When I started my blog, one of the very first blogs and blogger I had the pleasure getting to know was Evelyn from AttractionMindMap .
She seemed to have a very warm and friendly attitude and a razor-sharp mind. "Attract Abundance With Your Mind" is the tagline of this blog which covers topics from "The law of attraction" and positive thinking to goal-setting and attracting a happier live in general.
The following interview is the first part of an Personal Development Interview-Series with bloggers of related topics, which I’d like to continue (maybe write into the comments who you want to be interviewed!) It covers the start and reasons of Evelyns blogging passion and the ways she used to grow the blog. Of course she is also kind enough to answer some personal as well as some technical questions about the subjects she is blogging about and how she incorporates these into her own life.
Thanks Evelyn for answering these questions. Here we go …
Could you please give an introduction about yourself and about your blog Attraction Mind Map?
I find it hard to describe myself in view of the fact that I am still discovering a lot about myself in things that I never knew. For instance, I never thought I would be writing self help articles but it seems now that I am very passionate about writing for my site, Attraction Mind Map.
What brought you to blogging and why are you blogging today?
The content on my blog has been pretty much a reflection of my own journey. I started my site last year; so that I could sign up as an affiliate under my friend for a law of attraction product. I was not serious about it initially. A couple of months after the setting up of my site, I decided to embark on a path of self mastery. I wanted to deal with some of my negative emotions like fear, worry and doubt.
It was a turning point for me. I devoted all my extra time to healing myself and reading up as much as I can. I also started to meditate regularly.
my negative emotions,
I began to get
some breakthroughs …
Everything came together around the same period. It was as if there was a Big Bang. As I started to clear my negative emotions, I began to get some breakthroughs in meditation. I had some amazing meditative sessions, where inner knowing arose on a couple of levels. I felt this energetic shift.
"Law of Attraction" also had a natural draw for me. I resonated well with the metaphysical concepts that it espoused. I came to realize on a very deep level of how abundant I was. Previously, I have taken all my gifts and blessings for granted.
Through blogging, I found out that I am really passionate about writing, sharing and helping others. Since then, I have also taken up a number of workshops like NLP and life coaching to better equip myself and to be able to write better articles.
How much time do you spend for your blog?
On a weekday, I typically spend about 6 hours on the web.
This means 6 hours a day for the blog, right? This is a fulltime job ? :)
No … if it is just the blog, then maybe 2-3 hours. I spend the rest of the time social bookmarking, reading other people’s blogs, reading emails, researching, etc. I’d think in total, it may just add up to 6 hours on a typical weekday.
Which strategies have you used to get to your audience and grow your blog and which worked best?
I have submitted articles to directories, used Stumble Upon and digg for social bookmarking. I also do a fair amount of commenting on blogs. While the last strategy can possibly be the most time consuming, I do not deny that I have been enjoying the benefits of knowing the rest of the bloggers. I have been blessed by the warmth of friendships that many have extended to me.
If you could choose one article of your blog, which one would that be and why?
Oh my…this is very difficult to choose. Also, I am not sure if I have written my best article yet.
Alright, then what was the most interesting or surprising post regarding the feedback and why?
I guess it will have to be the post Raise Awareness; Release Guilt because I was amazed that there are people who do actually want to read my personal experiences, based on their feedback.
In which of your blog-topics are you most interested in and why?
I go through phases. I am most interested in developing intuition and connecting with my spirit guides now.
You mean you started out with topics of personal development, i.e. law of attraction material and are now going more to spiritual topics? If yes, do you feel that spirituality is a kind of a next step in personal development?
Based on my own personal journey, I would say yes – spirituality is an important component of personal development.
What was your biggest step or learning on your personal development?
You cannot manifest dreams without clearing all the junk in your subconscious mind first.
How have you applied your knowledge (as on your blog) in your own life?
I allocate a lot of time doing emotional clearing. I also meditate almost every night and apply visualization techniques very often. I also teach my kids some of the techniques that I use to empower themselves.
Could you describe "emotional clearing" any further? Where can the reader find helpful material?
prevent us from
moving forward in
our lives right now.
Emotional clearing refers to facing up to and clearing our negative emotions such as fears, doubts, worries, insecurities, etc. More often than not, negative emotions originate since childhood. However, they prevent us from moving forward in our lives right now. They may no longer serve a purpose, even if they have helped us in the past. Emotional clearing will require us to go back to some of the root causes to clear them. So far, I only know of two methods that are effective. One is EFT and the other the Sedona Method.
What books would you suggest reading for anyone interested in the topics you blog about?
There are so many books that I would recommend reading but here are my top 6 frequently quoted ones:
- Ask and It is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks;
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle;
- A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle;
- Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch
- You can Heal Your Life by Louis Hay
- The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer
Have you also used audio-books or any other leaning technique like photoreading or something elso for education?
Yes, I listen to a lot of audios. Instead of listening to music all the time, I’d plug in to a CD that can range from anything about guided meditation to how to be successful.
From which people have you learned the most or which people are kinds of role model for you?
I would have to say that the people from whom I have learned the most now are my personal friends; one of whom is now my coach. They are not online mostly. I go to them for assistance because they are advanced meditators, spiritual, and have been family friends for a number of years.
They started off as friends of my mother-in-law, who have since passed on a few years ago. My mother-in-law was an ordained Buddhist nun, who probably influenced my thinking without me realizing back then. (Recall that I just started getting serious about meditation only last year). She was also an advanced meditator and very well read. By the way, she was a linguist; with fluency in German as well!!
I thought I’d share a little history about Carol (my mother-in-law) so that you can get a clearer picture of how much of a role model she had been to me. She was an American, a caucasian who married into a traditional Chinese family. She met my Malaysian father in law while studying Chinese studies in the University. Together with my father in law, they finally settled in Singapore in the late 1950s.
meant to have courage
in the face of death …
While Carol was brought up in Catholic boarding schools and knew the Bible inside out in her younger days, she chose instead to discover for herself what her true path was. Her journey took her everywhere. She made friends of different faiths and religions. She travelled to different countries. In the end, she made the conclusion that all religions probably lead us to the same destination. However, because of her meditative insights, she also understood much about suffering. In the end, she decided to ordain as a nun and became known as Vijanandi.
Her earlier than expected death resulted because she went off to India without a single cent on her (so that she could live like how the Buddha did) for three months. Unfortunately, she returned with a deadly virus (probably caught from eating the unclean food that she was given as "alms") that could not be treated. She had spent the first month in an ashram but by the end of the first, she was kicked out to make way for more advanced practitioners. Vijanandi had to live on the streets, begging and sleeping under the open sky. Without a single cent on her, she could not call home either. None of us knew what was happening to her at this stage.
What was regrettable was that she was supposed to write her life story in a book but never got the chance to. An intuitive friend had told her to pen down all her thoughts, insights discoveries and everything about her history; but she did not manage to because she wanted to go off to India then. She had promised to write them down when she returned. But alas…the virus attacked almost soon after she came home. Luckily, she had the good sense to buy a return air ticket so that she could fly home.
I learned what it meant to have courage in the face of death, from her iron spirit. My mother in law was clear in what she wanted out of her life. She was born into a relatively well-to-do family but led a life of poverty when she married the man who she loved. Nothing fazed her. She had a dogged sense of determination to get what she wanted. She was almost always optimistic and bright, quick witted and analytical, wise and friendly.
I learned a lot from all the afternoon teas that we used to have together. Having already known a lady like her, I do not know if there can be another who can inspire or impact me in the same way. In a sense, my site is very much a dedication to the memory of her, for much of the things she had espoused during her lifetime are shared on this blog .
Ladan on 
Evelyn is a solid uplifting rock within the personal development blogging community and I’m honored to consider her my virtual blogging friend. Thank you Evelyn for being Evelyn!
Stacey / CreateaBalance’s last blog post: Do What You Love
What a delightful interview! It was interesting to hear the development of Evelyn’s spiritual journey which lead her to share her experiences with like-minded people via her blog.
For me, my personal development goes hand-in-hand with my spiritual development… thank you for sharing the interview!
Jeanne
Jeanne May’s last blog post: Inspiration and Motivation — We All Need It Sometimes!
Thanks for providing this interview of Evelyn. I love her site, and this has been a great way to get to know her better. Evelyn, you continue to impress me with the solid foundation on which you stand.
Lance’s last blog post: Don’t Ever Give Up
Hi Evelyn and Myrko,
Great interview! I’ve know Evelyn for a year, which is a long time by blog years. (Blog years are like dog years, passing fast, you know) I like her blog a lot.
It’s funny how she describes the way her blog grew as if it had its own life. I feel that way, too, and recently had to write a post warning people about how blogs can change your life. Dangerous stuff ^_^
Still can’t believe how much time she spends on the internet though . . .
Akemi “spiritual entrepreneur” @ Yes to Me’s last blog post: Gratitude Friday, Edition 13, Gratitude And Train For Humanity
To be perfectly honest I spend even more hours on the internet since besides blogging the internet fills also my full time job. I have to say at least 8 hours a day on average.
I have only been blogging for about a month. My journey for personal growth has been about six months. I consider myself lucky to have found both Myrko and Evelyn’s blogs. They continue to inspire me to press forward. Thank you both.
“You cannot manifest dreams without clearing all the junk in your subconscious mind first.”
Great quote!
Brian’s last blog post: Changes galore…
I was thinking “that’s not Evelyn’s tagline,” but then I saw that she changed it when I wasn’t looking!
Anyway, I hadn’t seen an interview with Evelyn before, and it was really nice to learn more about her journey, and facts like her internet usage, which seems about right to me–blogging is a big job!
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post: Best Blogging Interview Of The Century
I agree with Hunter – it was great to learn more about Evelyn. She’s a fascinating person.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post: A Weekend In Napa: 3 Days, No Internet, No Problem
Great interview, nice to see I have the first 3 of her recommended books. Feel free to ask me some questions if you want to continue the series :P
I’m a big fan of Evelyn so it was nice to see this
Cheers,
Glen
I never thought that people will be interested to read my life story or to know more about me. I am shocked to read any response here and which also accounts for my being late in replying! But most definitely, I am delighted! So here goes my replies….
@Stacey, it is my honor too to be your friend! I hope to remain humble so that I can be of better service and help to everyone out there!
@Jeanne, nice to meet you! It’s great that we share the same thoughts.
@Lance, thanks for your lovely feedback. I appreciate your letting me know how much you’ve learned from my sharing. All the best to you and your dreams!
@Akemi, I’m a fan to what you are doing with your blog and work too! My guess is that a lot of us are putting in that many hours of work onto our site and being on the web.
@Brian, thanks for letting me know how my site is inspiring you forward. I wish you all the best and much success!
@Hunter, I was waiting for you to ask me for an interview…LOL!! But now it has been awarded to Myrko. Seriously as mentioned, I never thought of offering myself for an interview because I don’t find myself all that fascinating!
@Vered, oh…read my comment to Hunter. I’m not all that fascinating; but I hope to be as authentic as possible! And I believe that you are doing the same – so naturally, we are drawn to each other :-)
@Glenn, thanks! I enjoy reading your posts too!
It’s always interesting to read interviews of people you know especially when someone as fascinating as Evelyn is being interviewed. This is good work both of you. Excellent in depth questions and very forthright answers.
This came to me today when i was having a dark day and patiently reminding myself that by this time next year the work I am doing now will have created the me I want to be. So thank you Evelyn & Myrko for reinforcing to me that we are all works in progress and what we sow today we reap tomorrow!
Thank you Myrko for this interview. I enjoyed reading and learning more about Evelyn. I’ve been enjoying her blog for a while now. Questions are great tools aren’t they?
I also liked the phrase, “You cannot manifest dreams without clearing all the junk in your subconscious mind first.” Powerful stuff.
Hi Myrko!
Great interview! I just met Evelyn myself and find great inspiration in her story and her words on her site.
It is always a pleasure to connect with like-minded people and enjoy the gifts of this Universe and wonderful life!
Yes, I also find it interesting to see personal ways and also to see patterns there. Inner work, as Evelyn said here by “You cannot manifest dreams without clearing all the junk in your subconscious mind first”, is the obvious basis in all personal progress :)
Of course it’s nice to get to know the various people behind all the great blogs more.
What a great interview, Evelyn definitely sounds like someone I’d like to go out for coffee with. And Carol sounds fascinating. It’s sad to think of her begging in the street with no way of getting in touch with her family, yet at time same time she was following her heart. We should all be that courageous.
@Tom, thanks for your nice comments. Glad that you enjoyed the interview.
@Gemma, you are most welcome! I’m surprised that an article interview like this can be inspiring!?! Thanks for letting me know how it has helped you.
@Davina, thanks for liking my blog. I’ve enjoyed yours too. I have to say that we sure have a lot of common interests and thinking!
@Evita, nice meeting you here. I’m glad that you enjoyed the interview. I hope to get to know you better too :-)
@Myrko, I like what you are doing here with your site. It’ll be nice to get to know you better as well!
@Marelisa, I doubted that my mother-in-law had the intention of wanting to contact us in the first place while she was on the streets. She could have begged for money but she didn’t. She was given leftover food that people could not finish eating. She did make some friends, who were foreigners but chose not to ask for anything. She stuck to her guns about giving up her attachment to money and material comforts. Her intent was to challenge herself mentally. She sure had strong willpower!
I’d love to meet you up for coffee if the opportunity should ever arise. It’s nice to connect with like minded friends. It will be wild seeing you face-to-face!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post: Building The Businesses Of Our Dreams
The story of your mother-in-law brought me to tears. What an honour to meet such a phenomenal woman, someone so dedicated to their spiritual path that she would fly to India without a cent on her. It’s like something out of a film. Definitely a story that needs to be told. Maybe you’re the one to tell it…
LOved this interview, Evelyn. Thanks Myrko.
Kelly
It was fabulous to learn more about Evelyn in this interview. I already knew from her blog and her posts on mine that we were in accord. I didn’t know about the influence of her mother-in-law, however.
I’m happy, Evelyn, that you discovered the value of sharing your personal experiences. Thank you for sharing them since they enlighten and inspire.
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D.´s last blog post: Thinking About a Change is Your First Step
Thanks for doing this interview of Evelyn. It’s such a joy to get to know people personally, to find out the person behind the blog words.
Thank you, Evelyn, for putting yourself out there and sharing your beautiful self with all of us. Your journey is a valuable lesson, not only to you, but to many of us as well. :)
Ariel´s last blog post: How To Get Enlightened