Living at YES! Success Stories Archive

YES! stands for You Embracing Spirit!
In the LOGO, notice the symbol for the "Y" is a heart.
When you embrace Spirit - your heart is opened!

"Since I have been working with Sharon, I have, at long last, again been able to make the connection with my true, joyful self!"
-- Linda McLaughlin

Linda McLaughlin has eyes that dance and a smile that is warm, welcoming and at the same time infectious, fun and accented with mischief. "I love to be around people and I love to laugh and be happy!" It's no wonder the native Pennsylvanian, most recently relocated here from Toronto, and single mother of 10-year-old son, David, has enjoyed a successful career in sales for over 17 years. It is a perfect fit for her enthusiastic and exuberant personality.

However, life wasn't always on such a positive upswing. "After I relocated back to the states and resumed my professional career, I found myself living what most people would term 'an ideal life.' I had a great job, a nice home, a husband, an infant son, friends, family, etc. Then, within a matter of several months, it all ended. I went through a horrific divorce and everything I knew--a warm and welcome home, my marriage and new family, monetary security, great friends and an extended family--was gone. It was devastating to me from a personal, professional, and financial standpoint. In addition, I had a brand new baby to take care of and to be responsible for on my own. While I loved my baby dearly, I was feeling completely lost and alone in contrast to what had been a very fulfilling life."

Always a gifted student in school, Linda's combination of street smart savvy, hands on practicality and a passion for the art of persuasion had earned her a strong reputation in financial sales, so finding work was never a problem. "If there was one thing I could count on, it was being able to secure a position somewhere in the world of sales. I knew I would always be able to find a good job and earn a good living. It was the spiritual and emotional side of the coin that was more challenging. My life felt overwhelmed and yet incomplete. I was constantly asking myself "How did my life get this way?"

It was during this chaotic time in her life that Linda first met Sharon Marquart. "Several years ago a friend of mine recommended I call Sharon about helping to clear away the clutter and unproductive environment and create a better space for us at our new house. I immediately connected with Sharon's deep sense of calm and followed her advice as we worked together. I knew she had a gift, but at that time I was too preoccupied with paying the bills and raising my son to recognize just how much of an effect it could have on my life." Linda continued to face several more major life transitions and realized that she needed an entirely new outlook on life. "I would go through periods of time when things were OK--then I would have setbacks, and, rather than look at them as 'doors opening and closing for a purpose,' at that time, I was only able to see restriction rather than opportunity."

Several months later Linda attended one of Sharon's 'Choice' workshops and began to discover a new way of thinking. "Sharon has this unique ability to 'see the forest through the trees' in ways we can't while we are caught up in the struggle. She is truly a visionary who can see the big picture very clearly and help you direct yourself in a way that will help you to move forward. I began to view my life differently after that first workshop. I learned that if the doors are opened, I should walk through those doors because it's an opportunity I am to experience; and if the doors are closed, I'm not to go through those doors and there will be other doors that will be opened up to me. Once I began to embrace this concept in faith, and reach the doors, opened or closed, without fear, I was able to understand the 'life is a journey' concept and the 'living in abundance' lifestyle, in a way I never had before. I knew that as long as I continued to live in gratitude and create deliberate intention for myself, my life's journey would flourish. And it has just been getting better and better ever since."

Linda continues to participate in Sharon's "Embrace Your Magnificent Self" and "Entrepreneurial Spirit" groups, and also joins in on the monthly tele-classes and the weekly "Living at YES! Community Call." She applies the knowledge and lessons she learns to her growing career in advertising and throughout her life. She says, "When you are in sales, it is just like you are running your own business. We bounce ideas off each other, share our challenges, and offer encouragement. Both Sharon and the other members offer such support in the groups. They have helped me tremendously from a professional as well as a personal standpoint. I find the insights very enlightening. My days can be absolutely jam packed from morning until night, between the demands of my career, my responsibilities as a parent, and my other commitments, but I always schedule time for the groups because I find the benefits incredibly rewarding and enriching in so many areas. Since I have been working with Sharon, I have, at long last, again been able to make the connection with my true, joyful self! I am living a joyful and abundant life! I look forward to the gifts and opportunities each day brings as I continue on my journey."

What is your personal "Living at YES!" story?
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