Getting clear about what you really want is the first step to paving the road you want to travel.

During March I taught workshops at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, at the Learning Annex in Toronto, a writer's retreat in Florida, and a private gathering in Nashville, Tennessee. Hello and congratulations to all of you who made those events so much fun and productive! Reports from many of you are coming in by email--stories of big life changes that have happened as a result of fine-tuning goals and intentions and following up on synchronistic opportunities.

JUST DO IT

At Esalen, Mariella Krause, an advertising copywriter, told the group that she has been deeply wanting to teach improvisational comedy. Funny by nature, she cracked us all up with her quick insights as we explored what we wanted and how we could go about creating those dreams. Her comedy teacher had told her, "Just find a space, put together a group of people and do a class." As it turned out, our workshop room was empty in the afternoons, so Mariella remembered her teacher's advice, invited a few of our workshop people to play with her, and lo, she created her first class. Not only was this effortless unfolding fun, but it boosted positive feelings and gave her experiential knowledge that showed her "I can really do this!"

FOLLOWING UP ON AN INTUITION

Last week, Mariella wrote, "Wow, wow, wow. I've got news already! You know how Carol said to declare your intentions and the universe will start making things happen? I believe that, but have only ever experienced it in really small ways. That said, I didn't ever think the universe would be dropping a great big Christmas present into my lap. So.... guess who's going to be teaching improv at the San Francisco Comedy College? Yep....me! And it just fell into my lap in a lovely, universe/synchronicity way.

"Last summer I took a standup comedy class at SFCC, and I'm still in their e-group and get all their emails. Last week I got an email from them saying that there wouldn't be improv classes this session. I wrote the owner and said, 'Hmmm, are you lacking enough students to make it happen or are you lacking a teacher?' He called me back and said, yes, they were lacking a teacher. We talked and he said, "This was clearly meant to be. Come up with a curriculum. You're our new improv teacher!" "I knew that intention was part of manifesting, but I was frankly skeptical about it, thinking it can't be THAT easy! But it was literally about eight hours after I put it in writing that I got the offer! Also, getting hired to be an improv teacher is really rare. I thought the path I would be taking would be to come home, find a space, pick dates, advertise, hope I could find students, et cetera. Having someone hand me a class was way more than I could ever have hoped for, because that just doesn't really happen! It's not like you see lots of ads in the employment section saying, Wanted: Improv Instructor. So, everyone else--declare those intentions!!"

DAILY PRACTICE

Linda from southern California shares three commitments: "I intend to...follow my bliss. I'm getting ready to paint a 6' x 7' canvas...a big screen version of an oil pastel that I did titled 'Meadow Explosiva.'

"I am going to...draw and write every day and dance twenty minutes every day. Well, I am writing most mornings and/or doing art most days; dancing in a 7' x 9' kitchen is a challenge, but I boogey a little if not every day...also, behind the wheel in rush hour traffic--does that count?

I am eliminating...dwelling on negativity. This is a practice. I have been reading Thich Nhat Hanh's book, Anger, and highly recommend it. It's a very good book for the practice of embracing any strong negative emotion and working through it. Also, reading Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart.

"And, just to add to the mix, Susie Bright's Full Exposure...Opening Up To Your Sexual Creativity and Erotic Expression! I'm learning something from each one, and opening the heart chakra!

UNFOLDING AND ALLOWING

My purpose is: I am loving and lovable. I am (going to)...open to intimacy with myself and others. I am eliminating...snap judgments and hyper-criticalness.

"I am clear that I want to find a partner. I plan on getting out more socially and am seriously seeking opportunities to meet other uncoupled women. As 'hard' as my work in your workshop was, following up is difficult too. I am glad you suggested "check-ups/check-ins" with fellow travelers from the group. Good idea!

THE FIVE COMMITMENTS THAT GET YOU MOVING

how you want to feel if life were really good--if you felt you were fulfilling a meaningful purpose. As people in the workshops got more and more clear about what changes they'd like to make now (for the moment leaving alone the big question about What Is My Life Purpose?), we came up with five commitments that set the stage for the unfolding of the path. It helps to do the preliminary work of self-analysis (if you can't get to a class, you might enjoy doing the exercises on your own in my book, Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life). But, don't wait. Go ahead and answer the following statements right now and see if something changes in the next few days.

1 - My purpose is to... (Make a statement about how you can have more fulfillment now. For example, you might say: My purpose is to be in the flow of my life's work. My purpose is to find a partner and start a family. My purpose is to create more freedom and simplicity.)

2 - I want... (Be as specific as you can while still believing in the possibility of this thing happening. For example, if you say: I want a million dollars by the end of the week, but your inner voice is saying: Yeah, right. That's a crock of baloney. It will never happen, then make a more general statement that you can believe has a chance of happening, such as: I often receive unexpected money.)

3 - I intend to... (Set an intention to change your thinking, take some new actions, change a behavior, or learn something new. Your intention needs to have a strong emotional charge behind it.)

4 - I am going to... (Okay, this is where you put your new commitments on paper, in your calendar, and actually do them!)

5 - I am eliminating... (Identify what you have outgrown, and what is not helping you move in the right direction. Become aware of the limiting thoughts and language that keep you in the same old rut. Be ruthless with people and activities that waste your time. Eliminate clutter everywhere.)

Speaking of clutter, I also visited my friend, Nancy Rosanoff, on this trip (she's the author of several books on intuition, including her newest one coming out next month, Knowing When It's Right).

Her husband John has started collecting some important pieces of ancient Middle Eastern art--stone Buddhas and carved stone vessels. As we sat together in her living room filled to the brim with various paintings, assorted vases, family mementos, CD racks, and souvenirs from their many travels, we realized that the new art was catalyzing a need to simplify and organize the space. The next morning, John gave us his blessing on the reorganization and left for the day!

We decided to take down everything and box up the "good stuff" so that she could make a final decision on it at a later time. This allowed us to work quickly without having to agonize over every item. The stuff that was obviously not worth keeping went into a Goodwill pile. We had a great time working together. Soon the living and dining rooms were stripped bare.

I talked to Nancy this morning. "I can't tell you how much this purge has changed my life," she said. "I have literally pushed myself into the void so that I can see what I really want in here. By not having to decide on every item when we moved it, I didn't get hung up on the process. I feel such a release from attachment to any of my stuff. It's freeing me from old identities so that I can get in touch with the new present me. John and I can see our space for what it really is--not masked by all that stuff that didn't fit together. I can even do Tai Chi and yoga in here while it's cleared out. I've got painters coming next week. I want richer, more vibrant colors now.

"So much has started happening with my cable access TV show since we cleared the space here. I'm working on a World Peace project and will be meeting Bill Clinton when he comes to town for a fund-raiser, as well as several other celebrities, whom I am hoping to interview on the show. It's moving me to a whole other level!"

As I've always said: Ask for what you want. Start anywhere. Listen to your intuition. Take action. Watch for feedback. Get set, go.

If any of you readers have similar success and synchronicity stories to share, please email me at carol22@sonic.net. More to be revealed next month!