Breaking through
Check out my feature on Wendy Watkins’s “The Joy Factor” site!
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If Struggling Worked
Just Try Harder
I love this quote by Victoria Castle:
If struggling were the way to get there, we’d all be there by now.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the way many of us approach work. Often, suffering and struggling is so much a part of the everyday experience that it goes unnoticed and unchallenged. We can automatically and unconsciously believe the lies that say if we just try harder, work longer, suffer enough,….then it HAS to pay off….doesn’t it? We like to call it “work ethic”. Seems more like “carrot and stick”.
[Years ago I had a coach who suggested I take a baseball cap, cut a hole in the bill, Continue reading
Whatever You Want
I’ve been thinking about “permission” lately. I see so many people (myself included) NOT grant permission to freely do what they really want in life. I’m talking about big and small things alike. Big as in career, relationships, and health. Small as in what does or doesn’t go on the do-to list, in the calendar, etc.. So, I’m challenging myself to a bold experiment: For the next 6 days, I am only doing what I really want to do — following my heart’s desire.
No blackmailing myself with SHOULDs, HAVE TOs, or WHO DO YOU THINK YOU AREs! No justifying, asking for approval, or permission from anyone outside of myself. No apologizing for doing what brings me joy. I’m talking about real freedom to choose moment to moment. And, if/when I judge myself for being frivolous, indulgent, etc., I promise to lovingly bring myself back to center.
I’ll blog about what I learn….that is, only if I really want to do so!
The Heart Aroused
When I was in my early 30′s I felt trapped — stuck in a corporate HR leadership role that I thought I had always wanted. I had aspired to this position, worked for the promotion. I’d practically campaigned for it! However, like many of my colleagues, I felt the classic emptiness that comes with chasing an Ego’s goal. I lacked any sense of personal power and sought a cheapened version of it by hiding behind my big corporate title. Inside I was terrified of being found out. I was terrified of my own heart’s desire and my soul’s insistent pursuit of true joy and authentic personal power.
More Joy
In the book Living with Joy, (See booklist on right), there are a number of fabulous exercises. Here’s one:
1. List 7 things you love to do, that you feel joyful when you do them, that you haven’t done in the last several months. They may be anything — lying in the sun, taking a trip, getting a massage, accomplishing a goal, exercising, reading.
Living With Joy
One of my favorite books is Living with Joy (see list of books to the right). Here’s a quote that I love:
“The Path of joy involves valuing yourself and monitoring where you put your time.”
A couple of months ago I decided to review my calendar with new criteria. For each item, I asked myself: Do I
Surfer’s Rules
[Source unknown] The time to change is when you don’t have to, when you are on the crest of the wave, not in the trough.
1. PASSION RULES: The best surfers don’t spend a lot of time on the beach, talking about surfing. They love the water and no matter how rough or calm it is they are out there looking for a wave.
A Road Traveled Less
Most roads less traveled refer to that courageous adventure of creating your own life path. You won’t find many other footprints. To follow this road takes guts and it is a noble pursuit. There is, however, a different kind of less-traveled road.
We all establish patterns of behavior and ways of being in order to survive and do well in life. Many patterns
Quentin Tarantino’s Authority
If you haven’t yet seen Sundance Channel’s “Iconoclasts”, it’s a must. The show features conversations between two prominent people who are experts in their field. For example: Maya Angelou and Dave Chappelle, or Laird Hamilton and Eddie Vedder. The discussions are fascinating.
One recent episode featured film producer Quentin Tarantino and singer/songwriter Fiona Apple. They covered many topics including giving yourself the freedom to create. I’m paraphrasing here, but Tarantino commented
Tele-Temple
Years ago I had the great fortune to get to know two wonderful women: Martha & Linda. We each had an interest in spirituality and meditation, in particular. We wanted to meditate together but living in different cities created a logistical challenge. Not to be stopped, Linda suggested we meet by telephone. So our journey with Tele-temple began.
