Posted to FaceBook Nov. 22nd
I am re-reading an Alan Cohen book titled, "Relax Into Wealth: How To Get More By Doing Less." He is also the author of "Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It," and "The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore."
Alan has a light, insightful, humorous way of sharing and discussing the same principles as LOP, which makes his work a joy to read and I walk away feeling inspired and lighter. In "Relax into Wealth" (which is not just about finances, but health, relationships, joy, creativity, appreciation, success), he has questions at the end of each of the short chapters that gets me thinking about and applying the information easily and immediately.
In this book Alan shares a quote he attributes to Harold Whitman, (AKA Dr. Howard Thurman Whitman, a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Living On Purpose (LOP) is remembering, believing in, and expressing who we really are. This blog is the sharing of the moment by moment experience of practicing Living On Purpose . . . because we all want to feel good.
Thursday 17 November 2011
It Was There The Whole Time!
Posted on Facebook Nov. 17th
I was telling a friend how ideas for this blog often come when I am driving or working out, where I am unable to grab a pen and paper and capture them. She said, "I have a little recorder, I could lend it to you." Although it sounded like a great idea, I did not pursue it.
A week or so later I am playing around on my phone, which I have had for about a year, and low and behold, there it is, a voice recorder. I had one the whole time! If my friend had not suggested the idea, I don't think I would have seen it, or recognized how I could be using it in my life. What changed, the existence of the voice recorder, or my ability to see it?
Perhaps you have experienced the same when: you think about someone and then you run into them 'out of the blue'; you ask a question and then you see a TV show answering it; you would like to read a certain book or use a particular tool and then someone says, 'Here, do you want this? I am getting rid of it." There are scientific studies, cognitive theories, and spiritual principles that address why this happens, but the important part of this is -- it happens.
It happens because we are able to find only that which we are ready to see. We are able to hear only when we are ready to listen. We are able to learn only when we are curious. We are able to be successful, as who we really are, only when we have the courage to believe.
So, any waiting I might be doing, is not about waiting on the appearance of that which I desire, because it is already there. My waiting is solely on the readiness of me.
I was telling a friend how ideas for this blog often come when I am driving or working out, where I am unable to grab a pen and paper and capture them. She said, "I have a little recorder, I could lend it to you." Although it sounded like a great idea, I did not pursue it.
A week or so later I am playing around on my phone, which I have had for about a year, and low and behold, there it is, a voice recorder. I had one the whole time! If my friend had not suggested the idea, I don't think I would have seen it, or recognized how I could be using it in my life. What changed, the existence of the voice recorder, or my ability to see it?
Perhaps you have experienced the same when: you think about someone and then you run into them 'out of the blue'; you ask a question and then you see a TV show answering it; you would like to read a certain book or use a particular tool and then someone says, 'Here, do you want this? I am getting rid of it." There are scientific studies, cognitive theories, and spiritual principles that address why this happens, but the important part of this is -- it happens.
It happens because we are able to find only that which we are ready to see. We are able to hear only when we are ready to listen. We are able to learn only when we are curious. We are able to be successful, as who we really are, only when we have the courage to believe.
So, any waiting I might be doing, is not about waiting on the appearance of that which I desire, because it is already there. My waiting is solely on the readiness of me.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Iyanla Vanzant Quote
I was watching Oprah's online Lifeclass, with Iyanla Vanzant, and in a wonderfully inspired response to a questioner Iyanla said, "Love people enough to tell them the truth, and respect them enough to know that they can handle it." Brilliant!
How often do we muddy the water with partial truths because we do not have the courage to say the whole truth? And how often, in those situations, do we hide behind the story that we are not telling the truth because we don't want to hurt the other's feelings?
So, here are some thoughts about that. First, we are not powerful enough to hurt someone, that is a choice only they can make. Second, when I am honest with someone from a place of, "I know who you are, you are a powerful, able, creative genius, and I stand in front of you believing in you completely," they are not going to be hurt by what you say, they will blossom. Third, when I am not honest with someone I am holding me back from expressing who I really am, and in my opinion there is nothing more unloving than that. Fourth, when I am willing to be honest and open with someone, while I am seeing them as able, I am in the midst of creating the best relationship possible. And fifth, if I am not willing to tell someone the truth, there is something I am not being honest about with myself.
So, with all that in mind, I would also say, "Love yourself enough to tell the truth, and respect yourself enough to know that you can handle it."
Tuesday 15 November 2011
"I'm Over All That!"
Shirley MacLaine has a new book out called "I'm Over All That: (And Other Confessions) ". I love that title. If feels so free, unabated, clear, and certain. I haven't read the book and I'm not exactly sure what she is over, but it got me to thinking up my own list of freedom. I'm over:
- getting validation from outside of me
- pushing and controlling life
- being right
- judging myself and others
- needing things and people to be a certain way
- having my outsides dictate my insides
- not seeing the beauty for the complaining
- holding back
- not trusting me
- not taking in the abundance of life that this moment has to offer
Nothin' Serious Going On!
Posted on Facebook Nov. 16
I love the saying, "There's nothing serious going on here!" I find it lightens the moment and puts things into perspective. It's a way to practice Ingredient #3 in LOP -- surrender.
When I consider the big picture -- the billions of years that the earth has been doing its thing, and that we are one spec, in one galaxy out of hundreds of billions of galaxies, and that we are a species in its infant stage -- whatever I am making into a mountain, seems more like a mole hill. Not that we are unimportant, but nothing is worth freaking out over.
Ahhhhh, nothin' serious going on here.
I love the saying, "There's nothing serious going on here!" I find it lightens the moment and puts things into perspective. It's a way to practice Ingredient #3 in LOP -- surrender.
When I consider the big picture -- the billions of years that the earth has been doing its thing, and that we are one spec, in one galaxy out of hundreds of billions of galaxies, and that we are a species in its infant stage -- whatever I am making into a mountain, seems more like a mole hill. Not that we are unimportant, but nothing is worth freaking out over.
Ahhhhh, nothin' serious going on here.
Self Terrorism
O.K., so that title may sound a little dramatic, but I believe it is valid and I use it for a reason. Since 9/11 our awareness of terrorism has been heightened and there are many that have taken it very seriously and taken numerous actions to do something about it. I feel that 'self' terrorism is more rampant and perhaps has even a larger impact on our world, however, we are barely conscious of it.
The self terrorism I am referring to is actually sloppy thinking. I realized some years post depression, that I had been a very sloppy, lazy thinker, and that I had beat myself up and scared myself into depression. What I mean by sloppy thinking is I would believe and repeat thoughts, over and over again, that were not true, healthy, or who I really am. I had the mental habits of: only seeing where I had fallen short in something; allowing myself to join in and focus on the bad news of the day; and letting whatever was in front of me to dictate my thoughts and feelings. In no way am I blaming myself, or others who find themselves experiencing depression, for their depression. Assistance in understanding sloppy thinking was not, and has not been the norm.
The great thing about realizing I am a sloppy thinker is I have 100% control over that. In every moment I can choose something that feels good and is in alignment with who I really am, or I can choose something that feels scary. When I choose something that feels good I trust myself, I am clear, I make good decisions, I am able to see my answers when they appear, I have an abundance of energy, I am able to love others for who they are, and others enjoy my presence. When I am fearful, I tend to be more numb, hesitant, I go through life with blinders on not able to appreciate others or opportunities along my path, I make poor decisions, have low energy, and in general I am not great to be around.
'Self terrorism' may seem like a 'terroristic' label to use but, like my depression, I wanted to get your attention. When it comes down to it, there is only one person who can scare you . . . and I know you would rather be happy.
The self terrorism I am referring to is actually sloppy thinking. I realized some years post depression, that I had been a very sloppy, lazy thinker, and that I had beat myself up and scared myself into depression. What I mean by sloppy thinking is I would believe and repeat thoughts, over and over again, that were not true, healthy, or who I really am. I had the mental habits of: only seeing where I had fallen short in something; allowing myself to join in and focus on the bad news of the day; and letting whatever was in front of me to dictate my thoughts and feelings. In no way am I blaming myself, or others who find themselves experiencing depression, for their depression. Assistance in understanding sloppy thinking was not, and has not been the norm.
The great thing about realizing I am a sloppy thinker is I have 100% control over that. In every moment I can choose something that feels good and is in alignment with who I really am, or I can choose something that feels scary. When I choose something that feels good I trust myself, I am clear, I make good decisions, I am able to see my answers when they appear, I have an abundance of energy, I am able to love others for who they are, and others enjoy my presence. When I am fearful, I tend to be more numb, hesitant, I go through life with blinders on not able to appreciate others or opportunities along my path, I make poor decisions, have low energy, and in general I am not great to be around.
'Self terrorism' may seem like a 'terroristic' label to use but, like my depression, I wanted to get your attention. When it comes down to it, there is only one person who can scare you . . . and I know you would rather be happy.
'One Time' Affirmations
Posted on Facebook Nov. 15th.
Lou Tice, the founder of The Pacific Institute, talks about the power of 'one time' affirmations, commonly known as vows. We can proclaim something, usually in a ceremony, and then go forth as if. We do this with marriages, earning degrees, and crowning monarchs, however, we can also do it with more general beliefs about ourselves.
As I played The Transformation Game last week I discovered a vow I had made to myself many years ago after my experience with depression. I had vowed I would never let myself become depressed again. And although I have consciously thought that vow/belief only a handful of times since then, I know it has been running as a subprogram through my life. It may sound like a good, strong vow, but if you feel the essence of it, it has fear and resistance in it. It was based on a lack of trust in me, that I would be able to handle whatever may come along. When I don't trust me, I may tend to hesitate and pull back, robbing me of opportunities I actually want.
Discovering a hidden vow makes it possible to make a conscious new one. In regards to this vow I instead choose to trust that I will be O.K. I know I can find the other side of whatever may cross my path, because who I really am never leaves me. I am not alone to suffer through anything. My joy, peace, and appreciation are always with me, even though in some moments I may throw a blanket of fear over them and they appear missing. It feels so much better, no matter what I may be facing, to choose to trust Me.
Lou Tice, the founder of The Pacific Institute, talks about the power of 'one time' affirmations, commonly known as vows. We can proclaim something, usually in a ceremony, and then go forth as if. We do this with marriages, earning degrees, and crowning monarchs, however, we can also do it with more general beliefs about ourselves.
As I played The Transformation Game last week I discovered a vow I had made to myself many years ago after my experience with depression. I had vowed I would never let myself become depressed again. And although I have consciously thought that vow/belief only a handful of times since then, I know it has been running as a subprogram through my life. It may sound like a good, strong vow, but if you feel the essence of it, it has fear and resistance in it. It was based on a lack of trust in me, that I would be able to handle whatever may come along. When I don't trust me, I may tend to hesitate and pull back, robbing me of opportunities I actually want.
Discovering a hidden vow makes it possible to make a conscious new one. In regards to this vow I instead choose to trust that I will be O.K. I know I can find the other side of whatever may cross my path, because who I really am never leaves me. I am not alone to suffer through anything. My joy, peace, and appreciation are always with me, even though in some moments I may throw a blanket of fear over them and they appear missing. It feels so much better, no matter what I may be facing, to choose to trust Me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)