Hilary Harwell

What's it Gonna Take For You To Leave that Job?

2011-05-17T09:03:00.005-04:00

This is a tough question. What is it going to take for you to make the move and follow your dreams? Is the fear of not having a paycheck holding you back? It's a pretty scary thought, and one that I've been contemplating for several years now, especially with three little mouths to feed. It was in those little mouths that I found the motivation to let go of the toxic security of that paycheck.

I can't sum everything up in one blog post. But I can say that the thought of my kids growing up watching mommy 'suck it up' and 'tough it out' for that paycheck, all the while knowing that what I really wanted to do was create (art, jewelry, books, you name it...), would be teaching them exactly what I DON'T want them to do when they grow up. The thought of them wasting their life in some go-nowhere job where their true talents aren't merely unrecognized, but stifled completely, made my physically ill. So I made the decision to be the change. It's terrifying, but invigorating all at the same time. The first year is going to be rocky, I've accepted that. But at least I know that I'm living some of my most important values - freedom, creative expression, self-reliance. I've never been a particularly religious person, but someone said to me recently as we discussed my plan, "The Lord rewards those who have faith." This is my leap of faith. Making the decision and of course, telling my lousy boss that I was leaving, felt better than anything had in a long time, and doing so made it even more clear to me that I had made the RIGHT decision.

So, my question to you is, what's it going to take for you to make YOUR move? How are you going to feel at the end of your days when you look back at your life? Will you have lived it the way you wanted? Take some time with this question. It's an incredibly powerful one.

Sounds of Silence

2011-04-22T07:07:00.001-04:00

It is only when we silence the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts. ~K.T. Jong

Knocking the Dust Off

2011-04-18T20:24:00.004-04:00

It's been quite awhile since my last blog post, on this blog anyways, and it feels great to be back. The last year and a half have been quite a wild ride. We welcomed a new baby girl into our family (now of 5) last summer and I finished writing my first children's novel over the winter. It is now being shopped around for representation - fingers crossed. I have rekindled my love of writing via that endeavor and have penned a few short stories that I hope to spin into picture books sometime in the future. I have also taken time to get back into painting and will have some of my work on display at the local coffee shop here in Smyrna - REV. If anyone is in the area please stop in for a visit - they have FANTASTIC coffee. My coaching practice has picked up in the past months as well and I'm looking forward to working with new and existing clients. For today, I will leave you with a bit of creative wisdom that I recently stumbled upon:

"Your ability to create is intimately connected to your intention to matter." ~Eric Maisel

So, the question that I leave you with is: How much do you want to matter?

In Gratitude

2009-11-24T15:17:00.004-05:00

As you know, Thanksgiving is a day we set aside to reflect on that which we are grateful for in our lives. It is a moment to slow down, spend time with those who mean the most to us and celebrate all of the wonderful blessings life has bestowed upon us.

Many times however, we focus too much on the details of the day - getting ourselves ready, preparing a perfect meal, making sure that everyone gets along. We end up spending the holiday frazzled and harried instead of relaxed, joyful and thankful.

As you set out this Thanksgiving, I want you to do so from a place of peacefulness and gratitude. If you find yourself facing something unpleasant, take a moment to pause and figure out a way to look at the situation differently. Don't succumb to your emotion and initial reactions, but instead look at the situation from that place of peace and gratitude.

Take some time after your turkey dinner to sit and write down 25 things from the past year that you are thankful for... I'll share a few of mine to give you some inspiration.

1. I am thankful for my two beautiful, vibrant children who give me more joy than I could have ever thought possible.
2. I am thankful for my husband who values us above all else, and always comes back to center just when I need him most.
3. I am thankful for that last breath, and that one...
4. I am thankful for all of the wisdom that I have acquired throughout the years, from the mistakes and successes.
5. I am thankful that my parents allowed me to be free and live my life as I want to...never imposing their own limitations on me or using guilt or manipulation to hinder my progress in life.

Those are just a few from my list this year.... I hope you take the time to make a list of your own. It will give you strength and appreciation for the beauty in your life.

I hope you have a warm, joyful holiday this year!

Four Great Books if You Want to Live the Creative Life

2009-11-18T09:03:00.003-05:00

How do you define creativity? As with most anything, you are able to conjure up your own definition of this concept. Perhaps you create ideas, works of art, play an instrument.... I stumbled upon these four fantastic resources for helping you live the creative life. Nearly all of my clients are embarking on a new journey in which they define their lives by a sense of purpose. This purpose involves creating and then taking those creations and using them to help better people's lives. I hope you take a moment to investigate these resources and pause to consider how your life is given purpose at this very moment.

Shifting from Fear to Empowerment

2009-11-04T11:03:00.010-05:00

I recently started up my fall group coaching program, which has been centered around the fears that first time entrepreneurs face as they follow their dreams and launch their businesses. One of the things that we've been working on is how to change your outlook of the future from a perspective of fear and concern to one of empowerment.

If you find yourself with a list of reasons why you won't be able to accomplish something or are concerned because you are taking on something you've never done before, perhaps you are in need of a change in perspective. How can you shift your view of the future from something you may not be able to handle, to a view that you are competent and capable enough to handle any issue that comes your way?

1. Pick something you can do every day that makes you feel good about yourself. Perhaps it is something you are fearful of doing or something that makes you anxious. Push yourself to do it, and when you do, congratulate yourself. Acknowledge the courage it took and recognize your own strength.

2. Develop a mantra for yourself. Devise a phrase or way of thinking that affirms your courage and abilities. Make sure your mantra is in the present tense. A great example that one of my clients recently came up with is, 'I face my fears head on and am brave enough and sharp enough to handle everything that comes my way.' Affirmations are a great way to reassure yourself of your amazing abilities. The more you affirm the more you believe!

3. Change how you look at the future. If you hold the belief that the unknown is scary, question it. How do you feel when something amazing and unexpected happens? Surely these types of things happen as often, if not more so, than the unexpected and not-so-amazing events... Be aware of what you are choosing to focus on. You are allowing that focus to shape how you step out into the world. Practice looking at the future as something full of wonderful abundance and pleasant surprises.

These three things will help boost your confidence and kick fear to the curb!

How I Changed Careers

2009-10-29T10:28:00.004-04:00

I was recently interviewed and featured in Terry Carter's blog, How I Changed Careers. Terry is the CEO of Travertine Spa and is currently working on authoring a book on how people can break free from a dull, uninspiring career and follow their dreams. You have to check this out - he's a great guy doing great things!

Good Vibes

2009-10-22T09:37:00.004-04:00

Today's post is brought to you by a wonderful site that I receive daily information from - Daily Om. I highly recommend signing up for their daily inspirational emails. The following is some food for thought. Enjoy.

The Joyful Flow
Good Vibrations

Feelings vibrate, just as all things in the universe do, at a particular frequency. Negative feelings like anger, guilt, and depression vibrate at low frequencies, while positive feelings like joy, appreciation, and passion vibrate at high frequencies. These high frequency vibrations make us feel good. This is why people and places that inspire and cultivate positive feelings have what we call good vibrations.

Good vibrations inspire health, happiness, and optimism. When we are tuned in to good vibrations, our bodies heal, our hearts open, and our minds shift toward the light. We see new possibilities and feel powerfully energized to follow our inner visions. At the same time, we feel relaxed and capable of manifesting these visions without giving in to stress or struggle. Good vibrations put us in a state of perfect receptivity so that we feel it is the energy flowing through us that accomplishes what needs to be done. We feel guided, supported, protected, and nourished within this joyful flow. We sometimes forget that we are allowed to feel this way all the time.

Lower frequency vibrations are not bad in a moral sense, but they are bad in the sense that they simply don’t feel good. Still, they have a purpose, which is to alert us to the fact that we are blocking out the higher frequency vibrations that we need to function well. They are a call for healing ourselves from within. The key to our healing lies in remembering that it is our birthright to feel good and that feeling good is the essence of our true nature. When we are receiving and sending out good vibrations, we are in the flow. When we are not, we can begin to raise our vibration by seeking out people, places, and situations that vibrate at a higher frequency. Whether we need to go on retreat or just call a friend who makes us laugh, seeking out those good vibrations and basking in them is a sacred and loving practice that returns us, time and again, to the joyful flow of the universe.

What kind of vibe are you giving off? Notice when you speak with the people you encounter whether you are getting warm, expansive vibrations from them or dull, contracted vibrations. Tune into these and use them as a guide as you navigate through life.

Inspired Action

2009-10-16T09:28:00.012-04:00

As an entrepreneur I sometimes find myself compelled to take action but not totally inspired to do so. It is very important to me that inspiration drives my actions, so when this occurs I find myself in a bit of a quagmire. I have worked with clients, both artists and entrepreneurs, who often experience the same scenario. It resembles procrastination to a certain extent, but I think its root source differs. So, what do we do when our enthusiasm for our business wanes? How can we move forward from a place of inspired action?

If you find yourself pushing forward on a project or business idea with only a measure of your usual effort perhaps it is time to investigate what is missing from the equation. What don't you currently have in place? When you lack passion for what you are doing, it becomes tedious, forced and many times this is reflected in the quality of work that you do. How do you reconnect with the passion that initially motivated you? There are several different approaches that you can take...

1. Look back over all of your accomplishments with your business. If you kept a record or journal of thoughts and feelings as you launched your endeavor take a look at those. Many times, we get so bogged down in the details of our businesses we forget how much fun it really can be. When you lose sight of the bigger picture the passion and inspiration you once had dwindles.

2. After looking back over your accomplishments, work on your vision. Usually, when you start out you have lofty dreams and big picture goals that are driving your actions. Take some time to revisit these initials goals and determine whether they are still in line with the vision of your business. Let it be okay if they are not. Redesign your big picture vision if need be. Know that this revisioning is part of the journey - not a determination of success or failure.

3. If your interests take you away from your business for a short period of time and you feel inspired to put your efforts into another area of your life, let that be okay. It is important to pay attention to what inspires you - it is a way for the Universe to guide you to what you need right now in life.

You may find yourself focusing so much on your business that other areas of your life are neglected - family, spouse, home, etc. If you become inspired to focus your efforts away from your business, don't beat yourself up about it....just go with the flow. Your attention will come back to the business soon enough, and most often it will do so with renewed enthusiasm and gusto.

Pay attention to these signals from the Universe and move forward in life from a place of inspired action.

Announcing Open Enrollment - Kick Fear to the Curb

2009-10-06T11:29:00.004-04:00

I am happy to announce open enrollment for my Fall 2009 group coaching program:

'Kick Fear to the Curb'

Ever find yourself holding back from playing a bigger game in life because of worries and doubts about taking risks?

What if you could push past your fears and self-doubt once and for all and pursue your dreams?

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Join me and a small, intimate group of others who are looking to work through their own fears and doubts in a supportive, inspirational & empowering environment. Learn how to recognize and push past your own personal obstacles once and for all with this dynamic, interactive and effective group program. Spots are limited and will be filled quickly - act today to secure your seat.

* The group will kick off in mid-October and will run for four weeks.
* Sessions will be conducted via teleconference bridge line for your convenience.
* Each week will be dedicated to understanding your own unique concerns and creating a game plan for taking action to overcome these obstacles.
* Sessions will be structured to include educational information from Hilary as well as laser coaching for each participant every single week.
* You will walk away from the program with clarity, confidence and a strategic approach to dealing with your own personal obstacles.
* The group coaching environment offers a more affordable alternative to one on one coaching yet still offers the direct exposure to Hilary's powerful coaching.
* Investment in yourself: $135 per month

If you are interested in learning more about the opportunity to join our group, please contact me by visiting An Inspired Mind today. Make the investment in yourself and stop allowing fear and self-doubt to prevent you from following your dreams!

How do you slow down?

2009-10-04T00:28:00.004-04:00

We live in an up-and-at-'em, fast-paced society. Our culture, which is based upon a puritanical work ethic, frowns upon so-called down-time. These natural cyclical phases of introspection and re-evaluation are critical to maintaining balance and ultimately, happiness in life. As human beings, we need time to slow down, take stock and pause to determine where we really are versus where we need to be. When was the last time you allowed yourself to slow down and take a look at all of the elements in your life? How do you use down-time to achieve a greater sense of balance?

In Harmony with Nature

2009-09-28T10:22:00.006-04:00

I have always been a fan of the change of seasons, and of change in general. I recently made a trip up to my home state of Connecticut for a friend's wedding and was immediately (and a bit prematurely) given a dose of autumn. Cool, crisp breezes, falling leaves and a chill in the air changed something within me and I could feel my body begin to prepare for the fall. Of course, once we returned to Georgia, we were faced with swampy humidity and hot temperatures for another week or so, but that has moved off and is now replaced with those same days that we were able to experience in Connecticut.

I'm writing about all of this because I think that there is great value in living in tune with the seasons. This past spring, I noticed within myself tremendous growth and an outward projection of my thoughts and activity. This continued on through the summer but as August came to a close, I noticed myself winding down. The change of season has triggered a shift in perspective away from my business and towards my family and the coming holidays. Autumn is a time of preparation for winter dormancy. Leaves fall, animals prepare for the cold, harsh days of winter and we as humans msut tune into what we need to do in our own lives to prepare for our own cyclical changes.

How will you let the change in season trigger a shift in perspective or activity this year? What does autumn mean in your own life? What significant memories are stored in the smell of accumulating leaves, the sight of scarecrows, pumpkins and Indian corn, and in these cooler days?

A Little Dose of Astrology

2009-09-24T10:56:00.006-04:00

I've always looked at astrology with a healthy skepticism and mild curiosity. So I find it very interesting that an email newsletter that I received from author Carolyn Myss contained an article that was so insanely on point in explaining how a mercurial shift is currently influencing the way we approach life. The article was written by Robert Ohotto, an intuitive life strategist. The effects, which I have taken directly from her newsletter and included below for your benefit, so accurately mirror my life right now that I simply had to share. I'd love to hear if any of you are experiencing something similar...

'Essentially astrology is the art and science of intuiting and interpreting the energetic and archetypal cycles of life and your soul’s schedule of unfolding into the world via those cycles. All those planets out there in the heavens are mirrors for what’s happening in us……as above, so below. So any planetary cycle that we observe in the sky/Zodiac is also occurring within, because (as all mystics have said for ages) the ultimate reality is that there is no separation from what’s out there and what’s within. The gift of astrology is born out of learning to work with the cosmic/archetypal cycles of life consciously, as a co-creative act if you will. So if you can learn to understand the inherent function of a planetary astrological cycle, you can use that energy in a more consciously empowered manner, and bring your timing/efforts more in line with Universal Will; which means more in line with your soul. Onto Mercury Retrograde!

What is ‘Mercury Retrograde’ anyway? When Mercury is direct, which it is 80% of the year, we can look to the sky and see the planet’s motion going forward against the backdrop of the Zodiac in the heavens. However, about every 3 ½ months the planet appears to start going backward for about three weeks. I say “appears” because in reality it’s the orbit of the earth in tandem with the planetary orbit of Mercury that makes the planet appear to move backwards, though it is not really moving backwards. Nevertheless, this period of time is called Mercury Retrograde.

That being said, what does Mercury Retrograde symbolize as a process within each of us? How does it point our ego toward our soul’s timing? As a function of consciousness, Mercury represents our thinking and communicative processes, the ways we access and use information, make decisions, pay attention to details, and express ourselves. Perhaps most importantly, Mercury also symbolizes the way we perceive reality via the mind.

Much of this gets reexamined during a Mercury Retrograde cycle via the astrological sign’s themes it’s retrograde in (Libra and Virgo this time!). We are asked to retreat within and reevaluate what serves our life with regards to this Mercurial function of consciousness, and what needs to be upgraded, reworked, rethought, refined, and/or let go of in the ways that we think about and experience things. If we resist this, then we invoke the “Trickster” side of Mercury contained in Mercury’s function. You all know this too well: miscommunications, missed flights, accidents, computer and other tech breakdowns…need I go on?! All of these are designed to help you realize you’re not in control and that a deeper design is trying to emerge into your consciousness by putting your ego-mind in the back seat for a time.

When Mercury is moving direct, our minds tend to work on a more functional/forward level. Our energy is invested in more assertive decision-making and action with less retrospection and reflection. However, we are unconsciously picking up on intuitive information, which will come to call during the retrograde cycle for further integration. There needs to be a time of rest and assimilation of all the information that we perceive consciously and unconsciously – much like our need for sleep every day. And a time for our inner wisdom to come forth and guide us to re-organize, rethink, reevaluate, redo, and reboot. This is part of the organic, natural flow of life. Our culture, however, made up of schedules and deadlines, doesn’t often accommodate a cycle of introspective reflection and re-evaluation. This is why this cycle can be so brutal for some of us……especially those of us, like me, with a thousand deadlines and agendas!

Even though Mercury is moving direct, it will eventually enter into its retrograde zone (the degrees of the astrological sign it will retrograde over) about two weeks before it goes retrograde. This set up phase began back on August 17th for this current cycle. Around that time signals from the environment would have begun alerting you towards inner and outer situations that are in need of some reflection and reevaluation – which for this retrograde will be connected to themes of Libra and Virgo. Take a moment and reflect on what was happening in your life in late August and how the themes have been shifting since then in your experience.'

Simple Steps for A Happy Day

2009-09-15T10:34:00.004-04:00

Ever feel like your thoughts are a thousand miles ahead of what is really going on in your life? You may be experiencing feelings of frustration, anger, overwhelm...any emotion that makes you feel contracted and unhappy, but have no real tangible thing to tie those feelings to in the present moment. So, how does one go about dealing with this type of situation and shifting your perspectives to increase happiness?

The first step in growing your level of happiness right now is to detach from the negative emotions that you are experiencing. Easier said than done, right? We give those negative emotions so much power despite the fact that they only really exist in our minds. If you want to generate more happiness learn to recognize the emotion as it arises and detach yourself from the feelings it generates within you. Realize that those feelings are just that - feelings. They don't exist outside the realm of your mind.

The next step is to practice letting go. Understand that you cannot control what happens in life. The only thing you can control are your thoughts and subsequent reactions to what happens. Work on improving your thoughts and reactions to all that happens in life. Recognize the power that you have in choosing your thoughts.

The final step is to be proactive about things in your life that are making you unhappy. Once you have begun to recognize and change your thought patterns about these things, take the next step and do something to change what is bringing you down. Use your new perspective as impetus to make positive change in your life.

New Layout - Yeigh or Neigh?

2009-09-10T15:58:00.004-04:00

For those of you who are regular visitors here I'm sure you have noticed that I have been playing with the layout of my blog quite a bit lately. I'm extremely creative and feel rather restricted by the limited number of layouts that this platform offers...

I'd love to hear any feedback you have on the latest layout...I dig it but wish I could incorporate more art or photos somehow...

If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to share!

What's Your Excuse?

2009-09-08T22:33:00.010-04:00

Sometimes we find ourselves incapable of moving forward with plans in our business, career or personal life. Many times the issue is not that we don't know what we should do, but instead that we find innumerable excuses why we can't or don't follow through on those plans. Take a moment to consider what some of your current excuses are…

One of the most common that I have heard from clients lately is that they are not ready to move forward with plans to grow a business or make a career change because of the uncertainty in our economy. Others include scarcity of funding, timing issues such as having a young family and also concern over the success of a new venture. All of these are coming from a perspective of scarcity. This perspective has been the dominant view in our society in the recent years. The issue behind adopting this type of perspective is that when you do so, you also create self-imposed limitations on your growth, both personally and professionally. The scarcity perspective is one that is based upon fear. Fear that there isn't enough to go around. Fear that now isn't the best time to start a business. Fear that making a significant change is too daunting a task and that one will be overwhelmed with the enormity of the project.

I recently came upon a post by blogger Scott H Young entitled 'How to Stop Making Excuses' and I thought it shed an interesting light on the subject. In this post, Young recommends organizing priorities and breaking down discomfort as two of the important steps in breaking the cycle of excuse-making.

I also recommend looking closely at the excuses that are currently deterring you from taking action. Determine the root cause of the excuse. Is there something that could potentially happen in the future that is preventing you from taking action? Are you reacting out of a fear of the unknown? What would change if you took on a new perspective of the situation...perhaps one of confidence and faith. Understanding the underlying issue is a critical component to being able to move from excuse phase to action phase. In life, you either have excuses or you have results. Which do you prefer?

Dealing with Discouragement

2009-08-31T22:11:00.007-04:00

Left to our own devices, we are able to dream enormous, exciting, inspiring dreams. We grow with our visions and step out into the world with confidence. Then all of a sudden, we come across a bump in the road and all that confidence goes right out the window. Why is it that we let minor setbacks completely derail our progress? One of my clients had such an instance occur just recently. She acknowledged that a day of her life was spent worrying about what someone said to her about a particular part of her plans. This someone was a veritable stranger to boot. The point in this is that we all do this. We all allow people of no real consequence to govern how we step out into the world. Take a moment to think about the last time you let someone's comments ding your confidence and leave you feeling discouraged. Now, consider how you really want to step out and live life. When faced with situations that leave you questioning yourself and your dreams, how will you stand up? Be brilliant. Step out into the world from a place of strength within yourself. Cultivate this strength by resting in the knowledge that you are on your path to greatness.

5 Simple Ways to Lead an Inspired Life

2009-08-25T21:55:00.004-04:00

1. Take a moment every day to contemplate the magnitude and connectedness of your world. Instead of inhaling your food at mealtime, pause and consider where each element originated. Consider the process it had to go through to get from its origin to your plate. Take this concept and translate it to all aspects of your daily life. Doing this will help put things into perspective. It will make all of your big, huge problems seem a bit less significant and will actually help you move past them more effectively.

2. Spend time in nature. Go for a walk in the woods or a bike ride. Sit outside at night and look at the stars. Take time to pause and tune in to all that is going on around you.

3. Create. Even if you have dubbed yourself uncreative, take time to make things, to think of things all on your own. You have an amazing wealth of talent and knowledge within yourself. Use it to make life around you new and unique.

4. Do things that make your soul shine. Paint, draw, climb a tree, sing, jump in puddles, build a fort, throw a baseball, ride a horse. Don't let your responsibilities become so 'important' that you don't take time to have fun.

5. Look for the good in every situation....even the exquisitely crummy ones. Every experience in life is a learning opportunity - an opportunity to grow as a human being.

Help spread inspiration to the people that matter most to you!

My book

2009-08-21T22:29:00.002-04:00

I just had to take a moment to share with you how wonderful this journey has been. I have spent my entire life observing how people approach life. I am currently in the process of putting the finishing touches on my latest creative endeavor. I'm authoring a practical guide to living a purposeful life. It is my hope that this book will help others along their own journeys of self-discovery.

Everyone deserves to wake up each morning energized and enthusiastic about life. We only have one shot at this lifetime, and we never know which moment will be our last. My mission in life and with this book is to help as many people as possible to have meaningful, fulfilling lives.

I can't wait to offer this to the world!

How Far Out There are You?

2009-08-18T09:41:00.011-04:00

As you can see, I like to play with the titles of my posts. I could start discussing some 60's era Utopian ideology - that might be fun. Instead however, I'll keep this relevant and let you know what brought about today's discussion of being far out.

I love my morning cup of green tea, brought to me by the makers of Good Earth teas. I was inspired by a quote I found on today's tea bag from none other than Ralph Waldo Emerson. It read:

'Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.'

The wheels started turning and I started thinking about how you can make the most of yourself. How do you put yourself out there for the world to see? I don't mean this in the dress to impress sense....I've never been much for superficiality, although it is an unfortunate part of human nature that we make our first impressions based off of visual cues. I digress. If you have a dream, an inspired vision of how you want life to be - how do you go about getting yourself seen and your voice heard?

Are you living out loud? Are you taking decisive action to make your vision become your reality? Do you let fear control your decisions? If you find yourself making excuses like I can't afford it or I just don't have the _______ to do it yet, these are all preventing you from making the vision your reality. It all ties back to the wonderfully insightful quote that I stumbled upon today - make the most of yourself. You are bigger, more amazing and more capable that you ever give yourself credit for. Live out loud. Be ready when opportunity knocks...perhaps in doing so you will eventually create your own utopia....

I really enjoyed your responses last time - so please, feel free to share some of the ways that YOU have put yourself out there and found amazing opportunities in doing so!

Creating Your Space

2009-08-10T19:59:00.005-04:00

I recently coached a client who was feeling stuck creatively. As we discussed this feeling and what was preventing her from moving beyond it, it dawned on me that creative souls need space in their life to create just as much as they need skills, or their medium or inspiration. In fact, the creative environment needs to be a source of inspiration.

In order to tap into your creativity you have to designate a zone that you enter both physically and mentally when you are ready to engage creatively. How can you come home to a desk piled high with bills and expect to be inspired? When you have to rearrange your environment and make physical space for your creative pursuits you may interrupt the flow of energy that you were previously maintaining. Interrupt that flow and your spark is gone.

As I look around at my office I realize that I have very much established it as my own creative zone. When I sit down behind my computer my mind switches into a different mode and the thoughts, ideas, words just flow out of me. I can't access it in other parts of my house. Same goes for my painting. There is definitely something to be said about establishing a specific area dedicated solely to tapping into the flow of creative energy. If you find yourself tapped out creatively, take a look at your surroundings - Do they inspire you? Do you engage when you enter your house or creative space? Figure out a way to carve out your own little creative nook and boost that creativity!

How do YOU do it?

2009-08-06T19:59:00.003-04:00

Alright everyone...I'm opening this post up to you. I'd love to hear your suggestions and insights about the following dilemma....

Have you ever signed up for something - a teleseminar series, training course, art class, or other longer-term endeavor - and been totally gung-ho about it at the outset...only to find your interest and enthusiasm waning as you progress along? Perhaps it was a disappointing curriculum or a less-than-stellar instructor that caused you to lose interest. Perhaps your attention was grabbed by something new and exciting. Whatever the cause, you have a vested interest in sticking it out and completing whatever it was you signed up for. What do you do?

What have you done to stay interested and see the situation through to completion? How do you stave off boredom? What are your key ingredients for persistence and perseverance?

I'm looking forward to your responses!

Six Basic Fears

2009-08-02T10:12:00.010-04:00

Upon completing Napoleon Hill's 'Think & Grow Rich' I feel compelled to share one of the most striking concepts this book presents. Hill discusses what he calls the Six Ghosts of Fear in the later chapters of his book. While introducing these fears, he makes note of 'an unholy trio' of negative thought patterns that prevent people from truly receiving his message. The three members of this unholy trio are indecision, doubt and fear.

'Indecision is the seedling of fear! Indecision crystallizes into doubt, the two blend and become fear! The "blending" process is slow. This is one reason why these three enemies are so dangerous. They germinate and grow without their presence being observed.

What Hill touches upon here is critical to understanding why people are not able to reach their goals on their own. Many find themselves avoiding situations or avoiding taking action. If you find yourself in a similar place, challenge yourself to explore what is driving the avoidance. Get clear on what is keeping you from realizing your own success. Be open and honest with yourself. When you see these patterns of avoidance show up, explore what is driving them. Once you fully understand why you react in the way that you do, take action and push past the fear.

Hill then goes on to list the six basic fears - fear of poverty, fear of criticism, fear of ill health, fear of the loss of love of someone, fear of old age, fear of death. He mentions that all other fears can be grouped under one of these headings. Then, he says something profound and worthy of great consideration:

'Fears are nothing more than states of mind. One's state of mind is subject to control and direction.'

After giving this some consideration, I implore you to analyze which fears impact your thoughts and decisions. In order to effectively manage your fears, you must get clear on what they are and how they influence your mind. How do you go about raising awareness of these fears? How can you begin to recognize and master your fears and reactions to those fears? How well do you control your own mind right now? What could you do today to change your state of mind and better manage your fears?

A Purposeful Existence

2009-07-27T21:23:00.006-04:00

I find myself drawn to helping others discover their purpose, or at the very least, live a more purposeful existence. It seems to me that if more people on this earth were living in harmony with their essence, their true nature, that many of the social ills we see today would be reduced. I'm not going to launch into some idealistic rant about saving the world, but I think that if more people were able to tune in and have faith in their infinite potential that the world really could become a better place.

I've always been a pacifist, preferring the use of language and intelligence to deal with conflict and disagreements. I know that when you are given the gift of being able to see things from the perspective of another human being the need to fight, to go to war, becomes irrelevant.

I know that having compassion for each and every human being you encounter is both necessary and challenging. Sometimes we come across people who just get under our skin. When our buttons are pushed it can be really tough to override the emotional reaction in the moment. It is the letting go of the sense of self that is difficult. Once we recognize that we are only feeding our own ego through our emotional reactions, it is far easier to exhibit loving kindness, even for those who may irritate us.

I know that when people are doing things that mean something to them they are infinitely happier, more relaxed, and more peaceful. The energy that they create works its way outwards into the world, creating a ripple effect of positivity. The more of us that tune in and start living a purposeful existence, the more of an impact we will have on the world as a whole.

Get Your Act Together

2009-07-21T19:14:00.006-04:00

Having a hard time finding time in your busy day to dedicate to yourself? Are your dreams being pushed too the back burner because you have too many other pots on the fire? If you don't seem to have enough time in the day to focus on making the changes you want to see in your life, perhaps its time for a priority check.

On a given day, what are you giving the most attention? Where is your energy focused? What things have top priority? Make a list of the top 5 current priorities. Now, once you have done that ask yourself what you would do if all of these seemingly important priorities suddenly disappeared? What would you do if nothing would stand in your way? Make a list of these top 5 aspirations/goals.

Take a look at both of your lists. How closely does the second list mirror the first? If you're like most, it doesn't. It's time to ask yourself - what can I let go of from the first list in order to make room for something from the second? How can I shift my priorities to make more room in my life for what I want?

Re-prioritizing is about making change. Many of us are very resistant to change whether we like to admit it or not. In order to really create more time in your busy life for your dreams and goals you'll need to embrace change and take action to see that you give your new priorities due attention. What you give your attention to in life grows. If you want to live your dreams, start giving them more attention.

Suffering from Perfectionitis?

2009-07-20T10:01:00.004-04:00

The desire to be perfect, while lofty in theory, can often have a disastrous effect on your ability to achieve your goals. If you suffer from perfectionitis, or the need to have everything perfect before taking action, you may find yourself on a path ridden with procrastination, excuses and inertia.

Follow these four simple steps to move beyond your need to be perfect and get things done now!

1. Analyze the purpose of your task. What is it that you gain or give to others by completing it? Use this as your focal point. Take your attention off of yourself.
2. Give yourself a self-imposed deadline if one hasn't been assigned to you. Many times when you have no set deadline for a task excuse-making can easily take over. Deadlines give you a timeframe in which to work and can help you mitigate your need to be perfect.
3. Remember your reason for doing this and just do it! Let your passion for what you are doing drive the results. Have faith in yourself and your innumerable abilities. Tell your inner critic to beat it and take action now!
4. Once you have taken action, let go of the outcome and celebrate! Don't obsess over the end result or whether or not it was perfect. Let go and congratulate yourself for doing what needed to be done.

In addition to taking these steps I implore you to challenge the concept of perfection. Perfection is an illusion. It is a self-serving way to feed the ego. If you focus not on yourself and your own needs, but on the needs of those you are trying to reach, your need to be perfect becomes irrelevant. If you are interested in further reading on this topic, a dated but still relevant article from the LA times may be of interest.

Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person. ~ Dr David M Burns

Increasing Creative Flow

2009-07-12T17:38:00.003-04:00

Many people think the road to creative genius begins with the mastery of a technique or body of knowledge. 'If I just take one more training course, all of this will come much more effortlessly….' Perhaps you have fallen victim to this pattern of thinking taking class after class, reading book after book until you've filled yourself so full of information there is no room for any flow, let alone any creative flow!

I propose trusting your intuition if you find yourself looking for an increase in creative flow. Trust that your knowledge and technique are up-to-par and live in the moment. Approach your creative endeavor with no expectations. Don't sit down expecting to crank out a masterpiece and find yourself frustrated when something doesn't work out as you had expected. Instead, sit down with an open mind and allow your essence to flow out of you onto the paper, canvas, computer screen, whatever you choose as a medium of expression. Open yourself to the experience of creating.

All that you need is already within you. Tap into your essence and allow your intuition to guide your creative endeavors.

Courage

2009-07-07T11:53:00.004-04:00

The following is something I stumbled upon some years back. It is still amazingly powerful and has taken up permanent residence on my refrigerator. I am sharing with you in hope that you may use it to fall back on when the going gets tough.

'The process of growing and learning always involves risks. Courage comes from the reserves of your mind that are much more powerful than your outside circumstances. When you realize you are bigger than your problems, you gain the courage necessary to overcome them. Courage is the power to face difficulties.

Obstacles will always look large or small to you according to whether you are large or small.

Courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined. It gives you the ability to rise above reality.

See things as you would have them be instead of as they are. Overcoming obstacles is the price of achievement, the price of success.' ~Unknown

Essence

2009-07-06T21:58:00.005-04:00

Existence in a sheer, light focus.
The breath of life flows in and out.
Energy radiates in warm, emanating waves.

A crystalline drop of my essence slides down,
suspended momentarily at the brink.

Will that essence be freed?
Will the law of gravity take its toll?

Clarity resides in that essence.
Access the core elemental self.

Think to become.
Think like every dream rests upon the focus of my thoughts.

Feel to understand.
Feel like a blind man groping gracefully in his infinite darkness.

Want More Free Time Mom?

2009-07-02T16:40:00.008-04:00

When you find that life isn't exactly cooperating with you and you're being pulled in 15 different directions at once, there are some simple things you can do to make life more manageable. You have a measure of control over how your prioritize your life. Making your business and your passions a part of your daily life requires discipline and commitment.

So you say you want more free time to pursue the things that make you warm and fuzzy (and I'm not referring to that glass of red wine you just polished off...)...

Take a look at what you are doing right now on a daily basis that can be put off to a later time. If you're a busy mom & entrepreneur like myself, make a decision about what can wait. Let the dishes pile up for a day. Let laundry mountain soar to new heights. Really...who cares if those things get backed up a bit? If it means freeing up some much needed time to focus on your business or your passion I say DO IT! Your kids aren't going to care if the daily chores don't get done...are they? Re-prioritizing your life will provide you with time to focus on your own needs. It's okay to take time out to take care of yourself.

Another thing you can try is delegating. Ask your husband or partner to pick up some slack so you can take time out for you and your business. If your kids are old enough, let them take over some of the household responsibilities. Consider hiring a part-time housekeeper or assistant to lighten the load.

Try this on for size... When you take better care of yourself and take time to focus on your own happiness it creates a trickle down effect. When you are happier you are a better mom & wife and a better businesswoman. Everyone benefits! This perspective is especially effective in persuading the less-than-enthused husband about picking up some of daily chores!

Creating the time needed to effectively grow a business takes sacrifice and commitment. You must mentally commit to creating the life you want (I'm talking BIG picture thinking here folks) and to growing your business. Put the time your kids are in bed to best use. Instead of watching tonight's episode of the Bachelor or So You Think You Can Dance, sit down and get to work! If you really want to achieve success, commit and discipline yourself. Make no excuses. I was recently on a call with solopreneur marketing guru Fabienne Frederickson and she said something that really resonated with me - 'you either have excuses or you have results.' Use this message - live by it. Get the results you want from life by changing your priorities, shifting your expectations and making no excuses.

Opening to Opportunity

2009-06-23T19:05:00.008-04:00

The hardest aspect of embarking on your journey to a life of purpose is taking the first step. Mustering the courage to make your first move can take some people a lifetime. Some other unfortunate souls never take the leap, and pass out of this life without ever realizing their full potential.

The motivation you will need to move from thinking mode into action mode can be found in a million places. It can come from the passionate disdain you may have for your current situation. It can come from a deep and sudden understanding of the finite nature of your existence. It can come from the realization that a certain amount of your life has already passed you by and so many of your dreams are as yet unfulfilled. Your dreams are to be unleashed by a motivation unique to you. Chances are if you have already begun envisioning your ideal life, you know what it is motivates you. Tune in to that voice. Let it be the driving force along your journey.

Have faith that once you make the leap into the unknown and commit to your path, all sorts of amazing opportunities will present themselves. Keep your mind open to opportunity. If you stumble upon something that sparks your interest or stirs something within you - follow it. Don't hesitate, just act upon that intuitive feeling. You never know what unbelievable, life-changing experience lies around the next corner. If you need a daily reminder and dose of inspiration from the Universe, try Mike Dooley's Notes from The Universe. In order for all of these amazing opportunities to occur you must be out there doing things. In doing, you will invariably be making yourself open to receiving the opportunities as they present themselves. In essence, align your thoughts with your actions and the opportunities will inevitably follow. Have persistence in following your path and have faith in the knowledge that everything will work out exactly as it needs to.

First Steps to Living Your Life Purpose

2009-06-18T17:15:00.005-04:00

If you are someone who feels compelled to live a life of purpose and leave your mark on the world, this post is for you. It is for the people who want so badly to offer themselves to the world, but simply do not know where to begin. I'm going to show you how to begin, right here, right now.

1. Get clear on what you value. What qualities or characteristics in life and in people do you hold closest? Honesty? Authenticity? Spontaneity? Intellect? Giving back to the community? What are your 'soap box' issues? What things are you willing to take a stand to defend?

2. Get clear on what you are best at doing and being. Everyone has some things that they can do better than anyone else. What are yours? What are your innate characteristics? Play to your strengths. You were given these gifts for a reason. Make sure you are utilizing them in everyday life.

3. Take a long hard look at your current situation. Where does your current life not include your top values and strengths? Define the gaps between where you are today and what life would look like when you are capitalizing off all of your values and strengths. Align your life with those attributes.

4. Build a support network of people who have a positive energy and impact on you. You will require an immense amount of courage if you are going to make significant changes in your life. It is crucial to have strong, optimistic, supportive people in your life. Working with a life coach or mentor is a valuable strategy in building this network.

5. Devise a way to create space in your life to focus solely on your vision. It does not have to be hours, simply setting aside 15 minutes a day to dream, plan and act is enough at the outset.

The most important factor in living your life purpose is uncovering the compelling force within you that will propel you into action. You have to want it badly enough to do something about it. Have confidence in yourself and know that the path you choose was designated especially for you. Follow it bravely and live life to the fullest.

Living Your Inspired Vision

2009-06-11T20:16:00.009-04:00

Do you ever take time to reflect on your life? On what it means to be human? Is your life as good as it can possibly be or do some areas fall a bit short of ideal?

I've spent my lifetime contemplating, analyzing, and dreaming. In retrospect, I see how everything I have experienced culminates at this exact moment in time and space. Taking a step back from life as it is has enabled me to recognize and appreciate this. Only recently have I had the courage to really tune in and turn on to the life force that flows through me. Doing this has shown me how to live my life in line with my essence. I have developed a system that has enabled me to raise my own awareness of this energy flow. That system has included much time spent with my thoughts, honing my ability to be mentally disciplined through meditation. It has included getting out of my own way and opening myself up to the larger spiritual force that surrounds us. The system has included much journaling and introspection. I have created space in my life so that I can actualize my own inspired vision.

This inspired vision that I refer to is an image of an ideal life. It is not just a lofty dream, but a vision that exists in your soul... in your essence. It is all-encompassing. It is here, now. It is having faith in yourself and in the energy force that connects us all. It is a means by which you can rearrange your thinking and approach to life in order to see the beauty in all that you have, in all that you are, and in all that surrounds you.

Best Ways to Be Well

2009-06-05T18:40:00.006-04:00

In a moment of inspiration and clarity I conceived of 5 simple ways to live a better life:

Be Here. Live in the present moment. The past and future are veritable figments of your imagination. Dwelling on either prevents you from seeing the beauty of the present moment. Be here, now.

Be Kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a difficult battle. Before you judge a person for their behavior, seek out the reasons behind it. Have compassion for their plight.

Be Open. Be open to every experience. Live with the mind of a beginner and the world will never cease to amaze and engage you.

Be Honest. Be honest and open with yourself. If you claim your own truths no one can ever degrade you.

Be Brave. Be brave on your journey. No one knows what is best for you except you!

I hope you can take these with you on your journey. I would love for people to share - what are some of your own truths?

Our Inspired Economy

2009-06-03T20:13:00.011-04:00

As I sit and reflect on all of the negativity that has been prevalent since the start of the current economic downturn I find myself questioning its validity. Doom and gloom comments and negative news coverage have been crammed down our throats for months. I wonder, is it really that bad? For some who have lost homes and jobs life has certainly become more difficult. For many others, life hasn't really changed too significantly. We may be able to indulge less frequently but by no means are we destitute. I see that out of the ashes an increased sense of awareness has arisen. People are far more concerned with the quality of their lives than the quantity of things they possess.

Consumerism is decreasing. People are far less concerned with material possessions than they have been in recent decades. There is an increased concern with the value of life itself. People have been forced to recognize that change is inevitable. There are no givens in life, aside from change.

Because of this shift in consciousness, we are seeing a movement towards awareness thinking and social responsibility. This is due in large part to the number of people who have been downsized, outsourced and laid off. I think it is also due to the people who have watched their colleagues 'disappear' and wondered, 'who's next?' A major reason many people enter Corporate America in the first place is for job security and career stability. When colleagues, or even you, are handed a pink slip and sent packing you begin to wonder what else is possible. If the security you sought in your Corporate job is just an illusion, why not strike out on your own and take a stab at whatever it is you have always wanted to do?

This is a root source for what I like to call an inspired economy. From all that I see when I look at what is really going on, people are taking this bump in the road and turning it into a thing of beauty. I see more motivated, inspired people around every corner that I turn. If you find yourself struggling with the climate of negativity that the media wishes to force upon us I suggest taking a fresh look at life. Don't succumb to the culture of fear that is being impressed upon you. Try on a new perspective. Look for the positive changes that are coming about because of the current economic issues the world is facing. Seek out inspirational people and connect with them. How you choose to look at life and who you choose to associate with will determine what kind of life you will have.

What kind of perspective do you have on life? Is it serving you well? If not, make a move today to change your point of view. One small change in attitude can open up a multitude of opportunities for positive change.

Benefits of Working with a Life Coach

2009-05-20T14:25:00.012-04:00

While coaching has been around for several decades, I think many people remain rather unfamiliar with exactly how coaching works and more importantly, how they can benefit from working with a coach.

The power of coaching lies in the basic premise that the client holds his or her own truths. It is the job of the client to discover his or her own solutions. After all, who else knows best about what is right for you than you! The coach acts as a facilitator and guide to the client along his or her journey. The coach also helps the client think strategically and formulate a defined action plan. One of the key ingredients in effective coaching is accountability - holding the client to what he or she says s/he wants in life. I'm not going to get into the specifics of how the coaching process works, as that can best be exemplified through a sample coaching session. Experiencing the power of coaching firsthand has a much stronger impact than listening to someone explain the logistics of the process.

What I am going to divulge are the benefits to you should you choose to hire a coach.

1. You will receive assistance in defining what your ideal life should look like. A coach will help you assess your current situation and engineer an action plan to motivate you towards your ideal situation.

2. You will learn how to clear mental and physical clutter from your life, enabling you to more effectively manage your time and prioritize your life. You will notice an abundance of time to dedicate to pursuing your vision of an ideal life.

3. You will build confidence, overcome anxiety and fear as they relate to your goals. You will have a personal champion who is dedicated to your success and willing to explore inaction and failure as it arises. This is critical to your development. You will learn to you face your fears head on and create new perspectives to enable your forward progress.

4. You will have an increased sense of urgency and motivation about your vision of an ideal life. Your coach will help you set goals that stretch you, enable you to grow. Your achievements will occur in small incremental amounts that all lead to the accomplishment of the big picture goal.

5. You will have an unattached thinking and accountability partner who will hold you to what you say you want. The aspect of accountability helps you achieve your goals faster than you would on your own!

Watching the effects of coaching unfold is awesome. It is exhilarating to witness a human being transform from a ball of self-doubt and cluttered thinking into a strong, centered, focused powerhouse of action!

Being at Choice

2009-05-18T18:27:00.008-04:00

For the past several days I have found myself in a bit of a funk. While the weather here in Atlanta has been overcast, muggy and dreary, I have felt as though a sneaky gray cloud has been following me around, ready to rain at a moments notice.

Sometimes we find ourselves stuck and unable to see the bigger picture, despite sensing its omnipresence. If you find yourself stuck, feeling relatively yucky and unable to pull yourself out of your mood, one of the best ways to start to shed the negativity is by listening to your thoughts. If you find yourself focusing on the 'I don't....', I shouldn't....', 'I'm worried that...' or any other invalidating thought pattern - challenge it. Ask yourself what purpose is being served by dwelling on this series of thoughts. Try to shift from a perspective of scarcity to one of abundance. Instead of dwelling on all that your life lacks, or all the things you wish you had, turn your attention to how much you have right in this present moment. It can safely be said for many of us that life could be a whole lot worse.

Dwelling on the difficulties will only make life seem more difficult. Simple concept in theory, right? Unfortunately we find it much more difficult in actual practice. I do believe that we can train the mind to recognize when we're dwelling. Practicing mindfulness about our thought patterns is a useful tactic to facilitate the shift in perspective from scarcity to abundance.

Another factor to consider when attempting to elevate your mood and find happiness with your life as it is right now is the fact that you are at choice in life. You can make a choice about how you want to look at life. You can choose to change things in your life that aren't working. You have made the choice thus far to deal with these things in a certain way. If you are in a suffocating relationship or a career that is draining all your energy and giving you no fulfillment make the choice to change that - today. It takes a great deal of courage to make significant changes. If you don't like what life looks like today, make different choices. Being at choice is empowering. Start creating a life you want instead of reacting to the one you have today.

Cycle

2009-05-12T19:50:00.005-04:00

Grey film covering,
Crackling death on trees.
The encompassing whiteness
emphasizes the absence.
Violet, early dusk
Unforgiving cold,
seemingly neverending.
Premature hints of warmth begin,
Encouraging life to protrude
from the crusted, cracked earth.
Rays of sun
slice the icy air,
Reflecting life,
Reflecting another birth.
Smacked upside the head,
Full-blown heat,
Sizzling with saturation.
The glorious sun beating
Its happiness
into every living thing.
Colors alive
regain perpetual motion.
Tiny details become massive
bringing definite clarity.
The ever-present winds remind
warmth, comfort are never permanent.
Life begins to drain,
colors fade to near grey shades.
Life is sucked back in again
in preparation for dormancy,
Promising the cyclic renewal.

On Becoming an Entrepreneur

2009-05-10T20:13:00.008-04:00

The path to becoming a successful entrepreneur is wrought with challenges and obstacles. However, one need not be intimidated by its daunting nature. There are a number of things that can be done to get you from where you are now to where you want to be - successful, self-employed, and contributing to the greater good.

The first step in becoming an entrepreneur is defining your vision. If you find yourself having stumbled upon a brilliant new idea and know just who would benefit from it, consider yourself at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. In order for your venture to be successful, you have to know where you are going. That being said, it is entirely possible that this vision may morph over time, but knowing where your going is imperative in laying an action plan to get you there.

Before you begin on your path to self-employment, there are a number of things you will need to assess. The first is your intuition. What is your gut telling you about your vision? When you conceptualize this endeavor, pay attention to how it feels. Chances are you will know when you have a hit. Opportunities start to unfold for you when you are pursuing something in line with your essence.

The next check is your qualifications. Do you have the necessary skill sets and education to back up this brilliant idea? When I reference education, I do not mean formal education though this could certainly play a part. Education can come from any and all aspects of life. Qualifications can be your inherent abilities and strengths as well as actual education or prior professional experience. After an honest assessment of your abilities, do you find yourself lacking in any areas? Perhaps enlisting in the assistance of a mentor could be useful in filling knowledge or experiential gaps.

After reviewing your qualifications you'll need to assess your current reality. Does your current life afford you the opportunity to take the risks associated with starting your own business? What arrangements can you make in your current situation that will enable you to reprioritize? Proper attention to this area is critical, because your business will require an exorbitant amount of commitment and effort in its initial phases. In order to ensure its success, you must begin it with a sense of overall balance in your life.

The final assessment you will need to make is whether or not your finances are in order. Do you have the ability to fund the start-up yourself? Can you find the appropriate investors to ensure you have adequate capital to begin? Also, making sure your own finances are in order will ensure that you are as appealing as possible to potential lenders, especially with the current market conditions preventing adequate credit liquidity.

A final note on becoming an entrepreneur - during your entire life you are at choice. You make choices on a daily basis. Even not choosing to do something is a choice. Keep this with you when you begin your journey. Make the conscious decision to commit to your vision, and coordinate your action around this commitment. Take one step every day to bring you closer to achieving your goal. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed by thinking too broadly about your undertaking. Break the journey down into succinct, measurable steps. If something still feels too daunting, break it down even further until it is something you can do today. Go do it!

A Lesson on Stillness

2009-05-02T20:30:00.009-04:00

As I find myself working diligently this fine Saturday afternoon, pondering what aspect of life I feel inspired to address, I pause and take a moment to just be still. I hear the rain as it drizzles down out of the milky gray sky, pattering upon the unfurling spring leaves on its way to nourish the earth. Birds chirp outside my window and the smell of warmth and moisture in the air brings a rush of memories of my youth, of years passed. I have the sudden realization that I have been too busy doing. This time to just be is what I most needed.

Too often in life, we forget to take a time out to just be. It's always off to this meeting or 'can you hang on? I gotta take this call....', deleting hundreds of useless emails while worrying about an impending deadline - you name it. Multi-tasking is the modern day mantra. I often wonder if people even remember how to slow down. I wonder if they understand the value of taking time to just be.

When you take time to just be you open your awareness to the beauty of the present moment. The present moment is all that really exists. The past and future are veritable figments of your imagination. We use these concepts to reinforce our existence, our notion of self. Unfortunately, many of us spend the majority of our time thinking about what has happened or what is going to happen. We forget to focus on the present moment.

Seize this moment right now and clear your mind. Stop thinking about what you need to do tomorrow. Stop thinking about how you could have done something differently. Ask yourself, how are you being right now? How is your life right at this very moment? Experience what it feels like to just be.

“What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Perhaps it is time to focus more on being… to pay more attention to what lies within.

Facing Your Fears

2009-04-26T16:06:00.017-04:00

Let us say you find yourself facing a seemingly overwhelming challenge. Perhaps you are considering starting your own business. Depending on the level of consideration you have given this future undertaking, you may find yourself faced with an overwhelming number of fears...Fear that you may not have what it takes to get your business off the ground....Fear that you don't have the requisite knowledge about running a business to make it successful. Fear is a natural response to the unknown. While natural, fear can also be debilitating. It can preoccupy us. It can become what we focus on the most. It can make us truly believe that we are not competent enough to do it, whatever your 'it' may be. It can derail us from our own true path. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the fears you are facing on your path to purpose there are several things you can do. Moving from this place where you see only limitations to a place where you see endless possibility is a great way to overcome fear. How have you gotten to where you are right now in life? Have you always had all the answers before you did something new? We spend our lives growing and learning as we go. No one is born with all the answers. Someone recently made mention of this to me in a wonderful way. 'Confidence follows mastery.' It is perfectly normal to have doubts, fear, and anxiety when you are starting out. What we do with those fears is ultimately what will determine how we move forward. Take a few moments to gather together all of your fears about starting your business. Write them all down on a piece of paper - the big ones and the small ones. Get them out of your head and onto paper. Give the fears a place of their own - on that paper. If the fears need to be addressed, once they are on paper you can do so objectively in a logical, rational manner. When something inside you starts turning your attention to any of these fears, or even any new fears from here out, acknowledge the fear and revisit your list. Remind yourself that you've given these fears a place to exist - on paper. The place you've given them will keep them out of your conscious day-to-day planning, dreaming, and achieving and will enable you to address them in a constructive, motivating manner.

Here and Now

2009-04-23T23:15:00.003-04:00

'The painter has to wrestle with color, canvas, and brushes, the sculptor with stone and chisel...yet, the creative act, their "vision" of what they are going to create, transcends time. It is the same for every manifestation of being. The experience of loving, of joy, of grasping truth does not occur in time, but in the here and now. The here and now is eternity...' -Erich Fromm, To Have or to Be

Need a Plan B?

2009-04-20T19:13:00.008-04:00

The current climate in corporate America is unprecedented in modern times. Every day honest, hard-working employees schlep into the office hoping that today won’t be the day they fall victim to the latest round of layoffs. Rumors abound about the impending downsizing effort at XYZ Financial Group, aimed at realigning the company in the best interest of its shareholders, returning to profitability, regaining client's trust. If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, hmmm…. What if I am next in line to go under the chopping block? Has my game been played defensively enough? Do I look like I’m at my most productive? Do I appear to care enough about my job? You are not alone. There is no such thing as job security in today’s corporate America. Gone are the days when an employee commits his undying loyalty to a corporation in exchange for secure employment, benefits, a shiny gold watch and a retirement pension. Today, you never know when you will fall victim to a downsizing, reorganization, or a merger. Politics and bureaucracy reign supreme. Because of this, many of us have been taking stock lately, wondering what we will do if our Plan A goes the way of the Dodo. What is your Plan B? Another job just like the one you have now but at ABC Financial instead? If the thought of having to find another job just like the one you already have makes you uncontrollably nauseous, you are not alone. Grab a trash can, heave, and read on.

You may now be thinking, okay, maybe I don’t have to get a job just like this one, but what else could I do? I have 10+ years experience in this field. Can I just start from scratch somewhere else? Yes, you can. But, I implore you to think outside the box. Explore your options fully before making a decision. Experience is important as it can be parlayed into consulting, freelancing or used as a building block in a new business. More important is what you have learned about yourself during your years of corporate servitude. What do you do everyday, even at your current job that makes it seem worthwhile, even if just for a fleeting moment? What have you done during your life that energizes you? When in your life have you felt most creative? What gifts do you have that you would like to make available to the world? What are your strongest beliefs about yourself and the world right now? Do you have a strong urge to make a positive impact on society? Have you been toying with the idea of starting your own business?

Some of us just aren’t the right fit for Corporate America. If you feel like a square peg in a round hole when you take a hard look at how you fit in, don’t be discouraged. You can do something about it! For instance, in this age of technology, starting up your own business and being a solopreneur is easier than ever. This is absolutely not to discount the ongoing, focused commitment and motivation that you will need to make it successful (as well as a great idea and well-defined niche). It will not be an easy journey, but it will be yours! You will own it every step of the way. All of your hard work, intelligence, creativity and innovation will be poured directly into your own endeavor. You can paint this picture in whatever way you wish. On the journey through self-employment, you will learn more than you ever thought possible (and ever did in your corporate job). You will probably fall on your face a few times along the way too. When we do fall down, we have amazing opportunities to learn. When we take risks in life we have the opportunity to say we lived our life to the best of our ability. Whatever it is that makes you tick, I ask one thing of you – do not settle! You have something amazing to offer this world and you have one chance at this life – make it your own.

Personality Types - Friend or Foe?

2009-04-14T21:44:00.007-04:00

I have recently been engaged in some research on different personality assessments and types. Of course I am completely fascinated by the way in which certain characteristics often occur together within a person, and that these characteristics can be grouped and transferred from person to person to develop the 'personality type'. There are a number of different typologies - Jung's introvert/extrovert, intuitive/sensing, thinking/feeling, perceiving/judging, Don Richard Riso's Enneagram to list a few. I find it unbelievably intriguing to discover that someone has devised a remarkably accurate way to categorize me, to put me in a neat little box. For example, upon answering a slew of questions on several different Myers-Briggs assessment sites, I was stamped with the ENFP logo. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the characteristics of an ENFP, here is a breakdown from kiersey.com which I found indulgently appealing.

'Fiercely individualistic, Champions strive toward a kind of personal authenticity, and this intention always to be themselves is usually quite attractive to others. At the same time, Champions have outstanding intuitive powers and can tell what is going on inside of others, reading hidden emotions and giving special significance to words or actions. In fact, Champions are constantly scanning the social environment, and no intriguing character or silent motive is likely to escape their attention. Far more than the other Idealists, Champions are keen and probing observers of the people around them, and are capable of intense concentration on another individual. Their attention is rarely passive or casual. On the contrary, Champions tend to be extra sensitive and alert, always ready for emergencies, always on the lookout for what's possible. Champions are good with people and usually have a wide range of personal relationships. They are warm and full of energy with their friends. They are likable and at ease with colleagues, and handle their employees or students with great skill. They are good in public and on the telephone, and are so spontaneous and dramatic that others love to be in their company. Champions are positive, exuberant people. Often their confidence in the goodness of life and of human nature makes good things happen.'

I have to say it hit the nail on the head for the most part. That said, I think there is a certain danger in labeling someone as a specific personality type (or anything for that matter). While it can be useful to better understand how a person is motivated or why that person communicates in a certain manner, it can also be drastically limiting if used as a universal truth. When we label something we limit it to the borders of that label. Once labeled, we think we are able to understand the whole being based on just one of its parts. We conveniently tuck it away in the filing cabinet of our mind, in the folder marked ‘understood’. In a culture that favors dichotomies (good versus evil, rich versus poor, us versus them, etc), this can be very dangerous. When we label a person, we fail to see the radiant, all-encompassing, ever-changing whole. There can truly be no borders on a personality, on a person. Every moment we exist is a fresh new moment, never to be duplicated again. How can one put a limit on that?

Contemplating Success

2009-04-08T12:33:00.009-04:00

When assessing your life and trying to determine which direction you want your path to take, it seems essential to consider what you want the end result to look like. The end result isn't always the most important part of the equation, but considering what success looks like to you, defining it in your own terms, is critical to the attainment of all that you envision. What does your image of success look like? If you are unsure of the answer to that question, a good place to begin is an assessment of your values. What standards do you hold yourself to in life? Do you place a heavy emphasis on partnership? honesty? creativity? risk taking? tradition? adventure? lack of pretense? These are just some ideas to get your mind engaged. Brainstorm your values for a few moments. Decide what is most important to you in life. Once you are satisfied with a rough outline of your values, take these notions and apply them to an image of success. To be successful what do you need most in your life? In our culture fame, financial freedom, material extravagance, vitality, and independence are often the accepted images of success. I challenge you to sketch out your own image. Include your values as a basis for your design. To me success encompasses freedom to express myself creatively through words and art. It means having control over my own destiny and knowing that all of my hard work, commitment and intelligence are being funneled directly into my own business endeavors. It means knowing that I am truly helping people to better themselves and find their own calling in life through collaborative efforts and by being authentically present.

Begin the Journey to a Life of Purpose

2009-04-02T21:47:00.000-04:00

There can be no one prescribed method for finding your life's purpose. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have found ours know that there is a multitude of influences that enabled us to reach that level of understanding. Looking back at your life is a great way to start on your path to purpose. Were there points in time where you notice yourself starting down a certain path, perhaps more than once, only to find yourself thwarted by some unforeseen event? What types of activities and people do you naturally gravitate towards? What are your real needs? How much are you willing to sacrifice in order to meet those needs? When you are at the end of your life what do you want to look back and see? What do you want your legacy to be? Take some time with these questions. Jot down images, feelings--anything that comes to mind. Think about the times in your life when you felt most open, most creative, most grounded, most balanced. Explore where you were in your life at these times. Chances are, if you are tuned in, you may have an inkling as to what your true calling may be. Putting things down on paper makes them more tangible. It takes them out of the realm of your thoughts and gives them life.

On Authenticity

2009-03-29T20:36:00.000-04:00

I am at a point in my journey where I am reflecting on what it means to be authentic. How does one tap into their inner truth? How many layers must be peeled away before that aura of light energy is able to radiate outwards? Is it possible to be there already and not realize it? If one is truly in touch is it possible to be 'in the moment' at one point in time and then disconnected another? I posit that you do experience moments of enlightenment, of authenticity, when you are fully present and fully open. When I sit and observe my daughter, totally engrossed in an activity, the world quiets and I am able to experience overwhelming loving kindness and warmth. It is not directed at her, or at anything, it just exists for a split second and then a thought arises and I am pulled back into my mind. Other times we are pulled into the whirling turbulence of life and lose our authentic self, our open awareness, and get swept away in an emotionally charged reaction to something. I have been reintroduced to the fluidity of life with my current quest for knowledge and the expansion of my program. I am tuned in. For quite awhile I was asleep at the wheel; doing what I was supposed to do and putting on a good front. In retrospect I see that it was only my self that was getting conned. I have always looked externally for guidance to my true calling. I know not if it is maturity that has awakened me to the fact that I hold the answers, or the utter absurdity of my most recent vocation that has left me jaded and in search of a higher purpose. I do know that it is time for me to be true to myself. If one has the desire to look within, to look at the self objectively and put in the effort to change that which hinders, one can achieve authenticity.

So You Want to Know….What is an Innerpreneur?

2009-03-20T18:42:00.000-04:00

Innerpreneur is a term coined in Ron Rentel's Karma Queens, Geek Gods & Innerpreneurs. The innerpreneur shares quite a bit in common with the far more familiar entrepreneur - need for achievement, independence, obsession with opportunity, propensity for taking risks, etc. The difference between the Innerpreneur and the Entrepreneur however is that the former takes his or her business and uses it for personal fulfillment and as a mechanism for social change.

As an innerpreneur I believe that I should do what I am and love what I do. I am motivated to have a positive impact on the world around me. I realize that our time to truly leave our mark is fleeting. I want to look back on my life and know that I made a difference in people's lives. Below is a list of 15 interesting facts about Innerpreneurs that I found on www.elasticmind.ca....please peruse and enjoy

1. Many of us embraced innerpreneurialism after first trying (and disliking) more conventional careers and professions.

2. We are credited with the rise in popularity of cause marketing. The idea that businesses should give back has become more mainstream because of our influence on society.

3. Innerpreneurs are credited with creating New Urbanism, a social movement against suburbanism. In the heart of small cities like Portland, Oregon new communities are being built by innerpreneurs. In them, the houses are closer together, there are sidewalks and bike lanes and the community is a mixture of residential, office and retail. Glenwood Park in Atlanta, Georgia is a thriving example of what the New Urbanism movement has created.

4. Sabbaticals are popular with innerpreneurs who can’t change careers completely.
Sabbaticals give part-time innerpreneurs a chance to explore parts of themselves that their career does not allow.

5. Popular innerpreneurial pursuits include: life coach counseling, blogging, athletic challenges, volunteering and vacations with meaning.

6.      Notable innerpreneurs include:
      Jaime Clarke – Adventurer-Lecturer
      Nina Planck – Food Writer and Expert on Farmers Markets
      Dr. Joseph Helms – Medical Innovator
      Gary Hirshberg – CE-Yo of Stoneyfield Farm
      Carlo Petrini – Founder of the Slow Food Movement
      Jack Cogen – Environmental Financier

7. While Cultural Creatives are members of the ‘creative class’, we are not the ‘creative class’. The ‘creative class’ defines those who are employed in fields ranging from science and engineering to architecture and design, and from arts, music, and entertainment to the creative professions law, business and finance, health care and related fields. This class of people is defined by what they do, not by their world-views.

8. A defining characteristic of Innerpreneurs, and Cultural Creatives in general, is our ability to see ourselves as part of something bigger. We see that everything relates as an interwoven piece of nature. This way of thinking is called Systems Thinking.

9. 60% of Cultural Creatives are women.

10. There are two branches of Cultural Creatives – Green CC’s and Core CC’s.
We are pretty much split down the middle with there being slightly more Green CC’s. Core CC’s are much more fascinated by personal growth and spirituality, as well as social activism. Green CC’s values are much more extroverted and less intensely held. And they tend to have a more traditional religious point of view. What we both share is our desire to make things better, both socially and environmentally. Innerpreneurs are members of the Core CC branch. While social entrepreneurs are members of the Green CC branch.

11. We are no more liberal or conservative, left or right than the average Westerner.
We are what could best be described as retro-progressive, a combination of both ideals. This very fact will be our greatest tool in healing the current culture war between Modern and Traditional.

12. A fair number of us belong to religious conservative denominations. While most nonstandard believers of Eastern religions and spirituality are CC’s, they are a minority in the subculture. We are also Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Christian Scientists and agnostics.

13. Each of us followed the same 4 steps to becoming a Cultural Creative.

14. We are not the first counterculture to defect from Modernism. The Traditionals were the first, beginning their movement around 1870. This is interesting as it is contrary to the claims of Traditionals. They argue that Moderns were the ones who departed from what was conventional.

15. Our movement is a healing movement. We desire for things to be made whole. For mankind to wake up to their true desires.

Getting Out of Your Own Way

2009-03-18T09:42:00.001-04:00

Many people go through life assuming that it is basic human nature to doubt one's abilities, especially in American culture. We are constantly bombarded with media blitzes advising us of the latest and greatest thing we cannot live without. Subliminally these messages are advising us that we are fundamentally flawed. So, when faced with the challenge of motivating oneself, it is not surprising that we typically cave in to our own negative self-talk. We find ourselves making excuses as to why this isn't the right time to do what it is we've always dreamed of - start that little coffee shop, go back to school, ask the boss for a raise - anything that could potentially result in failure. The reasoning? That little voice inside of you that says 'you can't do that....', in formal coaching circles it is often referred to as your Gremlin. What you have to do is become more aware of your inner Gremlin. Notice when he raises his ugly head and starts his negative tirade. Once you begin to notice his antics, you can shoo him away and focus on your goal! Awareness of this pesky creature is the key. I’m going to let you in on a little secret about achieving your goal -- you can do it!!! It is harder to live day by day in the doldrums of something for which you have no passion than it is to take the great leap forward into the unknown!