrational beings and we vibrate at different levels at different times. Vibrations is just another word for feelings and emotions--your attitude. The universal law states that energy attracts like energy—just like a magnet. When we feel good and operate from a place of love, peace and trust, we vibrate at a high level and we attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that same positive, constructive level. Increase and maintain a high vibration by taking good care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, spend time with positive people, enjoy nature, find reasons to laugh, sing, enjoy a hobby, and practice random and not-so-random acts of kindness.

3. Affirm Success.
On average, studies show we talk to ourselves 10,000 times a day and 80% of that talk is negative. Be aware of what you’re saying to yourself when you wake each morning, before making phone calls, at networking events and as you prepare for interviews. Keep it positive, in the present and brief. Consider using affirmations like these: “I attract ideal job opportunities today.” “I am guided to make smart job search choices.” “I have all the skills and abilities to be a valuable asset to this company.” “I am the greatest (fill in your profession)!” Write your affirmations down, post them, say them with a smile, and share them with others.

4. Visualize.
Every top athlete has harnessed the power of visualization. The runner sees herself breaking through the tape at the end of the race and the golfer sees the hole in one. What can you visualize about your job search? Perhaps it’s making the best impression during a job interview. Or, you might visualize yourself working at your ideal job. A picture is worth a thousand words but it takes more than just seeing to get the results. Visualization is a three-step, repetitive process that connects you with your subconscious mind. To give it the power you need to succeed, engage all your senses. What do you hear, smell, touch and taste? And, infuse it with the positive emotions you would feel if this were a reality—like happiness, pride and maybe even relief. Commit to seeing your goals as “real” and they soon will be. Consider creating a treasure map or vision board to accelerate the visualization process.

5. Express Thanks.
What you focus on expands. What you appreciate appreciates. Though your main focus may be that you don’t have a job, there are many other very positive things you do have. A few nights a week, write in a gratitude journal. Include the typical list of your good health, family, friends, skills and experience. Commit to include at least one original entry each time, like you scheduled two promising interviews. By being aware of what’s going right in your job search, you increase the flow of more good things. Writing in your journal at night will also help you get a good night’s sleep and be at your best the next day. Remember to take the time to thank those who are helping you on this journey.

Whether you’re looking for a job or choose to excel at the job you have, these five strategies will support your success.

Tricia Molloy is a professional speaker, business consultant and author of "Divine Wisdom at Work: 10 Universal Principles for Enlightened Entrepreneurs" and the upcoming book, "Take Your Higher Self to Work: 5 Best Practices for Success." Visit www.triciamolloy.com. Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter for more information and inspiration.

(730 words)

Capitalize on the Law of Attraction for Business Success

You may have read about The Law of Attraction in the best seller "The Secret" or heard about it on The Oprah Winfrey Show. It's an ancient concept that's often misunderstood in our modern world. Let me simplify it.

Watch Your Vibrations
We are all vibrational energy beings and we vibrate at different levels at different times. Vibrations is just another word for feelings and emotions--our attitude. When we feel appreciated and are taking good care of ourselves, we will vibrate at a high, positive, constructive level. When we are burned out, stressed out, in fear, worried and feel unappreciated, we will vibrate at a low, negative, destructive level. Since energy attracts like energy, we will attract people and circumstances that are our vibrational match.

When it comes to ensuring our business success, it's essential that we maintain a high vibration--a positive attitude. So, how do you do that? Start with self care. Exercise, eat right, get enough sleep and take time to relax and recharge. Use humor in the workplace to defuse stress. Spend time with other positive people and, just as important, avoid the time-wasting, energy-draining negative people.

Ask For What You Want
Now that your vibrations are high, it's time to set your intention for success. First, ask for what you want. That may take the form of writing it down or actually sharing your request with your boss, coworkers or colleagues. Then, use universal principles to keep you positive, focused and productive. Use affirmations on your own and with others like, "I attract ideal clients" or "We have all the resources we need to complete this project on time and within budget."

Visualize the smooth progression and final outcome. Consider using a treasure map or vision board to illustrate your success and the benefits it will bring. Engage all your senses and infuse it with the emotions you'd feel once your goal is achieved, like pride, peace and joy. Allow gratitude to propel you by taking time to celebrate and give thanks for the small successes along the way and the people who support you. Finally, expect success.

It All Begins with Your Thoughts
One of my favorite quotes from "The Secret" is, "Your mind is your garden. Your thoughts are your seeds. You can plant flowers or you can plant weeds." What you think, feel, say to yourself and others, and believe to be true creates your reality. By capitalizing on The Law of Attraction at work, you can create your reality by design and not default. To a bountiful garden!

(437 words)

CRAVE Your Goals!
Five Steps to Attract What You Desire and Deserve

We all have work and personal goals that we’re trying to achieve. It may be getting that promotion, attracting ideal clients and customers, losing 20 pounds or becoming debt free. When we truly commit to our goals and crave them with our heart and soul, we engage the energy of the universe and receive what we need to make our dreams come true. This is known as the Law of Attraction. Commit to follow these five CRAVE steps to attract what you desire and deserve.

1) Clean Out the Clutter.
Clutter distracts and confuses us and drains our energy. It often keeps us from doing what’s most important and gets in the way of our goals. There’s a universal law that states: The universe abhors a vacuum. So, when we clear away the physical clutter, as well as the emotional and technical clutter, we make room for the universe to fill it with what serves our highest good. Commit to begin cleaning out the clutter today.

2) Raise Your Vibrations.
The universal law states: Energy attracts like energy. We are all energy beings and we all vibrate at different levels at different times. Vibration is just another word for feelings and emotions. When we vibrate at a high level, it is governed by love and trust and peace and is positive and constructive. We will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that same level. Conversely, when we are consumed by fear and worry, we will vibrate at a low, negative level and we will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that low level.

To increase and maintain a high vibration, commit to love and nurture yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, enjoy a hobby, play, sing, laugh, forgive, limit your time watching TV news, seek out positive people, practice random and not-so-random acts of kindness, give thanks, spend time in nature and smile more often. Commit to make your own list and schedule these activities into your day until they become habits. Form a “High Vibration” club with your coworkers and friends so you can have fun supporting each other.

3) Affirm Success.
Affirmations are powerful statements to remind us what we know to be true, despite what others may say or when our own ego plants that seed of doubt. The most effective affirmations are short, positive and in the present.

Here are a few examples. If you want to be chosen for a supervisory position, your affirmation should include the qualities you possess that would serve you in that role. You might affirm: “I am a dynamic, empowering leader.” If you tend to wake up each morning wondering how you’ll ever get through your burgeoning to-do list, you might affirm: “I have more than enough time and energy to accomplish all my goals.” If you are struggling with direction and finding the right resources to get the job done, you might affirm: “I am open to receive guidance and support.” Commit to write down your affirmations and post them prominently—on your bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car and at your desk. Say them out loud throughout the day.

4) Visualize.
Every top athlete has harnessed the power of visualization. The runner sees herself breaking through the tape at the end of the race and the golfer sees the hole in one. What can you visualize? Perhaps it’s making a persuasive presentation that motivates your audience to take action. Or, you might visualize working in a clean, organized office.

It takes more than just seeing to get the results. Visualization is a three-step, repetitive process. To give it the power you need to succeed, you must engage all your senses. What do you hear, smell, touch and taste? And, you must infuse it with the positive emotions you would feel if this were a reality—like happiness, pride and maybe even relief. Commit to seeing your goals as “real” and they soon will be.

5) Express Thanks.
What you focus on expands. It’s a universal law. That’s why it’s so important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Commit to write in a gratitude journal a few nights a week, listing all the things you’re thankful for at work—a great boss, doing what you love—and adding at least one unique entry each time—I spoke with everyone I called today or I completed that major project ahead of schedule. That programs you to become more aware of what’s going right. Take the time to express your sincere appreciation to others with a phone call or a hand-written note. As it relates to your work and personal goals, give thanks in anticipation of your accomplishments.

By committing to CRAVE your goals, you will enhance your journey and accelerate your success.

(841 words)

An Introduction to Your Subconscious Mind: Three Ways to Partner With It

Why do you do the things you do and why don't you do the things you should, without really thinking about it? The answer is your subconscious mind.

The conscious mind is objective. It is where we perceive, think and decide. The subconscious mind is subjective. It records and retrieves information from all sources, including events, feelings and expectations. It controls our autonomic functions like breathing and digestion and our habits like brushing our teeth and driving a car.

The subconscious mind also plays a pivotal role in whether or not we achieve our goals. That's because it stores beliefs about our capabilities, good or bad, true or false--from "I can't manage money" to "I'm a good friend." It is creative and intuitive and governed by emotions. It will accept everything you and often others tell it and seek out resources and proof that substantiate this reality.

Universal principles, like affirmations and visualization, support our success because they help us communicate with our powerful and often overlooked subconscious mind.

Our subconscious mind is most accessible and receptive when we are in a relaxed, peaceful state. Just before you fall asleep at night and as you begin to awaken in the morning are critical times to "feed" your subconscious with positive, uplifting messages. That's why it's best to skip the evening news right before bedtime and instead read an inspirational book or listen to soothing music. You can also reach that receptive state during the day by practicing meditation or spending time in quiet contemplation and gratitude.

Here are three ways to partner with your subconscious mind:

1) Reflect. Before spontaneously reacting to the latest workplace challenge or request, take a moment (and a few deep breaths) and ask yourself what is your best course of action. You might find that wise voice inside advises you to clean off your desktop first so you'll be more focused when you make those sales calls or that you should wait a day before responding to a vendor's offer.

2) Watch What You Say and See. Take on the role of a coach or your most supportive friend and feed your subconscious with positive, motivating messages. Each time you "hear" yourself saying something negative like "I won't make any sales today" or "I'll never get everything on my list done," immediately counter it with positive self talk. Keep your affirmations brief and in the present. Share these messages with your friends and colleagues and encourage them to do the same. A picture is worth a thousand words, especially to your subconscious. When you visualize your goals, you make them more real.

3) Turn on Your RAS. RAS stands for Reticular Activating System, which sounds like a new piece of exercise equipment. It's actually the part of your brain that keeps an eye out for what's most important to you. Our brains are bombarded by thousands of messages every second from all our senses. The RAS acts like a spam filter to decide which ones get through. It's what helps you find the face of your child in a crowd at school or allows you to hear your name in a noisy room. It's what happens when you decide to buy a red Honda and you start to notice every red Honda on the road and in advertising. It's a problem-solving tool that works, when you work it. Simply set an intention--like wanting to become more savvy with social networking--and your RAS goes to work to find the resources you need. Your job is to trust in the process and stay aware.

(612 words)

Got Stress?

Stress has reached epidemic proportions, spurred on by change, uncertainty and fear in the workplace and the world.

Stress and anxiety compromise our work, our relationships and our health. A Gallup poll revealed 80 percent of employees suffer from job stress with nearly 40 percent reporting that they need help in managing their stress. Job stress leads to employee burnout, turnover, higher absenteeism, lower production and increased health care costs. The American Psychological Association estimates that 60 percent of all absences are due to stress-related issues, costing companies more than $57 billion a year.

While we often can't control what goes on around us, we can choose how we respond to it. Here are three simple strategies to significantly reduce our stress.

1) Get Still. Do you have two minutes each morning to reflect, to savor the silence and your own wise counsel? If your answer is "no," set your alarm clock two minutes earlier. Now, you have no excuse. Sit up in bed, take some deep breaths and make an intention for the day. The intention might be peace, high energy or focus. Or it may be in the form of a statement, like "All is well" or "Thank you for this day." By taking the time to get centered before the start of each day, you are more likely to maintain your poise, patience and perspective as the day unfolds.

2) Talk to Yourself. Positively, that is. Studies show that we speak to ourselves 10,000 times a day and 80% is negative. We're programmed to protect ourselves so it's only natural that we often focus on the worse-case scenario. "I'll never close that sale." "I might lose my job today." "I don't know what to do." Positive self talk or affirmations help counter those negative tapes and remind you what is true and what you're capable of achieving. Keep it short, positive and in the present. Consider these affirmations: "My clients love to do business with me." "I am a valuable member of this team." "I am guided to make wise choices today."

3) Write it Down. What are your deepest fears and greatest concerns? When you write them down, you take some of their power away and begin to recognize that it's not as bad as you may have imagined. Putting it on paper is also the first step to formulating solutions. And, while you're at it, take a moment to list what's going right and let gratitude further diffuse the fear.
I strive to keep these strategies brief so you'll read, remember and implement them. However, I would be remiss without adding a few more time tested, stress busting tactics. Exercise, eat healthy, drink lots of water, get enough sleep, limit your news intake, play, enjoy nature and share your feelings with trusted friends. But you already knew that.

As the great philosopher and statesman Benjamin Franklin said, "Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." Wishing you sunny days!

(503 words)

CRAVE Your Goals! for College Students and Recent Graduates
Five Steps to Attract What You Desire and Deserve

As you begin to prepare for life after college, your list of goals might include:

Find an ideal job
Pursue an advanced degree
Start your own business
Relocate to a new city
Become financially secure
Develop healthy habits, like eating right and staying active
Learn new skills, like professional speaking or innovative technology
Make new friends

When we truly commit to our goals and crave them with our heart and soul, we engage the energy of the universe and receive what we need to make our dreams come true. This is known as the Law of Attraction. Commit to follow these five CRAVE steps to attract what you desire and deserve.

1) Clean Out the Clutter.
Clutter distracts and confuses us and drains our energy. It often keeps us from doing what’s most important and gets in the way of our goals. There’s a universal law that states: The universe abhors a vacuum. So, when you clear away the physical clutter (like old textbooks), as well as the emotional clutter (like regrets, toxic relationships and unnecessary obligations) and the technical clutter (like subscriptions to e-newsletters you never read), you make room for the universe to fill it with what serves our highest good. Commit to begin cleaning out the clutter today.

2) Raise Your Vibrations.
The universal law states: Energy attracts like energy. We are all energy beings and we all vibrate at different levels at different times. Vibrations is just another word for feelings and emotions. When we vibrate at a high level, it is governed by love and trust and peace and is positive and constructive. We will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that same level. Conversely, when we are stressed out and consumed by fear and worry, we will vibrate at a low, negative level and we will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that low level.

To increase and maintain a high vibration, commit to love and nurture yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, enjoy a hobby, play, sing, laugh, forgive, limit your time watching TV news, hang out with positive people, practice random and not-so-random acts of kindness, give thanks, spend time in nature and smile more often. Commit to make your own list and schedule these activities into your day until they become habits. Form a “High Vibration” club with your friends so you can have fun supporting each other.

3) Affirm Success.
Affirmations are powerful statements to our subconscious that reminds us what we know to be true, despite what others may say or when our own ego plants that seed of doubt. The most effective affirmations are short, positive and in the present.

Here are a few examples. If you want to be chosen for that ideal job, you might affirm: “I am a valuable asset to this company and a perfect fit for this position.” If you tend to wake up each morning wondering how you’ll ever get through your burgeoning to-do list, you might affirm: “I have more than enough time and energy to accomplish all my goals.” If you are struggling with direction and finding the right resources to get the job done, you might affirm: “I am open to receive guidance and support.” Commit to write down your affirmations and post them prominently—on your bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car and at your desk. Say them out loud throughout the day and share them with others.

4) Visualize.
Every top athlete has harnessed the power of visualization. The runner sees herself breaking through the tape at the end of the race and the golfer sees the hole in one. What can you visualize? Perhaps it’s mastering a new skill, networking with confidence or running your own business.

Visualization is a form of mental rehearsal and takes more than just seeing to get results. It’s a three-step, repetitive process. First, start with a vivid still or motion picture of your goal. To give it the power you need to succeed, you must engage all your senses. What do you hear, smell, touch and taste? And then, infuse it with the positive emotions you would feel if this were a reality—like happiness, pride and maybe even relief. Use a Treasure Map or Vision Board to help activate the process. Commit to seeing your goals as “real” and they soon will be.

5) Express Thanks.
What you focus on expands. It’s a universal law. That’s why it’s so important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Commit to write in a gratitude journal a few nights a week, listing all the things you’re thankful for—good health, a supportive family, a great education—and adding at least one unique entry each time—I scheduled two promising job interviews or I went whitewater rafting with my friends. That programs you to become more aware of what’s going right. Take the time to express your sincere appreciation to others who support your success with a phone call or a hand-written note. As it relates to your professional and personal goals, give thanks in anticipation of your future accomplishments.

By committing to CRAVE your goals, you will enhance your journey and accelerate your success.

(938 words)

What Would My Higher Self Do?

Each day, we make hundreds of choices. We choose when to wake up, what to wear, what to eat, how to get to work and what to do when we get there. We choose who we'll talk to, what we'll say and how we'll say it. We choose love and trust or fear and worry. We choose whether to be optimistic or fatalistic, reflective or reactive, cooperative or combative, grateful or needful.

When it comes to our goals--like attracting ideal clients or getting healthy--we make choices that either bring us closer or take us farther away from what we say we want to achieve.

When we are aware and tapped into our higher or best self, we make conscious choices that support our success.

Next time you contemplate a choice, whether it's responding to a demanding customer or managing your money, ask yourself, "What would my higher self do?" That's a powerful way to connect with the wisdom within you. Remember to take the time to wait for the answer.

(213 words)

Finding Balance in a Lopsided World

Many of us find it a constant challenge to juggle the demands at work and home and still "have a life." The stress mounts. At the end of the day we often feel like, in an effort to get it all done, we didn't do anything as well as we would have liked. The report was a day late and you still missed most of your child's recital.

Would you like more balance in your life? What you think, feel, say (to yourself and others) and believe is true creates your reality. It's up to you to choose to create your reality by design and not default.

Here’s where to start.

Clean Out the Clutter. Clutter distracts and confuses us and drains our energy. The physical clutter of paperwork, books and office tools is easy to recognize and attend to once you set your mind to it. However, it's all the emotional clutter of regrets, resentments and unfulfilled promises that can keep us out of balance and rob us of our clarity. And then there's the clutter of unnecessary obligations and demanding people. The next time you're asked to serve on another committee or join one more association, remember that "No" is a complete sentence. Make a list of all your current volunteer activities and cross off the ones that no longer serve your highest good.

Stay Present. When we are mindful in our work and life, time seems to slow down and we enjoy each task more and do better work. Commit to avoid multi-tasking for an hour or two each day and then expand that time. Remember to "catch the gifts" of a job well done or genuine compliment before rushing off to the next thing on your list.

Engage the Law of Attraction. When we feel overwhelmed with a busy schedule, we tend to neglect our own needs. Soon, our vibrations (our feelings and emotions) are low and negative. We’re burned out. That leads to attracting other people and circumstances that vibrate at that same destructive level. It's a downward spiral that you want to avoid. By maintaining a high vibration, through taking good care of yourself, you will attract positive people and circumstances and that leads to a more balanced life.

Give Thanks Often. Since what we focus on expands, it makes sense to remind ourselves of what is going right and our successes. Writing in a gratitude journal at the end of most days prevents us from falling asleep with that never-ending to-do list playing in our heads. Finally, take the time to show appreciation to those who support your balance at work and home.

Start each day with a positive affirmation like, "I am divinely guided to make wise choices today and have all the time and energy I need."

Three Ways to Reduce Stress and Enlighten Up

When all is said and done, everyone wants the same thing: to be happy. The demands of work and life often make it difficult to reach that ultimate goal. Here are three simple but powerful ways to reduce the stress in your life and enlighten up.

1. Plan for Joy.
Begin to make a list of all the things that bring you joy, from the simple "reading a juicy novel" to the sublime "practicing yoga." Go deeper and remember what made you most happy as a child, like ice skating, playing Monopoly and coloring. (Did you know there are now more than 100 crayon colors?) Start with 20 or 30 ideas and keep adding to that list. Whenever possible, add these activities to your daily schedule and treat them with the same respect and urgency as a client meeting or an important project. Pretty soon, all the joy planning will begin to happen spontaneously. The bottom-line benefits of more joy in your life is there's less room for stress. Joy increases creativity, leads to positive problem solving and is highly contagious. Make joy a top priority.

2. Start a Gratitude Ritual.
At the end of each week, take fifteen minutes to send three hand-written, genuine, thank you notes to those you appreciate. Emails don't count. (Sending it on Friday means they are most likely to start their week on Monday with your thoughtful message.) It may be a customer or client, a colleague, coworker or employee. Track down the address of a beloved teacher, childhood friend or special relative you've lost touched with. Remember to include your spouse and children and other close family members. By following this gratitude ritual, you honor others and remind yourself of how many people support and appreciate you. What better way to build authentic relationships?

3. Set Your Intentions.
Most of us will have goals or resolutions for each new year. Intentions are different. As I write in “Divine Wisdom at Work,” an intention is the broad, bright light that leads the way for the more specific goals you set. It is the sacred promise made between your soul and the universe to take responsibility and assure the quality of what you will manifest. Choose one word that most resonates with you to be the theme for the year. It might be Joy, Peace, Harmony, Fun, Friendship, Growth, Prosperity, Simplicity, Dream, Trust, Balance, Wisdom or Innovation. My intention is Light. To me, Light signifies hope, awareness, wonder and whimsy. I intend to shine the light through my Working with Wisdom programs so that others can recognize and fulfill their true potential. And so it is.

(484 words)

Are Your Breaking the Law?

You may pay your taxes and stop at red lights, but that doesn't necessarily mean you haven't been breaking a few laws.

I'm speaking about universal laws. The one you're probably most familiar with is the law of gravity. There's no disputing it. What goes up must come down. That's simple enough. But, did you know there are other laws that govern your life every day with the same power and consistency as gravity?

Whether you believe in these laws or not, they are working in your life. So, why not use them to help you achieve your goals? Here are three to start with.

1. The Universe Abhors a Vacuum.
When you create space, the universe will fill it with what serves your highest good. How do you use it? Commit to clean out the useless, confusing, energy-draining clutter (physical, technical and emotional) and it will be replaced with what you need.

2. Energy Attracts Like Energy.
Vibrations is another word for feelings and emotions. We are all vibrational energy beings and we will attract people and circumstances that vibrate at our same level. How do you use it? Commit to vibrate at a high, positive, constructive level as often as possible by loving and nurturing yourself. Exercise and stay active, eat healthy food, laugh, dance, sing, play, spend time with positive people, limit your TV news viewing and practice random and not-so-random acts of kindness. Start a "Joy" list and schedule a few of those activities each week. Treat them with the same importance as client meetings and family obligations.

3. What You Focus on Expands.
Our thoughts create our reality so positive thinking tends to create positive outcomes. How do you use it? Use affirmations to support your goals, write in a gratitude journal to remember what's going right in your world and visualize the magnificent life you are manifesting.

(353 words)

Money Worries? Here's Help.

We're all paying more for gas and food. Some of us have lost our jobs to corporate belt tightening or lost our homes to foreclosures.

Consumer confidence--the degree of optimism we express through spending and saving--is at its lowest level in 16 years. Times are tough and may get tougher.

Now more than ever, we must develop a high prosperity consciousness to keep our spirits up and maintain a positive attitude. One of the best ways to do this is through using universal principles.

Here are three strategies to help us thrive during these challenging economic times.

1) Raise Your Vibrations.
Looking for a job or stretching your paycheck can be frustrating and often creates fear and doubt. That leads to vibrating at a low, negative level. We are all vibrational energy beings and we vibrate at different levels at different times. Vibrations is just another word for feelings and emotions. The universal law states that energy attracts like energy--just like a magnet. When we operate from a place of love, peace and trust, we vibrate at a high level and we attract people and circumstances that vibrate at that same positive, constructive level. That can lead to new opportunities for success. Increase and maintain a high vibration by taking good care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, spend time with positive people, limit how much TV news you watch, enjoy nature, find reasons to laugh, sing, volunteer and practice random and not-so-random acts of kindness.

2) Affirm Success.
Studies show we talk to ourselves about 10,000 times a day and 80% of that talk is negative. Be aware of what you're saying to yourself when you wake each morning, before making phone calls, at networking events and as you prepare for interviews. Keep it positive, in the present and brief. Consider using affirmations like these: "I am prosperous." "I am open to receive." "I make wise choices with my money." "I attract ideal job opportunities today." "I have more than enough money for a long and joyful life." Write your affirmations down, post them, say them with a smile, and share them with others.

3) Give Thanks Often.
What you focus on expands. Though your main focus may be that you don't have a job or your own home, there are many things you do have for which to be grateful. A few nights a week, write in a gratitude journal. Include the typical list of your good health, family, friends, skills and experience. Commit to include at least one original entry each time, like you scheduled two promising job interviews or saved money by negotiating a better deal with a vendor. Show your appreciation to others with a handwritten note or phone call. By being aware of what's going right in your life, you increase your confidence and the flow of more good things. Cultivating that attitude of gratitude will also help you get a good night's sleep so you can be at your best the next day.

(541 words)

How Raising Your Vibrations Helps Increase Your Success and Nine Other Universal Principles You Should Know

Whatever business we’re in, we all have something in common. We could benefit from the wise counsel of a trusted business partner.

The good news is that this partner is already here but has been sadly underused and neglected. Your business partner is a powerful force with all the wisdom of the universe and always has your best interests at heart. It’s your Higher Power or Higher Consciousness—the Divine Wisdom within you that you can access at any time for a wealth of information, ideas, support and guidance.
You don’t have to know all the answers; you just need to know where to look. And often the place to look is inside to make better decisions, solve problems easier, be more creative and accomplish all your goals. By following these 10 universal principles, you can create, manage and grow a business that is meaningful, prosperous and full of joy.

1) Tap into Divine Wisdom: Your Inner Guidance is Calling.
Are you looking for an innovative way to pursue new business or increase your productivity? Try these five strategies: meditation, intuition, dreams, prayer and “God Winks,” which is paying attention to coincidences or synchronicities.

2) Define Your Life Purpose: Setting Intentions.
When your life purpose is in alignment with your life’s work, all the pieces seem to fall into place and your work becomes play. Look at what motivates you, your deepest values and your natural gifts to help you define your life purpose and set intentions to support it. My Life Purpose Statement is: Through support and by example, I inspire others to follow their dreams and live joyfully on purpose. That statement inspired me to write my book.

3) Embrace Prosperity: You Deserve Unlimited Abundance.
Once you realize that abundance is your birthright, there is no lack and you need to circulate money for it to grow, you will begin to experience the effortless flow of prosperity in all aspects of your business.

4) Clean Out the Clutter: The Universe Will Fill the Vacuum.
A cluttered workplace distracts us and drains our energy. Throw out the garbage and set up systems that will keep you organized. Put all your old client files in two piles: the clients you would like to work with again and those you don’t. Throw out the latter and clean up and organize the former. By clearing that space, you have created a vacuum that the universe will fill with clients and opportunities that serve your highest good.

5) Stay Present: That’s Where the Gifts Are.
Resist the temptation to multitask all the time and instead focus your full attention and all your senses on the task at that moment. Use the “at this moment” approach while consulting with a client, analyzing an operational challenge or interviewing a new vendor. You can solve problems faster, show a deeper level of respect for those around you—thereby earning more respect—and reduce the stress you feel from juggling too many things.

6) Live Your Truth: Time for an Integrity Checkup.
When our thoughts and actions conflict with the truth, we waste precious energy and tarnish our reputation. By increasing your level of integrity in thought, word and deed, you will transform all your relationships, including the one with yourself.

7) Engage the Law of Attraction: Your Thoughts Become Your Reality.
The Law of Attraction states that energy attracts like energy. We are all energy beings and our vibrations are our thoughts and feelings. When your vibrational energy is high, light and constructive, which comes from love, trust and peace, you will attract successful clients, colleagues and associates that vibrate at that same positive level. Conversely, feelings of fear, doubt and shame will cause you to vibrate at a low, dark and destructive level and you will attract others who vibrate at that negative level. To reach and maintain a high level, participate in nurturing activities like eating and drinking healthy, exercising, playing, laughing, reading inspiring books, enjoying a hobby, and giving thanks. Think about what you want in your business—not what you don’t want—because what you focus on will expand.

8) See to Believe: The Power of Visualization.
Follow the lead of every top athlete by visualizing success. What can you visualize in your business? It might be seeing yourself deliver a dynamic presentation that motivates your audience to buy, sign up, hire you or whatever intention you set. Engage all your senses and infuse it with the positive emotions you would feel as if it were true. Visualization creates a space for reality to unfold, just like you pictured it.

9) Affirm Success: Creating, Positive, Powerful Statements.
Decide what you want to be true in your business and create a short, positive statement in the present, as if it was already so. Post it and say it regularly. Consider writing your affirmation each morning to keep it fresh in your mind.

10) Give Thanks Often: Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude.
Keeping a gratitude journal is the first step to opening up to more blessings in your business. Go one step further and give thanks for perceived business failures or disappointments in anticipation of the gifts that will come from each experience.

Start with one principle and build from there. These tools for dealing with challenges and capitalizing on opportunities will serve you well in your business and your life.

(948 words)

Affirm Success

What’s on your goal list? Working with ideal clients, mastering that new software or taking a dream vacation? Use affirmations to lead the way.

Affirmations are powerful statements to remind us of our magnificent potential, despite what others may say or when our own ego plants that seed of doubt. Some people resist using affirmations. They think it’s too simplistic or that the practice is out of integrity because they are stating something that may not be true yet. Since all reality begins in thought form, affirming what you want to be true is the fastest way to get there.

Most people are inclined to think and say (to themselves and others) statements that prevent them from moving in the direction of their goals, like: “I’ll never make enough money or have a healthy relationship or lose those final 20 pounds.” Affirmations help counter that habit with constructive, supportive thoughts. The most effective affirmations are short, positive and in the present. You might choose affirmations that state what you want to achieve, like: “I love my healthy, slim body” or “I am a successful, respected business owner.”

Or you might use affirmations to focus on what is already true. Here are a few examples. If you want to be chosen for a supervisory position, your affirmation should include the qualities you possess that would serve you in that role. You might affirm: “I am a dynamic, empowering leader.” If you tend to wake up each morning wondering how you’ll ever get through your burgeoning to-do list, you might affirm: “I have more than enough time and energy to accomplish all my goals today.” If you are struggling with direction and finding the right resources to get the job done, you might affirm: “I am open to receive guidance and support.”

Commit to write down your affirmations and post them prominently—on your bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car and at your desk. Consider writing them at the start of every day to keep them fresh. Say them out loud throughout the day. Incorporate them in your conversations with others.

Here’s a tip I got from “The Secret.” To turbo-charge the power of your affirmations, add this simple phrase: “I am so happy and grateful now that…” When you combine affirmations with positive emotions, visualization and gratitude, you have a guaranteed formula for success in work and life.

Tricia Molloy is a professional speaker, business consultant and author of Divine Wisdom at Work: 10 Universal Principles for Enlightened Entrepreneurs and the upcoming book, Take Your Higher Self to Work: 5 Best Practices for Success. Visit www.triciamolloy.com. Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter for more information and inspiration.

(434 words)

27 Practical Ways to Work with Wisdom Today (pdf)

Clean Out the Clutter. When you clean out the distracting, confusing and energy-draining clutter, you will have the clarity to focus on what's most important. There's physical, emotional and technical clutter. Throw away outdated files and give away the books you have read and don't need to reference and books you'll never get around to reading. Release potential clients that were never a good fit and just wasted your time. Commit to only participate in social media strategies that support your goals. For example, you might want to spend more time on LinkedIn connecting with people and researching opportunities and less time tweeting on Twitter. (No offense to my fellow twits.)
Affirm Success. We all use affirmations. We might say to ourselves, "I won't make any sales today" or "No one is hiring." It's time to catch yourself and turn that negative self talk into positive messages like, "I love to sell!" and "I have all the qualities and experience to be a valuable asset to this company."
Visualize. When you picture yourself ahead of time closing the deal on a sales call or dazzling the hiring manager on a job interview, you're much more likely to be at your best for the real thing. Mental rehearsal is a great investment. Use a Vision Board to keep you focused on your sales goals and the benefits of your business and financial success--like fun, family vacations or a new car.
Express Thanks. Since what you focus on expands and what you appreciate appreciates, it pays to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Give thanks for your skills and knowledge; your ideal clients; your family, employees, coworkers and colleagues that support you; and the sales or new job opportunities you crave that are coming your way in anticipation of your success.

Tricia Molloy is a professional speaker, mentor and author of "Divine Wisdom at Work: 10 Universal Principles for Enlightenend Entrepreneurs." For more information and inspiration, visit www.triciamolloy.com.

(463 words)

Written by Tricia Molloy, America's Working with Wisdom® Expert

Job Seeking? Here are Five Ways to Use Universal Principles to Find Your Ideal Job