Run Free

"I am doing it!  I am not a runner and I am running! Whoo hoo!"  The woman at the bus stop must have thought I was crazy as I ran past her yelling with excitement.  It was the first time I had run in years!  I could not believe that I was doing it.  I could not believe the feeling of euphoria that came over me as I felt my body willingly take one step at a time.   The running felt so good that I got up early the next morning to run again.  As I started out, I could feel myself holding back.  It made me curious, what was I holding back for?  As soon as I asked the question, my head flooded with answers; "Hold back, so you can last the length of the run.  Hold back, so you do not get yourself worn out.  Hold back, because you cannot keep this pace up."  As soon as those thoughts crossed my mind, I knew what I had to do.  I told my body that I would listen to it and that I didn't need to listen to the chatter of self-doubt that was being created in my head.  I promised my body that I would stop, slow down or allow a walking break if needed.  With that permission, I opened myself up to let the lead out!  That day, I took 4 minutes off of my 2 mile run.  This experience made me want to become aware of other areas where I had been holding myself back.  Today, I declare, I am no longer willing to hold myself back!  Where are you currently holding yourself back?  What does it look like for you to trust yourself and run free?

Manifesting Misconceptions

While studying Life Coaching at Invite Change, I recall snickering through one particular class.  Why snicker?  One simple word, "Probe".  As my classmate and I were studying, "Manifestation", we decided to put it to the test.  What did we choose to manifest?  "Probe".  To be exact, we wanted our lead instructor to use the word at least once in class.  Ok, so maybe not such a huge stretch.  To our amazement, she used that word 5-7 times that day. Each time, we squealed with delight.  Was it magic, did we make that word come from our instructor's mouth?  Well, not quite. What we did do, is bring it to our awareness for the day.  Had we not held the vision for the word probe to be spoken, it would have come and gone and we may have never even noticed.  The word was there and the opportunity for the word to be spoken was always there, whether we held the vision for it or not.  The possibility exists.  It always does.  Know the truth, if you can vision it, it is possible.
Here is a simple equation to support you to give your vision focus and intention.

Intention + Attention = Manifestation

Intention -
What are you seeking from the result of your goal?  If it is a red Ferrari that you are seeking to manifest, be clear about your intention for that vehicle.  Will it bring you a sense of freedom?  A sense of sex appeal, accomplishment, or wealth?  Become clear about what your intention is with your goal.

Attention -
Focus your attention (thoughts and actions) toward what you are seeking.  Release any thoughts that detract from you obtaining your set goal.

Manifestation -
Congratulations, you've turned your vision into reality.

What opportunities are you willing to hold in your consciousness today?  Plant a seed and watch it take sprout.

Blessings in the Chaos

Petra Anderson

Petra Anderson was having an evening with girlfriends when she was shot with several bullets in the Aurora, Colorado shooting.  One of those bullets traveled through Petra's brain and stopped at the back of her skull.  The medical professionals expected massive brain injury from such a devastating bullet path through the brain.  When surgeons went in to clean up the damaged brain tissue, they discovered what is now being called a miracle.  Initially sited as a birth defect, Petra has a canal in her brain formed by a fluid pocket.  We have since learned that the fluid pockets are not as rare as it was first reported.  What is exceptional, is that the bullet entered at the exact point of Petra's fluid pocket.  The bullet then traveled along the canal formed by the fluid and left no damage to brain tissue.  Petra is talking, walking and has been released to undergo rehab for other injuries sustained in the attack.  It is as if Petra Anderson was designed to take this bullet to the brain.  Her brain was designed to receive that exact bullet in that exact location.  If she was built to take this bullet, it leaves me wondering,  what "bullet" were you built to live through?  What heartbreak, accident, trauma, hurt, (insert your painful experience here) were YOU built to live to tell about?  YOU have a purpose.  I have a purpose.   You were born to live through it, not with it.  You are not your experiences.  These experiences are a part of your story, they are not all of your story.  Acknowledge the miracles in your life, the ones that have kept you alive, the ones YOU were designed to live through.  Know that if you find yourself in a space in your mind that feels dark, you are not your darkness.  It is simply a reminder of the strength you have to move beyond it.

One Good Decision After Another

My daughter recently asked me to wear a dress.  I tend to wear frumpy shorts and a overly casual t-shirt.  My three-year old LOVES to wear dresses.  She had been asking me for days.  On this particular day, I agreed and found a dress that I felt comfortable in, put it on and wore it for the day.  The question was swirling in my head, "Why don't I choose to do this more often?"  It feels good to wear dresses.  It feels good to look good.  So, what was holding me back?  That morning I made the decision to wear dresses for the entire month of June.  It is now the middle of July and I am proud to report what happened as a result.  After choosing to wear a dress that day, I then made the decision to wear dresses or skies every day for one month.  Which led me to start looking for dresses in thrift stores and at garage sales, something I otherwise don't do for myself.  I'm the kind who is always looking for someone else, or at the very least, something more practical than nice clothes for me!  I could not stop finding nice dresses, skirts and beautiful shirts to match!  I was looking good and feeling sexy, sassy and ALIVE!  That feeling led me to start running in the mornings.  Wow!  What a difference those runs made.  The running did more than make me appreciate the health of my body, it made me think of other ways I could challenge myself.  It made me want to eat healthy.  It supported me to feel more alive!
Can you think of a time in your life when you made one healthy decision that snowballed into other good choices?  What is one good choice that you will make for yourself today?  Share what the results were of your healthy decision making!

Mid-Year Celebrations

Six months ago we were planning ways to welcome the New Year.  Now, we make preparations to celebrate Independence Day.  May this also be a time for you to reflect on all of the wins that you've had this year.  Allow yourself to notice where you have reclaimed your own freedom; disconnecting from the relationship that wasn't serving you, updating your resume to include your new skills, accepting a promotion, new career move, accepting a marraige proposal, announcing the birth of your first child, celebrating the graduation of your first born, celebrating time with family, time with friends, celebrating LIFE!  What things will make your list of celebration?  How are you exercising your own liberation this year?  May this be a time of celebrating all of the ways that you are stepping more fully into the freedom that comes from being ALIVE with JOY!

Weather: Beyond the Predictions

When I am planning an outdoor activity, I find myself tuning into the weather forecast.  Recently, the meteorologist predicted heavy storms for "most of the day".  When I woke, there were clouds, but no sign of a storm.  I went about my day as if I hadn't heard the prediction.  The storm never came.  I enjoyed the outdoors for the entire day.  It made me wonder, how many times do I limit my activity because of what might happen?  Sure, there are times when the prediction is correct.  There are also times when it is far from accurate, yet I've already made a choice based on the fear of what might be.  This is an opportunity for me to let go of the fear, go with the flow, and trust my own intuition.  I release the need for outside influences to determine my next move and instead allow outside influences to support me to make the decision that is best for me.  Rain or shine, all will be fine, so long as I let go of my own fears and expectations.  In fact, sometimes the rain can be more enjoyable and exciting than the heat of the sun.  Here's to living fully, in the moment and releasing the chatter that might hold us back.

Take My Advice, I'm Not Using It

I recently found myself faced with several professionals who appeared to be unable to follow their own advice.  Have you ever come across this?  As I sat observing, it dawned on me, what advice am I giving that I am not following?  My advice for others, that has all along been for me, listen.  Take time to listen to the inner voice.  Take time to unplug from the screen time, take time for reflection.  I support my clients to listen to the voice within.  The voice that may seem small and quiet, the voice that grows stronger when given attention.  The voice that becomes a brick up side the head when being ignored. What can you do to support time for yourself, to eliminate the outside chatter so that you can plug into what your inner voice is calling you to attend to?  I can already hear the excuse, "I don't have time!"  The reality is, we all have the same 24 hours in a day.  Maybe you choose to start taking the bus, so that you can have some unplugged, down time.  Maybe you go to bed early, so that you can wake up and allow yourself a few moments.  I hold the vision with you that time presents itself and you feel the deep connection to the voice that is calling out for your attention.  And, even if specific time does not happen, listen to how the voice speaks to you at other times, like when you have advice for someone else, advice that could in fact be, for you.