Awaken the Genie Within

Sand Vs. Stone

This is something that would serve all of us to remember as often as possible for all our relationships:

Two friends were walking through the desert.  During some point of the journey, they had an argument; and the one friend slapped the other one in the face.  The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath.  The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.  After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away.  But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

Learn to write your hurts in the sand, and to carve your benefits in stone.

I don't know who wrote this. If you do please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Is There An Email Heaven?

While checking my emails a couple of days ago one of the most remarkable things happened - they all disappeared right before my very eyes! And when I say all, I mean all. Everything in my In, Deleted, Junk, Sent boxes all gone in the blink of an eye.

Now if that made you gasp for a moment or had you contemplating the horror of such a thing happening to you, I'm here to tell you it was one of the most technologically freeing experiences I've ever had. 

After my initial moment of disbelief and then a few "What the &*%!" and "How the #@$!" and frantically pushing every button known to man on my computer to make this nightmare go away, I suddenly heard a little voice inside telling me, "Linda, stop. Relax. They're gone and they're not coming back."

It was then that I felt this amazing calm come over me and I realized I have no control over this. Zero. Nada. None and I couldn't believe how free I felt!

I decided to calmly scan my mind trying to recall what could have been on there that I needed to do something about. After 5 mintues I could only think of one email I wanted back immediately. One out of who knows how many emails! And within a matter of an hour I had that one email handled. 

Now I will admit I did call my email support people to see if maybe they could retrieve my emails from email heaven. Surely there must be an email heaven. I mean where else do all our emails go!

What I found funny was the amount of concern tech support had and how unattached I was about them being able to retrieve my emails from heaven. They kept apologizing and promised to stay on it until they came up with an answer for me. This was two days ago and they're still working on it, emailing me updates saying they won't give up. I told them to do what they felt they needed to do for their purposes but I'm really okay and will chalk it up as one of those anomolies in life. 

So why am I sharing this with you? Because I just want to remind you that we can always choose how we respond to what happens to us in life. And there's no question that for a few moments I was choosing a road that was going to take me down a very ugly path - email hell, if you will - and it still wouldn't have brought my emails back. By ultimately choosing a path of least resistance I was not only able to still enjoy my day, but my work day was over sooner because I no longer had any emails to deal with! 

I'm thinking I just might "accidently" send my emails to heaven every couple of months! 

Oh, and if I haven't responded to your email, now you know why!

A Poignant Writing

The following was written by a friend of mine after I did a Hand Analysis for her. I found her insights to be beautifully poignant and believe there are many people in the world who will read her words and find them applicable into their own lives. They certainly had an impact on me. 

In a world that runs on doing, I am told to Be!

Where I’ve been taught to prove, I am told there is nothing to defend!

When life has made me scared, I am told to trust.

Where I was directed to think of all others, I am told to consider me.

What I learned to be, I am told to dismantle.

How I know to Be, needs to shed yet another layer.

Who I came to know, I am told to rediscover.

The maps I have are obsolete, the terrain has changed.

The challenge is not the change itself, but the process.

Where I come to be, is always temporary. Change is the constant.

Fear is the fuel, trust is the challenge.

My life purpose runs through me as the quiet engine that propels, yet the map it follows is not spelled out.

We come to live out what we chose, yet, I am told I have nothing to prove!

My search is unending, my destination hazy.

Life has proven to show me the darkest hours and the lightest heart in a matter of a moment.

Yet, I am told to trust. 

My prayer for the first time:

Shed light on where I am, help me trust the process and take the fear away from my heart. 

Lily Shariat

Reframing Life

My husband did a great job reframing my frustration about our dog's hair which is everywhere no matter how much we try to keep up with it. When I commented that it drives me crazy sometimes he immediately said (while cuddling her and smiling from ear to ear), "Yeah, but her dog hair means that she's in our life and I don't have to tell you how much joy she brings us.

Wow! Talk about shifting my thinking in a heartbeat. Now I'm truly grateful for her hair!

So with that in mind I'm going to share some recent reframes that I shared with a friend and a client.

Client: "I'm so sick and tired of my husband leaving his clothes on the chair at the end of the night and not placing them in the hamper. No matter how many times I beg him he still doesn't listen."

My reframe: "Next time you look at those clothes consider them a reminder that he's still in your life. Then go ahead and take the two seconds it takes to throw them in the hamper."
The clothes haven't bothered her since.

Friend:  I'm really starting to hate my hands. I can't believe how wrinkly they're becoming. And my fingertips are getting lines that I never had before. It makes me feel so old."

My reframe: "Those hands allow you to express yourself through your art and make money. Those wrinkles are a great indication you've used your hands well and that you're reaching a time in your life where your wisdom from all your life experience makes your art even better."
She now teasingly shows me her newest and greatest wrinkle - even when there really isn't one! 

So what can you reframe in your life? I'd love to hear any reframes you come up with for yourself. 
Post away! 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

This morning before my husband left for work he shared a wonderful story with me. He works in the film industry and it's been a very long week for the crew and actors. The energy in the room last night was not its usual upbeat, lively, fun loving group, which is understandable given the hours they've been working all week and how tired everyone was.

During some down time, one of the actresses sat next to my husband and he noticed she had a bit of a heavy heart. In his wonderful, thoughtful way, he did something that he never imagined would have had the effect it did. He pulled out his phone and played Don't Worry, Be Happy for the actress hoping it would lift her spirits as it did for him throughout the day. 

She glanced over at him with a slight smile and started whistling the tune. He could feel her energy lighten. Someone else heard the song and started whistling, too. Within a matter of minutes everyone was whistling Don't Worry, Be Happy while they went on with their work.

He said the entire atmosphere changed profoundly and that it was one of the most wonderful moments he had experienced in a long time.  

If you don't think one person has the ability to shift the energy of an entire room one way or another, think again. The question is - are you going to let yourself be taken hostage by someone else's energy that's dark and heavy or set yourself free and perhaps others, too, with an energy that's full of light and joy?

Nothing Works For Me!

Last weekend my husband and I were at small dinner party. The subject of meditation came up and one of the guests was saying how frustrating he finds meditation.

"Every time I meditate my mind just goes bonkers. It won't stop. No matter how long I sit there. It drives me nuts but I really do want to be able enjoy the practice of it."

The hostess of the party suggested a breathing technique that works well for her. He said, "Yeah, I've tried that, too, and it doesn't work for me. The mind just goes and goes and goes."

I then suggested a technique I recently learned that has worked beautifully for me. When the hostess heard this she said, "Oooh, I like the sounds of that. I'm going to try that as well."

Then our frustrated meditator chimed in and said, "Well, I don't think that'll work for me. My mind is obviously too busy to get to a place of quieting down. It seems nothing works for me."

At that point I wasn't willing to convince him otherwise because he appeared more attached to it not working for him then the possibility of having another experience.

Do you ever find yourself doing this? Claiming that you really want to master something or make a change but whatever suggestions are thrown at you, you find a reason why it won't work. This can happen at such an unconscious level - totally unaware of what you're doing to yourself. It's your Gremlin's greatest tactic. IT is a master at keeping you right where you are even when you believe you want a situation to be different.

If this sounds familiar then take note and the next time you find yourself running this scenario tell your Gremlin to take a hike and then do your best to keep readjusting until you find what works and allows for a better experience.

If you need help quieting that Gremlin you can download my 
5 Tips to Silence Your Gremlin at my website.

 

The Ten Commandments

These were sent to me by a friend and felt the need to share with you!

1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout the journey.

2. So why is a car's WINDSHIELD so large and the Rear View Mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on. 

3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes a few minutes to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

5. Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold the Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, it's just a bend, not the end!"

7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8. A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE.

Amen!

Your Love Makes Me Stronger

This morning my husband and I were chatting before we got out of bed because we haven't seen each other much due to our work schedules. During our conversation he was sharing with me how so many of the guys he works with complain about their wives and how controlled they feel by them. Then he said the kindest thing to me:

"I never feel controlled by you. Your love actually makes me stronger!" 

Okay, I'll admit it, the tears started flowing. Not the sobbing kind but the kind where your eyes fill up instantly and the silent tears start rolling down your cheeks. In that moment I felt so loved, so appreciated, so honored.

Here's what I know after 29 years and 5 months of marriage; the more you try and control someone, the more you try and change them, the more miserable you're going to make them and the more the relationship is going to suffer. 

Now please understand something, here. I'm not talking about wanting to change your partner so he or she stops being an acoholic or drug addict or some other destructive behavior that deeply affects the relationship. I'm talking about a basic personality. We all have our faults and insecurities and the more we control, harass, nag or whine to our partner the more we are withdrawing from the love bank account. 

I know this sounds obvious. I know you've probably heard this before, but I can't tell you how many people forget how to treat the one person they claim to love the most. Please take an honest look at yourself in your relationship. Notice how much attention you put on how you don't want your partner to be or the things he or she is doing "wrong" in your opinion. These are love bank account withdrawals.

Why not put more effort into making deposits so your partner turns to you one day and says; " Your love makes me stronger."

 

 

 

Blind Hope

Every now and then I read a book that just grabs my heart and before I know it I've changed the color of the book from black and white to black, white and yellow because of all my highlighting!

The name of the book is Blind Hope; An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued - by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher. 

It's a true story about a woman (Laurie Sacher) who adopted a sickly dog who eventually went blind. The lessons and personal growth that Laurie experienced and the relationship that developed between Mia (the dog) and her is just magnificent. I highly recommend the read.

Now here's some of my favorite quotes from the book:

To move away from our difficult lessons to quickly, to not take time and feel their weight, is to be robbed of their rich purposes.

Honest confrontations with one self are the most difficult confrontations of all.

Strength doesn’t come from strength – it grows out of our weakness.

By allowing myself to be carried by every restless wave in the sea of my emotions, I always lived in a very unstable place. Nothing was ever my fault. Everything always just happened to me. Therefore, I could play the role of a victim who had no responsibility to change.

My current difficult circumstances aren’t nearly as important as what I decided to do with them. How I act in the challenging situations determines who I really am and what I really believe. When I view my life from that perspective, it’s far easier for me to focus on what I should do instead of on what I think I should have.

The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it! It’s greener where contentment flows. Stop wishing for what we don’t have and start caring for what we do!

In my need for self-protection I’ve pulled so far back from anything that could emotionally challenge me to grow that I’ve compromised growing altogether.

Perhaps one or several of these quotes hit home for you. If so, I'm glad. Because when we can read something and be willing enough to see how it relates to our own life then we are on the path of introspection, growth and mastery of our life.

 

 

 

 

Coming Home

Recently I was reading a blog post written by a past business coach of mine. I’ve been reading her emails and blogs for 10 years and over the last couple I’ve seen changes in the focus of her business – this is not unusual for entrepreneurs. As they grow and evolve, the business will often change with that evolution. However, this felt different. It felt less authentic from the person I knew and even though I kept thinking about unsubscribing, for some reason I didn’t – and boy am I glad!

She has come home to the true essence of her work – to her heart. Her most recent blog sharing her journey back was so beautiful, so honest, so vulnerable that it brought tears to my eyes. But what was even more wonderful was the outpouring of comments she has received from her blog readers expressing their gratefulness and admiration, me being one of them.

All to often we listen to what every one else tells us is best for us – whether it’s business or personal. And if the person sharing the advice is successful in his or her own right, it’s enticing to follow the advice vs. taking into consideration what he or she has shared and then taking the time to listen to that still deep voice within who always knows what’s best for us. As you may know, I call that your Genie. And the other voice? The one who is more easily swayed toward other’s opinions - your Gremlin.

I, too, get caught up listening to others from time to time, but my inner GPS – Genie Purpose Signal – always sets me back on course.

We all have a GPS and unless it’s turned on it just can’t help us. I invite you to turn yours on and tune into it. Whatever you're feeling confused about in your life the answer comes more easily when you quiet down enough to listen to the wisdom of your Genie. Once that wisdom is revealed take the next step and act on the guidance you've been given.

Now I know that second part can be tricky, so as always, I am here to support you in taking action on that inner knowing when it's just too scary to go it alone.

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