Soul Speak

I write a lot about the soul – getting to know your soul, reconnecting with your soul, loving your soul, etc. Because of this, you might think that I’ve had a wonderful relationship with my soul for my entire life. Would you be surprised if I told you that it’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve been in touch with my soul?

Like all of us, I was born a spiritual being in a human body. And like many of us, as life’s hardships piled up on top of me, I became more and more weighed down and grounded into the earth. I needed to learn how to survive and find ways to go on when I felt completely broken. After many years of these hardships piling up on top of the other, I eventually forgot about my soul altogether. It took a back seat to my human life, and it waited patiently for my return.

But my soul never left. It would quietly whisper to me over the years:

I’m here. Pay attention. Don’t apply for that job. You shouldn’t be with that person. You have so much to offer to the world. Take this path rather than the one you’re currently on. Begin living again. You are so special. Your fear is an illusion. Only love exists. Stay in the present. Keep moving forward. Share your message. You are loved.

But I didn’t pay much attention to this soft voice inside of me over the years. I didn’t think much about it – I was too busy surviving. How would stopping to listen to this voice be at all helpful, anyway?

In my last post I wrote about a spiritual awakening that I experienced just over a year ago, which changed my entire world and reunited me with my soul. In my upcoming book, Coming Back to Life, I write in detail about this beautiful experience – but what I will say for now is that I received guidance from someone on the other side. As a skeptic, this wasn’t something that I took lightly. It rocked my world completely. It challenged all of my beliefs and everything I thought I knew about the world that I lived in. But over time (and lots of tangible proof that this was really happening), I began to listen, take notes, and immerse myself in this beautiful energy. I received such beautiful messages that I am looking forward to sharing with each of you when my book is complete. But probably the most important part of the entire experience was my reconnecting with my soul.

Once this happened and I remembered this part of myself, I felt whole again. I felt such a love that I’ve never felt before. It was the love from my soul, which is connected to all of you and every part of the universe. It’s the most powerful love, and it flows through each of us if we are open to it.

I now know that I will never lose touch with this part of myself again – my soul is my connection to all of life. Without that connection, I can never be fully alive. I now listen when my soul speaks.

If you are feeling this numbness – this disconnectedness – this searching for something more, something deeper, something that you have forgotten but can’t quite remember, you are longing to reconnect with your soul.

And you don’t have to have a dramatic spiritual experience where the stars align and the heavens part – you can take matters into your own hands and begin the process yourself.

I reconnect with my soul through stillness and writing. You may find another way that works better for you – dancing, painting, being in nature, etc. However you decide to reconnect, I would urge you to begin this process. Your soul has all of the answers, which means YOU have all of the answers. And though it may not always feel this way, it’s really true.

If you aren’t sure where to start, take some time to interview your soul and see what it says. Sit down, take a deep breath, center yourself, grab a pen and paper (or on the computer) and ask your soul what it wants you to know. Write down what it says. Keep asking until you are clear and know exactly what it needs you to hear. Don’t censor yourself – don’t wonder if it’s really you or your soul writing/typing. Just keep writing. You could also close your eyes when you are writing or use your opposite hand.

If you haven’t already, you can download my Journaling Within ebook for free. It contains 50 prompts to help you get in touch with your soul. It’s a great starting point!

However you choose to reconnect with your soul is up to you. The important part is that you do so. I wish I could convey how much my life has opened up since I remembered my own soul. I went from feeling numb and disillusioned and afraid to alive and aware and fully conscious. It’s amazing, and I wish that for you more than anything else. You deserve that joy and completeness. And your soul can’t wait for you to reconnect.

I would love to hear how you reconnect with your soul. Do you have a daily practice where you are still and listen to the whispers within? Do you journal? Do you meditate? Do you take walks in nature? Please comment below and share with each of us. Your words will be helpful to anyone who is still searching and wanting to reconnect but isn’t sure how to start.

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P.S. -Be sure to download your free How to be a Blog + Business Star Ebook from Leonie Dawson! It’s packed with tons of great info, including:

• How to get a super profitable business super quickly
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• Tips, tools + tricks to garnering a HUGE audience
• How to charge for your stuff (the question EVERYONE asks!)
• How to make lots of gorgeous abundance online using your creative + soulful gifts
• & how to not go bonkers and have glorious fun as you do it!

Shared Wisdom Guest Post
Featuring Shann Vander Leek

Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. – Benjamin Spock

 

I’ve witnessed and been involved in situations where personal power is traded for acceptance and peace at any cost. Life coaching clients, family, friends and yours truly, can find ourselves in situations where we relinquish our personal power and over-empower others.

If you are a highly sensitive creature like I am,  these encounters can bring forward feelings of sadness, betrayal and confusion.

Recently I was involved in a conversation about a subject matter that I knew very little about. Upon spelunking into the conversation to share an example of my rudimentary understanding, I was pounced on and treated like a fool.  It never occurred to me that I would be attacked for sharing my point of view. The exchange was unsettling because I am strong, intelligent and creative.  Instead of saying, “Shove Off,”  I let myself slide into a place of insecurity.

I gave my power to a person who was in the mood to behave badly.

The next day my husband and I discussed the scene and he counseled me to shrug off the encounter. Then, my brilliant husband asked me why I’d given my power away? Great question from the all-knowing and loving oracle!

In this particular instance,  I knew I was out gray mattered by a person who spent years interested in areas of study I had only just begin to think about. BUT, I thought it was safe to climb in, share, and explore.  When the terrain became too challenging,  I tried to explain my position, eventually lost my footing, and slipped away into a sink hole.

This encounter led me to dive deeper into the curious cave of personal power and trust.  Owning your power is an integral part of personal happiness, fulfilling connections, and achieving your potential.  You give your power away when you make someone outside of you more important than what you hold inside of you.

You give away your power when you …

• Doubt yourself.
• Try to make everyone happy.
• Over-empower others by looking for approval and validation, thus giving them the power to hurt you.
• Forget that you know what you’re doing, and you are good at it.
• Have poor boundaries.
• Allow yourself to be intimidated by bluster and emotional assaults from other people.
• Don’t honor and share your truth.

You keep your power when you …

• Learn to say “No” and mean it.
• Stand up for yourself and believe in yourself, no matter what.
• Stand on the courage of your convictions.
• Ask for what you need and want.
• Embrace the fact you have the right be treated respectfully by other people.
• Be detached and practice detachment by observing other people’s behavior without attachment to the outcome.
• Spend time with people who are kind and considerate in the midst of a spirited discussion.

Owning your power means speaking your truth, honoring your sensitivity, and believing in yourself. Your life experience, education, personal relationships, and curiosity make you wise.  Always believe in yourself and if need be, tell the bullies to shove off!

***

Successful television advertising maven turned transformation goddess, yogini, and author of Life on Your Terms. Shann Vander Leek is the founder of True Balance International, co-founder of Anxiety Slayer, and creator of the Transformation Goddess Experience. Unconventional and delightf ully curious, she inspires professional women in transition to live life on their terms and create more balance in their lives through coaching, self-care, and creative expression.  Check out her luscious new offering for women who are ready to reclaim their feminine sovereignty at www.transformationgoddess.com.

Thank you so much, Shann, for such a powerful message! I know that we have all been in situations where we have given away our power, and this is such a great reminder for all of us to always speak our truth and honor ourselves.

If this post speaks to you, please comment below and then share it on Facebook and Twitter (buttons below). Thank you for spreading the love!

P.S. – We’re already on Day 20 in our Month of Meditation! How is it going for you? Have you been giving yourself the gift of stillness each day? If you’re just seeing this for the first time, you’re more than welcome to jump right in!

P.P.S. – If you aren’t already reading my husband, Dan Teck’s blog, Halfway Up the Mountain, I definitely would encourage you to. It’s all about personal growth, reflection, and fun! It’s a blog for anyone who has come a long way in their life, but wants to keep climbing, growing, and sharing—and enjoying every step of the journey! Click here to subscribe and receive our Transitions ebook for free!

One day I woke up.

On this day, I realized that I had been asleep for a very long time – years, actually. Somewhere in my late teens, I decided that life was too scary and difficult to handle, and so I flipped my life switch to auto pilot and crawled back into bed.

Every once in awhile, I would groggily awaken, but often it was just for brief moments. Every once in awhile, my spirit would get into the driver’s seat and shake me until I woke up.

And these were beautiful moments. But then life would become painful again, and I would realize that it was hard to stay awake when there was so much pain and suffering and heartache and daily traumas. I felt that it was just easier to numb out – to hide – to go back into my shell of a life and live it from that place of pseudo comfort. Was I happy? Not particularly, but I felt safe.

No one ever told me that I should hide. No one ever told me that numbing out to life was preferable to living it fully. No one ever said that I wasn’t worthy – that my thoughts weren’t worth sharing with the world. No one ever tried to squash my dreams. No one ever put me down or made me feel less than. This decision to hide from life was not a conscious one. This decision was based purely on my being a sensitive soul and feeling overwhelmed with life and not knowing what else to do but shut down.

I made an unconscious choice early on in my life. When things got scary, I cowered away from them. When an opportunity came my way and I was too afraid to go for it, too afraid to look silly, too afraid to stand on my own and express who I truly was, too afraid of what others would think of me, too afraid… I covered up my light with a dark veil. And eventually, there were so many veils that all I could see was darkness. My inner spark shut off. I felt like I was dying inside, but I wasn’t sure how to stop myself from continuing to spiral downwards.

I needed help. I needed to wake up. And thankfully, on a magical day just over a year ago, that’s exactly what happened. I experienced a beautiful awakening. In one amazing moment, I saw everything so clearly:

• I realized that I didn’t have to live this way.
• I remembered that I had a choice.
• I remembered that I wasn’t my thoughts or my body.
• I remembered that I was a soul who happened to be in this particular human body at this particular moment.
• I remembered that I was made of love and was connected to every single person in the world.
• I remembered that we were all part of this beautiful divine energy that flows through us freely and effortlessly.
• I remembered that I could access this energy at any given time. But in order to do so, I had to be awake.

Wow. This truly was life changing for me. I didn’t have to hide anymore. I knew in that moment that I could share my love with others and inspire others without shying away from it. I knew that I could offer my gifts to the world without fearing that they wouldn’t be received in the same spirit that they were offered. I knew that if I was myself in everything that I did, my light would shine through. I knew that if I continued to say yes to life, that the universe would continue to support me. I knew that I had to give it a try.

Because I made this conscious choice to no longer hide from life, my entire world has opened up. I am living on purpose instead of crawling my way from one experience to another. I am soaring and flying and light and free instead of sleeping and numbing myself and hiding and cowering. And that doesn’t mean that every moment is perfect and that I never experience sadness or pain. What it means is that I’m living again. I’m experiencing these emotions rather than hiding from them. It means that I’m showing up for myself and for the world. It means that I’m in it rather than sleeping through it.

We all have a light that burns so brightly inside of us.
We all have this inner flame that feeds us.

And yet, so many of us forget that we are so powerful – it’s so easy to do when our lives can become hard and overwhelming. We forget that our light alone has the power to light up our entire world. We allow our light to dim.

Life can be so beautiful and wonderful, but it can also be sad and scary. And sometimes, we let the sad, scary parts take over the beautiful, wonderful parts. And each time we do this, we dim our light and find ourselves removed from our soul – our inner wisdom – our constant flame that connects us to all of life. Whether it’s saying yes when we really wanted to say no, saying no when we really wanted to say yes, or not saying anything at all when inside we were screaming at ourselves to take action, in that moment we are choosing to hide from life. We are choosing to stay asleep. But in that moment, we can also choose to wake up and say yes to life.

We have the choice. I know which one I am choosing, and I hope you will, too.

We’re so worth it!

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Starting June 1st!

Shared Wisdom Guest Post
Featuring Isha Judd – author of Love Has Wings

In our society, people view comfort as king. Anything that makes life easier and requires less effort is prized. We have learned to refrain from speaking our truth for fear of conflict and to avoid confronting our fears whenever possible. We have come to value routine over the unknown, and security over spontaneity. Yet often the things that make us uncomfortable — the hard knocks, the disappointments, and the losses — are what challenge us most in our lives. We wish we did not have to weather these storms, yet they are what make us strong. They give us maturity and responsibility, and after all, what better teacher can we have than our own direct experience?

Life becomes stagnant when we remove or avoid its challenges. If a child is spoiled, her parents or servants doing everything for her, when she finally faces the world, she will find herself without the skills to function in society. Similarly, if we overprotect ourselves and try to avoid the inevitable conflicts of life, we may find comfort, but we will not build the skills that lead us toward growth. We may find distraction, but not self-realization.

The story of the Buddha is a perfect example of this. As the prince Siddhartha, he was protected from the world to the point of never seeing the aged or the sick. When he eventually discovered the things that had been hidden from him, he was unprepared for the shock he felt. He then went to the other extreme, committing himself to a life of penance and suffering, before finally finding the “middle path.” The extremes of the world are all part of life, and by exaggeratedly protecting our children from these realities, we are not doing them any favors.

How did you grow from a child into a responsible adult? Was it by not making any mistakes? Or was it through learning from the consequences of your actions? Ultimately, we have to go through things ourselves before we fully understand. To flourish and grow as individuals, we must face the world head-on and embrace the losses and disappointments life brings us. Then, instead of perceiving difficult situations as obstacles in our way, we can utilize them as opportunities to grow, to push through our boundaries and expand our horizons.

It is natural to experience ups and downs in life. We are having a human experience, and that entails a wide range of feelings and situations. When we begin to nourish an internal space of security and unconditional love through the expansion of love-consciousness, we start to experience these extremes more freely. We begin to embrace the contrasts of life and find adventure in change and uncertainty. Self-realization is not about living in a permanent blissed-out state where you never feel any emotions. It is about embracing the contrasts of life fully, without fear. When we are rooted in internal freedom, the need to control our circumstances falls away and we can dance unfettered to the varying harmonies of the symphony of life.

Moving out of Your Comfort Zone

Comfort stems from fear of the unknown and fear of failure. We feel safe within its confines, but in reality comfort is a gilded cage barring us from our true greatness. When we’re not challenging ourselves to be more, we are settling for mediocrity. We lament what’s missing from our lives, but we don’t move into action in order to change it. The fear of failure clouds our perception of our full potential. The mind convinces us we are not capable of more, so we stay put.

We cling to comfort because we fear our greatness. It is safer to sit in the shadows than stand in the limelight: there we risk criticism and external judgment. Greatness requires the courage to stand alone and not compromise our truth. It provokes change and causes evolution. Greatness goes out on a limb; it doesn’t stick to the status quo. To trust ourselves, to stand in integrity without abandoning ourselves in order to please others — that’s greatness.

There is a certain level of collective complacency within society. To break with that and stand alone requires courage, but if we wish to be free from our own inertia, we must take the risk and stop worrying about what other people might think. We must be willing to make what we consider to be mistakes; to try new things and have new experiences; to dare to show ourselves and express ourselves.

If I stand out from the crowd, if I do something noteworthy, I put myself in a place of responsibility. It requires less effort just to sit back and blame my financial situation, my upbringing, or society for not fulfilling my dreams. Yet we are all capable of moving beyond our comfort zone and achieving greatness; in fact, some of the most inspiring and celebrated individuals in history have gone beyond all odds to realize spectacular achievements. They are the ones who said yes when the world said no, the ones who could have used their extreme circumstances as an excuse to achieve nothing, but chose not to.

Can a black man be president of the United States? Can an open lesbian host a top-rated talk show? Can a nonviolent ascetic liberate a nation from imperial reign? Can a man with severe paralysis inspire scientific minds more than anyone else since Einstein? Can a deaf man write a concerto? Of course they can. So why can’t you overcome your self-imposed limitations? We are surrounded by people who have gone beyond mediocrity, even though they had quite valid reasons not to. When we have passion in our hearts, when we are willing to challenge what we are accustomed to and push through our fears, nothing is insurmountable: everything seems possible, and our dreams start to become a reality. When we create our dreams, we become unlimited.

***

Isha Judd is the author of Love Has Wings and Why Walk When You Can Fly. She travels the globe teaching a simple, yet powerful system that shows how to find the state of mind she calls “love-consciousness,” where every moment of life — even the most challenging and frustrating — can be filled with love, joy, peace, and self-acceptance. Visit her online at http://www.ishajudd.com.   

Excerpted from the book Love Has Wings: Free Yourself from Limiting Beliefs and Fall in Love with Life by Isha Judd. Printed with permission from New World Library. 

I’m excited to tell you about a super sweet book! And you will have the chance to win it + have a phone conversation with one of the authors! How cool is that?

The book is called, A Little Book about Something Much Bigger: The Gift of a Spiritual Practice, and it’s written by best friends, Victoria Cryder and Lois Hughes.

This book is sweet, profound, loving, joyful, spiritual, and amazing. If you have been wanting to create space in your life for your own spiritual practice, this book will definitely help you on your journey. There are so many ways to get in touch with our inner wisdom and tap into the divine energy that is always around us. And what Victoria and Lois offer in their book are some practical tips for doing exactly that. They prove that wisdom doesn’t need to be long-winded or heavy-handed. They get right to the point in their heartfelt style of writing and help us get to a deeply centered space where we can listen to our soul, honor our presence in this world, and live from a place of love and gratitude.

I had the chance to sit down with them and ask a little more about their book and how it came to be.

Enjoy the interview and then make sure to enter the giveaway at the end!

***

I think it’s wonderful that two best friends wrote such a beautiful book together! Can you share a bit about your friendship?

Victoria Cryder

We grew up five miles apart from each other and went to the same pediatrician, but didn’t meet until well into adulthood. When we did, we quickly became friends and discovered that we shared a passion for travel. That discovery led to the creation of At Your Leisure, a small company (just the two of us) that specialized in planning honeymoons and personalized European itineraries for clients.

After a number of years, life moved us in new directions. We closed the travel business but remained best friends. Now, almost twenty years later, we find ourselves in a new partnership together, that of writing books. As we continue to navigate our lives – with two homes in Connecticut, two marriages and four kids in different phases of life between us – we have embarked on a journey to live a spiritually-based life and to share what we’ve learned with others.

What inspired you to write this book together?

Lois Hughes

We really wanted to share what we had learned and experienced with other women. We wanted to share the tools that have created such profound shifts in our own lives. It’s our hope that this book will guide others to step into their own power and connect to the Divine.

Can you tell us about your spiritual journey – how you began, your beliefs, and your individual practices?

It really began with Victoria. Six years ago, she began reading books on spirituality and never stopped! Inspired by what she read, she trained in various spiritual traditions and energy healing modalities. During this period of time, she began sharing what she was learning with Lois. Somewhat apprehensive at first, Lois soon realized that spirituality had nothing to do with religion. As she began to open her heart, and as she began studying and practicing herself, her life began to transform. Both of us are deeply committed to our spiritual practice and use all of the tools we write about.

Which of the practices listed in the book are your favorites?

Beginning each day at our personal altar in prayer and meditation – and ending the day writing in our gratitude journals.

How do you define the soul?

The soul is your true essence and spirit that was created long before you arrived here in physical form and will continue to live on long after you leave this physical world. It is eternal.

What does your soul want you to know?

The soul wants each of us to know that in every moment we are one with the Divine. That it is the place from which we receive our true guidance. That we must live from that place.

Because May is our Month of Meditation here on Soul Speak, could each of you please share your meditation practices with us?

We have found that keeping it short and simple works well for us. The most important thing is to make sure that you quiet your mind every day and be open to receiving the guidance the Universe is always sending you. Breath work is an essential part of any meditative practice.

Lois writes:

I meditate for ten minutes in the morning at my personal altar in the bedroom. I sit before it, light a candle and ask God to join me. When I feel God’s presence, I begin to meditate.

Victoria writes:

I prefer to meditate two or three times a day for five minutes at a time. My favorite is a walking mediation. When I walk in solitude, I can truly quiet my mind and feel Divine presence. Guided meditations on CD have also been a favorite, especially when I was first starting out.

I love how you alternate sharing your personal stories in each chapter. Was it difficult to share such deep, personal parts of yourselves?

This really was the hardest part of writing the book. Our personal tales may be rather short and to the point, but they reveal very intimate parts of some of the places we’ve been in our lives. We realized rather early on that, in order to help others who might be struggling, we really had to dig deep and give of ourselves. This meant going into our shadows and sharing them with the world.

You write about the difference between intentions and goals: intentions come from the heart and goals come from the mind. I love that! Do you set daily intentions or do you set them when you feel called to do so?

The most important thing to remember about intentions is that they come from the heart and reflect who you are, not what you do. We set our main intentions for the year on New Year’s Day and refer to them often. In addition, we set intentions when we feel inspired to do so. It may be on a particular day at the start of a new project. It’s all about following your own heart. There really is no right or wrong way to do this.

Victoria mentioned that Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a great way to release limiting beliefs and stale emotions. For those of us who are just learning about this, where would you suggest we go to learn more about it? How has it helped you in your own life?

YouTube is a great resource. It has lots of “tapping” videos that are very instructional and will help you get started. You can learn lots about the process from Carol Look, an EFT master. Visit her webpage and subscribe to her newsletter here. Nick Ortner is the producer of “The Tapping Solution,” a documentary that came out a few years ago. Order the movie online or take a look at his great website here. As the number of EFT practitioners is growing rapidly, you’re sure to find one in your area.

Victoria writes:

EFT has helped me to release blocks from past issues that I didn’t realize where impacting me at the time. It’s helped me to work these issues through and release them. It’s really one of the main tools that guided me and allowed me to write our book.

What do you hope that everyone will take away after reading this book and trying the exercises in each chapter?

Learning how to create a spiritual practice and incorporate it into your life need not be complicated. But there’s such an abundance of wonderful material available on spirituality that figuring out what to do or where to begin can feel rather overwhelming. Our intention in writing this book was to condense and share, from all that we’ve learned, what’s really resonated and worked well for us. We know that every journey begins with that first step. Our hope is that this book provides what’s needed for other women to take that step on a long, fulfilling journey to creating a life of peace, purpose and abundance.

I see that this book is the first in a series that you are writing. What’s next?

We’re presently working on a couple of projects. The first is a short workbook designed to help others discover and live their true life purpose. In addition, we’re outlining the second book in the series which will be about taking readers deeper into their spiritual journey.

Anything else you would like to share?

We’re very grateful to all those reading this post.

Thank you, Jodi, for giving us this wonderful opportunity to share our message with others!

THE GIVEAWAY:

One lucky winner will win the following prizes:

1. One copy of A Little Book about Something Much Bigger: The Gift of a Spiritual Practice (ebook)
2. One 20-minute phone conversation with Victoria! (It can either be an intuitive angel card reading or a one-on-one session about starting a spiritual practice.)

Entering is super easy!

1. Follow A Little Book on Twitter and Soul Speak on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment below sharing one spiritual practice that you either do each day or would like to do. (It could be anything that connects you with your soul and helps you remember that you are a part of this amazing universe.)

That’s it!

One lucky winner will be chosen randomly on 5/17.

Good luck!

P.S. – Our Month of Meditation is still going strong! Many of us are already beginning to feel calmer and more grounded. Here is today’s check-in page: http://www.jodichapman.com/may-10/

I was watching Oprah’s Lifeclass the other night and author and speaker Iyanla Vanzant was talking about changing the stories that we tell ourselves.

Oftentimes these stories are true. They are parts of our life and parts of our past that happened. Yes, you have been hurt and mistreated and lied to and cheated on and stolen from and stepped on. Yes, your childhood was far from stellar and you weren’t treated as well as you should have been by your parents. Yes, you have had trouble speaking up for yourself and have been walked on by others because of that. Yes, your health isn’t great and you have battled one illness after the other. Yes, you lost a lot of money in the stock market when the economy tanked. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. These are all facts. No one is denying that.

But by staying in these stories, you’re staying in the past. By staying in these stories, you’re making it next to impossible to move on and create a new story. By staying in these stories, you’re deciding to remain a victim. I know that these are harsh words, but they are true. Believe me, I know. I have stayed in my own disempowering stories for years.

But what I’m realizing is that if we continue to blame the circumstances of our past, we never have to take responsibility for our present and future. Our life will always be more of the same. If you have always been that way, then you are giving yourself a way out – you’ll never have to step up and change, right? But I know that I want to change, and I suspect that you do as well. Staying stuck in these stories is keeping us from moving forward into our dream lives – the lives that we feel we were born to live.

One thing that I find particularly fascinating about our stories is that we’ve carried them around for so long that we just assume they are our own. And yet, oftentimes they aren’t ours at all. They have been handed down in our family or given to us by society or projected onto us from someone who didn’t realize what they were doing – didn’t realize how impressionable we were and how powerful words can be.

If we dissected each story that we tell ourselves and others, we could begin to see where it came from.

Oftentimes these stories are passed down from generation to generation:

• “In our family, we don’t go to college. We are hard workers, but we aren’t book smart.”
• “In our family, we are prone to depression. It’s just in our genes.”

Sometimes we have unspoken stories in our family that are just beneath the surface:

• “It’s not okay to show emotions. If we are upset, it’s better to stuff it down and deny feeling this way.”
• “Money doesn’t come easily. We have to struggle to have it, and even then it slips through our fingers.”

Other times, someone told you a story when you were a child, and you accepted it as your own:

• “You’re not very smart. Learning is hard for you. You probably won’t get very far in life.”
• “You’re very frail and sickly. You’re going to have a hard life just trying to stay healthy.”

Sometimes, our stories come from society:

• “The world is a violent place – no one can be trusted.”
• “The recession is making it hard for anyone to get by and prosper.”
• “The chances of making a living from your business are slim to none. It’s better to play it safe and go get a ‘real’ job.”

And sometimes, our stories come from a small part of ourselves that is afraid of change – afraid to fly toward our dreams:

• “Change is hard. It’s better to just stay in this comfortable place – even if I am not completely happy because who  knows what will happen if I leave the known.”
• “I am not really worthy of much – why do I even bother trying?”
• “I am too shy to take the stage – even if I have a message to share, it’s just too much of a stretch. And who would want to hear me talk anyway?”

Sometimes our stories are events that happened to us:

• We were abused.
• We were fired.
• We have/had a serious illness.

Sometimes our stories are made up from our behaviors:

• We are afraid of commitment.
• We are super emotional.
• We are scatterbrained.

But what every single story has in common is the fact that we can let go of it if we choose to. We don’t have to carry these stories around any longer. We can decide to create new stories that we tell ourselves and share with the world. And we can decide that right now.

I have decided to change my story.

These are some of the stories that I have repeated throughout my life:

I am shy. I have extreme stage fright. I don’t push through fears. I say no when I am given the opportunity to shine. My body is fragile. I am not able to physically do what most people can do. I have to treat myself with kid gloves a lot of the time. Money doesn’t come easily to me. I feel strange accepting money for sharing my gifts. You have to work hard and struggle to achieve in life.

I have begun to form my new story. Here is what I have so far:

I am grateful to be a part of this beautiful world. Everything flows easily to me and from me, including love, money, health, and happiness. I embrace every way that I can share my message with others, and I know that I am always supported by the universe each and every time I step into the public arena. I am strong – body, mind, and spirit. And I am always loved.

 Now it’s your turn.

Write down the story that you’ve been telling yourself and others.

And then write down your new story. Your empowering, positive, uplifting, story. The one that you will feel proud to share. And then come back and share it with us. We’re all waiting to hear it.

Please help spread the love and share this post on Facebook and Twitter (buttons below). Thank you!

P.S. – I’m over at Powered by Intuition today chatting about soulful journaling! Definitely stop by!

P.P.S. – It’s Day 7 for our Month of Meditation! It’s been so great to keep up with everyone’s progress! It’s not too late to join us! Here is today’s check in page: http://www.jodichapman.com/may-7/

I love books. And I especially love books with practical advice – worksheets, programs, and techniques that I can apply right away to my life. I love books that get me excited – that get me fired up. I love books that give me the tools that I need to make the changes that will help me live the life that I know I was meant to live.

What I love almost as much as reading these books is sharing them here with you! Knowing that we are all reading them together and moving into our ideal lives because of them is an amazing feeling.

I have five powerful books to share with you today. It’s a marathon review. But I didn’t want to leave any of these out. They are all too powerful in their own right. So get ready to learn about some amazing books. If you read them and do the work, you will be taking the first steps toward changing your life for the better. Doesn’t that sound great? Okay…here we go!

The Fire Starter Sessions:
A Soulful + Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms
Danielle LaPorte

This book will definitely get you fired up. Danielle LaPorte’s writing style is both smart and witty but also heartfelt and soulful. She gets it. She’s been there. And she’s here to help get you there, too. This book helps you create your life on your own terms. It’s a practical guide with thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter, insightful stories and examples throughout, and a kick-you-in-the-pants writing style that will inspire you to take action.

It’s always interesting to see what sticks with us from a book after we have read it and moved onto other things. While there were many great parts to this book, here are two points that have stayed with me long after I read it.

“Procrastination can be divine.”

I have always procrastinated. I remember in elementary school staying up almost the entire night before my science fair exhibit was due making signs, doing research, and trying to pull it all together. This habit didn’t end in 5th grade though, it’s stuck with me throughout my life. It didn’t matter if the project was big or small, it would get pushed back until the absolute last moment. I was never particularly proud of this part of my personality, but I just figured it was the way I was.

Danielle’s take on it really opened my eyes. Here’s what she says:

“What we might critique as procrastination can actually be a misdiagnosis for instinct. One of the effects of living in a hyperproductive society is that intuitive resistance can get labeled as procrastination. But what seems like avoidance may be a deeper inkling of wrong timing.”

Think about what you are procrastinating about. Most likely, it’s a task that you would rather not be doing in the first place, right? I never put off my writing. I never save it until the end of the day. You know why? Because it feeds me – it makes me happy. But I will put off other administrative tasks that go along with my job but aren’t necessarily my passion. And so the goal is to fill our lives with as many tasks as we can that we are passionate about and that fill us up. Listen to our inner guidance – if we are continually putting something off, take notice. There is a reason. Your soul is trying to tell you something.

“Intend to shine.”

The second part that stuck with me was when she said this:

“Here’s a guide point that will never lead you astray: Intend to shine. You can be modest about your great success; you can be honest about your fears; you can be proud and loud without the arrogance appetizer. You can be a magnet for goodness even in hard times, if you simply choose to accentuate the positive and focus on where you want to go.”

She talks about how important it is that we have our elevator speeches at the ready (who we are, what we do, and what we’re about) because you never know when you’re going to connect with someone who will change your world. And it’s just good practice to get clear on how we want to be and how we choose to present ourselves to the world.

If you’re ready to step into your power and create a successful, soulful life – this is a must read.

To get a feel for Danielle and her book, watch this video:

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The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life
Thomas M. Sterner

With deliberate and repeated effort, progress is inevitable. – Thomas M. Sterner

In his book, Thomas M. Sterner invites us to love the practice of achieving our goals rather than simply focusing on the goal itself. He reminds us that as children, we weren’t hard on ourselves when we were learning to walk. We didn’t give up after our first attempt. We kept at it – we practiced – and eventually we were able to walk without falling at all. We didn’t look back and criticize ourselves for taking longer than our siblings. We stayed in the present moment and put one foot in front of the other.

Thomas invites us to keep this same focus and discipline when we set new goals in our lives as adults. He reminds us that it doesn’t have to be a struggle, and that oftentimes practicing the new skill can be as rewarding as mastering it.

I am learning more and more that life’s beauty can be felt and experienced in the present moment. And this book is another example of exactly that. It is a great companion for our Month of Meditation, too!

Please watch this video to learn more about this book:

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The Bliss Experiment: 28 Days to Personal Transformation
Sean Meshorer

The Bliss Experiment is based on a course taught by Sean Meshorer – a course that guarantees that your life will improve noticeably within one month. The course even comes with a full refund, but no one has asked for one yet.

We all want to be happy. We all want our lives to have meaning. We all want to find truth. Sean says that we all want bliss, which is where these three things merge. Bliss is our innate state of inner joy. And it is found by going within.

Each chapter contains real-life stories and examples, plus insightful exercises that allow you to go deeper into the content and apply it to your own life. It also includes meditation techniques – both sitting meditations and also practicing mindfulness throughout our day.

Sean does guarantee that your life will contain more bliss after reading this book. But there is a catch: you actually have to do the work. And isn’t that true with everything? We can’t expect to reap the rewards without putting in the time. But isn’t it worth it? That’s why I’m meditating every day this month and creating the habit. Because I want inner peace. I want more bliss. I believe we all do.

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Soul-Centered: Transform Your Life in 8 Weeks with Meditation
Sarah McLean

I’m excited to share this book with you right now because it’s our Month of Meditation here, and this book centers around meditation! Divine timing at its best.

This book is based on an 8-week meditation program that Sarah McLean has used herself and with her students throughout the years. Each week, she offers helpful exercises to help with that week’s lesson. The lessons include becoming more aware, loving ourselves, connecting with our soul, and communicating honestly.

She lists 5 essentials for meditation, which are so helpful for me right now as I’m just beginning to be still:

1. It’s okay to have thoughts.
2. Don’t try too hard.
3. Let go of expectations.
4. Be kind to yourself.
5. Stick with it.

This is a great companion book to our Month of Meditation – a tool for anyone who wants to dive into it.

Be sure to watch this video where Sarah talks more about this book and what you can expect from it:

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The Commitment Book: Helping You Keep Your Word to Yourself
Dan Teck and Jodi Chapman

I’m definitely biased about this book because it’s part of our Soulful Journals series, but I wanted to share it here because it contains a program that helped me form a lasting habit (one that still continues to this day)!

Just over a year ago, I knew that I wanted to start a blog. I felt called to write what was in my heart and also create a community where others felt safe enough to do the same.

I wanted to make sure I stuck with it, though, which is where The Commitment Book came in. It contains a 4-step plan that guides you toward your goals and also holds you accountable for achieving them.

If you have ever gotten really excited about a goal that you wanted to achieve and then had a hard time following through with it, this is the book for you. If you frequently say that you’re going to do something and then either forget about it or get too busy and end up not doing it, you should read this book and follow the program in it.

It’s what I did, and I’m still blogging over a year later. I created a lasting habit, and now it’s just second nature for me to write here and connect with each of you. It’s because I was very clear on my goal and then took consistent action to make it a reality.

Here is more about what’s included in this book:

We introduce you to our Commitment Training Program, which is a simple system that helps you come up with a realistic commitment and then holds you accountable for keeping it. We focus on keeping the commitment rather than the goal itself. When you can keep your word, your self esteem will immediately rise! Our system gives you the tools for a lifetime of following through on what you say you will do!

It is broken into the following four steps:
1. Find your commitment
2. Commit to your commitment
3. Keep your commitment
4. Celebrate, re-evaluate, and recommit to your commitment

It is written to be a workbook and gives you the opportunity to really explore what you want to commit to in life.

If you do decide to order it, please let me know after the 30 days how it worked for you! I’m happy to put your testimonials up on our website, too!

***

So many great books to discover, right?

Now it’s your turn!

What books have helped you reach your dreams and live your best life? What books have you read that inspired you to live more fully and be more present? What books made you want to make changes in your life immediately and begin to create habits that made you feel more joyful?

List them below! Your sharing could be exactly what someone else needs to make a lasting change in their own life right now.

Also, if you have read any of the books that I mentioned above, please chime in and let us know what you thought! Did it help you? Were you inspired by it?

I love it when our conversations flow here, so let’s get it started!

P.S. – It’s Day 5 in our Month of Meditation! Come join us and give yourself the gift of stillness each day. Click here for all of the info. I love that we’re supporting each other!

P.P.S. – I received review copies of these books (with the exception of The Commitment Book, which is part of our Soulful Journals series). However, I’m not obligated to review them nor am I told what to write. And if you buy them on Amazon, I do receive a bit of affiliate income. It’s a win win win for everyone!

Have you ever written something that just flowed out of you?

Have you ever read one of your own pieces and wondered how the heck that came out of you?

Have you ever looked at your own writing and thought, “Yes. This is who I am – this is what I’m all about. This is my true essence. This is what I want to share.”

I love that feeling. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know that it’s a beautiful gift. You feel it when you’re writing – you start typing faster, and everything begins to flow. You’re tapped into the universal energy, and you can hardly keep up (in a good way).

I am a bit addicted to this feeling of writing from the soul and connecting with something much bigger than myself. I asked some of my blogging friends if they have ever experienced this in their own writing, and they all had! They each shared one of their own posts where everything flowed – the post that expressed their essence.

I’m so excited to share my own inspired post and theirs below. (I hope you will share yours, too!)

Jodi Chapman – Soul Speak

Are You In?

This post was my declaration that I was no longer willing to live in fear. I was no longer okay with living half way. I was ready to leap into my dreams! It’s amazing how powerful it still feels for me. I am so grateful that so many of you are in, too!

Melody Fletcher – Deliberate Receiving

The Secret Behind “The Secret” – How We Manifest Reality

This post was the result of a major epiphany – one of those life changing moments. Normally, I take time to process any new insights before I write about them, but this post wouldn’t wait. The information wanted to come out and it wouldn’t leave me alone. I literally could think of nothing else. When I sat down to draft the article, it felt more like it was writing itself. I was simply the conduit. I generally only write when I’m inspired and flowing, but this was an extraordinary experience.

Tess Marshall – The Bold Life

A Gift In Goodbye: A Legacy of Love

This post helped me process my grief after my mom transitioned at 90 years old. It’s inspiring because every word is filled with loving energy.

Victor Schueller

Life lessons I hope to Teach My Daughters – Part 1

Many parents have major concerns about making sure their children are taken care of or able to support themselves if or when they are no longer around.  Most of the time, these concerns revolve around finances.  While my wife and I wish to make sure my children are financially secure, we also want to provide social and emotional security as well.  I came up with this list of “life lessons,” so that my girls will have something “saved up” for those difficult social situations that they will face down the road.

Paige Burkes – Simple Mindfulness

The Unschooling Revolution: Taking Education Into Our Own Hands

This post flowed out of me in a different way than just about anything else I’ve written so far.  Reflecting on why, I think there are two reasons.  The first is that it’s about my children and what I want for them in their lives.  I’m crazy passionate about allowing them to be Who They Are without a school system or anyone else telling them who or what they should be.  The second reason is to provide an example to others showing that we don’t have to blindly follow paths that others dictate for us (something else I’m very passionate about).  There are options in every facet of life if we open our eyes to them.  By opening the door for others to see and possibly choose a different path, I hope that I can help others be comfortable with their personal choices and find a bit more happiness in their lives.

Nea Joy – Self Improvement Saga

Inspirational Thoughts: Inner Peace Is Your Ticket to Paradise

I write from my heart–the loving place within me that longs to see less fear and more smiles, less pain and more joy. The thought of helping someone in some small way is more than enough to inspire me to inspire others.

Arvind Devalia – Make It Happen

Feel the Fear and Change the World Anyway

This article just flowed and I wrote it about an hour. It encapsulates all that I am about and much more. This is my key message to the world and one of my favorite posts.

Cathy Hull – Treatment Talk

Are You Ready for Detachment?

This post speaks to the essence of the thought behind my blog. When our children abuse drugs or alcohol, parents can be mystified as to how to help, if they are enabling and when to detach. The chaos of addiction can cause havoc on the health of the family. Detachment means to understand the boundary between ourselves and others, and to let our adult children take responsibility for their lives.

Angela Artemis – Powered by Intuition

How to Overcome Fear and Live Up to Your Greatness!

This post flowed because I needed to hear what I was writing! Sometimes I need inspiration, motivation and guidance and to take my own advice.

Betsy Henry – Zen Mama

Life is Fragile

This is a post I wrote about all the people around me who all have a hard battle to fight because of death, cancer, and financial problems.

Now it’s your turn!

Have you experienced this flow in your own writing where you felt like all of the stars aligned and you tapped into something amazing?

Would you like to share it? If you’re a blogger, please share the link below! If you don’t have a blog but still want to share, you can post your piece in the comments section. Be sure to say why you chose the piece, too.

By the way, you don’t have to be a professional writer to write a piece of inspired writing.

If you can’t think of anything that you’ve written, maybe it’s still inside of you just waiting to come out. If so, take some time soon to sit with your soul – that deepest, wisest part of you – and be still for a moment. Sit down at the computer and start writing. You could have a topic already in mind, or you can just see what comes out. It’s completely up to you!

Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t flow right away. But please keep at it. Eventually, you’ll find a gem that feels like a piece of you. You’ll know it when you’re writing it. You’ll begin to type faster. You’ll be completely in the zone that you will be oblivious to everything around you. You’ll feel it.

Have fun with writing from an inspired place! It’s a gift that we all have, and it’s so wonderful when we can tap into it.

P.S. – Our Month of Meditation is off to a great start! Over 50 of you have joined us and committed to giving yourselves the gift of stillness every day this month! It’s not too late to join! Please click here for the details.

Are you feeling pulled in a million different directions?
Our Month of Meditation starts today!

If you’re anything like me, you don’t stop spinning from the moment you wake up until the moment you drop into bed at night. Life just seems to be getting busier and more things seem to be getting thrown your way. There are more emails to read, more websites to check out, more things to do, more checks to check off. And somewhere in all of this, your soul is asking you to stop for a little while. Breathe. Slow down. Get centered. Does this sound about right?

What would happen if you committed to taking just a few minutes a day for the next month to slow it all down?

How do you think your life would be different if you gave yourself this time to reconnect with your spirit?

Would you be willing to try?

Many of us have tried to meditate before but either didn’t know if we were doing it right or started for awhile and then moved onto something else. We may have thought that it was too frivolous – that we were too busy to take time out and be still. Or we may have been afraid to be alone with our thoughts – who knew what would come up if we took away the buffers.

I have definitely been there. In fact, I’m still there.

But I hear a whisper coming from deep within me that keeps saying that I really need to meditate. It says that I have to slow it down – that I need to. If I’m going to continue doing this work, I have to stay connected to my spirit. And meditation is such a wonderful way to do this.

So here I am. Committing to all of you that I will spend a bit of time every day in May meditating. And I am asking you to join me.

Something very powerful begins to happen when we show up for each other. When I know that you are holding me accountable to doing something, I’m much more likely to do it than if it’s just for myself. And if you know that I’m here supporting you, you’ll be much more apt to show up for yourself as well. That’s just how it works!

So what do you think? Can you commit to giving yourself a few minutes of quiet time every day? I know you’re all busy, but even if it’s just one minute – that’s a great start!

How’s It Going to Work?

Every single day for one month we will spend time meditating.

And then we will come back here to say that we did it.

That’s it!

We’re going to set ourselves up for success and make it super easy.

We’re not committing to say how long we’re going to meditate for, or when in the day we’re going to do it, or how we’re going to do it.

Of course, if you want to write about your experience, that would be wonderful! If you want to write about what’s coming up for you, please do so! If you want to write about how you meditated – what form, for how long, etc. – we would love to hear it! If you want to write about some of the thoughts that went through your mind while meditating, that would be fun to read.

But – these aren’t required.

The only thing that is required is that you spend a moment (or two or three) each day in stillness (however you define it).

Will you join me in giving ourselves the gift of stillness?

If so, please comment here to let everyone know that you’re in. And then come back each day and comment that you did it (there will be a new post for each day). That’s it!

Here is the Day 1 check in page: http://www.jodichapman.com/may-1/

I can’t wait to see how our lives change throughout this month.

I’m so honored to share this journey with each of you and to be a part of such a beautiful gift – the gift of time, space, and stillness. The gift of coming back to ourselves.

I’m so excited that so many have already joined – thank you! If you haven’t joined yet, please click here to commit to giving yourself a bit of time each day this month!

(Be sure to read the questions/FAQ below – if you have any other questions, please email me at: jodi@soulfuljournals.com.)

Also, I created a fun meditation poll to see where we’re all starting from! Click here to take it!

Questions/FAQ:

How should I meditate?

That’s completely up to you!

I’ll be easing in with guided meditations. I’m going to use the Re-Awakening Guided Meditation Program, which I already love! It contains 10 different meditations – ranging from general relaxation meditations to ones that help you with anxiety and health. If you would like to do this with me, click here to order it. (It’s just $27 for 10 meditations and 3 workbooks + you get a ton of bonuses, too.)

Another option that is great for beginning meditation, is to follow along with the book, Everyday Meditation: 100 Daily Meditations for Health, Stress Relief, and Everyday Joy by Tobin Blake. It contains 100 daily meditations, which are woven into a discussion about what exactly meditation is, why we might be resistant to it, and how we can overcome this obstacle. Through these meditations, we learn to live more consciously and open to our truest essence. We reconnect with our soul, which opens the path to lasting happiness and inner peace. Please click here to read more about it.

You can also do walking meditation. You could meditate when you are washing the dishes. You could close your eyes and focus on your breath while you are in line at the grocery store. How you do it really isn’t as important as simply doing it. Showing up for yourself. Allowing yourself to be in the present moment. That is the gift.

This meditation timer is really helpful, too. I definitely recommend it – the gongs are so peaceful. Much better than a regular alarm sound.

There are so many wonderful resources for meditation – you could spend many hours trying to find the “right” one to do. Please don’t let yourself get sidetracked though – remember that this time is about slowing down and getting out of our minds and allowing life to flow through us. Just go with what feels best for you.

What if I already meditate regularly? Can I still participate?

Of course! I would encourage you extra to participate.
You could serve as our inspiration! You could chime in and share all of the wonderful ways that regular meditation has changed your life. You could let us know what worked for you when you were just starting out. You could cheer us on when we start to question whether this is really for us. You are definitely needed, and I do hope that you’ll participate!

What happens when the month is over?

When the month is over, I would love to have a conversation about what we learned about ourselves throughout this process. And then you can decide if you would like to continue with meditation. You can also use this month to try out different methods and see which one feels the best for you.

Can I help you spread the word?

I would LOVE that! Please put the Meditation artwork on your websites and link to this page: http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate. Please share that you’re participating in A Month of Meditation on Soul Speak and would love for your friends to join you!

Here are some possible Facebook posts:

Feeling stressed? Ready to slow down? Show up for yourself and join us for A Month of Meditation: http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate/ (Please link to the Soul Speak fan page: http://www.facebook.com/jodilchapman)

I’ve committed to meditating every single day this month! Want to join me?  http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate/ (Please link to the Soul Speak fan page: http://www.facebook.com/jodilchapman)

I joined a Month of Meditation on Soul Speak, and I’m already feeling calmer! Come join us!  http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate/ (Please link to the Soul Speak fan page: http://www.facebook.com/jodilchapman)

Here are some possible Tweets:

Feeling stressed? Ready to slow down? Show up for yourself and join us for A Month of Meditation: http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate/ @jodi_chapman

I’ve committed to meditating every single day this month! Want to join me? http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate/ @jodi_chapman

I joined a Month of Meditation on Soul Speak, and I’m already feeling calmer! Come join us! http://www.jodichapman.com/meditate/ @jodi_chapman

Any other questions?

Please email them to me at: jodi@soulfuljournals.com.

http://www.jodichapman.com/2012/05/01/ready-to-slow-down-a-month-of-meditation-starts-today/

Shared Wisdom Guest Post
Featuring Bobbi Emel from The Bounce Blog

The next message is always right where you are. ~ Ram Dass

First, a story . . .

I was sitting on the patio at Starbuck’s the other day passing time before I met a friend for lunch. I had a book with me and was trying to read it but, to tell the truth, my mood was down and I felt distracted from reading by my inner melancholy. Having lived with depression for a long time, my mind resorted to its gamut of self-recriminations: “You shouldn’t be feeling this way.” “Everything is fine, just stop it.” “You get gloomy too often for no good reason.”

Finally, I caught myself, took a breath to let go of the negative thoughts, and went back to my book and mocha. A flash of pink caught my eye as the patio door opened in front of my table. A young woman came out with her coffee in one hand, a diaper bag in the other, and a tiny baby girl in a pink onesie carried by a frontpack on the young woman’s chest.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” the young woman asked an older man sitting by himself at a table. “Go ahead,” he nodded. She sat down to my right across an aisle. I looked over.

I couldn’t help but smile. The baby was so tiny, perhaps just a few weeks old. Her little head had wobbled gently from side to side in time with mom’s steps. Her eyes opened wide as she tried to focus on the objects surrounding her. “Cute,” I thought, going back to my book.

After reading a few pages, I became aware that the young woman and older man were starting to converse. First in short sentences with long gaps between them and then the conversation slowly picked up. They were talking about the baby, of course. The man alternated between speaking gently to the baby and chatting with the young woman about how babies are at that age. She glowed and bounced the baby gently as he cooed to the child, then eagerly shared her experience of being a mother for the last few weeks.

I realized how much I was enjoying eavesdropping on their interaction. The tiny baby, so full of life and potential. The two adults, strangers, but effortlessly connecting through the shared experience of parenting. I always love watching the magic of these moments unfold.

I became aware of something else: my gloominess was gone. I had stayed present in the moment and my perspective had changed; my blue mood erased by a flash of pink and the choice to indulge in a special encounter between strangers.

The magic of the moment

After pondering this wonderful moment, I realized that there were three things that lifted my mood:

1. Noticing

Even though my mood was depressed, I still allowed myself to notice and really see what was happening around me.

I felt grateful for this because it’s easy for me to get very involved with my own inner world and become stuck there, chewing on my own cud of negative thinking.

Do you ever become so mired in your internal workings that you are blinded to anything outside of yourself?

The practice here is to remember to notice. Even if you are feeling depressed, or anxious, or stressed, remember to take a breath and look around for a moment. See what you notice.

Sometimes it’s nature you might notice: a fresh breeze in the air, birds singing a pretty song, wildflowers blooming in the spring.

Other times you might see something that happens every day that you’ve never really noticed before. Perhaps you are looking at your two co-workers smiling and laughing during a break. Instead of being envious of their good moods, really see them.

Isn’t it a miraculous thing that two different people can enjoy such an easy camaraderie? Have you ever noticed before how one of your co-worker’s eyes absolutely light up when she’s laughing and the other co-worker has that infectious grin?

Make a practice of noticing the tiny moments of magic in your day.

2. Allowing

Once you notice and really see what is around you, allow it to penetrate the wall erected by your negative thoughts or mood.

It’s one thing to notice a special moment, but if you have something invested in your bad mood – like getting attention or feeling sorry for yourself – you might not allow the magic to happen.

Ask yourself if you really want to feel better. If not, see what you’re getting by staying in the emotional space you’re in. Maybe it’s okay to be there awhile.

If not, let yourself be moved and changed by what you are noticing.

3. Staying

Staying in the moment is a hard practice for me, but one I am trying to do more and more often.

As we all know, feeling depressed is very much about the past and being worried or anxious is about the future. The ability to be in the present can relieve those emotions for awhile and give you an opportunity to make any changes that will help you handle them should they return.

The other aspect of staying is to choose to stay in the magic created in the moment you noticed. I could have gone back to my blue mood if I’d really tried, but I chose to let that mood go and stay with the warm feeling produced by two strangers and a baby at a coffee shop.

How about you? Will you choose to notice, allow, and stay the next time a magical moment comes up for you? Please comment below!

***

Psychotherapist Bobbi Emel specializes in helping people face life’s significant challenges and regain their resiliency. In addition to seeing clients in her private practice, Bobbi is a well-regarded speaker and writer. You can find her blog at http://www.TheBounceBlog.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful, insightful words here on Soul Speak, Bobbi! I am learning more and more that the present moment carries all of life’s magic. The tricky part is to stay in it. And articles such as this are great reminders to help all of us do exactly that. I’m so grateful for you!

Starting May 1st!

Why is it so hard to step into our own power? Why do so many of us have such a hard time claiming our talents and shouting them from the rooftops? We have no problem tooting our loved ones’ horns, yet when it comes to tooting our own, we suddenly become mute.

On what page in the “How to be human” manual does it mention that we need to play small, minimize our accomplishments, cover up our talents, and always be our own biggest critic? I can’t remember reading that part, can you? But we must have read it – we must have studied it and taken really good notes – we must have internalized it. We must have believed it was true because “playing small” is so many of our default settings. I definitely would receive an A+ in this if there were a test or a grade.

Here are two events that happened recently that made me realize that I had a hard time tooting my own horn:

1. Me, the writer? I recently sold all of my office furniture as part of my great leap of faith toward writing full time rather than creating products. When the man who bought everything came over to pick it up, he asked why I was getting rid of it all. I told him that I was a writer, and that I didn’t need this large, heavy furniture to do that. His eyes lit up, and he looked around and said, “Wow, this is a really nice house. And you pay for this through your writing?” And, as I stumbled upon my words and got a bit flustered, I looked down and said, “No – not yet. But that’s the plan. I paid for all of this with my gift business,” and immediately deflated that proud look of hope in both of our eyes. And he went about moving the desks. And then I thought about it. I don’t know what came over me in that moment, but I immediately reverted back in time to a year ago when I wasn’t yet making a living with my writing. Now, however I am. This is what I do – I write. And I get paid for it. That’s my sole source of income. And while it’s not as much as I would like yet, it’s enough to live on. And that should have me standing tall and proud. I should be shouting it from the rooftops. But instead, I’m deflating it and minimizing it.
2. Me, the artist? I was on a call yesterday with someone that I’m collaborating on an ebook with. She asked if I could do the artwork for it. She asked if I was an artist. I said yes, but then I immediately began to question whether I really was. I have a dear friend who is a world-class painter (I really think he will be known as the best of our generation.), and I can’t even begin to paint like him. So am I still an artist? I immediately began to backtrack with her and say that my style might not be what she’s looking for – it might be an acquired taste – maybe we shouldn’t even look at it. Thankfully, just as I was about to hang up in shame, my horn-tooting husband, Dan, was also on the line, and he stepped in and gave the website where my work could be seen. She happened to love it and said it was just what she had been looking for. She was thrilled! And I was so relieved. But then I wondered what it was going to take for me to step into and claim my talents. I have made a living off of my creative designs for eight years. And to still feel awkward about calling it art or sharing it with a client surprised me.

I have a feeling that you can relate to these examples, too. I know that there has been a moment in your life where you had the chance to toot your own horn and step into your power, and you instead chose to deflect the praise and minimize your talents. And I bet in that moment, you felt pretty low and probably beat yourself up afterward. Most likely you played the conversation in your mind again and again thinking of all of the things you wished you had said.

Your soul wants so badly for you to honor your gifts. And what I love about this life is that we get a million chances to change our patterns. At any moment, we can decide to live differently. Isn’t that great?

So, if you’re ready to create a new pattern where you are proud to show off your gifts – not in a conceited way, but in a loving, honor yourself kind of way – then here are some actions that I’m going to apply in my own life and welcome you to do the same:

1. Be aware. Change can only take place when we are aware of what we want to change, right? I’m sure I’ve deflected my own gifts for many years without even realizing it. It’s only in the last year or so that I’ve begun to notice when I do this. So this is definitely the first step for all of us – recognize when were are minimizing our talents.
2. Be willing to receive. When someone looks at us with admiration and pride, receive it. Say thank you. Think about how you feel when you give someone a compliment and they immediately deflect it or put themselves down or praise you instead. It sort of creates an awkward moment, and you both end up feeling kind of crappy, right? Remember that. Take the compliment. Honor the person who is saying it. Honor yourself for being the person that someone says it to.
3. Be willing to love yourself. That’s what this all comes down to, after all: a lack of self love. If we felt truly great in our own shoes, we wouldn’t be afraid to tell everyone about our gifts. We wouldn’t want to cower and hide. We wouldn’t want to play small. So changing this pattern begins with loving ourselves. It starts with patting ourselves on the back when we do something great. It also starts with going easy on ourselves if we aren’t living up to our vision or our standard or where we thought we “should” be right now. No more shoulds, please. They never help anyway.

If we could all take these three actions, our world would change drastically. We would begin to honor each gift that we bring to the world. We would begin to walk with a little more spring in our step. We would begin to believe someone when they told us that we were wonderful. And that would be a great thing.

So…would you be willing to step into your power and toot your own horn? Would you be willing to shout your gifts and talents and accomplishments (however big or small) from the rooftops (or at least here on this blog)? I urge you to do so by commenting below. I urge you to stop playing small. Our gifts were meant to be shared with others. Isn’t it time we all did exactly that?

P.S. – Have you signed up for A Month of Meditation yet? It starts May 1st. If you’re ready to slow down, get centered, and take some time for yourself every day, please join us! Let’s support each other!

I’m never going to be like you.

I could try and try with every ounce of my being, but I still would be a lesser version of you than you already are. I could put all of my focus into acting like you, talking like you, writing like you, being like you – and you would still be better at being you than I ever could.

I know that this seems like a silly thing to say because it seems sort of obvious, but I still think it needs to be said. So many of us spend more hours than we probably care to admit to comparing ourselves to others. We see that they do something well, and we want to do it better. And when we can’t, we beat ourselves up about it and tear ourselves down for not being better at ________.

I certainly have been guilty of comparing myself to others and feeling that I wasn’t measuring up. But you know what I have realized? Everyone that I have compared myself to would be an extremely watered-down version of me if they tried to be me. If they tried to write like me or think like me or act like me, I would always be a better version of me than they ever could. It works both ways, doesn’t it?

So wouldn’t it make sense then for all of us to stop trying to be someone that we aren’t and instead focus on simply being who we already are? Think about how much less energy we would expend if we went about our days just being ourselves. If we focused on being the best version of ourselves that we could be, it would still take much less energy than trying to be someone we aren’t.

The world needs all of us to shine and share our gifts. So the next time you start comparing yourself to someone else, thank them for doing what they do best: being exactly who they are. And then thank yourself for doing the same.

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P.S. – Have you seen all of the fun new ways to participate on Soul Speak? I love how we’ve grown into such a supportive community, and I’ll continue to think of ways for all of us to join in here and share!

Click here to join a Month of Meditation – starting May 1st! You can click here to take a fun poll, too!

Click here to send in YOUR inspirational quotes – I want to feature your wisdom on Soul Speak!

Click here to share what your soul wants you to know. The answers are always inside of us, and this is a great place to get in touch with the wisest part of yourself.

Shared Wisdom Guest Post
Featuring Slade Roberson from Shift Your Spirits

Are you struggling to make something happen?

Are you torturing your consciousness for a sense of the right direction, begging the Universe for assistance with a difficult decision?

Are you interrogating your guides, trying with all your might to listen to your heart, but hearing no clear answers?

You know that trying too hard only makes it worse, so you beat yourself up about that too… Spinning your wheels in a Purgatory of Indecision — or maybe it’s a Special Place in Hell just for perfectionists, over-analyzers, and hand-wringers.

Recirculation
If you’ve ever been white-water rafting or kayaking you’ve heard about the dangers of recirculation. This is what occurs when you’re dragged into a hydrodynamic phenomenon where water falling from a shelf of rock goes to the bottom of the river, and, instead of moving downstream, is pushed back up, under, and behind the fall.

Kind of like undertow at the beach — only it never stops. A whirlpool, turned sideways — just like the Wheel of Life — and you’re stuck beneath it.

It’s terrifying. Your fight-or-flight response kicks in and every cell in your body demands that you struggle upwards, toward the air and light — which is against tons of physical resistance.

You don’t stand a chance of kicking or pushing against this.

Everything your body knows about how to swim is challenged. If you keep trying to swim, you’ll drown. This conflict of instinct and training and logical decision-making is taking place in a heartbeat of time, beneath dangerously cold water, against the force of being hit by a bus hundreds of times per second.

If you fight — if you continue to struggle — you’ll die.

If you react to the river’s force as your enemy, it becomes one.

It’s no accident of vocabulary that the captains of your white-water rafting voyage are aptly called river guides. They will instruct you when to paddle forwards or backwards, where to shift your weight… and they will tell you what to do if you fall out of the boat and, God forbid, find yourself recirculated.

The remedy for the situation is actually extremely simple and requires absolutely no exertion of strength whatsoever. The challenge is a mental decision — one that must transcend physical action and the survival instinct of the body:

Do Nothing
Do not struggle; do not try to swim; do not push with your legs; do not grasp with your hands; do not pull with your arms. Do not even think about breathing. Curl into a fetal position and release control.

The river will spit out a recirculated object — especially one wearing a life jacket.

No effort is required on your part, yet doing nothing is the hardest course of action to take.

The Universe — the Flow — is a river and your soul is a flotation device. The mortal vessel — the body — is a machine that will obey the mind and the will.

Is your thinking mind dragging your spirit under and keeping you there?

The Art of Surrender
What happens if you stop pushing the river — get out of your own way, and let yourself be carried in the direction of the answer you seek?

The most challenging action you may ever be asked to perform could be surrender.

For most of us, surrender is simultaneously the easiest and the hardest thing to do. The art of surrender is most critical at times when all other options — even the ones you think are the only way to survive — amount to suicide. Or something worse than doing nothing.

Maybe the turmoil, the churning waters of the Flow in which you find yourself right now, are not life-or-death — you can still breathe, can’t you? If you can breathe, you’ve got everything you need to make it through this moment.

Surrender does not mean you will never do anything again. Surrender doesn’t mean that you “turn it over to God” and that you have no further role to play, or that you won’t be required to wait for your cue and then act with focus, intent, and rested power.

You’ve seen the silly scenes in movies or cartoons, where someone who can’t swim falls in the water and thrashes about in a screaming panic… before realizing the water isn’t deep enough to drown in, and all he had to do was stand up.

You can drown in a bathtub. You could — technically — drown by sticking your head in a bucket, a sink, or a toilet.

Are you acting out of desperation right now? Slapping the water and stirring up drama and screaming and spluttering “Show me! Where is it?! Where’s the answer?! Oh God, I can’t see it, I can’t find it — I’m blind!”

Chill.

You don’t have to change your life right this minute. (You can’t.) You don’t have to decide today. You don’t have to move a mountain right now. The river can move mountains; over time, it can level them and turn them to rubble. But even if it starts immediately, you won’t miss a thing by letting your pillow take your troubles, just for a few more hours…

Stop pushing the river and damning your flow. Wait, gather information — play — and let the Universe show you its hand.

Allow yourself to be carried where you most need to go.

The Universe is change.

You will be moved; it’s inevitable.

You can float and rest, or you can thrash and scream — it changes nothing except the level of suffering that you choose in the interim.

***

Slade Roberson is an intuitive counselor and author. You can read hundreds of original articles and memoirs about spirituality, intuitive development, and the paranormal at Slade’s popular blog Shift Your Spirits. This article originally appeared on his site – please be sure to visit him there.

Thank you so much, Slade, for sharing your wisdom on Soul Speak! It’s an honor to have you here.

If you were standing on a podium in front of the entire world, what would you say?

What wisdom would you offer?
What heartfelt story would you share?
What piece of yourself would you give?
And how would you hope it would make a difference?

I recently asked this question on Soul Speak’s Facebook page and received some beautiful answers. It’s such a powerful question that really makes us think about what we see as important in life. It can even bring up all kinds of limiting beliefs about ourselves: “What could I possibly share with the world? Why would anyone listen to me, anyway?”

If I were before a group of people I know exactly what I’d say. I’d want to tell them how different life can be if just a small part of it were dedicated to something they love to do.

I would tell them that I had worked trying to make a perfect house and family to the point of exhaustion. That I thought by sacrificing any and ALL of my wants and needs to meet other’s wants and needs that that would make them happy…only it didn’t.

I would tell them that I believe that all the chronic autoimmune illnesses and other health issues stem from problems just like this. I would tell them that it’s as if our poor body wants us to pay attention and is almost rebelling against us for denying what it really has wanted us to do for so very long.

I would share how I had gotten to the point of knowing that everything I was and had needed to change. I would share that we don’t have to move mountains to make this change – just our priorities. We have to make ourselves a priority. And doing something you love to do everyday is a good way to do that. I would tell that doing that changed everything for me. – Kelly Wilson

If I were lucky enough to directly impact the entire world, this is what I would share:

Remember who you are.  Underneath the layers of parent, spouse, partner, sibling, child, friend, colleague, employee, employer and so on, there is a YOU that exists independently from any role or obligation.  It is that part of you that is Divine, Eternal and All-Knowing.  Spend time with that part of you.  Get quiet and listen to It, for It will guide you in your mission on this planet.

We all came to this planet with some mighty powerful qualities and talents that are meant to serve others and bring immeasurable joy.  You know that buzzing feeling you get when you’ve shared an idea, a piece of art, a solution to a problem…or when you’ve given an empathetic hug, squeezed a hand in understanding, and really connected with another human being?  Those are the world-changing moments in which we thrive.  So don’t forget to create those moments.

I learned that, by stuffing my art-loving, humanitarian, writer-Self into a box labelled “childish pastimes,” I became a sad and angry person.  My Joy was missing.  I was blessed with people in my life who loved me and whom I loved – like my beautiful baby girl – my first born – but that underlying pulse that was ME was weak or often absent.

Then one day, I remembered that I loved to write.  I remembered I loved to dream.  I remembered I loved to help people and that at one time, I had high hopes of making a difference in the world.  I remembered ME. 

I hope that every person reading this knows that no matter how buried your dreams or passions are, they have not disappeared.  Life contains many Joys and they are ours for the taking and giving.  Engaging in an activity that makes you happy on a soul level, even for a short period of time each day does wonders for your mental and physical health. Take the time to listen and remember. And then release your beautiful Self into the world.
- Taslim Jaffer

I would proclaim to the world and its entire people that this, right here, right now is all we have. The current, the now, the present.

I would say that only through acceptance and love will we find the peace, contentment, and happiness that we so long for. All of the pain, suffering and negativity that runs throughout our home can be dispelled through a common consciousness that can only be found through the spirit, the soul that lies within each of us.

That we as a people, the people of earth, one race, one species can bring about a profound change within not only ourselves but each other by realizing that though cultures may differ, on the deepest levels of understanding regardless of our beliefs we are ultimately the same. That though we may disagree, by allowing each of us to live in peace by accepting and embracing our differences and even learning from them; the fighting, the suffering and the pain that many experience can and will disappear as if it had never existed.

It is our divine right as citizens of this planet that we embrace and enjoy ourselves and each other. That we Love as long as we live and Laugh as often as we breathe. Let us stand together tall and strong and feel our spirit grow as one until we glow as brightly as the sun in our divinity.- Cindi Hansford

Now it’s your turn: What would YOU share with the world?

Leave a comment below letting all of us know what piece of wisdom you would offer to the world!

Not sure what to say?

Get out a piece of paper and a pen (or open a Word file on your computer). Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths. And then ask yourself what your soul would most want the world to know – to hear. And then start writing. Don’t censor yourself. Just write. The answers will come. They may surprise you, or they may be words that you already knew. Just keep writing. The messages from your soul are unique to only you. This is your message. This is what you are meant to share with the world.

Once you have written down your message, please come back here and share with with all of us. Soul Speak’s readers are all over the world – so you will be sharing it with the world! Isn’t it time that your voice was heard? Isn’t it time for your message to reach far and wide? Isn’t it time that you let your soul speak out? Yes, I believe it is.

I can’t wait to hear the beautiful words you are about to share with all of us.

Please share this on Facebook and Twitter (buttons below)! Let’s keep the conversation flowing!

A beautiful book, an interview, and a giveaway! Keep reading for details!

I write a lot about change. As many of you know, I’ve been going through a huge transition in my life over the past year. I took a leap of faith to focus my attention on writing rather than running my gift business. And what I have found throughout this journey is that when we take that leap and move closer to our dreams, our lives open up.

That doesn’t mean that it’s been an easy transition. All sorts of hidden beliefs are surfacing, actually. And when they do, I try to stop and take a moment to examine them, learn from them, and then keep moving forward.

At any point along this journey, I could’ve stopped. I could have said that it was all too much. That this new life wasn’t what I thought it would be. That my old ways were more comfortable, safe, and secure. And these would all have been true statements. But then I remember that because I said yes to change, I am getting closer to my dreams. And so I keep at it.

My friend, Alex Blackwell, has been on this journey with me. Alex has inspired so many with his authentic writing on The Bridgemaker. He has such a brilliant gift of being vulnerable and strong at the same time. He writes from his heart, and we all feel his love in every word.

He, too, has said yes to change. He, too, knows what it’s like to live a life that isn’t fully being lived. He, too, knows that when we step into our lives fully and completely, we allow magic to happen. He, too, knows how powerful we all truly are – and when we recognize this and accept and love ourselves, true, lasting change can occur.

He just came out with a book for anyone who is ready to create positive change in their life but maybe aren’t sure where to begin. It’s called, Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Life Lessons for Creating Positive Change. It’s a beautifully written book that contains practical steps for making lasting change. (Click here to read more about it.)

I recently sat down to chat with Alex, and I’m so excited to share his responses below! Alex is also generously giving away 2 copies of his book to 2 lucky winners! Please read all of the details below!

***

You talk about the importance of taking personal responsibility for our lives. I agree that we have to decide first of all that we want to change, and then we have to actually change. Why do you think so many of us resist change?

I think the main reason we resist change is because it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes we stick with what we know – even when we know it’s is not good for us – because the thought of doing something different can be scary.

Consider people who drink too much or may be in abusive relationships: they stay right where they are because it’s what they know. That’s why I think taking the first step to positive change can be one of the most courageous things we ever do in our life.

What advice could you offer someone who truly wants to change a part of their life, but feels stuck in the same old patterns and can’t seem to break out of them?

Two things come to mind, Jodi. The first thing is to acknowledge our reality. I believe to change or heal, we must first acknowledge what’s keeping us stuck. The second action is to take baby steps. Significant change doesn’t happen suddenly; it happens when we do one small action after another until we start moving away from those old patterns.

You offer 10 timeless life lessons for creating positive change. Which of these has been the most influential in your own life?

The two lessons that have brought the most change for me are Lesson Four: Recognize Your Beauty (accept and love your true self) and Lesson Nine: Take Down the White Flag (find the courage to overcome barriers).

You write about your decision many years ago to dramatically change your own life – to spend more time with your family, to be emotionally awake, and to begin to love yourself. How has your life changed because of this conscious choice?

My life is simpler, happier, and I feel more at peace. There seems to be balance now. The problems don’t seem as large as they once did. Perhaps more important, I don’t think I would have started my blog or written Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Life Lessons for Creating Positive Change.

Your dramatic change occurred after attending an intensive weekend seminar, which caused you to open up and face all of the pain that you had suffered throughout your life. Do you think you would’ve been able to have such a lasting change without this intense experience?

The seminar was a wonderful kick start. Before BreakThrough (a spiritual and personal transformation seminar), I felt stuck. The seminar gave me the tools to take a closer look at what my withdrawal was costing me, and then it provided a roadmap to go from where I was to the place I wanted to be – back with my wife and children.

You write about your struggle with low self esteem throughout your life. I think we have all felt unworthy or not good enough at some point in our lives. If you could offer one way for each of us to love ourselves just a little more, what would it be?

I think it begins with loving the little boy or girl inside of us first. For some of us, our sense of feeling unloved can be traced to our childhood. Because I grew up with an alcoholic parent, the little Alex inside of me never felt loved. Since he didn’t receive the love he deserved, I have imagined holding that little boy in my lap and telling him how special he is and how he is worthy to be loved. Today, I do feel loved.

Sometimes we are afraid to change because we aren’t sure what’s on the other side of it. Why is it so important that we surrender to something bigger than ourselves and take that leap of faith?

We were made with a purpose in mind. When we surrender to the plan our creator has in mind, then wonderful things will begin showing up in our lives. Yes, it takes faith to do this, but when we learn to walk by faith and not by sight, the journey is always a little shorter.

What is the one piece of wisdom from your book that you hope everyone will carry with them after reading it?

Creating positive change begins with discovering one powerful truth: You cannot change or heal what you do not acknowledge.

You are someone who inspires so many with your heartfelt words. Who inspires you?

Thank you for the compliment, Jodi. It’s good to know my words do make a difference.

When I see people living their passion, I feel inspired. It takes courage to walk away from what’s comfortable. I’m still learning how to do this, but when I see someone who has, I get so inspired!

If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for?

My wish would be that my children have wonderful, meaningful lives.

THE GIVEAWAY

Alex is generously giving away 2 copies of his new book, Saying Yes to Change: 10 Timeless Lessons for Creating Positive Change!

Entering is super easy!

1. Become a fan of The Bridgemaker and  Soul Speak on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment below sharing what you would like to change in your own life.

That’s it!

I’ll choose the winners on April 25th.

I can’t wait to read your comments. Let’s all consciously say yes to change and move one step closer to our dreams!

I have been dreading this day. Silently, in the back of my mind I have been worrying about it and planning around it and secretly wishing I could skip right over it.

From an outsider’s perspective, this day would seem like any other. Looking around, things appear to be pretty great – I am home with my amazing husband and sweet furry kids. I am writing. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. And yet, I have a dark cloud hovering over all of these wonderful parts of my life.

You know why? Because two weeks ago when I read my monthly horoscope, it said that today was going to be the worst day of the year for me. And I believed it. I allowed that one sentence to taint my entire day. I allowed one person’s opinion to cause me to worry and be afraid of my life.

I have been hypervigilant all day – watching over my dog to make sure she’s breathing normally. Wondering why my sweet cat wasn’t as active this morning. Each time I hear my husband make a sound from the other room, I wonder if he’s okay. I keep hoping that the phone doesn’t ring with bad news from one of my friends or family members. All because of one sentence. All because of one person’s opinion.

It’s so easy to give away our power like this, isn’t it?

It’s so easy to assume that someone else has the crystal ball over our own life. It’s so much easier to let someone else decide how our life is going to be rather than taking responsibility for our own life and making a decision to live it a certain way.

Right now, in this moment, I’m choosing to release all of this worry and fear. Whatever happens is going to happen. I am not in control of the future. I don’t have access to what’s to come. But what I can control is my present moment. And I have to say, my present moment is pretty great. So that’s where I choose to live. My husband is writing. I am writing. My sweet dog is outside sunbathing. My cats are watching the birds. The phone is silent. My afternoon smoothie is calling me. Life is good.

And that is the truth. This moment, right now, is a pretty great moment. And when all of these moments add up to create an entire day, I know that they will create a beautiful day – one of the best days.

That is what I will choose to focus on.

Can we all agree to do this? Can we all agree to let other people’s opinions be simply that and not allow them to infiltrate our lives? Can we all agree to remain vigilant and consciously create the lives that we want to live? Yes – I believe we can. Let’s do exactly that.

P.S. – I’m creating a special e-course for the Soul Speak community and want to make sure it contains what you need the most. Could you please take a second and answer this super short survey – just 4 questions? I would be so grateful. Please click here to take the survey. Thanks so much! ♥ (For those of you who have already taken it – I truly appreciate it! Your written feedback, especially, has been so amazing!)