Many will agree that 2016 was a tough year. As a way of preparing for 2017, most people are probably doing the same thing they do every year – set New Year’s resolutions. What many people don’t realize is that according to a University of Scranton study, only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals. With such prospects, why set them at all?

So, this year I’ve decided to try an experiment and I welcome you to try it with me. Rather than starting the year with a list of goals that I’ll probably fail at, I’m going to try something a little different. I’m going to replace my New Year’s resolutions with a “wish list” of all the things I desire to manifest. I’m not going to worry about the “how” or “when”. That’s boring. There are too many moving parts involved. Instead, I’ll leave those details to the source of power that keeps the universe running. You can refer to this source as God, Divinity, Universe, Source, Mystic Law, Myoho – it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the awareness that I don’t have all the answers at my fingertip, but some force bigger than me does.

My only focus will be on the “what”-  the things that I wish to manifest because they add joy to my life. As far as I’m concerned, nothing is too big or small. I’l keep adding to my list as I see fit. If at some point my desire for certain things change before they manifest, I’ll remove them. That’s it. Simple.

Wish List vs. New Year’s Resolutions

At this point, you’re probably wondering how creating a wish list is better than setting New Year’s resolutions. Well, let me count the ways:

1. With a wish list, there is no pressure to achieve any goals since there are none.
2. I don’t have to figure out any steps on “how” to make any goals happen. I simply trust that I’ll be led to the right people, place and/or circumstances that will help my wishes to manifest. Call it intuition, if you like..
3. I don’t have to force myself to make any changes that I’m not ready to make.
4. I can finally just focus on things that bring me joy and happiness.

What it boils down to is this – most of the time, resolutions fail. So, why continue to do the same thing every year while expecting different results? Sounds insane to me. With this experiment, you have nothing to lose but a few minutes of your time. You have the opportunity to become like a child who’s making a list for Santa. That’s way more fun than setting goals.

Example of a Wish List

In case you’re wondering what’s on my wish list, below you’ll find a sneak peak. I like to write my wishes in the present tense, as if I already have them. There are many theories beyond the scope of this post as to why focusing on desires as if it they already exists is more powerful than focusing on them in future tense. If you’re really curious, two good resources to get you started are The Power by Rhonda Byrne and Money, and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Wealth, Health, and Happiness by Esther Hicks. Without further adieu, here are the top 8 items on my list:

1. I reach my ideal weight in the healthiest and funnest way possible.
2. All of my friends, family and myself  have absolute happiness, optimal health, peace of mind and victory in all areas.
3. I’m debt free.
4. I have enough money saved up to last for at least one year.
5. I have multiple sources of income.
6. My relationships are improved, especially local ones, and I have a great network of support for Conrad and myself.
7. Conrad thrives at school and makes many more friends.
8. I’m 100% self-employed and doing work that’s both fulfilling to me and adds value to the lives of others.

I have more items to add, but you get the point. I have no idea how many of the things on my list will manifest, but that’s OK. I’ve come to believe that it’s not my job to worry about all of that. Whatever wisdom or resources I need will present themselves.

So, let’s see how it all goes. I’ll keep you updated in future posts. If you’re joining me in this experiment, have fun making your wish list. Also, let me know about  your experience.  Blessings to you and Happy New year!

The post How to Replace New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Natasha's World.

I’m getting tired of seeing all the gray and white. Sadly, I have no time to work on a new layout. *sigh*

My Wardrobe Needs a Makeover

You have no idea.. I recycle the same outfits to work every week. Some days, I look like I’m 30 something going on 80. It’s pretty lame. Why don’t I go shopping you ask? Because I really suck at it. When I go to the mall, I usually end up spending hours at one store, only to walk out with one outfit that I usually stop wearing after a few weeks. In addition, I don’t feel too inspired to buy clothes for the size that I currently wear.

My Life Needs a Makeover

At this time, life feels like one vicious cycle after another:

From Monday through Friday, I try to wake up between 5:30am and 6:am to get ready for work. To be honest, I usually don’t get out of bed until 6:30am – that’s how tired I feel.

I usually leave home between 7:30am and 8:00 am so that I can be at work by 9:00 am. That’s right, a 45 minutes to 1 hour commute depending on traffic. It would probably go a lot faster if I would jump on the highway, but that’s a whole other post…

I’m supposed to get off work at 6:00pm, but on most days I leave after 6:30pm.

After a 45 minutes to 1 hour drive back, I arrive at the nursing home to chill out with moms. I have a little routine with her where I comb her hair, exercise her arms and feet, do her mouth care, and help clean her if needed. I’ve also been watching the debates there while I hang out with her since I haven’t yet upgraded my cable at home. Yeah it’s a bit ghetto, but whateva. I usually don’t leave the nursing home until after 10:00pm.

By the time I get home I am beat. I usually try to hop on my lil iBook to check emails and that’s where it all stops. I have fallen asleep in the most interesting positions. So if you’ve been here before and wondered why I don’t post to this blog regularly, this is why.

My weekends are the only time I have to clean, do laundry, run errands, or just rest. Lately I have been real selfish on weekends. Where most singles my age use that time to go party and socialize, I just want to be left alone. Before I know it, it’s Sunday night. Repeat.

So what would my ideal life be like you ask?

1. I would figure out a way to heal my mom and others like her. I would then teach others how to do the same.
2. I would work for myself and set my own schedule.
3. I would have multiple streams of income that are easily maintained in only a few hours (less then 20) a week. In additions, with these income sources, I would earn many times more then what I am making now.
4. All of my debts would be paid in full.
5. I would hire an image consultant to help me create a look that is flattering to my figure.
6. I would spend more time on improving myself physically, emotionally and spiritually.
7. I would start doing Kung Fu again.
8. I would start traveling again.
9. I would start doing volunteer work again.

Interested in helping me achieve any of the ideal scenarios I mentioned above? If so, please leave a comment or send me an email. I am all ears and grateful for any help or advice you offer. Thanks.

The post In Need of a Makeover appeared first on Natasha's World.

Well, I had one of those moments yesterday. I was looking around my room at piles of laundry needing to be done. The reason why they were not done is because I’ve been afraid to touch my checking account. Why am I afraid, you ask? Oh, that’s because I haven’t been working since September and my accounts are looking pretty sad.

Now, something like this can do one of two things to a person. You can either get very depressed and start looking for the strongest liquor you can find. Or, you can see this as an opportunity to re-evaluate past mistakes, and think about what you would do differently, if given a second chance. I chose the latter. I’m a sucker for second chances.

I then did the math and am embarrassed to admit that the total was a little over 60K. Yea. But, if I prayed for only 60K, then I would be broke again once all my debt was paid. That just won’t work. So after much thought, I came up with the figure $100,000.

Now, before I continue, let me clarify a couple of things. My credit has been excellent until I stopped working. In addition, most of my debt, 85% of it to be exact, are student loans and my car note. Now if you’re wondering why I stopped working, that’s a whole other post in and of itself. Just know one thing, it was justified.

Anyhow, once I knew that I wanted to be blessed with $100,000, I put together the following breakdown of how I would use it:

1. ~60K would go towards all my debt. This includes my student loans, car note and credit card.
2. 10K would be donated to charity. I’m currently a World Vision sponsor, so some of that money would go to them. I would also support Hope World Wide and Heifer International. Once I attract more money into my life, I’ll support more organizations.
3. 10K would go to my brother. In my home we’re not mushy people, but I admit that I am really grateful for him. He has been super supportive since I stopped working, and he has given up a lot to be here for Mom (to learn more about my mom’s condition, click here). In addition, he hasn’t been able to get all the equipment he needs to pursue his dream, which is to make movies. So my hope would be that the 10K would give him the edge that he needs to get started.
4. Finally, that leaves me with 20K.
   1. 5K would would be placed in a some type of interest-yielding account (e.g. money market).
   2. ~6700 would be used to buy a Macbook Pro (which Santa did not bring me last Christmas) and the Adobe Creative Suite Web Premium
   3. ~1000-1600 would go towards a down payment for a new apartment (my lease ends in February and I have to move. No option to stay. Yea.)
   4. Anything left over would be split. Half would go to my checking and the other half would go to my savings. This would hold me over until I start my new job in January.
   5. Maintenance: I would make a budget where I determine how much I spend on certain things each month. For example, I would give myself an allowance to spend no more then $50 a week on eating out, etc. In this way, whatever is leftover at the end of the month would go into my savings.

Now I know, I can hear you now. Your probably thinking that I’m still not that well off after all is said and done. Heck, maybe you’re even wondering why I don’t pray for more. Well, $100,000 just makes sense to me. I believe that once I gets used to having money flow into my life, I will attract more.

So, there you have it. Now you know what I would do if I had $100,000. What about you? How would you spend it?

By the way, if after reading this, you’re feeling a bit generous or motivated to give, I am willing to accept your tax write-off as a donation. Simply click here and we can get the ball rolling. Happy New Year!

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