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	<title>Matthew Ashdown Coaching &#187; Blog</title>
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	<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com</link>
	<description>Coaching services for those going through change</description>
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		<title>6 Qualities To Reflect On When You Believe You Don&#8217;t Have Enough</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/6-truths-to-reflect-on-when-you-believe-you-dont-have-enough/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/6-truths-to-reflect-on-when-you-believe-you-dont-have-enough/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 16:59:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2519</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet When we look outside of ourselves, it may appear that we do not have enough of the things that we need. And when we look on TV and see the starving and homeless of the world, we may confirm this for ourselves. It seems like the fear of “not enough” is epidemic in our [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='wb_fb_top'><div style="float:right;"></div></div><p><a name="fb_share"></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share"></script><a class="twitter-share-button" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p><a href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/800px-Mahonia_Golden_Abundance_038-1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2520" title="800px-Mahonia_Golden_Abundance_038-1" src="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/800px-Mahonia_Golden_Abundance_038-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>When we look outside of ourselves, it may appear that we do not have enough of the things that we need. And when we look on TV and see the starving and homeless of the world, we may confirm this for ourselves. It seems like the fear of “not enough” is epidemic in our world at this time with a world in transition.</p>
<p>The truth is that we do have enough, but instead of looking outwards we need to go inwards and give greater power to the parts of ourselves that will help bring about the end of the suffering in our world.</p>
<p align="center">“He who looks outside, dreams. He who looks inside, awakens.”</p>
<p align="center"><strong>Carl Gustav Jung</strong></p>
<p>With practice, persistence and patience, we can tap into the spiritual qualities within us that we truly have enough of, an abundance of, and from that space many great things are possible. Those who believe they have enough see the reflection of it everywhere in their outer reality. It really does come down to perception, and what we believe at the core of our being. When we recognize the truth “I am enough” we can then recognize that we have enough.</p>
<p>For a lot of my life I allowed myself to experience what life is like when you believe you do not have enough. Even as a GratiDude, sharing the power of gratitude with the world, I was challenged to believe that I had enough, and that those around me had enough. But, I realized that whatever situation I find myself in, I always have enough of the intrinsic spiritual attributes that make life more enjoyable. Instead of focusing my attention outside for the mirror to tell me what I believed, I began to focus my attention inwards. So even when my outer world wants to convince me I don’t have enough, I can find that peace within me.</p>
<p><strong>I have enough creativity</strong> – There is never a lack of money problem, only a lack of creativity. I am being nudged to embody this truth greatly at this time as I step more into the truth of it. Not all of us were encouraged to develop our creativity and we definitely were not taught how powerful we are as creators of our world. We were encouraged to develop our intellect, because we were told that artists starved, while engineers, doctors and lawyers thrived. But the truth is that you create YOU, and you are doing that in every moment, with every choice that you make. And creativity is not something with a cap on it, it is endless. The universe is constantly creating new, and it can come through us when we allow. The ability to embrace uncertainty and chaos is central to recognizing the well of creativity within you.</p>
<p>Affirmation: <strong>“I am creative”</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>I have enough compassion. </strong>– We can spend our lives making the world try to understand us, or we can seek to understand and be compassionate towards ourselves. Through compassion towards others, and self-compassion, many wounds are healed. From that place of healing, we perceive solutions to our greatest problems. Solutions we did not allow ourselves to perceive when we were beating ourselves up. Through recognizing the abundant force of compassion that lives within us, we can open many portals to peace and happiness in our life. And as we have more compassion within, we have more compassion to give. If we suffer with people through sympathy and pity, we will feel like we never have enough energy and become depleted. When we offer our compassion to others, we become a rock, and our energy only increases for the contribution we want to make in the world.</p>
<p>Affirmation<strong>:  “I am compassion”</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>I have enough courage.</strong> – Despite what you may think, there is a fearless part of you that can become louder if you allow it. I am reminded of this quote from a series that I enjoy,</p>
<p>Game of Thrones.</p>
<p>Bran- &#8220;Can a man still be brave when he&#8217;s afraid?&#8221;</p>
<p>Eddard &#8211; &#8220;That&#8217;s the only time a man can be brave.&#8221;</p>
<p>Everytime we overcome our fears we are blessed with new realizations internally, and stuff in our world. So be willing to admit your fear, if only to yourself, and call forth the courage within. What you focus on expands. Focus on your fear, or on your courage, it is your choice. You have the courage within you to face your greatest fears, when you believe in the power of your highest self.</p>
<p>Affirmation: <strong>“I am courage”</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>I have enough joy</strong> – If you are waiting for outside elements to bring you joy, you could be waiting a long time. The joy that is brought by externals is real, but it is transient. You are joy, and you can bring joy to the many facets of your life regardless of what is happening. Happy people have more things to be happy about. Even in the moments of challenge it is possible to tap into joy. It starts by telling yourself “I am joy” and say it like you mean it until you truly feel it. I deserve joy.”</p>
<p>Affirmation: <strong>“I am joyful”</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>I have enough love</strong> – People spend a lifetime looking for someone to love them, to accept them as they are. That love has to come from within first, otherwise we attract to us more reflections of the lack of self love. There is an infinite well of love within your being that you can tap into, provided you feed it. Again, when you look for it outside of yourself, you may end up believing in lack and your world will reflect that. You are love, and you deserve love. The more you say “I am love” with feeling, the more that you will embody this truth. And as you embody it watch what begins to magnetize into your life. The challenge, however, is to keep believing that when the world wants to mirror back a complete lack of it.</p>
<p>Affirmation: <strong>“I am love”</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>When we recognize that we have enough of these above spiritual qualities, and we express our gratitude for them regularly, we realize that we have the power within us to create more of what we want in our outer world, whether it is money, loving relationships, or fun times. Begin to tell yourself today that you have enough, and look inwards. And then, with that conviction within you, you will be able to take it into the world at large, and together we can ensure that we all have enough.</p>
<p>You may need support on this journey, and it may take some time, but I can tell you, as someone who lived for a long time in the world of “not enough”, you can change it, when you change your focus from seeking it in the outer world, to recognizing it within yourself.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <a title="Coaching With Matthew" href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/coaching-with-matthew/">Coach With Matthew And Receive A Free Session</a> (There is always enough room for you! You matter)</h2>
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		<title>Expect Success, Not Failure</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/expect-success-not-failure/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/expect-success-not-failure/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 18:42:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2510</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet &#160; &#160; If you have tried exercise program after exercise program, or diet after diet and hear yourself thinking &#8220;What&#8217;s the point?&#8221;, then this video is for you. You are expecting failure if you are asking that question. Turn it around, and learn to expect success on your path. &#160; &#160; What I share [...]]]></description>
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&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you have tried exercise program after exercise program, or diet after diet and hear yourself thinking &#8220;What&#8217;s the point?&#8221;, then this video is for you. You are expecting failure if you are asking that question. Turn it around, and learn to expect success on your path.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xWb80P_P4G4" frameborder="0" width="450" height="259"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>What I share in the video above is one of the reasons many people are hesitant to commit to coaching. They  don&#8217;t trust themselves to see it through. But you can and will, when you have a little extra support, and someone to point out thoughts that are preventing you from seeing yourself succeeding. Commit to the courage within and book a free coaching session with me today.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Coaching With Matthew" href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/coaching-with-matthew/">Grail Quest Fitness Coaching</a></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;<br />
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		<title>Authors &#8211; Give Yourself Permission To Be This</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/authors-give-yourself-permission-to-be-this/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/authors-give-yourself-permission-to-be-this/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 17:29:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Author's Quest Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[authenticity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Authors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book Promotions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selfpub]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seth Godin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tribe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2505</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet In my years of working with authors there are common fears that I come across. The one I discuss here stops many in their tracks when it comes to promotions. Face the fear and be willing to give yourself permission to be what I encourage you to be in this short video. Head to [...]]]></description>
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<p>In my years of working with authors there are common fears that I come across. The one I discuss here stops many in their tracks when it comes to promotions. Face the fear and be willing to give yourself permission to be what I encourage you to be in this short video.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NRp7y-NIWkc" frameborder="0" width="450" height="259"></iframe></p>
<p>Head to Victoria, BC for June 9th 2012 and spend a day with me as I coach you and your author friends on ways to step into your power when it comes to sharing your book authentically.</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.3pennypublishing.com/events.htm"><br />
DAMMIT JIM I AM A WRITER NOT A PROMOTER</a></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"></h1>
<p>Not in my neck of the woods? You can benefit from a free coaching session with me, when you check out the following page.</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Author Grail Quest Coaching" href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/author-grail-quest-coaching/">AUTHORS GRAIL QUEST COACHING</a></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>This Is Who I Am</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/this-is-who-i-am/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/this-is-who-i-am/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 00:18:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2489</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet &#8220;I would rather have a single friend who loved me for being my true self, than a thousand friends like me for who I am not.&#8221; &#160; Did you find that growing up, society told you who you should be? I found that to be the case for me, I learned it wasn&#8217;t safe [...]]]></description>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>&#8220;I would rather have a single friend who loved me for being my true self, than a thousand friends like me for who I am not.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/581px-Freedom-not-Fear.png"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2493" title="581px-Freedom-not-Fear" src="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/581px-Freedom-not-Fear-290x300.png" alt="" width="290" height="300" /></a>Did you find that growing up, society told you who you should be? I found that to be the case for me, I learned it wasn&#8217;t safe to be me. We begin life with a knowing of who we are, believing that we are the centre of the universe, and then most of us shut it down when we learn that those characteristics, qualities or beliefs are not widely accepted. But hiding yourself from the world only brings about your own suffering, and dims the light that you can shine on the world.</p>
<p>I went to a catholic school in a small town in England. I was schooled in values that resonated with me at many levels: kindness, compassion, love, gratitude. But there were many facets of the religion that did not resonate with me. And yet, when I was out and about there were times I was bullied for being a catholic. I struggled being bullied for being part of a religion that I wasn&#8217;t even sure I believed in.</p>
<p><em>&#8220;For to be free is not merely to cast off one&#8217;s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.&#8221; </em></p>
<p><strong>- Nelson Mandela</strong></p>
<p>You know what though. I believe that there very likely was a man named Jesus, and that he had life changing messages for us. I do believe in an entity that I call God, but I do not believe it is controlling or punishing. I am not on a quest in life to make catholicism wrong or right, and I don&#8217;t agree with everything they taught me. But what I am on a quest for is truth. The truth about who I am and the freedom to follow my own personal dreams in life.</p>
<p>As I have walked this path, I have struggled. I have seen many continue to struggle with their religious upbringing and having anger towards the faith. Many continue to hold on to a fear of surrendering to new wisdom, and commitment to a path of truth, after having grown up in a world where many religions seek to maintain their power through shame and guilt. As I have transcended my own shames and guilt I have realised that nobody can control what I think, unless I let them. And I have learned to trust again in the wisdom of elders.</p>
<p>When I was younger I did not give myself the freedom to listen to my intuition. I was taught what to think at school, not how to think. I had to teach myself how to think. I had to seek out those who taught me how to think. They have strong convictions of their own, and the majority of them allow me to be me.</p>
<p>I had a particularly challenging experience with a couple of male mentors a few years ago, men who I looked up to at one point. It took me some time to realise that the parts of me that they judged me for, were the parts of me that were my true self. They may not accept it, but it is who I am. And now, through my struggles with finding male mentorship I have found a coach who challenges my ego, who asks me powerful questions and who is free of any judgement with me, though seeks to bring out the best part of me. He lets me be me, and is full of compassion, the greatest gift any good coach or mentor can offer.</p>
<p><em>&#8220;Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.&#8221;</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>- Jim Morrison</strong></p>
<p>I am choosing to be me. Those things that I have been shamed for in the past are part of who I am and it only hurts me to pretend to be something other than I am. I have seen many people who struggle with their fitness, or they struggle with their health, feeling like they are imprisoned in a body they don&#8217;t want. At some level their emotional pain is creating dis-ease within their physical body. They have been hiding a secret from the world&#8230;&#8230;their true self.</p>
<p>I know in my heart that I have carried shame about believing in Jesus, about believing in past lives, about being spiritual, about meditating and praying, and they have only kept me feeling imprisoned. I am going to be me, all of me, and I am going to love it. I do not need to bring out all of me at one time, people will see aspects of me as I live through my days. But I am giving myself the freedom to be me, without caring what anyone else thinks about me. And I want others to discover and be their own true selves. And to me that is cool! As I have given myself permission to be this version of me, I am finding that the joy within me is expanding, and the outer world is mirroring that more and more.</p>
<p>My meditation and spiritual practices have guided me on my path of self-realisation, my life has been about owning and stepping into that without judgement. Knowing who I am and deciding whether to stay hidden, or whether to share my full self with the world. Like any of us, I have had my shadow nature to contend with, and as I step more into my power every day I become more aware of it, but I also become more aware of the incredible power that is within me and everyone who is true the highest version of themself.</p>
<p>Those who have known me as the aerospace engineer, or the personal trainer, or the marketing teacher, may or may feel uncomfortable reading who I know myself to be. I enjoyed being those, and there are many for whom that is there true nature, but I have found the greatest peace in embracing my own true nature and passions. I am the storyteller, the writer, the truth seeker, the spiritual man, the intuitive, the yogi, the sensitive guy, the assertive guy. I own these parts of my nature, and I am free, free to be me. Not every nation is as free as we are. And it does require courage to be free even in our part of the world. It means facing the fear of loss or rejection, but it is rewarding.</p>
<p>Do not shame yourself any longer because misguided elements society wants to shame you for who you are, or limit your power. That part of you comes bearing a gift for the world, if you will only shine your light on it. It takes courage, but believe me, it is so worth it in the end. You will transform our world for the better.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>When you give yourself permission to be you, your health improves, your relationships become more authentic and life becomes more joyful. If you are ready and willing to face the fears that have kept you imprisoned, and feel that I may be able to support you, check out my coaching services, and sign up for a free session today. </strong></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a title="Coaching With Matthew" href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/coaching-with-matthew/">Grail Quest Coaching </a></span></h2>
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&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Take The Weight Off Your Shoulders</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/take-the-weight-off-your-shoulders/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/take-the-weight-off-your-shoulders/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 18:39:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grail Quest Fitness Blogs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2486</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Tweet &#160; If you want to take the guilt off your shoulders about the exercise you are, or are not doing, so that you can find the intrinsic motivation to move forward, then check out this video. This is something that affects almost every coaching client that I have, or ever will, work with. [...]]]></description>
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&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you want to take the guilt off your shoulders about the exercise you are, or are not doing, so that you can find the intrinsic motivation to move forward, then check out this video. This is something that affects almost every coaching client that I have, or ever will, work with.<br />
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7gPHtEYTRxE" frameborder="0" width="450" height="259"></iframe><br />
Today is your last chance to register for the Sacred Fitness workshop on May 12th in Victoria, BC. Find your own unique path to fitness and enjoy the life you deserve.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Grail Quest Coaching Presents….." href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/sacred-fitness/">SACRED FITNESS WORKSHOP</a></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Mapping The Path To Being A Successful Author</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/mapping-the-path-to-being-a-successful-author/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/mapping-the-path-to-being-a-successful-author/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 18:25:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Author's Quest Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Authors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beliefs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[imagination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self-publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Successful Authors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2477</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet I am in the process of writing a book, a novel. This will be my first novel, and I am learning much as I step into this venture. It brings up fears, and it brings up passion, excitement and courage ( which outweight the latter thankfully) . I may not have written this novel [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='wb_fb_top'><div style="float:right;"></div></div><p><a name="fb_share"></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share"></script><a class="twitter-share-button" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p><a href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/156px-Treasure_map.svg_.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2478" title="156px-Treasure_map.svg" src="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/156px-Treasure_map.svg_.png" alt="" width="156" height="113" /></a>I am in the process of writing a book, a novel. This will be my first novel, and I am learning much as I step into this venture. It brings up fears, and it brings up passion, excitement and courage ( which outweight the latter thankfully) . I may not have written this novel yet, but the same approach I used to create success with the <a href="http://www.theGratiDudes.com">GratiDudes</a> I am using to create the book. Here are the simple steps that you can begin to follow with me, so that we authors can enjoy the success we desire.</p>
<p><strong>1) Conjure up a vision of success in your imagination.</strong> We need to imagine who it is that we want to be when we have the success our heart desires. Many authors get caught up noticing the lives of failed or struggling authors and telling themselves that they do not want to be that. Use the contrast that they are presenting you, to get clear on the kind of author you want to be. If you notice how few people are mking money with their books, out of your fellow authors, then you need to spend your time imagining yourself making money with it. Your imagination is powerful, it has concocted a book, now it is time to concoct a successful book business. Using your imagination to create a vision of success in your mind does not guarantee that it happens, but the more your subconscious mind believes it is a reality, the more action you will find yourself taking in the direction of that vision and with passion, persistence and patience, you can make it happen.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8220;I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>- Michelangelo</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>2) Eliminate the mind viruses that tell you that you cannot have it so that you can align your thoughts and feelings with that vision.</strong> You know the ones I am talking about, they are the beliefs you have picked up along the way such as, &#8220;Writers don&#8217;t make money&#8221; &#8220;You need to get a real job&#8221;. These mind viruses stack up against your vision and will drag you down if you allow them. When your belief is aligned with &#8220;Writers don&#8217;t make money&#8221;, you will see writer after writer who is not making money. When you  open yourself to the possibility that you can make money as a writer, new realities will present themselves. Start telling yourself and your doubters, &#8220;I am learning ways to make money as a writer&#8221;. And, if you have the strength to imagine a world far from the current reality you exist in, say with conviction &#8220;I am a successful author&#8221;. Your ego and the world around you may come up and tell you that this is false, but the truly successful authors believed it in themselves before it happened. I saw myself on national TV before the request from Good Morning America popped up. One of the most fun moments in my life, which revealed how powerful we can truly be, was when I watched myself doing the Gratitude Dance on the big screen in Times Square as the show cut back from commercials.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8220;It&#8217;s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>- Muhammad Ali</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>3) Ask better questions.</strong> I am all about this! Most people screw up and ask themselves, &#8220;What am I doing wrong?&#8221; &#8220;Why do I keep screwing up?&#8221; and then are surprised when they find lots of reasons to believe they are wrong and make themselves feel worse. Questions such as &#8220;What do I need to change within myself to become a successful author?&#8221; are going to yield an altogether different kind of answer. Your brain is very obedient, you ask it a good question and it will find you the answer that empowers you. You ask it a bad question and it will obediently make you feel worse. Good questions to ask: &#8220;What is the gift in this challenge?&#8221; &#8220;What can I do differently next time?&#8221; &#8220;How can I serve greatly today?&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8220;Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>- Tony Robbins</strong></p>
<p><strong>4) Stay in gratitude and appreciation.</strong> If you are doing all the above, then you are setting yourself up for a good journey, and even when the proverbial S#$@ hits the fan, you will be able to pull yourself back on course. And along the way, the expressions of gratitude and appreciation will keep you recognising what you do have: the support, the customers who like you, the daily lessons of empowerment, the publishers you work with, the money in the bank, and all other good things. It keeps you humble and it keeps you on track. What are you grateful for today? Take 1 minute to write a list, you will feel happier at the end of it, and will be able to carry on your work day with just a little more energy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8220;At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>- Albert Schweitzer</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Outlined are the daily steps that the successful people take. It does not provide all the answers, and you are going to have to be willing to change who you are ( your vision would already be a reality if you were already that person). If you are prepared to do that, then there is no reason you cannot have the success you desire. It is a small percentage of authors who are willing to face that challenge, but when they do the rewards are great. I plan on being one of them, do you?<br />
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In Victoria, BC, on June 9th 2012, I will be hosting a workshop &#8220;Dammit Jim I Am A Writer Not A Promoter&#8221; which will be delving into the above topic in greater detail, and will help you map the pathway that you are being called to take as an author. Click on the link below.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.3pennypublishing.com/events.htm">Dammit Jim, I am A Writer Not A Promoter</a></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you are not Victoria, I can still help you on your authors grail quest. Click below to find out about my author coaching sessions and follow the steps to move you in the direction of your dream. The first session is free! Click on the link below.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Author Grail Quest Coaching" href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/author-grail-quest-coaching/">Authors Grail Quest Coaching</a></h1>
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		<title>And The Winner Is&#8230;.</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/and-the-winner-is/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/and-the-winner-is/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 19:46:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2472</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; For those of you in the Victoria, BC area, check out the Sacred Event on May 12th. It will provide you with the tools that you need to move in the direction of your personal power and the fitness your heart desires.  SACRED FITNESS EVENT VICTORIA BC, MAY 12th 2012 &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;]]></description>
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<p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">For those of you in the Victoria, BC area, check out the Sacred Event on May 12th. It will provide you with the tools that you need to move in the direction of your personal power and the fitness your heart desires. </span></strong></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Grail Quest Coaching Presents….." href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/sacred-fitness/">SACRED FITNESS EVENT VICTORIA BC, MAY 12th 2012</a></h2>
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		<title>10 Weight Loss Fears That Sabotage Fitness Programs</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/9-reasons-people-dont-want-to-succeed-with-fitness/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/9-reasons-people-dont-want-to-succeed-with-fitness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 21:23:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2457</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet If you are having trouble getting out the starting gate on your quest for personal fitness, you may be caught somewhere between the fear of success and the fear of failure. When I tell people that they are showing signs of the fear of success when it comes to losing weight, they find it [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/800px-Island_Games_2011_mens_Town_Centre_Criterium_cycling_start_line.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2458" title="800px-Island_Games_2011_men's_Town_Centre_Criterium_cycling_start_line" src="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/800px-Island_Games_2011_mens_Town_Centre_Criterium_cycling_start_line-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>If you are having trouble getting out the starting gate on your quest for personal fitness, you may be caught somewhere between the fear of success and the fear of failure.</p>
<p>When I tell people that they are showing signs of the fear of success when it comes to losing weight, they find it difficult to believe that it is the case. Why would they fear success? They know they want to lose weight. They know they want to enjoy fitness.</p>
<p>When my clients do take a peek they see a downside to achieving their goal that they have not acknowledged to themselves or others before.  And here are some of the reasons I have heard over my years of coaching people who wanted to enhance their well being. See if they echo true for you.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>1) Once you have achieved your weight loss, you won&#8217;t be able to keep it off.</strong> How many times have you followed a food program, worked out, lost weight and then 6 months later have put it on again? It is very common. There are great gifts and lessons in this when we choose to find them, and they often point to changes in mindset that we will benefit from adapting as we move forward. Instead too many ask themselves &#8220;What&#8217;s the point?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>2) Expectations of others once you achieve your goal. </strong>What will people expect of you once you achieve your goal? What will you expect of yourself? If you are expecting to be perfect, you will find yourself in an endless upward struggle. Expect to feel greater self love, expect to feel good about yourself. These are expectations that you are in control of, this is your body and your mind. If you are attracting people around you with high expectations of what your body should look like, remember that they are a mirror that you have allowed in that reflects a thought that you think about yourself, otherwise it would not have hold over you. We have all been subjected to media bombardment of pictures of what is deemed to be sexy, and so it takes a conscious effort to debug those and define what makes us feel sexy.</p>
<p><strong>3) Your intuition is on fire when you are eating well and losing weight and you don&#8217;t like the messages you are receiving.</strong> The sensitive people among us understand this. Many times people stuff down their feelings with food, and so when you are mindful and watching this, and your intuition receives important information that scares you, you don&#8217;t want to receive it. So success is not good to some if it means knowing truths they would rather not know about. It takes courage to welcome the truth, to trust your intuition, and to act upon it.</p>
<p><strong>4) You get more sympathy and attention when you are struggling.</strong> This was me. When I was a victim and suffering I used to get way more sympathy. Once I let go of the need for sympathy and chose to empower myself I began receiving attention of a different nature altogether and it was empowering. Give up the need to struggle, you never have to sacrifice anything other than the things that work against the very nature of who you are. Blood, sweat, pain, and tears will not make you worthy of the fitness you desire. They are one path that some people follow, but you can choose a different way.</p>
<p><strong>5) You may upset or lose a loved one in the process.</strong> Not everyone wants you to change, but you cannot let that stop you. You may lose some people in your life but you will gain many others, and there will be many others amongst your tribe who will surprise you by being more supportive than you ever thought. The people who don&#8217;t want you to change are only a reflection of the part of you that doesn&#8217;t want to change.  The only way you will know is if you step forward, honour your own your commitment, and make that change.</p>
<p><strong>6) You will have to sacrifice another area of your life that you value in order to make time for it.</strong> There are those who succeed at this while being able to keep  balance with the other areas of life, and without having to sacrifice other things that they value. If you value family and relationships, maybe there are fun activities that you can do together that will enhance the wellbeing of everyone involved. You can add a little bit of exercise at a time here or there, and watch as your desire for it increases. And ask yourself, is watching 3 hours a tv a night something that I truly value?</p>
<p><strong>7) You will be on a restricted diet , or exercise program and won&#8217;t be able to do the things you love.</strong> I am not a proponent of diets. I work out, enjoy my body, enjoy my exercise, and still enjoy my food whilst making the choices that are best for my body. This is another of those little mind viruses that stops you from even getting out the door. When you have a strong desire for personal health you will be surprised how your taste buds accommodate and how much you are willing to change your thoughts about certain foods, knowing how much they benefit you.</p>
<p><strong> <img src='http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif' alt='8)' class='wp-smiley' /> It is a lot of responsibility.</strong> You have to be responsible for your thoughts, feelings and actions on a daily basis. You are responsible for the foods you put in your mouth, your level of activity, and the lack of results in the your life. Many people feel overburdened with responsibility as it is, and so having more things to be responsible for is just too much. We all need to get clear on what we are responsible for in life and what we are not responsible for, and when we do it becomes easier to accept the responsibilities that come with being in our power.</p>
<p><strong>9) You will become vain or prideful and think about your weight all the time.</strong> I have heard this many times from people too. It is a fear of our own shadow side, we need to understand that we get to create who we become. If we don&#8217;t want to be vain or prideful then we want to be humble in our approach, and there are ways of doing that without sabotaging your fitness. There are many people who have achieved great physical fitness who are humble about the blessings they have received. Focus on the kind of person you want to become, be willing to witness your shadow thoughts and energies so that you can conquer them within yourself.</p>
<p><strong>10) You don&#8217;t want to be seen as a sex object.</strong> This one is especially true for women. I have worked with many women who fear that if they become sexy that men will want them, and if men ever held power over them in the past, they are afraid it will happen again and they will feel controlled. They don&#8217;t want to be sexy because of all the negative attention that gets them. And men can experience it in different ways too. When they are sexy and notice the attention of many women they can start to notice shadow aspects of themselves surfacing, such as their greed or lack of commitment and sabotage their divine sexiness in other ways. And many people have been raised to feel shame and guilt around sex, so being sexy is just out of the question. When we are willing to heal our relationship with sex it is amazing what we can achieve with our bodies.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>These are just a few of the reasons why people actually fear success, and they are ones that stop many of the most ambitious fitness plans in their tracks. Own up to the fears that are yours, and you will no longer give them power. Once you are aware of them you can begin to foster more helpful thoughts that move you in the direction of your goals. There is always someone who has overcome the very fear you are facing, and they will support you, but you will only find them once you have acknowledged that fear within yourself.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>This is just a taste of some of the self sabotaging thoughts that prevent people stepping out of the starting gate. At the Sacred Fitness event in Victoria on May 12th 2012 a group of success oriented people will begin to take the steps to debug their mind of these sabotaging programs and embody thoughts and habits that move them in the direction of their goals. Come and join in, and enjoy the support. </strong></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Grail Quest Coaching Presents….." href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/sacred-fitness/">Sacred Fitness Daylong Event &#8211; Victoria, BC</a></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>The Little Voice Who Wants To Stay Stuck</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/the-little-voice-who-wants-to-stay-stuck/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/the-little-voice-who-wants-to-stay-stuck/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:59:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2449</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet The victim archetype plays a role in all of our lives. If you want to empower yourself, you will need to know what to do when the victim raises its voice within you. It makes a huge difference on your path to wellness. Empowerment is the name of the game at the Sacred Fitness [...]]]></description>
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<p>The victim archetype plays a role in all of our lives. If you want to empower yourself, you will need to know what to do when the victim raises its voice within you. It makes a huge difference on your path to wellness.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DqMdhHn5H-E" frameborder="0" width="450" height="259"></iframe></p>
<h3>
Empowerment is the name of the game at the Sacred Fitness Daylong Workshop in Victoria, BC on May 12th 2012. All the details <a title="Grail Quest Coaching Presents….." href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/sacred-fitness/">here</a>. Learn how to ask new and better questions to move forward on your path to fitness.</h3>
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		<title>The Soul Of Money For Authors</title>
		<link>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/the-soul-of-money-for-authors/</link>
		<comments>http://www.matthewashdown.com/blog/the-soul-of-money-for-authors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:53:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>matthew</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Author's Quest Blogs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.matthewashdown.com/?p=2435</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tweet The book business should be about fun and inspiring people first, and money second, but too many people forget about the second part altogether. It is a touchy subject for most, with a bunch of emotions, but when you are willing to find peace with it, life and business flows a lot more easily. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='wb_fb_top'><div style="float:right;"></div></div><p><a name="fb_share"></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share"></script><a class="twitter-share-button" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p><a href="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/600px-BaristaCountingTips.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-2437" title="600px-BaristaCountingTips" src="http://www.matthewashdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/600px-BaristaCountingTips-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="240" /></a>The book business should be about fun and inspiring people first, and money second, but too many people forget about the second part altogether. It is a touchy subject for most, with a bunch of emotions, but when you are willing to find peace with it, life and business flows a lot more easily.</p>
<p>If you are looking to get paid in a career as an author, then you will have to be willing to challenge some of what you have been taught about money growing up. Every time I work with an author I am listening to what they are saying about business, and about money. And I am not just listening to what they say, but also to the energy they have around it.</p>
<p>And what ends up happening is cross purposes are created. In one sentence the author tells me why they want to make money following this career path, but in the next sentence they are saying money isn&#8217;t that important. Through 8 years of being self-employed I have listened deeply to the beliefs I held about money. I have been poor, I have been a money magnet, I have been great with money and I have blown it. And in every challenging moment I listened in to the thoughts that were preventing me from being at peace with the subject.</p>
<p>Today I neither hate money, nor worship it as the most important element of life. I see that there are big changes going on in our financial systems as we see a greater need for integrity. But each of us has the opportunity to be an example of that. I see money has importance, I love seeing the good that it can do in the world, and that any author who really wants to be successful in this writing game needs to be willing to improve their relationship with it.</p>
<p>Here are some of the most pressing thoughts around money that I have seen for almost every author I work with:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What you were told about artists and money.</strong> Unless you were truly blessed growing up, you were probably told about the starving artists, and told to get a &#8220;real&#8221; job instead. Einstein once said &#8220;There is never a lack of a money problem, only a lack of creativity.&#8221; There is great truth in this statement. I believe and see authors who are making a great income. They are writing prolifically and also many of them have other streams of income that support them. They may or may not be working a 9 til 5 to support them. I always tell clients that questions are so important. <strong>&#8220;What are the best ways that I can make money that I will enjoy?&#8221;</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>They don&#8217;t trust big business. </strong>In self-publishing authors have their alarm bells ringing because they are afraid they are going to be ripped off by the next scam that just wants their money. There are definitely reasons for people to be wary when making choices. There are good self-publishing firms out there, and even at the less than great ones, there are great people. You just have to do your shopping around to find them. And always remember, it is trust in yourself that is the most important thing. Many authors are angry at themselves because they chose to work with a firm that was less than good, and feel ripped off in the process. it doesn&#8217;t mean that I approve of what is happening, but staying angry only causes us to make the same mistakes. Trust yourself, learn to listen to what your intuition says about the people you are choosing to work with. When I wasn&#8217;t supporting myself internally with self-talk that moved me towards my vision I would find myself attracting people who were not supporting my vision. Time for new questions. <strong>&#8220;Who are the people who are truly supporting the vision for my book.&#8221;</strong></p>
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<p><strong>You are forgetting to ask for money.</strong> If you don&#8217;t like it when people are asking you for money, you will likely be the very same person who is unable to ask customers for money, because you fear becoming like the very people you dislike.  You have to be comfortable with asking for money. I usually find that the customers want to throw money at authors, but they are just waiting to be asked. You only need to cross that threshold of discomfort once or twice before it suddenly feels better. You are adding value to peoples live through your work and you are worthy of money as a result. And a big part of it is getting really clear on your ideal reader so that you know who would value what you are writing. Not everyone will pay for your book, you want to find those who do. Time for a new question. <strong>&#8220;Who are the people who would be willing to pay me for my book?&#8221;</strong></p>
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<p>This is only a slight dip into a huge subject that I recommend every author be willing to challenge themselves on. And if your money hatred is seething at the surface right now, then I recommend it even more. The money system may be corrupt in places, and seeming to break down, but at this time it is the only form of energy transaction that mortgage payments can be paid by. You don&#8217;t have to make money your number one goal ( in fact that leads to an endless pursuit), but with you as a good steward of it, you will be amazed at the good it can do in the world.</p>
<p>Listen to the statements you make about money and business, and ask yourself if they are really true. Is it possible that money could be a great friend of yours? Are you willing to change those statements to find peace with money so that you can provide for your family as an author?</p>
<p>And also, you want to start with a vision in your life for the amount of money that you need in order to fulfill that which you desire. You may desire great riches, you may desire to give large amounts to worthy charities, you may desire to provide and education fund for your children. Hold the space for the vision, unblock the destructive belief systems and take action towards the goal every day of your life.</p>
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<p><strong>In Victoria, BC on June 9th I am hosting a workshop which is for all those of you who are looking to make income in the business of writing and are willing to challenge themselves to grow and change into the vision that they have for their life. </strong></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.3pennypublishing.com/events.htm">Dammit Jim I Am A Writer Not A Promoter</a></h1>
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