I Can't Do That !?
I while back, I was in California visiting my Step-daughter. It was a fabulous vacation and we took in everything we possibly could from Santa Monica to Big Sur. The beach, hiking, yoga, great food, long walks, the Hollywood Bowl, Cirque du Soleil, and on my last night there, I even had the opportunity to speak briefly with Marianne Williamson (one of my favorite authors).
Yet the highlight was absolutely my first ever flight on a trapeze. When we arrived at Gaonas Trapeze Workshop my jaw dropped and I was in awe gazing up at the ladders, structures and swings…particularly after having seen Cirque du Soleil the previous evening. With knees shaking, we donned safety belts, took turns climbing to an 8 inch wide platform hanging high above the ground and then took the leap of faith to grab that bar and fly through the air with the greatest of ease.
After the fifth or sixth flight, it was time for me to fly, hook my legs on to the swing, let my hands go, connect with someone on another swing, fly with them holding me by my arms, release to reconnect with my original swing, and then drop to the net below. Are you kidding me?? Really?
With our coach calling out instructions to me from the ground far below I felt my palms sweating, my heart racing and, without a thought, I said “I can’t do that”. As soon as the words left my mouth I remembered that we create what we believe to be true. I know this, I share it with others and, even still, I muttered those words in fear. Even though I knew that I had the physical strength, I was telling myself I couldn’t. Interesting how we do that, isn’t it? So, once again, I recalled Henry Ford’s famous quote “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right” and then I flew!!
It was amazing! The most empowering thing I have done in a very long time. There is true strengthening of character in pushing through what we think we can’t do and basking in the glory (in my case the net) of a job well done.
Sure fear can paralyze us but, if we choose to change our thinking, it can also be a great motivator. It is an opportunity to dig deep, find the courage we all possess, and feel a well deserved sense of pride and accomplishment.
Whatever it is….push through it. You’ve got this!! Regardless of the outcome, you will feel stronger and more empowered for even having given the effort. And be wise, it never hurts to have a safety net.:)
Have a great month everyone!
Much Love, Margie
Be a Lifelong Student
I'm certain that I will always be a seeker of spiritual knowledge and emotional well being. I say this not because I feel that something is wrong and needs to be fixed in me or in my life. It is actually just the contrary. The more I learn and study the principles of higher consciousness and self-awareness, the more I’m fascinated with the personal power that already resides in me and in all of us.
At our fingertips these days is a wealth of knowledge available to those seeking deeper, more enlightened dialogue. Our local library is full of books (both written & audio). There are workshops, retreats, meet up groups, book clubs, coffee shops, spiritual circles, and more; everywhere we look. Not to mention, my personal favorite, conversations with positive & forward thinking people; particularly those who know and are eager to help and guide us toward understanding. Here is our recipe:
- Desire more meaning and consciousness in your life.
- Take some time whenever possible to just be in the moment to breath and feel your internal rather than external presence.
- Ask the universe to place more opportunities for growth and understanding in your path.
- Believe that, through the Law of Attraction, they will come!!!!
- Be open to recognition of them when they do arrive and be aware that they don’t always present themselves as we have imagined them to be.
They may come in the form of a book that is “just there” in front of you one day; a conversation, an advertisement for a retreat or group, a relationship, etc. Have you considered that it is no coincidence that you are reading this now? If you stay open and alert, you will see signs all around you. Please be aware that enrichment will ebb & flow. There will be good days and bad, highlights and heartaches, gains & losses but it’s ok, stay the course. We may recognize it now or review it later but, mark my words, they are all lessons and opportunities for personal growth. There is no sense resisting. It is your journey, it will last a lifetime and you are destined to be on it. Embrace the learning and it will embrace you back. Much Love, Margie
Feeling a little "stuck"?
One of my favorite quotes comes from Henry Ford and reads:
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.
” This quote really speaks to me because I know that if I approach a new goal or idea with a positive belief in my abilities to achieve it, my thoughts will have a direct impact on whether or not I’m successful.
How many times have you daydreamed about accomplishing a life goal or of creating the business, taking the trip, reaching the healthy weight, writing, painting (fill in the blank) of your dreams? Reaching out for what we desire in life takes courage and a passionate commitment. The only thing holding us back and making us feel stuck is fear. We have no idea whether or not we will succeed so it is natural for us to become paralyzed into inaction. For most of us, our life events have done a good job of instilling that fear. It is subtle and subconscious, yet it is there and, in most cases, it is enough to hold us back.
Yet, I believe our dreams and hopes are designed to tell us what we are here to do. To ignore them is to reject a divine gift. When we feel anything...even if it is stuck, we are feeling something. And that very place is where we begin. Feeling stuck is life's way of telling you it is time to expand and grow.
And, yes, we can move forward and still live in our "real world". We don't have to make drastic changes. We need only to recognize the dream, believe in the possibilities and begin to move toward it; taking big or baby steps, depending on your circumstances.
A Life Coach can be an invaluable addition to those steps, be they big or little. So, if you "think you can't, let's just see if maybe you can after all!!
Oh for the Love of Self!
Ah February! The month of love! It's a chance for us all to tell those we love how much we care through words & gestures and to, hopefully, nurture ourselves and each other through these last gray days of winter. Red hearts can bring a cheery light to our landscape.
Yet, as much as I love love; I find myself wishing that this were our natural state...every month of the year. In every moment (and in every month) we have a choice. We can choose to bring the love...to Be Luv....or we can choose to place expectations on ourselves and others. It can be pretty tough to be loving sometimes when others are hard on you. What's a mindful person to do? What's the secret?
The secret to love is self love in the ultimate sense! When you really understand that you are lovable just as you are, the world will understand that as well. Self loves means that you show up authentically because there is no need to hide. Because you like you! Self love means that you are confident in who you are and how you feel about yourself. Not only is that attractive. It is also the best way to insure that your tribe is the right one. That you are actually seen!
Self love means that you are so curious about yourself that you want be a lifelong student of living your happiest and healthiest life! How sweet is that !? Self love also means that you have enough respect for YOU to move away from people, circumstances, and bad habits that don't honor you and help you grow. This is a tricky one because we often feel that to be loving we must be self abandoning. Not so! As I like to say...there is a big area between bitch and doormat. Where do we choose to be on that spectrum? And how do we get there? If the scales are tipped let's talk about that. Let's decide where to make adjustments and make a plan. You deserve nothing less than the fabulous life & love that you envision!
Do you see what I see?
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. -Thomas Jefferson
I’ve learned for years, as most of us have, that when we choose to see the goodness and the gifts already present in our lives we will certainly receive more of the same. Alternately, focusing on negative events and feelings of lack will surely attract more struggle and strife. Gratitude and "Appreciative Inquiry" is one of the cornerstones and a powerful resource in the field of Positive Phycology.
Now this is not a new concept at all. And quite honestly, I can’t say for certain if a shift in my perspective over the years has brought more positive people and circumstances my way or if I am just seeing and appreciating them much more. I can say however; that, even in the face of challenging and difficult times, the gifts are there to keep me balanced and give me insight on how I can grow and learn from wherever I am.
This month I am overwhelmed and overjoyed with the gratitude I feel for the family and many good friends that the universe has brought my way. Today I challenge you to try, for 30 days if you are willing, to make a note of all the positive events, encounters, opportunities, and relationships in your day. A journal is great but if that feels complicated then you won't do it for very long. So just a mental note is good too.
Choose to see them and please dig deep to find them...I promise they are there.
They may be small and seem almost insignificant. Yet they are in your view and that is all that matters!! From the nice salad you just had for lunch to a beautiful flower that you've just notice in your yard to the smile in someone's eyes. It really doesn't matter.
Now balance these joys against any negatives. I think you will see that for every negative there are more than enough positives to help tip the scale.
What is your mission?
I recently read an article by Jim Collins on the Core Principles of a successful business. In it he explained that, to be successful, a business must have a set of standards that are, in essence, the Yin (timeless and unchanging) aspect of the organization. The Yang (opposite) aspect of a business is always evolving and growing as needs arise and visions change.
As I read Collin's article, I couldn't help but think of how having such an unwavering foundation to stand on is not only essential in a business but to every human being. Here at the Center ; my core, Yin, principles have never changed. They are printed and posted to help me remember who I want to be and why we are here. I will share them with you.
My purpose is to raise awareness for myself and others through compassionate presence and service. My mission in my business is to have a positive impact on the lives of my clients and to create an environment in which therapists and instructors feel respected, enjoyed and fully equipped to help their clients reclaim good health"
At the deepest level, we all have a set of core values that are unwavering. And we all possess qualities that we may not even remember we have. Peeling away the layers that our limits and roles have imposed will allow us to begin to operate from that foundation. We know what is good, true, and important but we often forget. So what do you need to be reminded of daily? Ask yourself this. Seriously..write down the qualities that you know are true about you. Are you patient? Are you Authentic? Are you Grateful? Are you focused? Whatever it is, write it down and look at it daily.
Now take these qualities, combine them with what you know is important to you, and create your own mission statement of what your ideal self stands for. Even if you're not there yet, mold it and visualize it often. Ritual and repetition are key. Doing this will help to create a healthy and empowering self image.
Everything going great in your life? Glad to hear it but... please hear this....when we start to adopt practices like mindfulness, meditation, yoga, etc. into our lives and make them rituals during the positive "non-crisis" times, we create a solid anchor that will support us should the winds get rough and tumultuous times come our way. Talk about saving for a rainy day!
I hope this does it's small part to help you move toward your mission.
Much Love, Margie
Right where you are is the perfect place to start!
Like anyone else, I enjoy my morning coffee, red wine, chocolate or a good bar burger from time to time. However, by and large, I have been a seeker of wellness and a healthier way of living for years now. I would comb through books on nutrition and spirituality looking for any resources that would bring me a healthier body and a balanced state of being. My choices at times were quite limited; as was the information to even teach me what those choices should be. I would drive miles to a Whole Foods so that I could pay a fortune for organic produce with little shelf life left on it. Whole grain breads and almond milk were not so available nor were grass fed meats and non GMO anything. Not to mention the supplements I bought! Who knew it didn't have to be that hard or that expensive? My friends and family would lovingly roll their eyes at me and call me “nuts & berries” or “the health nut” (A title I wore proudly). While my intention was on target, what I lacked then that we have plenty of now is the availability of products and information that help us decide how to properly care for this body that we pray is going to carry us into old age. Everywhere I look I see people making changes toward a physically and emotionally higher state. Yoga studios, local organic grocers, workplace wellness programs, and the list goes on. There are more the norm than not. Wellness is officially a revolution. It's an exciting time to be in this field and I feel blessed to do what I love. And to, on some level, make a difference in the lives of others is the icing on the cake. My studies now, as a student in the field of Positive Psychology, are giving some credibility to what this “health nut” has sensed all along..that the mind/body connection is very real. While ongoing research shows us the benefits of fueling our bodies with the proper nutrition, it also bears witness to the effects of fueling our mind and spirit as well. What to do with all this accessible wellness? When so many choices are available what do we choose? I'm glad you asked! Before I had a yoga studio, I taught yoga in the back room of a bowling alley hearing pins crashing and people yelling strike while we lay in Savasana. (I can almost see you laughing). It was the only thing available to me and I didn’t care...I believed in yoga and I was determined to share it.
I took one step forward and that is exactly where we all begin! The thought of a life overhaul is foreign to our brain and can shut us down before we begin. A change is like a transition in our movement. It deserves attention and respect. Slow down, set yourself up for success by simply beginning right where you are and taking one small, thought out step!
Much Love, Margie
Change that lasts
If I could see you sitting at your computer now I would ask for a show of hands from all of you who had set New Year's resolutions just a couple of frigid months ago. And now another show of hands please from those who have kept them. My guess is, there are not too many hands going up in homes and offices around town. I don't say this to be cruel, I say it because I know that change is hard.
We get very excited about the idea of change, we prepare in the best way we can. Our mind is made up. Whether it's joining the gym, buying the meditation cd's, joining weight watchers, whatever it takes, were on it! We took these first steps for a reason. Because we deeply desire to see these changes in our lives. We may even find we really enjoy the way we feel as a result of practicing them. Then why, oh why, when we so deeply desire these changes, do our best laid plans fall by the wayside after the honeymoon effect wears off? Often times; we set huge goals and then, when monumental change does not happen immediately, we get discouraged and begin to think that change is just not possible.
But the question is not if change is possible. We know it is. We've seen levels of it in our lives and in the lives of others. The question is how do we make changes that really last. Simply changing our minds will certainly plant the important vision. Yet, visualizing alone will not take us there. We cannot change our lives without changing our behavior. Change that lasts requires realistic, decided upon plans to introduce the new behavior.
am always talking about baby steps because if we tackle change slow and consistently we will get where we want to go. Once we adopt a ritual and make it steadfast, even on the days when we "don't feel like it", we will eventually have made this an ingrained habit as ritualistic as brushing our teeth or washing our hands. We don't do either of those things because we particularly enjoy them (personally, after years, I'm tired of them). They are rituals that our parents instilled in us long ago. We do them today because the payoff is clean teeth and hands and we would not even consider giving that up.
Don't rely on self-discipline. The reality is that we humans just don't have that much of it. Besides it can feel negative and demanding. And those overnight, life changing, "Aha moments" that we see in the movies and read about are much rarer than you might think. Our culture has become accustomed to fast, easy access to immediate results and we expect the same from our behavioral changes.
Begin at once....now. Keep your eye on the prize. Smile at the vision. Set your goal and then take action. Rely on ritual. Keep it simple to start, when that becomes a ritual, add more steps. Whatever your desires, there is no reason why we should not be able to accomplish the things our hearts & minds tell us we want. Soon they will be habits you would not consider giving up.
I can't wait to hear your success stories in the months to come, please share them! And, as always, I hope that the staff at The Center is able to help you reclaim and maintain your good health!
Much Love, Margie