Let Your Life Bloom

My 2011 prayer for you

Happy 2011, Internet!

I hope it's gotten off to good start for you. As for me, I appreciate the spaciousness I feel at the beginning of the year. A spiritual renewal of sorts, which I find to be the key for any kind of lasting change.

Now, before you think I'm about to give you the typical resolutions blog (I'm not), the coaching cheerleader "You can change your life!" speech (why tell you something you already know?!), or the health educator lecture on starting your year off right with good food (hmm, wait a minute, maybe I should mention more about this...), let me first say this:

In 2011, may you celebrate your strengths, follow your inner guidance, experience love and support, enjoy your life, and have a heartfelt impact on others.

If you do decide to make resolutions, reinvent yourself, or revolutionize the way you do what you do, that's awesome too. I say go for it, and while you're at it, keep in mind the following:

1) You are a living, breathing miracle. Each day is filled with countless examples of this. Let yourself see the magic of life and everything becomes both more meaningful and much clearer.

2) All your life, you've been getting signs, experiencing successes, and having talks with your inner guidance. Set up a journal tracker or special treasure box that helps remind you of all the support you already have at the ready.

3) It usually isn't until something big happens that you realize that all those other things you made such a big deal out of, aren't really a big deal at all. Let this be a year of keeping things in proportion. If something is bugging you as you go about your life, either choose to delve deeper into it so you can transform its hold on you or let it go.

4) Eat pie, cake, chocolate. Go jump on a trampoline. Laugh at a joke that you normally wouldn't. Make eye contact. See the kindness people extend to others. Silently acknowledge the hurt or imbalance that's underneath the surface for someone which prompts them to act unkind. Have compassion. Take care of yourself. Have a good time.

5) Realize, on some level, that there are a lot of changes going on in the world - physically, emotionally, mentally. We are playing hospice to the old systems that are dying and midwives to the new systems that are emerging. The whole collective is on a wild ride energetically, and it can be easy to get buoyed up or buried under all the changes. Let love lead and fear won't grip you as intensely. You are infinitely more supported than you realize and have all the resources you need to deal with whatever is in front of you.

And on that note...let the games begin!

 

Peaceful images

The theme of this week has definitely been one of healing and clearing out the old no longer working stuck stuff. We all go through versions of this. It seems to take on more intensity at the changing of the seasons.

I first heard this song in a Kundalini Yoga class. It's been one of my favorites for being loving, mellow, and affirming. Hope you enjoy listening, as well as the beautiful images that go along with it.

Cooling off

For your fun Friday enjoyment...

I like to move it

Maybe it's because I worked with kids for 8 years, or I'm a child at heart. Either way, I can't help but smile and move it, move it when I watch this video. Happy Fabulously Fun Friday to you!

Do the opposite

Have you ever wanted to change your perspective but felt stuck in the same ol' groove of thinking? One of the easiest ways to mix things up and entertain a new way of looking at life is by doing the opposite. Years ago, I worked with someone who whenever things went "wrong," he would say "Fantastic" or "Sounds great." The exact opposite of what I was expecting to hear. Yet, there it was, and funnily enough, he always found a solution to the problem, much quicker than anyone else by not making a big drama about it.

Doing the opposite knocks unconscious habits out of whack and opens up the creative channel. Have a go at it!

★ Eat and write with your non dominant hand.

★ Sit on your couch with your legs up and your head down.

★ When the inner critic (or someone in your life being critical) arises, instead of going into resistance and either fighting it or believing it, say to yourself "Thanks for pointing that out. I really appreciate your feedback."

★ As you lay down to sleep at night, greet the bed and pillow, thank them for supporting you and helping your remember your dreams.

What are some fun ways you can do the opposite in your life?

Tut's funny inspiration & wisdom

As mentioned here, I'm a big fan of Tut. It was time to share a few more of the gems I've received. They're free for you too, sign up here. Enjoy, and happy Friday to you!

Vanessa, do you know why dogs are so quick to wag their tails and cats are so quick to purr? Even the ones that have been lonely, abused, and betrayed?

Because, as is true of all animals, they were instilled with the distant awareness that no matter what the world shows them, they're still deeply loved and needed, that their presence alone has made a difference, and that in just the shake of a leg, seemingly without reason or rhyme, everything can FANTASTICALLY change for the better.

As is true of all people, except sometimes they tend to forget.

Purrfectly,
    The Universe

✿✿✿

Last night, Vanessa, I was dreaming of you, again.

You were radiant, confident, and light beamed in every direction from the core of your being. Music followed you, angels serenaded you, and everyone was elevated by your presence. Wisdom shown from your eyes. Kindness emanated from your touch. And your power was simply awesome.

You looked, well... pretty much... exactly as you do right now.

Wow,

    The Universe

✿✿✿

Vanessa, here's some sage advice I once scrawled onto a cave wall long before the wheel, Atlantis, and Facebook:

Aim with your heart, adjust with your head, and always, always, always, do all you can.

Caves, email, same, same.

Tallyho,
    The Universe

Free party? Why not!

Picture this:

You just got married, decided to do it low-key, at city hall. Someone comes up to you afterward and offers you a free wedding reception. Who could turn that down?! Not this couple below, watch and see...(courtesy of Improv Everywhere)

It's all about practice

I'm a fan of Abraham-Hicks and the clarity that they share to help us shift our focus on what we want and what is working. I receive their daily quotes and wanted to share a recent one with you.

"We're asking you to trust in the Well-being. In optimism there is magic. In pessimism there is nothing. In positive expectation there is thrill and success. In pessimism or awareness of what is not wanted, there is nothing. What you're wanting to do is redefine your relationship with the Stream. We do not ask you to look at something that is black and call it white. We do not ask you to see something that is not as you want it to be and pretend that it is. What we ask you to do is practice moving your gaze. Practice changing your perspective. Practice talking to different people. Practice going to new places. Practice sifting through the data for the things that feel like you want to feel and using those things to cause you to feel a familiar place. In other words, we want you to feel familiar in your joy. Familiar in your positive expectation, familiar in your knowing that all is well, because this Universe will knock itself out giving you evidence of that Well-being once you find that place. We have enjoyed this interaction immensely. There is great love here for you. We are complete."

--- Abraham

Excerpted from the workshop in San Rafael, CA on Wednesday, March 4th, 1998 #193

Fast talking!

I'm not sure what's funnier about this - the earnestness of the baby talking, the man humorously listening, or the original title - Are women born this way?

"Sometimes, I feel like I can do anything..."

Clearly, I'm on a Michael Franti & Spearhead kick. It's summer in this part of the world, which means being outside, preferably at festivals, swimming in the river, or at potlucks (all my version of heaven). The music I tend toward at this time of year is upbeat and moves through you to such an extent that you grab the stranger next to you and start dancing! At least that's what the video below makes me want to do. Enjoy!

P.S. For those of you that want to see the talented, authentic, and definitely handsome Franti for free, go to Power to the Peaceful in Golden Gate Park on September 12th in SF.