Invoices For Blessings Already Received

Invoices For Blessings Already Received!

Invoice

          They say it usually takes a small business at least 5 years before it can start to really see consistent growth and sustainable profit. I’m an entrepreneur and have been for the past 4+ yrs – I own my medical practice here in Nashville, TN. I faced many financial challenges in the first couple of years of my practice including a large majority of that time, not being able to pay myself a salary. Ask any entrepreneur you know and I’m almost certain that will tell you something very similar about their experience lol!

          I have some great mentors, including my parents who are both entrepreneurs, and knew because of their advice to expect some financial strain in the beginning. However, at one point I started to get really aggravated by my bills….yes, aggravated! Every time I looked around there were unexpected bills popping up – state taxes, federal taxes, Professional Privilege Tax (yes – that really is a tax here in the state of Tennessee that taxes me for being a Doctor!).

The more the bills came in, the more I complained and complained…….and complained!

I always prayed that God would make a way for each and every bill to be paid and He always showed up and the bills would be paid. However, every time one would come, I would start fussing again lol!

          One day in the course of the daily reading that I do on Twitter and Facebook, I started coming across article after article about money management that somehow encouraged me to start looking at money differently! Instead of complaining every time a bill came in the mail, I started being thankful that I’m doing something I want to do or have something I want to have that results in a bill coming in the mail for it as compensation!

           I have a cable bill because I get to enjoy unlimited cable every month. I have business taxes to pay because I am blessed to own a business that creates income for myself and my future. I had (Thank God for the blessing of it being totally paid off!) a car payment to make because I am blessed to drive a nice, comfortable, reliable car!

            You see, when I re-named my bills  “Invoices for Blessings already received” things started changing in my life! My income started increasing and I had more money available to pay the bills – taking away the negativity I was associating with them in the first place!

            Money is Spiritual. I know…you may have never thought of it that way! When I talk about money being spiritual with people for the first time I often get “You know, I never thought of it that way!” comments or the opposite, blank stares (lol) until I explain it further!

            You block the flow of money when you approach it from a place of lack and scarcity. You increase the flow of money when you appreciate the money you already have (even if it’s not as much as you want or think you need) and become a good steward over it. You want to know why??? Check this out:

Because Little Becomes Much in God’s Hands!!!!

Starting today I want you to literally write on the top of every bill that you get and feel negatively about this phrase:

“This Bill is an Invoice for a BLESSING Already Received!”

Moreover, it’s not enough to just say it….you must really feel grateful for the blessing already received!

This practice has totally changed the way I deal with and handle money and I hope it does for you too!

Dr Carmen April Speaker          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter. She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

And The Greatest of These is Love

…..And The Greatest of These is Love

Dr Carmen April Love

Three things will last forever – Faith, Hope, and Love; and the Greatest of these is Love” –

1 Corinthians 13:13

          My first blog post for 2015 discussed an activity that I’ve been doing the past couple of years which is to declare a particular word/theme for the year. Once I select the word/theme I meditate on it everyday throughout the year. I create a colorful poster with the word written in the center of it and have it hanging on my bathroom mirror, refrigerator and in my office.

          At the end of 2014 I prayed over what my “Theme for 2015” would be and two words were revealed to me. Everywhere I looked, in things I read, conversations I had with people, things I saw on TV, and what continued to come up in my spirit during my prayer and meditation time, were these two words consistently! Because I was obviously on a positive frequency with these two words, I couldn’t just choose 1 word…..I had to go with both!

I didn’t reveal the words then, but I’m revealing the first one today and the other in a couple of months!!

LOVE

 Dr Carmen April Love

           To say that the word LOVE continuously came up in my spirit during the time is a huge understatement lol! I even found this sweater during a “random” shopping trip to the mall (I put the word “random” in quotations because I don’t believe in coincidences……..everything happens for reason!)

           We tend to focus so much on Romantic Love that we tend to forget about the many other dimensions of Love. God is Love, is the Creator of love, created us in love, to experience love and to share love.

           Since I have begun to look at more of my daily interactions, “goings-on” and activities through a new lens of love, I am more acutely aware of the many miracles that occur in my life on a daily basis 🙂

Dr Carmen April Love

           I plan to feature a couple more posts on love here throughout the year as new revelations are coming to me everyday through mediation, prayer, and being Mindful of the many miracles that form the basis of my thriving existence here on earth.

          We are called to Love!

I’ll end this post with an old Australian Proverb:

“We are just visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to LOVE…..and then we return home”.

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      Dr Carmen April Speaker     Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

Live Your Dreams

Live Your Dreams

Live your dreams

          Life is too short to waste it living someone else’s dream or even worse, having amazing dreams of your own that you’re too afraid to go after. Holding on to dreams and being afraid to pursue them is like someone wrapping a $10 Million gift for you, placing it under the Christmas Tree and you deciding to leave it there, unopened, forever!

I’m sure you’re thinking, “Who would do that?”

Well, people do it all the time!

          Just imagine: The giver of the gift would not be happy in that situation because the special gift that they picked out just for you is going unopened and unused & the receiver of the gift will never experience the joy of finding and having the precious gift! Analogy –>> God/Creator of the Universe is the gift-giver and you are the recipient.

          There is a special gift that the world needs and only YOU have it! Don’t deprive the Universe of the special gifts it needs…those that reside within you and only you! Discover them, chase after them, share them, love them, use them to help other people and give Thanks to The Creator for them 🙂

          Dr. Carmen AprilDr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader (NELA) Award Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

She is a Dreamer Through and Through

She is a Dreamer Through and Through

Dr Carmen April

“She is a Dreamer through and through…….determined to make it happen even when she hasn’t got a clue!

If you want amazing things to manifest in your life you must dream BIG dreams, start before you’re ready and live to thrive!

Dr. Carmen April          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

On Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Service

On Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Service

Dr. Carmen April

            A couple of weeks ago my really great friend/College Roommate/Sorority Sister, Sirobe, featured me on her blog. I was tickled pink over this because she is one of the most creative people I’ve ever met in my life and am honored that she’s featured me! She interviewed me about everything from Entrepreneurship and Leadership to proper foot health and my annual sock drive. We talked for well over an hour and somehow she managed to whittle the interview down to the three features you can find here:

Part I

Part II

Part III

Enjoy!

Dr. Carmen April            Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

Energy Goes Where Intention Flows

Energy Goes Where Intention Flows

Good vibes

          It’s so important to realize that our thoughts and feelings have real power! If you want to be successful, start thinking like a success. If you want to increase the flow of money into your life, get rid of the negative thoughts of lack and struggle and start thinking about financial prosperity!

          Energy flows where Attention & Intention goes! Intend that things are improving. Be determined that every positive thought you put out into the Uni-verse and every bold expression of Faith in your dreams is attracting positive results back into your life. Focus on seeing your dreams come to fruition.

           Don’t even spend too much time trying to crush negative thoughts as they come into your mind because, in doing so, you are giving attention to them. Instead, let them sail on by like a boat lost at sea! Ever heard of the phrase, “let it go in one ear and out the other”? Do the same thing with negative thoughts – imagine them leaving out of your mind just as quickly as they came in…….

         Train your mind to focus your attention and intentions on people, experiences and opportunities that will lead to a victorious life!

Dr. Carmen April          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

Faith Is Like WiFi

Faith Is Like WiFi

Wifi

Wi-Fi is Invisible, but it’s real and it works!

Gravity is invisible, but it’s real and it works!

The air we breath is invisible, but it’s real and it works!

Faith is invisible, but it’s real and it works!

Faith is like Wi-Fi: It’s invisible, but has the power to connect you to exactly what you need!

When we are plugged into the source of our existence and count on that source to guide our lives, we are guaranteed that we will receive exactly what we need, when we need it, to carry out our purposes here on earth!!

Remember this and carry it into every aspect of your life – personal, social, and professional! Your Faith is POWERFUL and will keep you connected to The Source!

Dr. Carmen April          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader (NELA) Award Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

There is Power in What We Think About and Thank About

There is Power in What We Think About & Thank About!

Think About Thank About

          Plainly stated,  expressing Gratitude is one of the most important things you can do everyday to live a successful, victorious life!

            When you are truly thankful for all the things that allow you to live and breathe and have your being each and every day, you allow less and less room for dissatisfaction and complaining to take root in your mind. God/Creator/Universe honors gratitude and sends more of those things you are appreciative of your way!

When you change your thinking, you change your life!

When you are appreciative, your life changes!

Sounds like a win-win to me 🙂

Dr. Carmen April          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader (NELA) Award Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

Stop Procrastinating

Stop Procrastinating

Dr. Carmen April, Life coach, Nashville Life coachThere’s no time like the present!

          It’s so easy to make procrastination a habit. You do it once and things turn out fine, you do it twice and things still turn out fine……..or so you think! Making a habit of procrastination could most certainly cause you to miss out on opportunities you have been waiting for and praying for. This is not to say that the opportunity may not come around again. It probably will if it’s really meant for you to have it….but it may also take some additional time because you were not in position to receive the blessing/opportunity when it was ready for you!

Learn to plan ahead, make a schedule and create a timeline. Start before you’re ready!

Dr. Carmen April          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.

“God is Within her. She will not fail”

“God is Within Her. She will not fail” – Psalm 46:5

          Today’s post is really simple. The verse featured as the title of this blog post was on my heart and I wanted to share it.

          I set the intention of succeeding at everything I do, but honestly, some of the tasks that are before me initially appear to be overwhelming. However, I have to often remind myself that the Good Orderly Direction of the Universe, God, guides me day by day.

           Taking a little time to sit down & meditate on all the blessings I experience and posses, reminds me that I can and WILL conquer the day victoriously!

Dr. Carmen April

Dr. Carmen April          Dr. Carmen April is an entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2014 Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) Winner, a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is a 2014 Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter.  She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.