Do you think too much?  Thinking of every possible scenario and sometimes being draw into the same spiraling thoughts over and over?   Do you have an incessantly thinking mind? 

 Or is your day full of ups and downs?  Do you find yourself ‘reacting’ to those around you?  Being drawn into drama and gossip?  Trying to take care of everyone?  Neither perspective alone works.  If you are thinking your life, you avoid emotional pain, at least on the surface…and if you are feeling your life, you avoid responsibility - who can set/follow goals when you are taking care of your relationships? 

 What do both these perspectives have in common?  Both are driven by ego.  Uuuuggghhhh, that one again.  And again opportunity is knocking.  Real balance and happiness is found on the fine line between these two perspectives.  Why?  Because both perspectives inform the other.  The best decisions are born using all your information, your gut-instincts are just as important as research.

 By identifying which perspective is your ‘go-to’ strategy, you create opportunities to walk the fine line.  If you find yourself incessantly thinking – stop, take a breath and ask yourself, “How do I feel?”  And if discover yourself reacting and feeling overwhelmed – stop, take a breath and ask yourself, “What do I really want?”   Give it a try!  Happy Friday!

Discover how to use the energy of the moon to add rhythm and balance to your life.  This is a time of planting seeds for another day’s harvest.  What seeds could you plant today?

About two weeks ago I saw an interview with Sully (captain of the Hudson River flight) and I was surprised to hear him speak of forgiveness.  He was asked what has been the hardest thing about this experience and he said, “Forgiving myself.”

 “What?” cried the incredulous reporter, “Forgive yourself?  You saved 155 lives!” 

 “It was so difficult in those first few days of wondering - could I have done it better?”  Sully matter-of-factually stated.

 The reporter questioned, “Could you have done better?”

 “No, I did it right,” Sully replied.  And then I was reminded how we are all the same – vulnerable to imperfection.  Sully needed to be perfect – not from some hidden dysfunction, but in a desire to do everything right…as that is what his job requires.  What if he was not perfect?  People would have died. 

 I heard this statistic about the same time about those who survive a catastrophe – 10:80:10.  The top ten are the natural leaders – those who become calm under stress and can guide the group.  80% are the average response, stunned immobile at first, but can be saved if a natural leader takes charge.  The bottom ten ignore the twister coming down the lane and continue gardening in the heavy breeze – no need for watering! 

 I know in my own life I battle perfect - my desire to do nothing wrong.   Of course this begs the question – who is judging it right or wrong?  Because the God I know is a loving God, with arms outstretched to this stumbling, bumbling prodigal daughter.  So who is doing the judging?  Oh, the troublemaker again – the ego.

 The ego knows it is so easy to keep the doubts, the nagging questions swirling round.  No, the hard work is forgiving and moving on.  It is within the forgiveness of self that transformation and healing can occur.

 Just look at Sully, by forgiving himself his imagined imperfections, he allows others to heal by graciously accepting their humble thanks and praise.  With the mantle of hero resting gently on his shoulders, he creates the opportunity for those he saved to experience the full magnitude of transformation – a second chance…

 And who knows what wonders shall unfold from this experience, maybe the passengers will love a little deeper, hug a little longer and maybe, just maybe find their own forgiveness.  

Yes and no - I believe it depends on the intention of the work.  Are you using the regression to empower/resolve today’s issues or are you anchoring yourself to unseen past?

 I wholeheartedly believe past life regression work can be an amazing transformational tool, but it can also be used as a crutch that ties you to repeating patterns.  I remember a friend’s mother always telling him he was her lover in a past life and that’s why they are so close.  What?  Even if that were true, why is she saying this to her child, her child here and now – not a her lover from years ago???  That I don’t believe is helpful.

 However, years ago I began working with a technique where you look at a specific past life that is affecting a situation, a relationship, addiction, anything – today.  So the intention of the work is healing.  What I have discovered using this technique myself and with my clients is a complete shifting of emotion and perspective that impacts all areas of your life positively.  The truth of the experiences can not be denied as it resonates from deep within.

 Now, are these past life regressions?  Or a way for our sub-conscious thoughts, worries to be brought to the surface and released?  I’m not sure the answer matters, but that peace is found on the other side…   

If you are interested in doing some great reading, try Many Lives, Many Masters (scroll down on new link for review.)

Recently I had an interesting discussion with a dear friend about creating miracles into being.  Miracles come in all sizes and shapes, some expected and some not. However, at the center of all miracles is quivering peace.  Join me today as we connect to miracles with simple breath work and intention…    

I have never been a big fan of V.D. (my inside joke and nickname for Valentine’s Day – always makes me chuckle…) It’s a completely manufactured holiday by Hallmark and the florists, but still it is there.   And if you are alone – well, this holiday really magnifies that reality in sometimes frightening questions.  (Don’t you have a Valentine?  Why am I alone?  What’s wrong with me?)   STOP!  Take a breath – it’s 24 hours – pull yourself together and give these tips a try…

 1.  Reality check – this day shall pass.  Gratefully the day falls on a Saturday, so if you work in an office, school or the like – you do not have to see the relentless parade of delivered flowers and chocolates.  Mantra – this day shall pass.

2.  Make a plan.  Maybe you want to stay under the covers all day, but I encourage you to get together with friends and go bowling or ice skating – anything completely out of your norm.  Do something that takes you attention and focus off whatever negative spiral you are in.  It will distract you from “poor me” thinking and who knows who is ice skating today…

3.  Humor – if you are in a pitiful state, try to find just a little humor.  Watch silly movies, call friends who make you laugh…anything that can get you giggling will help you move through your emotions.

4.  Go outside.  Take a walk or go for a drive if it is too cold, but get out of the four-walls closing in!  A change of scenery will allow you to stop the incessant thinking of, “What did I do wrong?  Why me?  Will I ever be happy again?”  I promise you will feel better and be happy again (you were before, so why not?)

5.  Big girls/boys do cry.  It’s ok to be sad.  The tears do eventually dry up.  Just remember your tears are a wave, maybe of the tsunami variety, but a wave – you are the vast ocean.  Waves pass and the ocean remains.

6.  Get a new haircut, outfit and/or bedding.  Have you ever noticed how many people look better a few months after a break-up?  This is the upside of the break-up diet, i.e. can’t eat due to depression and sleeplessness.  As the song goes – wash that man (woman) out of your hair…your bed too.

7.  Buy yourself flowers and chocolate – the day before.  Whether you’re heart-broken or attached – don’t wait for someone else to tell you, “I love you, I value you.”  Do it yourself – then anything else that comes your way is gravy.   

 *Remember this is one day – 24 hours – this too shall pass…Happy bowling – don’t forget your socks! 

About a week ago John Breaux died.  He was hit by a car as he performed his daily good works.  John rode his bike all over our town picking up trash, opening doors and other random acts of kindness.  He wanted to be like Jesus – helping and serving others whenever he saw a need. 

 Some said something was wrong with him, what normal person goes around picking up the messes of others?  Why is a stranger going out of his way day after day to help others with a kind word or to carry groceries?  What’s wrong with him?  John was different.

 He lived by the motto, “I am my brother’s keeper.”  Every day he practiced this belief – with an open smile & kind words as he picked up discarded coffee cups and stray candy wrappers.  He chose to make a difference – not because someone asked him to, but because he was compelled to serve from deep within.   

Remarkably thousands of people went to his funeral yesterday – not because he solved a financial crisis or invented something great, but because he was.  He was a great man, although I doubt he would think of himself that way.  He was grateful to be of service and through his many small, quiet acts of kindness his greatness shown through to all.  Rest in peace dearest John. 

Recently I heard an interview with Doris Kearns Goodwin discussing Obama and his spaciousness in thinking.  Obama has a keen ability to stick to the big picture – leaving space for more information, points of view, sense of history and the possibility there is another way…Hence he was able to win the election with a fifty state strategy and keeping to his big message – change.

 Of course, keeping to the big picture can lead to problems (hello new bailout bill of good and bad) – so along with ever-expansive thinking, there needs to be the balance of making final decisions and taking action. 

 Look at your own life – where are you struggling?  Do you need to expand your thinking to a new way of doing things or do you need to make a choice?  Remember – there are no bad choices, because you learn and grow from ALL your choices.  As you already know, some of the best lessons are discovered when you make the ‘wrong’ choice.