Posted on

FEAR — Redefined!

FEAR

Recently I wrote about non-attachment and letting go in order to really live. And, for me, letting go is often laced with fear. So a quick look at fear seems in order.  First, fear is an emotion. It is meant to suggest we take a closer look. Sometimes the fear is warranted by circumstance and pausing to notice the fear may save us from harm.

Sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes fear is a gremlin, a voice trying to keep us stuck in old habits which no longer serve us. Or fear may be an internalized message that we can’t do “it” or aren’t good enough. Each time we listen to the fear we solidify a belief that just may not be true!

Next time you sense unwarranted fear coming on, stop and let fear be an acronym for what might really be going on inside of you. Try on these FEAR acronyms:

(F)eeling (E)dgy (A)nd (R)esistent?
(F)alse (E)vidence (A)ppearing (R)eal
(F)ight (E)nds. (A)llow (R)est.
(F)ind (E)nergy (A)nd (R)eassurance.
(F)antastic (E)xperience (A)waits (R)ecognition
(F)ollow (E)ach (A)ppropriate (R)eminder
(F)reely (E)ngage. (A)ctively (R)espond.
(F)ly! (E)njoy (A)mazing (R)esonance.

Pick one that has a grain a truth for you and use it to move through the current fear. Perhaps your fear is the result of exhaustion and uncertainty. Choose (F)ind (E)nergy (A)nd (R)eassurance. Then ask yourself:

What would energize me now?
What message would reassure me?
Who can I ask for support?

Then take the energizing step. Ask for support. Wait until you feel energized and reassured. Then return to what it was that triggered fear in you and go for it!

What is it like to move through your fear?

(*) For a bit more on the topic of FEAR, check out: Beyond Fear

Posted on

Soul Retrieval

LaserBeams

You know that my passion is inviting others into passionate, purposeful, powerful living for the sake of this planet, humankind, and the spiritual evolution that is happening now. I desire to live my passion daily, moving in the world, ever ready to be the invitation to another and not needing to know who may be impacted in any given moment. I’d like to invite you into living this way as well.

I have a vision of this way of being from my morning centering that might land powerfully – or not! So I’ll express it two ways.

First, know that you are having an impact, touching people, in every moment. With that awareness:

  • What is the impact you are having?
  • How are you a gift?
  • How do you bring out the best in people?
  • Is your presence coming from the deepest, most positive and powerful essence that you are?
  • Is that presence a laser beam into those you meet – inviting their deep, powerful, positive presence to emerge?

If you can see your laser beam, take a moment to imagine humanity interconnected with laser beams drawing out the best in one another. Got it?

How bright is our light?
What happens if you let your beam dim or die?
Whose light isn’t shining now?
Who have they not touched because you didn’t touch them?

Here is the other way of stating my morning vision. I believe in the idea of interconnection, of each one of us being part of one great whole, or “soul”, expressing on this planet as “me”. And I have heard of “soul retrieval” though never experienced it as such. Today, however, I imagined myself as one who does “soul retrieval”! The eyes are the window to the soul. When I am clear, when my vision is unimpeded by negative thinking, assumption, fear, … then it is my soul which sees. And what my soul sees is your purity, your essence, your soul. By seeing as my soul, I see your soul, and essentially, retrieve it! Imagine being part of world-wide soul retrieval!

Are you ready to do some soul retrieval? If so:

What blocks your soul vision?
What would clear it?
What would you see in others from clarity?

 

Posted on

Clogged drains: What’s the message?

drainsI’ve just finished working with the idea of spring cleaning and making space for the new: ideas, activities, dreams. And I realize that I have the perfect metaphor for what happens when spring cleaning doesn’t happen: a clogged drain.

One of the sinks in my home is challenged by a refusal of the drain to let water pass through. The result? A sink that is filthy. Leftover soap scum and bits of food and dirt line its walls. No matter how much clear, hot, cleansing water I pour into it, it is not enough to result in a clean sink. In fact, the “stuff” from days gone by comes back up for a visit!

What’s the message? I think that holding on too tightly or too long, or holding onto too much, even when the holding is around “good stuff” is harmful to the flow. Eventually, a life that is too full of to-dos, intentions, belongings, habits, beliefs, becomes a life that is stifled, stone-walled, blocked.

Consider looking at this in reverse. Ask yourself where you feel stuck or what dream continues to elude you. Then, invite some spring cleaning in to unclog your being. Let these questions provide some channels toward cleansing:

What specific plans do I need to release?
What beliefs are not serving me anymore?
What habit can rest awhile?
What fears are based in the past?
What relationships no longer work?

Finally, breathe into the freedom of the space created by letting go and wonder:

What is possible now?

For a bit of inspiration around letting go, check out:

GoodBye (lyrics)
Look Beyond (lyrics)

Posted on

What I Want For You …

Whether you are a parent, teacher, manager, leader, friend – if you ever find yourself supporting, mentoring, guiding, coaching other human beings – this message is for you.

Before you offer your advice, your ideas, your wisdom, stop and ask yourself:

What do I most want for this person?

Not “What do I want them to do or be for my sake?” but, rather, “What do I want for them?” See them through the lens of their whole life, as amazing potential, as pure possibility. See them as capable, creative, able to make powerful, positive decisions for themselves. See them as someone you care deeply about, desiring their success, happiness, independence, joy and love in this lifetime.

Now, imagine being in their position and ask yourself:

  • What do I desire?
  • What message would connect me to my innate abilities?
  • What would help me act from personal integrity?
  • What would help me take responsibility for my impact?
  • What I want for me is …

From this wider view, reconsider your advice, your message of support. Consider instead a message with connection and acknowledgment at its core.

I notice you struggling with …

What I most want for you is …
What I know is that you are …
What I see in you is …

How can I support you now?

Posted on

Problematizing …

Problematize: to make into or regard as a problem requiring a solution.

Think about it. You experience a rough night’s sleep and before you get out of bed in the morning, you’ve convinced yourself that “it is going to be a bad day.” Or, you express your desires to a friend and they don’t react the way you’d hoped. Immediately you assume something is wrong and then try to smooth the waters. Maybe your favorite problematizing is around just about everything you undertake! You compare yourself to others and always come up short. You are never good enough and you better fix yourself now!

Imagine a different scenario –> Whatever it is, it just is.

It just is suspends judgment, allows what is to be. It just is is neither right nor wrong. With it just is in your previously reactive energy, when something “happens”, you smile and say to yourself:

It just is. How interesting. Or even, how fascinating!

And from here you eventually wonder, “Now what?”

We return to that rough night of sleep. You waken at midnight, and say, “Huh. How fascinating. Okay.” and return to sleep. You repeat this at 1:00 am, 2:00 am, 2:20 am, 3:10 am and eventually when the alarm rings, you notice you are tired! And again, it just is.

“I am tired in this moment. It isn’t good or bad.”

You take in a deep breath, think about what lies ahead in this day, and consider if anything can be or needs to be cancelled. If so, it just is. Cancel it. Perhaps you really don’t believe anything can be cancelled and you choose to proceed with the day as it is. You do the best you can – for today. You let that be. It just is. Regardless of how anything turns out or what others may think, you know, it just is – for today.

Try it! Start by asking yourself where you practice problematizing. Pick an area and experiment with this idea of withholding judgment, of letting life be what it is. Then:

What do you notice about your personal energy
when you practice it just is?
Where do you experience more acceptance?
What impact does it just is have on those around you?

What is the power in problematizing?
What is the power in it just is?