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Have Fun with The Law of Attraction and Your To-Do List

1/31/2016

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Look, if you have a problem with to-do lists, or think they’re a waste of time, that’s great, because that’s not the to-do lists we’re talking about.  Most people are convinced, since they can easily set important appointments and the out-of-the-routine errand in their phone, that a traditional to-do list is unnecessary.  That’s fine if you believe keeping appointments and remembering errands are the sole purpose of a daily to-do list.  But they are not. 

The point of your to-do list is to set an intention for the day so you can enjoy the journey.  When you begin to use your to-do list with this in mind you’ll be amazed at how your circumstances start conspiring in your favor.  Setting your intention at the beginning of the day makes you feel enthusiastic about what you are doing and where you’re headed. 

When you feel good about what you're doing and where you're headed, you attract MORE opportunities that make you feel good about what you're doing and where you're headed.  It's the law of attraction.  What a welcome relief from the belief that in order to succeed I must suffer and struggle.  The reality is, if you have to fight to get it, you're going to have to fight to keep it.  

Hard work doesn’t yield sustainable results; enthusiasm does.  I used to believe that a to-do list was to be used to whip myself into fulfilling obligations in order to be a success.  I thought I was goal setting but I was only setting myself up for frustration.  

“Hard work is not the path to Well-Being.  Feeling good is the path to Well-Being.  You don't create through action; you create through vibration.  And then, your vibration calls action from you.”  –Abraham-Hicks        

Thirty years ago I was introduced to the idea of using my to-do list to feel good and I have been enjoying the daily benefits ever since.  Here’s how I do it: After I’ve enjoyed my morning coffee and inspirational readings I make my handwritten to-do list in my pocket sketchbook. 

I usually begin by jotting down a quote or affirmation as my intention for the day – something that appealed to me from the morning readings or something I’ve made up for myself.  Here’s one I like from Catherine Ponder, “Divine love, expressing through me, now draws to me all that is needed to make me happy and my life complete.”

Any intention that focuses on being a "bless-er" makes me feel best because it gives me a spiritual theme as my overall marching orders.  Then I jot down my best idea of what I think God’s will is for me for that day.  This includes appointments, chores, and errands.  I also learned to include the little everyday stuff that seems too insignificant to list, like make the bed, floss, walk dogs, and dishes. 

Crossing items off your to-do list feels great.  Whether you're conscious of it or not, every time you cross an item off your list, even a routine task, you're giving yourself praise.  It's the equivalent of giving yourself a pat on the back.  Most of us berate ourselves for not doing enough.  If this happens to you during your day, you can always pull out your to-do list and start jotting down accomplishments you’ve completed that were not previously included on your list and cross them off.  My close friends and I do this and it never fails to reignite our enthusiasm.  This also helps us remain optimistic and flexible when some of the things on our list aren’t accomplished.  Those are the days I end up with what I call "Bonus Miles!"  This is when unexpected things came up that needed my attention in addition to or at the expense of what I had planned. 

When I believe that a certain thing must be accomplished and it isn’t, a remarkably positive reason for the delay always presents itself.  Having a to-do list gives me tangible proof that all things come together for the highest good and that nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. 

"I thank God for this day.  Miracle shall follow miracle and wonders will never cease.  All that needs to be done by me today is done with effortlessness and ease."  This is my go-to to-do list affirmation and I use it often. 

My daily to-do list has had the uncanny power of curing me from being a perpetual victim.  Whenever unexpected delays, accidents, or obstacles arose I was devastated. My mantra was, “Figures, nothing ever works out in my favor.  I knew this was too good to be true.”  Now when these same things occur I tend to be optimistic and think to myself, “I wonder what good thing is going to come from this unexpected appointment.”

In short, if you want to start feeling great about yourself and where you’re headed, make a daily to-do list so you can go praise-y!  A to-do list is the key to appreciating yourself on a daily basis – and that’s the secret to success.

At the age of 93, Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore expressed his enthusiasm by saying: “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faith to do the things that ought to be done by me!”

Here's an example of how my a to-do list looks at the end of the day.
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On the left, you can see some of my "Bonus Miles!" I jotted down and crossed off from the previous day.  I use the alphabet instead of numbering the items on my list.  I do this because letters don't feel like any one has a higher value over another.  This keeps everything I intend to do on an even playing field, knowing I'll accomplish more without stress.  I use highlighters to cross off items because they're colorful and I can still see and read what I've accomplished.  There is no rhyme or reason to my use of different colors.  I just like using different colors; it's fun and I enjoy the way it looks.  I also cross off the items that weren't accomplished.  This I do by making a symbol that combines the letter "T" in a circle.  The "T" represents I'm going to "Turn it over to Divine Order" and that I may, or may not, carry it over for entry on "Tomorrow's to-do list."  This practice puts me to bed at the end of the day feeling satisfied that I've accomplished all that was expected of me.




–Darrell Fusaro

Darrell Fusaro is the author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug? and co-host of the Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed podcast 

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2016: Try It Left-Handed

1/25/2016

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The best thing about taking a trip is that I always end up missing home.  By the time my trip comes to an end I have a renewed appreciation for the life and job that I needed a break from.  The break in my routine always gives me a refreshing perspective.

But what if you can’t get away, then what?   When I first heard the following suggestion I was at the beginning of my enlistment in the United States Coast Guard and already feeling disenchanted.  “This is it?”  I muttered to myself.   What’s funny is that’s exactly what I was thinking at my previous job that motivated me to join the Coast Guard in the first place. 

“What was I thinking?”  I signed a four-year contract.  This was the military; it wasn’t like I could do what I’ve always been able to do in the past and just quit.  Those were my thoughts as I walked into a mandatory meeting where I just happened to over hear a senior member making the following suggestion to someone.

"If you're looking to make a dramatic change and you really want to stir things up for the better here's how to begin.  Start doing the things you do differently.  If, when you put on your pants you do so right leg first, begin putting them on left leg first.  Instead of taking the same route to work, take a different one.  If you’re right-handed, just for fun try doing a few things during your daily routine with your left."

For some strange reason this appealed to me.  I have no idea why I wanted to believe what he was suggesting would work, except for the fact that I was desperate and felt trapped.  Even before starting, once I made up my mind to follow through with it I began to feel hopeful. 

The next day I woke up instead of rolling out of the right side of my bed, I rolled out of the left.  Pants the same, instead of right leg: left leg.  Shoes too.  It felt good.  I was on a mission.  On my walk to the carpool I began down a different street. 

That’s when reason tried to raise an argument.  “Pants and shoes are OK, but taking a different route is going to take longer.  It makes more sense to go to the carpool the same way you’ve been going.  You don’t want to get in trouble for being late.” 

I wasn’t swayed.  I kept going.  Have you ever tried doing something in your routine differently?  You must try it.  Doing things differently tickled my brain.  I could feel my brain sparkling.  When I got to the carpool and met the desk sergeant to sign out my vehicle I wasn’t my miserable old self.  I was enthusiastic to see him and even made some positive comments.

Driving off the base I veered off course and took a new route to my duty station.  Everything was new.  It was like going to a new job on my first day, but better.  I saw my life objectively.  Ever spend the day with a friend at work who has a great job and catch yourself thinking, “Man, I wish I had a job like that.”?  That’s what this felt like only it was my job I saw as great.

My drab routine job in the Coast Guard became the greatest job the military.  No kidding, I had it so good I that at the end of my enlistment I extended for another year.  This seemingly ridiculously childish suggestion transformed my life from the inside out.  Even now when I want to gain renewed enthusiasm for what I’m doing I’ll do it differently.  It always breaks the spell and ignites my creativity.

“We don’t learn from doing the same things correctly again and again.  Let go of your excessive carefulness.  Over control is spiritually deadening.” 

The following is the January 10, 2016 four-page entry in my journal that inspired this article.
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In an effort to accelerate change while keeping it to the basics, I decided to shave a bit left-handed.  My left hand wanted to continue over my precarious Adam's apple.  My right hand said, "I'll take it from here."

Smart decision.  I allowed for praise-full progress combined with enough sense to not over do it either!  AMAZING.

HEARD: A long long time ago.  "If you've always put on your pants right leg first start out tomorrow putting them on left leg first.  Try driving a different route to work, a different route home."

–Darrell Fusaro

Darrell Fusaro is a decorated United States Coast Guard veteran and author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?

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