"K-PAX"

Posted to Facebook October 17th.

The Movie "K-PAX"

Directed by Iain Softley

Adapted from the novel by Gene Brewer

After Prot informs the psychiatrist that they have no laws, and no lawyers on his planet . . .

Psychiatrist:  "Well, how do you know right from wrong?"

Prot:  "Every being in the Universe knows right from wrong."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted to Facebook October 8th.
Thanksgiving . . . a holiday to practice appreciating.

I appreciate that the sun rises everyday.
I appreciate that it is not my job to make sure the sun rises everyday.
I appreciate all four seasons, and that I can feel excited anticipation for each of the changes.
I appreciate the experience of depression that created such clarity and passion in my life.
I appreciate my thumbs and fingers that allow me to type these words.
I appreciate Joannes Gutenberg who made it possible for all the books that I love to love.
I appreciate all those who have gone before me, whom I now stand on the shoulders of, to reach new adventures.
I appreciate my sense of taste that helped create my enjoyment of the turkey and pumpkin pie.
I appreciate the family and friends in my life that provide the continuous support and learning about WIRA.
I appreciate the technologies that allow me to share my appreciations.
I appreciate all the opportunities I have had in my life, and all the possibilities that wait in the wings.
I appreciate that birds sing and cows moo, and not the other way around.  (LOL)
I appreciate belly laughs.
I appreciate that I can appreciate, because it feels so good.

Happy Appreciating!

LOP is Expressing (Part 3)

Posted to Facebook October 11th.
The foundation of Living On Purpose (LOP), for me, is that we all want to feel good, and that we are all geniuses (no one can be me as well as I can).  The three aspects I have witnessed myself experiencing as I learn how to feel good and be my genius self I describe as remembering, believing in, and expressing who I really am (WIRA), which I am doing to some degree in every moment.

The third part of LOP, Expressing WIRA, has been about listening.
Listening to what I am telling myself.
Listening to what I am wanting to be right about.
Listening to what I know beyond my 'shoulds' and 'have tos'.
Listening to when something doesn't feel good and deliberately making a different choice.
Listening to the little thoughts of inspiration and trusting them.
Listening to the big thoughts of inspiration and trusting them.
Listening to the people and situations that cruise across my path.
Listening when I seem to be getting the same message over and over again.
Listening to what feels good and knowing it is suppose to feel that way.
Listening to what I am inspired to say.
Listening to what I am inspired to do.
Listening to the reminders to stay open.
Listening to what and when I want to eat, wear, watch, read, clean, repair, change, create, or try something.
Listening when it is time to take action, and when it is time to listen.

Listening -- because I have all my answers, if I just listen.

LOP is Believing (Part 2)

Posted to Facebook October 6th.
The foundation of Living On Purpose (LOP), for me, is that we all want to feel good, and that we are all geniuses (no one can be me as well as I can).  The three aspects I have witnessed myself experiencing as I learn how to feel good and be my genius self I describe as remembering, believing in, and expressing who I really am (WIRA), which I am doing to some degree in every moment.

The second part, Believing in WIRA, has been about:
-- giving myself the time and space to remember WIRA, because as I remember I naturally believe.
-- ignoring the external voices when I am having challenges hearing Me.
-- remembering to breathe.
-- being picky about the books/movies/people/activities that I participate in.
-- quieting the internal chatter by consciously reminding myself WIRA.
-- having conversations with those who are able to hear and support me in believing in WIRA.
-- participating in morning rituals that help me connect with WIRA (i.e. meditation, journaling, a walk, yoga, reading inspirational material).
-- physical activity/workouts.
-- eating and drinking those things that make it easy to remember WIRA.
-- paying attention to what beliefs/thoughts feel best to me.
-- not pushing myself forward when I know I am not believing in WIRA as strongly as I want (can also refer to this as confidence).
-- letting go of trying to convince anyone of anything.  Me knowing WIRA is enough.
-- listening to the truth of Me that is sometimes buried under some 'shoulds'.
-- surrendering comparisons.
-- playing/laughing/appreciating.
-- finding that feeling of pure knowing.

LOP is believing in WIRA even when there is no physical evidence/confirmation/belief outside of me.

LOP is Remembering (Part 1)

Posted to Facebook October 5th.
The foundation of Living On Purpose (LOP), for me, is that we all want to feel good, and that we are all geniuses (no one can be me as well as I can).  The three aspects I have witnessed myself experiencing as I learn how to feel good and be my genius self I describe as remembering, believing in, and expressing who I really am (WIRA), which I am doing to some degree in every moment.

The first part, Remembering WIRA, has been about:
-- recalling the things I use to do, and the ways of being I would naturally be as a child.
-- noticing things I have done my whole life, and perhaps have even told myself that I do too much.
-- paying attention to what topics/books/movies/conversations/hobbies I tend to gravitate towards.
-- watching what I naturally do more of when I am wanting fun or relaxation or peace.
-- recognizing those moments when I am really enjoying life.
-- hearing what others say they appreciate about me or what I did well.
-- acknowledging those things that seemed easy, automatic, or second nature to do.
-- admitting what I was doing the last time I was having a really good time.
-- going my own pace.
-- trusting myself enough to like what like.
-- surrounding myself with what feels good.
-- letting go of the beliefs that I picked up along the way, that I now know are not what I really believe.
-- asking myself, "through what eyes am I seeing others when I am appreciating them most?"
-- allowing the inspirations that exist beyond the motivations of guilt or justification.
-- discovering what I am ready for when I am not busy protecting myself from life.
-- observing those times when I am swept up in a moment of knowing that some way, some how, all is well.

And, remembering WIRA is not so much about what I was doing in all of the above situations, but about who I was being.

Let Them Grow

The blooming of our desires is an exciting, beautiful journey.
Start with the essence, the seed, and let them grow.

"The Help"

There are scenes in the movie "The Help" that are known for their uplifting reminder of how inspiring affirmations can be to ourselves and to each other -- "You is kind.  You is smart. You is important."

What three thoughts would uplift you today?
I am happy, I am worthy, I am free!
I am excited, I am ready, I am eager!
I am content, I am trusting, I am at peace!
I am curious, I am adventurous, I am playful!
I am lovable, I am unique, I am ME!
I am appreciative, I am believing, I am now!
I am focused, I am full, I am lettin' it rip!
I am quiet, I am watching, I am knowing!
I am loving, I am admiring, I am smiling!
I am open, I am aware, I am real!
I am tickled, I am giggling, I am joy-filled.
I am honest with me, I am honest with you, I am honestly being in this world!
I am remembering, I am believing, I am expressing who I really am!
I am laughing, I am loving, I am living!
I am 'perfect', you are 'perfect', this world is 'perfect'.
I am calm, I am at ease, I am!
I am smart, I am kind, I am important! 

Happiness Trumps Greatness

Posted to Facebook September 20th.
I recently had a small peak into two lives that left me with the same feeling and a burning question.  I read the Steve Jobs biography and I watched a movie about J. Edgar Hoover.  Even though both men are easily considered great, perhaps even genius, for their accomplishments (the creation of Apple Computers and the computer, music, and cell phone technology as we know it, and the department of the FBI and investigative techniques as we know them), I was left with an incongruent, uninspired, unpeaceful, unfulfilled, even sad feeling from both stories.  So, I was curious, what about these two people, who were suppose to be so great, felt so off to me?

During the last Abraham-Hicks workshop a quote was shared that answered my question for me.  It went something like "(all of our striving, hard work, and suffering) won't bring happiness, but it will bring greatness."  It seemed to imply that greatness is more important than happiness, or if you are great enough it will bring happiness.  And what these two stories taught me is neither of those things are true.

I have come to understand that what we are really wanting in life is happiness.  Being great, based on other people's opinions or standards, may eventually allow us to work our way around to happiness, but it certainly is not guaranteed.  However, being happy does guarantee happiness.

LOP is about being who I really am (WIRA) because that makes me happy, and from my happiness 'greatness' is expressed.

Not Up For Debate

Posted to Facebook September 11th
It can be challenging for us to be willing to try new things, make changes in our lives, admit to things not going as we thought they should, share our inner truths, or be honest about how we really feel.  We can, without even knowing it, create our own little prison.  We lock ourselves inside these cells to be safe, but what price might we be paying?

Maybe we sometimes choose to lock ourselves in the walls of this safety because we have believed that our worthiness comes from being right, doing things correctly, being 'successful', not making mistakes, saying the right things, pleasing others, and being on top of everything at all times?  And maybe we think that if we play small we may actually have a fighting chance to be all of that, and therefore justify our worth?  Even if we could be all of that, all that it achieves at best, is being smaller than who we really are.

But what if I just swung that cell door wide open?  What if I believed my worthiness was not up for debate?  What if I believed it was innate, absolute, unshakable, infinite, God-given, and irrevocable by anyone or anything?  Would it then be okay to make mistakes, to be wrong, to try new things, to laugh at myself, and be open and honest?  Would I feel a little freer to be who I really am?

When I am LOP my worth just is.

Drop the Reins

Posted to Facebook September 7th.
I first noticed it a couple decades ago in an adult education program I was attending.  It was a feeling I could only metaphorically describe as holding the reins to a team of 12 horses that were ready to bolt.  My arms were exhausted and cramped, but I had to hang on tight to protect myself from losing control.

I came to interpret that feeling as me holding back in my life.  Why holding back?  Well, it is not unusual for us humans to learn to play it safe.  It is that protected, guarded, controlled, cautious, 'don't get going to fast', 'beware of the other shoe', 'if you get too happy it is just a farther distance to fall' essence that comes from fear, and keeps us smaller than who we really are.

I have recently revisited that essence/metaphor and recognize that I have still been holding the reins, however, now it is just a four horse team.  My arms have not been as tired, but I have still felt the need to keep the reins in my hands.

Today, as I sit with this team, I can feel that there is nothing to worry about or fear, they are not going to bolt.  And neither do I need to concern myself with them stopping, or becoming too lazy, where I would need to get out the whip.  I get that all is well here -- I can just drop the reins.

LOP is letting go of protecting myself and allowing me to be who I really am.