If my grandfather, Norbert Reinstein, were still alive, today would be his 101st birthday. It is from him that I learned persistence and resilience. Because of him, I am a survivor.


My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who never complained about the curveballs that life threw him. He escaped to America, he married the love of his life, he served this country, he supported his community, and after being kicked out of medical school for being Jewish, he shifted his work and created great success to support his children. He was a hero. And he never complained.


Rather, he was full of love and gratitude. He made the most of life. It's as if he knew about positive psychology and mindfulness and gratitude before the terms were fashionable, or even existed. He exemplified freedom. Freedom of choice, freedom to live as he desired, freedom from mean, nasty, negative mind traps that hold you back.


He broke free.


Today, we live in a free country, yet so many of us remain trapped in jobs we hate, relationships that drain us, and mind chatter that ruins our self-esteem. Why?

Why are we killing our spirits when all they want is to be FREE?

Because we know no other way. Our minds are geared toward negativity and anxiety has kept us alive (think of our ancestors in the jungle with saber toothed tigers… stress was key to survival!)

But what you want now is not to survive – but to THRIVE!

And to THRIVE, you must take risks. To THRIVE, you must follow your HEART. To THRIVE you must be willing to break free and fly.


You can break free. Last week, I hosted one of my strong, beautiful, powerful clients for a VIP PurposePower Day. Though she is a successful woman in business and has 2 wonderful children, old stories about her worth held her back from going for her greatest potential. Together, we released those old stories, we let go of the past, and FREED her spirit to take off! She is on a path to her creative genius, ready to talk to her company about her leadership path, and getting her passport ready for the travel she's always wanted. WOOHOO! Spread your wings, girl!


And last week, on my show, Break Free, on the Whatever It Takes Network, I interviewed an amazing single mom of 3 who left her cushy job to start a new wellness center in New York City. Her heart and soul begged to be set free, so she spread her wings and is now in flight. Watch this for amazing inspiration.


AND, for more inspiration to break free, TODAY at 11 am ET, I am interviewing my former client, the incredible Katy Allred, of The Mostly Mindful Mommy, who broke free of her fears to follow her mindfulness purpose. Yes, she is a brilliant corporate leader, and mom, AND started her own purposeful business BECAUSE she is FREE. On my radio show, she is going to teach you how to FREE YOUR MIND, how to de-stress and be in the moment as a mom and as a family. To listen LIVE, click here.


WHEW! That is a lot of FREEDOM news for you, but I want you to have every bit of inspiration you can get!

To love your life, you must first break free. To flourish, you must spread your wings and fly.


With so much belief in YOUR dreams,
xoxo,
Carin


ps – If you want a PurposePower VIP days, my March dates sold out, but good news… I am opening ONLY 2 slots in April – one in San Francisco, and one in Philadelphia for YOU to get pampered by me. In a VIP PurposePower day, you and I work one-on-one for an day to uncover your TRUE purpose and create your own brilliant path forward. It is a whole day dedicated to YOU breaking free and SHINING! You will learn my proven tools based in the science of happiness to help you create your own joyful, prosperous life. Join me – there are only 2 spots – in . A PurposePower VIP day is a luxurious, delicious, yummy and priceless investment in your own happiness. What is your happiness worth to you? Email me for a free discovery session to learn if a PurposePower VIP day is for you.

I am writing to you with an overflowing heart, full of love and pride.

I spent this past weekend with 15 incredibly brave, strong women from across the US who all came together to step out from behind their fears and claim their brilliance once and for all. Can you envision the POWER of saying “GOODBYE” to your fears? Can you imagine the FREEDOM of DESTROYING old stories of guilt and shame?

Oh my goodness, claiming your BRILLIANCE is powerful beyond measure!!

When I told my husband that my goal for this past weekend was for each woman to own her brilliance, he said to me, “what is brilliance?” since it can have multiple meanings… Good point.

Brilliance is being your true, strong, courageous and bold self – even when you think others won't approve.

Brilliance comes only from BOTH shining your true gifts, AND from owning the challenges of your life as the strength, courage, and great wisdom that moves you forward.

It's scary to own your fears and destroy old shame that holds you back. When I began this great work, I thought you would only want to listen to me if you thought I was perfectly evolved, if it seemed I had my *shit* totally together, and if I looked untouchable. So I held my fear and shame back and though I meant for this to make me feel bigger, I actually felt small. I felt like a fake and a fraud.

Then a friend of mine lovingly told me that I seemed inauthentic and that there was no way I could help you if I dulled the difficulties of my life. Thank G-d for her!

Even though it's scary to tell you my deepest darkest pain, I own that pain like a badge of honor and that's how I shine!

I want you to shine.

None of us escapes fear, none of us escapes shame. None of us escapes trials and traumas. But what you do with that fear makes all of the difference. Do you shrink for fear of being rejected? Do you allow your fears to run your life?

Your brilliance, your supreme power comes from living your beautiful, authentic, large, gorgeous self. Your pains give you wisdom to live your purpose. And that is your brilliance.

You are brilliant!

Shine on,
Carin

I have so much inspiration flowing through my veins and love pouring through my pores.

I just watched the great, late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I Have A Dream” speech from 1963 and his words are ringing through my entire body, “Free at last… free at last…”

From what do you want to be FREE? What freedom do you wish for others? What do you dream of?

Both your personal dreams, and for the world at large, what do you dream? What greatness can you envision even if your eyes can't see it? Do you dream of a day when the earth is honored? When all people will live in greater consciousness? When all children will love who they are rather than fear being their true selves?

Your visions are just as real as that which is seen. You have your visions to make them a reality. Even if you don't know how to make this happen, you are worthy and capable of being the spark.

Dr. King didn't know how his dream would actualize but he ignited a spark in millions of people's hearts to help make it a reality. He didn't give up because it was hard, or because it seemed “impossible.” No – he told people to go back to the slums and ghettos knowing that “somehow this situation will be changed.” He held onto the dream.

You must hold onto your dream too.

Don't give up just because it is “hard.” Don't lose faith because you have a setback. With hope and love, perseverance and truth, every dream can become a reality. And when your dream is larger than yourself… when your dream is to help others and improve the world at large, then you must work to make your dream come true because the world NEEDS YOU. We need you living your purpose!

My dream is that each and every human will SHINE his or her authentic truth on the world. My dream is that you will break free of fear, shame and regret to SPARKLE. My dream is that you, will RADIATE your light to brighten the world.

Dr. King has inspired me to begin sending a weekly “SPARK” to ignite your light and shine. If you do not get my weekly Sparks (and newsletter), click here to receive them for free. his spark is a mantra for you to realize your greatness and shine brightly. Put it on a sticky note, meditate on it in the morning. Speak it to yourself to ignite your dream. Enjoy them!

This week's spark is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are worthy of your dream.
xo,
Carin

 

Hello and Happy 2015!

I hope that you are full of HOPE for an amazing year to come! Did you do my annual New Year's ritual to clear out old baggage from 2014 and make room for more in 2015?? If not, check out last week's newsletter to do so – you will feel FREE and READY!

Now, start your year off right, I must tell you… Your New Year's resolution will likely fail. I know you usually look to me to be positive and optimistic, but I also always tell you the truth. So, chances are, if your New Year's resolution has not already failed, it probably will. (Good news – a more successful way is below.)

About 90% of all New Year's resolutions fail because they are empty. Most are formed from frustration and are completely disconnected from the truth of your life. So, they barely get off the ground.

For instance, perhaps you've resolved to get a new job because your work drains you and you hate your boss! However, you have no idea what kind of work would actually light you up, or any idea how to figure that out, so in 2015, you may get another job, but it probably won't make you happier long-term.

You have to become grounded in your truth first, then you can blossom.

Years ago, I went from job to job thinking that a bigger title, a different boss, or a different industry would make me happier. With each new job, I was happy for a few months, then I felt empty again. I became hopeless.

Looking back, of course those jobs felt empty…Different company, same cubicle! Rather, I had to learn what would light me up, bring me joy, and make me feel fulfilled. I had to know the truth of who I am in order to get on the right path.

You have to become grounded in your truth first, then you can blossom.

What I mean by “truth” is who you are at your core: your unique gifts, your brilliance, your wisdom, your purpose. You need to become crystal clear about what you want, understand your core motivation, and then create goals that are inspiring and empowering.

So forget “New Year's Resolutions” this year, and instead, resolve that 2015 will be the year that are TRUE TO YOU.

Resolve that this year, you will listen to the nagging voice within. This year, you will find out what you're passionate about. This year, you will be fulfilled!

On January 29th, I will be launching a new 4-week online course to help you get crystal clear about the true you, create an exit strategy out of that draining job, get past patterns and excuses that have held you back, and empower you to take action forward. The class will fill, so if you want to be the first to learn about it, and get an early bird discount, email me now!

In the meantime, to get 2015 on the RIGHT track, resolve to be true to you. Use this exercise to create grounded resolutions:

**What do you want to FEEL in 2015?
**Who do you need to BE in 2015 to feel this? (How do you need to show up)?
**What do you have to DO to be this?
**Ultimately, what do you want to have?

Begin your year with these beautiful grounding questions. Then, you can blossom!

Here's to you, my dear love, and a fabulous 2015!

xoxo,
Carin

PS – If you want to be the first to learn about my new online course and get a special early bird discount, email me now!

PPS – I love hearing from you! Email me questions about the new class, your purpose, to set up your free 30-minute discovery session, or just to say hello!

Happy New Year!

 

As I reflect on this year, I am in awe of the abundance, beauty, wisdom, and love I've experienced in 2014. I created one of those Facebook slide shows of my year and watched with tears. Not every moment has been easy, but each was a gift for which I am grateful. This may sound nuts, but I didn't go into 2014 expecting to get married or become a “bonus-mom,” yet these surprises are the outcome of my annual New Year ritual last year. I asked for it all. 

 

I want to share this ritual with you because I've used it for years to create the joy, abundance, and love that I desire. I want you to create what YOU want in 2015, so enjoy using this amazing tool.

 

So what do you want? Maybe one of these goals is running through your mind…

• “Start Working Out!”
• “Begin Meditating!”
• “Get a New Job!”
• “Find Love!”

 

Or maybe you don't know what you want – and that's okay! After my newsletter last year about awakening your true desires, several people e-mailed that they don't know what they desire – let alone how to achieve it. I totally get that, and spent years feeling the same. (That's why I'm creating a new accessible online course for 2015, but more on that later. In the meantime, if this sounds like you, email me to learn more.) 

 

Regardless of what you want – or even if you don't know what you want yet, you can't stuff more into an already overflowing life. You know how when you try to put one more dish into the top rack, but then the dishwasher won't close… your life is the same. 

 

If your calendar is already overflowing, how will you have time for regular workouts? If your days are jam-packed doing, doing, doing, how will you get time to simply be in meditation? If your brain is filled with anger toward your boss, how will you have mental space to figure out what kind of job you want?

 

You need to clear space for the new.

 

At the end of a year, I do several clearing exercises: Physical, Mental, and Emotional. Physically, I clear out old clothes that I don't wear, I clean out my “junk” drawer, and I create fresh space for my work. Emotionally, I clear wounds that need healing by writing letters (that I give or don't give) and/or apologize for my wrong-doings.

 

And every New Year's Eve, I mentally clear space for ALL THAT I DESIRE! Below is this ritual. Last year, Josh and I did this ritual, and look at how our year evolved.

 

1. First, write down everything that was REALLY GOOD in 2014. Be sure to write every moment of joy, good health, accolade, tenderness, and inspiration, with gratitude for the experience.
2. Then, write down every LESSON you learned in 2014 that you want to carry with you into 2015. These lessons may have occurred through trial, trauma, or triumph. The cause isn’t as important to this exercise as the lesson itself. Remember to have GRATITUDE for the lesson so that you remember it going forward.
3. Then, on a separate piece of paper, write every OLD  PATTERN and limiting belief that held you back in 2014, and that you are READY TO LEAVE BEHIND. Last year, I wrote: insecurity, thinking I'm not good enough, and a deep-seated fear that you can't make money living your purpose. (Yep – even I had that old fear before!) Now take the paper outside and light a match to it! Yep, good riddance! 
4. Now, on separate pieces of paper, write your new beliefs (mine are here) and then write your intentions and desires for 2015. 

 

Seeing how I set the intention of saying “YES” to myself, of course I leaned into marrying the man I loved. Considering that I set the intention that wealth is good, and that I wanted to make a difference to others, of course I doubled my income this year – ALL from living my purpose. Clearing the way, then setting intention, set me on course.

 

You can set your course. You, too, can make a living from your passion. You, too, can have great love. If you want to create the life you desire, do this ritual tonight or tomorrow. And if you need help getting quiet and clear beforehand, re-read my blog from last week. Meditate on “I awaken in the stillness,” clear out old crap, and see what comes up.

 

Again, in just a few days, I will be launching a new online course to help you leave that dead-end situation, to teach you how to get clarity on what you really want, to create an exit strategy, and to take steps forward. Use tonight to clear space and then join me in January to move forward. The class will fill, so if you want to be the first to learn about it, email me now! 

 

I hope you enjoy this ritual. I am heading off to go do it right now! It is not just New Year's Eve, my friend. Now is YOUR TIME to clear space for YOU to STEP FORWARD AND SHINE!

 

May you have a purpose-FULL, beautiful, fun, inspiring NEW YEAR! Here's to you getting ALL of what you desire in 2015!

 

XOXO,

Carin