How are you finding meaning in your life?

How are you finding meaning in your life? What are you saying to yourself about your life? What are your thoughts about life?

If you aren’t living your life on purpose, you come to a point in time in your life where life feels shallow or empty. You are being more negative than positive. You could be numbing yourself in ways to shut out the internal dialogue or push to reach for a higher purpose. You could be all worn out from all the responsibility of life. Peace comes when you are no longer only looking for satisfaction in the outer world, but when you are also listening to your soul. It’s when you know that you have a bigger purpose. It’s when you are living on fire, in passion.  It’s when you have put together the puzzle pieces of your life and realize your purpose.

For me living on purpose is when I am inspiring others to live their best life. Just like with writing these blogs and weekly messages, I hope something in the messages could help enrich someone’s life. I want to awaken others to all of life’s possibilities. I want to share the wisdom I have learned to help others grow and be all they are destined to be. Are you willing to look at your life and see where you are living on purpose? Are you willing to challenge yourself to make another choice in the areas where you are not living your life on purpose? Have the courage to take at least two actions this week to move you closer to your Divine purpose. Acknowledge yourself for the great work.

Grow – Living on Purpose

This morning I listened to Carolyn Myss on the Oprah Soul Sunday show. She was talking about how each of us has come into this life with a purpose, a sacred contract. Carolyn wrote a book titled Sacred Contracts. She sees life as a classroom. Life is here to help you fulfill your purpose. The choice is yours whether you pay attention or not. Every choice you make either enhances you or drains you from living closer to your purpose. Begin by being true to yourself. That doesn’t mean you are not serving others and not helping others. It means that you are valuable enough to be included. It means you have something to share. You have a purpose. Everyone has some special gift that should be shared with the world.

Notice the ways you are not in alignment with your desires and purpose. You can know the difference by noticing if you are betraying yourself. These can be in small ways or large ways. Are you doing things that don’t feel right for you? You know. You might ignore the signals, but you know. Are you willing to take some small step to get you back on your life’s purpose? Begin in small ways. Have the courage to say what you want rather than worry that someone else is going to be upset about what you have to say or do. Life is meant to be fun.

Another major point Carolyn made was, you are to appreciate all that you have and all that has happened in your life. It’s all part of the puzzle of our life. As she said, “you can take the whoa path or the wisdom path.” You can use those things you wished didn’t happen into avenues of purpose rather than play the victim role. For instance, if you were abused, then you can find a way to heal yourself, and then help others heal. Make it a cause for you. You understand the hurt and harm it does to a life. You can help counsel or teach others ways to break the cycle.

It’s not always easy, but it is possible. You were meant for big things. Are you willing to break free and live your life purpose? What would it take to make that happen? What resources or direction do you need to help you take the next step? Are they enhancing your life?

Where in your life would it be beneficial to free yourself?

When I say free yourself, where in your life would it be beneficial to free yourself: emotionally, spiritually or mentally? Is it in your thoughts, behaviors or attitudes? What are you focusing on? Is it the glass is half full or half empty? Are you noticing and acknowledging all the kind things people are doing? Or are you never satisfied with your life or the world around you? Where could you grow and think other thoughts? If negative thoughts keep you frustrated and angry, find some music, poem or story that could lift your spirits. As the Course of Miracles states, a little shift in our perception is a miracle. Your physical, mental and emotional states will change. Little things can make a big difference. We just have to be willing to make a change, to grow a little, and to realize that we have another choice. Are you willing to pay attention to what cha thinking so that you can have more of what you want in your life?

Grow – Freeing Yourself

On this journey to awaken to my greatest self, I am always questioning am I better person today than I was yesterday. Since I know our thoughts create our reality, I am wondering what are my thoughts today? Are they the same thoughts I thought yesterday? Or am I willing to grow and think about the life I’d like to live today, and change my thinking to support the new me I aspire to be? It’s a humbling process and a constant focus.

As we were planning for my new website, Katie wanted some pictures to add to it. A strange thing happened when I first saw the website and pictures of me on it. It felt joyful and exciting, yet thought provoking, something was off. I couldn’t understand it at first because I sent her some pictures of the things I love to do and of the places we love to go. We love to travel and be outdoors – biking, hiking, exploring, or anything to enjoy nature. It is what makes my heart sing. It brings me great joy, and awakens my spirit of adventure.

Yet, something inside of me went crazy. My internal critic took over blasting me about my site not being “professional” looking. My critic says there is a certain way you dress and act if you want people valuing what you have to offer. Since I was standing on top of some rocks in the ocean wearing my running shorts, what image am I projecting? How could anyone think I could be taken seriously when my page looks fun and alive? And, then I realized for us to grow to our greatest self, we have to be willing to free ourselves of thoughts, actions and beliefs that no longer serve us. I realized that I don’t have to “look” a certain way to be of value to others. I do want people to know life is meant to be fun and freeing. I want to be able to help people free themselves of shoulds, negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, and things in our lives that no longer serve you. So my hopes are that when you see the pictures, something inside of you wakes up to want to be more of who YOU are.

I know on this journey to “Awaken to a New You,” we have to be willing to grow, to become a more authentic version of ourselves every day. So today, I love these pictures because for me it represents my journey, my loves, and who I am proud to be.

Where in your life do you need to free yourself from something holding you down? What are some old beliefs that no longer serve you? What shoulds could you release from your life? Is fear guiding your life or are you doing what you love? Commit to making a change today with some old pattern or habit that is no longer serving you.

What are the healthy thoughts and foods you are feeding yourself?

What are the healthy thoughts and foods you are feeding yourself? For one day, keep track of the thoughts you are saying to yourself. Mark them as healthy or unhealthy – are they loving or not so loving?  Keep track of the foods you feed yourself. Are they healthy or unhealthy? Are they processed or unprocessed foods?  How much sugar do you have in your day?  Just take the time to notice. Just be the observer rather than the judge or critic. Praise yourself for all the healthy things you are doing. Affirm the actions you are taking that are healthy. Jump for joy.  Make a commitment to change a few of the unhealthy behaviors you have going in your life. Honor yourself that you are willing to grow and that you are worth the growth to perfect health.

Grow – Perfect Health

When you think about Perfect Health, what does that mean for you? For me, that definition has changed as I have aged. When I was young, I certainly took my health for granted. Everyone I knew was physically healthy. I just thought that was how bodies operated. My knowledge and understanding was quite limited. I was so blessed with health and didn’t even know it, or appreciate it. I never realized there was more to it. I didn’t understand the concept of mind, body and spirit. I never thought about the connection.

Over the last few decades, I feel blessed because of all the growth I have made in understanding how our mind, body and spirit work together. How to be in perfect health is to be balanced in all of these areas. I have learned that I have control over my health. I have learned to live a balanced life. I have learned when I am out of balance, how to get myself back centered. I value and appreciate my body, mind and spirit. I try to keep it healthy.  I realize when my mind is raging or is stressed, how that impacts my body. I realize how starting my day with even a few minutes of meditation, directs the course of my day to be more peaceful and calm.  I have learned about the nutritional values of food and how that impacts my mind and body, not just the way I look. I always thought health was our physical bodies and how it was functioning. My biggest concern was my weight and how I could keep it controlled. That usually took place dieting, not thinking about eating healthy, keeping my mind full of kind and loving thoughts, and connecting to God. Wow, it’s great to see how much I have grown and learned about Perfect Health. It’s always an area I will continue to grow and learn.

What is your definition of Perfect Health? How can you grow in your understanding of it? What is important for you to know today for you to be perfect health? Do you need to pay attention to your thoughts? Do you need to grow mentally? Do you need to learn more about nutrition and healthy eating? Do you need to exercise?  o you need to find a spiritual path that feels right for you? Do you need a connection to a Higher Power? Where in your life can you take action to a healthier lifestyle?

Grow – Release the Fear

I love learning new things. Yet, I often feel very anxious when I’m a novice at something. I worry about how I might look. Will I look stupid? Will I do it “right?” Whenever there is a new task before me, I flounder wondering how I do this or will I ever get it. It can take away the joy of the opportunity before me. I like feeling that I am competent.

We recently went to Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming. They offered fly-fishing so my husband and I went with the guide to learn how to fly-fish in the stream. It was beautiful. It was exciting and invigorating. I was able to do something I wanted to do. I got to have waders on, like the real deal. Years ago, I took fly-fishing lessons so I thought I might catch on quickly. Trey, our guide, showed us step-by-step how to do it before we went into the stream. We practiced each step. I felt like I was getting it. I was excited about my casting. Then when we got into the stream and I didn’t cast exactly right on each try. I realized how my anxiety went up. I wasn’t calm. I wasn’t so excited about learning something new. I was too worried about frustrating Trey with being a novice, not doing it all so correctly. I worried he was staying with me, and my husband didn’t get any attention. My husband was like a pro, wading down the stream. It was so neat to see him feel very comfortable. It was a splendid opportunity. What was I doing to myself rather than taking advantage of experience? I allowed my anxieties to override the excitement of growing and learning something new for awhile. I nearly allowed myself to miss the joy and fun of fly-fishing because of my own negative internal dialogue. I realized how many things I have probably missed out on because I don’t like that feeling of being a “novice.” How about you?

Where in your life are you keeping yourself from growing and enjoying more of life because of some hidden messages you are saying to yourself? Where can you release the grip of fear to move on through it to grow and be all you want to be? To do and be able to experience all that life has to offer?

Where in your life could you grow?

Where in your life could you grow?  As Wayne Dyer said, “My goal is not to be better than anyone else, but be better than I used to be.”  What area of your life, would it serve you to be better today than you were yesterday? When you think about doing something new, what are your thoughts?  Are they more like -“I can’t…It’s impossible…It’s too tough,” or do you trust yourself and the situation to bring you the strength, the courage and wisdom and power to do what you desire? Choose something new to do.  Keep track of your internal dialogue – how are you supporting yourself?  Do you need to ask for guidance?  Are you willing and open to receive it?  Or are you clinched tight and resistance for whatever reason?  Just notice.

What are you hoping for?

What are you hoping for in your life today? Do you believe it is possible? Do you believe extraordinary things can happen for you? Or, are you making excuses about why it can’t happen? “I can’t…It’s impossible…It’s too tough.” That’s one voice to listen to but there is another voice inside of you that is of faith and trust, that tells you all things are possible. Think of all the athletes at the Olympics. What do you think they were hoping for? Which voice did they let guide them – the one of defeat or victory? The one of fear or courage?

Let them be your vision. Let their example of dreaming show you that your dreams can come true. Yes, it takes hard work. The greatest work to be done is in your mind. Watch what you are thinking and believing. Your tomorrow is created by your words and beliefs of today.

What’s Right? See the perfection.

I was listening to a lecture where the speaker stated that some of the wisdom he has learned about life is “Nothing in your life has gone wrong. See the perfection.” He went on to say we should have gratitude for every circumstance in our life. I am wondering how you are feeling just reading these words. Initially as I heard it I wanted to flood him with situations in my life to prove him wrong. I wanted to go back to some of the things in my life that have been hurtful. I wanted to say what about the mean things that have been said or done to me. Then as I could step away from the “wrongness” of my thoughts, I could try to shift and see his wisdom.

How did those areas give me some great life lessons? Did they wake me up to something better that I wouldn’t have seen? How did my life shift? Did I allow myself to stay stuck, blame others for these or other circumstances in my life? What am I making wrong in my life? Who am I making wrong? I could understand his wisdom just by stepping back and reflecting on how my life is richer for the living through the things I would have labeled as wrong in my life.

As I know, there is always another choice. I see where these hurtful situations have taught me that: I want to be kinder than those people or words that hurt me, and I have compassion for others that have gone through a divorce. I know how painful it is. The lesson is to get bigger than the situation. Face the pain, the hurt, the anger, the grief. But like he said, try to see the perfection. It certainly is not easy, nor did the speaker allude to that going through these things in life as being easy. Life can be hard at times. It’s what we do with these situations we are given, how we walk through these situations, and what we make them mean that creates our life. What are you creating in your life? Where in your life can you take a moment to see the perfection?  It’s all part of life’s journey to help us be the most loving people we can be, if we allow it to be.