David Neagle shared this quote recently and it really resonated with me. I've heard it before but like so many things we hear, we need to be in the right mindset to connect with it and really understand its true meaning. We often think life should be about getting comfortable but in reality, life is about doing just the opposite. It's about growing and to grow, we need to get "comfortable" with being uncomfortable. If we're not pushing ourselves to reach outside our comfort zone or go the extra distance, we're not just standing still, we're losing ground. With risk comes reward but being open to taking those risks is where the challenge lies. I found tremendous strength recently in learning how to step out and take those risks. It comes down to faith. It's not about worrying what others will think or do, it's trusting your instincts and moving forward despite your fears. All the answers truly do lie within us but we're programmed to always look outside of ourselves for the answer. Learning how to quiet ourselves and seek out the divine guidance that is within each of us will move us to reach our true potential and realize the success that has always been within our reach. Take the time to nurture your soul and learn how to connect with that inner voice and recognize its guidance. Once you learn to look within, you'll discover a new world of opportunities open to you. These opportunities may at first seem overwhelming or scary but moving forward in complete trust and faith allows you to really grow and realize the amazing abundance God has provided for us all.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Magic of Snow
It's no secret that the mid-Atlantic has gotten their fair share of snow this year. This past storm dropped just over 32" of snow on us. That's more than I can ever remember seeing in one storm in my life! Being from the northeast, I've always loved snow. That eager anticipation we all feel as a child hearing about the next big storm never left me. I still get excited every time I hear snow is in the forecast. It's like it has some magical quality that perks me up and just makes me feel happy.
As I look back on this winter so far, the snow days are my most memorable days. It's allowed us all to stop and just enjoy each other's company. I've rediscovered how the simplest things can be the most satisfying, a lesson my grandparents I know tried to impart on me a long time ago. A snowstorm magically gives us that precious gift of time to just talk to each other, play board games, and make incredible meals – activities that have almost become a luxury in today's society. We get so caught up in the future and what we need to be doing, we rarely take the time to just enjoy the present. A good snow day forces you to abandon your plans and give in to enjoying the present. It actually does more than just give you the gift time, it nourishes your soul. When all is said and done, it's the memories of how we spent our time that will remain with us. We need to remember that and make sure we spend time creating lasting memories of joy. I will forever hold onto the memory of the snowball fight we had walking our dog in the wake of this most recent snowstorm. The laughter and fun we had is priceless.
As I look out on to the year ahead, I've made a personal commitment to create "snow days" year round. To make sure I take the time to enjoy the present and just being together as a family; really nourish that bond that is like no other. I've often felt like I needed a vacation to get away and create those special moments but the snowstorms this year have truly taught me that like anything else in our lives, creating those special moments can happen anytime and anywhere. It has to start with us making the decision to make those times a priority. Doing so in a society today that almost seems to embrace stress and rushing around is not easy but I've realized this winter the benefits of doing so far outweigh the pressures of not doing so.
There's snow in our forecast again for Tuesday and even with 32" already on the ground, I'm eagerly awaiting it. I know that I will forever embrace the magic of snow!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Amazing Things Will Happen
I couldn’t help but take notice of the drama that has unfolded these past couple of weeks between two unlikely people, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. Who would ever think these two comedians would be at the center of such controversy! I haven’t followed it too closely, only catching brief clips from their late night monologues which have been hilarious. I heard someone comment that some of their best jokes ever have come out of all us and I have to agree.
I watched Conan O’Brien’s farewell signoff yesterday and was deeply touched by his words. Hosting the Tonight Show is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for him and I can only imagine how painful it must be to step down. He has handled this whole ordeal with such integrity and grace. If anyone has a right to complain, be cynical or angry he certainly does. But he has chosen not to go that route, knowing as we all should remind ourselves, nothing good ever comes of it.
His closing words really spoke to who he is and I think the qualities and mindset that have allowed him to be so successful. He spoke with complete conviction, directing his parting words at the younger views but I think his words are something we all need reminding of, “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get but if you can work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you amazing things WILL happen.”
The one thing we can guarantee in life is that it will throw us the unexpected. Sometimes the unexpected is just a bend in the road and other times it’s a sharp curve we didn’t see coming, like in Conan’s case. It’s how we react to the unexpected that separates the winners from everyone else. We all have a purpose and I truly believe that when the unexpected comes up, it’s because in God’s plan, it’s time to move on. In essence, our work is done there and new opportunities await us. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. We have a choice when the unexpected happens. We can stall out, get caught up in self-pity and allow it to divert us from our true purpose or we can choose to move forward in faith knowing something better is out there. It’s those sharp bends in the road that truly test our faith. We need to have enough faith to be still, place ourselves in God’s hands and allow Him to be the driver because when you do, as Conan says, “amazing things will happen”.
I watched Conan O’Brien’s farewell signoff yesterday and was deeply touched by his words. Hosting the Tonight Show is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for him and I can only imagine how painful it must be to step down. He has handled this whole ordeal with such integrity and grace. If anyone has a right to complain, be cynical or angry he certainly does. But he has chosen not to go that route, knowing as we all should remind ourselves, nothing good ever comes of it.
His closing words really spoke to who he is and I think the qualities and mindset that have allowed him to be so successful. He spoke with complete conviction, directing his parting words at the younger views but I think his words are something we all need reminding of, “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get but if you can work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you amazing things WILL happen.”
The one thing we can guarantee in life is that it will throw us the unexpected. Sometimes the unexpected is just a bend in the road and other times it’s a sharp curve we didn’t see coming, like in Conan’s case. It’s how we react to the unexpected that separates the winners from everyone else. We all have a purpose and I truly believe that when the unexpected comes up, it’s because in God’s plan, it’s time to move on. In essence, our work is done there and new opportunities await us. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. We have a choice when the unexpected happens. We can stall out, get caught up in self-pity and allow it to divert us from our true purpose or we can choose to move forward in faith knowing something better is out there. It’s those sharp bends in the road that truly test our faith. We need to have enough faith to be still, place ourselves in God’s hands and allow Him to be the driver because when you do, as Conan says, “amazing things will happen”.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
When You Wish Upon A Star
This past week, we took a family vacation to Disney World. It was very cold but we still really enjoyed our time together and of course, visiting with Mickey and the gang. Disney truly is a magical place filled with the energy of dreams and possibilities. To think it all started with a mouse.
That thought keep going through my mind as we visited each of the parks. I've been to Disney before but it never struck me until now what an incredible individual Walt Disney truly was. Perhaps it was having older children now and not having to strategize for the next character greeting that allowed me to relax and really take in what Disney is all about.
Walt Disney had a dream and that dream did begin with a little character named Mickey Mouse but that dream didn't end there. He had a vision for so much more and lived everyday to make that vision come to life. When you look back on his life, it was by no means absent of criticism or judgment. What would stop many of us in our tracks he found the courage to press through. He never let fear stand in his way. He embraced his dreams with an enormous amount of energy and spirit that we should all aspire to and lived his life remaining true to his passion. Imagine if he surrendered his dreams to the person who told him a cartoon about a rodent would never make it, his animated feature film, "Snow White" had no place in the movies or gave into the critics when he bought swamp land in Florida to build a theme park. In fact, Snow White was dubbed "Disney's Folly" because the movie studios were certain it would be a failure.
He always moved forward despite what others thought, trusting his instincts and believing in his dreams to the fullest. He saw possibilities where others didn't. That was the secret to his success and I am awed by what he accomplished in his lifetime taking a no excuses approach to realize his vision. Disney showed us how believing in yourself and your dreams with an unwavering faith can accomplish what others deem impossible. I left Disney World this time with something more precious that I could have found in any of their gift shops. I left with a renewed appreciation of what living your passion is really all about.
In creating Disney World, I think Walt Disney wanted to give us glimpse into his world. How he thought and the magic and energy he saw in the world around him. He envisioned a place where people could be inspired to dream, believe in fairytales and make wishes come true. I wonder if he hoped we would take a bit of that magic home with us and carry it forward into our own lives. If that was part of his dream, he did succeed with me. Disney left a legacy that is magical and I'm truly grateful for that.
That thought keep going through my mind as we visited each of the parks. I've been to Disney before but it never struck me until now what an incredible individual Walt Disney truly was. Perhaps it was having older children now and not having to strategize for the next character greeting that allowed me to relax and really take in what Disney is all about.
Walt Disney had a dream and that dream did begin with a little character named Mickey Mouse but that dream didn't end there. He had a vision for so much more and lived everyday to make that vision come to life. When you look back on his life, it was by no means absent of criticism or judgment. What would stop many of us in our tracks he found the courage to press through. He never let fear stand in his way. He embraced his dreams with an enormous amount of energy and spirit that we should all aspire to and lived his life remaining true to his passion. Imagine if he surrendered his dreams to the person who told him a cartoon about a rodent would never make it, his animated feature film, "Snow White" had no place in the movies or gave into the critics when he bought swamp land in Florida to build a theme park. In fact, Snow White was dubbed "Disney's Folly" because the movie studios were certain it would be a failure.
He always moved forward despite what others thought, trusting his instincts and believing in his dreams to the fullest. He saw possibilities where others didn't. That was the secret to his success and I am awed by what he accomplished in his lifetime taking a no excuses approach to realize his vision. Disney showed us how believing in yourself and your dreams with an unwavering faith can accomplish what others deem impossible. I left Disney World this time with something more precious that I could have found in any of their gift shops. I left with a renewed appreciation of what living your passion is really all about.
In creating Disney World, I think Walt Disney wanted to give us glimpse into his world. How he thought and the magic and energy he saw in the world around him. He envisioned a place where people could be inspired to dream, believe in fairytales and make wishes come true. I wonder if he hoped we would take a bit of that magic home with us and carry it forward into our own lives. If that was part of his dream, he did succeed with me. Disney left a legacy that is magical and I'm truly grateful for that.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
It’s All In How You Look At Things
December is a time of both reflection and expectation. As the year draws to end, we can’t help but find ourselves reflecting on the events and activities of the past year and look forward with joyful expectation to the year ahead. We start thinking about what we’ll do differently next year, what goals we’ll set and how events from the prior year that either caused heartache or joy will influence us as we go forward.
I’m amazed the power that one day can have on our mindset. In reality, nothing has dramatically changed in our lives between December 31st and January 1st but how many of us wake up on January 1st feeling different and I’m not just taking about that New Year’s Eve hangover : ). We embrace the idea of a new beginning and a chance to make improvements in ourselves and our lives that somehow felt beyond us just 24 hours prior.
Never underestimate the power of our minds. Wayne Dyer has a quote I love, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” We’ve been conditioned to look at the New Year as a new beginning and as such, we look out with excited anticipation of all the opportunity that awaits us. In reality, nothing has changed in our lives other than the passing of another 24 hours. But we embrace this time of year to self-reflect and make positive changes in our lives – we change the way we look at things and things we look at do indeed change. Tasks that burdened us before are now approached with a renewed sense of spirit and energy. Losing 10 pounds seems undoable on July 1st but January 1st; we’re ready to take that challenge on.
The biggest challenge is to maintain that sense of energy and excitement throughout the year. We have the power to do this as we’ve already demonstrated on January 1st. Hold onto those feelings and when you feel like that energy or excitement is waning, and it will because that is the reality of our life, repeat Wayne Dyer’s quote, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” We have a choice in how react to the hardships, even the simplest ones that come into our daily lives. A traffic jam or a long checkout line can so easily throw us off course and change our mindsets. Don’t let it rob you of that magic you found on New Year’s Day – make the choice to continue looking at your world with the joyful expectations of the New Year!
I’m amazed the power that one day can have on our mindset. In reality, nothing has dramatically changed in our lives between December 31st and January 1st but how many of us wake up on January 1st feeling different and I’m not just taking about that New Year’s Eve hangover : ). We embrace the idea of a new beginning and a chance to make improvements in ourselves and our lives that somehow felt beyond us just 24 hours prior.
Never underestimate the power of our minds. Wayne Dyer has a quote I love, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” We’ve been conditioned to look at the New Year as a new beginning and as such, we look out with excited anticipation of all the opportunity that awaits us. In reality, nothing has changed in our lives other than the passing of another 24 hours. But we embrace this time of year to self-reflect and make positive changes in our lives – we change the way we look at things and things we look at do indeed change. Tasks that burdened us before are now approached with a renewed sense of spirit and energy. Losing 10 pounds seems undoable on July 1st but January 1st; we’re ready to take that challenge on.
The biggest challenge is to maintain that sense of energy and excitement throughout the year. We have the power to do this as we’ve already demonstrated on January 1st. Hold onto those feelings and when you feel like that energy or excitement is waning, and it will because that is the reality of our life, repeat Wayne Dyer’s quote, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” We have a choice in how react to the hardships, even the simplest ones that come into our daily lives. A traffic jam or a long checkout line can so easily throw us off course and change our mindsets. Don’t let it rob you of that magic you found on New Year’s Day – make the choice to continue looking at your world with the joyful expectations of the New Year!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The Magic Of The Moment
We’re entering what probably is one of the busiest times of year for most of us. The holidays with all their treasured traditions have been officially ushered in now that Thanksgiving is over. I can remember feeling tortured as a child as this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas passed ever so slowly. What a different experience now as an adult! The days seem to go by in the blink of eye and I feel like we’re just putting away the Thanksgiving turkey when Christmas Eve comes knocking at our door.
As a child we had the gift of time and a free spirit to take everything in and experience life without limits. Perhaps that’s why time moved more slowly back then. Living in the moment came so naturally where now we have to make a concerted effort to do the same. When did we lose that childlike quality to live in the moment? When did we start moving away from the present moment and living our lives thinking about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow?
I don’t think we’ll ever know the answer to that but the ability to live in the moment is a precious gift we should all have on our “wish list” this holiday season. It’s easy to get lost in the hectic pace and extra demands of the holidays and when it all comes down to it, we do have a choice in how we respond. This time of year can be just a magical as when you were a child. The wonder and beauty of the holiday season is all around us but if we’re focused on everything we need to do or worried about what we haven’t done yet, we’ll most surely miss out on it.
As I write this, it’s snowing and I’m watching the neighborhood children outside my window happily playing. Mind you there’s probably two inches of snow at most on the ground, but that’s not stopping them from sledding and building snowmen and snow forts. All they see are possibilities and they are living in the moment to bring those possibilities to life. They are experiencing life without the self-limitations we’ve grown accustomed to as adults and their joy is contagious! We can most definitely learn a lesson by watching our children. Take time this holiday season to embrace your abundance and live in the moment. Let yourself reconnect with that inner child you lost so many years ago and watch the possibilities magically unfold this holiday season and throughout the new year!
As a child we had the gift of time and a free spirit to take everything in and experience life without limits. Perhaps that’s why time moved more slowly back then. Living in the moment came so naturally where now we have to make a concerted effort to do the same. When did we lose that childlike quality to live in the moment? When did we start moving away from the present moment and living our lives thinking about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow?
I don’t think we’ll ever know the answer to that but the ability to live in the moment is a precious gift we should all have on our “wish list” this holiday season. It’s easy to get lost in the hectic pace and extra demands of the holidays and when it all comes down to it, we do have a choice in how we respond. This time of year can be just a magical as when you were a child. The wonder and beauty of the holiday season is all around us but if we’re focused on everything we need to do or worried about what we haven’t done yet, we’ll most surely miss out on it.
As I write this, it’s snowing and I’m watching the neighborhood children outside my window happily playing. Mind you there’s probably two inches of snow at most on the ground, but that’s not stopping them from sledding and building snowmen and snow forts. All they see are possibilities and they are living in the moment to bring those possibilities to life. They are experiencing life without the self-limitations we’ve grown accustomed to as adults and their joy is contagious! We can most definitely learn a lesson by watching our children. Take time this holiday season to embrace your abundance and live in the moment. Let yourself reconnect with that inner child you lost so many years ago and watch the possibilities magically unfold this holiday season and throughout the new year!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A Story of Two Dogs
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I cannot help but start thinking about what I am grateful for. This past year has been an amazing journey for me, opening up my new design business, starting a coaching business and really experiencing a personal transformation in how I think. I am truly grateful for all the opportunities that have unfolded in my life this year. As they say “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”. So many wonderful teachers have come into my life this year to truly help me understand and appreciate, “how I think is how I am”.
My journey started in January after I picked up the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon literally on whim. It is a quick read (my favorite) but the wisdom presented in these pages is beyond measure. I’ll share a simple story with you now from The Energy Bus that is truly profound and really opened my eyes and literally started me on my journey:
A man travels to the village to speak to the wise man. He says to the wise man, “I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One dog is positive, loving, kind and optimistic and then I have this fearful, pessimistic, angry and negative dog and they fight all the time. I don’t know who is going to win.” The wise man thinks for a moment and responds, “I know who is going to win. The one you feed the most. So feed the positive dog.”
We spend far too much time feeding our negative dog. The power of our mind is incredible. We so often live in our left brain, whose primary purpose is to connect our thoughts and experiences, forecast an outcome and protect ourselves from harm. But those thoughts and experiences are frequently interpreted in a negative light and instead of seeing possibilities; we experience anxiety, stress and become fearful of that which would require us to act in faith versus logic. Our right brain is our creative side, experiencing the here and now, seeing the possibilities and the goodness in everything. It doesn’t know fear or anxiety; it only understands positive energy and the light it brings to us to share with others.
Expressing our gratitude for all that we have is the first step to feeding our positive dog. As we begin this holiday season, take time out each day to acknowledge the good things in your life. Start a gratitude journal and write down ten things each day you are grateful for. We’ve all experienced the stress, anxiety and even sadness this time of year can bring. By focusing your minds now on gratitude and getting into the habit of gratitude, you’ll be amazed just how much more relaxed you’ll feel to really enjoy this holiday season.
My journey started in January after I picked up the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon literally on whim. It is a quick read (my favorite) but the wisdom presented in these pages is beyond measure. I’ll share a simple story with you now from The Energy Bus that is truly profound and really opened my eyes and literally started me on my journey:
A man travels to the village to speak to the wise man. He says to the wise man, “I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One dog is positive, loving, kind and optimistic and then I have this fearful, pessimistic, angry and negative dog and they fight all the time. I don’t know who is going to win.” The wise man thinks for a moment and responds, “I know who is going to win. The one you feed the most. So feed the positive dog.”
We spend far too much time feeding our negative dog. The power of our mind is incredible. We so often live in our left brain, whose primary purpose is to connect our thoughts and experiences, forecast an outcome and protect ourselves from harm. But those thoughts and experiences are frequently interpreted in a negative light and instead of seeing possibilities; we experience anxiety, stress and become fearful of that which would require us to act in faith versus logic. Our right brain is our creative side, experiencing the here and now, seeing the possibilities and the goodness in everything. It doesn’t know fear or anxiety; it only understands positive energy and the light it brings to us to share with others.
Expressing our gratitude for all that we have is the first step to feeding our positive dog. As we begin this holiday season, take time out each day to acknowledge the good things in your life. Start a gratitude journal and write down ten things each day you are grateful for. We’ve all experienced the stress, anxiety and even sadness this time of year can bring. By focusing your minds now on gratitude and getting into the habit of gratitude, you’ll be amazed just how much more relaxed you’ll feel to really enjoy this holiday season.
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