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© Mia Rose | Dreamstime.com

When you hear “You are a gift to the world” do you confidently say, “I am! Thanks for noticing?”  Or is there a part of you that thinks, “That is a nice sentiment but some people have better gifts to offer than I do!”?  Or do you hear “Who do you think you are? God’s gift to the world?” as the sarcastic question often thrown out when someone is acting as my mother used to say, “too big for their britches.” 

Most of us agree that babies and children are gifts, but we may have doubts about our own gift worthiness. Shakespeare said “Our doubts are traitors. And make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”  Doubt about our personal gifts keep us from being fully present in the world and offering what we have to share. Such doubt often leads to overspending at the holidays as we try to fill what we think we lack with material things. Believe me I have no problem with a nice gift from anyone but so many friends and clients I know overspend because they want to prove something. How much authentic interaction is lost when you think the thing you buy for someone means more than the time you spend together?

I’ve spent a good portion of my life, walking the self improvement path—thinking that if I just fixed myself enough, healed another wound, and got a little more confidence, I’d understand what my gifts were and be able to share them.  I realized I had it all wrong.  Our gifts are not revealed when we wait to show up until we feel we are perfect. They are revealed in showing up and working with what we were given with love.

How much is lost because we think we have to get really good at something before we can share? We might say, “I’ll just play small until I figure it out.”  Or even worse, “I’ll let someone else use their talents for the world, mine aren’t that special.”  Have you ever been in an art museum and thought—I could do that?  Why is that hanging in a museum?  Regardless of whether you like what the artist created, that artist got out the paints or the sculpting materials or other media and actually made something.  That artist also took the risk of showing other people what he or she created in smaller showings long before his or her art hung on that museum wall.  The artist didn’t just think about bringing his or her gifts to the world, he or she took action.

Henry Van Dyke, (1852 –1933) American author, educator, and clergyman, said, “Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”   In the natural world every animal has its place and role.  For example the bees pollinate our food; bats get rid of pest insects, etc.  All the worlds are interdependent.  So too, each of us has our own role or a certain medicine to bring to the world.  There is something about the way that you are configured that is a perfect gift for the world right now.

As we navigate the changes in the world and step into 2012, the world needs all us to find our song and sing it. Even if you think there are others who have better talents, your talents are needed or you wouldn’t be here.  Your gift is how you show up in the world—fully as the authentic you.   Have you been holding back your love, your talents or your gifts? It’s time to put them out there! Remember the gift your family, friends and the world needs most this Holiday Season is you!

The following five minute meditation is designed to help you own your light, your beauty your gifts.  It is my gift to you. Please share with your friends.

LOVING YOURSELF AS THE GIFT MEDITATION

In this simple video the amazing teacher Pema Chodron walks us through this simple meditation in under 5 minutes.  Give it a try and let me know how you experience it.

Ideas:

If you are feeling stressed about money, connect with everyone who feels the same. Breathe that in and hold the wish for that to be transformed for all. Breathe out a wish for abundance, peace and for everyone’s needs to be met.

If you or someone you know are struggling with a health issue, connect with everyone who is struggling with a health issue. Breathe that in and hold the wish for health. Breathe out healing energy.

It’s simple and doing it for just a minute or two, always is a profound experience for me.

Hugs!

Let’s Carry Thanksgiving Forward!

Each day, let us remember that we are wealthy beyond measure if we have family and friends who love us.

Let’s remember that one of the most powerful actions is opening your arms to envelop someone in a hug.

Each day life gives us all the raw ingredients to make a feast, let’s not forget it is up to us to use those ingredients to create an amazing life.

The most powerful craving many people have is for acknowledgement. Let’s remember to thank those who make our lives better by their presence.

Let’s remember that even though someone roots for a different team or has different political views he or she is still part of our family of humanity here on earth.

If we remember to carry this Thanksgiving spirit forward, we can shift the world a bit closer to a place of peace, abundance and love.

Let’s remember.

Sending my love and gratitude to you, today and always.

Carol Woodliff

© Janet Hastings | Dreamstime.com

My poor sister!  She must have heard at least once a week when were were growing up, “Come on now! You are older than her.  You know better!”  When we’d get into a fight, she got held to the higher standard because she was eight years older than me and she should have more self control.  Not that I never got in trouble for my behavior but as the elder sibling more was expected of her.  There was probably a reason one of my nicknames was “the brat.”

Lately I’ve been hearing that refrain “you know better” from the connection to that higher voice inside me.  As I’ve stepped deeper and deeper into my personal spiritual and shamanic journey, I realize that everything we do, say or even think has energetic consequences.  I need to hold myself to a higher level of integrity than I ever have in my life. I’m not claiming to have this down—far from it—but the universe is letting me know more and more quickly when I’m out of alignment.

A week ago a friend and I were driving back from a weekend workshop in Sedona.  We had a seven hour car ride each way to chat.  At one point, I became aware that for the last ten minutes the conversation had been pretty judgmental about an organization that we both actually valued quite deeply. We were pointing out the things we didn’t like that were going on in the organization and criticizing some of its leaders. I felt a wave of dark energy flowing over me as I realized that all organizations are simply made up of people who are human and that my “bitching” wasn’t helping anything.  I felt compelled to say “I think we need to stop this conversation.  If I was off-track would I want people to talk behind my back or hold me in love so that I can find my way?” My friend and both agreed that the conversation had to shift and we imagined changing the energy and sending love to the people and the organization.  I got home and I blew the energy of the organization into a stone that sits on my altar and when I sit down to meditate, I imagine sending love to all involved.  It feels so more aligned with who I want to be than the judgment and criticism. And if the time comes where I feel I need to speak up about my concerns, I know that doing that from this place of love and honoring will be so much more powerful than that place of judgment.

Also this past week I was fortunate enough to read Dan Pearce’s Single Dad Laughing’s beautiful post entitled, I’m Christian Unless Your Gay and his follow-up post about the comments he has received.  I encourage you to go read Dan’s posts in their entirety.  I had to catch myself again as I read the few comments, full of misquotations of scripture used to justify a position of hate against homosexuals. Immediately I started to call those people names like “hater” and “ignorant.”  Nothing as bad at the vitriol that was coming from those people but they were judgmental names nonetheless.   I certainly wasn’t saying, “Forgive them they know not what they do.”   If Jesus could say that prayer while being crucified, shouldn’t be able to say it when I’m doing something as simple as reading a blog post?  While I’m not a practicing Catholic anymore, those teachings still ring pretty true for me. On the upside, I was heartened because Dan’s post reminded lots of people that they do know better and touched many lives.  Most of the comments made my heart sing for humanity.

My ego feels much like my sister probably felt, when I’d hit her and Mom would tell her she couldn’t hit me back because she was older and knew better.  It mumbles and grumbles about “those mean and clueless people!”  And spirit whispers in my heart, “You know better.  You know that love is the answer.”  I take a deep breath and imagine the people who wrote such hateful posts being flooded with love that whatever is hurting within them feels the love energy flowing through them.   I do it because I know it is the only appropriate response at this moment, I can’t argue them away from their position.  I hope when one day, I’m not at my best and I’m being cranky and judgmental, someone will return the favor!

Humanity is entering a critical time period where many of us know the world has to shift to a paradigm where love and respect for all human beings is the baseline of our society.  We can’t wait till others do it.  It isn’t always easy and we can resent that our “younger siblings” don’t get it but that doesn’t excuse us from not stepping up now when the world needs us.  It isn’t that we are perfect.  We may not be able to see the whole picture.  But when we know better, we can do better and I think it is time for those of us who are hearing those whispers to step forward and follow them. At least I know it is for me!

Are you hearing that gentle Voice of spirit whispering “You know better?”  Are you getting more immediate energetic feedback from the universe when you are out of alignment?  How’s it working for you?

Kringle from kringle.com

I was talking with a friend the other day about a memory I have of my mother and I sitting at the kitchen table having coffee after church on Sunday.  I was in my early thirties at the time. Mom was in her early 70’s and still healthy.  I was home on a visit from California and Mom had bought a Kringle, a Danish pastry coffee cake. We sat talking and taking small slices off the Danish, each time saying, “Just another small bite,” until together we had eaten over half of the circular cake.  We joked together that the exercise of cutting into the cake again and again probably wasn’t going to be enough to counteract all the calories in the treat.   Now that mom is gone, it is one of those memories that I treasure.

Our human experience has highs and lows and all those ordinary moments in the middle.  The ordinary moments give us the breather from the ups and downs. They aren’t the dull parts. In fact, they might be some of the richest moments in our lives. If you have kept a gratitude list, you may have an awareness of the specialness of the ordinary moments in life. I imagine souls in heaven talking about what they miss about not having a body and I hear them saying things like, “I missed the feel and smell of rain as it comes down,” or “I miss being able to hug a friend.”

The thought is a good reminder to not get so caught up in a “peak moment” mindset that we miss the beauty that is available right now.  In retrospect like the Kringle moment with my mother, we might find that what we thought was ordinary was indeed the good stuff of life.   So today, I’m going to seek to appreciate the ordinary moments of the day and see if I can hold an awareness of how amazing it is simply to live an ordinary life.  I’m asking you to join me.  We never know what ordinary moments will turn into our best memories.

What’s your best “ordinary moment” memory?  I invite you to share in the comments below. 

You are not your stories. They are just reflections that of how you think about yourself and your life.  You are not the snapshots frozen in time you tell of yesterday. Look to your past and notice where you have left part of your soul behind—any story you tell of not being whole. You’ve given your power to an event that no longer exists. Today it is just a story which you give power to. Forgive yourself, forgive the other. Call your soul back with love. Move on.

There comes a point when you have to choose.  Will you continue to play the recordings of the scared self?  “I can’t.  I don’t know how.  Fix it for me! She or he hurt me!”  Or will you own your sacred connection and ask that everything that is in the way of your power to create be removed from your consciousness?

Will you know that the moment of fear is just an opportunity to move into your light?

Will you decide that your pain is not a punishment but an opening through which you can know yourself and the Divine within you?

How will you determine the value of your life? By a bank account and a list of accomplishments or by the openness of your mind and heart to the wonder pure light and love?

Be.  Live your life.   Own your light, your power, your presence and be that miraculous being–evolving and creating. Your most sacred heart calls to you.  Following its callings. This alone is your goal and purpose.

It is a decision, a commitment in this moment right now.   That’s all, nothing more.  Decide the stories you will live by. Decide Now.

Is there any place you need to shift a story?  I found one or two of my mine that could use some tweaking.  Are you aware of a dis-empowering story you tell yourself?  Could you decide now to shift it?  Where can we, as part of the collective consciousness, decide to tell a higher story for the world?

I asked myself if there were loose connections in my life where I don’t get a proper charge.   The answer came back loud and clear, “YES!”  I realized there were several “loose connections” that needed my attention.  It actually was a blessing to see these places so I could make the necessary shifts.  I had gotten lax in my meditation practice which was a loose connection with my spirit.  I had let my energy stray from intentions I had set.  Time to reconnect with those and take the actions I had committed to in alignment with those intentions. Most importantly I realized that I don’t want to have loose connections with the people I love and care about.  It was time to reconnect with my loved ones on a deeper level.

Here are some simple steps to help you work with patterns in your life:

1. When you notice that things are happening in a pattern (like my three electronic appliances all having connection/charging problems) take a moment and come up with words or images to describe what is happening.  In my example above, “loose connections” or “not charging properly” or “not getting connected.”
2. See if the theme of what is happening in your pattern has a greater relevance or message to your life.  Do you have loose connections? Are you not charging properly or aren’t you getting connected somewhere that feels important?  See if it resonates with a bigger part of your life than just what is happening in the pattern you see.
3. If you can’t see the message in the pattern, ask the highest intelligence to let you know if there is a connection you haven’t seen. (You may call this intelligence God, the Universe, Source, or just ask the highest part of you to double check for you.) Maybe there isn’t a message.  Perhaps it is just a random pattern but sometimes the obvious is right in front of us and we need a little time to see how the message in the pattern might be speaking to us.
4. If you see the message, say “Thank You!”  Notice what needs to happen in your thoughts, actions and energy to shift the pattern and take action based on what you now know.

Noticing patterns is a great awareness practice.  It can help you live more connected to your intuition and your heart.  I welcome your comments. What’s your experience in working with patterns in your own life?  Is this helpful to you?

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”  Albert Einstein

I spent the summer in the sacred gift of living from my intuitive mind and connecting with my soul in Peru and with two weeks of shaman workshops in Utah. It was beautiful and joyful. When I got home, my logical practical mind said, “Okay, now you need to develop a business plan and get serious about your business and your book. It is time to get back to work.” So I started pushing–writing everyday for 10 hours a day, listening to teleseminars on book marketing and how to build your business and your email list. Even though people were telling me that these were heart-centered ways to grow a business, I didn’t feel the connection in my heart at all. I’m not saying they were bad techniques for other people, but I got was a sick feeling in my stomach as I listened.

I felt like I was in a tug of war between what my soul knew and my mind wanted me to believe. My mind was telling me that I couldn’t possibly know the answers and I had to run around like a chicken with my head cut off, saying again and again, “I don’t know. I don’t know! Got to find someone who knows! Got to do something now! Got to do something fast!” The good thing about my intuition is that it gives me pretty quick feedback when I am off track. My body told me the energy in my stomach wasn’t the energy of “I’m going to have to step out of my comfort zone”, it was the energy of “don’t go there!”

I had forgotten that everything I need to know can come to me with ease and grace through my intuitive connection and can manifest in the “real world” as needed. I have had magical experiences that the rational mind can’t quite comprehend when I am working in that timelessness of a shamanic session with clients. I know I have a deep connection with spirit. But for a few days, I had yielded that deep connection to the frenetic mind which was saying, “Wait you need more information” when what was really true were the whispers of my intuitive heart saying, “Step In and Trust. What you need will be here when you need it.”  When I work from my spirit, even when I’m putting in long hours, there is joy to it, not stress.

So last night before I went to bed, I asked directly for some signs, “Am I supposed to be listening to those teleseminars, planning and goal setting, or am supposed be in the moment and do what my heart tells me?” This morning I got up and I felt compelled to check my email, which I don’t normally do until I have meditated and taken Sadie on a long walk.  I followed that nudge to open my email and found a beautiful Daily Om in my email box entitled, “A Soulful Cure, Working with A Shaman.”  I encourage you to click over because they have written an amazing description of what working with a shaman can do for you. I have been receiving Daily Om emails for many years; however, this is the first time I ever remember one talking about shamanism.  I got a chill up and down my spine, laughed and thanked the universe for the sign that I should trust the path I’m walking.

My pesky mind wasn’t satisfied. It wanted to say it was just a coincidence.  I said, “Okay I’m a little slow and I need another sign please.”  I got ready to walk the dog and picked up my Blackberry to put it in my pocket on our way out the door. I looked at the screen and the newest email listed on the phone was from Jonathan Fields and the subject line is “Have a Little Faith (video).”

“Okay. Okay.”  my mind laughed. Sadie and I went for our walk and when we got home I watched the beautiful video which I’ve posted below.  Jonathan’s poem spoke directly to the doubting mind inside me. Here is a link to Jonathan Field’s blog post where he originally shared the video. I’m looking forward to his soon to be released book “Uncertainty.”

When we step into living from the intuitive sacred gifts of our hearts and spirits, we need to remind the logical mind it is a servant. Often a way to see whether your mind is leading down the wrong path is to ask for signs. Your mind will be surprised at how quickly they show up. They may be email subject lines. They may be something someone says or does.  Someone may give you a gift that relates exactly to what you are working on. You know they are meaningful signs by how they effect your body.  You get chills up and down your spine, the hairs raise on your arms or your level of joy and excitement increases.

Today the signs reminded me to stick with my path, have faith and tell the mind to get comfortable with a certain amount of uncertainty. My body is telling me that is 100% true–no stomach cramping just a lightness and joy. My mind would love to make this more complicated but I am telling the servant it isn’t needed at this moment and to take a rest.

Please share your experiences. Do you find your mind resistant to following your heart? What is your experience in asking for and receiving signs? Is your mind a servant of your intuition or do you have that relationship turned around?