Moving Blog

Hello all,

I have decided to move my blog to www.michelebergh.com. I'm experimenting with the message board tool available through my server and I think it will work well. Please consider commenting on any of the posts you feel guided to comment on.

Expectations

Expectation sets you up to be disappointed, while intention frees you to focus on the moment. When you expect you are in waiting mode hoping others will perform just the right moves to make you feel loved. In intention you are proactive and accountable for your own love quota. When you expect you do all the thinking and deciding by yourself. There is no connection instead guilt and insecurity lead the way and no one wins. But when you live with intention you know you are not alone in any relationship. ~Rhonda Britten, Fearless Loving

Under the Weather

Yesterday I woke up a bit under the weather. I knew it was coming and I just kept telling myself "just a few more days to get through and then I can rest". I had so much going on that I couldn't bring myself to step away from it. Luckily, I had a couple of open days to relax but I wonder if I wasn't sick, would I be relaxing? My pattern would be to see a window of down time and figure out what needed to be done, work-wise, and do it. While I don't enjoy being sick, I can see the value of requiring me to relax. For the last two days, I've napped, ate soup and barely checked my emails.

Is your body giving you any signs? Is there anything you need to do to care for yourself? Please take the time to do it. You are all you have. Commit yourself to finding balance and honoring your needs above the needs of others. You will be able to provide so much more if you do. I am committing to doing this for myself. I hope you will too.

Feeling a Little Stressed?

Close your eyes.

Take a few deep, cleansing breaths...in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Allow your breathing to return to a comfortable, even pace.

As you breathe, imagine breathing in peace and breathing out stress.

Say to yourself as you breathe...

Breathe in peace, breathe out stress.
Breathe in peace, breathe out stress.
Breathe in peace, breathe out stress.

Continue until you feel calm and relaxed.

ThetaHealing

A few weeks ago I took a weekend long training on ThetaHealing and I LOVED it. I knew it was going to be like the missing piece of a puzzle for me and it truly was. I have been using it daily on myself and others with great results so I thought I'd share.

In a nutshell it works like this. The technique used by the practitioner is to enter the Theta brainwave state and then connect with our higher power and then do whatever is needed to support the client. It uses muscle testing to check feelings, beliefs, illnesses, etc. and when a challenge is found, it is removed.

One of the things I have learned is that one of the reasons change is so hard for us as adult is because our subconscious has one point of reference before we become an adult - our glorious teen years. For many of us, this is an akward time and we are hormonally challenged on top of it. We are fighting to establish an identity of our own - separate from our family and sometimes fighting against everything (or close to it) we've been taught. So anytime we look at changing something in our life, our subconscious says that's scary and doesn't feel good - maybe you shouldn't do it. This is also why, it's important to explore our subconscious beliefs when making a change. It can speed the rate of healing and make it a much more graceful process.

I have been using it primarily for reprogramming beliefs and healings with great success. Many of the beliefs have been around self esteem and money. We sure seem to have a lot of beliefs in these two areas that hold us back. I have FELT the difference almost immediately in every case.

Clients have shared how amazed they are at the shifts they felt as well. If you are interested in trying it, I am offering teleclass for prosperity and abundance where we explore money beliefs and this is a great, affordable way to check it out. Teleclass are available during the noon hour as well as in the evening. If you are interested, visit http://www.infinitelightmn.com/ and click on the calendar of events.

To stay in touch, consider joining our mailing list. Just use the link at the website address listed above.

Your Truth

You don't need to get anyone else to agree with your truth. You just need to live it.

Alan Cohen
Inspirational Author and Speaker

Dreaming

Last night I had the most wonderful, yet simple dream. I dreamt I went to the lake this fall and everyone was there. All the family and friends who normally join us. In my dream the lake looked different than it really does. It is beautiful in its own right and yet it was exceptional in my dream.

It was a perfect day. There were many trees around...some evergreens, some trees with bright green leaves and some with gorgeous yellow, orange and red leaves - indicative of the autumn season. The sun was shining through the trees sending rays of light across the ground.

There was a feeling of peace and tranquility even with all the people milling around. I took the opportunity to walk down the hill to the lake. As I made my way down, I couldn't believe what I saw. I stepped out onto this large rock that expanded out into the water. It was perfectly flat on top and I felt very safe and secure walking across it towards the edge.

The lake was a good size and completely calm. There was no movement whatsoever. When I gazed down over the rock I could see that while the water looked somewhat deep I could see all the way to the bottom. It was completely clear and the rays of sun provided just enough light to gaze into the water and see everything.

The entire lake was secluded and surrounded by trees and rocks. Directly across from me was a narrow clearing. I couldn't see the top of it but it reminded me of the clearings we used to sled through in the park when I was growing up. This path was filled with vividly colored leaves...the yellows, oranges and reds of fall. The leaves were thick and completely covered the ground. It had the feel of a waterfall, cascading leaves all the way down the hill.

On my left I could see a tall wall of rocks. Dark, smooth and solid rocks. When I looked at them, I felt an internal strength rising up inside of me. In this area there was a waterfall that poured into a small shallow area and then rolled over the rocks in the lake. There were a few people swimming in that area, they seemed free and happy.

I found a spot to sit on the rock and just took it all in. I could have sat there forever.

I wish I could find the words to explain the amount of comfort and serenity I felt but I can't. It was surreal. It felt like such a powerful dream, like a life-changing dream. I felt a sense of honor to be a part of it.

You see, the season of fall represents a new beginning. The sun symbolizes peace of mind, enlightenment, tranquility, fortune, goodwill and insight. It also represents radiant energy. The lush green trees represent new hopes, growth and desires. They are also a sign of strength and stability. The leaves signify a new found happiness and an improvement in various aspects of life. The fall leaves are a sign of letting go of what no longer serves us.

The rocks signify stability. Stones, like the ones under the water, represent strength and unity. The lake signifies the emotional state of mind so a clear and calm lake demonstrates inner peace. The waterfall is also symbolic of letting go. It also represents revitalization and renewal.

This dream is what I've been looking for. Confirmation that I am on the right path. I told my daughter last weekend that even though things weren't perfect I just knew good times were coming. I had felt a huge shift internally and just knew it was good. It felt like this huge weight had just disappeared. I felt open to all that is good in life.

It is time. Time for all of us to embrace all the goodness available. Seize the day!!

Filled with Possibilities

When we are filled with possibilities, we have an opportunity to filter them through our intention. The intentions we create for our life determine what we focus on, what we practice and the results we will achieve. Focusing on our intention, gives us integrity. When we live by integrity, we have a filtering system that increases our self-confidence and self-esteem giving us more personal power. When our intentions guide us, life is no longer a series of doubts and moments of questioning. Instead, when we take actions based on our intentions, we become more focused and have more integrity. When we are driven by our intentions, we become a magnet for success.

~Rhonda Britten

Accomplish Anything

"When you develop yourself to the point where your belief in yourself is so strong that you know you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, your future will be unlimited."

— Brian Tracy: Pre-eminent sales and entrepreneurship expert.

Are you willing to find that solid belief in yourself that will allow you to move forward into a future that is unlimited? Better than you imagined?

Today I woke up feeling like the Universe is shifting. It felt as though it was the beginning of a wonderful new world. I felt free and inspired. I can't explain the shift. I just know that I'm really excited about what the future holds. It's been a tough year for many and it's time to really embrace all that is good and look into the future with optimism. What are you hoping for?

Paint Bliss

Life in itself is an empty canvas, it becomes whatsoever you paint on it. You can paint misery, you can paint bliss. This freedom is your glory.

Osho, 1931-1990Indian Spiritual Teacher

It's Been A While

I hadn't realized how long its been since I last posted. I don't know where the last month went. I thought about posting often and always seemed to get sidetracked with something else. The fall is such a powerful time for me and my favorite season. I love the changing leaves and wrote about it in both my September and October newsletters. I have spent the past month getting my 13 year old daughter back into the routine of school which is always a challenge, at a 4 day healing retreat and a 3 day workshop to add another tool to my toolbelt. This past week I've really felt the impact of doing all of this along with everything else on my plate and spent a little extra time sleeping and just taking it easy in general. I am grateful for the time to do this. I am also grateful for the wonderful teachers in my life. Without each of them, I would not be where I am today. I am off to enjoy a massage this afternoon and will write more later.

In Gratitude,
Michele

Glitter in the Sky

Over Labor Day weekend I was up at the cabin and Saturday night, once the sun had completely gone down, I went outside and was greeted by the most incredible sight. The sky looked like someone had thrown glitter up and filled the night. There were more stars than I think I've ever seen and each one seemed to be twinkling. It was such an incredible vision that I had to summon others to see and experience it as well. After a while I went to bed, tired from the days activities, while others stayed up at the campfire visiting.

The next morning those who stayed up shared the story of their shooting star. A star so bright and big followed by an orange glowing stream behind it. Although they had seen shooting stars before, never had they seen one like this.

These are the types of moments in our life that bring joy and wonder. I am sorry I missed the shooting star but so grateful to have seen the glitter. The glitter was enough for me that night. It was a reminder to be on the lookout for all the wonderful and simple things that bring us joy. After that night, I began to take a closer interest in everything around me...

The fresh tomatoes on the tomato plant on my deck - a gift from my sister-in-law.
The beautiful fall day - sun...slight breeze...sweatshirt but not quite jacket weather.
The purring of my cat as she curls up on my lap.
The feeling of connectedness when I wake up to a cat at my head, one at my feet and a little dog at my side.
The opportunity to see a movie with my daughter.
A book that inspires me from my core...read "just because" rather than to "learn something new".

What fills your day and your soul??

Ten Commandments for Wholeness

The Ten Commandments of Wholeness
by Gladys T. McGarey, M.D., M.D. (H)

ONE. Be Positive.
Give yourself something to live for. So many illnesses are born of the mind. What we think is so often what we become. When a body is truly diseased or ill, there are usually many things wrong with it. But there is an essential part of the body, which is still functional and capable of turning things around with the proper incentive. It is so much easier to contact the physician within and turn a sickness around when you have a burning desire to get well. When World War II abruptly ended with the surrender of Japan, a lot of sick people, bedridden, critically ill, got out of their hospital beds, threw on their clothes and streamed out of the hospital. "Sick, how can I be sick…" one woman cried, "When my boy will be coming home after five years of worrying myself to death?"

TWO. Love yourself, without being indulgent.
You are the center of your universe. Unless you keep that center strong you cannot help anyone - including yourself. Even a locomotive can pull only so many cars. I have worked with families where the caregivers completely devoted their time and energy to caring for other members of the family and neglected their own well being. Sometimes they became so run-down that they died before the sick relatives they had cared for. These caregivers had never given the physician within themselves a chance. They had forgotten the "self" in the biblical injunction, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

THREE. Be forgiving.
My mother, a physician for more than 60 years, used to say, "There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us that it hardly behooves us to put down the rest of us." In the absence of forgiveness we have malice and judgment, which tend to put a strain on mind and body, deplete spirit and lead to disease and premature aging. My forgiving patients so often look ages younger than their years. They are easy on themselves as well as others. This easiness becomes a way of life and is good for the arteries. Some, in their 80's, go bicycling. Others, in their 90's, walk a mile a day. They are the survivors of this world.

FOUR. Keep your life balanced.
We are multidimensional. The metaphysician Edgar Cayce said, "Spirit is the life, the mind the builder, the physical the result." If any aspect of your person is overemphasized, it's likely that the other aspects are slighted. Too much time given to rapt thought may deprecate the body and spirit, bringing an imbalance in life. A flabby Elvis Presley, enamored of yoga, told Daya Mata, the head of the Yoga Self-Realization Center in Los Angeles, that he wanted to give up his singing career and become a monk in her order. She told him that yoga was a blend of the physical, mental and spiritual, and that he could serve best by getting himself in shape physically, cutting out junk foods and turning to spiritual music. He listened in part, and made the album, How Great Thou Art, a tribute to the Lord, which inspired millions. Unfortunately, he continued with his junk food, stayed overweight and came to an untimely end.

FIVE. Take time to meditate and pray.
In meditation you listen to God. In prayer, you talk to God. Both practices bolster your connection with the universal world. You need to give yourself some quiet time and get to know your physician within. Pray for love. With love you fill the emptiness within you and strengthen your faith in yourself. This faith allows us to grow. It may not move mountains, but it moves people.

SIX. Listen closely to whatever message your body has for you.
Use common sense and take care of your body - it is the only one you have. If humanly possible, you should exercise every day, if only for 10 or 15 minutes. Whatever your age you need to keep your body firm and resilient. You are as old as your bones say you are. There's an old saying, "A wheat field which is green and alive bends when the wind bows, but when it is dry and the wind blows, it breaks." You need to keep the circulation moving in your body. The blood and lymph bring nourishment and strength to your bones. Without exercise, a brittleness of the bones, osteoporosis, becomes a geriatric problem no matter what drugs you take to prevent it. Your bones need the push pull of flexible muscles to keep them from drying out like the wheat field. Keep exercising. There's nothing like yoga to keep the muscles supple.

SEVEN. Look for humor and joy in every situation.
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone." We all know something of the wisdom of this saying, perhaps without realizing that the joy of laughter and the gift of humor are indispensable to our health. Laughter stimulates the adrenals and activates the immune system. So many people I know are burdened with problems - financial, family, health. Yet they are able to deal with them because they find humor and joy in their lives - in the smile of a child, the supportive love of family and friends. Ask the Lord for help, and he will give you strength. Out of life's trials comes the opportunity for growth. Growth brings a new appreciation of self and others - a new clarity of mind and body, and a new wholeness.

EIGHT. Breathe deeply.
We can live without food for three or four weeks, without water for three or four days. But we can't live without oxygen - the breath of life - for more than three or four minutes as a rule. There is nothing more important to our well-being than the air we breathe. A great teacher of yoga, 100 years young, was asked by a student what physical exercise or posture was of the most importance. She smiled and said, "The breathing." As you exercise, you concentrate on the breathing. Visualizing as you breath, breathe in health and breathe out illness. Breathe in hope and breathe out fear. Breathe in love and breathe out anger. Before you know it, your body and mind are responding. You'll feel as if you are walking on air. And you will be. Your blood will be pulsing through your veins and you will be bursting with energy, ready to take on the world.

NINE. Dream yourself to health.
Tell yourself that you will dream when you retire for the night. Soon you will be having dreams significant to your health and well-being. You must write the dreams down right away or they will dematerialize as though into thin air. It is amazing how the physician within guides the sleeping patient's sub-conscious mind into problem areas that their conscious mind has been grappling with.

TEN. Know that healing comes from within.
You do it all the time without thinking about it. You cut your finger. The blood flows, cleansing the wound. Then the blood coagulates, forming a scab, which protects the underlying wound. When the wound is completely healed, the scab falls off by itself. If you think of this at all, you think of it as something that is perfectly natural. And it is. Every cell in the body has an innate intelligence of its own, responsive to the body's subconscious impulse to heal. The automatic response can be reproduced anywhere in the body by giving the patient access to the physician within. There is nothing mysterious or subtle about this process. The subconscious mind directs the healing alpha brain waves to the diseased cells. I have seen it work a thousand times. All it takes is faith and fortitude and an open mind.

Question for the Day - Thoughts

Does the thought you are now thinking take you where you want to go? If not, what thought would?

Gregg Levoy
American Journalist, Author and Professor

Tip for the Day - Surrender

Surrender

Learning to forgive yourself for the ways you put yourself last will help you put the past behind you. If you can't forgive yourself, the likelihood of you achieving clarity is reduced. Forgiveness provides clarity and clarity encourages insights and that supports change in behavior. When you forgive yourself or another, it does not mean you agree with their behavior, but rather it is about letting go of your need to be right so you can move forward.

~Rhonda Britten, Change Your Life in 30 Days

Believing In Yourself

Believing in yourself means to be living in yourself. ~Magdala

I attended a workshop this weekend and one of the first things she said was the quote listed above. It hit me like a ton of bricks! When we believe in ourselves, we are 100% living, living in who we truly are. We embrace each and every part of ourselves and are not afraid to show it to the world.

This was a timely message and I struggle to embrace every part of myself and share it comfortably with those around me. I so desperately want to be authentic in every way and yet there is this constant fear that "people won't like that part of me" or "people won't like me because of what I believe". The truth is, its happened and it hurt. The truth is, it continues to happen and it still hurts. Often times, this keeps us from sharing who we really are inside. This doesn't do anyone any good. We cannot truly find the happiness we are all here experience by hiding.

We all want to be liked, loved, appreciated, valued...this is something we all have in common. My hope for everyone is that we will be able to come together one day in our oneness...that common ground we all share. That desire to be loved and valued. I look forward to the day we can all look at each other and connect through the divinity we all share rather than focusing on our differences. I am committed to continuing to embrace more and more of myself and share it with you as I hope you will with me. I look forward to seeing who you are in all your beauty.

This is Good

The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend."You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we experience them, but it depends the way you see them... the choice is yours!

Letting Go - Quote for the Day

Do everything with a mind that lets go. Don't accept praise or gain or anything else. If you let go a little you will have a little peace; if you let go a lot you will have a lot of peace; if you let go completely you will have complete peace.

Ajahn Chah, 1918-1992
Thai Meditation Master

Possibilities - Quote for the Day

When we surrender the false idea of who we are, possibilities never imagined come into focus. Our heart has room to grow, to change and to explore. Our mind is opened to concepts, ideas and thoughts never before considered. When life is filled with new possibilities, we become energized, motivated and inspired. When we train ourselves to see through the eyes of possibilities, "no" doesn't stop us it invigorates us. Judgments cease to block our growth. All our excuses no longer have power over us. When possibility is our default position, optimism is our calling card.

~Rhonda Britten

I Wanted to Share this Beautiful Message...

A Message Channeled from Angel Ariel
by Stevan Thayer on Tuesday March 11, 2008

You can read Angel Ariel’s complete message on our website. Here is a summary of the major points in her message.

Your world is in a time of rapid change in which the veils that separate the human from the angelic realms continues to grow thinner. This thinning of the veils is bringing about increase in Angelic vibration which is creating a polarization of energies in your world. This polarization moves people into resonance either with fear or with love. Ultimately love will prevail. Why is this happing now. The answer is because you are ready. …… Fear is manifesting itself with great intensity in many forms including war, genocide, terrorism, insurgency, and civil conflicts. ……. Love is manifesting itself with equally great intensity, but not yet in equally great numbers in your world. But numbers are not yet important. Only the power of love being brought through is. …… As the force of fear moves through the four corners of your world, you will find that rapid change will occur, leading to instability and friction. It will at times appear that there is no firm place for you to stand. …. This energy of love is rock solid. It is eternal and unchangeable. It is always available. It is your foundation when things around you are in transition. It is the only safe place for you to be. ….. Invite us to lift the burden of fear from you. Invite us to help you remember who you truly are – love incarnate in the world.

For the complete message from Angel Ariel click here.

How to Obtain Humility - A Powerful Story

There was a young man who desired humility. He went to an old wise man and said to him, "Sir, I wish to be humble, but I don't know how to obtain it. What must I do to acquire humility?"

The old wise man thought for a minute and replied, "Here is what you should do… go out and find someone who is beneath you and do something nice for him. Give him something that you have or do something for him that needs to be done."

The young man replied, "I can do that!" He immediately left and came upon a homeless man on the street who looked like he had not eaten in days. He took the man to a restaurant and bought him a nice hot meal. After he dropped off the homeless man, the young man, who was feeling pretty good, returned to the wise man and told him what he had done. He then asked him, "Do I now have humility?"

The wise old man replied, "Not yet!" The young man's face fell and after a while, he asked the wise man, "What else must I do to acquire humility?" The wise man said, "Go out and find someone else who is beneath you and do something nice for him."

This upset the young man who replied, "But I did that already! If I go help someone else, will I then have humility?" The wise man replied, "No you will not!"

This upset the young man even more and he asked, "How many people do I have to help… 10 people?"

"No!"

"100 people?"

"No!"

"I don't understand… please tell me how many people I have to help? How will I know when I have obtained humility?" asked the young man.

The wise old man replied, "You will have obtained humility when you can no longer find anyone that you think is beneath you!"

Quote for the Day - Changing the World

I thought I could change the world. It took me a hundred years to figure out I can't change the world. I can only change Bessie. And honey, that ain't easy either.

Annie Elizabeth (Bessie) Delany, 1891-1995
African-American Author and Civil Rights Pioneer

Isn't that the truth. Dreams of changing the world are not uncommon and yet we can only truly change ourselves. However, when we take the time to live with integrity and speak our truth, we do impact the world. Don't ever downplay the difference one person can make. Live life to it's fullest. Enjoy every minute. Speak up for what you believe in. Be who you are in all your glory. Imagine if everyone did this....

Getting Clear

Are you feeling a bit fuzzy about something in your life? I was struggling with this for most of the summer and what played the biggest role in being able to get clear was spending time relaxing which I don't do often. That probably sounds crazy to some but my idea of relaxing is doing one thing at a time rather than multi-tasking:).

Every day I watched this mother loon and her baby and the father play in the lake. I watched them go from one end to the other, ocassionally disappearing in search of food below the water's surface. Without a care in the world, they seemed so content to just be in the lake (except when we'd get too close for their liking). What a great example of just enjoying the moment.

If you are having a hard time figuring something out, try going somewhere that you love or just imagining that you are there if you can't physically be there. Spend some time taking it all in...the beauty...the stillness...all of it. Just pay attention to what comes to you. I think you will be surprised by the clarity that comes...

See the Flower

Thank you Marci for sending this story to me. It was so special, I had to share it with others. Thank you Amanda for the beautiful flower picture from Arizona.




One day the Buddha held up a flower in front of an audience of 1,250 monks and nuns. He did not say anything for quite a long time. The audience was perfectly silent. Everyone seemed to be thinking hard, trying to see the meaning behind the Buddha's gesture.


Then, suddenly, the Buddha smiled... He smiled because someone in the audience smiled at him and at the flower...


To me the meaning is quite simple. When someone holds up a flower and shows it to you, he wants you to see it. If you keep thinking, you miss the flower. The person who was not thinking, who was just himself, was able to encounter the flower in depth, and he smiled. That is the problem of life. If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything...



From: Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

Quote for the Day - If There Is To Be Peace

If there is to be Peace in the world,
There must be Peace in the nations.

If there is to be Peace in the nations,
There must be Peace in the cities.

If there is to be Peace in the cities,
There must be Peace between neighbors.

If there is to be Peace between neighbors,
There must be Peace in the home.

If there is to be Peace in the home,
There must be Peace in the Heart.

—Lao Tzu

Quote for the Day - Present Moment

Something real happened that created some limitations and affected your ability to make certain choices. The vast majority of excuses are like that, which is precisely why they are such potent forces for keeping you from moving forward. What ever the excuse is, it did occur. In that sense it is true. But the problem is that it is only true in regard to the way it shaped your life in the past. Excuses keep you from fulfilling your potential.

~Rhonda Britten Fearless Living

Quote for the Day - Using Today Wisely and Well

None of us knows what is ahead. The important thing is to use today wisely and well, and face tomorrow eagerly and cheerfully and with the certainty that we shall be equal to what it brings.

Channing Pollock, 1926-2006American Actor and Magician

Bliss Trip - Compliments of Blisstrip.com

Here is a nice meditation for the day...


Someone offers to take you away from it all...
Before you know it, you're gliding in a canoe sipping on your favorite beverage. The paddling is all done for you; you simply lean back and close your eyes. Cruise around a lake or down a stream, slipping over glistening water. Hear fish breaking the surface, smell freshness permeating the air. Let yourself be lulled into tranquility by the gentle rhythm of your vessel. Let yourself be carried along, as if you hadn't a care in the world...

The Rules of Being Human

You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for as long as you live. How you take care of it or fail to take care of it can make an enormous difference in the quality of your life.

You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time, informal school called Life. Each day, you will be presented with opportunities to learn what you need to know. The lessons presented are often completely different from those you think you need.

There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error and experimentation. You can learn as much from failure as you can from success. Maybe more.

A lesson is repeated until it is learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it (as evidenced by a change in your attitude and ultimately your behavior) then you can go on to the next lesson.

Learning lessons does not end. There is no stage of life that does not contain some lessons. As long as you live there will be something more to learn.

“There” is no better than “here”. When your “there” has become a “here” you will simply discover another “there” that will again look better than your “here.” Don’t be fooled by believing that the unattainable is better than what you have.

Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. When tempted to criticize others, ask yourself why you feel so strongly.

What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you create with those tools and resources is up to you. Remember that through desire, goal setting and unflagging effort you can have anything you want. Persistence is the key to success.

The answers lie inside of you. The solutions to all of life’s problems lie within your grasp. All you need to do is ask, look, listen and trust yourself.

~Author Unknown~

The Artist's Way - Personal Date Ideas

In our lastest ezine we shared some ideas for "taking yourself on a date" and just enjoying life. Here they are...

•Find a piece of poetry, drag out the watercolors and "paint" the poem. Letting the words pick the colors and shapes.
•Get a movie you really want to see.
•Spend a complete morning (or evening) in a bookstore.
•Blow soap bubbles . . . maybe get one of those gigantic bubble hoops.
•Take a long, luxurious bubble bath with music playing and the lights out. Light some scented candles or incense. (Don't forget to turn off the telephone!)
•Build a Lincoln Log house.
•Go to the playground (don't forget to wear your fastest sneakers !) and swing, go down the slide, merry-go-round, climb the jungle gym (ALL the way to the top), sit WAY up on top of the jungle gym and sing "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" or "Sittin' on Top of the Jungle Gym."
•Get a blanket and lay down outside and count stars or try to spot constellations.
•Plant a butterfly garden (to attract butterflies).
•Get some chalk and draw all over the sidewalk.
•Play the oldies station on the radio--YOU are the vocalist, and a comb or brush is your microphone.
•Is there a stream nearby? Sit on the edge, remove shoes, let the watercaress and massage your feet, write a letter to a friend, or just sit and think. Bring your MP's, or a journal, and if an idea hits you, write it down.

Please post any ideas you'd like to add. Your idea might just inspire someone else to nurture their spirit this week!

A New Perspective

For the past several months I have been having dreams with the same theme over and over again. The circumstances are always a bit different but the theme is the same. I am incredibly stressed and uncomfortable and I need to get back home - back to where I came from. Sometimes I am on vacation, sometimes I've moved to a new location, sometimes I have an apartment, sometimes a house, sometimes others have come with me, sometimes I am alone, once I had my dogs and then I lost them and was afraid to leave for fear I would never find them again. Sometimes I am traveling by car, sometimes by plane. Sometimes its a really long trip that never seems to end, sometimes I can't seem to get my trip started.

I have been pondering this dream and what it is I need "to get back to" and was afraid I would never figure it out and then I had another one. This one had me at a resort type place on a beautiful beach with palm trees all around. I saw the sunrise and the sunset. Still I wanted to get home and there was such an urgency to it.

Every morning when I wake up, I get a single message from the Universe to help me move forward or gain clarity in some area of my life. The morning after this last dream my message was this: "Why the need to go back? What is wrong with moving forward?"

This put an entirely different spin on my dream. I know that where I am going is uncertain and feels like I'm not on solid ground some times but I also know that the future holds more than I could ever dream of - and it's just waiting for me to embrace it - to be open to receiving all of it.

If there is something in your life that you are having a hard time getting clarity on, try looking at it differently. It never ceases to amaze me what we can see when we look at something with fresh eyes - a new perspective.

The Simple Things

Have you ever taken a step back from your life and realized just how off track things have gotten with your priorities?

My 13 year old daughter and I went to Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago. One of our stops was a Deer Park. Among seeing other animals there, we had the delight of walking through this park with over 100 tame deer. This picture is of my daughter with two of the deer who followed her along most of the path once they figured out she had food:).

As we mingled with the deer, she told me it was the best day of her life so far. At 13, feeding deer was the best day of her life. A simple, inexpensive activity meant so much to her and it wasn't even located at Ridgedale or the Mall of America (her previous favorite locations). The best part was that I got to spend it with her. It was the highlight of my week, my month, my year...

It is easy to find pleasure in the simple things in life if we take the time to look for them. They are hidden in the most unexpected, fantastic places. Don't wait another minute - seize the day and fill it with things that make you smile, things that make you laugh, memories that last a life time.

Quote for the Day - Abundance

Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already. Of the things you have, select the best; and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought if you did not have them.

Marcus Aurelius, 121-180Roman Emperor, Philosopher and Author

Quote for the Day - Accountability

Many people are held back by their lack of understanding of what true discipline takes and what real freedom it gives. True discipline takes heightened awareness and self mastery.

~Rhonda Britten Change Your Life in 30 Days

What Wonderful Word Best Describes You Today?

Is it "fabulous"? Is it "energetic"? If you're feeling down today, pick a word you'd like to feel like today! It's your day - create it. Use this word as your mantra. Repeat it over and over throughout the day. Have fun!

How Can You Tell If You Are In Victim Mentality?

Having a victim mentality robs you of your sense of personal power. Are you living in Victimville? Take this quiz to find out.


1. My first response to a setback is to blame another for what’s happened.
2. No matter what I do, things are not really going to change for me.
3. I often find myself beginning thoughts with phrases like “I cant….”I’m no good at …. I’ve never been able to…..
4. When angry, I rarely begin sentences with "I".
5. Conversations with others are often about how hard things are.
6. When I meet a person on the street that I haven’t seen in a while and they ask me how I am, I say, “I’m fine” and then start telling them all the things that are wrong in my life.
7. I must have done something really horrible in a past life because nothing ever works for me.
8. When friends offer advice, I usually counter it with a “Yes, but….”
9. No one really understands me or knows how challenging my life really is.
10. I’m always so busy with work and things I need to do that I don’t have time to do the things I want to do.


Living with a victim mentality usually keeps us stuck in old patters and can be an externalized way of dealing with anger or fear of change that you haven't dealt with. If you answered True to some of the statements above, you may want to explore this further so as to not limit your life and your happiness.

Our Uniqueness - Quote of the Day

I do my thing, and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.

Frederick E. Perl

Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit - Quote of the Day

Balance is the key to success in all things. Do not neglect your mind, body, or spirit. Invest time and energy in all of them equally - it will be the best investment you ever make, not just for your life but for whatever is to follow.

Tanya Wheway
British Businesswoman, Health Spa Director and Author

Integrity

Integrity has popped up for me several times in the last few months and I've had a hard time wrapping myself around it. What exactly does it mean? What is living in integrity? The exact meaning has illuded me. Why is it that some people think something they are doing is living with integrity and someone else wouldn't agree?

This past weekend, I finally understood. I was listening to a podcast from Hay House Radio with Cheryl Richardson who is a well-known Life Coach. I thought she explained it very well. Living with integrity means doing things that are in alignment with your beliefs and values. Since we all have different beliefs and values, what is integrity for one person may not be for another AND there is no judgement around this.

She gave this example of years ago when she would get too much change back from a cashier, she would be grateful for the abundance of the Universe and believed that was the reason for the extra change. Now, if she got extra change, she would return it because she doesn't feel like it's hers to keep. Neither is wrong because they were both done in alignment with her beliefs and values. She's just in a different place now.

Integrity is the reason I chose to leave my job last summer. It was killing me inside to be there. The values and beliefs of my employer were not in alignment with mine and every day I felt as if I was losing more and more of myself. Leaving was the best thing I could do for myself and I have never regretted my decision. That doesn't mean that things aren't a challenge sometimes because of adjustments I've needed to make but I am in alignment in that area of my life and I know that feels right. I never question it.

Integrity is something very personal and, I think, very important. Any time you are feeling out of alignment, you are probably not living with integrity in some area of your life. Take a look around. Is there something that doesn't feel right that you are doing? Something that is causing you stress? Take a look at your values and beliefs...is there a way you could do things differently that would feel better?

You Are...

"You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself as these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always."

Neale Donald Walsch
American Author and Teacher

Dropping Our Illusions

Dropping our illusions is a healing in itself. Within each of us there is a core--our essence, our true being. That is the place of God who is within us. Finding that essence is our return to God. It is the purpose of our lives, and even our most painful experiences can serve that purpose.

—Excerpted from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

I have had this illusion for most of my life that certain things represent/provide security. The truth is, most things that seem secure, aren't. So what is? The only true security comes from inside. I find security in knowing that I can call on my angels for anything I need. I find security in knowing that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing and exactly when I'm supposed to be doing it. I find security in knowing that I am surrounded by people who really care about me. That provides a whole different level of security than I ever thought possible.

What illusions do you hold?

Fear vs. Confidence

"There are always two voices sounding in our ears: the voice of fear and the voice of confidence. One is the clamor of the senses, the other is the whispering of the higher self."

Charles B. Newcomb

Which voice will you listen to?

8 Tips for Happiness

1. Live in the present.
2. Take time to be silent.
3. Relinquish the need for external approval.
4. Listen to your body.
5. Let go of anger.
6. Don't judge.
7. Don't contaminate your body with toxins.
8. Maintain your perspective.

Happiness is our life purpose - the only reason we are here. What are your tips for happiness?

The More Tranquil We Become...

I received this quote in an email the other day and thought how fitting it was with what I've been going through and the realizations I've had. How do you find the calmness in your mind?

"The more tranquil we become, the greater our success, our influence, our power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."

James Allen, 1864-1912
English Author and Philosopher

Change and Resistance

Change in be hard. The first thing that needs to happen is an awareness that something isn't working. Even once the awareness occurs, it can be hard. It's what we know. There's a fear that comes up about the unknown. Sometimes it feels safer to stick with what we know even though it's uncomfortable. Because of this, resistance often creeps up. It shows its ugly head in a variety of ways. For me, I've developed a really bad headache, and although it was real and hurt like heck, I knew that was because I was resistant to something coming up. I've also felt like I'm too busy and I just don't have time to do something. In reality we always make time for things that we're open to. I've been in the middle of an uncomfortable conversation and all of a sudden realized I have to go to the bathroom and it just couldn't wait. I've found myself thinking I know I want to make this change but my husband won't understand or it will make my daughter angry or someone will be disappointed in me. I've thought it's too expensive or it will take too long. I've sometimes thought I just can't do it. It's just way to hard. Fear is by far the biggest the reason people resist.

Everything that goes on in your life is there because it fills a need you have inside. Every poor relationships, addiction, anger, or what ever there is that is creating a problem fills a need. I think once you've realized something isn't working, the next step is to realize that you're resistant to change if that's the case. I think another important step is not beating yourself up because of resistance you've felt in the past. Today is a new day and you can make the choice to move forward. You can tell yourself that you are ready to change. Ready to give up the resistance. Ready to move forward with your life. You can let go of the past and start new today.

I recommend beginning with an affirmation like "I am willing to change" or "I am ready to change". Something that resonates for you. Notice what comes up for you now. Notice if you have any tightness in your throat. Your throat is the center were many changes began. If this occurs, try placing your hand on the front of your throat as you say the affirmations. You may also want to try an affirmation like "I am ready to consider changing". That may feel safer for you. An affirmation is just a shift in energy and I believe that affirmations can really support us as we move forward. Sometimes all it takes is a shift in our energy to get us moving in the right direction.

Another important step for many of us is to have a good support group. That might be friends or family. Someone or a group of people that can help hold you accountable as well as provide support as you move forward. Who do you have in your life that is willing to support you in change? in making changes for your wellbeing? Another option is to find a group outside of your circle of friends and family. Sometimes it easier to begin with a group of people you don't know really well as you begin this process because it can be scary. I also recommend Louise Hay and her book "You can Heal your Life". This book has great tools. It can help you create a strong foundation for creating the life you want and the life you deserve.

I will be offering four workshops, approximately one per month, this summer guiding you through the book "You can Heal your Life". My goal for these workshops is to provide you with some ongoing support as you move through the book at your own pace. Each workshop will cover a few chapters at a time, providing some direction and clarity as you go. During the month you will move through those chapters at a pace that's comfortable for you. If questions come up, I encourage participants to e-mail each other and myself as a way of getting additional support. Early in the fall, we will come together one last time to check in with each other and celebrate the progress everyone has made. Each small step towards a brighter future is more important to me than the great big achievement in the end. If all we ever look at is the big one at the end, there isn't much to keep us going along the way. The beauty is in the process and acknowledging ourselves every step of the way, no matter how small it seems, will keep us going. It will give us the hope and the energy to continue looking ahead. I look forward to supporting you on a journey of self-realization and growth. My wish for everyone is to enjoy life and to find happiness. Let's work together on this common goal. For more information on the workshops, please see our calendar of events at www.infinitelightmn.com.

Finding the Stillness

You can find the stillness in nature. While focusing on your breath, allow yourself to become one with the environment around you. If you don't have somewhere to go close by, use a photo like the one above. Imagine you are there and just be...

The Stillness

In the stillness you have everything you need.

Take a Bliss Trip Today

Float down the river on a broad green leaf...

Stretch out your arms and legs from tip to tip and feel the warmth of the sun on your body.

Let your hands run over the surface of your vessel, a life-filled frond teeming with energy.

The light current propels you forward, the gentle ripple of the stream echoing softly.

Rest in complete stillness as the waters carry you.

Immerse yourself in this lovely moment, knowing that by simply being you carry on...



A Bliss Trip-a-Day is brought to you by Kerstin Sjoquist, founder of Consciousness Arts, who has a mission to change the world by liberating the imagination. Kerstin combines her diverse background as a Juilliard trained actor, certified hypnotherapist, and tractor-driving farm hand to create the Bliss Trips line of guided meditation CDs. For more information, visit www.blisstrips.com.

Love is the Answer

"Love is the answer.
Now, what is your question?"
Author Unknown

Isn't that the truth. Love is the answer to everything! When we come from a place of love, everything in the world is right. We can't experience fear. We can't experience anxiety. All we can experience is love and joy and peace.

Give it a try:)

Your Mind Doesn't Know the Difference

In this crazy world everyone seems to complain about not having enough time to do the things they love. Few of us take the time to do things that feed our soul. Doing things that feed our soul is so important to our wellbeing. It connects us to who we really are. It connects us to our heart energy.

So what can you do when you are lacking time and can't take that walk in the woods that you love so much? What can you do when you don't have a week and the money to take a much needed vacation? Imagine it!

Your mind can't tell the difference between when you had the experience or when you are thinking about it. Unfortunately, this works with both painful experiences and joyful ones. Take a minute to think about a time you were really unhappy...a time when you didn't have much hope...

When you were in that moment, how did your relationships feel? How productive were you at work? How much energy did you have? How did you view money? How about time?

Now,

Take just a few minutes to close your eyes and connect with a moment in time that you felt absolute joy...absolute love...

Think about where you were...who you were with...what you were doing...

Think about what you could see around you...what you could hear...what you could feel inside...

How did it feel to be so connected to your spirit?

In that experience, how much energy did you have? How did you view money? Time? How were your relationships? Can you feel the difference?

Our state of mind is just that. Just a state of mind. No more, no less. It is our reality in the moment. We have the power to shift our thinking any time we want. It is simply a choice.

When you have a big project to work on or feel like you don't have enough money or time or your relationships aren't going well...take a minute to adjust your thinking. And then move forward from a place of love and joy.

This is what life is all about. We are here to let our light shine. Shining our light will allow everyone around you to do the same. Life is too short to do any different.

so, what will you choose?

The Gift - Quote for the Day

I love this quote. It truly is what a gift is all about! Enjoy...


We give of ourselves when
we give gifts of the heart:
love, kindness, joy, understanding,
sympathy, tolerance, forgiveness.

We give of ourselves when
we give gifts of the mind:
ideas, dreams, purposes,
ideals,principles, plans,
inventions, projects, poetry.

We give of ourselves when
we give gifts of the spirit:
prayer, vision, beauty,
aspiration, peace, faith.

We give of ourselves when
we give the gift of words:
encouragement, inspiration, guidance.

Emerson said it well:
'Rings and jewels are not gifts,
but apologies for gifts.
The only true gift is
a portion of thyself.'

- Wilferd A. Peterson, 1900-1995 American Author and Columnist

Do it Yourself - Quote for the Day

Instead of telling the world
What it is supposed to do,
Why don't you immediately do it yourself?
In this way, I assure you,
Your happiness will be surprisingly multiplied.

- Sri Chinmoy
Indian Philosopher and Teacher

I thought this was a great quote about taking responsibility for our lives. Isn't that the truth? If we do the things we think need to be done, creating the life we want, we can't go wrong.

The Purpose of Life - Quote for the Day

The purpose of life is to listen - to yourself, to your neighbor, to your world and to God and, when the time comes, to respond in as helpful a way as you can find... from within and without.

- Mr. Fred 'McFeely' Rogers, 1928-2003 American Educator, Minister and Television Host

Mr. Rogers was a wise man:). I love this quote.

What does Responsible Mean?

What does responsible mean to you? For some reason I am challenged by this word. I know that I am responsible for me. I am responsible for my healing, for my growth, for my lessons, for my success. I am responsible for it all. That is really scary to me.

I looked the word up and the second definition said "being the cause of something, usually something wrong or disapproved of". WOW. Another Aha Moment. Here's another belief for me to release. I remember hearing the word "responsible" as a child and that is exactly how it was used it. No wonder I feel resistance to it. I've made a lot of mistakes and those mistakes...I know I am responsible for BUT there are a lot of really wonderful things I've done in life too! I am also responsible for them. That's the part I need to embrace. That's the part I want to create more of in my life.

You see, responsible also means being reliable, accountable, needing qualities like conscientiousness and trustworthiness. These words feel much better to me. It's amazing what's in a word AND what beliefs can be hiding behind those words.

We are all responsible for our own lives. Nobody else is. We are responsible for our success and our failure, our lessons and what we learn from them, how we grow, what we release and when, etc. The only thing that can prevent me from having all the abundance available to me...is me. Plain and simple.

I am choosing to be responsible - reliable, accountable, conscientious, and trustworthy. I am ready for all the Universe has in store for me. No holding back. It's time to embrace all that is good - for each and every one of us.

Are you ready?

Returning To The Source - Quote For The Day

Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow.

Lao Tzu
Ancient Chinese Philosopher

What Is True Commitment?

True commitment begins when we reach the point of not knowing how we can possibly go on, and decide to do it anyway.

Author Unknown

Do you ever feel like this? I know there are times when I wonder what all this is for and I feel like I want to just quit and something inside says otherwise. I think that's how I know I am on the right path and I've made a commitment to continue on. Some of the things I am committed to include:

• Being a mom and a wife
• Being a teacher
• Being good to myself
• Being grateful for all I have in my life
• Being grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to help me learn and grow

What are you committed to??

What You Wish To Experience - Quote For The Day

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another. If you wish to know that you are safe, cause another to know that they are safe. If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand. If you wish to heal your own sadness or anger, seek to heal the sadness or anger of another.

Tenzin Gyatso
14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Getting Started With Essential Oils

Getting started in essential oils can be very overwhelming as there are literally hundreds of oils out there with thousands of possible uses. So you might be asking why and/or how would you use them. We’ll try to answer that here. Since every person is different, the best way to know what they can do for you is to try them and have fun - experiment! Here are a few I recommend everyone have on hand.

Lavender
This oil has been called the "universal" essential oil because of its extraordinary ability to help with so many different problems. It is highly touted for its phenomenal ability to help heal severe burns, cuts, bruises, and skin irritations. It is also widely known for helping to alleviate symptoms of headaches, insomnia, PMS, and stress. The fragrance is calming and relaxing, both physically and emotionally. It may kill many dangerous pathogenic microorganisms, and has been reported to support healthy circulation, blood pressure, and heart function.

Lemon
Like most citrus oils, Lemon is immediately refreshing to smell. It is known to enhance leukocyte formation and lymphatic function, thereby dramatically supporting the body's immune system. It works against many pathogenic microorganisms, helps purify the air and water, and promotes a sense of well-being when inhaled or applied. We have heard that a Japanese factory diffuses the essential oil of lemon to enhance alertness and enjoyment for its employees! It is refreshing to use in cooking and making lemonade, too! It is also known to help relax overworked muscles and to be a potent antidote for a variety of toxins. People love the uplifting fragrance...especially children.

Peppermint
This cooling spice oil is known to improve mental acuity and alertness, soothe the respiratory system, relieve nausea, help to reduce fever and vomiting, and quickly help to ease the discomfort of headaches, acid indigestion and heartburn. It also may kill some intestinal parasites, as well as other pathogenic microorganisms. Peppermint is also often used as an inhalant to ease the symptoms of asthma and bronchitis, and is cooling on hot summer days.


This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many ways to use oils. I recommend choosing a good quality therapeutic grade oil and keep it cool. Heat destroys any of the therapeutic qualities it has. You can use some oils straight out of the bottle (also known as applying it "neat"), you can place a few drops on a Kleenex or cotton ball and put in your vents or under your pillow, you can mix with a carrier oil such as almond oil or olive oil and use in a massage, etc. Oils are great fun and I am amazed at how much they can do for us! If you want to learn more about them, we do occasionally offer classes and they can be viewed at http://www.infinitelightmn.com/.

I'd love to see some posts for how you use different oils!

It is time. Time to let go of things that don't serve me anymore. That is my theme right now. I need to let go of things to make room for all the new things life has waiting for me. I came across this while I was cleaning out my email and I thought it very fitting and wanted to share it with you...


Releasing

Let fears slip away. Release any negative, limiting, or self-defeating beliefs buried in your subconscious too. These beliefs may be about life, love, or yourself. Beliefs create reality.

Let go. From as deep within as your fears, resentments, and negative beliefs are stored, let them all go. Let the belief or feeling surface. Accept it; surrender to it. Feel the discomfort or unrest. Then let it go. Let new beliefs replace the old. Let peace and joy and love replace fear.

Give yourself and your body permission to let go of fears, resentments, and negative beliefs. Release that which is no longer useful. Trust that you are being healed and prepared for receiving what is good.

~~~~~~~~

Today, God, help me become willing to let go of old beliefs and feelings that may be hurting me. Gently take them from me and replace them with new beliefs and feelings. I do deserve the best life and love has to offer. Help me believe that.

From "The Language of Letting Go"
by Melody Beattie

Love Yourself As You Are - Quote For The Day

Instead of judging, start accepting yourself with all the imperfections, all the frailties, all the mistakes, all the failures. Don't ask yourself to be perfect. That is simply asking something impossible,and then you are feeling frustrated. You are a human being.

Osho, 1931-1990
Indian Spiritual Teacher

Being Comfortable with Yourself...

I came across this quote and thought it fit very well with all that I've noticed in recent weeks:

It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others.

Sydney J. Harris, 1917-1986 American Journalist

I know that the good and the "not so desireable" things I see in others are what I see in myself. I find it easier to focus on the things I don't like so much than to focus on the good BUT the good things are very important. You cannot see something in someone else unless it is also a part of who you are.

It is time we begin to embrace our goodness, our gifts, our strengths. Think about all the people you admire and what it is you admire about them. know that those things are in you too! Let your light shine!

Keeping Up With The Jones' - Who Are They Anyway?

When I was a little girl, around 7 or 8 years old, I began to establish my own identity. I remember wanting to have more say in the clothes I wore, the way my hair was done, how I spent my time, etc. My dad didn't seem very happy about this and it caused many conflicts in our relationship over the years. I remember him buying me clothes that I didn't like and when I said I didn't care for them, he told me I was ungrateful. I remember wanting to have my hair cut a certain way and he wouldn't let me. I remember asking for specific shoes and him telling me I was selfish and it was stupid to spend money on something so dumb.



I also remember over the years hearing that I didn't try hard enough in school, I was too fat, too slow, too needy, too picky...and the list goes on. I remember him telling me once that I was only kidding myself if I thought I had any friends because no one could possibly like me.



There were a lot of negative messages and probably a few positive ones as well - I just don't remember those. As a result, I grew up believing a lot of negative things about myself. I have made many poor choices because of what I believed about myself. I've been in bad relationships, spent money poorly, at times only cared about myself, and at times only cared about others. He was my father and was supposed to love me so it stood to reason that if he would say such hurtful things, they must be true.



I'm 41 years old now and many of those old beliefs are still around which stinks. I keep wondering when they will not be needed any more...when will I be able to let them go? Will I ever be able to let them go?



This past weekend at a retreat I listened to someone share about things they experienced with their father. They never felt good enough either. I knew what that was like. I still don't feel good enough. I still feel like no matter what I achieve, it isn't enough. But this weekend, something shifted.



I realized I have been trying to keep up with the Jones'. I realized more than ever before that what people think of me is important. I realized that I have made an attempt to take the focus off of who I am inside because "it's just not enough". I never thought it was important to keep up with the Jones' but also recognized not too long ago that I often think that's what others are doing SOOOO for me to be aware of others...I guess I just wasn't being honest with myself about how important it actually has been to me.



The Jones'...who are they anyway? For me, they are my father. The little girl inside of me is still trying to win his approval through the approval of others. I want to believe deep down at my core that I am good. I am valued. I am enough. It's time to stop this cycle. What my father thinks is not important. What other's think is not important. At 41, I no longer want to seek that acceptance from anyone but myself. That is the only acceptance that counts.



What matters is who I am inside not what car I drive. I don't want to be remembered in life for anything I had, only for what I've done for others and for myself. I want to be a good mom and a good wife...a good friend and a good teacher. I want to make choices that support me creating a great life for myself and for those around me. So I for one am telling the Jones' to move on. They are no longer welcome in my neighborhood. As Sunny would say, "Your opinion of me is none of my business." Here's to taking my life back and being the person I want to be.

Tears and Resistence

As I prepare to leave for my week in Arizona (family vacation for a few days - retreat for a few), I am aware of a mixture of emotions that have been surfacing for a while but are stronger now. I am so excited to have some time away with my family and as well as alone. I am also so excited to go to this retreat and yet, I am terrified of what it will mean for me. I know there are beliefs and identities that need to be shed, released, revamped and I feel it's time.

I have felt like April would be a big month for me for a long time - a life changing month. A couple of weeks ago, I received a message: "April Showers Bring May Flowers". I took this to mean, doing the work, cleansing my heart and my soul, would bring great things. Still...

I am afraid of the unknown.
What will replace these beliefs and identities?
I have NO idea.
That is really scary.

What I do know is that some things aren't working as well as they could in my life. I want less clutter, less clutter in my mind and less clutter in my home. I want more love, more time, more connection, more money, more joy. I want to be abundant in all that is good and supports me. Do we all want that??

Setting aside all that is frightening to me, what I do know is I will be surrounded by loving and supportive people. I know I trust in the process and my inner voice. Wish me luck! I'll check in as time allows.

What Feeds Your Soul?

Often when I'm doing a consultation with the aura photos/reports the subject of joy comes up. I always share my definition of joy because I want to make sure we are on the same page. Now, any kind of joy is good of course and we don't nearly have enough of it in our lives at times but the kind I'm talking about is the kind you can feel deep in your heart, deep in your soul, even if you are all alone.

For me, it's thinking about the sound a young child makes when they laugh. You know the deep, belly kind of laugh. It's also thinking about or actually petting my cat. She loves me no matter what and she is absolutely a joy in my life. Sometimes it's going to the movie, especially on the spur of the moment. I love that! I love all of a sudden thinking a movie sounds great and there just happens to be one starting soon.

So what does joy mean to you? How do you define it? How do you bring it into your life? I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to post a comment.

Blogging

Hello all,

Well I'm finally diving in and starting a blog. I've wanted to do this for some time. I think it's a great way to stay connected but have been somewhat resistant to the process for some reason. I'm not sure why as I love to write and share. I think it has to do with a fear of not having anything to say which is kind of funny since I'm rarely short of words LOL. I hope you will take time to jump in here and there and add your 2 cents when you feel guided.