I recently saw an ad in a magazine that had the phrase "I stand on ..." followed by a list of things the person in the ad stood for, such as a good daughter, a yogi wannabe, a force to be reckoned with, etc. It made me think of how important it is for each of us to know what is important to us and what we truly stand for or stand on.

What we stand for can also be described as what we are known for or what our lives are all about. It can include your life purpose or mission. It may include some of your life roles (wife, father, teacher) and may include values or interests. While all of this will help you to know yourself better, there is also something very exciting about being able to briefly describe yourself to someone with a few short bullets. Try using this at a party when someone asks "and what do you do?" Instead of saying "I'm an accountant or a teacher", try giving your "I stand for" answer. See what kind of deeper-than-surface conversation ensues. It also works as a great ice- breaker.

To get started defining your own answer to what do you stand for, begin by looking at your values. Look at http:// www.lifeunfolds.com/values.htm for a list of values to get you going. Pick the top two or three values that are most important to you. Turn these into a statement such as "I stand for truth in all things and acceptance of life as it comes." You may then look at your roles and select the role that best expresses your true self or that most excites you. For example, I stand for being the best mother in the world or a marathon runner extraordinaire. Another area to look at is your interests or strong desires. An example of this might be I stand for organizing the world, collecting antique textiles of every color and tasting all grades of chocolate by the time I die.

Play with this awhile and see what comes up for you. Keep it light and playful, maybe even outrageous. Enjoy!

Last month I included an article regarding THE Key to Success. We left open the question of what success really is. Some of us are still working with the success model that includes job titles, pay, perqs, and material possessions. For example, you may believe you are successful when you are a "director making $75,000 with a corner office." You may include things like "having a 40 foot sailboat" as the pinnacle of success or "having a million dollars in assets" or "owning a house in Malibu". Each of us may have material possessions or career aspirations included in our definition of success. While there is nothing wrong with having these things as goals and including them as parts of your definition of success, my definition of success includes much more of the intangible, inner life or spiritual life and overall quality of life as key parts of the definition of success.

Only you can know what success looks like to you. However, I strongly encourage you to create a definition of success for yourself. After all, how will you know you've arrived if you don't know where you're going? So what does success look like to you? Below is a list of possible areas or goals to include in your personal definition of success:

• spirituality
• health
• adventures
• sense of enough/plenty/abundance
• close or healthy family relationships
• friends
• community involvement
• service, contribution, world or local issues
• learning or education
• relationship with or involvement in nature

Coaching Comments: Answer for yourself the following questions: What is your definition of success for your life? Do you have success criteria for each of the major areas of your life (career, relationships, home, interests, learning, spirituality, personal growth, etc.)? How will you know if you are successful? What does your soul or inner self tell you about what you really want to achieve, have or be? Is anything on your list really a goal from your parents, from society, from your spouse, or some other entity, that is, NOT your own?

Have we got a wonderful and exciting class for you! You've read the books, heard the gurus, maybe even given it a try or two. I'm talking about the Laws of Attraction. If you truly want to consciously create the life, loves and prosperity you desire, join us for a truly amazing class. These laws or principles apply to anything you want to have more of in your life: starting a successful business, attracting great clients, finding the perfect employee, meeting your mate, having a beautiful home, designing your life, being wealthy...well, you get the idea.

THE ATTRACTION CIRCLE: PRACTICING THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION AND LEARNING TO MANIFEST YOUR DESIRES

• Weekly fun-filled experiential exercises designed to uncover your ability to allow and attract desires with ease.
• Learn tangible, pleasurable ways to remain in a state of receptivity and vibrational harmony with your desires.
• The exercises allow your deepest desires to surface.
• Recognize the power and joy in achieving all that you desire in life.
• Yes, you really can!

Embark upon your journey toward conscious co- creation today by joining our Attraction Circle now. We're going to help you amp up your energy around your desires and give you lots of practice.

Classes are forming now. Fees are $100 per month for four classes of 1.5 hours each. Class size is limited, so sign up now. Class is only available in Houston now, but a teleclass is in the works. Call Mary Anne at (713) 528-5971 or email maf@lifeunfolds.com for more information and to register. Also see http://www.lifeunfolds.com/attraction.htm for more information.

1. Listen carefully to the self-criticism that goes through your mind every day. Whose voice is speaking to you? Parent? Judge? Teacher? What is being said about you? Note that criticism can take the form of name-calling, constant pressure to do something or be someone, sarcastic remarks about your actions or behavior or feelings, etc.
2. After listening carefully to what is being said, evaluate the truth of the message? Is it true now? Was it true at one time but no longer true? Let go of old business by recognizing the truth of your current life and behavior.
3. As soon as you hear the word "should", recognize this as self-criticism. Disregard it as there are no shoulds, only what is. It is your choice.
4. Give yourself kind words and praise. Counter criticism with positives about yourself. If there is a recurring untrue message, write down the opposite positive. Writing it down gives it additional power. Display it on your computer, in your planner, on your bulletin board.
5. Choose your friends wisely. Choose friends who are supportive and kind, who think the best of you and are not judgmental towards you. You need positive messages as much as possible to counteract the inner critic. We all do.

Having an inner critic (and most people have a very loud one!) can drain your energy, cause you to lose confidence or have poor self-esteem, and cause you to exhibit a judgmental attitude to others. It takes time and attention to calm your inner critic, but is well worth it. Attend today to what yours is saying. You may be surprised.

If you plan to retire or retire early, or even if you are living simply, this forum has lots of great information from real people who have retired or are retiring. It gives lots of tips, ask great questions and gives a variety of viewpoints so you get a well-rounded picture of what retirement will be like. Check it out!

If you plan to retire within the next few years or plan early retirement, you may need some help getting ready for a rich and satisfying retirement. I do retirement coaching so give me a call.

"Hoping and dreaming of a better world are not enough if we are unwilling to work; but when we work towards our dreams, wonderful things can happen." by Lloyd Newell

"Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that." by Norman Vincent Peale

"The only way around is through." by Robert Frost

Our very successful class, Transforming Your Relationship with Money, is back! Classes are now forming for late Spring and Summer. Read what previous students have to say about the class:

"Enjoyed your energy and all the information. You did an excellent job with lots of enthusiasm and compassion." KK

"The class got me motivated to believe in myself...I became more conscious of saving money." BD

"I realized the (creating) result I really want!" MS