Any John Denver fans out there? Besides my belief that his spirit is still alive in this world on behalf of the environment, I owe John a personal debt of gratitude. His song, Sweet Surrender, was a key in helping me to make affirmations my own. I spontaneously started singing this song one day, the melody familiar though the lyrics sketchy. Finally, I couldn't take it any longer and dug out the CD so my brain would stop rattling around in its effort to remember the words. Wow! The chorus said exactly what I was earnestly endeavoring learn:

"Sweet, sweet surrender

Live, live without care

Like a fish in the water

Like a bird in the air."

The verses spoke of being in the moment and knowing there's "a spirit that guides me, a light that shines for me ..." Sweet Surrender became my shower song as well as the one I sang aloud whenever I started to worry. (You'll be glad to know that the public version was limited to humming.)

I didn't know yet that John and Lynn Grabhorn, (author of "Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting"), and Louise Hay (creator of the movie, "You Can Heal Your Life) had formed a Board of Directors for the betterment of Maridel's psyche. I just knew that through all these mediums, I had come to understand that the feeling behind my thoughts was what mattered. Affirmations were no longer just tools I used to get a new computer, get ahead or even get happy. They became instead the carriers of my heart and soul's intentions. Even the things I was affirming for had a connection to the larger story.

So unlike my early affirmation experiments, the state of my fingernails didn't make the cut this time. Nor did my lunar relationship to exercise (that is to say, ever waxing and waning). Because both of these, I realized, was about my health, and my health was an integral part of my purpose. It was my purpose I had deep, abiding feelings about! Even the money matter, while not banished from affirmation land, took on a whole different meaning. It too, was a means to an end for me. So my criteria for affirmations was now this: does it resonate in body, heart or gut when I say it? If not, no matter how appealing the thought or how well-crafted the words, it was dropped from the team.

Following the principles of Affirmations 101, I made each one specific, concise, and in the present tense; making sure they resonated with feeling and connected to my heart's or soul's intentions. These were my four headliner challenges:

1. My health was at an all-time low. Every day I struggled with energy, often unable to work for 2-3 days at a stretch. Long naps claimed me for the better part of most afternoons even when I'd had a good night's rest. I got sick every time I traveled.

Affirmation: My health is flourishing, supporting body and spirit to fulfill my calling.

2. I wanted to stop worrying about money, regardless of how much I had or didn't have. I was 58 years old, and both bored with and tired of worrying about money. The truth was, though not financially prosperous, I'd been the recipient of amazing provision in my life and I was fundamentally okay.

Affirmation: I trust the Universe to provide for me in all ways, and abundantly, as I share my gifts with the world.

3. It was time to make a major transition in my work, but I didn't know how. After 15 years of supporting myself as an evolutionary astrologer, I knew writing was my emerging work. Willingness I had--just no clue about that whole Point A to Point B thing. After all, getting paid while leaping from one moving train to another has vexed many souls far more savvy than I.

Affirmation: My writing generously supports me while serving the well-being and evolution of others.