Awaken the Genie Within

A Boulder In the Way

As I continue to move forward with my business and the plans that I have for my book, Awaken The Genie Within, I've recently come up against some obstacles that were frustrating me to no end. So much so that my Gremlin kept chiming in and almost had me convinced that it just wasn't meant to be and I should let my plans go. Fortunately, I was divinely guided to the parable below, shutting down Gertrude (my affectionate name for my Gremlin) and giving me the reminder I needed to keep on going.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand - every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

If there's a boulder in your way right now, but your heart is still wanting to drive you forward, then I hope this inspired you enough to keep on going.

Taking the High Road

I was recently with a group of people who were giving a friend of ours advice on how to handle a situation that his daughter experienced when she first arrived in England for a 3 week internship. There was an issue with the flat she rented and she left after one night. When my friend received a nasty email from the women who rented out the flat demanding he pay for the 3 weeks or else, he wanted to respond in kind with his own nasty words.

As I listened to the advice he was being given from almost everyone else listening I noticed how manipulative it all sounded and their negative comments about a woman none of us knew at all just wasn't helping the situation.

Fed up with what I was hearing I asked him if it was possible that the women did not know that her older son happened to be in the flat during the time it was being rented out since she was vacationing in Ireland. He stared blankly at me in silence. That’s all I needed to hear, now ready to put in my two cents - write a non-emotional email explaining the circumstances why his daughter had to leave – her safety being number one. I suggested that he appeal to the mother in her assuming she would more easily understand his position. Then I suggested he come from a place of compassion explaining how frustrating it must be for her to have expected her flat to be taken care of and paid for while she was away only to find out that’s no longer the case. And, if she didn’t know her son was there, that he was sorry she had to find out this way.

Although his Gremlin really wanted to lash out at her he agreed to do this. He showed me what he wrote before sending it and I was really proud of him because he completely took the high road. In spite of all the threats this women expressed in her first email he stayed away from going down that road. It’s been over a week since he sent the email and he’s heard nothing back. I suspect it’ll stay that way.

Perhaps this woman did pull a scam. Who knows. He can report the situation to the website she advertises on and let them handle it. Or maybe she really was shocked to hear about her son and was too embarrassed to respond. The only thing that really matters is his daughter is safe and he has proof that he sent a factual, non-emotional email stating his case.

Taking the high road isn’t always our first inclination when we feel like we’ve been wronged. But it’s so important to remember that every time you follow that same rugged road someone started on, it only creates deeper grooves along the way. And the deeper the groove the more stuck we become in an energy that doesn’t serve anyone.

The next time you find yourself ready to lash out in response to someone that you feel wronged by, take a moment to separate your emotions from the situation and take the high road. I promise you, it’s a much smoother ride and you’ll get to your desired destination more quickly and with less skid marks.

P.S. If you have a young child or know someone with a young child you may want to check out this sweet children's book by Rosemary Holmes-Gull.
This delightful picture book has strong, positive, and vivid images and is designed to help your child to reach their full potential.
Plus you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped the AIDS orphans of Zambia. Part of all proceeds from the book will be donated to Mothers Without Borders an organization that works with the orphans.
http://www.childrensimaginings.com

An Unlikely Friendship

The video I'm sharing with you was sent to me by a friend. It's so heartwarming with such a strong message I wanted to share it with you.

As you watch it, just consider what life would be like for all of us if we could put aside our differences and just express and embrace what lies inside each others hearts.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4696315n

I Feel Different...

My friend, Ri, sent me an email and with her permission I am sharing it with you. It's such a wonderful example of what can happen when you put your Gremlin in the back seat, let your Genie ride up front with you and drive in the direction of your soul's desire.

You are going to be so proud of me... I faced one of my gremlins, Stage Fright!  For as long as I can remember dreaming, I've always wanted to be on stage singing in a band.  Each year, I would tell myself, "I am going to do it!"  I would go on Craigslist, check out some musician postings... baby steps!  HAHA!  But that fear of being on stage with eyes on me, would just make my skin jump.  I would make excuses, "I don't know how to read or write music... I should've started when I was much younger... blah, blah, blah,!"  Excuses!  Finally, I said, "the right platform for me will show itself"! 

Around February I went on Craigslist as usual.  Found a listing for Oakland Ladies Band Camp happening May 1st to the 3rd.  A weekend crash course of songwriting, being in a band and lessons in your instrument of choice!!!  Didn't think twice... sent my application!  Talk about manifesting when you let go!

Drove in on Thursday, the workshop started Friday at 9am... by Sunday afternoon, I was on stage in front of a hundred plus people singing in my band, The Belladonnas!!!!  I thought I was going to pass out up there from nerves but I was so proud of myself I was grinning ear to ear the whole time!  I started tearing up when I got off stage.  Truly an amazing experience!  And to be honest ever since then, I feel "different"... in a great way. Don't really know how to describe it.  Just different!

When I got this email I was grinning ear to ear. Her words just ooze joy and enthusiasm and I am soooo thrilled for her. I have to point out certain things she said that are such great lessons for anyone who stops short at going after his or her dreams:

Excuses!  Finally, I said, "the right platform for me will show itself"! 
Talk about manifesting when you let go!
I thought I was going to pass out up there from nerves but I was so proud of myself I was grinning ear to ear the whole time!
...ever since then, I feel "different"... in a great way.

Ri's experience is a perfect example of what can happen when you truly let go. So now I have to ask, what excuses are holding you back from living a dream you have?

Taking bold steps in our life really does transform us. It gives us courage and inspiration toward other leaps of faith. It reawakens our spirit and breathes life back into us.

I encourage you to give yourself a gift of a "truly amazing experience" like Ri did and see how "different...in a great way", you feel.

You Really Do Matter

A Genie Subscriber shared the following with me and I would like to share it with you.

 

Today or tomorrow, why not go out into the world and tell someone you don't tell enough or have never told, that they matter and they do make a difference. You never know whose life you can change with this simple gesture of kindness.

This Buddhist story that I read in Daniel Gottlieb's Letters from the Heart hit a strong chord with me after my encounter with the gentleman during my walk. If you haven't read about that yet it's the post just below this one.

A Buddhist monk was robbed at gunpoint at a bus station. Immediately after that encounter, he felt great fear. Moments later, he felt great rage at the perpetrator. These emotions continued to wash over him, and by the time he got home he was crying. When the monk told his student this story, the student said, "After all you've been through, why are you crying?" The monk replied, "I realized that if I had been raised by the man's family and if I'd had his experience, I would have been the man with the gun."

How would our relationships and lives change if we chose to go deeper than what we only see with our eyes and hear with our ears.