Are you living the life of your dreams? If not, you may be missing out on one of the most important ingredients for your success…

You hold the key to your happiness. That’s not a platitude or hokey "new age" statement. It’s the truth. Happiness is a choice, like everything else. You are free to choose a life of joy, abundance and love, or you can choose a life of misery, poverty and loneliness. You are the only one who makes your life come true. (You and Law of Attraction, that is.)

I know a man who has had more blind dates than the gross national product…but he can’t find one to marry. Why? He complains to me (and the Universe), over and over again, that there are no women "out there" for him. I hear him…and so does the Universe, who continues to deliver exactly what he is asking for – no woman to marry! (By the way, this same fellow believes there are no jobs "out there" for him that pay enough or have enough prestige. Guess what? Yep, that’s right…he spends months in between consulting contracts, complaining to everyone he knows.)

What does Law of Attraction have to do with it? Everything! The Universe (some call it God, Source, All-That-Is, Spirit, etc.) answers each and every message we send to it, but not in the way we might have learned while we were growing up. Whatever signal we are sending out vibrationally is what gets answered. Do you think you’re a loser or a winner? Either way, you’re right! Do you see yourself as someone who is lucky or someone who is unlucky? Again, right you are!

Getting the hang of Law of Attraction is not as hard as you might think. Basically, you need to start paying attention to how you feel. How you really feel. Forget what you’ve been taught, forget what everyone else tells you to feel, forget what you think you should feel.

For many of us, it’s easier said than done to even have an inkling of what we’re feeling. So to simplify the process, we’re only going to concentrate on two feelings: good and bad. There are all kinds of names for them but they generally fall into those two categories. And all we need to do to claim our power is to pay attention to how we feel about any given subject. Does the thought make you smile inside? Or does your stomach clench at the thought?

Let’s say the thought doesn’t feel too good. Once you notice, turn your attention to something else that does feel good. Try to find a thought that feels a little better instead of giving any more attention to the negative thought.

If you can’t find a thought that feels better – take a few deep breaths or play with your dog or take a walk or do anything you can think of that lifts your spirits. Even for a moment.

Here’s an example: A dear friend of mine was having some irregular heartbeats. Of course, we were both frightened at the thought of it. While he was at the doctor’s office, I practiced shifting my fear to a better place with statements like, "He’s a very healthy person and this is probably nothing serious. He’s in very good hands with his doctor and he’ll have a thorough check up. I’m glad he takes such good care of himself." Happily, all was well. And I didn’t spend any of my time in that place of worry and powerlessness.

I have another friend who was working as a waitress. She told me that many of her customers ask her if she makes big tips where she’s working. Fearing that they wouldn’t tip her a lot if they thought she was already getting large tips, she’d respond, "Oh, not very much." And that’s just what she made.

I suggested she change her response to see what would happen. For the next week, whenever someone asked, she’d say, "Oh, yes! You’d be amazed at how much people leave for me!"

It was no surprise to me (though it was to her) that suddenly she was making much bigger tips! Needless to say, she continues to be positive in her response…and now it’s the absolute truth!

I learned a word recently that fits with working with Law of Attraction. The word is "espavo" and it means "thank you for taking your power." Claim your power and live the life of your dreams.

Sandi Kimmel is a Musical Motivational Speaker and Joy Maker, using her songs, her words and her heart to light the path for readers and audiences worldwide. Called “a lifeguard in a sea of negativity,” she has been on the Law of Attraction path for many years, and together with her husband, Patrick Murphy, provide tips and techniques on how to find better feeling thoughts on the journey to authenticity. Visit http://www.lawofattractiongateway.com for more uplifting ideas and articles, Musical Affirmations and more.