Dear Friend,

I am always intrigued as to what the people that I look up to attribute to their success, to their making good decisions to taking them where they want to be in life and in attaining their big goals.  So this week's article focuses on the answer to that very important question: "What is the secret to your business success?"  We take a look at the answer to that question, given by two very important, influential people of our time:  Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates.  I hope that you enjoy this week's article on the "Secret to Success."

Peace, Love, and Beauty,

Sarah Maria

Bill Gates' and Oprah Winfrey's Secret to Success

When asked the secret of their business success, both Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey have said, "Business Intuition".

Business intution???

Some of the wealthiest people in the world have said that their success is based on something as airy-fairy, new-agey, and clearly un-scientific as "Intuition"??? Interesting...

Well, it my experience intuition is the most important guide we have for making decisions that are going to improve our lives. Intuition is something that is always with us, always available to us, helping guide us in any given moment. This article is all about helping you to understand Intuition, and get in touch with it so you can create a life that you love.

Many people describe intuition as the small voice that seems to whisper to you. It is subtle, and yet unmistakably there, all the time.  I, however, struggled in the beginning with identifying this small voice.  I wasn't always sure I could hear this small whisper. Unless you get in the habit of listening to your intuition, it is incredibly easy to ignore.

Here is a slightly different way to understand it:

Have you ever made a decision that you later went on to regret? If you are like most people, the answer is an unequivocal "yes". At the moment you realized it was not a good decision, you can probably look back and
say, "Part of me knew it was a bad decision all along..." This is intuition.  This is the quiet whispering voice that is always there, but so easy to ignore.  Sometimes it takes falling flat on our face to get us in touch with this inner-voice.

Think back to the times that you made a decision you were less-than-proud-of...chances are you can get a glimpse into the subtle and yet powerful world of intuition.

If intuition has the power to lead Bill Gates and Oprah to their success - you want to hone your ability to get in touch with your own intuition and let it guide you as well.  The most important part of doing this is understanding what get's in the way of intuition. Here is a small sampling of potential culprits:

Negative Patterns of Thought and Behavior

Yes, it's the negative voices in our head that drowned out the wisdom of our intuition. Our noisy minds keep us listening to repetitive thoughts, instead of touching our intuitive wisdom. Our negative patterns keep us living in the past, making habituated decisions, instead of responding creatively and authentically in each moment.

Low self-esteem and lack of confidence

When you are feeling down on yourself and doubting your abilities, you distance yourself from your intuition. In order to listen and hear your intuition, you must trust that you have the ability to guide and direct your life. You must learn to trust yourself and your own, innate wisdom. Self-doubt and insecurity will deprive you of your endless reservoir of intuition.

Heartbreak

If you are suffering from heartbreak, loss, grief, and disappointment, you can will also lose touch with your intuition. Intuition can be easily eclipsed by our own pain and suffering. When you are experiencing loss, feeling pain or grief, or feeling lonely, your sense of despair can drown out the quiet whisper of intuition.

Before you make any decision, take a few minutes to sit quietly with yourself. Be still and listen for the whisper. Intuition has a language of its own. The beautiful thing is that the more you practice, the louder it becomes, until one day, every decision is based on intuition, and your inner-wisdom will guide you to exactly where you need to go.

If you want to learn how to access intuition, how to overcome whatever might be getting in the way of your own, innate wisdom, check out my upcoming teleclass. Registration is finally ready - check out http://breakfreebeauty.com/healyourheart.

This is a 3-class series that will help you heal your heart, overcome challenges, get you in touch with intuition, and help you create a life that you love.  I am offering an early-bird special for the next week - $77 for all three classes.  But come next Friday the price is going up to $97, no if's, and's, or but's. (Sorry, the marketing folk are telling me I need to be firm on this point... :) )  But, you still have a full week to figure out if you want to heal your heart and improve your life before the price goes up... :) I truly hope to "see" you on the call!

Sarah Maria is a body-image expert and teacher who can help you discover the beauty that you already are so that you can create a body and a life that you truly love. Her first book, Love Your Body, Love Your Life, is being published by Adams Media and will be available for purchase in November '09. She combines ancient spiritual wisdom with modern science and shows you, step-by-step, how to pacify your mind, heal your heart, befriend your body, and transform your life.

She has studied with the leading experts in health, spirituality, personal development, and success, including Deepak Chopra, physician Dr. David Simon (co-founder of the Chopra Center for Well-being in Carlsbad, CA), Dr. Wayne Dyer, Jack Canfield, renowned Ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad, and many others. She is a lover of eastern philosophy and spiritual wisdom and passionately shares these teachings that have so transformed her own life.

Before founding Break Free Beauty, Sarah Maria received her law degree from Stanford University and her Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University in NYC. She has lived and traveled throughout Latin America, and has also visited many countries around the world. Her greatest passion is helping people discover the beauty and the greatness that resides inside so they can live from this place of grandeur, transforming themselves and the world.