Moving into the New Unified World

Have you had some of the ups and downs that I have this summer? The energy shifts have been so profound that they've been somewhat challenging to navigate at times. I really believe that there is a global shift occurring on the planet that requires we shed or release the old ways of doing things and embrace new ones.

The old ways are structures that don't work...such as:

1. corrupt institutions, practices and destructive business models

2. self serving practices that ignore our interconnectedness (where we ignore our impact on others)

3. living out of fear rather than trust/love

4. being defined by our old stories in life that limit us

5. any habits, beliefs, ways of BEING that don't feel good or that aren't really working in our lives

6. Doing things the hard way... struggle, lack of resources, etc.

The new life I believe we are moving towards is:

1. a loving, unified way of life where we recognize our global unity and the interconnectedness of life

2. living in harmony with all life

3. experiencing greater and greater peace and love in our lives

4. having clarity, ease and alignment with our highest truths or self on a regular basis

5. experiencing abundant love and resources

6. knowing our wholeness and worthiness to live out our dreams

7. having balance in our lives and thriving

So I say all this because I know that in order to move from one world to the next, our issues/material for growth surface. Then we clear them out and move over into better ways of living. Now, I know as much as anything that when they come up, it is often painful and feels awful. So I've been focusing on moving through them easier.

The secret I think is to start with loving oneself. Accept that you have some material up, realize it won't last forever... and embrace yourself anyway.

It is the foundation to receiving everything you want in life, I swear it is. I've experienced it too many times. Whenever I feel a lack on the outside, I know that looking inside to see where I have been cutting myself off is the key. If you don't feel good about yourself... are feeling unworthy of having something in your life... or don't believe it is possible to have it... well then, it is hard to receive it.

So although at times it can take a while to address, I have over and over experienced how my outside world shifts when I do the inner work.

So this month, I realized that I was still holding a subtle feeling of not feeling like there was enough time/resources/space for me. (I imagine some of that comes from growing up with 7 siblings). AND I just know that underneath that is a feeling of not being enough or feeling worthy to receive it all. So, I've put a lot of energy shifting that inside. August became the month of feeling good about myself. I have been doing everything I can to acknowledge myself daily, remember I deserve the best in life, affirm my worthiness and love myself.

And the beautiful thing is that I can feel the increase in self-worth and self-love. It might sound corny to some, but I know these are the foundations for experiencing the exact life I want. So here's to soaking up the self-love.

Worry Kills

Have you ever had one of those days where you got so worried about something -- money, your relationship, your kids, etc. that you were ready to completely give up? That happened to me recently. I was at wits end with facing a struggle with something that I've faced before, thought was over and it was back.

I was so frustrated to be worrying about the same thing again. But the most wonderful thing happened. I got 2 great messages to help me move past it.

1. The first was that I was reminded that the first step is to accept it and ask if you can do anything to change it. If you can't, surrender and let go. It is in the resistance that it pains us so much.

2. The second came from a call Sugata (my husband) and I had with his business coach (KC Hildreth) for our business Cadence Research & Consulting.

It takes up an inordinate amount of time and energy to worry. So often when we get into a worry mode, our fear rises and we then spend all our time trying to cope with our feelings rather than moving forward. I'm sure if you've been there you'll know how true this is.

So KC was coaching us on business development and he said when it comes to sales success, a tiny percent of sales people account for the vast majority of sales in any industry. Why? Because those few people have figured out how to deal with worry. They recognize that it is there, and then get back to what they can control... which is to call the next customer or take the next action. Imagine if you only gave worry 1 hour of space in an entire month and the rest of the time you remembered to just move forward and take the next step, having faith that your energy was best spent there.

When he said it, I knew it was true. I swear it is that simple.

PS - and if you are so in worry that you can't function. Just take the first action needed to calm yourself down - call a friend, cry until you are done, write out your worries and then let them go, take a walk, eat an ice cream cone... you get the picture. (Think how it never helps to give into a 3 year-old's tantrum). Love yourself, but don't coddle!

The first step to changing anything is accepting it and taking responsibility for where you are. Then you know - if you got into this then you can get out of it. You are that powerful!

Think Bigger!

Today I had a first. My first audition in Hollywood. It was fun even though I've never been an aspiring actress. A request came to me to audition as a coach for a TV show about men who had just gone through a divorce. I haven't the slightest clue if I was what they were looking for, but a wonderful thing happened just when the casting director gave me directions about how to be on camera.

She said, "Imagine you are talking to 'Steve' (the divorced guy) but remember you aren't just talking to him, but all the people out there who are experiencing the same thing." Bam! My mind just exploded with the imagery of all those people... and the opportunity of being able to share insights with not just one person, but a huge audience - all at the same time.

Then I remembered how I had been asking to think bigger in my life. Now here was a concrete example. And it inspired me to focus my energy on those things that I already know are on my list to enable me to contribute in a bigger way. So thank you Universe (starring Anna - the casting director) -- I've got more work to do. And I can't wait!

Coming Full Circle

I have not written for a full year on my blog ... for a very good reason. I went on an adventure and got a little sidetracked, really sidetracked until I found my way back. 2009 was a strange year in a lot of ways. I was inspired with a new business idea that once executed, was not what I wanted. I spent a lot of money on coaching, and the ideas and forward movement was all solid and useful in many ways. However, I began to recognize that I was not listening deeply enough inside to hear my own voice as I was learning from others. And in the end I came back to where I started from... but a new person.

It all sort of started coming clear in 2009 over the summer when I found myself quite ill with adrenal exhaustion. The cortisol levels in my adrenal glands were practically nonexistent. Bad news. The bottom line is that I had depleted my levels over the years from stress, lack of sleep, overworking, not relaxing sufficiently, etc.

On a non-physical level I was also realizing that I was not happy with the business I had created. It was not fun anymore and I honestly realized I didn't like the vast majority of the work I was doing. So I had to surrender. I called my clients and began the process of wrapping up my projects with them. I ended up moving into a couple month Quiet Period, where I stopped doing so much and began listening more. I asked myself in meditation: what do I really want? What is my heart telling me? Why am I at this crossroad? How do I create a happier life? (I also had a lot of sleep and rest to catch up on).

Since I couldn't physically do as much, I was able to hear clearly and began crafting more healthy habits of sleep, rest and balanced work. When I finally felt I had clarity I was astounded to see that I had come full circle to the work that I started doing a few years ago -- Helping others transform their lives as they face loss and change. So I'm back to working on a limited basis with individuals who are grieving or moving through big life changes and preparing to finally get out to the world my HealingMemorials.com business. I'm so much happier and grateful that my body stopped me in my tracks and got me back to where my joy is.

And although it was a hard realization at first... to feel like I took a year's detour... I realize that I am a much wiser, self-empowered person and far more ready to take the next step on my journey. Life has an interesting way of leading us along the way. Embracing the change by surrendering, rather than staying steeped in something that wasn't working that well was a huge gift.