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Remember who you are …

ItsSoYou4By6

There is only one way to have great impact on our world. Just one.

“Really?” you ask.

Yes. Really just one.

Each one of us can only have great, powerful, true, lasting impact by being ourselves, by being who we are. So ask yourself:

Who am I?
What do I really value?
What is my purpose for being on the planet?

Then, remember.

Remember – when it seems that no one can really see you …
Remember – when you do not sense any pay off for your work …
Remember – when no feedback, no affirmation comes your way …
Remember – when you are weary to the bone and want to quit or scream …
Remember – when tears of sadness and grief and despair are flowing …
Remember – when fear is overwhelming and courage has gone into hiding …
Remember – when jealousy is loud …
Remember – when the world says you are a fool …

Remember.

Remember who you are.
Remember what you value more than anything.
Remember that you are part of the whole of humanity, past, present and future.
Remember the greater purpose for your being on this planet at this time.
Remember that you are inter-connected in consciousness to the whole of Life.
Remember who you are.

Remember who you are. Then … be you.

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Generosity …

Reading from the book, Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

WhereverYouGoThereYouAre

Such is the power of mindful, selfless generosity. At the deepest level, there is no giver, no gift, and no recipient … only the universe rearranging itself.

This quote struck me at my core. We – all of us – are part of the Universe, part of all that is in the cosmos. We are part of humankind, part of this amazing planet Earth that we call home, part of the evolution of consciousness and matter. We are part – among – connected. We arrived with nothing and we will leave behind all that we have used on the journey. And along the way, haven’t we simply been part of the Universe in constant motion: rearranging, creating, destroying, evolving, learning, growing, holding on, letting go?

What if, along the way in this journey of life, we practiced mindful, selfless generosity from an awareness that all is one? 

Might we approach today with:

How am I to support the Universe today?
What generous rearranging is mine to facilitate?
How am I to lend my life energy to the greater whole?

And since all is one, I must be aware that I am not alone and ask:

How is the Universe rearranging to support me?

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The WE Effect

How often do your words sound like:

  • I am afraid …
  • I don’t want to …
  • I can’t …
  • I did …
  • I want …

What would happen if you replaced “I” with “WE”?

First, take a look at “WE”:

  • (W)onder (E)verywhere
  • (W)isdom (E)volving
  • (W)oven (E)nergy

Truly we never do anything alone, do we? Take a look around and find something in your personal space that you did without assistance from anyone’s time, ideas, help. The computer I am typing on, the software I am using, the chair that supports me, the ideas that I share … all have come from or been inspired by other inspired human beings.

When I acknowledge the WE that I am ever connected to, I find:

  • I am afraid … WE are less afraid or perhaps even not afraid!
  • I don’t want to … WE see value beyond my little “I”
  • I can’t … WE can do so much more together!
  • I did … “WE did” brings humility and connection
  • I want … WE often want less and usually want what serves the greater whole

What power would the WE Effect have for you?

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The Circle of Giving … and Receiving!

I was visited this weekend – again – by the challenge of receiving acknowledgments. Oh, I am aware that when someone pays me a compliment, I am to say “Thank you”. There is no need to minimize what I did, return the compliment, and certainly no value in refusing the message, the compliment, the gift that I am being given.

That said, I found myself once again in that place of refusal, a bit embarrassed that “you” had seen my talents and were paying me a compliment. After a long, deep and teary exploration with a dear friend, I have discovered a deeper meaning for myself about the “circle of giving”. Twelve years ago, I wrote these lyrics:

Circle of Giving (video)

Today, I share my expanding understanding of the giving cycle. Beyond the fact that the act of giving gifts the receiver and the giver, the act of receiving also gifts the giver and the receiver. Consider these steps in the cycle:

  1. I give
  2. You receive
  3. You incorporate the gift
  4. You acknowledge how the gift impacted  you
  5. I receive your acknowledgment and am nourished – this giving/receiving cycle is complete
  6. I give again, aware of how my giving impacts others
  7. You give from an expanded, changed you

Another way of putting it is this:

I You
Give
Receive and Incorporate
Give Acknowledgment
Receive and am Nourished
Give From Restored and Whole Give From Expanded and Changed

The big piece for me is this: Your gift of acknowledgment nourishes my giving heart, lets me know that I am valued and valuable. Your gift to me is no less than, is just as vital, as my gift to you. 

My intention moving forward is to pause before responding – pause long enough to open my heart to receive your powerful gift of gratitude and let me be changed by you.

What acknowledgment is yours to receive today?

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One With All Creation

This morning as I sat outside witnessing the sunrise, I was gifted with a pure soul connection. Having watched several hummingbirds feed over the course of two cups of coffee, I was about to come back inside when the final visitor gave me a most precious gift. Before returning to his (her?) tree home, he hovered 3 feet from my face, connecting eye to eye and soul to soul. For at least 15 seconds, his presence touched me. Three times he dipped, paused, then reset his location.

I have heard of those who become one with the whales.This morning, I was one with that hummingbird. Yet what I know is that we are always one with these precious creatures. We are always one with Life in all its forms. Yet we are so often unaware, unconscious, unwilling to slow down long  enough, be still enough, to recognize the connection.

What connections need your acknowledgment?
What are you waiting for?