Friday, July 29, 2011

"It was then that I carried you."


 

Footprints in the Sand


One night I had a dream--


I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.


For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.


When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.



I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.


I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.


This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."


The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.


"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

~Mary Stevenson~

Copyright Mary Stevenson

One of my favorite poems. I have loved it since I was a child.

I needed to be reminded tonight, after a difficult day, that I am not alone. That I have support and love. That the Lord said he would never leave me during times of trial and suffering.

So I am going to head to bed knowing that the Lord will carry me.

Peace to all tonight.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Be The Change



"Be the change you want to see in the world."

~Mahatma Gandhi


(source)

Now, I am not one to disagree with Mahatma Gandhi, but I think, and maybe this is what was meant, but I think that we need to be the change we want to see in ourselves, and that in turn, will impact the world, or at least our perception of the world.

I started reading The Four Agreements last night, by Don Miguel Ruiz.

I knew, before I ever even opened to the first page, that this book was going to have a huge impact on my life, in my life.

I have owned this book for about 6 years.

I have never gotten past the front flap where The Four Agreements are synopsized. (Yes, that is a word, I just looked it up.)

If you are not familiar with Don Miguel Ruiz and The Four Agreements I will share them with you.

These agreements are so powerful to me that I never got past the front flap. I have read *just the flap* dozens of times in the last six year.

I have had long, meaningful conversations with my friends about these agreements, without ever getting past the flap.

The Four Agreements are:

Be Impeccable With Your Word

Don't Take Anything Personally

Don't Make Assumptions

Always Do Your Best

Of course, there is much more, which is why there is a book to explain them, but really, if we lived our lives by just these four agreements, how amazing would our lives be?

How much time do we spend gossipping, telling little exaggerations and half truths?

How much time do we spend worrying about what others think of us or internalizing others actions as a reflection on us in some way?

How much time do we spend thinking we know what someone else's motives or motivations are?

How much time do we spend not doing our best, not giving it our all?

Even for someone like me, who has read these agreements time and time again, and have been working for years on incorporating them into my life, I can honestly tell you I spend way too much time doing these things. Some more than others.

I am going to continue to read The Four Agreements and I am very sure that I will have many revelations, quotes and thoughts to share on this book and ideas as I move forward.

But initially, it does start with a change within ourselves. We cannot impact change to others. Change begins with our own agreements, rules, beliefs, perceptions.

When we change ourselves, we change the world, but perhaps only the way we deal with that world.

One of my favorite agreements is Don't Take Anything Personally.

"Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering."

I love this agreement and I have spent the last several years incorporating this agreement into my life. What I do is about me. What others do is about them. I can only impact what I do. I can not impact what others do.

So, I think Mahatma Gandhi and Don Miguel Ruiz are on the same page, but I'm not sold on the idea of changing the world.

I think, in truth, we can only change ourselves.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Overcoming Fear

 
 
"I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise..."
 
~ Dawna Markova


(source)
 
 
 
 
"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
 
~ Dale Carnegie







"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
You must do the thing you think you cannot do. "
 
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
 
 
In light of my recent resurgence of anxiety attacks, these quotes are meaningful for me today. This is how I am attempting to live my life. I will not sit back and let life pass me by due to my unfounded anxieties. I will look fear in the face and take steps to overcome it, go under it, around it, and sometimes I will just have to go through it.
 
I refuse to give in to the fears and live a shadow of a life. I will get out there and live the life I want, today. I will not wait and I will not allow fear or anxiety to prevent me from seeing, doing and living the amazing life I know I can have.
 
I will inspire my own inner light and use that light to guide me through the times of darkness and fear.
 
I have the power and the light. I create my own inner peace. I am the inspiration of my own light.
 
 

Friday, July 22, 2011

You Are Beautiful


"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes.

 It is not something physical. "

~ Sophia Loren


Beauty is not housed in your physical body.

Beauty is the energy you exude to the world when you are confident within yourself.

Your beauty cannot be ignored when you are at peace with who you are and are confident in your power.

People that are seen as beautiful are actually exuding confidence and security.

You, too, have the light and beauty within to exude confidence.

You are beautiful. Right this minute. Just as you are.

Embrace your inner light and expose your beauty to the world.






The Scale


The only thing your scale should ever tell you!





Everything else it has to say is less important.

Some days I struggle greatly with the scale, what is says, and what that means about what kind of a person I am.

The truth?

The scale is not able to measure my worth as a person.

It is not able to tell me how valuable I am.

It doesn't have the capacity to measure my strength.

It doesn't know how to quantify the light in my heart.

It can't tell me how good a friend I am or how good a wife I am.

The scale cannot measure my abilities.

The scale ONLY can measure my relationship with gravity.

And whatever the scale says does not indicate a weakness in me.

Step off the scale.

Step on the path to a lighter heart by simply starting to live your life.

If you live the life you imagine...whether that is hiking mountains, dancing the tango or simply being able to keep up with your kids, it will no longer matter what the scale says.

The measurement of your relationship with gravity is not a reflection of who you are.

Your daily activities are a reflection of who you are.

Start being who you want to be, today.






"It's All About The Climb" ~ Miley Cyrus

I am not a huge Miley Cyrus fan. I've never seen Hannah Montana, nor am I familiar with most of her music. This song, however, definitely has a message.

So often in life we are so focused on The END, The GOAL, The ACHEIVEMENT, that we forget about the process.

The process IS our life!

We can't forget that the climb to achieve the goal is what makes the success of achieving it so sweet.

Enjoy the moment.
 Bask in the difficulty.
 Breathe in the struggle.
Feel the sweat.
 Embrace the challenge.




And remember, "It's all about the climb!"



The Climb lyrics
Songwriters: Alexander, J; Mabe, J;


I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa



I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago. I was reminded this weekend, after a difficult time with my anxiety, of the truth of the words I wrote, and the truth of Miley's song. I was also reminded that sometimes the climb takes a fork to the left or right of the original path, and that this change of direction still can lead us to our final destination.

I went for a hike with friends. The path we were on suddenly became quite narrow with a very steep drop off on the right. I forced myself to continue for awhile, despite my paralyzing fear. At a certain point however, I could no longer continue on that path. My fear, my anxiety, was too great. We turned around.

Was this a failure?

We found another path, with a steeper climb up, but no cliffside, to walk along. Eventually we reached the destination we had been aiming for on the prior path: a small beautiful reservoir.

Life is a journey; a climb. Sometimes, though, the path will lead us to a new direction. This detour does not mean we cannot reach our goal. Nor does it mean that the goal will be less beautiful for having taken a different path to reach it.

Just like with the rules, if your path is not serving you well to reach your goal, then *you* have the power to change your path. There is no failure or shame in changing the path. There is more than one path to take, and very often, there is no one right path...just the best path for you at that time.

So, take the high path, take the fork in the road, change direction if the path isn't working for you.....and, most importantly: don't forget to breathe!




Thursday, July 21, 2011

Light is Power


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

 Actually, who are you not to be?..." 

 ~Marianne Williamson



Let Your Light Shine
Inspire The Light Within





"You Just Gotta Ignite The Light"

~Katy Perry

As I listen to music I often find inspiration in the lyrics.

This song, "Firework" by Katy Perry is the essence of Inspire the Light.

Read the lyrics as you listen to the music.

And then: Ignite your light!!





Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe"


Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon



Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Time To Change The Rules

Are your rules holding you back? Are the rules that you have learned in your life, from your mother, your friends, the media, your own inner self, preventing you from achieving all that you want?

Rules help us keep order in our lives. They help us to have a sense of control over our lives. Sometimes, though, rules that at one time were helpful become a hindrance.

Our lives change. Our wants change. We want to choose a new direction to travel. Sometimes the rules need to change.

Recently I have given a good hard look to the rules in my life, and trust me, I have a lot of rules.



I have rules about when I can exercise, when I can drink coffee, when I can shower, eat, and go to bed.

I used to have rules about my sheets and blankets, but I got rid of those rules a long time ago.

It is not important what the specific rules are, but what is important is to decide if you are still following the right rules.

My rule about when, and where, and how, I could exercise was no longer serving me. It was preventing me from getting the exercise that I knew I needed.

I had to take a good hard look at that rule. It served a purpose for me at another time in my life. In my current life the rule was hindering me from getting my exercise and achieving a life goal.

It was time to change the rule I had in place about exercise.

Do you have rules that need to be changed? You maybe want to substitute the word "rules" for "beliefs".

Are there beliefs or rules about your life, your body, your beauty, your ability, your inner light, or your worth that are holding you back from living the life you want?

If so: It is time to change the rules.

They are your rules and you have the right and the ability and the power to change them.

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."
 ~ Alan Cohen


Grab Life and Live It



“I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that.
Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.”
~ Pearl S Buck



When will the mood strike you to clean the toilet?

When will the mood strike you to give up your favorite food?

When will the mood strike you to start taking care of your health?

When will the mood strike you to be the person you know you can be?

When will the mood strike you to let your light shine?

If we wait for the mood to strike us, or worse, wait for the mood to inspire us, we will spend our lives waiting for a mood that will never show up.

Instead we must not wait for the mood to strike us.

We must find it within ourselves to be inspired to change our lives for the better. We must look at each day as the opportunity to fulfill our desires and not wait for a mood to persuade us that now is the time.

I am not in the mood every day to exercise, or make a grocery list, or prepare delicious food, but I am not allowing the mood to dictate my choices.

I am using my own inner light to inspire me to do the things I know I should do, regardless of my present fleeting mood, so that I can achieve the life I want.

Each day you have the choice to allow your mood to dictate your actions or to allow yourself to be inspired and take the daily actions necessary to achieve the life you want.

Don't wait for the mood to strike to grab life and live it.

Just grab life and LIVE it! Start today.




Feed Your Power!

Words are powerful.

Words set to music take on a whole new dimension of power and energy.

This is a song from the 70's by a singer/songwriter by the name of Helen Reddy. The United Nations dubbed 1975 the Year of the Woman and chose this song as the anthem. I encourage you to listen to this song, even if you have heard it before, as you read and ponder the lyrics. The power of owning your own inner strength as a woman is amazing!


Feed the power! Starve the weakness.




 
(Helen Reddy and Ray Burton)

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul


Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand


Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

Do you have an empowering anthem? Leave a comment and share your favorite power anthem with me!

Living The Life I Want



“Don't wait. The time will never be just right.”
 ~Napolean Hill




The time will never be just right to…lose weight.


The time will never be just right to…hike mountains.


The time will never be just right to…get an education.


The time will never be just right to…go kayaking.


The time will never be just right to…learn something new.


The time will never be just right to…be happy.


The time will never be just right to…face my fears.


The time will never be just right to…be the person I want to be.


The time will never be just right to…live the life I want.


Because the time will never be “just right” to do any of the things I want to do, to be the person I want to be, to live the life I want to live, I choose to do those things today in the midst of my imperfect life.


I choose to lose weight…today…while my life is imperfect.


I choose to hike mountains…today…while my life is imperfect.


I choose to get an education…today…while my life is imperfect.

I choose to go kayaking…today…while my life is imperfect.


I choose to learn something new…today…while my life is imperfect.

I choose to be happy…today…while my life is imperfect.

I choose to face my fears…today…while my life is imperfect.

I choose to BE THE PERSON I WANT TO BE…TODAY…WHILE my life is imperfect.

I choose to LIVE THE LIFE I WANT…TODAY…WHILE my life is imperfect.



"It's time to start living the life you've imagined."
 ~Henry James


Friday, July 15, 2011

An awakening

At this moment, in this place, in my life, I feel like I am a rosebud.


I feel like I have spent a great deal of time growing my stems and leaves, and a few of my thorns, and then a great deal of energy was put into creating a little flower bud.


Now, I feel like I am at the point where my bud is just starting to blossom. I am just seeing hints of how amazing and beautiful a flower I will be.