MAKING THE NEW YEAR COUNT by Catherine Lanigan & Rula Sinara


The holidays are over and most of us are cleaning up the messes, the decorations and still washing dishes from that New Year’s Eve bash. At least I am. Rula is out there gathering an armload of fresh eggs from the chickens and getting the kids off to school. (She’s more focused and industrious than I am.)

We thought this year, rather than dwell on the astonishing number of calories we consumed, the tasks that didn’t get completed and anything that comes close to a regret for 2017, we wanted to present you with some positive thoughts for 2018.

As authors, most of us will agree that “thoughts are things”. After all, without our thoughts that we put down on paper, develop into stories, there would be no novels, our agents would be moaning and our editors would be tearing their hair out.

It is so easy, or is a natural state of the human condition, to allow negative “naggers” to drift into our minds and de-rail our good intentions. Even over the holidays, I heard adults admitting that they “didn’t deserve” presents. And, “my family doesn’t want a visit from me.” Trundling through my mind were dozens of old Christmas movies in which the moral to the story was, “We are all loved.”

But we can’t be loved, if we don’t love ourselves.

Mantras or affirmations can help break through the hardest head and seemingly hopeless heart.

All through Christmas and Hanukkah, we wished and hoped and prayed for Peace on Earth. Mankind has been wishing for peace since the dawn of time. But what is that peace?

It has to start within and then it spreads to those around us, then to our community, and possibly to the world. I have embroidered pillows in my house that spell out PEACE, in order that I see them visually every day, every night. I figured if I kept seeing the word in front of my face 24/7, I’d get the picture. One year after buying the pillows, I can report that something happened. I was at a group discussion at church and one of the participants was asked to describe me since I was sitting next to her. She said, “You are peace. Everything seems calm when you are around.”

Well, that was my sign. My affirmations were working.

Just a few weeks ago, I was given a new affirmation by my holistic healer and friend. “The Peace I am seeking is seeking me.”

Evidently, my quest must continue.

All that got me to thinking. What are some other affirmations that can truly make a difference in our lives? We know some of the old, die-hard ones: “I am the master of my fate.” “I am healthy in mind, body and spirit.” “My relationships are growing stronger.”

But what about something that really targets what’s going on in us? (Or our book characters?) Here are some of my (Catherine's) affirmations:

I forgive those who have harmed me in my past and peacefully detach from them.

Creative energy surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas.


My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite.


My thoughts are filled with positivity and my life is plentiful with prosperity.


My future is an ideal projection of what I envision now.


Rula also has a few she repeats to herself (and to her characters):

Just breathe. Inhale, drawing in a cleansing breath of positive energy, peace and love. Exhale, expelling negativity, chaos and tension. Now write (or face what you have to do).

Banish self-doubt. You are better and more able than you give yourself credit for. Now write (or face what you have to do).

It's okay to love and respect yourself. Self-love & confidence are not the same as arrogance or selfishness. The latter two are a sign of emotional imbalance. Loving oneself, then loving all others, is the ultimate state of balance. I strive for balance.

I can and will make a difference...be it with one word, one action...or one book. I will make a difference in someone's life or in the world as a whole. I won't let anyone convince me that I can't.

This is my journey. No experience or encounter is wasted. I will learn from the past and leave drama, negativity and toxic relationships behind. I am motivated to move forward with positive thoughts and energy and surround myself with positive, loving, uplifting, kind-hearted people. 

Live to give. Do good and you'll feel good.

I know who I am and have a right to feel and think as I do. I am grounded.

I observe and learn from nature. The more a mother nurses her babies, the more milk she'll have to give. The more good deeds, love and positive energy I put into the world/universe, the more I'll have to give.

I’m the first to state that Rula and I are no Wayne Dyer or Anthony Robbins. You can take courses and classes and fine tune all this till you’re blue in the face. But the basics are here. 

I once read that because our “thoughts are things” scientists had measured how far out into the future the energy of our thoughts could extend. The findings were 2 years. So, the positive thoughts you conjure today, actually will affect you and your future. Envision yourself as healthy, energetic, creative, happy and all facets of your life filled with abundance. Give thanks every day for what you already have and really love what you have with as deep emotion as you can. This sets up even more energy to create the future you want.

Of course, for an author, our books are the manifestations of a million thoughts. In case you missed us in December, here are our thoughts manifested...

AMAZON  HARLEQUIN  BN

AMAZON  HARLEQUIN  BN

Do you have favorite mantras or affirmations that you’ve found really work? What are they? What are your own stories of your thoughts becoming real “things” in your life? 

About the authors:

Despite being told by her college creative-writing professor that she had "no writing talent whatsoever", Catherine Lanigan has been writing novels for over 35 years. Her bestselling romances have been translated into 27 languages. She is the author of the Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. She can be found on Twitter @cathlanigan, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and at www.catherinelanigan.com.

Award winning and USA Today Bestselling author Rula Sinara lives in rural Virginia with her family and crazy but endearing pets. She loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard, planting trees, raising backyard chickens and drinking more coffee than she'll ever admit to. Rula's writing has earned her a National Readers Choice Award and HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, among other honors. Discover more at www.RulaSinara.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter. She's also on Twitter @RulaSinara, Facebook as RulaSinaraAuthor and at other social media hangouts.

Comments

  1. What a wonderful post! Thank you both, and Happy New Year to you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy New Year, Liz. I'm starting it off right...it's 12 degrees below zero. I'm trying to be positive!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you had a positively wonderful post idea and I loved what you wrote up! You got me thinking positively...which I'll try to keep doing when we hit neg 11 to neg 14 windchills Thurs/Fri...and I have to walk outside multiple times to take (unfrozen) water to my flock! :)

      Delete
  3. I have 2 mantras that I live by: This too shall pass. (and) The vibes you give out are the ones that come back into your sphere. I gave up trying to be responsible for a larger area. Love your post ladies, and love your books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those are wonderful mantras, Roz. I repeat those often too.

      Delete
    2. Roz, I'm writing yours down. I have to admit, I do say the "This too shall pass" about 5 times a day. I need it! Happy New Year.

      Delete
  4. I love all of these mantras, Catherine and Rula, and can relate to many of them, especially “banish the self-doubt”. An inspiring way to begin a new year. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you could relate, Janice! I have to repeat these every time I sit to write. I have to rev up my confidence (you know how insecure we writers can be).

      Delete
    2. Truthfully, Janice, I have to say these as I'm sending in proposals, manuscripts. And then pray I don't resort to biting my nails. LOL

      Delete
  5. You've put it elegantly, ladies. I agree continued focus and thought brings forth reality. Happy New Year to all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's to a positive and productive 2018!

      Delete
    2. Happy New Year! Let's do hope we are all very productive and happy!

      Delete
  6. I'm with Roz...And it came to pass. Everything comes to pass. Love this encouraging blog post today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that's a powerful one! It puts things in perspective.

      Delete
    2. Patricia, thanks for stopping by and sharing. At the beginning of every month, week, day I have to keep saying these things. You'd think I would get the picture by now! Be positive!!! AND smile.

      Delete
  7. I so believe in this way of thinking and being in the world. Thanks for posting this. Very affirming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THanks, Virginia! Truly, it IS the only way to be. I wouldn't want to be around me if I was negative. And it's oh, so boring as well! LOL.

      Delete
    2. Actually that's a great mantra Catherine! Being negative is boring and being positive is a priceless adventure! :)

      Delete
  8. There's a lot of wisdom here. Yesterday I spent hours writing very few words, so I needed some of this wisdom today. Banish self-doubt and write.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Boy, would I love to really banish self-doubt. That's why I need these. ALL of them! Happy New Year, Beth!

      Delete
    2. Ditto what Catherine said! You're not alone, Beth. I've had days like that. That's why I started using affirmations and meditation.

      Delete
  9. Something led me here today, Ladies. I needed to read this! Catherine, I love the one about forgiving and detaching peacefully.
    Like Roz, one of my favorite mantras is, This, too, shall pass. I also recite the Serenity Prayer almost daily.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol, you were hearing our little voices in your head calling you here ;). Just kidding. Sort of. We're always hoping to see you here because we love you! I give Catherine credit for the post idea and writing it all. I only added my mantras. And I needed to read this too when I got it from her!

      Delete
  10. I love mantras. I was reading these with interest. I have to laugh, though, because there are times I love myself and think "Wow, everyone should love me." And, then, there are times where I just know that I blew it and I'm okay with "Go ahead, just like me a little." LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, Pam, you're always too funny...and lovable! Everyone should love you!

      Delete

Post a Comment