What in the world?!!! My jaw nearly hit the floor one day last year when I posted an inspirational video about Susan Boyle that racked up nearly 2000 views overnight! After watching Susan’s inspiring audition on Britian’s Got Talent, I was thought it would be a great topic for a motivational talk.

So I made the video with my Webcam and put it up on Youtube to share with my close friends and colleagues who are, like Susan, pursuing creative endeavors. To my great surprise, the views kept multiplying and within a week, I was up to 100,000! As of this writing, it has had over 180,000.

In the days after the posting, I received hundreds of messages from individuals around the globe about how much my video inspired them. At the same time, I got tons of hateful messages, criticizing everything from the way I look to my good intentions. It’s hard to believe that so many people get a kick out of knocking others down.

I decided the best way to deal with the negativity was to examine ways in which I could use it to motivate people to follow their true paths, no matter what obstacles they might encounter.. Every situation, whether good or bad, helps us to move forward and brings opportunities that assist us in fulfilling our purpose.

My greatest lesson in all the Youtube backlash was that despite my sincere desire to make a difference in the world, there are still plenty of people who are going to mock my efforts. Evil and jealousy are rampid and there’s no escaping it. Some humans are miserable and will do all they can to try to prevent others from succeeding.

Will that fact stop me from doing what I was born to do? No way!!

I heard Susan Boyle say in a television interview that she has dealt with haters all of her life. Surely, she has cried buckets of tears over this and has been tempted to give up more than once.

But deep inside, she knew she had something special to offer and continued to believe a door would open one day for her to share her gift. Now, that steadfast belief has brought hope to millions far beyond what Susan could have ever imagined. In these times of global distress and uncertainty, the Scottish songbird has succeeded at the insurmountable task at making the world a much better place!

It’s true that the majority of us will never make such a big impact on society as a whole. But we can use our artistic talents to be a vessel of transformation everywhere we go. There’s monumental value in those seemingly small things, like performing for handicapped kids or singing a special song you wrote at a friend’s wedding.

As artists, we have been given something precious to share and must continue on the journey. Yes, some will definitely set out to throw us off course by making us feel unworthy. But it’s important that we remain strong and committed to our calling no matter how tough things become.

Susan Boyle has delivered a timely, multi-dimensional message we can cling to for strength and inspiration. And she deserves our gratitude for having the courage to be true to herself in the face of adversity. Her amazing gift to mankind will continue on through all of those who have been touched by her grace, beauty and unstoppable spirit.

What do you see through the Looking Glass of your life? Sometimes it’s good to step back and view what’s going on with ourselves from the outside in. I feel that’s the best way to get a clear perspective of where we are on our journeys, and if its where we want to be.

So here’s an interesting thought to ponder. What if you could actually create, in your mind, the circumstances you see inside the Looking Glass? And then, whatever you create, would become your reality? In other words, instead of believing that things just happen to you outside of your control, you have the ability to decide how things are going to be.

The idea almost sounds like a fairytale, but I am certain man has been equipped with a powerful mind that can literally shake a mountain off its foundation!  And we've learned over and over again about the power of using our minds to activate our beliefs.

A belief is a strong, unshakable conviction that you know, that you know, that you know. And where does belief begin? It begins in the mind!
But the thing to remember is that deep convictions do not lie in the conscious mind. The conscious mind is only a filter, going both in and out, to the subconscious. Every true belief within a person, whether positive or negative, is rooted in the subconscious. And that is the place where we sow every seed of our existence.

It’s not all that difficult to cultivate a beautiful and abundant garden in our subconscious minds. It’s simply a matter of determining what it is we desire and then planting the components of that desire in our inner minds. For example, if you’re sick, spend some time everyday visualizing yourself as completely healthy. Repeat affirmations such as “I am constantly in the flow of Divine health,“ and “I am in excellent health and have boundless energy at all times.”

After doing this, allow yourself to experience the feelings of being in total health, simultaneously giving thanks for physical wholeness (you can do this in every area of life - finances, career, relationships, etc.).

As you regularly repeat this faith building exercise, your subconscious will soon take hold of the idea and it will manifest into reality. Once again, the moment an idea takes hold in your subconscious, it becomes a belief. And whatever you believe, you will receive!

What do you see through the Looking Glass of your life? Exactly what you want to!

Yes, I’m well aware The King is gone despite hearing a recent report that he’s been spotted numerous times at a Jiffy Lube in Bakersfield.

So when I ask, “Where are you Elvis?,” I definitely do not mean that literally. What I am trying to get at is, “Are there any recording artists out there who are one-of-a-kind and not trying to re-hash what’s been done before?”

My husband and I went to see the new film “Cadillac Records” last weekend, which is about the rise and fall of the 1950s/60s record label, Chess Records. The company launched the careers of numerous legends, including Chuck Berry, Etta James and Muddy Waters.

As I was watching the compelling story unfold on celluloid, it was a disappointing reminder to me how sterile, predictable and tedious today’s music has become. Back in the day, every major act had something unique, passionate and exciting to bring to the table. No one with any artistic sense at all dared to mimic someone else’s sound.

Frankly, what would have been the point? A band trying to copy The Beatles would have been considered a laughing stock. Badfinger tried it. Excuse me, “Who?”

Personally, and some WHAM! fans may hate me for this, I must digress and say that I think the 1980s were the ruination of popular music. The growing popularity of the synthesizer practically eliminated the need for studio musicians. Pretty much any instrument could be artificially produced on the gadget, as well as a variety of interesting sounds and beats.

Electronics reigned higher than the Supremes. As a result, repetitive, shallow, heartless and mind-numbing music became the new standard on which to build our tuneful future.

From that decade on, I can’t think of one major artist or band who has even come close to the likes of Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan or The Rolling Stones. Granted, some have sold millions of records thanks to masterful marketing, but tell me, whose songs are the kids Karaoke’ing to on “American Idol?”

It’s a sad fact, but unless artists start coming up with some fresh material, American music will continue on its downhill course. I’ve heard countless new artists, both major and Indie, and it’s all basically been there, done that. Some aren‘t even half-bad in their attempts to duplicate what’s been popular before. But hey, if I want to hear Hank Williams, I’ll put on his records and kick back with A&W root beer.

If I’m longing for some Motown magic, I’ll dial into my local oldies station, which spins the tunes from Hitsville, U.S.A. every Friday night.

One thing I know I won’t do is spend hours surfing the Internet trying to find artists to listen to who are only mere imitations of the greats. Yuk! And you can be darn sure I won’t be looking for my “Blue Suede Shoes” in Las Vegas.

Remember, just because it walks, talks, act, and even sings like Elvis, doesn’t mean it’s the genuine article. The key word here being “genuine,” something I wish every artist would get back to being.

Just thinking about the possibility gets me all shook up!