Water Sparkles

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Water Sparkles

Originally uploaded by foxvox

Sparkling is the glint of light on water or ice or the light of the Divine being reflected in the mirror of our hearts or souls.

When we clean or polish our mirrors and align them with the light of God, His Light sparkles our soul.  We become more beautiful, more light.

Starting small…it’s okay

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One small, authentic action.  Take those small, authentic, inspired actions consistently and you can get to where you want to be relatively quickly.  Take too big a step, it’s easier to get discouraged or fall, and it makes it harder to keep going.  I know when I’ve been out of the habit of exercise, it’s much easier for me to start slow, to get on the elliptical for even five minutes and be happy with that than HAVING to go for 30 minutes or more.  My husband says, “Oh, you have to go for at least 30 minutes for it to be worthwhile.”  But I have to disagree - if I keep moving forward incrementally, I’m much more likely to keep going.    I know me…if I get too discouraged, I won’t continue.  Start small…it’s okay.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Many years ago, during her aerobics heyday, Jane Fonda offered an aerobics class at a local community college.  I was attending aerobics classes regularly, so I thought this was no big deal.  The class lasted about 90 minutes, but it really was more strenuous than the classes I’d been accustomed to - and of course, not wanting to “wimp out” I tried to keep up with all the other people in the class.    By the time I left the auditorium and began walking down the hill to my car, I knew I’d done too much.  I couldn’t stretch enough.  The next day I could barely walk.  My lunch-time run lasted about a block.  It was nearly a week before I felt loose enough to resume taking my dance classes.  I still laugh at the memory of doddering down the hill after that class with Ms. Fonda, but it’s a helpful reminder to strive towards my goal, but continue to recognize when I’m starting to tighten up…what’s the wisest course of action at THIS point?

If you have to start taking baby steps to reach your goal, so what?  Just keep asking if this particular action is moving towards your goal.  Does it feel like a good step, even if it isn’t a huge leap?  If it brings you closer to who you want to be or where you want to be, trust it’s a good step, take it, and feel for what’s next.   We’ll get there!

Yes we can.

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Recently I received a thank you note from Barack and Michelle Obama.  You may have received one, as well.  I’m sure many people did.  Part of the note read,

“…This is our time…to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth…that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:  Yes We Can.”

Yes We Can.  That thought thrills me.  The realization that my president-elect wants me – us – to believe that – to stand in it – to live it – thrills me even more.  If we do live this, what can we create/develop/help happen?

What is it that you want for yourself, for your family, your community, country, world?  What do you hope for?  My hope is that we all become clearer about what we want, we recognize that we can, and we strive to make those dreams and hopes a reality.

Law of Attraction: Hype or Hope?

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Is the Law of Attraction really a Law?   On Selfgrowth.com, there’s a brief video by David Riklan discussing the ‘controversy’ around the Law of Attraction.  And following the video are a bunch of comments.  Is this “Law” a law or a bunch of hooey?

Having just been certified as a Law of Attraction coach, I have to admit I’m a believer.  On the other hand, I’m not one who believes we attract EVERYTHING that happens to us.   I get to this point periodically where I have to just say I don’t know how this works.   When tragedy strikes, where those people vibrational matches to the tragedy?  Don’t know.   Can’t quite believe that happens.  On the other hand, somewhere in their soul had they made an agreement to be a part of this particular event or circumstance?   In other realms, are we asking for these incidents for our learning and growth? Don’t know.

What I do know is that, for me, switching my focus from what is painful to what feels a little better is really helpful.   Why continue to focus on something troublesome when there are innumerable other things to focus on?  And when most of those other somethings much more joyful?   It always pleases me when I realize that by shifting my focus to something that feels good to me, I become much more enthused about…most everything.  So, I do more, and feel better, and am more inspired to do more things, and feel even better.  It always seems that when I’m feeling good either good things happen or “bad” things don’t bother me so much…and that works for me.

Now, I’m not “wishing for” a huge bank account or a Rolls Royce or a bunch of “stuff,” so I’m not testing LoA in that way, so what it boils down to is that the way I’m holding and practicing the Law of Attraction is working for me.   And that feels good.

Has anyone else experienced shifts in thinking or attitude using Law of Attraction?  Do you think it’s hooey?

Delight

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Watching a YouTube video of Barack Obama on Ellen DeGeneres’ show made me realize, yet again, how impressed I am by this man who will be president of the United States.  There is something about him that seems so genuine and so accessible.   His election signals a major change for the country, and maybe for us as a people.  What would our country be like if we all do step up more, dream more, work for our dreams more?   This video of Mr. Obama dancing makes me smile.  It makes me wonder what life would be like if more of us just started dancing more; if more of us could break free from our shoulds and have-tos and could just be ourselves.  And appreciate who we are, just as we are.  Not that we wouldn’t want to keep growing and keep improving, but that we could appreciate our own unique qualities and share them more fully with others.  What if we could delight in being ourselves?  I think of little children who are able to do that and think how wonderful life could be if we carried a lot more of that delight into adulthood, into our work, into our relationships.

I think I’m fortunate to have been built the way I’ve been and to have had opportunities to explore more of my own inner world.  For the most part, I love being me…even if I do whine and gripe and cry about the state of my closets or desk tops.  Yeah, I’d like to be more consistent with follow through, and yet there’s not a whole lot I’m desperate to change.  I feel so blessed to be able to do the work I do - and in the vein of authenticity, to be able to offer a workshop like “Listening is Love.“  It’s just the best to be able to facilitate people connecting at a heart-to-heart level and share themselves more and more authentically!

Exciting times

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When change is upon us, how do we deal with it?

I was listening to an interview with author Toni Morrison, speaking about times, such as these, when change is inevitable.  She spoke about times like these as having elements of hope and excitement as well as anxiety…the unknown can be scary, but it can be exciting, too, depending on what we choose to focus our attention on.

Obviously, it’s not wise to stick our heads in the sand and deny, for example, that our economy needs help.  But to focus on the “disaster” of it only reinforces fear and limits the potential of us thinking outside of the box for the things that might be helpful.    Albert Einstein wrote that “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.“  Here’s a  chance for us to really begin to do things from a new perspective.   We may not have any idea of what lies ahead, but what if we could be part of a new creation?  Wouldn’t that be exciting?

I keep thinking of John Kennedy saying “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”  Wat can we do for our communities, states, country, world?

It’s about hope

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I received this link in an email from a friend.  It made me teary (not a huge surprise) because, no matter what the outcome of our election today, I want for us to have hope.  To change our focus from fear and worry to HOPE, to possibility, to gratitude that we live in this country.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1103/p09s02-coop.html

What’s really important?

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How do we cope with all the chaos going on in the world right now?  What a nightmare!  I’m reminded of a professor telling the class that, as a nation, our trust in the government was turned inside-out when the shenanigans of Nixon and his men surfaced.

Our worship of/faith in the almighty dollar is being “tested.”  What is it we’re depending on?  And where are we keeping our focus?  If our focus is on the nightmare of what’s happening, we’re only going to keep getting more of the same.  What else can we focus on?  Health.  Well-being.  Love.  Peace.  What else?

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”
Mother Teresa

All this fear and worry can be contagious…keep your heart (and mind, as much as possible) turned to what’s most important to you.

Dealing with the “yeah, buts”

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How often do you sabotage hopes and dreams by using those two words…”yeah, but…” They are dream busters. How can you stay focused on what you most want, with those words buzzing around you like bothersome gnats?

As you become more aware of your “yeah, buts” you can counteract them…by using another “yeah, but…” Think of a situation you’d like to experience - for example, you want to start an interior design business and you’re distracted by a “yeah, but I’m not sure I could make it.” You can turn a yeah, but to your advantage, with “Yeah, but I’m really enthused by working in interior design.” By using another “yeah, but…” it seems to lessen the strength of the first distracting “yeah, but.”

“Yeah, buts” happen. If they’re part of your vocabulary, learn to use ‘em to your advantage.

Living music

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The Music
For sixty years I have been forgetful,
every minute, but not for a second
has this flowing toward me stopped or slowed.
I deserve nothing. Today I recognize
that I am the guest the mystics talk about.
I play this living music for my host.
Everything today is for the host.
- Rumi
What if we lived our lives as though we were the Living Music? Would we be living differently? What would be different?


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