You’ve heard the saying, it takes a village to raise a child.

I know for me it sure has! I too, need a village.

Support comes in many forms, such as:

In talking to a couple of my wonderful friends lately, it seems to me there is some struggle around not letting other people affect you so much. Why is it hard to say no to your mother? Why do you care that someone may not like you?

OK, so life can be hard. It can also be wonderful.

How quick are you to pick up the phone when you are excited vs. sad?

I believe when you are in the lower level emotions (sadness, hurt, depressed, grief), time alone with yourself is crucial.

You’ve heard the saying, ask and it is given right? Sometimes the signs are subtle. Ever think about someone, and boom, you run into them or receive a text? This is a signal to you of how much power you have to affect your world. That your thoughts really do create things.

This question always makes me think.

Back in my wonderful oil & gas days, I often noticed a ‘business’ persona and a personal one.

Here’s my question: Which one of you, is the real you?

You hear this all the time… don’t care what other people think… well that's totally up to you, but here’s a new perspective on that.

I believe we are all given unique gifts. Some of you were born with obvious talents - singers, authors, artists. Keeping in mind though, these people spend a heck of a time honing their talent. There’s no such thing as an ‘overnight success.’ They’ve been working on it for years.

I believe there is a thread (link) in using our uniqueness in the world and feeling our best. So you see this isn’t about passion per se, it’s about your gifts.

Connection for me is so very important in living my best life. It’s what fills my heart and makes me so very happy. So today's question for you is:

Do I feel connected to myself and to others?

If you ever feel lonely, you are probably just lacking connection.

Today’s question is - What is in your environment?

And I’d like you to think about this in all of your areas of life. Because ultimate success is not to only thrive in one bucket.

How do you want your life to be?

I met a few new friends and I’ve been asking for that, as my original best friend group has changed over the last couple of years. So I had some space! Isn’t it refreshing and exhilarating to meet someone who just ‘gets’ you? And never mind me. This woman talked just as much as me, she’s intelligent and interesting and just ‘too much for Hollywood’ (haha her saying). Which describes her perfectly. I’m so grateful.

The thing about getting what you want is trusting it will come in the right perfect time. And the how? Well that’s just not something you need to worry about.

The intention of the ego mind is to destroy you. The ego is suspicious at best and vicious at worst.

The ego keeps you separate. Incomplete.

It doesn’t give you truth. It cuts us off from the oneness in which we are. It creates a core belief of I’m not enough as I am, so we look outside of ourselves to find the missing piece (you complete me). Well that’s a lot of pressure!

There’s a point in life where we have to disassociate from where we came from. We adopted roles that can stick with us that may no longer work. At a point in our adult life we aren’t what we might ‘think’ we are.

Stripping away all of our beliefs or at the very least questioning them is a great place to begin. Yes, our experiences affect who we’ve become, but it may not be who you are.

A Course in Miracles states that all thoughts create form on some level.

And if a belief is just a thought you keep thinking - what are your beliefs about aging?

You know listening is a valuable skill and you know we could all do better! 

Of course being a coach, I have a lot of opportunities to practice this skill - and it really matters. But I also realize it matters to anyone I’m with, not just paying clients. 

So as I practice (daily) sharpening this skill (and I’ve come a long way), I decided I was going to try something new. I was invited to an intimate corporate party held at an office downtown. I decided that I was going to listen more than talk.

There are many ‘break ups’ in life. Here are the popular ones: friendships, romantic relationships, jobs, death.

But any change from what’s normal, that leads to having a different normal, is a break up. The emotional volume that’s created depends on the attachment. The more attached, the more emotion, the more pain.

As I watch and listen to people and learn about some of the struggles out there, it got me curious about stress and burnout and what it actually is. So, of course I searched my spotify for podcasts, and Brene Brown popped up, so I listened. She interviews authors Emily & Amelia Nagoski (sisters). Here’s my small version of the conversation with their strategies. So interesting!

I believe that with the right tool applied to a situation, you will gain a much better result, and without the tool, life is harder.

The thing I always come back to about learning and not staying in the same place, begins with clarity. You’ve probably experienced this, when there is toooooo much to do, you become overwhelmed and nothing changes.

Think about ONE thing in your life that could be better. NOT, if they would change. Where can you change?

"BEGIN WITHIN"

When’s the last time you wrote? As in a letter, journal, email (not for business!) or birthday card. Like really writed. Some true feelings.

I write to you, but I also write to myself on occasion about things no one knows about. It’s typically when I’m trying to sort things out to gain clarity and resolution for myself.

The benefit of the written word is to feel better. Often it is a way for us to let out the things that can be stuck inside. We are often in our heads so pen to paper is a fundamental part of a healing and peaceful journey.