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Come back!

Recently I wrote about practicing full presence in this activity or in this conversation. Especially when we are in relationship with another human being, whether that is a one-on-one connection or as a member of the audience at a speaking or performance event, the gift of full presence is kind, appropriate and energetically supportive. Do we give it 100% of the time? I for one, and, I suspect, most of us, cannot answer that in the affirmative. Even if it is our intention to be fully present in a given moment, it isn’t easy! Our minds wander into yesterday or tomorrow. Our body sends us messages and we stray into our own personal space of need. Our emotions act up with boredom or reactivity, and we follow their lead. When it is your intention to give full presence and you wander, I encourage you to learn the skill of coming back. You will need it!

Imagine you are in an auditorium filled with people and you’ve come to listen to a friend speak. You begin to stray …

  1. INTENTION: Notice the part of you that committed to being present, the voice inside that says, “Come back!”
  2. DISCERN: Now put yourself up there on that stage, experiencing your audience members drifting off. What do you need? Maybe you want to see a visual clue that folks are paying attention (smiles, sitting up straight…). Maybe you want to hear their reaction to your words (Yes! Ah ha!…)
  3. GIVE: Channel that to the speaker. Give your undivided attention, your presence.

Will you stray again? Probably! Can you come back … again? Of course! Know that you you can practice coming back everywhere – with your children, friends, coworkers, clients, even with yourself!

What is the impact of full presence?
What is “coming back” over and over worth?

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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?

 

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When inspiration is lacking …

… what do you do? How do you be with the time or the task in front of you when the spark is absent, the desire to do “it” doesn’t exist?

Today, I wanted to write something for you, something inspiring, something that you’ll be glad you read. And … I couldn’t find a topic that inspired me enough to want to share it with you! Oh I tried! Without a new idea, I opened up old draft posts and tried to finish them. And boy was it work! And what I wrote? Not so good.

Sometimes the work in front of us requires that we execute whether or not we are inspired. Sometimes it doesn’t. Always, however, the energy we bring to the task at hand has great impact. Consider the “task” of disciplining a child, leading a team meeting, lunch with a friend, intimacy with a partner, writing a blog post. Now imagine that “task” completed with the energy of excitement, love, connection, joy, purpose! Now imagine it completed with the energy of bored, afraid, angry, “just get it done”, distracted, uninspired.

Which energy would you want to receive …
from your parent, supervisor, friend, partner, me?

The next time you lack the energy, the inspiration, that would best serve the “task” at hand, ask if it can be postponed. If so, don’t do it now! Otherwise,  take a moment to vision the impact if you proceed from the energy you currently feel. If you don’t like the vision, ask yourself:

What would shift my energy?
What would inspire me to bring full, engaged presence?

What would it take for me to be inspired?

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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?

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The Impact of Sleep …

ZZZs

… or the lack of it! I woke today after a fitful night’s sleep, waking perhaps 20 times in the night. Not fun! Nor does such a night result in a strong desire to face the coming day. For me, sleeplessness can result in fear, frustration, impatience, intolerance and doubt that I can get through what lies ahead.

Here’s the thing. Any one of us may have multiple reasons for sleepless nights – from the physical to the emotional to chemical imbalance – any of which can cause our bodies not to rest well. I encourage you to seek whatever professional support you may need to explore what is contributing to your sleep challenges. And …

And … become willing to look at the negative impact of your sleeplessness on those around you and realize that you have a choice. You can choose to focus on how little sleep you got and how bad you feel and how you won’t be able to fulfill on the day’s activities. And then, by all means, make sure that you complain loudly to everyone who appears to listen about how awful you feel.

Or … you can choose to affirm that all is well and your sleep was sufficient. Consider holding these affirmative messages with you throughout the day:

  • I am grateful for the sleep I experienced last night
  • I have sufficient energy to do what needs to be done today
  • I feel rested and alive

And perhaps these practices, combined with those affirmations, will be helpful. Every hour or every change in activity today:

  • Pause and take three deep breaths, with each one affirm the statements above.
  • Pause and breathe into your heart space, and let the fact that your heart is beating bring a smile to your face.
  • Notice someone around you who seems to be struggling. Affirm for yourself that “all is well” and then ask, “How are YOU today?” and give the gift of listening.

What is the impact of your lack of sleep?
What if you chose mindfully to have positive impact instead?