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How plump is your orange?

I was talking with my coach recently and she shared an image that came to her:

I want you to squeeze all the juice out of me – I am an orange!

Similar to a quote about the unlived life and not wanting to arrive at death not having lived, she was reflecting on her desire to live, to give, to be fully used in this lifetime. She envisioned each of you drinking from a straw, drinking in her orange sweetness!

It occurred to me, however, that oranges grow on trees. I couldn’t help but see an orange tree with straws sticking out of big, juicy, orange fruit! In this vision, even as we live, give, and are used in this lifetime, we are continually nourished by the tree. We are the channel through which powerful life-giving juice flows. Rather than being used up by life, we can choose to be aware of the ways in which we are ever-renewed while allowing life to flow through us.

What is the juice IN YOU which nourishes others?
What is your “orange tree”?
How plump is the orange of you today?

What will restore its juicy, round fullness?

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Brain on overdrive?

Is your brain ever bombarded by planning, thinking, worrying, conniving, others’ requests? You know the times … when no matter how hard you try, you cannot stop the spinning or take your mind off of the hamster wheel?

This usually happens in me when the to-do list for today (and the next 6 months) is long. There is way too much to do to take a break. The impact, however, of acting from a state of brain overdrive is usually a massive headache, mistakes, inefficiency, or absolutely NO forward progress on anything!

Today’s invitation is simple. The next time that you find yourself in overdrive, celebrate that you noticed! Then, dare yourself to stop and downshift. Downshift from brain overdrive to heart beat. Take five in heart beat gear and ask:

What part of this is EGO?
What does Compassion offer?
What does my Heart need?

Then dare to meet your heart’s desires.

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When “one more thing” is gift …

One more task, one more phone call to make, one more person wanting my time and energy, one more thing …

Today’s thought comes from thinking about those of you who believe the only choice you have is to “do it”. You believe that if you don’t, know one else will. Whether or not you believe it, your actions suggest that you are “superman” or “superwoman”. I know that sounds harsh because I’ve been there. I still fall into the trap at times of trying to do it all.

Truth is, I can’t.

Yet I stay on the path of busyness way too long sometimes. It’s at these times when one more thing is a gift. Why? Because when one more thing is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, the thing that reminds me that I am not superwoman and that I cannot do it all, then that thing saves me from myself, from self-destruction, from hurting me – and you. This “one more thing” points me toward letting go, trusting others and my higher power, allowing myself to receive and you to give, rest.

In what ways are you trying to “do it all”?
What do you need to release?
Who needs the gift of doing “it” when you don’t?

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Energy Leaks

What do you think of when you hear “energy”? Perhaps you connect with being tired or sick and having no energy. Or maybe you slept soundly and are filled with energy! Today, though, I invite you into the energy of your emotional and mental beings for a moment. Consider:

  • the energy to spin a decision around and around and around before actually deciding and taking action
  • the energy consumed by worry around what might happen
  • the energy spent avoiding the task you don’t want to do … but which will take a total of 15 minutes once you begin
  • the energy consumed by fear of the unknown, fear of how another will respond, fear of the amount of work ahead if you make “that” decision
  • the energy consumed as you try to hide your preoccupations, fears, worries

All of these are energy leaks, draining precious life energy from you. Only you can plug these invisible leaks. Here are just a few ideas:

  • Decide to postpone action until some later time, mark your calendar, then – let it go! Give it no energy until then.
  • Take a minute to notice how it will feel to have completed that 15 minute task, then set a time and when that time comes, just do it! Don’t forget to celebrate when you are done!
  • Talk to a trusted friend about the fear or worry you are trying to hide. Let the dam break open. Then revisit the situation.

What energy leaks are you experiencing now?
What energy would you reclaim by plugging the leak?
What now?

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When “I” am “We” – Part II

If you missed part I, please take a peak:

When “I” am “We” – Part I

In part II, I invite you into some real power around this I/We concept. And it is very simple. The human Jeanne, when faced with a decision reviews it from three aspects of the human:

  • Body – Am I healthy enough? What does the body need?
  • Mind – What do I think about “it”? Does it interest me? Will I enjoy doing it with them?
  • Emotion – What am I experiencing now: joy, depression, peace, sadness … and how does this opportunity fit with what I need now?

When “I” becomes “We”, I let Soul Essence, the Universe, Divine Guidance be in charge. And I choose to believe that the Universe or God is unconditional love, unlimited positive energy, pure compassion, and is in everyone. All are connected, all are one, in Essence. From this perspective, I am aware that often my human self comes up with “I don’t want to” when, in fact, my deepest core beliefs and values, the awareness I have when connected to the Universe, is saying a huge “YES!” I want to put your needs first – I want to serve – even as my human is saying no.

Imagine an invitation to a family reunion in another state or a service opportunity all weekend or a leadership role in your spiritual community that will consume time you don’t have. For each of these, there are many ways for the human self to decide, “No, that’s not for me.” And sometimes, it isn’t. Yet, when the perspective of Oneness, Essence, God leads, and I am aware that this, too, is me, I find it ease-full to lead with my soul and say “Yes!”.

What is yours to do when Soul/God/Universe/Oneness leads?