It has been awhile since I have written a newsletter but as we all know, life has funny ways of getting your attention at times!  The last few months for me have been filled with life altering experiences that have changed, once again, the way I view life, love and my future.

Since we have entered a new year, I thought it might be fitting to focus on the power of belief in this edition.  As we all felt, 2010 was a year of "clearing out the old and not needed."  You may have ended jobs, relationships, habits, or a number of things that no longer serve you.  You may have lost loved ones to death, ended friendships that you have had for a lifetime or simply made a decision to once and for all change your life.  No matter what you released in 2010, 2011 is here to bring it all back into balance.  This year you will see things in your life shifting in a way that is preparing you for what it is you are here to do..or said differently...why you were born at this time. 

Belief is going to be the key to making sure this year you live at your highest potential.  What you think about you bring about and your thoughts start with your beliefs. 

            Your Beliefs become your Thoughts
            Your Thoughts become your Words
             Your Words become your Actions
            Your Actions become your Habits
            Your Habits become your Values
            Your Values become your Destiny

One of the prevailing patterns I notice with my clients is a lack of faith in their beliefs.  Faith is a tricky thing.  The hardest part about faith is that it does not rest on logical proof...you must believe in something that you cannot see and more often than not, you have no clue HOW it will become manifest.  If you are of the mindset that you must see it to believe it, faith is challenging for you.  Faith requires that you become comfortable with uncertainty and not knowing for sure how something will work out.  (Right about now, all of the control freaks out there just had a panic attack!)  Faith requires you to put your fears at the backdoor once and for all!  YOU ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR FEARS!!!!

            Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

This takes practice and, my friends, is not easy.  It requires you to constantly remind yourself that you are safe and protected and that there are forces more powerful and more knowing than you that "have your back." 

The first step in this New Year that I would like you to take is an exercise I have every single one of my clients do at the beginning of every year.  In order to manifest your beliefs, you first have to know what you want.  Many think they know this but when it comes down to brass tacks and they have to be specific, many fail at the task miserably!  If you don't have one already, put together a Bucket List.  What are those things you would like to do before you "kick the bucket?"  Go wild, get rid of all of the self-imposed roadblocks you have set up in your mind and write down whatever comes to mind.  Once you have a pretty decent list, I want you to take it a step further.  Your subconscious mind, which is where over 90% of our behaviors come from, thinks in pictures.  Take those items from your Bucket list that you most want to accomplish in 2011 and find pictures of them.  You can use the internet, magazines, books...whatever tickles your fancy.  My vision board is a cork board next to my desk in my office.  I just print the pictures off of the internet and tack them up on my board.  This way, I can move them around easily if I ever want to add something to my board.  What are some of the things on my board for 2011:  a bright blue Infiniti, a trip to Greece, a trip to Morocco, skydiving, a hot air balloon ride, etc.  Those of you who know me know these are as good as done!!

I also want you to think about the following:

1.       What do I want to release in 2011? (habits, thoughts, even people that are no longer serving you or make you "feel bad.")

2.       What are the top 3 things you would like to accomplish in 2011?

3.       What do I need to believe about myself in order to make these things happen?

4.       What do I need to do (action steps) to make these things happen?

Remember to not limit yourself!  You deserve and are worthy of a wonderful, abundant and healthy life!  Know it and claim it!  Challenge the beliefs you currently hold.  If they are no longer working for you, trash them!  But you have to know what you want before you can form new beliefs.  Know what you stand for, what your core values are that you will not compromise no matter what, look to people you admire who are living their lives the way you want to and observe what they believe and are doing.  Don't stop until you feel good about your beliefs.

To make this even more exciting for you, anyone who wants to send me their answers to the 4 questions above by February 15^th will be entered into a drawing to win 6 free coaching sessions with me to help them crystallize and manifest their 2011 intentions.  You can send your answers to chris@chrissopa.com and be sure to put "Contest" in the subject line.  The winner will be announced in my April newsletter. 

Finally, I would be remise not to mention a few exciting things that you will be seeing this year from Chris Sopa International.  Many of you have been asking about my book.  I have to admit that it has taken much longer to finish than I would have liked but like all of you, I also struggle with my own fears and limiting beliefs.  One of which is the fear of success!!  The book is well on its way and to add even more excitement to it, I am in a contest called "The Next Top Self-Help Author" contest!  The winner of this contest will get a free book contract and a major speaking gig at the next Celebrate Your Life Conference this year!!!  I will need your help because the first phase of the contest (there are 4 phases) includes me making a video pitch of my book that I will need to promote and get people to vote on so I make it to the next round.  Look for this video and other announcements regarding the contest via email and the Chris Sopa International Face Book page. 

Also, by popular demand, I will be doing 4 public workshops in 2011.  The first one being "Your Relationships are Only As Healthy As YOU Are" on February 25^th at the Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in North East, MD.  (See the Workshop block to the left for more information!)  The next 2 will be Friday, May 13^thand Friday, September 16^th, topics to be annoucned later!  The 4^th one of the year will be a 2 day workshop (date TBD) in the fall that is my 12 session coaching program crammed into 2 powerful days of transformation!  

Once the book is published and complete, there will also be a book signing event as well (date TBD).

Stay tuned for more information on all of this fun and exciting news!!!

 Until next time, set your intentions for 2011 and BELIEVE they have already come true!  In the words of a past President:

 Stop crying and start sweating
  Stop talking and start walking!

 Love and Light, 

 Chris