Rooted Living Mindful Life Coaching

In Gratitude

2009-11-03T08:53:00.001-08:00

When was the last time you made a "Love List"? Creating a "Love List" has to do with taking the time to recognize and honor the things in life that you absolutely love. Maybe you enjoy the simplicity of an afternoon breeze, spending time with your loved ones, enjoying a yummy 5-course meal, or _____________________ (fill in the blank).
This list has to do with whatever it is that makes you feel good, alive, or smile. I'm sure you already have a running mental tab of the things that you enjoy, though it can be beneficial to take some time to create your list. Over the next few days, week (s) or month take the time to be aware and pay attention to what brings you joy in your life.
Creating this list will give you more insight into the themes of your life. It will allow you to gain a greater perspective on your values and beliefs. For when you smile, I believe it is often at times when your soul is awakened to what is happening outside of you. It is a time when your inner and outer worlds connect at a place of true awareness and enjoyment.
After you have created this list, ask yourself:

1) Does my list reveal a certain theme (s) about my life?
2) Does my list say anything about what I value or believe?
3) Do I take the time to enjoy the things I've placed on my list?
4) What might be missing from my list that I would like to start enjoying in my life now?

Simply taking part in this activity can significantly shift your perspective, as it invites you to take a look at the finer things in life. This will naturally place you into a more joyous state, because as I have said before, your thoughts create your reality and your mind is generally in control of how you react to what is happening around you. When you place your sights and thoughts into a place of joyous awareness you have been able to successfully practice the idea of "in sight, in mind". When you can awaken to the joys in your life, you place them at the top of your thought order thus providing you with a much lighter outlook on life.

I Need Your Questions & Inquiries!

2009-01-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

At this time my full-time gig as an Academic Advisor has placed my life coaching business in a secondary priority status. I would love to take this opportunity to keep things going by offering free coaching support and advice through this blog!!

So, I will be accepting questions, dilemmas, and inquiries of which you will receive advisement on through my blog.

Please email your questions to me at questionsforliz@gmail.com

These questions can be related to career decisions, relationships concerns, communication issues, life purpose, etc.

Fire away and I will do my best to address each and everyones questions, goals and needs.

I look forward to hearing from you all.

In Gratitude

2008-03-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

Cultivating the Soil (see also creating the space for growth)

2008-02-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

When making changes and choosing new directions for personal growth, it is imperative you take the time to slow down and prepare. The preparation involves tying in your current values and beliefs you hold regarding this new endeavor.

1) What are the values in the new choice you are choosing now?
2) How does it differ from values and/or beliefs you may have held close to you in the past?
3) Are you willing to hold onto these new values and beliefs as you let go of the old?
4) What will support you while you create these new beliefs and honor these new values?

You have to spend time cultivating the soil for your new growth. The beginning stages of change and growth are often the most critical because habit and time naturally solidify commitment.
In the beginning you have to combat old habits while you find ways to support and encourage the new ones you are trying to implement. Being able to allow the new growth to blossom is a result of practicing and understanding new habits, beliefs, values, and reinforcing supports, which will become stronger over time.
Cultivation involves a process of prioritizing and understanding that others around you may be resistant to the changes you are nurturing for yourself. At these times, look at the values and beliefs you have listed and ask yourself if these are worth preserving. When you are moving towards new values and beliefs, it is vital that you find the places, people and things that will nurture this new growth in you as well.

Ask yourself,
1) Who do I know who might share this same value, belief or goal?
2) What environment (s) would best support this new value, belief or goal?
3) What supports do I need in order to keep believing in my ability to foster this new growth?

It really becomes a process of redefining yourself and prioritizing your time to foster the new growth. Priority is defined as “main concern, something given special attention, the right to precede other in order, preceding in time, etc”. How you spend your time says a lot about what you is important to you in life. Whether you like it or not, how you spend your time determines what is most important to you. I invite you to take a look at how you are spending your time and what the value and belief is behind that. When you take a look at your new growth you are fostering, ask yourself:

1) How much time am I spending cultivating my new growth?
2) What is the benefit for me in nurturing this new growth?
3) How might others benefit from this as well?

Again, as with anything new, riding a bike, learning a foreign language, losing weight, it takes more time, attention, focus, will, commitment, dedication and support to get to a comfortable place with it. You simply have to put more time in the beginning. So your new growth that you want to nurture inside of you will be able to grow strong and long lasting.
One technique I find to be helpful with putting this new growth at the top of your priorities list involves the antithesis of the phrase “out of sight, out of mind”. I refer to it as, “In Sight, In Mind”. What you think about expands and when you can visualize the growth you would like to see it enables you to have a positive image to refer to when things get rough. Have you ever heard of the phrase, “see it to believe it”?

This is the same concept. The power of the mind is one of the first steps to creating the healthy growth you want to see:

1) Take some time to be still and list out the values and beliefs you have found to be associated with this new growth
2) Find ways to keep these values and beliefs “In Sight, In Mind”. Go to those places that will naturally nurture these values and beliefs. Get creative with it!
3) Create a visual image of the growth and change you wish to see. Draw it out if you find that will be helpful as well.

This process of growth and change takes focus and time. Growth and change happens on all levels: mind, body and spirit. In my next submission, I will focus more on the body component for change.

ROOTED LIVING BLOG PHONE

2008-02-26T14:58:00.001-08:00

Have a question for me? Need some guidance? Use the Rooted Living Blog Phone to leave a voice message for me. You can leave your number and I can call you back or you can just leave an anonymous question that you would like me to address in a future blog post.

Here's how it works:

Enter your phone number below and you will receive a phone call from the number 619.758.3562
When you answer you will hear a recorded answer
Leave a message and then hang up.

Simple right? I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Creating the Space for Growth

2008-02-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

True growth begins at the root. New roots cannot be created if there is no space for them to be planted. In order to create space for new growth, you must begin by throwing out the old. A wise woman recently told me, “The place where you die is the same place where you grow”. Meaning, you have to be willing to let parts of yourself die in order to let the new parts of yourself grow. A new part of yourself cannot establish roots if there are old nasty roots that are still occupying that part of yourself.

The process of letting go and/or letting die becomes a little less painful if you are able to visualize what it is that you would like to invite in as new. Being able to visualize the new nurturing growth is an amazing way to solidify your commitment of letting go of the old nasty roots. Being able to clearly see what is serving you and what is dragging you down are key components to understanding this process of letting go in order to let grow!

We all hold onto things all the time that do not really nurture our growth. We develop habits and repeat relationship patterns all the time. What we foster will grow, and what we ignore will eventually whither and die. Though where you place your attention and focus will determine which will grow and which will whither and die.

The first step to creating the space for growth is to figure out what your current habits and patterns are. Then figure out what habits and patterns serve you and others around you in a positive way and which ones lead you and others down disastrous paths. This is a step-by-step process that includes conscious living. You must be willing to pay attention to the teachers and natural lessons that are presented to you in life. You have to be willing to take responsibility for your choices and actions as they relate to how they support or hinder different components of your growth. Once you’ve figured out which pieces support you and which ones hinder you, the process of letting go to let grow can begin.

Take one component in your life that is holding you back, bringing you down, halting your growth. Really be willing to stare this component of your life in the face, shake hands with and be willing to consider waving goodbye. Identify how it’s holding you back and then identify what is preventing you from letting go of it. Next, visualize the positive nurturing place you would rather be within this realm of your life. Then list the components that you would need to foster and nurture in order to support the planting of these new roots.

Thus the process of creating the space for growth has begun….
1) You have been able to recognize what is and isn’t working for you.
2) You have been able to see what the negative effect of this habit/pattern is doing to you and others.
3) You have been able to visualize the benefits of letting go of this unsupportive pattern/habit
4) You can continue with the process of letting the old roots die so the new roots will have a space to be planted. (Again, “the same place where you die is the same place where you grow”)
5) You have identified some of the components necessary to support the planting and the nurturance of the new root.

This is the simplest way to explain the process of change. Not everything needs to completely die in order for new things to grow. Often, you can simply sprout another branch on your tree of growth. But I’m not talking about adding on to something already wonderful, I’m talking about getting rid of nasty habits and patterns that do not support the whole of you to continue to blossom and grow.

Sharing of Wisdom

2008-02-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

As part of Rooted Living, I believe it is important to share wisdom and healthy knowledge that allows us to grow free of needing control and emotional masks. Therfore, I would like to share the following piece of wisdom I received during a workshop presented by Debbie Ford in my new hometown, San Diego, CA.
This is the one piece of knowledge I found to have gripped onto me and I am grateful for this!

Look at these two words:

WELLNESS

ILLNESS

Now circle the first two letters of the word "wellness". What do ya get?
Then circle the first letter of the word "Illness". What do ya get?

If you were successful with this activity, you would see that the first two letters in wellness spells WE. It's the connection and support to each other that keeps us moving forward. When we look to the I, as in illness, we become separated from each others experience; we become isolated and weak.
So, when we open ourselves up to others and align with each other just in the commonality of the human experience, life just feels nicer.
When we isolate ourselves; cut off from our awareness, gifts and each other, life can feel heavy. You must navigate your ego so you can get back to the simplicity of the WE.

Universe Will Provide

2008-02-16T13:33:00.001-08:00

You must have some sort of faith as one of the vital components for your health and well-being. Having some kind of belief that if you can be brave enough to let go, you will open yourself up to all that has been waiting for you to receive. If we can surrender to the process and just believe each moment is meant to be just the way it was, without analysis, the universe will provide.
There can be more than a trillion moments in a day; Don't hold on, LET GO AND BELIEVE in the power of the gifts and talents you were given to share with each other.

Be Bold

2008-02-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

Do what you know works for you. Be willing to be weird, unique, different, authentic. By letting go of the worries of extraneous influences, you allow yourself to blossom into the unique being you are meant to be.

Being Thankful: Looking to the Sky

2008-02-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

When you find yourself becoming overwhelmed by things, take a moment to look to something else just for a moment. Take a break and look outward to all the wonderful things around you. Take a moment to look to the sky, the trees, loved ones around you. For what you think about expands, so be mindful and kind with your thoughts.
You must be able to look up to expand your awareness so will be able to focus back down with clarity. Sometimes we narrow in too much on what we think we should be doing, when we can simply look up and see what is really around us. You can’t be thankful of what is around you if you are not able to pick your head up from your narrowed focus and look around.

Go For It!

2008-02-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

We always have more strength to draw from than we initially believe; you just have to know how to reach for it and be willing to do so. When you're struggling to move forward with an idea, a goal, or desire and when something keeps stopping you from moving forward with your pursuit, it's important to become aware of the roadblock(s). However, there's no need for you to analyze it in order to move forward.
I invite you to try this strategy in an attempt to squash your fears and move you through your discomfort to you're higher place.
Imagine someone you admire; a mentor, friend; someone who has the courage or confidence to do what it is it that you are struggling to do. Find someone who inspires you. Then imagine what they would do if they were faced with this roadblock. How would they overcome it? What would they do?
Further, imagine being that person just for a minute, see what comes to your mind. Just observe what comes to mind without judging and consider writing these thoughts and observations down.
This is a strategy to help you get unstuck and move past your fears and obstacles so you can get back in touch with your own amazing strengths. Whenever you’re not ready to begin by being you, figure out a way to do it by being somebody else until you can awaken your own strength to achieve it. This can be referred to as "Faking it til you make it". You literally fake that you have the strength until you have it and the ironic thing about it is; just thinking that you have this strength automatically gives it to you.

Elements of Support

2008-02-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

Do you know your Individualized Plan of Care? Now, this "individualized plan of care or I.P.C." is a tool used by many therapists throughout the world. Now I know I'm not a therapist any longer, but I’ve definitely put together many of these in my lifetime and I've noticed how many similarities this tool has in common with the process of coaching. I'm sure you may already have an unwritten plan of care; understanding those wonderful things that nurture you. Whether it’s a warm bath, seated meditation, walk on the beach, a call from a close friend, unstoppable laughter. We all have things that nurture us, keep us going strong, and helps to build us up. However, at times when we get stressed, it becomes all too often that the very components of our I.P.C. that have been put in place for such a time, gets dropped; lost in the midst of the movement of the current chaos of your life.
A major focus of the coaching process is about identifying the current supports in your life and creating new ones as you continue to find new paths to traverse upon. As a coach, my main focus is on supporting the coachee and providing the space for them to identify supports in their lives so they can work their I.P.C. outside of the session as well. Identifying and using these supports is how the core of a person, once recognized, is allowed to grow. When you understand your core beliefs and values, you must move to the next step of finding out how to nurture and support them. This takes a process of looking at the who, what, where and how to get the support you need for each step along the way.
I invite you to consider these few questions regarding your own I.P.C.:
1) If you do have a plan, are you following it?
2) If you don’t, ask yourself how you can go about starting to create it?
3) Does the support you have right now help your core to grow or does it inhibit it? (It’s important to check the quality of your support as well).

Provoking Independence

2008-02-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

For all those parents and caretakers out there, this one is for you! Finding the balance between holding a person up and letting them go out on their own has been a struggle for parents and caretakers since the beginning of time. If you don't let your child struggle to swim sometimes while they are drowning they will never find the motivation to try to help themselves. However, watching your child struggle to swim while they are drowning is an almost impossible feat to bear and so parents will often jump in too soon. This concept of supporting others to find their own way is quite the paradox; that's just the way the world operates. So, how do parents, caretakers and coaches manage the perils of this paradox?
This is how I see it: Parents are to provide instruction, guidance and a safe secure solid ground for their child to place their feet firmly upon. When the child is able to experience this safe solid ground, they are able to experience the confidence to move forward and accept things as they are for there is no need for the child to escape a safe environment. However, if that safe secure solid ground is only present while the child is around their caretaker, a problem could arise; co dependence. Thus parents must identify the characteristics of this safe solid ground to their child and then let them go. The child needs to be able to leave and create a solid foundation/ground of its own, so they can take it with them wherever they go. This process may be simple for some parents and extremely heart wrenching for others. The process must be taken slow and at a time when both the parent and child believe they are somewhat ready for it. The process involves providing security under one of the child’s feet, while pulling out the secure ground from the other, thus leaving the child to find a way to balance on one foot while they find their own place to put their other foot down. This is the beginning of the process of letting go in order to allow the child to find their place; to make their own way in the world one step/foot at a time! Of course, you can expect the child may place their foot in areas that may not be so safe and secure. However, it is of vital importance that they learn this on their own. This is the way they are able to start taking responsibility for their own choices and actions. Thus they are able to start moving away from blaming others or their parents for the mistakes they make. Trial and error is the beginning process to provoking this independence. So when your child or client is struggling to swim, let them know that if they really can't swim on their own that you have a line to tow them in, but you're not going to immediately jump in to save them!

Ahhh.....Mistakes

2008-01-29T08:48:00.000-08:00

We all make mistakes; it's just a natural part of the learning process. All you can do is attempt to find a remedy for what happened. Take responsibility and be brave enough to ask for forgiveness, while knowing the other person or people involved my not be able to offer that to you at this time. Regardless, time does heal and you must find a way to forgive yourself. Forgiving of yourself is the only way to move on. You must be able to let go in order to let in. You do not help anyone; the person you hurt, yourself, or the community by holding onto something that does not nurture you. Learn from the mistake; take the time to contemplate, forgive and grow. The growth is the only way you help others and yourself to move forward and let go.

Honoring

2008-01-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment to honor Dr. Martin Luther King today. He was a man whom exemplified what you can accomplish when you tap into your values and beliefs and are able to find the confidence to share them with the world. He was a man who became the change he wished to see in the world. He was able to find the courage and conviction to clearly identify his contribution to life and share it with the world.
Take a moment today to honor your roots; take the time today to tap into your beliefs and values. Find out what is important to you and honor it. As the musical geniuses of Jurassic 5 once asked, "What's your contribution to life"? Find the confidence to honor the truth within you. Be the change you wish to see so you can feel free to express yourself just as you are with no judgments or regrets.

Easy Does It

2008-01-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

When making a change or starting something new, begin it with a small easy step. Just like a flower begins with a tiny little seed, it takes time to build and to blossom. Beginning slowly and simply are the building blocks to creating success. As you may have read in an earlier submission, I've begun to incorporate running into my daily walks. I allowed this to happen by running when it felt natural and easy. I didn't start by sprinting up a mountain; I began by running down a hill! Over time I have continued to let running become a part of my walking routine. I have slowly moved from running only downhill to running on level ground. Soon, I will try running uphill when I feel it is time to take that next step with this progression. Letting things begin in an easy way will allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment and success. Having that feeling of success is a natural motivator; it will make you want to do it again. When you build slowly, it will always last. Just like any change, it happens step by step so you can adjust slowly and be aware of where you are going and what you are doing. If you're successful with something once, even if it felt easy, you will be inclined to try it again. If you are meant to continue with whatever this new step is, you will be able to build slowly upon what you know.
I hope you will try out a new and easy step today!

Personal Responsibility

2008-01-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

To know and understand that your decisions and beliefs create the reality you live in hits to the root of living. You can move in any direction you choose and wish; you just have to be willing to find the confidence to step there. Be willing to let go of commitments that may have been based on values and beliefs you no longer believe in.
Commitments can be tricky little things. Knowing when to let go and when to let something else in is a dance you have to practice. Understanding the commitment factor can be as simple as understanding the basic concepts of the breath. You simply can't breathe in and breathe out at the same time; it does not go along with the natural process of living. In order to let something new in, you must be willing to let go of the old. A wise friend of mine once said that life is a simple as breathing in and out. When you are unsure of your commitments, take a moment and focus on your breath. Take a moment and visualize what you would like to invite into your life while you take a deep breath in and then visualize what you would be willing to let go of in your life while you breathe it out. Do this several times and really visualize what you would like to be present in your life while you take a deep breath in and then let go, and breathe out what you feel no longer serves you in your life.
Find the responsibility to make the decisions and breaths that serve you and ultimately serves those around you. When you are able to live your best life, others around you are naturally invited to do the same. Suddenly a community forms where people feel free to give their natural gifts to others. And when people give of themselves in a natural way, there is no resentment and the giving is pure and true. Then people do not tire of their lives because they are truly happy to give and those around them are truly happy to receive.....the sometimes tiring effects of life simply fall to the side.

Solid as a Rock, Yet Flowing Like Water

2008-01-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

People often ask me what Rooted Living is really all about. The best way for me to describe it is to refer to this metaphor; it’s like being as solid as a rock yet being able to flow like water. Being rock solid refers to understanding where the roots of your decision making comes from. Knowing the values and beliefs that drive your ability to steer your life in the places you wish to go. It’s being aware of your talents and the gifts you enjoy giving to others. It's about understanding your contribution to life and being able to give it.

The ability to flow like water refers to your continued ability to move with whatever is presented to you. Being able to remain open to other peoples opinions, experiences, and honoring what they have to give and where they are in their life. It’s being able to adapt to changes in your life; to let things come and go as they please while drawing from your solid roots to move you through each experience.

Track Building

2008-01-14T16:11:00.000-08:00

In my last submission, I referred to the idea of building a new track into your life; finding a new path to travel upon. While I've been getting back on my tracks that work for me, I stumbled upon a possible new track for myself today! During my walk today I found a new beautiful walking path with breath taking palm trees and cacti. During my walk I had the sudden urge to start running, so I did. It was amazing! I probably ran for about a 1/2 mile, but I have not run like that in years. It felt liberating just to let go and move in a way I haven't experienced for a long while. During my run I had a wonderful new belief, I thought, "maybe I could become a marathon runner". I know that may seem like a big jump, going from a brief run spurt to having thoughts of marathon running, yet I love it when you can allow your mind to go to places it has not been before. Your ability to create a new belief about yourself is the first step in getting to new places you would like to go. Having the ability to believe I could become a marathon runner is the first step to making it happen, that is if I want it to.
So, while I've been building new tracks, I tend to rely on the old ones that work for me as one of my main methods to finding new pathways.
How do you find your new pathways? What helps you to figure out where you want and need to go next?

Coming Back and Building a New Track

2008-01-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

Howdy Y'all,

Sorry for the lack of submissions. Of course it has been because of the token "that time of year". Along with a much anticipated move to a new place and a new job opportunity doing more coaching! So, I'm trying to find some sort of routine as I transition with all of the wonderful new changes and recover from any family induced stress from recent days!
During times of transition and new opportunities, getting back on track may not be the next step for you. It may be time to build a new track into your life. Find a new path to travel upon that may get you to that new goal or resolution you have been hoping for. If the old track was not getting you to the place you wanted to go, try a new one. Take a chance on your resolution; ignore your hesitations and fears. Do it because you deserve it, because you deserve to have the life you would like to lead. So....lead it already!!

Cleaning House

2007-12-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Cleaning and clearing of your physical environment can have a wonderful effect on the clearing of your mind. Cleaning is often used in the Zendo as part of the meditation and clearing process. It allows for the mind body connection to happen. This mind body connection is the way to really clean out. As in my Tai Chi and Qigong classes, when I am physically working my body, I can feel my mind becoming more clear. It is when I am most at peace in the world. Just like any process that allows for getting rid of the old and polishing what you have now; it can be quite therapeutic. While you may be cleaning for family and guests to come, take the time to clean for yourself. Clean out the worries, stresses, weights, and old stuff in your mind.The mind has a tendency to run wild when it has too much it is holding onto. This cleaning can help to let go of the old, get into the moment, and make room for the new pieces you would like to invite into your life. During this time of scattered directions and responsibilities, just a little cleaning can help you to get clear again.

Acceptance of Time

2007-12-18T20:11:00.000-08:00

Being accepting of the pace of my life as it is being created has been a constant challenge for me. I know you can't mess with time, it works on its own schedule; it moves at its own pace. The only time you have is now, this moment, this breath, this thought, this site being seen. Accept where you are now so you will be able to accept where you will be in a moment or a year from now. Be careful of too much planning and future forsight. It can be helpful to have a general guide of where you want to go, but be careful of predicting and projecting too far into the future. Things can change at a moments notice and throw your whole plan off, and for good reason, though you may not know what the reason is at the time. Be open to what is happening in your life, just as is, right now. Pay attention to your values and your next step will reveal itself, through time, without you having to do any planning at all. Accept time as a gift as it is happening right now. Time will allow you to be where you are meant to be and where you want to be when it is right. You just have to find a way to stay true to your values and beliefs and to accept the pace that time allows you to get to where you want to be.

Willingness to be Aware

2007-12-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

Being aware of your current choices, circumstances and surroundings is the first step to living a conscious life. Going through the motions is a vital survival technique that can really get you through at times when life has placed too many demands on you. Though it is not a place where you can thrive. Being willing to stop and pay attention to your life and your actions takes courage. It's not always easy to take a good look at what you are doing and where you may be headed, but this is the difference between living a consious life and just going through the motions. Often confusion arises when you take a good hard look at your life and your decisions. You can become confused about what you really want and how you may have ended up where you now. Confusion is okay, in fact is can be great! Confusion and frustration are 2 key components to making informed decisions. When you really try to choose your choice, when you allow yourself to be confused and frustrated about what you want, you are able to tap into your values and beliefs. When you are frustrated, you can get to the root of what you truly care about. Frustration comes from not being able to get to what you want, desire, and/or need. The next time you are feeling frustrated, I invite you to stop and really tap into what the value or belief is behind this frustration. Then challenge that value or belief and find the patience to move forward or step to the side and contemplate your next step. Be willing to take the time to sit with your confusion so your next step will be a solid one.

Open Confidence

2007-12-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

How confident are you about the words that you speak? I do believe that verbal expression is an overused form of expression, though it is imperative to be careful with the words you choose to say. As it is a hyperfocused form of communication, one should be wary of the words being put out there for others.

I truly admire those who are willing to put out an original idea, an idea that may go against the norm. If you have something possibly controversial to say, begin by accepting it yourself fully and then saying it with complete confidence. When you accept things when you say them, it invites others to consider your point of view because you are solid with what you say and how you say it. It can sometimes put people off guard, it can make them stumble upon their “solid ground”. The only way to really get down to what you really value and believe is to put it out there to others with confidence. Then to truly be open to others comments about your beliefs; be open to consider their point of view though pay attention to what your intuition is teling you. Then take a step back, contemplate and find another point of view to challenge. This is how you get to understand your values and beliefs as your inner guide. You must be able to put them out there.
If you can pay attention to your intuition you will have no need to focus so much on the attention from others. Because you will have confidence in your actions and decisions and will have less need for reinforcement and assurance from extraneous entities. Be free to be in your space, work with it, expand it, don’t apologize for it but be aware of its impact on others and yourself.

Constancy of Change

2007-12-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

Change is the only real constant in life. It has been my experience that many people have a fear of change. People change, circumstances change, relationships change, nature changes, everything changes everyday. Being able to accept changes will allow you to be open to the lessons and the freedoms of life. Change is about freedom. It's about being able to expand to new places and ways of being. I invite you to be more accepting of the changes surrounding you. Seeing and accepting the changes in others can be a great way for you to feel inspired to see the changes you wish for yourself!

Seeds of Change

2007-12-14T13:54:00.000-08:00

Since I moved out here to California, I have felt inspired to write. Part of that inspiration came from my re-discovered passion for hiking. I have hiked over 20 mountains and peaks since I've arrived. Hiking helps me on so many different levels. Most of all it helps me to clear out my mind. To get rid of the clutter and stagnation.
So, my blog will begin with a writing from my hike up Pyles' Peak on August 10, 2007. These were my thoughts on that day....
It was a much needed hike, I was feeling too much emotional stress and needed to work it through my body. I definitely am getting in better shape, feels so good to breathe deep, sweat a lot and be able to keep on moving. I thought a lot about the stages of change and how difficult the initial stages can be when one has struggled to be successful in the past.
Change begins with an idea, a simple thought of doing something different. A single sprout, a positive thought. The idea is a very significant yet very small piece of the puzzle. Without action, regret will soon settle in, nearly damming the initial thought for change. This can become a dangerous cycle of getting stuck in thought without action, thus leading to a cycle of regrets and failures of things undone. Futher discouraging the participant from wanting to act again, thus staying stuck in the self defeating thought only pattern…..living only in mind, a very heavy mind.
It is neccessary to break free of this heavy mind. Find one aspect you want to expand on, just one thought, one idea. Take this one thought, this one idea and allow your mind to expand upon it in any direction it chooses to go. Do not allow the limits of you mind and/or your doubts to creep in. Continue to allow this thought, this seed of change to grow.
Getting back to the hike.......
As I Approached the top of the mountain, I started to see the blackened trees and ashes all around. There was a brush fire last week. It began with a tiny little amber that occurred with a mix of sunshine, heat and other friction unknown. Its amazing how one little spark can expand so far out. It happens either way, you can burn the forest or you can water it down, expansion happens in all directions and it can happen so quickly with just a little tiny beginning spark of action!