Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)-- Must Read!

Nearly all the women I know are stressing themselves sick over the pathological fear that they simply aren't doing enough with their lives. Which is crazy—absolutely flat-out bananas—because the women I know do a lot, and they do it well. My cousin Sarah, for instance, is earning her master's degree in international relations, while simultaneously working for a nonprofit that builds playgrounds at woefully underfunded public schools. Kate is staying home and raising the two most enchanting children I've ever met—while also working on a cookbook. Donna is producing Hollywood blockbusters; Stacy is running a London bank; Polly just launched an artisanal bakery...

By all rights, every one of these clever, inventive women should be radiant with self-satisfaction. Instead, they twitch with near-constant doubt, somehow worrying that they are failing at life. Sarah worries that she should be traveling around the world instead of committing to a master's degree. Kate worries that she's wasting her education by staying home with her kids. Donna worries that she's endangering her marriage by working such long hours. Stacy worries that the capitalistic world of banking is murdering her creativity. Polly worries that her artisanal bakery might not be quite capitalistic enough. All of them worry that they need to lose 10 pounds.

It's terribly frustrating for me to witness this endless second-guessing. The problem is, I do it, too. Despite having written five books, I worry that I have not written the right kinds of books, or that perhaps I have dedicated too much of my life to writing, and have therefore neglected other aspects of my being. (Like, I could really stand to lose 10 pounds.)

So here's what I want to know: Can we lighten up a little?

As we head into this next decade, can we draft a joint resolution to drop the crazy-making expectation that we must all be perfect friends and perfect mothers and perfect workers and perfect lovers with perfect bodies who dedicate ourselves to charity and grow our own organic vegetables, at the same time that we run corporations and stand on our heads while playing the guitar with our feet?

When I look at my life and the lives of my female friends these days—with our dizzying number of opportunities and talents—I sometimes feel as though we are all mice in a giant experimental maze, scurrying around frantically, trying to find our way through. But maybe there's a good historical reason for all this overwhelming confusion. We don't have centuries of educated, autonomous female role models to imitate here (there were no women quite like us until very recently), so nobody has given us a map. As a result, we each race forth blindly into this new maze of limitless options. And the risks are steep. We make mistakes. We take sharp turns, hoping to stumble on an open path, only to bump into dead-end walls and have to back up and start all over again. We push mysterious levers, hoping to earn a reward, only to learn—whoops, that was a suffering button!

To make matters even more stressful, we constantly measure ourselves against each other's progress, which is a truly dreadful habit. My sister, Catherine, told me recently about a conversation she'd had with a sweet neighbor who—after watching Catherine spend an afternoon organizing a scavenger hunt for all the local kids—said sadly, "You're such a better mother than I will ever be." At which point, my sister grabbed her friend's hands and said, "Please. Let's not do this to each other, okay?"

No, seriously—please. Let's not.

Because it breaks my heart to know that so many amazing women are waking up at 3 o'clock in the morning and abusing themselves for not having gone to art school, or for not having learned to speak French, or for not having organized the neighborhood scavenger hunt. I fear that—if we continue this mad quest for perfection—we will all end up as stressed-out and jumpy as those stray cats who live in Dumpsters behind Chinese restaurants, forever scavenging for scraps of survival while pulling out their own hair in hypervigilant anxiety.

So let's drop it, maybe?
Let's just anticipate that we (all of us) will disappoint ourselves somehow in the decade to come. Go ahead and let it happen. Let somebody else be a better mother than you for one afternoon. Let somebody else go to art school. Let somebody else have a happy marriage, while you foolishly pick the wrong guy. (Hell, I've done it; it's survivable.) While you're at it, take the wrong job. Move to the wrong city. Lose your temper in front of the boss, quit training for that marathon, wolf down a truckload of cupcakes the day after you start your diet. Blow it all catastrophically, in fact, and then start over with good cheer. This is what we all must learn to do, for this is how maps get charted—by taking wrong turns that lead to surprising passageways that open into spectacularly unexpected new worlds. So just march on. Future generations will thank you—trust me—for showing the way, for beating brave new footpaths out of wonky old mistakes.

Fall flat on your face if you must, but please, for the sake of us all, do not stop.

Map your own life.

Do not feel guilty. Forgive yourself for past ‘failures’ and choose to act

correctly next time. But avoid guilt, as it is one of the biggest destroyers of focus

and confidence. Do not dwell on the past. Forgive others also. You are not doing

them a favor when you forgive them – you are doing yourself the favor. They will

still have their cause and effect (karmic) debt for all their actions, whether you

forgive them or not. But when you forgive them, you release yourself from a

negative karmic cycle and release your energy for other positive things as well.

David Cameron

Quotes for the day

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson "Real beauty isn't about symmetry or weight or makeup; it's about looking life right in the face and seeing all its magnificence reflected in your own." —Valerie Monroe, writer "Every challenge offers the opportunity to think a new flavor of thought and feel a new flavor of emotion. The more varied the flavors of life you get to taste, the more interesting, layered, educated and world-experienced you'll be." — Karen Salmansohn

Love

We should interpret all behavior in one of two ways:

1) as love

or

2) as a call for love

from A Course in Miracles

as quoted by Marianne Williamson in Everyday Grace

I am thinking about this. It is actually requiring me to think pretty deeply.

I have gotten some understanding of it when I am in my quietest moments, separated from my ego and connected to something much higher-- because my ego mind can easily think of lots of scenarios that it does not want to believe fit in either of these two categories.

How can I think of the guy who flips me off in traffic as someone who is acting in love, or asking for love?

The truth is, unless I am looking at him with spiritual eyes, I can't.

But when I am connected to my source-- I can almost see him flashing through my mind at 3 or 5 or17 or 22. I can all of the sudden see and know that he has been through some stuff. Things that may have hardened him in some ways. Things that made him feel protective of himself-- even to the point of violence maybe. I can also see him in kinder moments, maybe when he stopped to let someone cross in front of him, or picked up a child and held them, or pulled a sliver out of their finger.

And then almost in the same instant I can see me, yelling at someone, or being the "flipper offer." And then me, yielding to the need of someone else.

Then I can again appreciate that I am both. I am him and he is me. We are one. We are the grace and the shadow side of the grace all at once. He and I.

and so I return to a prayer that I once learned.

God, please forgive me for judging others for sinning differently than (or the same as) I do.

Bursting forth into the world

I've split open the chrysalis and crawled out--

I felt my wings burst open this morning.

Am drying them gently in the sun and wind.

AGAIN, luck is a state of mind

Lucky people create, notice and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives.

Being in the right place at the right time is all about being in the right state of mind."

Dr. Richard Wiseman

It bears repeating.

I know I talked about this just recently. But, I think it's important enough to do it again.

How do we get in the right state of mind? Part of it is about being aware of our thoughts and feelings. Bringing awareness to what is going on inside us. What our subconscious and our conscious mind are focused on. Our body is so willing to give us clues to those things. Our daily activities and an awareness of what is flowing in and out of our lives and what is stuck. All of it try's to show us and tell us.

We are totally responsible for everything that is happening in our lives. That may sound controversial. Say it out loud and see how it feels.

"I am totally responsible for everything that is happening in my life."

Even the things we don't like-- we have attracted and created so that we could experience the contrast and figure out how to learn the lesson from it.

That may be hard to believe. But sit with it for awhile. Consider the possibility that it could be true.

Our soul knows our dreams and our true potential. What we are here on this planet to do and be. And it attracts like a magnet, everything we need to move ourselves toward our highest good and the highest good of everyone else.

The hitch though, is that until we realize this, and learn how to work with ourselves instead of against ourselves, we don't know how to use the amazing powers and abilities that we have to live at our highest potential.

It is my vision to inspire and empower as many people as possible, starting with women-- who are the core nurturers of the world, with knowledge and information in this arena, so that they can live in peace, happiness and joy, at their highest potential.

The following are ways you get started right away if you want to go on this journey to find your authentic self and live your highest potential:

Eliminating fear and limiting beliefs through my favorite technique, EFT.

Meditation.

Prayer.

Focusing on Strong Moments.

Journaling or writing in a Daily Dialogue consistently.

Having a Gratitude Journal.

Stretching and doing physical activities like swimming, yoga, running, dancing.

Learning Body Talk or Body Dialogue.

Going on Creative Excursions.

TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF.

If you want to know your thoughts, feelings and beliefs...YOU MUST TAKE TIME TO LISTEN. You must take time to really get to know yourself and nurture your inner child as tenderly as you would your own child or someone you love deeply.

Think of a person in your life-- whom you would do ANYTHING for. Someone you love so deeply you would literally give your life for them. Why do you love them so? It's probably because somehow they have directed this same kind of love toward you. Somehow you know and feel that they see the highest good in you. They expect it from you and they honor it about you.

Now imagine this person is coming to visit (unless it's one of your own kids and they already live at home, in which case just imagine that they are about to be born). In either scenario, you are washing the sheets, folding linens for them, making sure you have just the right food. Maybe a special dessert or their favorite meal. You are cleaning the house. You are spraying your favorite linen water on their pillow. When they arrive you embrace them. You are making sure everything is just right for them. You want them to feel special. You want them to enjoy their stay with you. You might even set out a magazine and some towels and special soap for them. You might vacuum and clean in places you normally don't. You want everything just right.

Now.

Imagine if you took care of yourself with this same kind of love and tenderness each and everyday. It might not always be about the perfect meal, though sometimes it might be just that. How are you nurturing and caring for yourself each day?

I challenge you to start taking one new step in that direction today.

Close your eyes- and ask yourself--and then be quiet and listen until you get an answer. "What is one thing that I can do to take good care of myself today?"

(Do you have limiting beliefs or feelings that come up to stop you from taking care of yourself. Do you believe that it is selfish to take care of yourself? Have you watched your role models or absorbed societal messages that tell you to martyr yourself? If so you will resist selfcare and sabotage it. Look for clues in your life to show you your beliefs about this topic.)

Ok. Now make a commitment to do it and follow through--even if you don't feel comfortable doing it or don't think you can justify it.

This is not about being selfish and self-centered. If you don't take care of yourself who else will? And how will you be able to take really good care of others, and teach them how to do that for themselves-- if you can't/won't do it for yourself?

I love you.

Now go do it!

P.S. Please send a link to this post to anyone you know that might benefit from it.

xoxo

The Energy/ Vibration Conversation: Please Join In

Yesterday I talked about ways to raise our energetic vibration.

What is all this mumbo jumbo about energy and vibration? Does it sound hoaky and new agey-- woo woo to you?

I used to be very skeptical. Until I learned about EFT (which I have mentioned several times before). This technique, at the forefront in the rapidly growing field of energy psychology, is the single best and most affordable, accessible to the public technique I have ever seen or personally experienced in all my years studying and seeking out ways to heal the body and mind.

I am including an article written by the founder of the technique, Gary Craig. His explanation of EFT helps to highlight scientific evidence that we are in fact made up of energy, and that we can actually effect our energetic vibration.

EFT should have been discovered 50 years ago and should be as common today as aspirin. Yet, despite its unmistakable clinical results, it still meets with resistance from certain scientists and from others who cling to conventional methods.

I don't know about you but I learned in my high school chemistry class in 1958 that the building blocks of ALL matter (including human bodies) are ATOMS. This was hardly new....even at the time. No one disputes this fact. Nor does anyone dispute that atoms are made of ENERGY.

Einstein further emphasized this point with his Theory of Relativity wherein he developed the famous formula....

Energy = Mass times the speed of light squared

In simple terms this means that physical matter (including the human body) is MADE OF ENERGY. Thus, even though the human body may appear to be solid, its foundation is made of energy.

This simple fact is one of the most universally agreed upon findings in the scientific world. To my knowledge, not one scientist anywhere disagrees with it. It's acceptability ranks right up there with the laws of gravity.

However, for reasons known only to the cosmos, the Western healing sciences have....

ignored it.

How short-sighted! Instead, they continue to regard the human body as a physical entity and thus walk right by its energy roots. They treat the body as a....

bag filled with body parts and chemicals.

Thus their methods involve the repair and replacement of body parts (surgery) and the "correction" of body chemistry by other chemicals (drugs).

Many useful things have come from this conventional approach so I'm not knocking it. In fact, I'm very glad it is around and I respect those diligent scientists and healing practitioners that have used this approach. If I had a burst appendix, for example, I would enthusiastically volunteer myself for the surgeon's table.

However, for the Western healing sciences to ignore the well established fact that the body, at its core, is made of energy is like wearing glasses that only permit vision up to 10 feet. EFT'ers are offering these conventional folks a pair of longer range glasses and, gradually, the skeptics are trying them on. Those among them that have "seen" cannot unsee and thus are adding to the snowball of education that is bringing these procedures to the public.

Anyone who has been around the competent use of EFT for even a few weeks has surely seen many instances where dramatic progress has been made on both the physical and emotional levels WITHOUT ANY CONVENTIONAL METHODS BEING USED. Many of these results completely violate the beliefs inherent in the Western healing sciences. For example, how is it possible, under conventional Western definitions....

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to fade completely without psychiatric drugs?

For many lifelong phobias to vanish in what we call "one minute wonders?

For addictive cravings to be quenched in moments?

For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to disappear without the normally prescribed surgery?

For Lactose Intolerance to vanish even though the patient is not supposed to have the enzymes necessary to digest milk products?

For migraine headaches to fade (often permanently and often in moments) without any form of drugs whatsoever?

Yet EFT'ers perform these "miracles" daily....as well as hundreds more. Our web site is full of such evidence. Western healing practitioners are hard pressed to explain these results except to use a "placebo" or a "spontaneous remission" or a "mind over matter" explanation. They cannot be explained through the current paradigm. Accordingly, what is needed is another way to look at the human body...another paradigm. The conventional explanations obviously need help.

And what more logical choice is there than to follow Albert Einstein and the most fundamental scientific findings of the last century. Why don't scientists view the body as an energy configuration and see where that leads? EFT'ers have been doing this for years and the clinical evidence is mountainous. It is pointing to the obvious and the results are often jaw dropping....even when performed by lay citizens.

I do not mean by this article to forsake the many conventional findings that have brought us unmistakable healing benefits. Rather, I'm suggesting that we unlock the doors to the obvious and blend EFT with the best of our other healing achievements. The results should take healing to an entirely new (and affordable) level.

So I ask the scientific community and the conventional doubters out there to investigate the obvious. We are not perfect here in EFT Land and I'm sure someday our theories will be revised. That is how science progresses. But, for now, we are performing daily miracles that are destroying the conventional lists of "can's" and "cannot's."

If you are interested in learning more about EFT, or about understanding your own vibration and what you are creating/ attracting into your life,whether you know it or not--feel free to contact me for more in depth guidance. I will be talking more about these concepts in future blog posts as well.

This is Bliss. Bliss is NOW.

The following is an excerpt from an article by Marcus Buckingham entitled:

What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently

Focus on Moments, More Than Goals, Plans or Dreams
Certain moments in your life create in you strongly positive emotions—let's call these "strong-moments." Not all moments are strong-moments—some moments spark negative emotions, while some don't spark any emotions at all. But when you do experience a strong-moment, it is authentic. It is true, in the sense that the emotions you feel are true. You may not know exactly what you should do with your emotions, or what label you should give each emotion, but you know how a specific moment made you feel. You know this more certainly than you know virtually anything else in your life.

It could be that moment yesterday when, as you again sat hunched over the year-end results, you found a revealing pattern in the financial report you were reading; or the snuggling of your grandson into the crook of your shoulder as you read him the last chapter in The Magic Tree House book, or that glorious sentence you wrote last night on your blog, or the way you managed to calm down your colleague after your boss changed everyone's schedule.

Whatever you are picturing, it will be a vivid, detailed moment, and as you think about it now, you feel yourself change. You are sitting up a little straighter than you were even a minute ago. Your shoulders are back. You've slowed down your breathing just a hair. Perhaps you are smiling. This moment, and the emotions you feel as you relive it in your mind, is you, in truth.

When you commit your life to being true to yourself, you are not committing to some far-flung destiny, some grand dream or some disembodied list of values, no matter how worthy. Instead, you are committing to the truth embodied in this strong-moment, the truth that this specific moment, for no rational reason, energizes you.

I have many strong-moments that I have filed away to draw upon.

My favorite one right now that I use to shift my energetic vibration:

The other morning I was getting in the shower. Ezra came in and started taking off his pajama's and diaper and making indications that he would like to get in the tub. I was feeling rushed. But thankfully my intuition pushed me in the right direction. I let go of my agenda and scooped him up into the shower with me. He quickly realized showers are not nearly as cool as bath's and got very upset about the water pelting him from above. I had not other option but to pick him up and wash myself one-handed-- no small feat! But as I was finishing up I decided to sit down and turn the water to bath mode and just sit Indian style and use my hands to push the water up onto my legs and Ezra's back. I know of no truer more simple joy I have ever felt in my life than that one. Ezra facing me, arms wrapped around the top of my shoulders, head resting on my heart,breathing softly in and out, water droplets on his long eyelashes-- skin to skin. He held perfectly still and seemed to be listening to my heart beat for a good long moment. I said a silent prayer of thank you. Thank you for this moment of pure bliss. This moment that makes every other moment disappear, and that makes me know nothing else really matters but this right now.

What is so amazing is that all I have to do is close my eyes and put myself back there. I make it as real as I can. I imagine the water, the colors in the room, the sound of his breathing, the warm water-- and my whole vibration changes. FOR THE MIND-- It's as if it is happening all over again-- it does not know or care the difference.

That is the essence of following our bliss-- and the power of Now.

Tune in tomorrow for further discussion about why our energetic vibration matters.

Left Handing it

The other day while I was sitting in my conference, I was listening to very inspiring people who have accomplished many of their own dreams. And it popped into my mind when I heard Bob Doyle (click here to learn about him) say that his main hope for each of us would be to learn to be who we authentically are without apology. To be who we want to be and emulate what we are about in confidence.

In that moment it came into my mind clearly-- I could see myself creating paintings and pictures that represent my journey of growth and transformation. I thought to myself and wrote down these exact words:

"I want to be an artist. I want to paint my experiences into moving, profoundly emotional art-combined with poem."

Truthfully I have some very major blocks to this. But it came from inside me and I choose to honor that.

About an hour later we were doing an exercise and we were asked to take our dominant hand and tap on our heart-- at the pace of a heart beat-- and focus on asking ourself a specific question. I was surprised and curious to find myself automatically tapping with my left hand. It was a curious thing for me and after the presentation I went and asked the presenter (Jennifer Mclean) if that meant anything significant. She stated that she felt encouraged to tell me that I should begin drawing, writing, and painting with my left hand. That I should consider the possibility that I am ambidextrous. For some reason this made me start to cry. Through an amazing process called Body Dialogue, and the use of EFT (click here) (or here) (or here), I was able to discover that I have actually been neglecting the use of the left side of my body in many ways for many years, and in effect being very closed off to the the functions of my right brain.

So I have begun writing and drawing with my left hand, and brushing teeth, and tapping, and opening lids etc... It's interesting how it makes me so much more aware of my body and my mind. It's difficult. I feel like a little kid again trying to learn to master something, like riding a bike. And I can't tell you how excited I am to see what happens as I begin integrating both sides of my body and mind. I am a little nervous for how it might change me or make me feel different, and I am excited about how it may impact my creativity and my life in general. Through procedures mentioned earlier I discovered that I decided at a very young age that it was not safe to be whole and integrated. It is now OK for me to be whole.

So I have the paint. I have a few canvasses. I am brave enough to try writing and drawing as a lefty. But I am scared to paint-right OR left handed . I am going to do it anyway. Like my friend Kim said, I am bigger than my fear!

So wish me luck.

Keep your suffering to yourself

I listened to an interview done with Caroline Myss yesterday. She is a spiritual teacher, educator and medical intuitive/healer. I just found out about her this last weekend. The following are the notes I took from an exclusive interview with an LA radio talk-show host. Her thoughts were very helpful to me so I thought I'd paraphrase them and put them out there. If you like her ideas you can find more at www.myss.com

"It's in the putting off of what you need to do for yourself that you start becoming energetically congested. That leads to building up a sense of self-hatred. And then we take that out on others.

Why does your bad childhood or your bad day give you permission to take it out on anyone else? Why should your bad day at work entitle you to come home and scream at someone who had nothing to do with that.

"Keep your suffering to yourself. It has nothing to do with anybody else." (note this does not mean deny your suffering-- it means deal with it without taking it out on others)

Find a way to let that go through your soul. In society today, it is a commonly held belief that "If I've suffered I'm entitled to something." And really we are not.

In any given moment you are choosing to live with grace and love-- or not. That looks like understanding. "God give me the fortitude to reach with the highest potential of my heart."

Love has many faces. We either come from this place or we don't.

Our greatest pain is not what others have done to us but what we want to do to others who have hurt us. The true suffering is not that they have hurt us, but that we are sitting around trying to figure out how to hurt them without even realizing it.

My favorite concept was that of Graces and their shadow sides. One of the graces is piety or humility (Pietas in traditional Latin usage expressed a complex, highly valued Roman virtue; a man with pietas respected his responsibilities to other people, gods and entities (such as the state), and understood his place in society with respect to others). The shadow side of piety is avarice (or greed). Avarice literally means to crave--excessive or insatiable desire. Greed can be seen not just in terms of money or wealth but in wanting recognition, attention etc... We can be greedy about wanting what we want --whatever it might be--and withholding from others --(even in tiny ways such as refusing to say good morning or withholding a compliment). None of us are all one or all the other. We are both.

In my own life, today I am looking at ways that I am greedy. One for sure is in the need for attention. I have always felt like I just could not get enough. I am not judging myself for this. Nor am I blaming my parents or my childhood. I think I understand why I have been this way. The truth though, at this point is that it does not matter to me anymore how I came to be this way. What matters is that I can look at it now, without hating myself for it. I can look at it with my eyes wide open- almost standing outside myself as an observer. And if I am brave enough to see it, I can now work on letting that need go. I can begin to see how it plays out in my relationships with others and how it has caused me to begrudge, overshadow or withhold from others-- or feel unsatisfied if I was not getting enough attention. It's time to cultivate the grace-- piet, and to begin to let go of the shadow. The shadow which says that I can't get enough attention, and that if others are getting it, there is not enough for me.

I am now willing to pay attention to myself. To give myself what I need. To listen to my body and my spirit and feed it. I am ready to give more genuine attention to others instead of being so focused on myself. There is enough. We are all connected. There is no competition in the spiritual realm.

Thanks for exploring this deeply vulnerable self-awareness with me.

And I promised to share one of my dreams. I want to learn to paint. I don't know if I can do it. I am scared. I think it has to be perfect or I don't even want to try. But I am going to try anyway.

I will tell you more about how I discovered this dream and about what it really means in my life right now tomorrow.

xoxo

Dream It, Believe It, Be It

I came across this article today by a woman called Sandra Magsamen.

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Dream-It-Believe-It-Be-It

I have to share this article because it is where my heart is.

Tomorrow I will share one of my dreams with you. For today I just want us all to be inspired in realizing that our dreams are messages from our soul about living up to our own true potential, and giving our gifts to the world. They are not inside us to make us feel sad, bad or deprived. If you have a habit of telling yourself "That could never happen for me" or "It can happen for other's, but not for me" or "It's just not realistic" please stop doing that to yourself. Please.

If you find that your dreams actually make you feel anxiety or a feeling of lack or deprivation-- YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE WRONG VOICE.

If you find that when other's are getting what they want in their lives and you feel jealous or begrudging toward them, it's your soul trying to tell you to stop denying yourself. Stop blocking yourself from being happy for others and start opening yourself to how you can create what you want in your life. This is the lesson I am learning.

So you get to learn it along with me if you are up for the journey.

Ok. Enough of my rant. Here is the article. I hope it will be food for thought.

and I'd love to hear about any impact it has for you, or any action steps you take as a result of reading this.

xoxo

Sadly, too often, we hear phrases that call for us to get our heads out of the clouds and come down to earth and that ask us to stop dreaming dreams because they will never come true.

Sometimes these voices come from others, and sometimes they come from ourselves. For far too long we have underestimated the power and possibility that life is the act of dreaming what can be and that we all have to do the work it takes to make our dreams a reality.

Each human being is a gift, and we each have our own unique dream and purpose for living. We each must mine our imaginations, creativity and souls to uncover our true purposes and passions.

Our dreams are magic, and if respected, nurtured and honored, they ultimately bring an abundance of meaning and purpose to our lives. Dreams guide us as we reach for the stars, follow our heart's desire and do the things we are passionate about. Dreams help weave the fabric of who we are, and they reveal what matters most to us. They allow our spirits to shine, and they reflect our uniqueness and authenticity.

Although we sometimes hear the call to put our dreams aside, louder, clearer and more powerful voices remind and connect us to the truth, beauty and wealth of our dreams.

Throughout history, poets, songwriters, novelists, politicians, social activists, countries, companies, presidents, moms, dads and people just like you have expressed the importance of the act of dreaming and of reaching toward those dreams. These voices also inspire and remind us that there is a common thread that connects one heart to another. That thread is the belief and optimism in a brighter future when we embrace and pursue our dreams.

When we look around, we see others who have embraced their dreams, and we admire them. We see the great changes that can come from one person's commitment, perseverance and belief in her dream. We see the power of dreams manifested around us in our neighborhoods, churches, communities, states, the country and the world.

We, too, want to make our own dreams come true. We all want to connect, to speak from our hearts. We yearn to create dreams as well as things and moments that make our lives worthwhile. We want to convey what words alone cannot as we accomplish our dreams.

Yet, not enough of us even acknowledge the desire to create the lives we imagine or try to make our dreams come true. Too often we diminish the importance of our dreams by saying, "I'll get to it later" or "It can wait." Our inner critic can be heard saying, "I'll never get it accomplished," "My dream doesn't really matter" or "I probably can't do it any way, and people will think it's silly."

The truth is, we all need more opportunities to dream, to imagine and to play. We long to feel the sensation of being lost in a moment of joy. To laugh, discover, experiment, invent, feel accomplished and live in the moment.

Dreaming is the way we define what matters to us and what we wish to accomplish and do in the world with this one life.

There comes a day when each of us has to decide that today is the day we are going to put our fears and excuses aside, follow our heart's desire and pursue our dreams.

Let today be that day for you. Get started by taking these ideas to heart:

Today is the day to heed and acknowledge the importance of your dreams.

• Today is the day to declare that you can and will create the life you imagine.
• Today is the day to stop diminishing your dreams and start believing in them.
• Today is the day to stop putting your dreams aside and stop asking them to wait.
• Today is the day to shut your inner critic up and instead of saying, "No, I can't," say, "Yes, I can!"
• Today, nurture and support yourself.
• Today, you are teacher and a student.
• Today and every day is your day.
• Today is the day you let your dreams take flight.
  

Our dreams come in all sizes and shapes.

Whether it is a dream

• to hear the voice of a long lost friend
• to make holiday cards by hand
• to learn to bake a cake that people can't get enough of
• to sing or play the cello
• to get an education
• to climb a mountain
• to help another human being
• to start a business
• to paint a picture
• to find the love of your life
• to teach English in a remote village in India
• to take a trip to Spain
• to be closer to a sister
• to walk in the sand at the beach
• to be a doctor

Some dreams are small but touch lives in a big way; others are big and touch a small group of people in a remote area of the world. But all dreams are important.

We made it back home.

I LOVE These faces.

We are back home. Ezra could not be happier to have returned to the land and life he knows. He was ecstatic. He loved New York. He loved the subways and buses and diesels trucks. He loved the hum and bustle. He waved at everyone, made lots of new friends. Inspired me in his openness and wonder. And was happy to return home to his own bed.

I experienced things that will change my life forever. I am trying to think about how I can share them.

For now

please...watch this video. Please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3zJm98UXzQ

Joy Luck

In my study this morning I came across a link on Oprah.com to an article about how to get lucky. What I learned was actually very exciting to me. Exciting enough to share.

Luck is usually defined as an unpredictable phenomenon that leads to good or bad outcomes. But after years of experiments, Richard Wiseman, a psychology professor at the University of Hertfordshire in England ,disagrees. "Luck is not a magical ability or a gift from the gods, instead, it is a way of thinking and behaving." He insists that we have far more control over the element—and outcome—of chance in our lives than we realize. In fact, he argues that only 10 percent of life is truly random. The remaining 90 percent is "actually defined by the way you think."

"Lucky people create, notice, and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives, If luck means being in the right place at the right time, being in the right place at the right time is actually all about being in the right state of mind." Richard Wiseman

His number one tip for improving your life and influencing your own destiny? SMILE.

If this concept intrigues you click here.

I am really excited about this information. I plan to start a one month experiment today to see what I find out for myself about luck being a prepared state of mind.

As I said yesterday, I have recently been trying to see myself more accurately Through the use of EFT (click here to learn more) I have discovered that I generally believe that if anything can go wrong it will. I have been aware of this for several months and while I now see how that shows up in my life, and I have worked on it a little bit, I have not really taken any truly focused steps to alter this way of believing.

So the purposeful journey of becoming fortunate begins for me. I'll let you know how my experiment goes. Just a hint though as to how timely this reading has been for me:

Ultimately, Wiseman believes, the bigger your circle of acquaintances, the more opportunities you have. A typical person knows about 300 people on a first-name basis. So if you go to a party and meet someone new, he explains, you're "only two handshakes away from 300 times 300 people; that's 90,000 new possibilities for a new opportunity, just by saying hello." By the same logic, if you meet 50 new people at a conference, you're just a couple of introductions away from 4.5 million opportunities to change your life.

I leave tomorrow for a conference with 75 participants!

"People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar."

"Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature."

Thich Nhat Hanh

When I read those two quotes this morning I felt it in my gut. Sometimes I loose my cool. Especially lately. I feel so much fear about the unknown. About my own capacities. I go through the day trying to be good, kind, productive, efficient, effective, appropriate, excellent. In this process of trying to change and live more of my potential, I am so overwhelmed sometimes I take it out on those who are always there for me. I do and say (and even yell and scream sometimes) things I would never want to sign my name to. UUGH.

That's the truth though.

Last night I wrote in my daily dialogue that I want to see more of my darkest places. I want light shone on them. I want to be brave and look at them. So this morning in the early light of morning, there it was. Illumination into the darkest corners of me.

I choose to be conscious of my words and actions today, especially around those that are closest to me. I ask for the ability to maintain that consciousness. I choose to be aware of what I am signing my name to today. If I find myself in some way signing off on something my true self would never sign. I will correct it immediately.

By the way. I spent my morning routine in my sacred space and it was truly magical. I can't believe I have been missing out on this all this time!

Creating a Sacred Space

Today my reading was about creating a sacred space. I decided to share this one because I think it is so important. This is a space to celebrate, concentrate and consecrate our inner work. It can be small or large. It can just mean carving out a certain space of time each day. But I am starting to understand how an actual physical location can be so valuable. It's funny because I created a sacred space to nurture other women (and men and children too-- but especially women) through my studio. But I never use that space just for me. Several times I have had the thought to go in there to do my morning and evening routines, but I have never actually done it. I asked myself why today and the answer came simply in a feeling of resistance. Why do I resist using that space to nurture myself? The truth is, I am still learning to give myself permission to really and truly shut everything else out but myself, and totally take care of me. I am scared to do it. I avoid it. I have put my toes in the water, even waded in mid calf or thigh. But I won't jump. I won't let myself dive in and float up on my back and actually envelop myself in my own sacred space, truly connected to my authentic self. Doing my inner work and totally tuning everything else out seems like it's not ok. It's ok to steel away a few minutes, as long as I am still available to the outside world. In case the phone rings, the baby crys, the doorbell rings. Someone might need me. Or I might miss something.

Sarah Ban Breathnach says it doesn't have to be a whole room. it can be a small cranny or nook, a table or bench. If you have limited space, open yourself to discovering how you can create this kind of space with what you have available. Make it beautiful. Fill it with sounds, smells, pictures, flowers, fabric, colors--whatever inspires and brings you joy.

She says of her space, "Love created this space for me once I became open to allowing it in my life. The objects displayed on the table represent all that I love and for which I am grateful."

"In order to stay easily and happily creative, we need to stay spiritually centered. This is easier to do if we allow ourselves centering rituals. It is important that we devise these ourselves from elements that feel holy and happy to us." Julia Cameron

This week I will be travelling again. I am ecstatic about a seminar I will be attending in New Jersey. But I have two days left. I promise myself I will add a few sacred, inspiring, hope filled, items to my sacred room. I will make it a little more nurturing and inspiring to me. And I will allow myself to enter it alone, consecrate it and find my own safety in that space. I will take the plunge.

I'll give you a tour when I get back from my trip.

Id love to hear about it, if a sacred space opens up for you in your life.

Just Do It Now

This last weekend I put on a retreat for 4 single adults. I called it the "Live your Best Life" Single's Retreat. It was awesome! I have been doing retreats for affluent families in a very specific process and setting for several years and have recently decided to branch out. This was my first try at it. I didn't know what to expect or if the participants would be happy with the outcome so I felt nervous and stressed about it. But when it came time to start, I knew just what to do. It felt really natural and I completely enjoyed sharing information, inspiration, ideas, education etc... with this group of people. I enjoyed teaching them and providing resources and tools for them to help them better their own lives, as well as sharing things I have been learning on my own journey. I also loved making the atmosphere and food and putting in the special touches to make it nurturing and special for them.

It was so cool to do what I love, to earn money doing it, and to push myself to go out on a limb and stretch my own limits personally and professionally.

What is something you have always wanted to do/become but were too afraid to actually make it happen? You might be amazed if you follow your heart, how it can open doors for you and others, in ways you could never have imagined. Come on-- just go for it! What do you have to loose?

Apology

I said I would be back Monday and it's already Wednesday. No excuses. I didn't keep my word and I am sorry for that.

I recently took the Integrity Pledge which goes as follows:

“If you make a commitment, honor it.

If you make a promise, keep it.

If you set a goal, achieve it.”

This may be something you have already mastered in your life. I have not. I have always considered myself to be a person who strives to live with integrity. But as I have been doing a lot of self-exploration and personal development, and as I have been examining my life with a magnifying glass, I have found a lot of ways in which I fall short.

It's hard to look at and change. It's uncomfortable. It causes me to feel guilty and inadequate sometimes. Which then gives me the chance to offer myself love and kindness and acceptance, along with a gentle push toward improvement. I can already see how even trying to improve has made a big difference in my life. So, I'm looking at it. Working on it. Experiencing growing pains. Feel free to call me on it if you see where I fall short...But please be kind. ;)

And as for our adventures? I promised to tell you about them. So stay tuned for tomorrow.

I'm going on a trip

I'll be gone for the weekend and won't be able to blog. I'll be back Monday with lots to share about my adventures.

Thought for the day:

" Solid success stands on top of the mountain of failures that’s built only by a person who doesn't understand the meaning of give up."
Written in 2009 by Johni Pangalila --- Australia

I Love 2010!

This year I set some really amazing goals.

Setting these goals and moving in their direction has SHOVED me out of my comfort zone mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally... and it has opened up whole new worlds of thought and experience to me.

Many times it has felt exciting, exhilarating, energizing.

To be honest it is SCARY as hell sometimes too. Pushing my own limits, exploring my borders and boundaries-- forces me to hit zones and regions of myself I haven't hit before. To see things that are hard to look at, as well as things that are really amazing too.

Some days--some moments it feels heavy. Overwhelming. Discouraging. Sometimes I wonder if my goals and dreams are even possible. Other times I feel like I could literally fly--and I feel so empowered.

It's definitely a ride.

So my reading for today was particularly comforting...

"...you have embarked on an adventure as exciting as that of any explorer. Uncovering the source of the Nile or charting the course of the Amazon are outward parallels to the inner journey you are on today--a safari of the self and the spirit.

In Africa, to go on Safari--the Swahili word for journey-- is to leave the comfort and safety of civilization to venture in to the wilderness. Each time you listen to the woman [or man] within--your authentic self-- you do the same. Remind yourself of this often. " You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition," Alan Alda advises the inner explorer in you. "What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself."

My time in Texas fit into this description. I literally went into the wilderness. I left everything I knew behind. I survived without many of the things we take for granted in the first world. It was a truly amazing journey. And I believe it set the stage for the journey I am on now. It showed me an inner strength I didn't really know I had. It taught me a lot about the difference between wants and needs. To let go of everything and still survive and then come back to standard civilization and bring with me the lessons of that time and place was something I will never regret.

This journey though. millions of times scarier. It feels so much riskier to me. I can do tents and chiggers and mold and rain and heat and humidity and poop in a bucket and shower outside. Honestly, compared to this self excavation-- piece of cake.

But I wouldn't have it any other way. I know deep inside it will be well worth the risk.

So here's to scary safari's.

Bring. It. On.