barbarafilla's Blog: Find Your Passion

That passion may be residing down deep in the belly of your tummy, just waiting to be recognized.

Or it may be calling You in other ways -----

– What is it that is compelling you with a strong urge to do something? You don’t know what, but something?

– Do you hear your heart calling, beckoning you, talking to you?

– Is there a desperate call from way down in your belly, a desperate yearning?

The world needs you and your passion.

Suzanne’s story of finding her passion for magic is a wonderful story of finding one’s passion. To read it, go to Passion Branding Community. Click on Topics on right and see her story.

Barbara Filla
Passion Clarification and Passion Branding
www.BraveHeartWomen.com/barbarafilla

Joseph Campbell, writer and lecturer, coined the phrase ‘follow your bliss’ in the late 1980s. His philosophy is often identified with that phrase. People resonated with the term and it’s been popular ever since the early 1990s.

It caught my attention as another possible, helpful way to describe, understand and learn and share more about what passion really is.

The dictionary definitions I found for both words are interesting.
Passion is a strong or compelling emotion or feeling, extravagant fondness, fervor, enthusiasm for anything.
Bliss is supreme happiness, utter joy and contentment.

Hmm. This made sense to me, enlightened me…see if it is helpful to you. To me bliss is the ultimate result we are striving for. However, first we need to find our passion. Only then can we take that passion, internalize it, manifest it, and thus live life at the next level, a level of bliss (ultimate passion). Does that make a bit of sense to you?

Passion leads to bliss…
--First, we find the calling in our heart (our passion) and accept it completely.
--Second, we build, grow and manifest our passion…build a business, build and manifest our life’s work and purpose.
--and finally, we monetize it to provide us abundance that supports our life’s purpose, happiness and desired lifestyle… to bliss.
Awesome results are possible when we find our passion! And act upon it.

Finding My Passion.
Makes me recall a wonderful passion I had for knitting.
Seeing beautiful cable knit sweaters, other beautiful knit garments in magazines caught my eye. I wanted to see my young sons, even myself wearing sweaters like that….I REALLY wanted my family to have and enjoy the warmth, comfort and beauty of these unique garments. My curiosity became an intense desire in my gut. I still remember the feeling, a good feeling….I just had to do it feeling.

Build, Grow, And Develop My Passion
How can I do that? I can if I learn how, so I took lessons, made some small items. It was so much fun, challenge of making each stitch with same tension so it looked perfect (or nearly). I practiced day and night, every spare moment I could find.

Then I found a unique yarn shop, expert owner there, bought pattern books, yarn, and tackled the BIG projects I originally had in mind. She mentored me, taught me more things, got me the special yarns – just perfect for designs and ducks and Bambi, and more. Everywhere I went, all the time, my focus was on yarn, knitting techniques, needles, patterns, looking for that ultimate beautiful sweaters for my family.

Manifest My Passion
It took a few years. My passion increased, my focus intensified, my skills grew from daily practice, and I accomplished my goal. Yes, I knit daily way into the early morning hours when boys were sleeping, it was in my blood, it was my relaxation, my fun, my challenge! I couldn’t stop.

Doing my passion was awesome! It was my bliss to see my family and myself wearing these unique, hand-made sweaters, and receiving compliments from people. Living my passion filled me with joy and bliss.

Monetize My Passion and Let it Support My Purpose
We lived a frugal lifestyle where most of the clothes we wore were hand made. We wore the knit garments and didn’t buy sweater-jackets and coats at retail stores. The boys’ sweaters were jackets for cool days, fall and winter seasons (double wool yarn, heavy duty and warm with generous collars that could be opened to almost cover their ears in cold weather). And they stretched to grow as the boys grew, so didn’t require replacement every year. My passion to knit saved money and it gave me great joy.

Today
A couple days ago chatting with a lady and conversation turned to knitting. The memory, feeling in my gut and heart……..all the wonderful memories came back. I wanted to run right down to a knitting shop and buy some yarn. Seems that passion is still very intense…now in memory, not action. At least for the time being.

What stories and experiences of passion or bliss have you had?

We welcome your stories in the Topics Section of the Passion Branding Community.

Your stories will inspire and encourage other BraveHeartWomen in their journey to discover their passion.

Barbara Filla
Passion Branding Community
Passion Clarification + Brand Recognition = Monetization.

Our first born was a special developmentally-disabled little boy, which we didn’t know until he was 15 months old. The doctor kept answering our questions with, ‘He’ll grow out of it’…meaning his slow (almost no) development like other babies and toddlers his age. He couldn’t chew food, or even keep it down so it could nourish and build his body.

Finally after 15 months taking care of Frankie 24/7 with his physical situation, health issues, (surgery, pneumonia, in hospitals and out, and lots more) I had to do something. Now I had a second son who was 3 months old, much more advanced than Frankie at 15 months of age.

His daddy wasn’t available to assist a lot because we owned a business where 12+ hour days, seven days a week was required. The business was very successful, crowded all the time.

When Frankie was 15 months old, we visited a retired doctor that delivered me into this world to get some answers. One look at little Frankie, and he said, “Your son is retarded (developmentally disabled).” I didn’t even know what that term meant. I was a young mom, 20 years old, had seen only active, healthy, thriving infants.

You know, I was so relieved to finally have someone tell me the truth! Now I had a ‘starting point’. I wouldn’t give up, I would find something, some way, some place to help him. That was my passion and ‘mommy determination’.

I began to research, study, write letters even to National Institutes of Health and other places I found in the library. I didn’t find much out there, so took the challenge on myself. I WOULD find a way! I had hope, a passionate hope, that carried me on day after day, many times hour by hour.

I went from one passion goal to another with Frankie because I was determined to find a way to help him progress to be as ‘normal’ as possible. He didn’t learn to sit up until 18 months, and that was with constant ‘practicing’ many hours every day. He also didn’t comprehend when we talked to him, he didn’t talk. He never talked his entire 39 years on this world.

Frankie didn’t know how to chew food, and buying Gerber’s baby food was too expensive. All he could eat was pureed food, otherwise he would choke. So we enlarged the garden, grew our own food, and pureed all his food. We bought uncountable crates of peaches, pears, other fruit and vegetables and canned them in quart jars. I would have 12 dozen quarts of peaches canned each year, and can’t even remember how many of the other fruits and vegetables. I baked all the bread and other items. When I remember back now, I really don’t know where I got the energy or found the time to accomplish everything. Yes, I do know. My reliance on my God, my best friend, my prayers. Miracles happened every day.

Groceries: Once every 6 weeks I went to a larger city to a discount grocery mart, filled the car with enough of everything to last 6 weeks. The milkman delivered milk and butter to the door three times weekly. Sorry, got sidetracked, but this is part of the passion story too. Passion never gives up, it’s unstoppable. Back to Frankie.

When Frankie was 2 years old, I felt there had to be some way to teach him to walk, now that he could sit up. By this time I had researched all over the country, read every book I could get my hands on….searching because the medical people offered no assistance.

He also was sick often, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, grand mal seizures (these scared me to death every time he had one – the jolting of his little body in my arms, turning blue, then becoming listless…I thought he was going to die.)

Back to walking. We had a 4-wheel walker. Somehow Frankie would learn to walk. I realized the only way he learns is by repetition every day, often. If we don’t follow through daily, even several times each day, he forgets and we had to start over from scratch.

So, in the walker he goes. I crouch down on my knees, place one of his little feet on the floor, then the other… left foot down, right foot down, for many hours every day, never missing a day. Finally after months (I don’t remember how many) he developed the habit of walking. This was awesome success!! My passion was my drive to move forward, no matter what, when, why, where!

But mix that with a little guy who doesn’t comprehend words… He required 24/7 attention because he didn’t remember not to do unsafe or dangerous things. Solving one challenge led to many new ones, too many to share here.

Eventually he learned to open doors… so he’d fall down the stairs into the basement, he’d pull items like hot steaming coffee off the table and get second-degree burns; he opened the outside door and was in the middle of the state highway next to our house.

Frankie did find joy in a couple simple things. He loved Lawrence Welk music and other music too, and loved to suck on a chocolate Hershey Bar (without nuts, of course). Simple pleasures, what a life lesson.

Frankie was my passion for five years, until I just couldn’t keep him safe at home any longer. By then we had two younger sons, and their lives were very important too.

Frankie was the ‘angel guide’ who transformed my life. He is the reason for my passion in health care and for assisting people to accomplish and achieve their desires and goals, no matter how small or large.

I began that transformation by working in health care facility, then as accountant and business consultant to health care and other businesses, entrepreneur, and more. I always have passion. Frankie taught me that passion (an intense desire and commitment) is necessary foundation to accomplish anything.

This little boy did learn to walk and he taught me more about life than anyone or any thing ever could.

Frankie lived his purpose on this world and he led me to my purpose and passion(s). Thank God for the opportunity to have an angel named Frankie in my life!

Barbara Filla
Passion Branding Community
Passion Clarification, Brand Recognition, Monetization and more

PS: I invite you to share stories about passion(s) you’ve had already in your life – small passions, large passions, short term passions and long term passions. Passion is what carries you through difficulties and challenges. Your story is the perfect inspiration for other people.

I found this poem about finding your passion. It resonated with me, how about you?



Hear Me Calling YOU
By: S. M. G.

I touch you
through a beautiful scene
you leave it feeling peacefully serene
who do you think put it there

For your eyes to glean?

I speak to your heart
sometimes I even shout
you hear but don't respond
your thoughts have gone beyond

Then you secretly abscond!

I reach for you
in ways that count
as your days feel numbered
you gently dismount

I will continue to reach out to you
I have never forsaken you
as my words speak through you
I again will not cease to rescue you

Your angelic virtue is true as you untiringly pursue.

Hear Me! Calling YOU!

-----------------------------------
Find your passion. I invite you to join our Passion Branding Community.

Barbara Filla

Passion Clarification + Brand Recognition = Monetization

All you dear BraveHeart Women, have a delightful, wondrous day!

Give Love...........
http://greatday.com/v.html?2210m07L6naz


Barbara Filla
Passion Branding Community
Find Your Passion and more..

“Live out of your imagination, not out of your history”
Stephen Covey

Reminds me of my granddaughter, at age of four. She drew me a picture of…I had no idea of what. Then she asks me what it is………. As I’m studying the maze of colors, zig zags, lines all over…..and finally I tell her I don’t know. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings after she so diligently and conscientiously completed her work of art. She says, “Grandma, just use your imagination!” Wisdom from a child! I’ll never forget her words.

So is life, huh. It’s what we imagine it to be in our mind. When the vision is so beautiful and strong that we must have it, we will make it come true somehow.

Reality is: sitting in my recliner rocker, laptop computer on my lap - working, gazing out the window at cold, white snow, gray overcast sky, my body is cold in the house….. snow coming Wednesday through Friday…history of winter season.

But my vision and imagination takes me somewhere else: I’m in a warm climate taking a leisurely walk, enjoying the sun, soft breezes on my face and body, brilliant green trees, grass, beds of flowers of all colors. Warm, sunny feeling of being carefree and free from cares of the world, just bliss and beauty.

Want to join me for a cup of tea, lemonade or….whatever you like? and some good conversation. Can we have dessert too – just this one time? anything chocolate, something new I’ve not had before, surprise me.

I’m ‘likin’ this imagination stuff more and more. That was my break – ready to go back to work now, filled with renewed energy, ideas….

Barbara Filla
Passion Branding Community

I found this on Web today. Recipe and author's style is interesting. It's long, so I bolded the Recipe Title farther down in the blog.

Best Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe for Colds and Flu
2/16/2009 9:25:00 AM
www.OpenZine.com

So you are under the weather huh? Has your family spread their sickly germs around and you are just waiting for your turn? Maybe you don't live near your mother close enough to take advantage of her cooking and caring for you. Are you coughing? Can't breath through your nose and you're wheezing? Feel like a cold's coming on or you know you got one bad?

Well continue to read and get this great recipe I have concocted which creates a few twists to your normal homemade chicken soup recipe made specifically to help clear your nasal passages, open your airways and to help you start to feel better as soon as you have your first spoonful.

Containing fresh garlic, onions, rosemary, jalapenos, red cayenne pepper, cumin, scallions - it is with these fresh ingredients that help shorten your cold and open your airways allowing you to breath, aids in making your coughs productive and take rest to start healing.

How this recipe came to being:

Recently, my partner's son was in from overseas, and while my guy was preparing for his son's visit, he went out and bought what seemed like the farm when in came to the amount of chicken he brought home. I never had so much frozen chicken in my house. And though we hadn't had our first colds of the year, we started taking turns every week in making our versions of homemade chicken soup. We came up with many versions - all delicious, each having their own characteristics and variations of added seasonings.

What we learned is that homemade chicken soup regardless of how you make it, or what ingredients you put into it, hot chicken soup is always good for the body and soul especially when you are feeling under the weather.

Now we obviously know there are a lot of moms and grandmothers out there who swear (OK they don't actually swear, well at least some of them don't swear out in public - OK some of them do and you probably have seen those few moms on the Jerry Springer show, but I digress). But thesemothers and mothers of mothers certainly promise that their chicken soup recipe is simply the best to help cure colds - one thing is for sure, mothers (including yours were right). Sipping hot fluids really do help thin out mucous sputum and help open up the nasal passages - and as there are a countless number of 'mothers' out there, there are certainly a countless number of different versions of chicken soup to help you during your colds...

There really are scientific results stating how hot chicken soup can shorten a cold's duration while relieving symptoms - so what are you and I waiting for? Here's my latest version. And if you are curious to read wikipedia.com's comments on the history and healing properties of chicken soup - simply click...

My version with the added red chili pepper flakes and sliced jalapenos really help open up your airways and allow your nose to actually breath again while the fresh rosemary helps your lungs function. So shall we get started cooking?

Recipe for Chicken Soup

The cooking process is rather simple, you will be adding the ingredients along with the chicken and water and allowing it all to boil then simmer for at least 90 minutes until the chicken is done. Then removing the chicken allowing it to cool so that you can remove the meat from the bones. Then cooking your noodles separately if you want to add them to your soup, then adding the last of the reserved veggies to your soup and returning the now-deboned chicken along with the noodles to the soup and serving it up to you and your family.

Ingredients:

* One large Soup Pot
* chicken pieces - I used three leg quarters (legs and thighs)
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 4 stalks celery - diced (reserve one stalk)
* 2 jalapenos - diced (or more)
* 2 medium sized onions - diced
* 3 large carrots - diced (reserve one carrot)
* 2+ teaspoons kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
* 1 teaspoon+ red pepper flakes
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 4 tablespoons of FRESH rosemary, minced
* 1/2 teaspoon cumin
* 4-6 whole 'cloves' of allspice
* 2 large bay leaves - fresh or dried
* 6-8 cups of water
* 2 tablespoons of 'better than bouillon' chicken flavored paste (optional)
* 4 stalks of scallions - diced and added at the end.
* 2 cups dried noodles (optional & cooked separately near the end)
* chopped fresh parsley or cilantro added at end or to the bowls when serving.

Directions:

* Gather your ingredients and place your large stock pot on your stove or even use your slow cooker.
* Add olive oil to your stock pot (if you are using your slow cooker omit this step and simply add your ingredients to the slow cooker starting with the vegetables first, then add the chicken, then the water and turn it on)
* Remember to reserve one celery stalk, one carrot and all the scallions - you will be adding those last to the soup pot once your chicken has cooked and you have removed the meat from the bones and replaced it back into the soup - this keeps them slightly crunchy and adds color)
* Add diced onions, celery and carrots to the mix and turn the heat under pot.
* Allow the vegetables to sweat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
* While vegetables are cooking, remove skin off chicken and separate legs from thighs.
* Add chicken to pot, add all remaining ingredients: garlic, spices, salt and peper, jalapenos, etc. (except for one carrot, one celery stalk, scallions)
* Add water to pot enough to bring the water level to about one inch from the top.
* Allow to come to a boil, then lower heat and allow the soup to simmer for at least 90 minutes.
* Scoop out chicken. Let cool slightly so it is easier to remove meat from bones.
* While noodles are cooking (see next step) and chicken is cooling, add the reserved diced carrot, celery and scallions to the soup.
* When removing meat from the chicken bones, I like to keep the chicken in chunks.
* Cook noodles separately and when done drain and rinse noodles before adding to soup.
* Serve up in bowls to feed your cold and starve your fever!

Variations & Tips:

* You can easily allow this to cook for much longer of course, just remember, the longer you cook the chicken in, it might be a bit 'drier' despite it being cooked in the soup.
* Adding additional jalapenos or red pepper flakes at the end will bring up the 'heat factor' opening up the most stubborn of stuffed noses.
* Adding a squeeze of lemon juice to the bowl will also up the vitamin C content.
* You can 'cheat' with the chicken and buy a pre-cooked roasted chicken, remove meat from bones and 'start' the soup with the bones only and adding the meat after 90 minutes. - This is especially helpful for those too weak and need a quick fix of chicken soup. Just be sure not to add any of the skin to the soup.
* By adding the jalapenos, red chili flakes and cayenne pepper in the beginning, the soup takes on a gentle heat mellowing out the spiciness of the jalapenos. I personally like to add more red chili flakes and sliced jalapenos into my bowl just before serving to make it extra spicy - it gets my nose passages to open up so fast, I simply love being able to breath again.
End.

I haven't tried the recipe, but I love chicken soup, so have it on my list.

Barbara Filla
Entrepreneur, Passionate Coach and 'sometimes' a cook too
Passion Branding Community
www.braveheartwomen.com/barbarafilla

Just remembered this. Hope it tickles you a bit, and if not – well, I’m just not meant to be a comedian.

My TV connection in my home is mysterious. One day I pushed the ‘power’ button on the remote.
But no TV. I pushed other buttons, including one that specifically said TV. The TV wouldn’t come on no matter what I did.

I called the TV Cable Company, they walked me through a series of procedures. They solved one problem, but no TV. When all strategies were exhausted, they decided to send a tech support person to my home to solve this mystery.

By this time I’m frustrated to point of laughing, I mean out loud “Hee Haw laughing.” Frustration drives me to that point sometimes, must be some kind of unconscious stress-reliever or something…… cause I can’t control it.

In walks confident younger man, friendly, takes charge to fix this issue with no problem. I have to really talk to myself so that I don’t laugh out loud, cuz my tummy is pumping in and out with silent ‘hee-haws’. Ever get the giggles, and EVERYTHING become funny, more funny each moment?

That guy tries many things… called the company couple times to validate some codes, tech stuff. I watch helplessly as he fiddles/faddles around...I should walk away, but I'm curious and have to see what he's doing, so that I can fix it if it ever happens in the future. My urge to laugh increases at myself and him because I'm not good at mechanics, oh well...

For each new idea he thinks of, he says, “This has to be it” – but in a less confident tone each time. I really do feel bad for him, but I have to be STRONG, not to let out a laugh, as I imagine myself in his shoes.

Finally, he checks out the electrical system and all seems to be working well – after all, this townhouse is less than 2 years old. The electrical outlet is right behind where the TV is intended to be placed, makes sense to me.

Finally..Discovered there is a light switch (3 switches) right by the door into the house. One of them turns out to be the on-off switch for the TV. Flip a light switch and the TV works.

How’s that for planning from the designers, architect and ?? Who built this townhouse complex? All’s OK now, everyone’s happy, and my joy turned to a ‘thank you.”

I enjoyed telling this story, cuz I can laugh at this foolishness again. There’s fun all over this life, if we can just see it, experience it. And learned a lesson about planning, persistence and couple other things too. Can’t get better than that, especially up here in cold, white winter.

For serious stuff… Click on Barbara’s Blog about online business, internet business, offline business tips, strategies, and lots more.

Life – live, love and laugh with it!

Barbara Filla
Entrepreneur and Business & Life Coach
Passion Branding Community

Wisdom I found presented in an interesting way that I’d like to share with you. Is food for thought.
Do I qualify? Do you qualify?

Classified Ad: Brain and Heart Wanted

Wanted:

One good brain and heart!

Brain:

* Willing to listen to the heart

Do what you do best...
* Learn
* Think
* Solve
* Create
* Decide
* Be curious

Need not apply...
* Endless worrying
* Living in the past
* Fear-mongering
* Negative
* Closed-off

Heart:

* Open
* Kind
* Generous
* Good at giving directions
* "Golden"

Apply within. Beginners welcome.

Note: Must be willing to learn how to work well together!

Author: Marianna
Title: Change of Heart Stress Solutions Blog

Barbara Filla
Entrepreneur Business & Life Coach
Passion Branding Community
Barbara’s Happiness, Success and Wealth blog

I am passionate about people, entrepreneurs, business... people always come first.

Certainly we are in challenging times, but most of us meet those challenges head on, determined to work through them by doing whatever it takes with hope that we'll come out better at the end or sometime in the future.

However, there are too many folks who whine, whine, whine. I know some people like this and likely you do too. They continue to bring down themselves and also affect those of us who just keep keepin on.

My passion and caring about people of all types, our country, the freedom and liberty we have and the need to preserve it won't stay quietly inside of me any longer. That voice has to be expressed. Maybe it can help someone, even one person, but hopefully more.

My mom recently died (Christmas time, 2008, she was nearly 94 years old). She lived through REALLY tough times like the Great Depression. We all can learn such great lessons from their experiences and wisdom. I think of those lessons daily that she taught. And I do things differently now because of her lessons.

I don’t know how to say this because I don’t want to offend anyone who is doing their best. But for those who are off on a path of self-destructive thinking, behavior, actions I offer them some inspiration and encouragement
From others who had similar experiences.

Click here for information that can assist people with their mindset and some strategies they can take to help themselves during these tough times.

Feel free to share this with people that are whining in self-pity parties. Sometimes a kind word helps, and sometimes a ‘jolt’ to their thinking helps them. Let’s choose to do whatever it takes, for their sake.

Barbara Filla
Passionate about people, entrepreneurs, business
Happiness, Success and Wealth Blog

Today and yesterday were precious days with my granddaughter. At ten, they are great conversationalists (their life, social environment, how they think, the influences of the WIDE world on them, formulation of their own community of peers and friends, their intelligence, wit…)

She likes so many things, almost all at the same time it seems. internet, cooking, baking, music, playing cards, gymnastics, reading………

She told me how she’s developing PowerPoint slides and info about every state in the U.S. She does the research herself. Says she taught herself. I can’t wait to see it.

I watched her working on a ‘typing’ game on the computer. Really neat, as it escalates in difficulty and words per minute…education at home anytime made interesting for kids. Hey, my granddaughter can be my best virtual assistant in many ways. Maybe you have grandchildren, nieces, nephews that would love to have that job as your virtual assistant and earn cash too.

We had to do her favorites at Grandma’s house: cook and bake – previously we baked, but this time did a full meal. She chose a menu from internet recipes. An appetizer, meatballs, fruit salad, angel food cake with chocolate (real) whipped cream frosting. Later made choc. chip cookies and chocolate Crazy Cake, her dad’s favorite. All the stuff was yummy good! Neat to see the smile, the pride, wanting to taste things right away. Kids need to feel success in their heart. She loves the feel of the ingredients, loves mixing the dough and meat with her hands, makes her feel good, she says. Best part is that she can take it home and share with her family.

I learned things never heard of before. She’d talk about someone, something …WHO…WHAT? She’d give me that look like, ‘you mean YOU don’t know that? So she’d have to explain, but the words come out so rapidly, need speed reader to understand. Oh well – probably was same for my parents and grandparents when I was young, and full of zest.

Such joy to have her around, the energy, and many interests, especially since I didn’t have a daughter and no sisters either. Living in a ‘girl’s world’ a couple days. Today feels lonely. When’s she coming back again?

(Grandma) Barbara Filla
Passionate about people, entrepreneurs, and business

I find or experience, read and see so many things to share, ask questions about, enjoy… I get overwhelmed…yup I know it’s that ‘unpackageable spirit’, as Ellie described me during one of my coaching sessions. My eyes and my heart lit up when she described me that way because it was a perfect description, it was ME.

My mind is racing now with many things I want to share, assistance I want to give, things to do… But I won’t write about any of them because there are too many ideas, too many thoughts.

Some thoughts are great, others give me doubt. I wonder if anyone would be interested in THAT…or .. What would people think about my (wacky, silly, outrageous ?) opinion?.. or.. Would anyone find value from my words? or “There are so many others who know so much more than I do” (that’s the perfectionist coming out that I have to bury or he’ll consume all my time and energy). I guess all this makes the journey of life interesting, at least I’ll believe that it does.

Enough of that. I’m OK and (You are OK too) We are all unique, fascinating, loveable, talented people.

‘Stick With It’ Until it’s Completed – Lesson From My Mom and Dad

When I’m doing and focused on something I enjoy and love (my passion), I stay on course. I forget to eat, forget what time it is, am oblivious to the world around me. 8, 10, 14 hours pass and I just keep going as I’m having the time of my life. My passion just doesn’t subside because I’m focused on seeing progress, improvement, results.

Mom and Dad taught us kids to “Stick With It Until it’s Completed’ by their actions most of all. And I heard the words as added emphasis. They never gave up. Living on a farm requires that tasks must be started and must be completed… or we wouldn’t live, survive. Our life was dependent upon OUR decisions, OUR actions, and OUR results. Oh, and ethics too. We had to pay every bill because those people had to live too (topic for another day).

There is No Such Thing as ‘I Can’t’ – Lesson From My Mom and Dad
Words we heard often: There is no such thing as “I can’t” or “I don’t feel like it”. You can and you will figure out how, we were taught. My earliest recollection, imprinted on my mind forever, was at age three or four. I said ‘I can’t do it’ to writing my name in cursive handwriting. My mom said ,”Sure you can. Just try and you’ll see you can do it.” She taught me a lot (yes, home schooled me at age of 3 and 4) because she wanted me to be smart in school. You see, she only had 8th grade education. Those times girls (most) were not allowed to go to high school, which was her dream. She had to stay home and work on the farm. Her brothers went to high school.

We (my three brothers and I) learned quickly that ‘I can’t’ and ‘I don’t feel like it’ were useless complaints. Our parents knew what was reasonable and possible for us. We did what was required. And they allowed us to try many new things, to experiment. Driving the tractor was great fun. Dad taught us as early as we asked (within reason – about 7 years). He was there to teach, guide and assist. Wow, that was so much fun!

It all comes down to: “If there is a will (willingness), there is a way!”

Lessons For All Americans Today, Including Me:
*There is no such thing as ‘I can’t’. Stick with it until it’s completed.
*If there is a will, there is a way.

Let’s hop to it, and enjoy the journey to a better life and better world!

Barbara Filla
Passionate about people, entrepreneurs and business
Passion Branding Community
www.BraveHeartWomen.com/BarbaraFilla

Spring is here. We have only a couple weeks to develop our plan to blossom. It’s time to sprout and grow into an abundant bud that will produce vibrant, brilliant flowers shortly. Those colorful, live flowers should stay with us in the spring, all of summer and beyond.





Let's bud, blossom, and become a vibrant flower.

** personally showing your true, vivid, brilliant colors of your personality, your attitude, belief in abundance coming to you in all ways, and living a life of joy, fun and success.

** in physical health, taking part in exercise and fun activities, excursions and travels on our wondrous planet.

** in thought, mind and spirit, expressing an attitude of inner peace and calm, in control of your thoughts and feelings that lead everyone who comes in contact with you to see you as a light ray of hope, inspiration, and success that transcends to them too.

** in our online or offline business for wealth that provides us with all the resources required to live a life of purpose, passion, joy and happiness, with time to spend with those we love and to engage in the wondrous adventures of the journey of life.

When we blossom, we help other people bud, blossom, become flowers in energy, passion, love and success.

This is my plan for the year. I invite you to join me to spring into action NOW.

Each of us has a unique, internal blossom to develop and grow into a beautiful, vibrant flower - to make our country and the world a better place! For a L-O-N-G time!

Barbara Filla
Passionate about people, entrepreneurs and business
www.BraveHeartWomen.com/BarbaraFilla
[url http://netwebmarketer.com/barbarafilla/wordpress]Happiness, Succes and Wealth Blog[

Quote: “With no purpose, there’s no drive. With no big benefits to go after OR no pain to avoid, there’s not motivation.” Mike Brescia.

Think about the following questions for a minute – do none of these apply to you???

What’s your purpose for living today, tomorrow, next year, in 10 years?
If you have no goals, no desires, no passion for living, there’s no drive to do anything today or tomorrow because there is no results, no reward, no satisfaction, no purpose to do anything? You’ll just wander in the wilderness – unfocused, emotionless, no happiness…nothing but emptiness.

What Big Benefits do you want for yourself and others?
If there are no benefits you desire or they are nothing more than watching TV as a couch potatoe, or to have a beer or ? – you won’t feel a purpose to live, or feel a drive or motivation to do anything. Your mind, emotions, desires are basically dead, listless.

What pain are you trying to avoid or lessen?
Mental pain, emotional pain, physical pain, pain of loneliness, pain of feeling worthless, unfulfilled, unhappy? Until you have some pain that really hurts, you won’t do anything to get rid of it. You won’t be motivated.

Even the homeless, the destitute and hungry have wants and desires, or they have pain they want to avoid. They desire a purpose for living.
-- Homeless surely want to have a shelter to protect them from the cold, extreme heat, rain, wind.
-- Hungry people surely want to relieve their hunger with food on a regular basis.

It’s a given that at least one of the above questions applies to everyone.

Recommendation
Know your purpose – your “Big Why”. Ask yourself the questions above and write your answers. Your WHY will motivate you – assist you to take action to get what you want and desire.

If you want to live life with purpose, get big benefits from living, or avoid physical, mental or emotional pain – you must take charge of your life - take responsibility for getting those results.

Barbara Filla
Entrepreneur and Business Consultant
Passionate about people, entrepreneurs and business
Brave Heart Women website
Happiness, Success and Wealth Blog

P.S. Today is the right time to begin!.

Sound like a silly question? Whatever you visualize likely determines your life, your experiences and results in the next moment, the next day, in your future.

People have ideas, pictures in their mind a lot. We anticipate, imagine, welcome, see, enjoy, fear a scene or upcoming situation… that’s just human nature. It’s an automatic thing people do throughout the day. Lets look at the significance of visualizing.

Our brain, our thoughts are always working, imagining, predicting and projecting what we think, feel, or believe will happen. We feel, see, hear, taste, smell all the time. Without even realizing it, we imagine, we visualize what is going to happen next…. next….. next.

That’s good and it also is not good sometimes. Why? Because we tend to imagine, visualize based on perceptions, conditioning from childhood, previous situations and their results.

People visualize these scenarios often

We visualize ourselves as less than we are, less than we are capable of being….

- Less talented
- Prone to mess up again
- Not lucky so things will be less than we want
- Not strong enough to pass up that juicy hamburger
- Lacking in skills
- Less worthy than others

What we visualize and imagine tends to come true, because we take actions that manifest these “less than desired” or ‘loser-type’ visualizations we imagine.

Choose a new path - visualize a positive outcome always

Imagine what will happen when we visualize ourselves as having the best, being the best, doing the best, and anticipating the best for ourselves and those we love.

- I have so much experience in _______________, this task will be easy
- Things will work out so well today and everyday.
- I have skills and talent to do well, to be successful.
- I can do anything I choose to do.
- I deserve the best and will do whatever is necessary to achieve that .
- I am as good as anyone.
- Today is another wonderful day of successes and good things.
- I feel like a winner and am a winner.

Take actions to manifest positive outcomes and success in all you do
Our emotions are always there, so let’s use them to our advantage, See it, hear it, feel it, taste it and smell it. Isn’t that more fun? Your new energy and enthusiasm will motivate you to take the action to achieve what you desire. See your life and results change right in front of your eyes.

Barbara Filla
Passionate about people, entrepreneurs and business
Happiness, Success and Wealth Blog
BraveHeart Women website