Living a full life

Filed Under Authenticity, Embracing uncertainty, Freedom Challenge, Gratitude, Joyous Living, Setbacks as opportunities, Sparkle, Stretching the comfort zone | Leave a Comment

Over the last six months, three of my dear friends have lost their spouses.  Each time, I've been shaken by it, but I guess this third one has felt like a real wake up call.  All the cliches apply:  Life is short; Life is precious; Don't take life for granted; etc.  I want to throw everything that does not matter aside and give my passion and purpose free reign.  How else will I manage to keep finding new levels of inner peace?  Each time I squelch a part of myself that exudes joy, I can feel a bit of my soul shriveling up.  I don't want to die an unlived life!!  I pray that I can keep tapping into this passionate part of myself and help others to do the same, so that our world thrives on the best of ourselves rather than the fear that seems to be running rampant.

Doing what you’re born to do

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Yesterday, I received a "you've got to see this" email from a friend.  She was absolutely right, even though at first glance, I was thinking "Oh, brother!  What is THIS?"   

Here is the link to an amazing video:

http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html 

I'm not an opera fan and I don't have much appreciation for these talent shows, but I was so inspired by is this young man's talent (of course…he's THAT good), by some of the things he said (for example, that his singing has always been "his friend"), and that he followed his guidance to do what he knew he was meant to do.   

In the video I saw a seemingly ordinary young man blossom as he stepped in to his knowing of who he is, of what he carries, of his unique gift.  He is doing what he loves to do.  Although we may not have this particular talent, each of us does have some rare or precious gift…and the clue as to what it is will be in what we love - or what we've considered "our friend" throughout life's tough times.  I am so inspired by this "lumpy" young man having the audacity to say, "I sing opera" despite the disdainful looks of the judges.  YES!

This is what I'd like to do - to say "Yes!" to my gifts and to help others say "Yes!" to theirs.  To learn to be audacious enough to say, this is my gift, this is what I love to do!  As I'd mentioned to a friend a while ago, to be able to say, "Yes, I'm weird.  Isn't it wonderful?!!"  What freedom there is in that!  Here is a path to inner peace - to be free to be ourselves, fully, completely, audaciously! 

Shaken, Not Stirred

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I fell in love with Sean Connery when I was about five.  Not, as you might imagine, given the title of this post, as James Bond, but as Michael McBride Connery in Darby O'Gillin Darby O’Gill and the Little People, one of the first movies I remember seeing (after Sleeping Beauty, my age five favorite).  Please don’t consider this a recommendation of the movie, unless you are interested in seeing a very young, very handsome (in my opinion) Sean Connery.

Actually, Sean Connery has nothing to do with this post other than an opportunity for me to reminisce about being little, experiencing a "first crush." Oh, and being able to see WHY I had that experience in the first place.  My goodness, he was handsome!   Okay, okay, back to  "reality."  What “Shaken, Not Stirred” really has to do with is the process I feel like I’m going through.  You know those times of growth that feel like your very foundations are being rattled rather than life being gently stirred?  Yep, this is one of those shaken times.  Fortunately, I think I’m learning that being shaken in this sense isn’t necessarily bad.  Even that the unsettling isn’t bad, just another opportunity to learn a new sense of balance, to embrace the uncertainty.  Part of my recent teachings have been around the idea of choice, of being able to step into a new choice at any time.  If, indeed, we are new creations in every moment, this unsettling and regaining of balance is really just part of the process.  So, I may as well get used to it – and learn to enjoy the ride, including the spills I take!  (Aaacck!)

Inquiry

Two, actually:

Just for fun, who was YOUR first crush?

Are you being shaken?  Stirred?  Osterized?  In what way(s)?  How are you dealing with it? 

Stepping into our bigger selves

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In a recent class discussing living a full life, my instructor asked us to go into our hearts and see (or hear or feel) what our deepest heart would long to have written on our gravestone.  (It wasn't as morbid as it might sound, honest!)  Mine went something like, "Loved God and shared that love with all her heart, soul, and being."  When each of us had the opportunity to discuss our epitaph - and to feel what our lives would be like if what we'd written had come to fruition, I was filled with incredible joy and the excitement of possibility…like the windows of possibility were being thrown open.  Dr. Laird suggested that I not just look at the window, yearning for those possibilities, but rather take a chance and step through those openings.  These images, he said, were Divine images, showing me as a new creation - don't hold back…step in to this new creation of someone who is, basically, for me, a "fool for God."  I'm reminded of the near-ecstacy I felt reading of Saint Elizabeth who "loved Jesus to distraction."  So often, I feel I just want to chuck all my pretenses and just say "yes" to Divine guidance…to be that fool for God.  What are my options?  I can keep playing safer…looking "good"/normal/mainstream on the outside.   I'll stay relatively safe…unfortunately, safe hasn't been all it's cracked up to be, at least not for me.  If I want to live this rich, juicy life, time's a'wastin'.  Let me be the quirky, joyous, irrepressible creation that makes me feel fabulous!

Remember when…

Filed Under Gratitude, Joyous Living, Sparkle, Stretching the comfort zone, Success | 2 Comments

Over the last several months, I’ve been enchanted by the idea and experience of “sparkle.”  It sends me back joyous childto being about four or five, when I just loved being myself.  I hadn’t had teachers reprimand me for always wanting to do show and tell.  I hadn’t yet gotten my first (humiliating) birthday spanking in front of my classroom.  Whether or not I did actually sparkle at that age, I don’t know, but what I do know is that when I remember (a full-body remembering) being that age, the feeling that comes over me is a sense of sparkling from within.  And when I feel like I’m sparkling, I am happy, joyous.  I have a sense of being all I need to be.  Like having God’s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  And with THAT approval, I’m good to go!

Personally, I love the idea of sparkle and sparkling.  Still being in touch with that young, enthusiastic, joyous part of me is one of my greatest blessings.  I think that anyone who gets in touch with their sparkle is going to be better off forlittle girl sparkling having done so.  Frankly, I can’t quite understand why not everyone relates to “sparkling” or wanting to sparkle, but they don’t.   And I’ve found myself thinking I should  “dim” my sparkle (you know, change the wording, eliminate the word sparkle), to accommodate those who aren’t raving sparkle fans, but my sparkle joy keeps insisting on being experienced.  So, if my deepest self refuses to dim my love of sparkle to appease those who can’t relate to sparkling, I guess I’ll follow that. And for those who do relate to the idea of sparkling…I say let’s set the world ablaze with our sparkle!   

Inquiry

Do you relate to inner sparkle?  In what way or ways? Do you not relate to sparkle?  Why is that?

Photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/myblueeyeguy/188576489/

            http://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/5125391/  

Regaining balance after a leap

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 For all my enthusiasm about putting new learnings into practice, one thing I hadn't taken into consideration is that, for me, I really need to periodically take time to integrate the new learnings, expansions, etc.  I've been so excited about "moving forward" and taking new actions…some of which were pretty bold expansions of my comfort zone…that I hadn't taken much time to adjust.  It hit me this weekend, after venturing to beautiful Lake Tahoe to take part in a retreat, that I've been experiencing so many shifts that all of a sudden (or so it seems) I was feeling very unsteady.  Who am I now?  Where am I standing?  Identifying where I am and where I'm going is one of my "coaching strategies" - and I wasn't doing it!  

One of the "blessings" of this is realizing, experiencing the fact that my emotions can be great guideposts.  After all the enthusiasm, suddenly I was feeling cranky, uncertain, sick to my stomach.  Rather than going to my usual, "what's wrong?" I was able to ask myself, "what are these feelings telling me?"  And I kept seeing the many bold actions I'd taken in the last month that dramatically expanded my comfort zone (going on a retreat where I knew almost no one and presenting my Speaking Circle work there were probably the "last straws").  It's a great reminder for me to put into practice more of my recent learnings - to pause and breathe(!), adjust as necessary, and then continue.  In the past, the "what's wrong?" would have stopped me, now it doesn't have to!  YAY!  I can feel my way along this path.  Sometimes, I will be able to leap and bound, and sometimes I'll inch along.  And I can embrace both ways as just right for the moment!

A great post about expanding one's comfort zone in smaller increments was on Edward Mills site:

http://www.evolvingtimes.com/2007/09/51-ways-to-expand-your-comfort-zone.htm 

I'd love to hear about other comfort zone expanders!

Flaunting quirks

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There really is something to be said for getting older!  For most of my 50+ years, I've tried to hide just how quirky I am and have been pretty much miserable.  Quirks, in my terminology, are those behaviors that may seem "out of the mainstream" but are somewhat precious to you, and are really a part of who you are.  Turning 50 has set me free to at least dabble in letting my little oddities out.  And, it's so much more fun!  I hope to be a role model for my clients and friends and family - especially my granddaughter!  If she can experience loving who she is at a much younger age, I would be thrilled beyond measure!

Why not skip?  Why not play the kazoo - even on my voicemail?  Yes, I want to be seen as professional, but my dream is that everyone steps more into who they are and, like it or not, I love playing the kazoo.  (I am transported to being about five years old and loving being me).  So far, the kazooing hasn't seemed to offend anyone's sensibilities.  And God love 'em if it does!  I wanna live with the same joie d' vivre I had at five!  I wanna sparkle!  I wanna see everybody sparkle!!
What kinds of things bring out your sparkle?

Pent-up anger vs. inner peace

Filed Under Freedom Challenge, Stretching the comfort zone | 4 Comments

Over the last several months, I've been hearing myself, my friends, and my clients speak about freedom…freedom from limiting thoughts and behaviors, freedom to be more of who we want to be.  For me, my exploration of the theme of freedom has led to my own desire to let loose a little more, to rekindle my heart's sparkle, to become rejuvenated, revitalized, re-enthused.  That's likely what started the thought of having a Freedom Challenge.  Challenging myself to stretch my comfort zone  bit by bit isn't easy - if it were easy and safe and comfy, gosh, I would have done it long ago!  

So this week I've stretched my comfort zone several times, been scared, been angry, wanted to burrow into a safe, comfy spot.  My dear friend, Neysa, upon hearing about my anger teased that the "Inner Peace Activist" wouldn't have any entries if I was experiencing that much anger.  Ahh, but that is part of my freedom - and inner peace - to allow myself to experience all that pent up anger as being okay.  Not comfortable, but okay.  A deep breath.  A sense of freedom.

Freedom Challenge

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Taking on a Freedom Challenge

The theme of freedom has been prevalent in my life recently, so the thought of creating a Freedom Challenge seems intriguing. 

So, what would a Freedom Challenge entail? 

What areas could use some sense of freedom?

One of the first areas for me seems to be around being authentic, quirks and all.  If I am more honest about who I really am, will that help set me free?

Day One:  I had a great day today – I let myself say yes and be open with the group I was doing a workshop with.  I was happy with the workshop, which feels GREAT.  And I’m thinking that this being myself stuff is going to work.  Not that it’s easy – and probably won’t be – but will it lead me to peace and joy on the other side?  I think so.  

Out of character?

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If you do something that seems "out of character" and you love doing it, does that mean that it really is "in character" for a deeper part of you?  Yesterday I received a link to a video that inspired me to do something a bit out of the ordinary for me & I loved it!  (You'll find the link at the end of this post)  In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to do more of it.  It was easy and fun and made me feel great - really heart-centered and loving.  And I could see it made a difference for people around me.  Feeling I was being used as an instrument of God.  Joy and Inner Peace.  What could be better?  Here's the link: 
http://www.youtube.com/v/vr3x_RRJdd4

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