Inspired Living

by Cynthia Occelli

www.CynthiaOccelli.com
Copyright 2011 - All Rights Reserved

Inspired Living 2
Table of Contents
1. Inspired Living .........................................................................................................................4
2. The Power of the Inspired Mind...........................................................................................5
3. Rebooting Inspiration .............................................................................................................6
4. A Caveat .....................................................................................................................................7
5. The Principle of Correspondence .........................................................................................8
6. The Uninspired Life.................................................................................................................9
7. The Inspired Life ......................................................................................................................12
8. Interrupting Negative Momentum ......................................................................................15
9. How To Use This Book............................................................................................................16
10. Get Some Altitude....................................................................................................................17
11. Life's Guarantee .......................................................................................................................18
12. Get Present ................................................................................................................................19
13. Let Go .........................................................................................................................................20
14. Anything is Possible ................................................................................................................21
15. Failure, Perseverance & Success ...........................................................................................22
16. Words of Wisdom.....................................................................................................................24
17. Your Intention Statement .......................................................................................................27
18. Your Greatest Achievements or Memories .........................................................................30
19. Gratitude ....................................................................................................................................35
20. Body to Mind ............................................................................................................................37
21. Reassurance ...............................................................................................................................40

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22. Creating and Reinforcing What You Believe .....................................................................42
23. Give .............................................................................................................................................47
24. In Conclusion ............................................................................................................................49
25. About the Author .....................................................................................................................50

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Inspired Living

T his book is our co-creation. I’ve provided the foundation and direction necessary to produce a
rescue kit capable of changing the trajectory of your entire life. Your job is to contribute your
insights and dreams. Together, we are a formidable force capable of overcoming any challenge.

The wisdom contained in this book is meant to be carried with you wherever you go. I encourage you
to keep a completed copy at home, at work and anywhere you frequently visit. It will become your go-to
resource whenever you’re facing a challenge, losing motivation, drive or inspiration.

My mission here is to equip you with fail-proof techniques and strategies to transform unproductive,
success-blocking mindsets into powerfully inspired states that immediately improve your present
experience while setting you firmly on the path to your greatest desires. I wrote this book for you.

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Inspired Living 4
The Power of the Inspired Mind

Y our thoughts create your life. This isn’t magic. Think about it. Your thoughts dictate your actions,
reactions, decisions, and feelings; they are the catalyst for all you do. What you do, or fail to do,
shapes your life. Thus, the state of your life today is the result of your predominant thoughts.

An inspired, peace-filled mind recognizes opportunities, makes

empowered choices and capitalizes on innovation. The
uninspired mind laments its plight, focuses on impending doom
and lacks imagination. The difference between the two is the "A man is but the
difference between a life of personal fulfillment and one of
strained mediocrity. product of his

To create the life you deserve (yes, happiness is your birthright) thoughts.
and desire, you must become mentally aligned with what you
seek and take consistent, intelligent, action toward attaining it.
What he thinks,
When passionate focus meets continuous action, an irresistible
he becomes."
force is ignited and desired outcomes are drawn to you, often in
unexpected and unlikely ways. – Mahatma Gandhi

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Rebooting Inspiration

I ’ve yet to meet a person who doesn’t have down days. Even the most positive people feel frustrated,
uninspired or blue, sometimes. From this low energy place, life suffers. We make poor decisions, fail
to recognize opportunities and backslide away from our goals. Making matters worse, feelings, both
positive and negative, are contagious and, in our low state, we spread our moods to others.

The instant you become aware of ongoing negative thoughts or feelings,

your number one priority is to shift to an empowered, peaceful and
“The road to positivity
inspired state of mind, immediately so that you can get back to the
is strewn with the
business of living on purpose.
abandoned vehicles
of the
faint-hearted.” The challenge for most of us is that while immersed in low, slow, negative
– Peter McWilliams states, it is extraordinarily difficult to lighten our mood. Even if you
possess an immense reserve of life enhancing wisdom and knowledge, it
may not come to mind when needed most.

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A Caveat

T his book is not intended for people enduring deep crises, grief or grappling with major emotional
challenges (i.e. death, tragedy, grave loss). In these situations, intense personal help is warranted.
There are a plethora support groups, religious/spiritual advisors and professionals with expertise in
helping heal life traumas. This book would serve only as a band aid, instead of the vital life support
needed.

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The Principle of Correspondence

W hatever you focus your thoughts on expands and multiplies, regardless of whether the thoughts
are positive or negative. Have you ever become aware of something and all of the sudden began
to see it everywhere? Perhaps you bought a new car or discovered that you’re expecting a child and
then noticed that the world is full of that precise car and the pregnant population seems to have
quadrupled over night? These are small examples of the Principle of Correspondence.

On a larger scale, your day to day focus dictates the direction, quality and content of your life while
heightening your awareness of key opportunities. When mastered, your predominant thoughts work to
magnetize unending good and propel you toward your most treasured goals. Left to operate by default,
life reflects whatever happens to be going through your mind the most.

"Our minds become magnetized with the dominating thoughts we hold and
these magnets attract to us the forces, the people, the circumstances of life which
harmonize with the nature of our dominating thoughts."
– Napoleon Hill

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The Uninspired Life

I n an uninspired life, a person vacillates between the following emotional states:

❖ Tired
❖ Lonely
❖ Incapable
❖ Powerless
❖ Insecure
❖ Lacking
❖ Not good enough
❖ Bound
❖ Failing
❖ Overwhelmed

"Life consists in what a person is thinking of all day."

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– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Living an uninspired life, one views life as:

❖ Unfair
❖ Arduous
❖ Difficult
❖ Full of Scarcity
❖ Limited
❖ Cruel
❖ Adverse
❖ Scary
❖ Tenuous
❖ Hopeless

An uninspired life is exhausting, frustrating and thankless. Instead of moving toward our goals and
dreams, we spend our time endeavoring to get away from the things we don’t like. Although we think
this will make life better, the principle of correspondence continues to provide us with more of what we
are focused on.

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The more we battle and resist circumstances, the more they appear in our lives. As time passes,
momentum builds and the types of problems we’re experiencing grow in significance. Our
relationships, finances, health and/or career may suffer dramatically.

This worsening of conditions, despite our constant efforts to stop the negativity, leads us to believe that
we aren’t worthy or we’re unlucky, and we begin to believe that our lives can’t be good and we don’t
deserve better.

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
– Lao-Tzu

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The Inspired Life

I n a predominant state of inspiration we view ourselves as:

❖ Filled with unlimited potential

❖ Empowered
❖ Capable
❖ Competent
❖ Blessed (or Lucky)
❖ Creative
❖ Strong
❖ Prosperous
❖ A match for every challenge we encounter
❖ Successful
❖ Personable

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Living from a predominant state of inspiration, we view life as:

❖ Laden with opportunity

❖ Supportive
❖ Fun
❖ Constantly improving
❖ Abundant
❖ Friendly
❖ Safe
❖ Pleasant
❖ Generous
❖ Beautiful

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"The point of power is always in the present."
– Keith Cunningham

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Living an inspired life is an exhilarating, fulfilling and wondrous experience. The inspired person
spends their energy running toward good, instead of away from perceived bad. The Principle of
Correspondence works to reinforce positive focus by creating and multiplying ideal situations,
opportunities and outcomes that unite us with our dreams.

Though challenges arise, because they are an inherent part of life, the inspired person feels confident in
their ability to meet and overcome every obstacle. They feel no need to fret about tomorrow because
they know that life, in its essence, is a collection of moments and all experiences happen only in the now.
A happy life is created when the present moments and expectations feel good. Life is lived now, not in
the past and only in the future to the extent that it acts as a target. There is no other happiness to seek.

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Interrupting Negative Momentum

T houghts parallel Newton’s law of motion. A thought in motion tends to stay in motion until a new
thought interrupts it. It is vital to take action immediately and interrupt negative momentum the
instant one becomes aware of it.

Life is filled with ups and downs. We may not be able to control outside events, but we can control our
response to them. Consciously tipping life’s scales in favor of higher more intense ups, while reducing
and diminishing the downs, builds positive momentum. The more committed you are to interrupting
negative patterns the faster you’ll change the trajectory of your entire life. You will become happier,
more confident, and able to capitalize on previously unrecognized opportunities. Most importantly,
you’ll feel the power of inspiration and be able to use it to achieve your greatest goals.

The remainder of this book is filled with highly effective tools and proven strategies that, when applied,
will gradually slow uninspired thinking, render it still and then powerfully launch your mind into an
inspired state.

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How To Use This Book
To make this book work, you must strengthen its power by contributing your wisdom, thoughts and
dreams. The exercises are short, clear, easy to follow and, most importantly, highly effective. Once
complete, you will possess an arsenal of strategies and tools, tailored to you, which will quickly launch
you into a powerfully productive, inspired state.

I encourage you to keep your customized copy private so that your contributions are free from outside
influence. This is a gift for you. Feel free to pass a fresh copy on to whomever may benefit.

I recommend reading and completing this book when you’re feeling your best. If you are able to do this
you’ll have an easier time assembling the material required to jumpstart inspiration. However, if you’re
in need of a fix right now, focus on the sections that require no input from you (Get Present, Get Some
Altitude, Body to Mind, Perseverance, Give, Anything is Possible, Let Go, Life’s Guarantee).

When you find yourself struggling with negative feelings, your responsibility is to apply the strategies
contained in this book, whether you feel like it or not, no excuses. If you do, you will absolutely

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succeed in transforming your present moments and life into wellsprings of joy, abundance and peace.

"If you're not actively involved in getting what you want, you don't really want it."
– Peter McWilliams

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Get Some Altitude
Many upsetting situations are far less significant than we think. Sometimes our faces are pressed so
firmly into the tree trunk before us that we don't realize we're in a beautiful forest. Stepping back and
unemotionally analyzing the facts of our situation can often bring us greater clarity and perspective.

Often, the source of our upset is minor. It's easy to fall into states of frustration, irritation or anger over
inconsequential events. In our minds, we make them much larger problems than they really are.

Rude clerks, lost items, flat tires, missed appointments, traffic jams, leaky pipes, damaged items and an
endless list of snafus, all have the potential to set us on edge. Step back and get clear. These events,
though not fun, have little to no impact on the quality of your life until YOU give them that power. The
slope of negative thinking, experiences and futures is slippery and dangerous. Don't let the small things
send you careening down it, where real problems arise.

Imagine looking at your life through a close up camera lens, pull back to the point that the past and
future are included in the view. Withdraw your emotions and attachments. Examine whether the thing
bothering you will be important to you in six months, or a year. Will it materially affect the quality of
your life? If yes, then it's time to take intelligent action steps toward ensuring the most positive outcome

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possible (read Let Go, Anything is Possible & Reassurance).

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Life's Guarantee
The one thing you can count on 100% of the time is change. All
things change. Whatever is happening will pass. This is not license
to sit idly by and wait for something to change your life. Instead, it
is an assurance that no matter how desperate a situation is, it will
end. How it ends is largely up to you. You may be able to change
the outcome by action. If you cannot, you can absolutely change
your response.

Another aspect of this guarantee relates to feelings. All feelings

change, too. I offer my personal attestation to the truth of this
statement. Years ago, my entire life imploded in a single instant.
I swore I'd never smile again. Blessedly, I was wrong.

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Get Present
Where in time is the source of your angst? Often the thing upsetting us is buried in
the past or projected into the future. Return to now. There is no other time you can
ever actually experience.

Chances are right now, you can handle whatever is happening in this moment. That
is all you’ll ever need to do. That is all you can ever do.

In contrast to the Get Some Altitude strategy, this technique asks you to focus all of
your energy on the present. Using this approach, zoom the lens of your life’s camera
in tight, only looking at this moment, hour or day, and commit to do your very best,
here and now.

If you aren’t sure which approach to apply, choose the one that causes the greatest
interruption in your negative thinking.

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Let Go
Most upset is derived from our unwillingness to accept or release something.
Like holding water, the tighter we grasp the less we have.

Often the intense energy we expend clinging to something is the single greatest                                

obstacle to our good. We greatly improve our lives and results by letting go.

Letting go does not mean giving up. It means that we do our very best to
achieve our desires, take our frenetic, chaotic energy out of the picture and
release our attachment to the outcome.
                               

If you believe in a force greater than you (God, Spirit, Universal Energy etc.),
letting go is an act of surrender to the power responsible for beating hearts and
suspending the planets in the sky, surely it can handle your concerns.

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Anything is Possible
The act of opening up to possibility opens up the floodgates of life. We tend to fall into
habitual thinking patterns, assume we know all there is to know about a situation
and are able to predict every outcome. In truth, there are countless perspectives to
view a situation from and we never know all there is to know. Believing otherwise is
naïve and arrogant.

Surrendering to possibility is an admission that we do not know everything and cannot

see the future. It is also an invitation for newer, higher, yet unknown solutions, opportunities
and synchronicities to emerge.

When you think you're in an impossible situation, take a moment to acknowledge that
although you do not consciously know how to solve the problem, you know a solution
exists and you're open to receiving it.

Don't underestimate the power of this simple process. I credit it with the resolution of

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two separate six figure solutions!

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Failure, Perseverance & Success
One common trait shared among the world's most successful people is perseverance in the
face of seeming defeat. The only difference between a winner and a loser is quitting.

Read over the following hyper shortened list of people and the failures that preceded their success.
Whatever your situation, personal greatness is as achievable for you as it was for these people.

When the show Seinfeld debuted audiences, focus groups and critics hated it.

Robin Williams was voted most humorous and least likely to succeed in high school.

J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before the 13th gave her a measly $3,000 advance and agreed to
publish Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

At 5'11 and 165 lbs, Wayne Gretzsky was deemed too small and slow for professional hockey.

James Redfield couldn't get The Celestine Prophecy published by publishers (so he did it himself).

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It has sold 20 million copies worldwide.

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In 1970, Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino's Pizza, was $1.5 million in debt to more than 150 lawsuit
threatening creditors.

Jack London received more than 600 rejection letters.

A young Barbara Walters was advised by a CBS executive to, "Stay out of television."

Eddie Arcaro (Secretariat jockey) lost 250 races before winning.

Stephen Spielberg was rejected by UCLA's & USC's film schools.

Notes and examples that move you:

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Words of Wisdom

W hen teetering on the abyss of negativity, words of inspiration can give us strength and the
motivation to . The following quotes have generated an extraordinary amount of enlivened
action and positive feedback from my readers. Focus only on the ones that move and inspire you.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
– Anais Nin

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own.
You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president.
You realize that you control your own destiny."
– Albert Ellis

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

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– George Eliot

"All great changes are preceded by chaos."

– Deepak Chopra

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 "Time is limited don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking.
Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drown your own inner voice.
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition,
they somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything else is secondary."
– Steve Jobs

"People often say that motivation doesn't last.

Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
– Zig Ziglar

"Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close

you were to success when you gave up."

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– Anonymous

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Use the following space to write quotes or sayings that you inspire you:

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Your Intention Statement

A n intention statement is a short description of the life you intend to create and the person you are in
that life. It serves as a reminder of your goals and redirects your mind to focus on what’s really
important to you.

To be effective, an Intention Statement should make you feel something good (excitement, drive, joy,
uplifted). A well constructed statement will catapult you out of lower states. If your statement does not
give you a positive sense of connection to your goals, rework it until it does. Be strong, clear and bold.
You are as worthy as anyone who’s ever had a dream, own it.

Here are some examples:

I am a successful, working actor who stirs the thoughts and emotions of people across the country by delivering
outstanding performances. I am kind, confident and fun to work with. I am committed to my success and I know
that there is no such thing as failure. There are only experiences that bring me closer to my goals.

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I am a loving husband and father who teaches my children kindness, humility and compassion through my
behavior. I take excellent care of myself and I am constantly learning new things. I know that the love I pour into
my children will flow out the world and back to me.

My company is growing and thriving. I am constantly thinking of ways to improve the experience of my
employees and clients. I am the kind of boss people like to work with, I challenge people to be their best and I give
them the freedom to achieve their greatest potential. I am constantly innovating and staying connected. I know
that empowered employees, happy clients and the continuous resolution of their concerns results in our
extraordinary business success.

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Construct Your Intention Statement

Here are some prompts to help get you started.

Describe your ideal self. What do you do? How do you behave? How do you treat others? How does
the world receive you? How do you spend your free time? What qualities define you? What are you
most proud of? What do you stand for?
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Your Greatest Achievements or Memories

A powerful tool for snapping out of negative states of mind is the recollection and embodiment of the
best moments of your life. The only place we experience anything is in our minds. A magnificent
feature of this truth is that we can relive the most wonderful events, whenever we want.

Successfully embodying great memories dramatically shifts the present by changing your outlook and
approach to life. The problem is that, if you’re immersed in a heavy mood, it is difficult to remember the
good times. Take the time now to help your future self by putting this tremendous power at your
fingertips.

To be effective, this strategy requires: 1) recalling several positive and powerful memories (times when
you achieved or experienced something that really moved you); and 2) descriptions vivid enough to
bring the experience to life now.

Describe a time when you had, did or felt something that made you feel incredibly good. Choose an
event that would be on your life's highlight reel. Be complete and detailed. Be sure there is nothing

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unwanted or unhappy associated with any of your chosen memories. You may need more space. Use
additional paper, if needed.

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To aid you in bringing these memories to life, answer the following questions:

Where are you? Are you alone? Describe your surroundings?

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What are you wearing? What do your clothes or skin feel like? How are you standing, sitting or
moving? What is your facial expression?

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How do you feel? What thoughts are you thinking?

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What is the best thing about this experience?

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Embody Your Greatest Achievements & Memories

If you’re in need of inspiration and you’ve already answered the questions above, start here:

If possible, arrange to be alone in a quiet place for about 15 minutes. Take a deep breath and let it out
slowly. Spend a few moments evening out the length of your inhales and exhales. They should be long,
slow and equal in duration. Get comfortable in your body, whatever that means to you, sit, stand, walk
or do whatever it takes. Prime your mind by silently repeating,

“I want to feel better and I'm willing to let that happen.”

Now get serious about your assignment. Wholly, completely and with discipline commit to embodying
your best moments. Slowly read about the memories above. Put yourself in the moment. Embody it
with all of your senses. See it, touch it, feel it, smell it. When you feel a shift in energy inside, you've
done it correctly.

Remain in the space of your greatest moment for several minutes, but no more than ten. You want to
leave while the high is intense.

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When you to return to the present, read the following page aloud.

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 I deserve and will have more moments that
feel as good as, or better, than this memory.
I am the most powerful person in my life and
I now choose to live from this knowing.
Only I can choose this for me.
I will use every situation for good and,
no matter what I encounter,
I am more than all I face.
My future is bright.

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Gratitude

T he daily practice of gratitude holds the power to transform your mind and life. Even if you don't
have a regular gratitude practice, spending 15 minutes getting connected to the reality of just how
blessed you are is a potent process and the path to increased abundance. Take this exercise seriously.

Start with anything you can appreciate, there are no requirements. Thank God or whatever you credit
with the creation of all that is. Imagine your life experience without the person or thing you're
expressing gratitude for, make it real.

What would your life experience be if you couldn't read or comprehend basic concepts? What if the
world ran out of air to breathe? What if you had to sleep on a street corner in the snow tonight?

Give thanks for your sight, hearing, sense of touch, your legs, your best friend, your shoes, your sheets,
your iPod, whatever matters to you. Imagine life without them then appreciate your true wealth.

To make it easy on yourself when you need to get connected, list some of the things that you are most

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grateful for. Don’t write what you should be grateful for. Write what matters to YOU.

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I am grateful for:

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Body to Mind

T houghts, feelings and emotions dictate our body language. When we’re upset our body illustrates
the upset by contracting, hunching, tensing or hyper-extending. Our faces reflect our inner world,
too. If our predominant state is one of disharmony, the changes gradually become permanent. Most
people know that our minds can change our bodies. Stress, for example, is a leading cause of disease.
But did you know that the body can change the mind?

When you’re feeling down, ignore your thoughts and focus on your physicality. Re-pattern your mood
by doing the following:

1. Stand barefoot, clench and tighten your entire body. Hunch your shoulders up to your ears.
Scrunch your face, ball your fists and contract your abs. Breathe forcefully and gather all the
tension in your body and mind together.

2. Now let it all go. Stretch your fingers out wide and imagine all the tension shooting out, leaving
your body and disappearing.

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3. Breathe evenly inhale for a slow count of 7 filling up your belly
first and then expanding your chest – pause for 3 counts – slowly
exhale for a count of 7 – Do this 7 times.

4. With bent knees, bend over while grasping your elbows – no

pushing, bouncing or forcing. Let your breath flow naturally, but
make the inhales/exhales even. Find a comfortable bend and
hold this position for 2 minutes, allowing oxygenated blood to
bathe your brain while your spine is briefly relieved of your
head’s weight.

5. Let your hands drop toward the floor and with bent knees and a
curved spine slowly come up to standing with your head the last
thing to rise.

6. Reach your arms up to the sky, stretch and breathe. When you
feel ready, place your arms down at your side. Silently,

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acknowledge your heart as the body’s power center.

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7. Now using same channel that the mind uses to communicate with the body, allow your body to
communicate with your mind. Stand erect, but comfortably. Point your chin forward not raised or
lowered. Draw your abdominal muscles in so that you feel even support between your lower back
and abs. Let your eyes gaze upward as you move through your day. Bring tension only to your
cheeks. Smile.

8. Be on the lookout for patterned body behavior. When you catch your brow in a furrow or your
shoulders rising toward your ears. Take a breath and exhale the tension.

9. Commit to remaining in your new body and witness your transformation.

10. Thank your body for being a devoted servant and agree to honor it with good food, fresh air
and frequent movement.

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Reassurance

W hen life seems overwhelming and we’re uncertain about the future, our innermost insecurities
emerge. In these vulnerable moments, we can regain stability by giving ourselves reassuring
reminders of past times we made it through tough challenges.

Describe one or more past events where you felt uncertain, worried or anxious and things managed to
work out. Recognize that however daunted you were, you made it through. Note the gifts and lessons
the challenge blessed you with.

You’ll make it through this time, too. The difference between now and then is that today you know you
have great personal power and, by using your mind and decision making abilities positively, you will
weather this time better than before.

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Challenges I’ve overcome:

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Inspired Living 41
Creating and Reinforcing What You Believe
"What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for.
You become what you believe."
– Oprah Winfrey

"One comes to believe whatever one repeats to oneself sufficiently often, whether the
statement be true or false. It comes to be dominating thought in one's mind."
– Robert Collier

The two quotes above, when taken together, highlight an immensely powerful principle:

What you believe becomes true and you can change and create your beliefs.

Every thought is an affirmation. Consciously or unconsciously, we constantly affirm our beliefs. If we

do not choose our affirmations, they are created for us by other people, the media and what we see in
the world. Most people are affirming by default. Unless we are surrounded by peace, positivity and
love, our default affirmations are generally unhelpful. Society’s dominant affirmations are centered

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around scarcity and inadequacy. Our minds are incessantly filled with the message that there aren’t
enough resources and we aren’t thin, smart, rich, good, attractive, etc., enough.

Inspired Living 42
As Robert Collier emphasizes, in his quote, what we believe
need not be true for us to create it, just repeated often.
Knowing this, can you spend another precious moment
believing someone else’s ideas?
"All truly wise thoughts
Take control of yourself and life by choosing powerful
have been thoughts already
beliefs that serve you and better the world.
thousands of times;
Guidelines: but to make them truly
ours, we must
1. Affirmations should be short enough to remember.
think them over again
2. Every creation exists in mind first. By affirming a
honestly, till they take root
belief or outcome that is yet unmanifested, you create it in our personal experience."
and, if followed through with action, it will manifest.
– Johann Wolfgang Von
3. Do not concern yourself with “how” your affirmations Goethe

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will manifest. Leave that be.

Inspired Living 43
4. Affirmations must be powerful enough to resonate or register somewhere inside you. Some people
feel a tiny sensation in their solar plexus, others smile unintentionally and others feel more awake.
It doesn’t matter how it registers in you, so long as it does.

5. Construct your affirmations on a separate sheet of paper. Write as many as you want. Go back
through them and choose the three that resonate with you the most.

6. Don’t wait until you need inspiration to use them. Say them often, aloud in the mirror, in your car,
while you shower, when exercising. Silently repeat them while brushing your teeth, waiting in line
or sitting on hold. Replace the words of your favorite song with them.

7. When you recognize beliefs you unwanted thoughts, feelings or beliefs, inside you or coming from
others, silently repeat your affirmations.

8. When you feel doubt or disbelief, even about affirmations, release your body using the
Body to Mind strategy, read my affirmation experience on the following page,
and repeat your affirmations.

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Inspired Living 44
Here are the affirmations I repeated when I was a single mom, living in a garage:

❖ I am successful, wealthy and educated and living in my dream home in Los Angeles.
❖ I am a loving mother who easily provides for my child and spends lots of time with my family.
❖ Golden opportunities and solutions to every problem I face come to me effortlessly.

At the time I said these affirmations, the people in my life chastised me for being a dreamer. They said I
was unwilling to grasp reality and accept my lot in life. They were correct. Within five years, I was in
law school, had a thriving business, was able to send my child to private school and was drawing up
plans to build my dream home in Los Angeles. I never knew how my life would transform. I just
believed it would.

Write your top three affirmations here:

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Inspired Living 45
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Inspired Living 46
Give

Right now do something to help someone. 

Volunteer, listen to someone who needs an ear, send money to those in need, buy dinner for a shelter
resident.  Give whatever you can.  You can give physical labor, emotional support, money or items you
don’t need anymore.  The key is to bring your gift to life, right now. 

No excuses, no delays. Send even just a few dollars to feed a child, bring fresh water to a drought
stricken place, rescue an animal or help heal a sick person. 

Any cause that resonates with you works.  Just find a way to help someone or something in need. 
Do it in person. Do it online. Do it now. 

When you’ve performed the service or given the gift, really think about your contribution. 
Visualize the recipient of your generosity.  Imagine what it would be like to be that recipient. 

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Really see the benefit you’ve created. 

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Recognize that you are a blessing. Complete and read the following aloud:

Ex. Because of me a hungry child will have a meal and know that someone cares about them. 

Because of me the world is a better place.

 
"Because of me ___________________________________________________________.

Because of me the world is a better place."

Really let that sink in.  You are important and the world needs you. It is absolutely okay to feel good for
having done good.  This is not the same thing as bragging, or giving to gain the admiration of others.  It
is acknowledging that you are force responsible for increasing the good in our world.

Notes:

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Inspired Living 48
In Conclusion

I t is my hope that you will come to rely on this book. I live these strategies. I know their invaluable
worth. I offer you my experiences as evidence of their effectiveness. When you prove this power to
yourself, please offer it to another.

For now, I extend my hand to steady you as you climb whatever mountain you’ve named success. I
have no doubt of your potential or power. Dreams are never given without the means to attain them.
The outcome, however, rests with you.

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About the Author
Cynthia Occelli is a self described author, mother and business
woman with a law degree & a Blackbelt in shopping.

Her life mission is to inspire, encourage and support others through,

both, the wonderful and difficult times. She writes, speaks and works
one-on-one with entrepreneurs, artists, executives, parents and
dreamers around the world.
To read more of
More than a friend in good times, Cynthia also speaks to people my writings visit:
who've suffered unimaginable loss, offering support and LIFE
encouragement while explaining how to begin again. Your comments, questions and
feedback are welcome. Email me:
From teen dropout, welfare-mom, to educated millionaire, and
beyond, Cynthia shares the success strategies and wisdom learned, Cynthia@CynthiaOccelli.com
firsthand, along the way.

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Tree  of  Life  Graphic,  Courtesy  of  www.TradingPhrases.com
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