Dear Helen,

How do I deal with prospects who say, “Let me think about it” when we’re having the conversation about working with me? I suspect most of the time they’re just giving me a polite brush off, but I’m not sure how to respond.

- A Little Tongue-Tied

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Dear Tongue-Tied,

You’re absolutely right. Telling you they need to think about it can be an indirect way of saying no, either out of shyness or excessive politeness. It can also mean they need more information.

As I share in my “Art of the HeartSell Conversation” training program, I like to make it clear before I even ask for a yes or no answer that it’s important to me that I not leave the other person in indecision. I want to be sure to give them all the information they need to come to a decision that’s right for them. So if there’s a question or concern they have, the best time to get the answer is right now while they have me on the phone.

I tell them I’m OK with a sincere no. I just want them to arrive at the best choice for them, so energetically we both can move on to the next step.

Dear Helen,

I’ve got a big decision to make about working with someone and I feel torn. I want to say yes but I keep second guessing myself. It’s a significant financial commitment and I’m going in circles thinking, “Am I being selfish to spend this much money on my business? What if this isn’t the right program? What if I don’t get results? What if I’m not ready?”

-What If I’m Wrong?

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Dear What If,

Inspired or impulsive? It really comes down to trusting yourself (and the Universe). You can sharpen that ability to trust with some simple “wellbeing checks.”

To assist in clarity around the decision, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I see any downsides to saying yes?
• What outcome(s) will saying yes make possible?
• Under what conditions would I NOT want to say yes?
• Who else will be impacted by my decision? (Look at the situation from their perspective and see what information you get.)
• Is there any part of me that objects to saying yes? (Do a body sensation check. If so, ask that part what its objection is.)

There’s so much financial anxiety going around these days, it can be contagious. But money isn’t always the best (or the only) criteria to use if you want to make powerful, productive, profitable decisions for yourself and your business.

Dear Helen,

I do energy healing and I just can’t seem to get my practice to the point where it’s on an even keel. I’m working hard at my marketing and doing the things I see people who have successful practices doing. But things just don’t seem to be falling into place.

Secretly, I’m afraid that the struggle might be a sign my dream isn’t meant to be. What can I do?

- Fighting the Fear

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Dear Fighting,

It’s good to learn from others and do what you can to increase your marketing and practice-building skills.

But keep in mind, none of the practical, hands-on actions are going to make a real and lasting difference to your success until you are coming from a place of recognizing your own divinity and fully trusting your own inner voice.

All our stuff comes up when we’re in the midst of growing a business. (Yes, even for us spiritual types.) You can choose to stay on the surface with your business – ignore the stuff and either keep “working harder” or give up because “it wasn’t meant to be.” But that won’t serve you and it won’t serve the world.

My guess is that your fear that it’s not meant to be is masking another, deeper fear. Perhaps about your worthiness, or about outshining others in your life, or about being greedy. Taking a closer look would be a good thing.

The situation isn’t happening because you’re bad, wrong or undeserving. It’s happening simply to show you where some healing needs to be done.

Deborah Wilson shares how Spirit showed her the way back from a life-threatening illness. . .

Deborah “Atienne” Wilson
www.AngelsAndProsperity.com

Dear Helen,

I have a burning desire to build a business I love. Right now I feel stuck and obligated, working for my husband in his business because that’s what’s supporting our family. But, honestly, I have no passion or desire to be in this particular business. I feel selfish when I work on my own business. And deep down, I think my husband would be jealous if my business became successful.

I feel the tears coming as I write this. I’ve somehow put myself in a horrible situation, and worse, my kids are watching me giving my power away to a man who has no interest in supporting my dreams, like I’ve supported his. I know from the outside looking in, it seems obvious – leave him! But from the inside looking out, it’s not that simple.

I truly value your teachings, insights and perspective on things of the heart, business and self as they pertain to the spirit. I would really appreciate your thoughts.

-In Tears and In Despair

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Dear One,

I so appreciate your writing because your courage in bringing this out in the open will serve not only you, but others who feel stuck in something similar.

We’re here on this planet to have experiences that support the expansion of our Consciousness, and in Spirit’s sly sense of humor, the greater the discomfort, the greater the possibility for expansion. (I guess it’s a good thing we humans are so adept at getting ourselves into pickles. Lots of opportunity for growth!)

The easy thing to do now would be to pretend that you aren’t unhappy or that leaving things as they are is better for everyone else. But your heart is giving you a strong message; ignoring it will only make the situation worse.

What I see is that your burning desire to grow the business you love has simply shown a spotlight on some troubled spots in your marriage. It’s not at all uncommon for women to realize, as they grow their business, that certain relationships with close family and friends may become strained, even toxic. Your business goals ask you to stretch and grow, and sometimes that means growing beyond other people’s comfort or expectations.

It serves no one, not even your children, to stay in a relationship that squashes your heart. But neither does it serve you to end something as a way of avoiding the discomfort of growth.

Trust your heart. That’s the best lesson to offer your children (and your husband).

I can imagine the future looks kind of scary right now, with many unknowns and changes ahead. The good news is there is never just one way to reach our goals and dreams. And the worst part of any fear is the anticipation of it – the reality is almost never as bad as we imagined. So decide what you want, figure out baby steps to take in that direction, listen to your heart and trust that, with Spirit’s guidance, you have the courage to make good decisions and to handle the challenges as they come.

Read about the special way Spirit connects with Elissa Joy Shames. . .

“Dreams, voices, and deja vus were just part of my everyday experience since I can remember. This aspect of me was something that I felt set me apart from others in a way that was not so positive. I was just the ‘weird one.’ With that message given to me, I stuffed it down, and did not show that side of myself for many years, not to others anyhow.

I started my healer journey 16 years ago. In each course I have taken for learning a new modality, my teachers would comment on my gifts, but I thought they were just being ‘nice’. These teachers were able to see something in me I have just begun to see.

Not long ago, I discovered a new way Spirit is communicating with me…through Nature.

Mostly through plants and trees. The funny thing is the diversity of energy in each of the plants and how they interact … Oaks are mellow, slow to speak and wise. Red Alders are quick, like puppies and always excited to see me and speak with me. Chestnuts flow their energy and messages easy and lovingly.

There is this amazing White Oak tree in the park across the street from me that gives me amazing business wisdom, and life wisdom that I go to for guidance all the time. She has helped me really see the power of my gifts, and gently encouraged me to love myself and own the gifts I have. . .and helps me to share those gifts with others too.

Knowing that I have a wise spirit that stands still and lovingly, always there for me, has allowed me to transform the way I do business. I can now call myself a Spiritual Healer and not want to scurry back in the ‘closet’. I can share the messages of love that Wise White Oak speaks through me, and bring that message out to the world.

Connecting to nature and spirit has brought me such blessings in my business and life, and guided me the way other people have not been able to. I feel honoured and blessed to have such wonderful spirit guides supporting me so I can support others.”

Elissa Joy Shames
www.WholisticMama.com

Susan Letourneau shared this story. . .

“It was 1986, one year after the meltdown which left me crawling away from 12 inept and agonizing years in the oil industry. As painful as it was, that meltdown was a great blessing in a very dark disguise.

Being a single parent, I needed an income, so I took a massage course to provide money until I could figure out what to do when I grew up.

My very first client was an atheistic scientist, had never had a massage and was terrified of anything “woo-woo”, so she came full of trepidation. Little did either of us know that what was about to happen would change both our lives.

The minute I put my hands on her, she went into a trance state, entered a past life and recounted details of a life lived before the time of Christ. When she opened her eyes an hour later, we stared at one another in amazement. I expected her to bolt from the room, never to be seen again, but she stayed because she recognized the value of what she had learned in that extensive vision.

After that session, another woman came to see me who also entered a trance state. She saw a beam of light descend from heaven, and through the beam a loving voice spoke to me, telling me to let go of my fear, trust in my own guidance and believe that I was doing the work I was called to do. Thus began my career as a guide to inner landscapes.

Over these 25 years, I have been magnificently blessed to facilitate hundreds of interactions between my clients and all manner of inner and celestial guides, which have provided answers, insights, new pathways and overwhelming unconditional love to my clients. I am always in awe and ever grateful.”

Susan Letourneau
Inner Resource Expansion
www.IntentionalHealth.ca

Dear Helen,

I love the idea of your Spirit Speak contest, and want to participate. But I’m not sure what to share. I’ve got some experiences of Spirit showing up in business matters (one in particular comes to mind) but then I think, “Why will anybody care what happened to me? What if it sounds stupid?”

It seems kind of self-absorbed to think there’s anything special about my story. Your thoughts?

- Shy in Cheyenne

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Dear Shy,

Ah, yes. I’ve heard this question before (and not just regarding the contest). Here’s what I think might be getting in your way.

As you re-read your own words here in print, you’re probably already recognizing that the concern you expressed about your story “not being special” is that old nemesis, the Logical Mind, trying to get you to hide your light.

It does reveal a piece of you to declare openly your experiences about Spirit’s living presence in your life. That can feel sort of like a big, vulnerable step to take because we know some people just might be critical of us, right?

And that’s one of the biggest reasons I had for creating the International Association of Spiritual and Energy Practitioners. Sure, marketing and business-building are important, but what’s even more important is providing a safe, open place for us to affirm, celebrate and rejoice in our connection to Spirit, the Universe, All-That-Is (whatever you like to call it).

And in that safe community, your story is very special. Your sharing will give others courage to share their own experience. Do it right now.

I bet it’ll take you less than 10 minutes. You know this story intimately – it’s as much a part of you as breathing in and breathing out.

People are waiting to be inspired by your truth.

Licorice in her twilight years

It started out like any other hot summer afternoon in Sonoma Valley. I had taken the dogs (my black Lab, Hector, and his girlfriend Licorice) down to the creek so we all could cool off.

Hector was knee-deep in the water, patiently watching the fish swim past. Licorice and I were on the sand playing tug of war. As she and I tussled for possession of the stick, we looked at each other with pure delight. It gave me a shock to see that Licorice was not the only one looking back at me. Some other presence -it had to be Spirit- was there peering out from behind her eyes, laughing and enjoying the fun with us.

It was only a few brief moments, but that Presence was as tangible and real as Licorice was.

As soon as It was gone, my logical mind began trying to convince me I’d imagined the whole thing. But my heart knew the truth and was filled with awe.

I didn’t speak of the experience for many years. In part, words couldn’t, and still can’t, describe it. In part, I didn’t think anyone would believe me. But that encounter has stayed with me and been a continual source of strength as I seek spiritual awareness and expansion. I remember I’m never alone, especially in the challenges I face growing my business.

Whenever I hear someone say Spirit is always present in, through and as all things, I know just how true that is!

*** *** *** ***
You know what? If I were eligible to enter, this is the kind of story I’d share in IASEP’s Spirit Speak contest. (Of course, that wouldn’t be fair since I’m sponsoring the contest. )

But you’re eligible! We’d love to feel tingles of inspiration as you share your story of the connection between Spirit and your business. And you just might win a 3-hour practice-building strategy consultation with me!

Get all the details (including what you’ll win) here. . .

Because we’re always looking for an excuse to have fun, we’ve decided to hold a special contest in celebration of the membership launch for the International Association of Spiritual and Energy Practitioners (IASEP).

It’s more of a game, really, since everyone who enters wins a prize. (Love that!)

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CONTEST THEME –

Spirit speaks both to and through each of us, and we experience that guidance to the degree we allow it. One of the IASEP goals is to foster the ability each of us has to access that inner support system.

Spirit Speak is the print newsletter you’ll receive each month as part of your IASEP membership. The name is intended to remind us of the connection between Spirit and business, as well as to underscore the unique language we share as a community of spiritual explorers.

I want to hear about YOUR experience with the connection between Spirit and Business.

The fact that you’re a soul-centered practitioner means you can see the power in joining together to share our stories and inspiration.

Grand Prize: Virtual Intensive with Helen
($1000 value)
What would be possible if you were given 3 hours of concentrated attention and guidance centered on breaking through your biggest business challenges?

An even better question is: What wouldn’t be possible?

The winner of the Spirit Speak contest receives a private, one-on-one Virtual Intensive session with me. First, we’ll pinpoint your biggest stuck point and identify the inner mindset challenge behind it. Then, I’ll help you create the energetic shift needed to break free. (See, I knew all my NLP training would come in handy!) Finally, we’ll zero in on the specific action steps that will allow you to easily achieve the results you’re after.

You’ll leave with clarity, confidence and a simple plan to follow.

Partnership Prize: Practice Building Gifts

Everyone who enters will receive “The Art of the HeartSell Conversation” tipsheet chockfull of practical do’s and don’ts for making sales with integrity and confidence.

PLUS a $25 IASEP Savings Certificate you can use at any time!

Here are your contest guidelines:

1) In 300 words OR a 3-minute video or audio recording, share your experience of Spirit speaking to or through you and the impact that’s had on your business. You can let your creativity (which, of course, is Spirit speaking through you!) run wild with this. Narrative, poetry and song are all acceptable styles.

Maybe you’d like to tell me how you learned to recognize the voice of Spirit.
Or maybe you want to share the story of the first time you heard Spirit speaking to you about your purpose or your gifts.
Or how it was you came to realize Spirit intended for you to start a business. (“You want me to do WHAT? Oh, no, you can’t mean me!”)

There is no right or wrong story to share.

Consideration will be awarded for any and all of the following:
• Originality
• Humor
• Inspired prose

2) To be eligible, send your entry to Connect@IASEP.org by Friday, May 20, 2011.
If your entry is in written form, include it in the body of the email.
If your entry is in audio or video format, include the link in the body of the email. *Please do not send your submission as an attached file. We cannot process those.

3) Include your full name, email address and mailing address along with your entry. (The prizes are being mailed out, and we can’t send you yours unless we have a postal address.)
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Just try to resist feeling a deeper connection with All That Is as you share your Spirit Speak experience. People can be inspired by hearing your truth. And in return, you’ll receive support in growing your authentically prosperous practice.

I can’t wait to hear your story!

[By the way, please feel free to pass this invitation along to any friends or colleagues who share "the spirit!"]