Another Medical Miracle

Have you ever wondered how the heck you would ever be able to get out of debt? I have.

Recently, as many of you know, I had a brain tumor removed. I was without health insurance or much money to speak of. I was committed, and still am, to keeping the energy and attitude of appreciation and play during my surgery and recovery. This past weekend I received notice that I was denied Medicaid. This meant that I would not have any financial assistance to pay the large and somewhat laughable dollar amount for my medical bills. I had my moments of fear and sadness and anger and allowed myself the quick pleasure of playing the victim for a few minutes. As I did a quick exaggeration of my sadness, and a short little fear dance, the energy of being a victim began to move out of my body and what came next was an openness to experience something different. I chose to shift into a place of wonder and appreciation. I asked, "Hmmmm, I wonder how I can create that dollar amount to honor my medical debt and be integrous." I also reminded myself that if I was brilliant enough to attract the $35,000 debt, I am surely brilliant enough to manifest a way to cover that amount. It is, after all, just a number, energy, an exchange of service. And then I let go of my trying to solve the problem and breathed and went to a movie.

Today I took action to see if I couldn't find a way to get some assistance. I talked to my Medicaid caseworker and there wasn't any help there. I didn't panic and I didn't stand as a victim. "This was a temporary situation," I reminded myself. "I have a choice in this. This is totally doable." I had the power to have whatever perception I wanted surrounding this even though I didn't know how I would generate the money/energy. After I hung up from my caseworker, I went to the hospital's financial business offices. I had a brief conversation with one of the employees and after only 5 minutes she discovered that all but one of my bills had been written off by the hospital. Meaning, that there was only the one bill left for me to pay! And it seems that one bill will probably be covered too. It was for over $18,000 and because of the size of it, required some attention from the managerial end of the department to make any decision....which would take a bit longer.

On my way out to my truck I couldn't help but laugh a little. This option was always available. When I was ready to perceive it, see it, receive it, it became my reality. This is true for us always. Whatever we are perceiving is our reality. If I didn't see any possibility, there wouldn't have been one. Make sense?

I tell you this story to illustrate that the universe is conspiring with us at all times whether we are conscious of it or not. The universe is always giving us what we put out. If I had stayed in the victim position and had not seen any possibility, that's what I would have co-created with the universe. Because I was willing and recognized there was a different option, I chose to co-create consciously with the universe.

How can you authentically shift your perception from your present situation? What does it mean to you to shift your perception authentically?

Juicy questions. I'm anxious to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Play & Openness

Have you been feeling panicked, stressed, constricted when you think about money or time? I have. I have a tendency to get ahead of myself. To jump out into 3 weeks from now and try to figure out how I'll ever have enough money, or how I'll possibly get everything done. I twist myself up by moving fast to try to "catch up" to everything I have on my long list of To Do's. It's a crazy worry place that I can find myself in when I go unconscious and get out of being present.

Last week I was feeling so tight in my chest and when I would check into my breathing, I noticed that I would be sustaining myself with these shallow little puffs of air that not only kept me in a state of survival but also kept me moving fast. When I finally realized that I was creating a lot of havoc and that I was the only one who could change it, I took a few deep breaths and scheduled a play date right away. Yes, a play date! I have learned that for me, PLAY is a reliable and fun way for me to get out of drama and stress and to get my body and mind into open space. When I play, I breathe more easefully and deeper, I laugh more and move my body more. I'm actually so grounded in my body that my mind quiets and I'm able to enjoy what's happening in any given play moment. And then I get to slow down and time seems to expand.

I think as grown ups we can tend to get caught up in "grown up" life which has to look a certain way -- much of the time stressful. But ask yourself, "Am I having fun?" Are you breathing and expanding into a natural state of openness and expansiveness? If not, maybe you've created a perfect opportunity to consider a few minutes of play -- whatever that looks like to you. Perhaps the place to start is just to wonder how you might play more as a grown up and increase your fun time.

I have given myself permission to explore my creativity through shameless, childlike play and it is a reliable way for me to get back into a joyful and loving space of giving, receiving and cycling love in all its forms....and that includes money.

This week at The Appreciation Circle we will be playing more with learning how we can move our bodies and minds into authentic appreciation.

See you on Thursday @ 7:30pm! Have a great week!

Money Leaks to Money Moves

Do you ever feel like you can't get on top of your finances? Or that no matter how hard you work, money seems to be like someone else's property? Have you ever felt like despite your current income, you're always paying out more than there is coming in? I have.

Recently, I found myself starting to ask the bigger questions of my money problems, I've been wondering, "what is it going to take for me to enjoy total financial success?" Like any good financial adviser will tell you, the first step is to see where you're currently losing money or in other words:

Where are your integrity leaks, financially?

What are the areas in which you have huge amounts of stress and worry surrounding money? What old debt or bills have you seemingly "forgot" about? Furthermore, what is it about money that you have not taken 100% responsibility for?

As I have been asking myself these questions, I've come up with some very creative answers. First, there's the array of stories that I'm at the affect of the economic crisis and that there just isn't help for a guy like me – that no matter how hard I try, money seems to slip between my fingertips.

However, going deeper, there is more at risk in my current financial situation than my credit rating, my integrity and my own willingness to take 100% responsibility for creating my life the way it is today.

Despite the details, right now, I'm committed to being broke, in debt up to my ears and feeling all sorts of frustration and overwhelm regrading my current financial crisis. How so? I'm simply being honest about my results. And in facing into my debt, directly, my integrity leaks and all the ways in which I worry about money, I give myself a chance to accept my life the way it is today and be at choice if I want to continue on the path or make another choice.

Today, I'm making another choice!

Join life coach and teacher Mary Tebbs and myself tonight or in the upcoming weeks in The Appreciation Circle to produce better results and change your relationship with money for good.

I appreciate you for taking the time to read this post, there's a reason why you did.

Nick James

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Money Problems = Get a better Problem

I'm excited for the launching of the revamp of The Appreciation Circle. Committed to revolutionizing, on a global level, our relationship with money and abundance, this weekly group is about to change the way we do money for good by creating wealth, from the inside out.

I invite each of you to this group, not only to support us in actualizing our dream of creating more rich communities (both in love and money) but for yourself to create a life of wealth and happiness.

I believe at this point, we owe it to ourselves to be an example for the rest of the world, money does grow on trees and in our hearts, we simple need to open up to receiving it and get out of the way what's keeping us from our natural birth right: a life of complete and total success.

My invitation: get a better problem, stop making money the issue. In fact, money is a phony issue, for when you take a look at all the ways in which you resist the flow of feeling good in your life, you can be pretty sure it's related to the flow of easeful income you have flowing in. Today, make your focus about appreciating all that you judge to be good and all that you judge to be bad – be willing to get a better problem, join us in two weeks for the launch of The Appreciation Circle.

Nick James

Where My Money At?

I'm excited to report that we are ready to re-start The Appreciation Circle again. As Nick and I have talked about the container and direction of The Circle, we have taken the feedback from the country as a whole and the collapse of the banking system and have chosen to play more directly with our relationships with money. How this translates in real life to The Circle is we will bring to the table teachings and questions surrounding a combination of universal laws, commitments and counter-commitments, exploring and uncovering our own truths and belief systems, and patterns and personas around money. And we will be doing all of this int the spirit of fun, love and appreciation.

I feel very excited to be back in The Circle and even more excited about the clear focus of choosing to play with money. I know I want more love and appreciation in my relationship with the mighty dollar!

So if you want more money, more love, more appreciation in your life, come play on Thursdays, starting October 23rd with me and co-facilitator Nick James and let's see how much fun and aliveness we can inflect into our money relationships!

Until then here's a toss....notice what happens for you when you go to pay for anything in your life....a movie, dinner, gas, your power bill, rent, new shoes....what comes up for you? Just notice.

See you soon!

Mary

Recuperation

This is my first time back here in quite some time. Somebody might have noticed the absence of blogs, words, appreciations here. Somebody. Maybe it was me. Yes. It was. As many of you may have heard, I was diagnosed with a pituitary brain tumor in mid July. All is well and I am recovering day by day, more and more, bigger and better. The absence has been due to the recovery and recuperation of my small and cute health issue.

I have learned a lot over the past couple of months while healing, feeling and dealing with what's come up for me during that time. Much of it has to do with appreciation. It seems even more appropo that I have chosen to create a group that is founded in appreciation. So perfect!

I am getting back in the game of life play and part of that looks like re-creating and re-scheduling weekly Appreciation Circles. Tentatively, they will resume the first Thursday in October. I will be sure to update exact time and place when we (me and Nick James....so exctied to play with Nick!) get all of the logistics settled. We are currently wondering about an indoor space to hold the Circle. If anyone has ideas, please send them my way via www.theappreciationcircle.com or mtebbs@comcast.net.

Thanks and more thanks.
Mary

24th Celebration, Start with Appreciation.

This weekend marks the celebration of Utah's independence, on July 24th.

But what about your independence?

Have you ever asked yourself, "what will it take for me to feel more free and alive?" or "what will it take for me to really get enjoying the life I've always dreamed of?"

Great questions to be asking and there are many versions of it, but it really comes down to this: Are you willing to live your life in a state of joy and appreciation? Are you willing to make a conscious commitment to being alive and celebrating your life in a state of appreciation? If so, good for you. If not, what's stopping you? What do you have to lose?

For more about the power of appreciation and it's everyday bonus surprises, join us this week for another gathering of The Appreciation Circle and the return of Mary Tebbs! Life is Good!