My very first coach gave me this sign that hangs in my shower. The sign says:

“What are 3 things you’re Grateful for today?

What are 3 things you’re Excited about today?

You are exactly where you should be. Whatever happens today, you can handle it.”

I love my sign and love doing my “Grateful” list every morning.

I come up with many more than just 3 things I am grateful for.

I almost always start with the same few things I am grateful for…my healthy, strong, thin body, my family, my friends, my husband, living in Princeton, my job…

I just keep going till I run out of things or my mind wanders onto other topics.

It is a fun habit that always improves my mood. (I am SO not a morning person.) To me it is a form of prayer.

I truly believe the more you appreciate what you have the more you will have to appreciate.

I am a huge music fan and love live concerts.

Every year I mentally decide who I would like to see in concert. I have two music favorites that I had yet to see in concert. I put them on my list for who I wanted to see this year — Bonnie Raitt and U2.

Bonnie Raitt was touring and I bought tickets and saw her wonderful show in August. She has an incredible voice, is beautiful and was fun to watch.

My hubby and I looked into U2 tickets back when they announced their tour and when they went on sale. We decided the tickets were too expensive and too challenging to get, so no U2 this year…or so I thought.

Yesterday, I got out of a meeting around 3:00 and I had a voicemail and several e mails that we have 2 tickets (at face value) to the U2 show at the Meadowlands that night — and we needed to leave by 4:00!

I was so excited. I could not believe this! Something I really wanted and did not think was possible was happening. It just fell in our laps. (Thankfully I did not have any meetings and quickly left for the day.)

Our good friends who found the tickets drove to the concert and we had a BLAST.

I have been a U2 fan since my wise older sister who has incredible taste in music was a fan way back in 1982. She would search and buy the import albums for U2 back when no one had ever heard of them.

God / the universe works in mysterious ways. I am still amazed that my dream of seeing U2 came true in such an unexpected and spontaneous way. I am so grateful.

In a side note, Bono is a fantastic example of someone who makes A LOT of money and also gives A LOT away. He is making a global impact and making a significant difference in this world — beyond just the joy he gives others with his music. He is impressive.

The picture above is the stage before U2 went on.

What we think affects everything — how we feel, our actions and our results.

What is your self talk around money (or whatever issue that you are struggling with)?

Try to notice what you say and think about money.

What comments do you make about those people who have it and those that don’t?

So much of our beliefs about money is at the subconcious level but if you pay attention and make an effort you can change your self talk. It can and will make a difference.

Here is a post from Ali Brown’s blog (http://www.alibrown.com/content/7-mantras-becoming-money-magnet-0) that I liked on the topic of money mindset:

“7 Mantras for Becoming a Money Magnet”
Submitted by Ali Brown on September 17, 2009 – 11:06am

“In my Millionaire Protégé Club, many of my members are surprised that I spend just as much time teaching business strategies as I do teaching the correct money mindset. If you are rich, how you think and feel about money is even more important than how you earn it. But if you don’t think and feel wealthy, then you’ll never get to that point. You need to think rich, feel rich, and take action to achieve the lifestyle you want and to able to support the causes (and people) you care about.

Here are seven mantras that can help you start on the road to riches.

1. “I am responsible for my financial success, and no one else.”
Your financial situation is a direct result of your own actions. If you find yourself blaming other people or circumstances, you are not accepting responsibility. Even worse, you are buying into the notion that you are powerless to change your circumstances. Wealthy people create their own lives – it doesn’t just happen for them. You need to believe that, too.

2. “I learn about making money from wealthy people.” If you take advice from someone who is struggling to make ends meet, then chances are, you may find yourself in that situation, too. If, on the other hand, you look to successful mentors who have proven they know how to make and manage their money, then you could rise to their level.

3. “I take good care of my money.”
If you can’t manage the money you have, it’s unlikely that the universe will bring you more. Your money management system doesn’t have to be complicated – a notebook, pen, and calculator are all you need to get started. Ignoring your bills won’t help you achieve wealth, but creating a plan for paying off debts will get you on the right track.

4. “I see opportunities in everything.”
While some people see roadblocks and risks that prevent them from taking action, you need to see the opportunities. Successful companies like Disney and Trader Joe’s have flourished during difficult economic times, and you can, too, if you know how to recognize opportunities.

5. “I play to win big.”
Small thinking leads to small bank accounts. Big thinking leads to big money. Instead of making it your goal to earn a “comfortable” living, get out of your comfort zone and set higher goals for yourself.

6. “I love to receive–especially money.”
Learning to accept gifts can help you learn to accept money. Never apologize for your pricing. Charge what you know you are worth and don’t be shy about asking for payment. You deserve to be paid upfront or at least on time!

7. “I enjoy giving money to others.”
Tithing–the act of giving back to worthy people and organizations–is an important part of the money cycle. When I received a thank you card from a past client with a tithe of three $100 bills, I immediately left the other for the hotel maid. Giving to someone else feels good!

Follow these seven mantras and the money will follow, too.
© 2009 Ali International, LLC

Self-made multimillionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500 CEO Ali Brown is devoted to creating financial freedom for women globally through the power of entrepreneurship. To learn how to create wealth and live an extraordinary life now, register for her free weekly articles at www.AliBrown.com

I am a huge fan of Mike Dooley and his daily Notes from The Universe. I HIGHLY recommend them.

This morning while looking for something I came across a message I had liked so much that I printed it out. It relates well to my theme for the year.

I have been feeling this way a lot lately and wanted to share the message here.

“Did you know that whenever you feel love, you literally begin to glow? You probably did.

It’s true-
The Universe“

One of the keys to getting what you want is to CLEARLY know what you want – not what you don’t want (although sometimes it helps to start there).

A well stated goal or winning outcome has certain characteristics:

1) Stated in the Positive
2) Specific and hopefully measurable with a date associated with it
3) Within your control

I started the year with creating goals in each of the following categories:

1. Financial Goals
Examples: How much money do you want to have saved by when? When do you want to retire? What are some things you want to buy or own? How much money would you like to be making each year? How much money do you want to save each month? Do you want to get your financial house in order?

2. Career/Business Goals
How many hours a week do you want to work? How many new clients would you like to have by the end of the year? Do you want a promotion or raise? Complete certain projects by a specified date?

3. Free Time/Family Time
Go to a certain place for a vacation? See or talk to certain friends or family members how many times this year? Start or complete a specified hobby or project (cooking, gardening, photography, writing)?

4. Health/Appearance Goals
Workout a certain number of times per week? Change certain eating or sleeping habits? Start wearing sunscreen?

5. Relationship Goals
Date night each week with spouse? Designate special time with each child? Make a new friend this year?

6. Personal Growth
Work with a life coach? Join a class? Read certain books? Meditate certain number of times per week? Blog or journal frequency? Use time in the car for growth or enjoyment? Prayer frequency?

7. Making a Difference
Give certain amount of money to charity? Involved and volunteer time to desired group(s)? Involvement in your church or a community group?

These are the categories and some example questions that work for me but obviously you can divide them up and define your goals in whatever way makes the most sense for you.

It has been proven that writing down your goals makes a huge difference in success and acheivement of them. Looking at the list frequently also helps too.

I am happy to say I have accomplished many of my goals for the year and it was good for me to re-evaluate where I am on those I have not achieved.

Here are a few of the specific examples of smaller goals and changes I want to make during the last 3 months of the year:

*Try yoga (I have signed up for a class starting in October!)
*Find a new coach to work with me
*Organize our joint finances and set financial goals for me and my new husband
*Improve my posture (Any recommendations on how to make this a more measurable and specific goal?)
*Post to my blog 2-3 times per week

I am documenting these goals to help call myself out!

(The picture above is the vision board I have at work.)

Today feels like the first day back to school for me.

(Here in Princeton it is the first day of school for many.)

Yes, I am back to the “real” world after my fabulous wedding and honeymoon.

The start of the school year always feels like more of a new year and new beginning to me than January 1st. I love the feeling of starting something new with a fresh start. Every school year provided that feeling.

The back to school feeling is even stronger this year due to the time I was away and that for the past few months my focus was on the wedding and honeymoon. (I will share some stories from both of those events.)

I plan to take this week and get organized and evaluate my priorities. I plan to look at my goals and themes for the year and see what I want to do and what I would like to add and/or change.

What changes and goals do you have for the fresh start of the the new school year?

As you may have noticed I have not posted for a while. I have been busy with other fun things — like planning my wedding and honeymoon.

The wedding was this past weekend and was just AWESOME. It far exceeded all my expectations. I had a blast. I loved having (almost) everyone that was important to me together to help us celebrate this wonderful and special event.

So many people helped make it such a gorgeous and special time. Thank you to those who were there and helped make this happen. There are not enough glowingly positive adjectives to describe how the weekend was and what it meant to me.

There was so much love in the room, it was overwhelming.

I am the luckiest person in the world to have married Nimit and to have my family and the friends that I have. I am so grateful!

I am off to Italy and promise to post more often when I get back.