Lyric Fire

Lyric Fire: Diamonds For December!

Eleven months later and we are here! What an amazing journey! 2011 has been a year of movements, revolutions, revelations, devastation, restoration and regeneration. For all that we have faced as a country, a nation and a world, we continue to try to make sense of things and keep it moving in a positive direction. 

December is very special for many reasons and one of them is because it's my birth month! Happy Birthday to me! Whoo hoo! People often felt sorry for me because they thought I got shortchanged on gifts because my birthday resides in the same month as Christmas, but it's not true! Having the gift of life in December is the best treasure of all!

As you settle into the holiday season remember to reflect on all of the success and happiness you've had this year. Things may not have worked out like you wanted them to or thought they would, but hey, you're HERE! That means that anything and everything is STILL possible! So from me to you, here are three diamond gemstones to grace your holiday stocking: 

Delicious Decadence: After a long year we could chose to focus on all that went wrong or shake it off and make magic happen! I challenge you to treat yourself or someone you love to something delicious and decadent this December. End the year with a bang! Take that trip to an exotic locale of your dreams if you can. If you're watching your funds, no problem. Decadence can be enjoying a rare chocolate dessert with a friend, splurging on a new fragrance or techie toy you've been coveting or simply sharing a romantic shower under candlelight! It also could be a conversation with someone you've been admiring for a while. Take a chance! Pick up that phone, send that text message or tweet! Get it popping! 

Delightful Dalliances: With the holidays upon us there are so many fun and interesting things to do! Go see the tree lighting ceremony in your city. Many people host parties or concerts for charity that may wind up being the place you can meet a future business partner, friend or significant other. Put on your party shoes, sneakers or high heels and get out and enjoy all that the wonderful month of December has to offer! Can't find anywhere interesting to dawdle off to? Throw a party of your own! Gathering together with friends is key to keeping connections strong! 

Dynamic Determination: The days, hours and minutes of trying to make our dreams come true, keep our families and friendships together and maintain our sanity can take a toll on us for sure. Sometimes holiday lights, egg nog and singing Christmas carols just isn't going to cut it for us. We are fried and tired! I get it! Trust me! So in those times we have to challenge ourselves to not give up and stay on course. Nothing you've ever achieved came easy, so you have to dig in deep to hit those energy reserves! They are there! It's okay to take a few days or even a week or so to rejuvenate your spirit if it's down. But don't stay down! If it takes listening to one inspirational song a day while you are in this period of reflection or reading passages from the Bible to help you get your bearings, it's your responsibility as the fabulous creature you are to make it happen! We are meant to succeed, to thrive and to turn clay into castles! Believe it! 

It has been a pleasure and a challenge exploring my own life and experiences as I brought you these Tamstarz Tools for 2011. Every tip, piece of advice and affirmation I have offered has come from a personal place of need for myself as well as wanting to help you. I certainly hope that you were enlightened and helped in some way by these inspirational nuggets each month. I am planning on creating a book out of the posts I've written this year and will share details about it's publication in the months to come. 

Happy Holidays and make December the best month of the year! Blessings! 

 

Lyric Fire: Nolana's For November

For this month's Tamstarz Tools piece I want to change it up. I'm feeling poetic so instead of my usual narrative, I will feature a poem that sums up how I feel about November. The picture above is of a Chilean Bell Flower which is also known as a Nolana. It's blue color reminds me of winter which can be cold but offers great beauty. 

 

Nolana's For November

 

fading warmth

colors changing

no longer vibrant

now subdued

 

calendar pages

turned

flipped

dates x'ed out

obligations met

some ignored

we can only do so much

 

sand and grit from the beach

line the bottom of tote bags

scents from ocean's essence

linger

taunting us

 

remember the sun

ice cream trucks musical melody

hard wood floors soon will be encased in ice

inviting glints of silver against frost

 

long curls will hide under hats

fingers take cover from the cold in gloves

curves covered in wool and leather escape critiques

car tires spin out 

dancing on black diamonds

 

goals not met

packed away for another day

eyes framed by tears

will soon dry

 

nolana's for november

makes the mouth curl upwards

yes you get a prize

you made it

 

we are much more

than what we accomplish

good deeds are gold

being determined to try is priceless

 

congratulate yourself for playing the game

Lyric Fire: Opals for October

Can you believe we are just three months away from the start of a new year? Before we start focusing on New Year's celebrations and such let's just get through October okay? I love this time of year because if we're lucky we can still squeeze in a few more warm days before it starts to get chilly. Today in New York it was quite pleasant at 75 degrees. As I savored the sun, I thought to myself that I better enjoy it while it lasted. 

I also thought about whether or not I had accomplished all I wanted to for the year and the answer was a resounding NO! Whenever I ask myself that question no matter what I have achieved the answer will always be no because as a driven person I am never satisfied. Is that a positive thing? In some ways I guess it can be. It means that I will never rest on my laurels and think that I have it all figured out. I will always be trying to get better and will work tirelessly to make my dreams come true. But with that kind of pressure when things don't work out as planned a person can become very hard on themselves and overlook the good things they have produced.

When I think about this notion it reminds me of the beautiful opal. It is a semi-transparent gemstone that allows small points of striking colors to seep out. In it's raw and most common state the opal is a milky white color which doesn't diffract much light or color making it pretty plain in comparison to its more flashier colorful cousins. Does it cease to be an opal in this state just because it may not shine as bright? Of course not! A gem is a gem!  

At the start of a year we have scores of things we may want to achieve and as the months tick away if these things are not done we may feel like we have failed. But who you are at the core of your being (a blinged out, fabulous, bright and shining opal!) doesn't change just because some things on your to-do or goal lists didn't get done. We have the rest of our lives to achieve the things we want! Don't let "society's timetable" chart your course. You are in charge of your own speed boat. You can navigate it anyway you want to! 

It's nice to map out things we want to complete and even better to accomplish them, but life is not meant to lived at the speed of sound. Sometimes we are that common opal with little to no color and at other times we are like the boulder opals in the above photo brimming with all the colors of the universe. Focus on the things you have achieved. Know that when the time is right if you continue to work hard and with belief and passion your goals will be completed. Along the way you might even change direction and decide that some goals are no longer as important and you will focus on a new plan of action that will bring you even more happiness and success.

Here are three tips to help you get through the month of October without obsessing over things you can't change!

Own Your Opulence! - At times when we feel our lowest someone is looking at us and wishing they had what we have! How many times have you gone outside thinking your clothes or your hair looked horrible just to be met with the most flattering compliments? Why does this happen? Because you are an OPAL! Even in a pair of dingy jeans and with your hair a crazy mess someone can see your beauty, your brilliance and your worth. Why can't you?

Obviate Your Obstacles! - You have been looking for a job for 10 months with no success. Your bills are piling up higher than the price of gas and your boyfriend dumped you for the waitress at Hooters. Okay, this sounds awful, but you can overcome this! You aren't the only one going through hard times and let's be honest you should have dumped that loser months ago! So now what? Take a deep breath and take a look around. Are you still standing? Give yourself a pat on the back if you are not lying somewhere in a fetal position and rocking back and forth! As long as you can put one foot before the other, you're going somewhere! Each day remind yourself of three things you've done well for the year. Think about all you had to get through to accomplish those things. The same strength you possessed to get you over those humps is still within you. Dig deep and keep pressing on. You will win! 

Optimize Your Optimism! - Being optimistic during hard times may feel like you're being phony but you're not. Someone, somewhere has it worse than you so you have loads to be thankful for and lots to smile about! A wise man (whom I saw on a talk show years ago) once said that when faced with health problems and lack of wages: "I have a lot to think about, but nothing to worry about." When asked how he could rationalize it that way, he said, "I have choices and I choose to NOT worry. It's just that simple. Through positive thought I can achieve anything. Nothing is ever achieved through worrying." Well there you go. Easier said than done, but try doing this one time and then again. It will become easier each time and you will have more to smile about with less worry! 

As the days of this month dissolve into the next, be thankful for all you have and lend a positive thought to the plight of someone else. Enjoy whatever the day holds whether it be a smile from a stranger or you enjoying one of your favorite TV programs. Call your friends and invite them out for a night of fun. Embrace the goodness in your life and more will be in store. 

CHALLENGE! - Think of one great thing you did this year and say out loud:

I am so blessed and thankful for achieving _______________________________! 

Mine is: I am so blessed and thankful I completed a second straight year of blogging! Whoo - hoo! Go ME! Happy 2nd Birthday Lyric Fire! (Saying it out loud makes it real! Being thankful for something will allow new goals to be manifested!) - Happy October! 

Lyric Fire: Amaryllis for August

 

How have you been enjoying the summer months? It sure has been hot for most of the country with a lot of states seeing record temperatures extending into the hundreds. I was blessed to have my sister come and visit me in New York last month and it was in the triple digits every day she was here! As I showed her the wonderful sites of the city we literally were carrying around wash cloths in our purses to mop our sweaty foreheads. 

Even through the sweltering heat, we laughed, smiled and talked for hours. It was the first time we met face to face. We both share the same father but have different moms and just learned about each other last year. I'm sure some of you remember me writing about her before, but having a sister finally feels real now that we have actually met and spent some time together. 

So upon reflection of the lovely gift of true sisterhood that God has given me, I want to focus on the beauty of the amaryllis flower. Consisting of two species and blooming into an array of different sizes, the amaryllis runs the range of many colors from red, pink, orange and white. Most notably, the red and white varieties are used in a lot of holiday arrangements and often given as gifts for Christmas. 

Thinking about how I went my whole life without knowing my sister makes me ponder about the complex mysteries of our very existences. Try as we might to plan every moment of our lives, some things just happen anyway with or without our input. That can be a very scary notion as sometimes bad events befall us, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, glorious things can take place as well. Such as meeting a sister you never knew you had or realizing a life-long dream. 

When we think about flowers and nature our human minds usually gravitate to how seeds or bulbs are planted and then we fast forward to the finished product. The plant, the flower, the vegetable or the tree. We don't stop to wonder about the inner life of these things or how their colors and shapes come to be. It just is. We accept it. A tomato is round, red, orange and green and an egg is shaped like an oval and white or brown. Why then can't we accept each other for who we are or better yet, why can't we accept ourselves? 

Starting this month I'm challenging you to see your friends, family, strangers and yourself as you see the amaryllis flower. As gifts and precious parts of nature that God created for us to enjoy and nurture. When we treat each other like flowers, we all come out smelling like a rose.  

Happy August! 

Lyric Fire: Jasmine for July

Hello readers!

The months are easing away from us just like a roaring tide from the shoreline. I must admit that this year seems to be going by rather quickly for me. Of course as is always, being the perfectionist that I am, I am not satisfied with what I've accomplished so far this year. I think that may be the case with some of you too. Sometimes no matter what we do for ourselves or others it never seems to be enough and we are most often our own worst critics. 

It is my job to inspire myself and others by examining the deep layers of life and this month I'm going to concentrate on finding the sweetness at the center of our world so I will be presenting some Jasmine for July. 

Jasmine is a beautiful flower isn't it? It's very delicate and so sweet smelling. In arabic, jasmine means "gift from God." It's essence is often used in perfumes, essential oils and tea. Some fancy chefs have even made ice cream out of it. One of the most intriguing things about the jasmine flower is that it only blooms at night. The flowers are picked in the morning when their petals are tightly closed and then they are stored in a cool place until nightfall.

Let's think about that. Often times in our lives just as we are about to give up our own petals begin to open and wonderful things happen. Before then we may feel like we are in a dark place with no sun and no hope. But what if just like the jasmine flower, we are meant to bloom under the cover of night? When there is light in our lives we are so distracted aren't we? We have meetings to plan, parties to go to, people to meet and impress and lovers to caress. We rarely stop and inhale the sweetness of what drives our success. As frustrating as it is, sometimes we learn the most when our comforts are stripped away and those neon lights of life are dimmed. 

Unlike the rest of the world who was so intrigued with the show Lost for the past couple of years, I am just now getting on the bandwagon. I have completed watching the first two seasons and it has been a thrill ride. Of course the plot is way over the top, but what I'm liking so far about it is seeing how these people are adjusting to being in the dark. Some of them are resolving issues from their pasts, seeing visions and receiving big miracles, some of which I'm sure they never would have experienced if they were still living their normal lives and not stranded on a mysterious and dangerous island. Some of them have even tapped into the sweeter parts of themselves and those they love.

So what can we learn from these observations? 

1. Savor the Sweetness of Silence: Some of us always need to be doing something, creating something (guilty!) or discovering something. When we have times of stillness we feel guilty and often angry. We don't savor silence or enjoy times when we are not in control. It's almost painful for us to sit still. There is much to be learned when we can tune out from our noisy lives. Take an afternoon to go to the park and read something for enjoyment. If you have a backyard, buy some seeds and start a garden. As you till your land, become one with it and listen to those wonderful whispers as your hands caress the earth. You'll never know the secrets the universe has to tell you if you're always in overdrive. Be quiet, listen and learn. Then teach others. 

2. Embrace the Emptiness: No one likes to lose anything. Whether it's a job, loved one, or even their path in life. Loss can make us go crazy. We beat ourselves up wondering if we could have done more to keep what we most cherished and depended on. Sometimes the things or people we lose were not what was best for us anyway, but we can't see that in our grief. When we are done grieving, we must embrace the empty space we are left with. It is not an easy thing to do at all, but if we can find one thing about the emptiness that is positive then we can build on it. If it's a lost job, focus on some things you never had time to do before, like read a series of books or visit friends. If you've lost a loved one, celebrate and remember the best of them. Create something in their honor. If they were a negative influence in your life, wish them well on their journey and take your joy back. Empty spaces are future "plenty places." 

3. Prepare for incoming Plenty: How do we prepare for incoming favor and plenty? By clearing out areas either mentally or physically that hold things we no longer need. It is easier to clean out a physical space than a mental one, but it can and should be done. How can you have room for a new car if your old beaten up Buick is still sitting in the driveway blocking your Bentley blessing? When we clear waste from our space, new blessings can be manifested and take their place. 

So these are just a few things to ponder as we experience the wonder of July. Hopefully it will be a great month filled with sunshine, but even if storm clouds brew, embrace the darkness and perhaps when morning comes your yard will be filled with beautiful jasmine flowers. 

Have a Sweet and Happy July!

Lyric Fire: Jade Stones For June

Please accept my apologies for my lateness with this month's mental and spiritual wellness post, but I have been very busy in a lot of areas in my life. (Stay tuned! Good news is coming!) 

I can't believe we're almost in mid-June. Six months has come upon us so quickly hasn't it? The weather is getting much warmer, students are graduating from college, brides are walking down the aisle and people are planning their summer vacations. June is a usually a frantic, yet happy month so I wanted to give you some jade stones to reflect on.

Jade is a gorgeous blueish green precious stone, which also comes in shades of white, grey, black, yellow, and orange and in delicate violet tones that is often used to make jewelry. Some believe that jade can heal certain ailments of the loins and kidneys and that overall it has mystical, magical powers which can bring blessings and good fortune to all who wear it. Most importantly for writers and other artists, jade is also known to stimulate creativity and mental agility as well as having a balancing and harmonising effect. 

Being that at this time we are usually feeling more happy as summer is approaching, I wanted to celebrate the beauty of the jade stone and present some ways to maximize these glorious feelings. Even in joyous times there are challenges and the best way to get through them is with a strong relaxed center. Here are some ways to sink softly into summer:  

1. Beautify Your Body: When we look good we feel good so as we move away from the harsh winds of winter, it's best to tune up our overworked and often times ashy (yes, I said ashy!) bodies. Whether it's joining a gym or walking around the track at your local park a few days a week, getting your body into shape will benefit you in more than physical ways. Doing Yoga or Pilate's will help with core strengthening and conditioning and can also help you relax. Along with staying fit, pampering your body can work wonders to relieve emotional stress. Getting manicures and pedicures is a wonderful way to reward your body. The power of touch is spiritual and there is nothing better than sinking your feet into hot soapy water while someone expertly trims and paints those toenails and lotions up your legs. This is good for you too guys. They don't call them MANicures for nothing!

2. Massage Your Mind: Our brains may be the most overworked parts of our bodies. Before we take a step, lift our arms or say a word, our gray and white matter are working overtime to process the applications. Sometimes we need to wind the mind down and relax it in order to preserve its lifelong power. Reading is a great way to massage the mind. Some may reason that the brain may actually work harder while reading, but I tend to think it glides rather than working. When you read one of your favorite novels or a travel magazine notice how your breathing changes and your body reclines as you step outside of your own existence and into someone elses. Listening to and creating music can also help the mind melt into a calm and relaxed state. 

3. Smooth Out Your Spirit: Life quite simply can bring you down. Arguments with friends, lovers and others can make you feel out of sorts, angry, misunderstood, unappreciated and just plain sad. Who really wants to be unhappy anytime and especially when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping? Uggh! No fun! Our spirits can be lifted in an instant if we choose how to react to difficult situations. It's just that simple. We can choose to dwell on drama and wallow in regret and bad outcomes but what good will that do? A short serentity prayer after a hurtful exchange with a loved one or a bad boss can be so helpful. Learning to accept the things you can't change and having the ability to refocus your mental energy will add years to your life!

There are many other ways to soothe your soul in bad times: Walking, writing or reading poetry, helping an elderly neighbor with their shopping, baking a gluten free cake, petting a puppy, caring for a cat or taking the first step to achieve a dream can be heart, mind and spirit enhancers!  

Our lives will never be perfect, but we can always find jade stones among the ruins if we look hard enough. Anyway, a jewel is just a polished rock! Have a Jolly month of June! 

  

My Blog Lyric Fire: Marigolds for May

 

We're now five months into 2011. How has it been going? Has it been raining in your life lately? Well, I've certainly seen my share of down pours recently. Isn't it funny that when it does rain, we focus on all of the negatives that sometimes come with storms? We bemoan our bad hair days, complain about the lack of sun and curse the mud that was formed by the marriage of water and dirt. After all, who really wants to mop up muddy foot tracks off of a spotless kitchen floor?

They can definitely put a "damper" on things, but rain storms are necessary for growth in nature and in life. We should honor precipitation as the precious life force that it is. There is a spiritual thing that happens when storms clouds rise. A hush comes over the land. As the raindrops fall there is a symmetry to them. It's as if a million artists are dotting their paint brushes across the sky. The smell of rain is intoxicating. Breathe deeply and connect to God's fragrance. Embrace the rainy season of your lives and you will be rewarded with luscious marigolds. 

Here are three beautiful bunches of knowledge to help you get through May:

1. Ride the Water Waves: When thunder strikes and lightning flashes always protect yourself, but in the midst of the calamity notice the poetry and the beauty. Have you ever wondered why storm chasers would go into the eye of a storm? To capture the beauty of life of course! Their fascination with nature overrides their fear. Some may call their actions foolhardy, but don't we all marvel at the pictures they are able to secure? So when trouble clouds form over your life, ride those tumultuous waves to sweet victory. With each laborious step know that you're heading in the right direction. Others may be traveling with you and if so, shelter each other from the storm with your combined belief that everything will be alright. Let faith be your ultimate umbrella!  

2. Create a Visual Garden in Your Mind: When storms arise it often gets very quiet in your life doesn't it? Sometimes friends and loved ones are shielding themselves from harm and just can't spare a rain coat for you. You are indeed blessed if you do have help, but even if you don't you can still prevail. Positive thoughts can help during any life blizzard. Catapult your mind to where you wish to be even if it's not currently where you're at and most often you will get there. No food in the fridge? Imagine it bursting with healthy options. Homeless? Mentally curl up on your couch and take an afternoon nap. I'm not suggesting that you won't have to put some action behind these creative visualizations, but when you've done all you can, create a beautiful reality in your mind to go along with your hard work and you WILL win! 

3. Be the fertilizer you wish to receive: Marigolds and other beautiful flowers and plants need to be nourished and fertilized in order to achieve their maximum growth potential and humans are no different. Each of us has the tools we need to achieve our goals and it is our blessed responsibility to pass on what we know to others to help them achieve theirs. To receive help, you sometimes have to be the helper. The good that you dispense will always be like a boomerang and come back to you!

So the next time it rains, don't sigh or frown. Put on your galoshes and get to stepping! Dance, shake and Do the Dougie in the rain! Have a marvelous month of May! 

 

My Blog Lyric Fire: Amber For April

We are now four months into the year! I'm sure some of you may feel there is never enough time in the 24 hours we are allotted each day. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all we have to do. 

To help smooth you out yet again, my Tamstarz Tools for 2011 series this month will focus on finding the beauty in everyday living. I have always had an affection for amber jewelry as it symbolizes calmness and serenity. So here are a few amber jewels for you to treasure this month.

1. If you stay strong during the April rain, the storms will pass and a lovely flower bed will remain: Hard work DOES pay off. Weariness is relieved with rest. If you are trying to get over a mountain that seems to be impossible to climb, be encouraged to continue. Humans are built for success and completion. Never give up!

2. Spring FORWARD with positive actions and throw BACK any negativity: God gave us the amazing gift of life, but navigating it will not always be easy. We can CHOOSE to belabor our hardships or focus on what is right when things go wrong in order to push through. To speak frankly, I have had some difficult days recently, but I'm still standing because I refused to sink into darkness. On hard days, I listened to good music, used my gift of writing to create art and connect to others and most importantly, I prayed. I can now see the hint of a rainbow in the distance and the clouds are lifting for me.  

3. If there are creative, professional or personal droughts in your life, become a rainmaker: This is easier said than done, but once a rock star, always a rock star. If you've ever been successful at any juncture, you can do it again! It's also important to remember that sometimes the things we most desire are often put on hold because something better is making it's way to us. In the meantime, if we learn to create other avenues for happiness, we will never feel cheated or depleted! Waiting for that book to attract a publisher? Create a blog, build a following and work on producing great content! Your mind will be active and you'll still be honing your craft until your big dream comes true. Feeling like you'll never find the right mate? Focus more on meeting people for friendship instead of obsessing over your lack of love. You never know who you may meet in the process. Succinctly, our present happiness is always determined by the choices we make.  

I wish all of my readers a prosperous and blessed month of April! Go ahead and make it rain! 

 

 

 

My Blog Lyric Fire: Magic For March

We're three months into 2011 and I know for sure that some wonderful things have been happening for people. Someone somewhere just finished a novel, got engaged, opened their first business, had a baby, made up with a long lost friend, found a sister they never knew about, closed the door on a lover from the past and gained a new one for the future, got a new hairstyle, learned to drive, committed themselves to the Lord, was blessed with a new job or just learned how to breathe again. Yes! 

There are also some who may be experiencing a setback, drowning in debt or just wondering why they are alive. But just as we have successes, the down times can be beneficial as well. It's in these dark hours that we learn how to lean on the Lord, pray with more conviction and become more thankful for the things and people we have in our lives because we actually have time to reflect on them. No one wants to go through hard times, but as long as we live, we MUST in order to grow. So embrace your life whether you're having blissful times or currently feeling broken and blue.

Here are some magical thoughts to help keep you steady when you feel shaky:

• You ARE loved. By God first and then by others you may not even know hold you in this regard! Amazing isn't it? Think this thought and reflect on it when you feel down. Feel the love radiate towards you. That warmth feels good doesn't it?

 

• Setbacks are temporary. Success is forever. Whenever you achieve a goal it's permanent. No one can take it away from you no matter how hard they try. Think about all you've achieved and overcome. You're still the same person. Shake off those setbacks and focus on making a come back baby! 

 

• The best is yet to come. If you don't believe it, think back to your first job and how much money you made. You've probably more than tripled that amount over the years. You did that through hard work and belief. At the time you probably never imagined you could do better, but there was a spark within you that made you be willing to try. You did it! You can keep jumping hurdles too if you continue to believe and strengthen your mind and body. 

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes on the power of positive thinking and magic. Enjoy and have a magical month of March! 

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it! - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist. 1749-1832

 

My Blog Lyric Fire: Fire for February

As I wrote last month, in lieu of New Year's resolutions I have decided to give monthly tips & tools to help my readers think about how they can have the best year of their lives. 

In January I dropped some Jewels and this month I want to give you some Fire for February. 

Honestly speaking, after being hit by multiple snow storms (sleet is falling as I type this) and being in a seemingly frozen holding pattern in my professional and personal life, it's been a bit difficult to find the fire literally and figuratively! 

But as passionate beings we must know that creativity and productivity can fuel progress and actually be the fire that can melt icy road blocks to our success. 

But how can we stay creative and productive when we feel weighed down by setbacks or disappointments? Here's how:

1. Acknowledge and document your greatness: By keeping a success journal, you can easily track your accomplishments and read over them when things are stagnant or aren't going well. Remembering that you're the same person that made great achievements in the past will help bolster you as you press on to make future dreams come true.
2. Disengage from the rage: It's very important to know what's going on in the world, but at times it's necessary to turn off the news, log off of the computer and soak up some silence. Your inner peace can easily be drowned out by social network chatter about other's problems and drama and the violent images and endless bad news pouring out of our TV sets regarding the ills of the world can unsettle our very souls. Devote some time daily to tune out and tune in to something peaceful and pleasurable. Some things that bring me peace are writing poetry, listening to soulful music and reminiscing about good times. 
3. Put Positivity Wheels in Motion:  Seek out successes that are months away like running a marathon, or applying for a grant that you won't know the status of for a few months. When you always have something potentially positive to look forward to it's easier to deal with those quiet periods when short-term goals are taking longer to be achieved than we'd like. 

It's also important to remember that fire doesn't always have to flare up with ferociousness. Fires can be calm and soothing. Think about the sensuous crackle of fireplace flames. How beautifully they illuminate the room and our souls. Close your eyes and recall the smell of a campfire and roasted marshmallows. Fire with all of it's power can help create a wonderfully delicate aroma.

Whether the year started off like you wanted to or not make sure your inner fire burns brightly and nurtures you with the promise of success. To ensure this, make certain to keep the coals of your creative and spiritual core nice and hot. Feel the fire...