More importantly, what’s holding you back from making that change?

Most of us know exactly what we would like to be different about our lives. The challenge typically comes down to actually making the necessary changes to get us there.

Moreover, there are changes our lives desperately need, some of which we are woefully unaware. These are the changes we try to ignore until we are smacked over the head with the consequences.

Disease, debt, divorce…all sorts of pain and suffering.

Like so many others in my life, my friend, Alex Blackwell found himself on the brink of the latter several years back. Consumed by his past and oblivious to his crumbling relationships, Alex found himself at a major crossroad.

Change or lose your family.

He made choices and mistakes that nearly cost him his wife and children. He had fallen into an endless cycle of defeatism initiated by events in the past he couldn’t control.

Today, Alex is happily married and his relationships with his children are stronger than ever. He loves his work and spends his days sharing his gifts in meaningful ways, helping others overcome life’s challenges and develop loving relationships with others, with themselves, and with their God.

What happened?

What changed in Alex’s life that allowed him to overcome these challenges and begin living a life of true peace and happiness?

The point is–something changed. Alex made the choice to change. He made the choice to take responsibility for his own life–to change his thoughts and actions in ways that better served him.

We all know change can be very difficult, but at some level, we also know that change is necessary to grow. If there’s anything in your life that you want to be different from how it is right now, change must happen.

In his newest book release, Saying Yes to Change, Alex shares his inspiring story of transformation–from nearing the end of his rope to saving his marriage to living a happy and meaningful life.

It’s a story of challenges–similar to the ones we all face at some point in our lives–when we reach a low point, or when everything seems to be crashing down around us.

As you probably know, we often react using the same patterns and habits that brought us to these dark pits in the first place. We make excuses, we blame others, withdrawal from loved ones, and curse the universe for our misfortunes–anything to avoid taking responsibility for our lives.

How we choose to act in the face of these challenges makes all the difference in the world.

It’s not necessarily about changing who you are, it’s about changing your perspective. It’s about recognizing and embracing who you truly are in all of your beauty. It’s about seeing what really matters in life and allowing that to become your guide.

This is what Saying Yes to Change, is all about.

Beyond his own story, Alex provides the tools and inspiration from his experiences to help you overcome whatever challenges you may currently be facing by embracing change, developing meaningful and long-lasting relationships, and bridging the gap between “where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow.”

So what about that critical first step to changing your life today?

That was my question, too. To answer, I’ll turn you over to Alex himself. (Many thanks to Alex for his heartfelt and inspiring responses in this brief Q & A session!) 

ME: Alex, I know you cover this in more detail in your book, but what would you say is the first step towards positive change for someone who feels completely trapped and overwhelmed in the face of a current challenge? What is the first step in transforming the seemingly impossible into not just possible, but into reality?

ALEX: The best place to start is by acknowledging what needs to be changed or be healed. We summon the courage to transform our lives only when we accept our reality and then see what our reality is costing us.

In my book, I talk about how my wife and I stood at the brink of divorce. It wasn’t until I become painfully aware of my situation that I found the courage to change my actions. I was motivated to transform the seemingly impossible! My first step to change had less to do with willpower and more to do with the fact that I was self-motivated to change because I wanted to save my marriage. 

ME: Have you reached a point in your life where you feel like change is no longer necessary, where everything is just as you would like it to be or good enough? Or do you feel that to a certain extent, change (or growth) is always necessary?

ALEX: I think the journey to change is a path I will walk the rest of my life.

For me, the best approach is to use “ing” words, not “ed” words. For example, I’m learning to be a confident, secure, self-loving man is different than saying I have learned how to a be a confident, secure, self-loving man. Because on the days when I’m not feeling confident, instead of feeling like I’ve failed, I just ask myself what a confident man would do, and then I would try to do more of that.

I plan to live for many more years. During this time, there’s more I want to learn. There’s no question I will continue to grow as I continue to learn – and I welcome that!

Bring on change because the alternative is not very attractive for me.

ME: Finally, after all that you’ve been through, and of all the lessons you’ve learned and shared on your blog and recent book, how would you sum up your advice or wisdom into a sentence or two? In other words, what do you see as your message to the world? 

ALEX: Creating positive change begins with discovering one powerful truth: You cannot change or heal what you do not acknowledge.

Alex Blackwell is the Founder of The BridgeMaker. His first book, Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Life Lessons for Creating Positive Change is now available on Amazon. Connect with Alex on Facebook.

Please feel free to ask any questions for me or Alex in the comments and be sure to check out Saying Yes to Change!

I expected to find knowledgable instructors, days filled with yoga practice, studying the ins and outs of every asana, detailed anatomy lessons, and hours of struggling to memorize Sanskrit names and other yoga terminology. I also expected to meet an odd mix of blissed-out hippies and super bendy model-esque yogis/yoginis.

While I did find incredible instructors, lots of valuable lessons, and amazing and unique yoga classes, Yandara Yoga Institute was anything but a typical yoga teacher training, if there even is such a thing. My expectations were exceeded on so many levels, especially in the emotional and spiritual realms.

At Yandara, I found teachers who were not only knowledgable and experienced, but extremely open and loving. I found a desert oasis surrounded by the ocean, mountains, palm trees, and a luscious organic garden.

Our classrooms were beautiful pavilions with ocean views that allowed us to feel fully immersed in nature at all times. Even the showers and bathrooms were outdoors, allowing the sunshine to pour in or a view of the stars twinkling overhead.

Our accommodations were cute, little dome tents large enough to fit a twin size bed, small plastic dresser, and even a lamp with an outlet for charging electronics.

Less than a five minute walk from my tent, I found myself on a pristine stretch of beach free of the typical hotel and tourist scene. Nearly every day we could spot whales spouting and flicking their tales and even the occasional dolphin or stingray.

Everyone on the staff was so kind and accommodating, providing us with homemade organic vegetarian meals straight from the Yandara garden and keeping the grounds in beautiful condition.

I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful the meals were — or how much delicious variety can be created from a few simple ingredients!

The members of the “house” band, Jaya, were also a special gift of talented and loving spirits (two couples!). They were the long-haired, flowy clothed, hippie-yogis I was initially expecting–which was just so perfect and awesome for a kirtan, mantra, and fun-loving, free-flowing band.

They were also a band of many talents. I ended up purchasing artwork from the guitar player,  lotion made from a blend of essential oil and shea-butter from his wife, the base guitarist, and the amazing drummer also become my astrologer! Not to mention, the lead singer and harmonium player was the mom of two of our teachers!

The gardener also turned out to be a superb poet, able to create beautiful flows of words to the gentle beats of the band. Several of my fellow students were also quite musically talented, so I spent the month spoiled and wrapped in musical delight nearly every night.

Speaking of my fellow students (and now fellow teachers) — words can hardly begin to describe the love in my heart for this group of beautiful women (and one awesome guy).

It was as if the universe conspired to bring the perfect balance of beautiful souls together for the purpose of helping one another learn and grow –certainly in our physical practice, but mostly in the realms of the heart and spirit.

Through a process of yogic truth sharing called satya, we explored the depths of ourselves, began to drop our barriers, and laid pieces of our naked souls before one another. So many stories, laughs, struggles, hugs, and tears were shared among us.

In this sense, this journey became as much of a transformational and healing experience as it was a learning experience. It became a journey to the heart.

Rather than show us one standard way of teaching or how to emulate someone else’s style, our teachers spent a great amount of time and effort guiding us inward and helping us get in touch with our truest selves.

There were entire exercises dedicated to helping us discover our gifts and to teach from the heart. In this way, we were learning how to not just pass on information that we had gathered — rather, the knowledge must be internalized and then flow through us to our students. This is what true teaching is all about.

What a gift it was to watch each of my fellow students take the “stage” to teach and to feel it become transformed by their energy. Two students could be teaching the same sequence and it would look and feel different each time based on their unique gifts, energy, and heart-based guidance.

Moreover, it was amazing how alike and yet different each of us were — and how supported, empowered, and loved each of us felt. We came to truly understand that yoga can truly be for anyone — any body type at any age.

We had ladies there from their early twenties all the way up to late sixties! Some of us were tall, others short. Some thin and some more round. Some had been practicing yoga for 20 years and some for less than two.

As I mentioned in my previous post, yoga is so much more than just stretching and bending. Yes, there are tremendous physical benefits to the practice of yoga, and these alone are a good enough reason to practice it. But if you haven’t already experienced it for yourself, I want you to know that yoga can be so much more.

In an age of information overload, relentless multitasking, and ever increasing physical and mental diseases/disorders, yoga is the means to much needed relief and relaxation. Rather than create it, yoga is intended to relieve stress.

We spend so much of our lives in a state of competition and judgment, always trying to push through any challenges that come our way. Yoga helps us let go of all that, to allow for greater compassion towards ourselves, and to release into our poses and breath-work.

As one of my beautiful teachers shared with us, yoga is about moving from external stimulation to internal sensation.

I wish it were possible for me to fully convey and to share with you the state of love, bliss, and pure contentment–yes I said it–that I experienced at Yandara. All I can say is that I know that feeling exists, and I know it’s not only possible, but also readily available to you.

Perhaps you can embark on a yoga journey of your own — a yoga teacher training, conference, festival, or retreat. Maybe your journey will be to a local studio or even take place within the comfort of your own home. There are so many free resources out there, including how-to articles and full-length videos to help you start your practice or move it into your home. You don’t need anything fancy to practice yoga. It can even be done sitting at your desk!

Just know, if you are ever feeling stressed, burned out, depressed, filled with anxiety, overwhelmed, physically out of shape, or even injured — there is hope for you in yoga. There is an amazing community of yogis and yoginis ready and willing to support you, including this one.

In Sanskrit, Namaste means “the highest, divine, or light in me recognizes and honors the highest, divine, or light in you.” So to you I say…

Namaste.

P.S. Please feel free to share your own yoga stories and experiences or to ask questions about mine in the comments!

If you know someone else who could benefit from my experience or a greater understanding of yoga, please share this post with them. Thanks!

“Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are.” ~ Jason Crandell

If you’ve never practiced yoga, or have practiced very little, you may think yoga is just about getting a good workout and becoming more flexible.

You may think it’s only for chicks who are young, slim, and fit. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Yes, there are tremendous physical benefits that accompany a safe and consistent yoga practice, but there is so much more to the practice of yoga.

For starters, yoga brings us back into harmony with our own bodies.

The point is not to bend, twist, or stretch ourselves into awkward and uncomfortable poses until we reach a point of perfection. It’s not to judge our bodies or to compare our practice to our neighbors. In addition to the physical benefits that come with care and proper form in the asanas or postures, we are able to develop a deeper sense of compassion towards ourselves.

Through openly and compassionately exploring our physical and mental reactions to different poses, we come to better understand ourselves–we can sense when certain parts of bodies or psyche are out of balance, and through the practice of yoga, we are able to restore that balance.

“When the restlessness of the mind, intellect and self is stilled through the practice of Yoga, the yogi by the grace of the Spirit within himself finds fulfillment.” ~ B.K.S. Iyengar

When practiced absentmindedly, yoga is nothing more than fancy calisthenics. But when practiced with deep awareness, yoga becomes a way to harness the energy of a restless mind and body and to channel that energy in constructive ways.

This is why yoga is such an incredible gift to anyone who chooses to practice it consciously. It doesn’t matter if you are young or aged, large or small, flexible or not. If you can breathe and observe your breath, you can practice yoga–and benefit from it.

In this sense, the yoga asanas become “vehicles for experiencing one’s essential nature rather than goals in and of themselves.” (Donna Farhi)

Essentially, yoga is another path of self-discovery–one that leads to our truest selves. However, unlike so many books, teaching, and practices prevalent in the Western world, yoga is not meant to be another method of “self-improvement.”

While it’s true that we are always making progress through practice, yoga is not about making additions or improvement to your life; rather, it’s about “deconstructing all the barriers we may have erected that prevent us from having an authentic connection with ourselves and with the world.” (Donna Farhi)

Viewed, practiced, and shared in this way, yoga becomes a powerful gift we give to ourselves.

It’s this aspect of my practice that I hope to deepen and develop over the next 4 weeks, as I’m headed to Yandara Yoga Institute for yoga teacher training!

You were beginning to wonder what all this yoga talk was about, weren’t you?

Yep, I’m off on another adventure, but rather than journey back to the yoga motherland (India), I’m off to the sunny beaches of Mexico! Along with my fellow students, I’ll be learning the ins and outs of yoga philosophy and asanas, practicing in the sand, eating delicious and nutritious meals, singing around bonfires at night, and studying by headlamp in my tent.

All of this so I can return and begin sharing the joys of yoga with the world!!

Before I go, I would like to leave you with a little video I made as part of my essay submission for a scholarship contest. (No I didn’t win–but that sure didn’t stop me from making this happen!!)

I would love to hear your yoga stories–if you practice or not and why, and if so, about the effect yoga has on your life. Unfortunately, I won’t have internet access, so I won’t be able to read them until I return. But hey, it’ll give me something to look forward to!

Namaste,

“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” ~ Abraham Maslow

With every New Year, there is an inevitable spike in the number of resolutions made. But how many of these resolutions actually lead to lasting change?

New Year’s is hardly the only time we desire change. For many of us, there is hardly a day that goes by where we don’t wish there was something different about our lives–a lower number on the scale or our cholesterol reading, a higher number in our bank account or the friends count of our Facebook page.

We see people who have these in their lives, people who are happy and filled with a sense of purpose, and we are filled with a sense that we too can have them.

We set out with the best of intentions–with goals, plans, budgets, and schedules–and we sometimes succeed. We adopt healthier eating habits and spend more time doing things that we find meaningful.

Even will all this planning, we often do not succeed. We get too busy, one catastrophe after another seems to fall into our lap, or we just appear to lack the willpower.

So why is that some people seem to have all the success when it comes to making lasting changes in their lives? What’s so different between the times we succeed and the times we fail?

Of course, there may be many factors at work here, but there is typically one simple, critical factor that cripples our success:

Being unprepared. 

Imagine heading out for a 30-day backpacking trip without any preparation–no packing lists, no maps, no compass, no guide. How likely is it that you will succeed in making it to your destination, or staying alive for that matter?

Sure, some people might make it–those who are already skilled in the backcountry or who are gifted with an abundance of dumb luck–but the vast majority would find themselves in way over their heads.

This is how many people dive into their resolutions–without any type of real preparation.

But what about those who do make lists, lay out specific action steps, create budgets, and even hire someone to help them, and STILL fail?

They are still unprepared, but in a different way.

Creating lasting change does not come from making a resolution. It does not come from writing out goals and action plans.

It comes from being prepared–mentally and emotionally.

In other words, we succeed in creating lasting, meaningful changes in our lives through SELF-DISCOVERY and SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS. This brings us to a little thing called…

Intentional Change Theory

Richard Boyatzis, a professor of psychology and organization behavior, developed a model of lasting change by integrating these two important elements–self-discovery and supportive relationships.

He called this model Intentional Change. 

The theory of Intentional Change has shown that we are more likely to succeed in creating lasting change when we actively strive to make the following five discoveries about ourselves and in our lives:

1. Our IDEAL SELF — This is the person we would like to become (complete with changes and resolutions accomplished.)
2. Our REAL SELF — This is who we already are, including our personalities, character traits (such as strengths and weaknesses), and life story, as well as how this compares to our ideal self.
3. Our LEARNING AGENDA — This is what we would need to do or change in order to close the gap between our ideal self and real self.
4. Opportunities for EXPERIMENTING and PRACTICING — This is experimenting with new behaviors, activities, and habits and practicing being your ideal self.
5. Our SUPPORT — These are people who can help us and challenge us as we work to create lasting change in our behavior.

Boyatzis saw this as an iterative process, a cycle to be repeated. In other words, the more you experiment and practice, the more you will come to know both your real self and your ideal self. Your strengths and weaknesses will become more apparent, and you will come to know how to flex your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

Your vision of your ideal self will become much clearer. You will begin sculpting an ideal you that is true to the real you. Essentially, you will begin to see the difference between the ideal you want for yourself and the ideal others may have created for you.

After all, your life is not Iabout who your mom or dad want you to be, who your teachers want you to be, who your boss wants you to be, or even who society thinks you should be.

Life is about discovering all that you are and becoming all that you are capable of becoming.

Some may choose to walk this path alone, but as Intentional Change Theory shows, we come to best know ourselves and create meaningful change through the love and support of others and by loving and supporting others. 

This means soaking up the wisdom others have to offer and sharing ourselves with loved ones, but it does not mean letting them choose the paths of our lives.

It can be so much easier to turn to our family and friends and ask, “What should I do?” or even to plead, “Tell me what to do!”  

But the path to true happiness and a meaningful life is the one we choose for ourselves.

And we get there through an ongoing process of self-discovery and experience.

It’s amazing how much there is to know about you–maybe even more than you could possibly discover in a lifetime. What’s even more amazing is that all of the knowledge about yourself is already within you. All you need to do is discover it for yourself.

Aspects of Self Discovery

1. There are some aspects of ourselves that are really easy to get to. We can usually get to these by answering and reflecting on a series of questions about ourselves. Questions that help us get to the core of who we are–such as our talents, strengths, and weaknesses, our character traits, what we value, what we find most meaningful, and what our passions are. I’m currently working on a free guide that will help you do just this by guiding you through a series of key questions for reflection. More to come on this very soon!

2. Other areas can be reached through more sophisticated tools and assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the 16 Personality Factors, the DISC Assessment, the Clifton StrengthsFinder, and many others.

3. Still other areas are buried deeper into our consciousness, or even subconscious, and can only be accessed through activities like meditation or working with a psychologist. Many of these aspects are not unique to ourselves, but are shared with nearly all humans. This is the realm and undertaking of evolutionary biologists, psychologists, and neurologists, as well as anthropologists. There is so much insight to be gained about ourselves by diving into written works in these areas.

4. There are also areas that are only possible to get to through experience–by experimenting and practicing. How can you know if you have a knack for underwater basket weaving unless you have tried? The more things you try and play around with, the better you will come to understand what you are currently capable of, where your current boundaries lie, other areas you would like to explore, and ways to push yourself. You will begin to gain a better understanding of what works for you and what doesn’t.

5. Finally, there may be aspects of ourselves that we may never truly know or understand. These are the realms of the mystics, the spiritually enlightened, or what Maslow deemed the self-actualized. There is certainly much more to be said about this area, but for the time being, I will leave that to those who claim to understand or have found the higher planes of the self.

So you see, on one hand, self-discovery is a life-long journey and an iterative process. On the other hand, there is much we can learn about ourselves and begin to benefit from right away. You don’t need to wait until you know all there is to know about yourself to begin implementing lasting changes.

By beginning to understand some key essentials about yourself, you can begin experimenting, practicing, and moving towards lasting change NOW.

Self-Discovery and Creating Lasting Change Resources

There are SO many great resources (books, blogs, guides, assessments) out there to help you get started on the path of self-discovery (or to go even further if you’ve been on this path for awhile). If you are interested in some of my suggestions, you can check our my list of recommended products and reading,

AND

From January 16th to 19th, you have the opportunity to take advantage of an incredible opportunity. During these 3 days, you can purchase a collection of 25 eBooks, online courses, and guides all created specifically to help you discovery your passions, create new habits, simplify your life, get healthy, change careers, and create lasting changes in your life.  If you were to go out an purchase each of these separately, you would be spending over $1000, but this “empowerment pack” is on sale for $97. Pretty sweet deal.

I took advantage of a similar deal a couple of years ago, and I’m still benefiting from many of the awesome eBooks that were part of that bundle. If you’re interested in checking out this year’s bundle, you can sign up for a reminder here, or just remember to check back on Monday.

Please feel free to ask questions or share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below!

Be wise. Live life!

A New Year

Like birthdays, it’s a holiday that calls to mind and celebrates the passage of time.

Time — that which is both infinite and limited. Quite the paradox.

On one hand, time is the indefinite progression of existence, an intricate tangle of events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

On the other, it’s an hourglass filled with sand, a constant reminder of how little of it we actually have. An unknown amount, always slipping away.

It’s this aspect of time which gives our lives a sense of urgency–a sense we are sometimes oblivious to.

However, many elderly people, terminally ill people, and those who are truly wise come to a point in their lives when they truly grasp the fragility of time.  They are keenly aware that any day could be their last.

Nevertheless, they choose not to make that a negative focus.  Instead, time becomes the new lens through which they see the world.  Every experience becomes that much richer and sweeter because it may be their last.

This point is beautifully illustrated through the story of a 93 year old painter named John (from the book, The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die by John Izzo).

During an interview with Dr. Izzo, John explains,

“I like to tell people that I am almost 94 much as a child might say they are almost eight, because ever since I turned 90 I have this great appreciation for each day…

When you get to be my age, you are always wondering how long you will live.  I have great grand-daughters eight and six, so I wonder, up until what age will I live to see them?”

“Now when I see a beautiful sunset or a beautiful performance at the ballet I cry.  I cry not only because it is beautiful, but because I don’t know how many more I will get to see.  

When you are young, they tell you to live in the moment, but you are not sure what that means.  Now I know, and it is true at every age, we never know how many more we are going to get to see, so it is important to appreciate each one and each moment as if it might be your last.” 

A New Year

This is a time to reflect, a time to be be grateful for all that has passed. It’s a time to think about our successes, failures, and all that we’ve learned from them.

It’s an opportunity to think about our choices and the fact that they have brought us to exactly where we are today.

It’s also a celebration of hope for the future. With a new year comes a sense of a new beginning. A chance to start fresh.

Just as our past choices have shaped who we are, the choices we make today are shaping who we’ll become in the future.

After all, isn’t this why we make New Year’s resolutions? We know there are some aspects of our lives in which we are capable of more. We are filled with bright hopes for the changes we want in our lives.

At the beginning of each new year we tell ourselves,

“This year I will finally get in shape.”

“This year I will quit smoking.”

“This year I will get out of debt.” 

“This year I will organize my life.”

“This year I will spend more time with family and friends.”

“This year I will spend more time pursuing my passion.” 

So why is it, that with all of this bright hope and newly found determination, our resolutions typically fall by the wayside after only a few months or even weeks?

Experts say it’s because we fail to anticipate obstacles to making significant changes.

Obstacles such as:  

1) Deeply ingrained habits,

2) Negative emotions that can arise when we try to implement changes, like fear, anger, doubt, and frustration,

3) Our environment–the people we surround ourselves with, the work we do, and the activities we participate in.

While I think there is certainly a lot of merit in these points, I believe there’s a more important point that has been overlooked.

Our respect for time. We begin to lose it and take time for granted. We lose sight of the beauty of the moment. We believe there is always tomorrow.

When we fail to honor time, what happens?

We become too busy. We fill our time with so much business and activity that we hardly have time to truly think about anything.

We just do, do, do without much thought about why we’re really doing it and where all this doing is really taking us.

We’re suddenly too busy to stick to our resolutions and begin to make excuses about them.

As I’ve heard Matthew Kelly, public speaker and author of The Rhythm of Life, say several times,

“It begs the question, doesn’t it? What are we all too busy doing?

For the most part, we are too busy doing just about everything that means just about nothing, to just about nobody, just about anywhere…and will mean even less to anyone a hundred years from now.”

In other words, are we really spending our time, our precious limited time, doing the the things we really want to do? The things we resolved to do? The things we find truly meaningful?

Or are we instead, filling our time with work and activities that drain us, keep us occupied, and fulfill someone else’s purpose for us?

And when we’re not wasting time being busy, we’re often flittering it away by laying around on the couch watching TV all day, staring blankly at a computer screen as we surf the web, or losing ourselves in the fantasy world of a good book.

Personally, I’m guilty of both of these–being too busy and wasting time. 

Before I separated from the Air Force (a.k.a. quit my job to pursue a more meaningful life), I was often very busy. My time was filled with work, grad school, exercising, writing, and trying to make time for people I love and activities I enjoy.

On the outside everything probably looked great, and it often felt that way. But deep inside, something was missing.

As so many seem to be contemplating or doing these days, I left my job in search of a more purposeful and meaningful life.

Part of that search was my 30-day Himalaya Backpacking expedition. During my trip, time took on a whole new meaning. Every day and even every minute seemed to be filled with a sense of purpose.

Each footstep was designed to take us to where we needed to go. Each minute was spent fully engaged in planning, cooking, cleaning, learning, bonding, meditating, teaching, resting, and experiencing.

Not long after my return, I felt time slipping away from me again. I fell into a routine of sleeping in late, spending too much time alone, reading into the wee hours of the night, and ignoring my previous commitments and aspirations.

Something was once again missing. The sense of purpose that had been so solid in front of me had vanished. I guess you could say I fell into a sort of slump over the past month or so.

It’s not that I was depressed or even unhappy–just aimlessly drifting through time.

Before long, I was aware of what was going on, but it was like a hazy dream from which I could not wake. “Tomorrow,” I kept thinking, “I’ll get started tomorrow.” 

You see, for the first time in my life, I am truly in control of how I spend my time. I don’t have a job I need to get to or homework that must be done. There’s only an infinite spread of things I would like to experience, accomplish, and contribute.

I know–poor me, right?

But it’s almost like I was an indoor cat that escaped through an open door into the backyard — I was suddenly paralyzed by the strangeness of this new freedom.

Finally, I feel ready to embrace it.

A New Year

Perhaps it’s the air of hope and renewal that comes rolling in with the New Year.

It’s grasping the sacred paradox of time–and honoring it.

It’s remembering why I started this blog in the first place. To get to know myself better. To discover what matters most, what I find truly meaningful, and to pursue it with a passion.

It’s recognizing the fleeting nature of time and the beauty it brings to every moment, if only we are present enough to recognize it.

So, as we embark on this New Year and dive into our resolutions, let’s not forget to pause and reflect, to appreciate the time that has past.

Let us honor the present by living consciously, by choosing to fill our time in meaningful ways.

Let us continue on the path of self-discovery as we explore what it means to truly experience life fully.

Be wise. Live life!

“Believe one who knows: you will find something greater in woods than in books.  Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.” ~ Saint Bernard de Clairvaux

Have you ever started reading a book and thought to yourself, “Wow, I’m reading this at the perfect time in my life!”?

If you had read it any sooner, it just wouldn’t have had the same impact…it wouldn’t move you or speak to you in quite the same way.

That’s exactly what happened when I returned home from my Himalaya Backpacking trip, and picked up Philip Sutton Chard’s illuminating book:

Nature’s Ways: Experiencing the Sacred in the Natural World.

Have you noticed how experiencing the natural world makes you feel more fully alive? In this book, Chard asks, “How do you feel after you’ve been face-to-face or skin-to-skin with the natural world?”

“Whether it was a meander through a park, basking in the summer sun, plunging into a crystal clear lake, getting soaked down by a cold rain, or hauling your rear and forty pounds of gear up some gut-busting trail, I’m betting you felt more alive.”

As I read these words, I felt something inside me cry out, “Yes, I did!” 

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve always had a love for nature. There hasn’t been a time in my life where I haven’t been captivated by the sway of a weeping willow, the quiet babble of a brook, or the twinkling of stars across a clear midnight sky.

But my recent venture deep into the Himalayan countryside has left me forever changed in ways I could never have imagined. I felt alive in a way I had never experienced before.

Days of bathing and swimming in cold streams, splashing my face with icy water, sprawling out on the soft grass to bask in the sun’s heat, learning to ignore the flies buzzing and ants crawling around me…

Practicing  yoga on uneven terrain, digging my toes into the dirt to find greater balance, headstands with views of upside-down peaks in the distance…

Curling up in a warm sleeping bag and gazing up at the stars, and morning meditation on top of a mountain with a 360-degree view of massive snow-covered peaks…

But it was so much more than just the feeling of being truly alive. It was more than a sense of peace and serenity. A transformation was taking place…one that I am just now beginning to understand.

I know now that I was beginning to tap into nature’s ways. 

As you will see in this book, “the ‘great outdoors’ is much more than experiencing good feelings, sensory delights, pleasing aesthetics and wild adventures. Nature’s Ways shows how a deeper connection to the earth can lead to an enriched spiritual and emotional path.”

Nature is truly powerful–“with it’s hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, supernovas, quasars, and black holes.” Nature’s Ways is not about conquering or harnessing this power–it’s about exploring and seeking to understand nature’s ways–so that perhaps they can once again become our ways.

According to Chard, nature offers us “doorways” into both the inner and spiritual realm. It’s likely that many of us have experienced an open doorway, but less likely that we’ve crossed that threshold.

Anytime you feel yourself captivated by something in nature, anytime you’ve felt your breath catch in your throat and your feet unable to move — perhaps when standing near a secluded waterfall in a desert canyon or when gazing up at the sun streaking through a patch of puffy clouds — this is a doorway, inviting you in for deeper exploration.

By actively participating in the natural world, we come to understand that reconnecting with nature is one of the best medicines for healing not only the body, but also the mind and spirit.

Fortunately, you don’t need to spend 30 days in the mountains to “experience the sacred in the natural world.”

For some, you may need not look further than your own backyard. For others, this might mean a trip to a local park, nature preserve, or national park.

Chard tells us, “while the place matters…the more important factor is one’s consciousness.” “Many people–perhaps most–walk through the woods…They do not walk in the woods.”

Essentially, it’s the intent that you bring to your interactions with nature that matter most — that you are truly awake, aware, and immersed in the experience. Only in this way will you discover the “sacred” in nature.

In other words, you aren’t likely to find one of these “doorways” while out for trail run, four-wheeling, snowboarding, or tubing down a river.

Finding a doorway

“As you sit on the hillside, or lie prone under the trees of the forest, or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream, the great door that does not look like a door opens.” ~ Stephen Graham

Occasionally, as described above, a door will unexpectedly present itself to us. But like a kettle waiting to boil, they may elude us when we seek them.

In Nature’s Ways, Chard outlines several different “ways” of nature that work best with us at different times, depending on what we are currently feeling or experiencing in our lives. For example, a writer suffering from writer’s block may want to explore the “way of the clouds.”

Other “ways” of nature Chard discusses include: place, trees, water, stones, wind, walking, sound, storms, night, and the wild, as well as the ways of being and transformation. In fact, there is a chapter with detailed descriptions and illustrative stories for each of these ways.

Worried about the weather?

You may be thinking, “too bad it’s nearly winter.”  True, in many places it’s no longer warm and sunny — but just because winter will soon be upon us doesn’t mean it’s not a good time to commune with nature.

Quite the contrary.

Chard suggests winter is actually one of the best times to experience nature, as it’s a time when terrain is easier to navigate–void of thick underbrush, running streams, bugs, and usually, other people!

Moreover, winter also offers a whole new set of challenges, which can be instrumental in facilitating transformation.

Nature Therapy

As a nature therapist and spiritual guide, Philip Chard also uses these ways, these interactions with nature, as a means to promote emotional healing. Essentially, he shows others how nature can become a path to better connect with ourselves, to understand ourselves, and to heal.

It is a process of engaging with the senses and releasing thoughts.

Rather than lying on a couch, Chard might bring his clients out into the woods to stroll by a creek or lay in an open field. “Open your senses…mute your thinking mind and just drink in your surroundings. Use your eyes, ears, nose, fingers…your senses,” he instructs.

Nature therapy isn’t just for the emotionally distressed or for those in need of healing. It’s for anyone who, through the busyness and chaos of the modern world, has lost touch with their truest self — the self that is intimately aware of our interconnectedness will all of nature, with everyone and everything around us.

The good news is, you don’t need to make a trip to Northern Wisconsin to engage in nature therapy. Chard has poured his years of knowledge, experience, and personal stories into his most recent book in order to share Nature’ Ways with anyone willing to put themselves out there — out in nature, that is.

 Interconnectedness

Throughout Nature’s Ways, Chard employs the language of physics, cosmology, and evolutionary biology to explain in scientific terms what sages and ancient mystics have been claiming all along: that we (humans, plants, animals, rocks, stars) are all connected.

We are all parts of the same whole. Ripples of energy in the expanse of space and time. And as energy ourselves, it’s possible to reconnect with this universal energy.

“For 99 percent of the time we’ve been on Earth, we were hunter and gatherers, our lives dependent on knowing the fine, small details of our world.  Deep inside, we still have a longing to be reconnected with the nature that shaped our imagination, our language, our song and dance, our sense of the divine.” ~ Janine M. Benyus

Spirituality

This is just one of several different perspectives Chard brings to the table. He challenges you to think of spirituality from a different angle–a more natural one.

In this regard, Chard describes himself as a nature mystic — “someone who has been spiritually sculpted by interactions with nature in ways that are enlightening, livening, and transcendent, not to mention just plain wondrous,” — and writes this book for aspiring nature mystics.

He describes the “modus operandi” of the nature mystic as “soulfulness”, which is basically “a sensory-based experience that alters one’s consciousness by diluting the ego and amplifying one’s sense of oneness with the Creation.”

Similar to mindfulness, Chard likens soulfulness to a sort of “extroverted meditation.”

Unlike traditional meditation, where the goal is to seek “inside” for our truest selves, “through nature, we go outside to find our inside.”

“The spiritual is ever-present and available within the material, and it is only our preoccupations with the hard-and-fast elements of life, our propensity for intellectual “aboutism” (thinking about something rather than being with something), or our inability to tune our consciousness to the unity of things that keeps it invisible.” ~ Philip Chard

Illumination

One day, when he was a young boy, Philip Chard was laying on his back by a lake, staring up at the clouds. After a little while, his godfather joined him and asked, “What do you see?” The young Philip rattled off figures, animals, and objects floating through the sky.

“Someday,” his Godfather began, “someday, Phil, someone will tell you that those are just clouds…But, don’t you believe it.”

Now, decades later, Chard is grateful to say that he doesn’t believe it. When it comes to nature, it’s never “just” or “merely” anything.

“To the dull mind nature is leaden. To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Challenge to You

Despite the cold and amidst the chaos that often comes with the holiday season, give yourself one of the greatest gifts — make time for yourself. Create space and time to commune with nature, even if it’s a ten minute walk in the woods.

And if you’re interested in digging deeper, Nature’s Ways would make an excellent gift for yourself — or other aspiring nature mystics in your life.

“Go out, go out I beg of you, and taste the beauty of the wild. Behold the miracle of the earth with all the wonder of a child.”  ~ Edna Jaques

Be wise. Live life!

To all of my family, friends, and fellow wisdom-seekers…
I am truly grateful to have you in my life.
Thank you for being with me now, tomorrow, and every step along the way.

Thank you for all you do…
For all you are,
And all you will become.

May you enjoy time spent with family and friends…
May you appreciate the richness of this moment…
May you allow these words of wisdom to wash over you…

May they still your thoughts,
renew your spirit,
and ground you in gratitude.

“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.”  ~ E.P. Powell

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.”  ~ W.J. Cameron

“Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life… a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year – and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.”  ~ Ray Stannard Baker

“I have strong doubts that the first Thanksgiving even remotely resembled the “history” I was told in second grade.  But considering that (when it comes to holidays) mainstream America’s traditions tend to be over-eating, shopping, or getting drunk, I suppose it’s a miracle that the concept of giving thanks even surfaces at all.”  ~ Ellen Orleans

“To hear someone say ‘Happy Turkey Day’ makes me sad because they have nothing to be thankful for and no one to whom to be thankful.” ~ Robert Flatt

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” ~ W.T. Purkiser

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” ~ Henry Van Dyke

“If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” ~ Frank A. Clark

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”  ~ Meister Eckhart

“Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.”  ~ Robert Caspar Lintner

“Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths.  At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.”  ~ J. Robert Masking

“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.”  ~ Theodore Roosevelt

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

“I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

For starters, I was stunned when during our first conversational Hindi lesson we learned the word for “thank you” doesn’t really exist in Hindi. Okay, so there technically is a word, but it’s really only recognized and used in the cities, where there is more of a Western influence. In the mountains, it is seldom used, and what’s more, people often seemed annoyed when we would try to thank them. They would either turn their heads, or shake their hands at us as if to say, “Don’t, it’s not necessary.”

When we asked our Indian instructors why this is, they explained that giving and generosity are such integral aspects of their culture. In fact, it is part of the religion and culture to view possession as a very fluid thing. Giving is more of a matter of “changing hands” than an act of generosity. In their eyes, the cucumbers and other food they would give us were never really “theirs” to begin with. They see them as having passed along to them and now they are simply passing them along to us.

I believe there is a great sense of generosity in Western culture, but it seems to be more of a secondary thought. In other words, the sentiment seems to be, “If I have ‘enough,’ I will happily donate my surplus.” Whereas in the Himalayas, the villagers were eager to give away their best cucumbers to a passing stranger, and they would have happily given more even when it means less for them. In contrast, people in the U.S. are more inclined to donate old, used, or unwanted items rather than their prized ones.

Interestingly, during a coffee chat a couple of months ago, one of my minimalist friends, Josh Millburn, was telling me about how he donated his favorite clothes and shoes — just for the experience of giving up the possessions he likes most as well as to practice detaching for material things. (You can check out his interview about it on Simple Black Coffee.)  So, this is something we as Westerners can certainly do, but it doesn’t come integrated into our culture. It’s something we have to make ourselves consciously aware of and push ourselves outside of our comfort zones to achieve.

This genuine spirit of generosity and non-attachment to material possessions are two aspects of the culture I would most like to emulate. I feel as though the giving must come first. Like Josh, I can practice by giving away the things I value most — yes actual physical possessions, but perhaps even more important, my time and attention. After giving and more giving, I believe the detachment will begin to follow suit.

One final thought to share with you…

The Wise Woman’s Stone

A wise woman, who was traveling in the mountains,
found a precious stone in a stream.
She reverently placed the gem in her bag.
The next day, she met another traveler, who was hungry.
The wise woman opened her bag to share her food.
The hungry traveler saw the precious stone in the wise woman’s bag,
admired it, and asked the wise woman to give it to him.
The wise woman did so without hesitation.
The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.
He knew the jewel as worth enough to give him security for the rest of his life.

But a few days later he came back, searching for the wise woman.
When he found her, he returned the stone and said,
“I have been thinking. I know how valuable the stone is,
but I would like to exchange it in the hope that you can give me something
much more precious. If you can, teach me the secrets about the power you
have within you, the power that enabled you to, without hesitation,
give me this precious stone.” 

~Excerpt from The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi

What are your thoughts on generosity — either in the West or other cultures?

__

If you enjoyed these insights — be generous and share them with your friends!

“I hoped that the trip would be the best of all journeys: a journey into ourselves.” ~ Shirley MacLaine

It’s impossible for me to take you there — to my 35-day NOLS Himalaya Backpacking experience in Northern India — even in imagination.

I know this because I recently read a book by an incredibly talented storyteller before I made my journey. And unlike me, it was obvious he kept impeccable notes during his pilgrimage in the Himalayan foothills, describing his route, the scenery, and his interactions in scrupulous detail.

Not even then could I begin to fully grasp what he was describing. The breathtaking beauty of the snow-covered peaks, the unmatched generosity of the local villagers, and the sense of peace and contentment that comes with slowing making one’s way through the many-faceted foothills of the Himalayas.

Imagine trying to describe your fondest memory to a friend. You can explain it, but how can they know until they have seen it with their own two eyes, smelled it for themselves, tasted it on their lips? They really can’t. You may be able to give them some sense of what it’s like, but it will always fall short of the real thing.

And that’s the beauty of experience. To truly know it, you must live it…allow it to mingle with your soul and become a part of you.

“Our growth depends not on how many experiences we devour, but on how many we digest.” ~ Ralph W. Sockman

Even if you were there with me and walked beside me, I would have difficulty fully explaining my experience to you, for no two experiences are exactly alike. Each of my 13 companions came to the mountains with their own hopes and expectations, and each left with their own unique experience…one that could never be duplicated or recreated.

Even so, I hope to share with you what I can, even if it’s merely a dim reflection of my true experience.

Typically people tell stories linearly, moving the listener or reader through a logical sequence of time, as if the story is a piece of string and the reader is sliding along it. This won’t be like that. In this case, my notes and memories are patchy and scattered, as I journaled a lot less than I originally intended. Either I was exhausted or there was some other experiencing captivating my attention at the time.

Therefore, my story will unfold more like A Christmas Carol where I am Jacob Morley and you are Ebenezer Scrooge, and we are whirling through time and appearing in carefully selected memories, seemingly scattered and yet intricately connected.

Ready? Here are my highlights from the Himalayas!  

~~~

Knowing we were breathing some of the purest and freshest air we would ever breath in our lives. The raw scent of rock and soil, the sweet mixture of rhododendron, mint, oregano, lemon grass, and even wild marijuana growing along the trail.

Learning how to make (and developing a mild addiction to) traditional Indian chai tea, compliments of Gaytri, one of our awesome instructors. Swirls of sugar and cinnamon, fresh squeezed ginger, loose-leaf tea steeping in the bubbly mixture. Finally bringing it to frothy completeness by adding generous handfuls of dehydrated milk.

Also, developing backcountry baking skills –cakes, pizza dough, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, and Peggy’s tamale pie!

Not hearing a single roar of an engine, not even the occasional airplane 30,000 feet overhead. No car alarms, no honking, no revving. No lawn-mowers to disrupt my thoughts. Just the sounds of the wind passing over the mountains and through the trees, the distant roar of a river or the trickle of a creek through smoothly worn rocks.

The songs of birds, the baaing of sheep, the occasional swish of a langur swinging through the trees. The sounds of heavy boots falling on carefully placed stone. A friendly “Namaste” from a passing villager, my own heavy breathing on a steep ascent, and the warm and familiar voices of my companions.

Swimming and bathing in swirling pools of frigid mountain water and sliding down natural slides of smooth rock.

The beauty and generosity of the Himalayan culture, or what I like to call the “Stay and Eat” culture. Everywhere we went, the local people were eager to share what little they had with us, which most often came in the form of large, oblong, green and yellow cucumbers. Even when we were simply passing through, they would stop us, present us with a cucumber and ask us to stay for chai and more food.

In their culture, “guest is god” and treated accordingly. There were days when we would stay with a family and the whole family, including the children, would go a day without eating in order to feed us. Making sure we were comfortable and well-fed was something they took great pride in.

Spending a morning in the life of a Himalayan woman — cutting tall grass by hand with a sickle. Taking short breaks in the shade to sip fresh goat’s milk and eat more cucumbers.

Learning valuable lessons that can be applied to nearly every aspect of life. For instance, on a particular difficult climb up and around a mountain called Chovelia, as I finally reached the top, I jokingly exclaimed, “We have conquered the mountain!” In her wise and quiet way, Gaytri responded, “You don’t conquer the mountain, the mountain allows you to pass.”

This phrase became a mantra and silent meditation for me (as well as several of my companions) as I walked for the remainder of the trip. I see it as a great metaphor for life. I’ll leave you to ponder that one for yourself. (It’s also what initially sparked the idea for my new tattoo!)

Struggling with my own bad habits and character flaws. Learning how to truly connect with nature and “let go.” Letting go of expectations and judgements and going with the flow.

Waking up at 0430 to begin a moonlit climb up a tall peak in the hopes of catching a stunning sunrise. Making it all the way to the summit with two other incredible people. Standing in silence above the clouds, surrounded by the most breathtaking panorama of snow-covered peaks I’ve ever seen. Sitting in quiet meditation, opening my eyes to gaze upon the perfect peak (which is actually tattooed on my left shoulder now).

Spending 35 days in the company of some of the most talented, interesting, laid-back, and fun-loving people I’ve ever met – even if they did call me “grandma!” (Believe it or not, at 27 I was the oldest member of our group. And you know what? I think I probably learned more from them than they did from me!)

~~~

These stories and pictures barely begin to scratch the surface of an experience that has given me so much insight and perspective, one that has helped me expand and grow, one that will remain sacred among life experiences. I discovered so much about myself, others, and human nature in general. I was given a unique opportunity to peer into a world so unlike my own and to grasp bits of wisdom from it — bits of wisdom I will continue to share here in future stories I’m sure.

If you would like to see more pictures from my journey, you can see them on my Facebook page.

May you look into the mirror & say: “I love you. I appreciate you.”
May you then allow self to Feel loved and appreciated.

May you do this with me?  For the few moments that we share energy in this space together, may we try something perhaps a little different.  I ask that you turn off your mind and access your heart space.  In our heart space, we may comfortably meet as One; all that I share in these moments is purely from my heart..genuine heart whispers.

It took me many years to be able to look at my reflection in the mirror at all, let alone to look and say and feel “I love you”.  I could readily open my heart to the moment, and to strangers, but to open my heart to “me” was a struggle.  I write about this struggle in this article The Lost Girl.

From an early age, I was taught to “dim my light” to fit in, so that is what I did..I learned to become “less than” enthusiastic, effervescent, joyfilled so that I wouldn’t stand out in a crowd, I would fit right in wherever I was.  My parents asked me, my friends asked me, my lovers asked me and I accommodated their requests in the hopes that I would feel the love, the peace that I so desired.

As you might imagine, this charade wreaked havoc on my body.  As an empath, I am extremely cognizant of– and sensitive to– emotion.  Where many “think something out”, I naturally “Feel it through”.  These compressed feelings manifested in physical ailments and these physical ailments kept me quite restricted in movement.  Very often, I ‘stayed put’..exactly where I was even though I knew I had gifts and talents that would allow me to soar far past the moon when I chose.

I wonder, can you identify with any of this?  Catering to other’s opinions, the feeling of “less than” or “not enough”, squelching your own dreams so that you may “fit in”, living an ordinary life when you know an extraordinary one is waiting patiently for you to step into.

My story is one that I rewrite every day. In my personal life, I live mindfully present in this moment; I release the details of my story daily and wake fresh and new, ready to create label free.   I drop my story so that I may fully live my life.  However, I share the details here because it is one full of faith, moxie, perseverance, courage–traits we all share.  If you click the link and read it, you will be surprised at how much external I have been presented with, and how I transformed the feelings of “ far less than” to a life that is truly as magical as I allow it to be. I was raised to believe that self-love was selfish and silly, my childhood religion taught that service to others was my duty–even if that meant I martyred my self in service.  I believed that in life there was a cross to be carried, so for some time I valiantly carried that ”cross”, even though it squelched my spirit and almost physically killed me. I believed that life was a struggle, a climb, a series of obstacles to be overcome.

I believed all of this until the moment that I learned that peace, love, joy, gratitude are already within, not something to be earned or bought or given, but something to open effortlessly to.  Through a concentrated two-year “time out” from the routines of life, I invested energy into raising my young children as a single mom, but as importantly I invested energy into huge blocks of time in silence, in nature, in study to heal my heart wounds, to expand my perspective, to grow and blossom into a woman who could say “I love you” not merely with words, but with the way I choose to live.

I choose to live love.
And I Fully believe that life is not meant to be anything other than the experience of  passion, delight, creativity, peace, love, gratitude;
any struggle, exertion, challenge, climb, exhaustion is self-induced..
a moment I refuse to open my heart; instead choosing to cling to something of this earth.  

It is my passion, my life’s purpose, my joy to *be love*..in this moment and all moments. I share this passion with you today, because I feel it is of utmost importance to love my self  fully (thus releasing my self) so that I may love *you* as fully as you deserve to be loved.  I Feel if I reflect this to you, with words here because this is the medium we have, perhaps you will give yourself permission to open your own heart and love as fully, as deeply as I model for you.

In closing, I want to touch base with romantic love, for many of us wish for, strive for, search for romantic love.  I have experienced the most wonder filled; most magnificent; most movie worthy, storybook romance because I was able to open my heart to it, and guess what?  There isn’t a fairy tale ending, just one moment after another of opening my heart through barriers, past fear, to love genuinely and transparently. And I am able to do this and experience this right now because I am able to love myself unconditionally.  Some days this romance is with World, some days this romance is with Nature, some days this romance is with a Partner; regardless of label, every day this romance exists. Because I open my heart to receiving graciously as I share generously.

In life, I love a “thinker”..such a different reality to process thoughts versus feelings.  So, I know those of you who are thinkers are wondering how does all of this heart talk apply to me?  I understand.  I would ask you to consider this:

The most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or touched, they can only be felt with the heart.~ Helen Keller

Much peace,
Joy

Joy Holland shares her gift of clarity to guide others to find peace, joy, and love in this moment.  Joy is an energy healer, life coach, motivational speaker and the author of the site “Unfolding Your Path to Joy”. Joy is bold in her actions, loving with her words, peace filled in her life..and invites you to join her in allowing your life to be: “as magical as you allow it to be”.