It’s been an amazing 36 hours…
First, I discovered that I was one of the winners in Karen Lynch’s Seven Days contest at Live the Power. Just by doing what I normally do, reading Karen’s excellent blog and participating in the conversation there, I ended up with a $25 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com. She also awarded prizes to Pamm of My Secret Spiritual Dance and Priscilla of Personal Development Demands Success.
Thank you, Karen! And another Happy Birthday to both you and Live the Power. May there be many many more! 
Then I got an email from Kirsten, creator of Positive Thinking Day, who let me know that I’d won an iPod Shuffle, loaded with another creation of Kirsten’s… ipopins, which are really neat, one minute positive affirmations set to jammin’ beats! If you’re curious about them, you can pick up five of them for free by subscribing to the ipopin newsletter.
Once again, this was for doing something that I would have done anyway: adding my support to what I think is a fabulous idea… a day dedicated to the power of positive thinking. Kirsten and her co-sponsors are doing some great work with this. Not only are they promoting positive thinking in a world that can always use more of it - they are also using it to raise funds and awareness for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
There are more prizes to come! As of this writing, April Groves (who has a couple of great blogs herself: My Beautiful Chaos and Making Life Work for You) has come in 5th place in the Positive Thinking Day Most Positive Person Contest, and has picked up some neat prizes herself! Four more to go!
Thank you, Kirsten!
You’d think that would be it… but there’s more…
Before I sat down to write this post, I went out and got the mail. There was only one thing in the box - a package from Amazon.com containing the book Open Secrets: The Letters Of Reb Yerachmiel Ben Yisrael, courtesy of my long time blogging friend Nneka of Balanced Life Center!
I’ll say it again - this was for doing something that I would normally do - I participated in Balanced Life Center’s one year birthday celebration by providing Nneka with some feedback on her blog. And she chose to send myself, Rick Cockrum of Shards of Consciouness, and Phil Gerbyshak of Make It Great! a copy of the book.
Thank you, Nneka!
So why am I telling you this?
Partially it’s to express my gratitude to these three amazing women, not only for the stuff, but for all that they do for the world.
But there’s also a lesson here.
I think it was Woody Allen who said that “90% of success is showing up.” And that’s all I really did - I showed up for each of these activities, felt inspired to participate, and did so.
What if I had said “Yes, I’d like to participate in Karen’s 7 Days Celebration, but who really cares what I have to say?”
No gift certificate.
What if I had thought “It would be nice to add a link to support Positive Thinking Day, but my little blog can’t make a difference, so why bother?”
No iPod Shuffle.
Or how about “Nneka’s a much better writer than I am… my feedback doesn’t matter to her.”
No Open Secrets.
The interesting thing is, those thoughts crossed my mind in each of these instances. And the Lyman that used to be would have ran with them and done nothing. But the Lyman I’ve become replaced those thoughts with better feeling ones and took the inspired action that he wanted to take.
It’s good to be pointed downstream.
11 Comments
Congratulations Lyman! Ah yes, that inspired action is wonderful!
Holy smokes! Lyman, you are on a roll! What a great message for everyone. You are a shining example of the power of positive thinking. Keep doing what you love - you inspire us all!
Woohoo Lyman! Great Days for you!!
But do you know what the absolute best part is?
It’s the lesson, and the fact that you overrode those
negative doubts and followed your highest self. The Universe wanted to make sure you got that! and it sounds like you did!!
Woohoo, yay Lyman!
Vickie: Ain’t it, though.
Way better than fear inspired inaction.
Kirsten: And what a roll it is! I’m actually considering buying a lottery ticket, which I don’t think I’ve done in about 15 years :). Thanks!
Karen: Exactly - and that lesson is worth more than all of the “stuff” in the world. Thank you again!
Lyman, way to go! I just want you to know that you inspire me to be authentic when I blog. I see you writing about all of you experiences and being really frank and I am moved to be more open. Thank you for all that you do for the blogosphere and particularly for the personal development community.
In Spirit,
Nneka
Lyman:
I love the message you got out of this experience, and I totally agree with it! Now I need to get out there and practice “showing up” as Woody Allen would say.
Thanks for sharing this.
Nneka: Thank you again… you’ve been one of my greatest friends here in the blogosphere. It’s very appreciated.
Holli: You’re welcome.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
You were one of the bloggers who originally inspired me to start blogging. I have always considered you one of the greats! It seems funny to me that you would be the least bit self conscious. Ironically the human side of you is a large part of why you are such a wonderful inspiration.
Wow… one of the greats. That sure felt good.
Thank you, Priscilla!
Lyman,
Congratulations! I’ve also recently begun winning lots of things again and know that it’s my mind set. I loved what you said at the end of this post, though. I’ve been having these same thoughts about my own blog, but then discounted them. In fact, I’m planning an eventual post about it. Your post put a smile on my face at the end - thanks for sharing this (and know you’re not alone in breaking through that old programming).
Thanks, Barb. Sometimes it amazes me that this blog is still here, considering all of those old tapes that kept running. But it is, and man, it’s great! I’m really glad that yours is as well… keep it up.