1. Set the intention to be free of all struggle. We literally wear ourselves out and dampen our ability to connect with our intuition by believing that life is a challenge. Taking time each day to fully express joy in everything that you do, allows you to move past old limitations and open the cosmic doorway to overwhelming prosperity. Each of us has the personal responsibility and ability to uplift ourselves and commit to achieving our highest potential. Each day write out your highest and best intention and you will soon start to keep track of your dreams which have manifested.

2. Recognize that you are unique and that it is easy to operate in a greater awareness capacity then we realize. Allow yourself to take time to become still several times each day. Becoming acutely aligned to what is going on inside of you, this is one of the best ways to strengthen your intuitive muscle. Pay attention to your subtle energy and notice what events, people or things cause your energy level to shift. Know what makes you feel good and connect with that energy.

3. Believe that you have been gifted with incredible potential. Most of us never fully engage our ability to tap into potential energy. Working at this level allows you to become free of self-imposed boundaries and limitations. You will start to see yourself moving past the things that you felt were holding you back.

4. Recognize that extraordinary experiences happen to you everyday. Operate in a trust mode and learn to integrate this in every level of your life. Trust that life will awaken new opportunities for you to thrive and prosper. Recently, I set an intention to be in the audience of the Oprah’s premiere show entitled, “The Ultimate Fan.” Crafting an email that reflected the creative and positive way she has turned on the inner light for others, I received a phone call two days later from one of the producer’s. The phone call ended with the young lady telling me that, “this phone call is no guarantee that you will be the audience. That decision will be made at a later date.” Listening to the call with me was my husband of 15-years. Without hesitation, I told him of my intention to be in audience for the Oprah Ultimate Fan Show. I decided to express the highest joy about my being on the show and relaxed into my being a part of the experience. If you’d like to read more go to http://www.shereefranklin.com and read my blog entitled, “How to Be On the Oprah Show.”

Turning inward to vision your internal blueprint for success will allow you to thrive and prosper. It is imperative to base your future on stepping forward each day with clarity of what you intend to experience. Cultivating this habit will allow you to connect with the awareness that thought creates experience. You benefit by participating in life at the highest level and connecting with your intuition. When we choose to consciously move past our physical world,you are endowed with experiences and characteristics that will expand your life.

Our feelings are all around us and are difficult to control, but gaining this ability has the power to transform and accelerate healing in all areas of your life. In my work as an Intuitive Counselor and Coach, my clients suffer from anger over everything from relationships breakups, mistreatment by their parents to not having achieved their potential. Regardless of the experience, the lesson is always the same, when we recognize our internal boiling point, we have the ability to control the outcome.

Sometime ago while walking with my husband we were debating a number of issues in our relationship. I became so engrossed in our conversation that suddenly a small barking dog appeared at my feet. The dog’s owner quickly answered my question about it’s arrival and told me, “it is barking like you are.” Within an instant my level of anger rose to the point where we exchanged some very heated words. Suddenly we were waving fingers, saying things that could have resulted in physical violence.

In a moment of clarity, I became consciously aware of the danger and choose to disconnect from the experience. This is where practicing emotional hygiene becomes so powerful, because each of us moment by moment can choose to create to change anything we want. After expressing to the woman my desire for “peace,” and a willingness to accept blame for the anger outburst, I choose to consciously disconnect and started to walk away.

My reaction was met with a great deal of resistance from the woman, and she continued to follow us. With her yelling behind me, I willed my mind, body and spirit to focus on peace and love. Covering us both with a protective layer of white light, we resumed our walk and the woman at some point disappeared.

This experience served as a vital lesson for my work with my clients. Teaching people to be intuitively aware of their feelings allows us to collect the data that is needed to change any circumstance we face in our lives. This capacity is vital to understanding our choices, options and alternatives to achieving a prosperous, healthy and long life.

The book, Infinite Mind by Dr. Valerie Hunt is one of the first truly scientific understanding of the relationship between energy field disturbances, disease and emotional pathologies. Best known for her pioneering research in the field of bioenergy, Dr. Hunt’s visionary approach coupled with a rigorous adherence to the highest scientific standards has won her international acclaim in the fields of physiology, medicine and bioengineering.

Each of us has the capacity to recognize the emotion of anger and to control it. If you observe yourself being angry and allow yourself to step back intuitively, this will give you the power to make a different choice.

Identifying a person’s cycle is critical in my work as an Intuitive Counselor and Coach. The first thing I do when working with an individual is to ask, “Where is this person in the stage of their life? The three cycles we all face are:

1. Achievement – this is the cycle we all want to be in, but it is the hardest energy level to maintain. To be in achievement we must do unique and innovative things. An example of a person clearly in the achievement cycle is Don Thompson, President and Chief Operating Officer of McDonald’s USA. He has the tremendous responsibility for setting the strategic tone for 32,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 117 countries. Despite a very heavy workload and travel schedule, when Thompson is home he is there 100% for his wife and children. Also, he has a philanthropic spirit which keeps the achievement cycle continuing.

2. Plateau – this is the stage where we stop taking risks. We get comfortable and don’t feel the need to change. Most of us stay in relationships, jobs even apartments or houses longer then we should. One obvious example of an industry that has been stuck in the plateau cycle has been the American automotive industry. Recently, we’ve seen signs that Ford has made tremendous efforts to focus on quality. One of the most powerful ways to shift into achievement is to analyze the past, identify what you’ve done wrong, and to actively work to change.

3. Upheaval – many of us will do anything to avoid going through upheaval. Being in this cycle actually is one that can lead to our greatest growth and development, because how you act when you are in upheaval determines how long before you are in achievement again. A female client who stayed in an unhappy marriage for close to 20 years made the decision to file for divorce two years ago. As she feared, the legal battle has been a difficult one. In addition, nine months ago she was also downsized from a 6-figure position. Despite the pain and anguish, this 50-something year-old Baby Boomer has started to regain her footing and has learned some critical life lessons. First of all, she has broken the cycle of attracting a “bad boy,” and is now dating a man who values and appreciates her. In addition, the picture for success does not include the Fortune 500 companies she would have typically sought for her next position. Instead, she is looking for work with an organization that reflects her desire to give service.

Those who express a willingness to recognize and explore the inherent patterns in their life will open the doorway to change in less time with less stress. Each of us has ample talents and abilities to live the highest version of our life plan. When we gain a deeper understanding of our cycles it will help guide us to creating what we want in our lives.

The energy which usually blocks our intuition is fear. When we are afraid it limits our ability to process information effectively. Becoming aware of what stops your growth and development will help you navigate the job market with greater confidence and clarity.

Here are six ways to pay attention to the free-flowing classroom that all of us are experiencing in life:

1. Pay attention to the people or circumstances that make you fearful. Set the intention to create an opposite experience then what you typically feel when someone or something makes you afraid. If you know that interviewing makes you nervous take time to mentally prepare on all the levels. Record yourself role playing the answers to the questions you intuitively feel will be asked and practice at least two answers. Think of your statements as being “mini commercials,” and sell yourself and your strengths and abilities in short, concise statements.

2. Listen to your intuition. When you develop a healthy relationship with your inner technology it will appear like a trusted friend and alert you when things don’t feel or sound right. Paying attention to your “interior vision,” will allow you to focus on how your body is processing different experiences.

3. Lift up your energy before a meeting or interview. Astute interviewers look for individuals who make them feel good. The critical point is that you must be authentic. Forcing energy that you are not feeling can be easily detected. That’s why you must take time to mentally, physically, emotionally and even spiritually prepare before you sit down for any important meeting. Fine tuning your energy field allows others to easily feel a positive flow coming from you. An excellent example of an individual who knows how to work with energy effectively is Ellen Degeneres. She starts her show by playing music and dancing around the studio with her audience. Everyone becomes engaged at an energetic level and believes they will have a great time. Determine what raises your energy and use it before going to an interview or an important meeting.

4 Make a gratitude list. It is easy to focus of all the things we do not have in our lives. This is a simple technique which is easy to do even if you don’t have a pencil. If you are alone, say the list out loud. It can be particular helpful if you find yourself feeling bad after a situation didn’t go the way you hoped.

5. Know what lifts your energy. Being able to soothe yourself is a valuable tool for being able to recover from everything from a so-so job interview to getting the news that you were not the selected candidate. Staying in a down energy field will limit your ability to rebound quickly for that next opportunity!

6. Avoid absorbing other people’s fears. Distancing yourself from people who are energy drainers is critical. Decide who builds your energy and choose to be with individuals who make your spirit soar! This is particularly difficult when the energy drainer in your life is either a dear friend or family member. Taking mini breaks from energy sappers isn’t being selfish…this allows you to take care of yourself so you will radiate positive energy needed to land that perfect job!

1. Meditate regularly – Research shows that regular meditators are more likely to alter habits or even moods. Focusing on what you want is a way to uplift your spirit to approach a difficult period as a blessing. Even short periods of quiet reflection make a difference. Research shows that as little as 10 minutes of quieting your mind will have a powerful impact on your attitude and thoughts.

2. Open up your heart energy – Before your interview (phone or live) ask yourself what does your body says about the vibes you want to send out. Look at your posture, even if you are doing a phone interview, dress up. Take note of the both the positive and negative things your intuition picks up. Make a checklist of what your inner knowing tells you. Once you become aware of your body’s signals it will become easier to make choices which are aligned with what you want. When you go through the checklist pay attention to all your feelings. Subconsciously we often connect with our past experiences and then unknowingly attract in the same circumstances! Repeating the same lessons will only delay your progress. Determine if there is unfinished business that you need to address.

3. Take time for a pep talk! Everything is about sales…and selling yourself to yourself is critical. Pay attention to your self talk. If you don’t believe in you, who will? Know yourself and become aware of what raises your energy level. If it is reading something uplifting make time for that everyday. For many people listening to motivating songs is a way to help raise their consciousness. My theme song in one difficult period of my life was Gloria Estefan’s “Coming Out of the Darkness.”

4. Connect with your interviewer. I’m not saying be phony, but find a way to notice something that matters about this person that stands out. Use this approach in every meeting that you have with people, you never know who will open the door of opportunity for you. Creating a positive attitude goes a long way to affect others. The energy of communication happens in our subtle energy. It travels from heart to heart and is subconsciously impacted on the person’s mind.

5. Do soulful giving. One of the best ways I’ve found to shift out of a difficult period is to get busy giving. Three years ago, when I faced the tremendous loss of my Mother’s death, while trying to build my practice, I gave God a list of everything I needed. Later that day while driving by a neighborhood church my intuition came back with the question, “You told me what you need, but what are you willing to give?” I parked my car and went into the church and signed up to join a team to be a volunteer to help feed the homeless. It took a few weeks, but slowly but surely things started to improve on all levels. Not only did giving allow for my heart to heal but the energy shifted and clients started to come in on a regular basis.

Gregg Braden in the book, Secrets of the Last Mode of Prayer calls this period “a Dark Night of the Soul.” This is a time in your life when you’ll be drawn into a situation that represents what, for you, are your worse fears. When you are in this stage problems will present on all levels, with business, family and friends. According to Braden each of us will experience the Dark Night of the Soul throughout our lifetime. The first is usually the worse. One female client who has recently lost her job, and is going through a divorce, has faced this twice in the last few months.

Being aware of your emotions is the best way not to let fear control you. Each of us has at our disposal a unique weapon…our sensory arsenal, to alert and warn you when things are going haywire inside. Your internal signals are your intuition. Awareness is power. Here are the steps my client took to shift out of this emotional tailspin:

1. Try to identify what caused the fear eruption. In my client’s case it was an upcoming phone interview that she painstakingly worked to manifest.

2. Take action. One of the best ways I’ve found to energetically shift is to say The Lord’s Prayer out loud 10 times. In addition, to do mindful breathing and repeat a mantra such as “Peace be still.” If you find yourself unable to shift on your own turn to a trusted friend or counselor who will not judge you.

The blessing that occurs for many people, when they heal their fears is that you will be intuitively guided to the best step to follow. In my client’s case she felt a need to physically dress-up for the telephone interview in complete business attire. This action gave her the subtle shift to handle the call with an added layer of confidence and clarity, and she moved into the next stage in the interview process.

Faith Dremmer, 17 was tragically struck down while on a bike trip with two friends on a rural road in southern Illinois.  The two other girls, Kaia Tammen and Julia Baird were seriously injured and remain hospitalized.

The story of Faith’s life has unfolded into a lesson which many people will find themselves reconnecting with…and that is to love deeply when we are inspired to do so.

Her mother, Michelle Dremmer fell in love with Faith through a photo, even before traveling all the way to China to adopt her.    The picture, was provided by another woman who had just returned from adopting her own daughter in China.  The woman told Michelle, “of being concerned about the little 2-year-old girl left behind in the orphanage.”

Faith’s life as a soon-to-be graduating senior at University of Chicago Laboratory School, her love for her violin, an enthusiastic biker, coupled with countless friendships and a special closeness with her mother, opens our lives to the fragile balance that we experience everyday.  The lavish love that Michelle draped around her daughter provided for the spectacular backdrop to a young life that ended way too early.

The service at Temple Sholom of Chicago provided the canvas for mixing crisis as well as joy to the individuals, families and communities of people who gathered to honor Faith Dremmer.  Michelle Dremmer’s intuitive insight to adopt Faith as a toddler allowed this sacred path to unfold for not only herself, but the world to see and admire, and gain insight.