You can only see through your eyes

I remember years ago a doctor friend telling me how lucky they were and how they had led a charmed life. I knew from a previous conversation they slept with their cell phone because to them an answering service was just an inconvenience since they would end up calling the person back any way. I imagine it was also because of their true care and concern for the patients and wanting to be available any time they were needed. I thought to myself, well, that may be a charmed life to them, but I wouldn’t want to be tied to a phone 24/7.

Here is a classic case of a matter of perception, or seeing things differently depending on who’s looking at it. To them it was just a matter of doing something that went along with their chosen profession, and therefore a part of what they considered their “charmed” life. To me, it would have been a price I was paying, an inconvenience, because, well…I like uninterrupted sleep

You can see by this example, what is stressful or unpleasant to one person is not necessarily the case for another. The same holds true for what we find pleasant or desire and want in our life. We judge good or bad by our own perceptions…what we enjoy, what we find hard or easy, what makes us smile. Because of this one simple fact, what we want to experience, or not experience, is not the same for everyone.

So, the next time you are ready to judge someone else’s decision or actions, remember you can only look at it from your perception, not theirs. If we can concentrate on our own decisions in life and stop worrying about others, we will start creating what it is we want and begin to live from a more peaceful perspective.

Veteran for me equals my life and my love

What Veterans Day Means in My Life

Today is a day set aside to honor those who have served our country. I want to share with you how special it is for me and why.

First, my father was in the service during World War II. He actually met my mother in Belgium during the war. They were married when my mom was 17 and she came to this country shortly after the war leaving all family and friends behind. She was what they called a “war bride” and part of a group of many women who bravely followed their soldiers here all in the name of love. I’m sure leaving war torn Europe wasn’t as hard as leaving the people. She couldn’t speak English, but taught herself to read and write it, and one of her favorite stories was about becoming a citizen. I guess my pride is not only in the fact my father served for his country, but the bravery of my mom as well. So, don’t forget to honor those who sacrifice for those who are serving! If you think about it, were it not for his service, I wouldn’t be here writing this.

Next, my husband Harry served in the Navy during the Viet Nam war. He did not leave the states, but served as a hospital room technician at a naval hospital just outside Boston. One of my brothers, Gary, served at the same time, in the same place. I went to visit my brother, and yep, that’s when I met my husband. I knew the minute I saw him we would be married and here we are 37 years later still sharing our life together. So, the Universe sets things up in strange ways doesn’t it?

Because of my father serving…I was born.

Because of my husband and my brother serving…I connected with my soul mate.

Today I celebrate!

What if you knew you could never make a bad decision

How does it make you feel if I tell you that there is no way you can make a bad decision? I bet the first thing that comes to mind is, that’s nuts, people make bad decision all the time. So, what the heck am I talking about here? Is there a magic formula, a tool you need to use, a program you need to take, a special thing you have to do? No. All you need to do is know that the right decision lies within you, only you.

I can give you questions to ask, ways you should feel, things to consider, but - only you are living your life, only you have had your experiences, and only you know what it is that makes you happy. Trust how you feel more than what you think, because perception can be tricky, but true feelings don’t lie.

The truth of the matter is, you can only make a decision based on all you have at hand at the particular moment in which you are deciding. Fear of making a wrong decision will be paralyzing, yet no decision in and of itself is actually a decision.

It’s your choose, and if you follow your inner guidance, choose what brings you peace, choose what brings you happiness and choose with your heart, not your head.

I think as we grow and our awareness grows, our opinions change. This does not mean that you were wrong in the past. All it means is that what you believed in the past was your understanding with the knowledge you possessed at that moment. This is a new moment.

We fear making a bad decision, because perhaps one we made in the past didn’t turn out the way we expected. Ever consider, maybe it helped you learn a lesson you needed to learn? Obviously you didn’t blow up or disintegrate by making a bad decision, because you are still here to read this! And… you are an experience wiser with more knowledge under your belt. Do not allow yourself to get stuck in guilt because that guilt only keeps you in ego and blocks your connection to Source.

Trust your heart and instincts and you can’t make a bad decision.

Bring Spirit to Work Every Day!

Think about this when you are connecting with someone to present your business.

If you are coming from a place of “getting” and not from a place of “giving” your customers/clients will sense it. When dealing with your customers, you must be coming from a place of integrity, honesty, giving and love if you truly want to help them. If you aren’t, then you are only doing it for yourself, not them. The Universe doesn’t work that way.

This is a much used quote from A Course In Miracles that I think puts it in perspective.

I am here only to be truly helpful.
I am here to represent Him who sent me.
I do not have to worry about what to say or what
to do, because He Who sent me will direct me.
I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing
He goes there with me.
I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal.

If you feel like you’re pushing for something, you probably are, so stop and listen with your heart, not your head.

I believe that you must earn the right to offer your solution (program, product, service) by first doing your part in a Divine Agreement by figuring out why Spirit put the two of you together. If you don't know what they need, how can you possibly know if you can help them?

The best thing about connecting with prospective customers is that you aren’t alone on this journey and you have the power of the Universe inside of you to help you every step of the way.

Would God have given you a purpose without the means to do it?

Learn to trust yourself and your guidance and both of you will benefit. It's all about finding the win/win, because ultimately if you harm someone else, you are harming yourself as well.

Ignore the wrapping, it’s what’s inside that counts.

One of the things I talk about is how often times if the “gift” the Universe sends us isn’t wrapped to our liking, we may not take the time to open it. Well, this article is me experiencing my own example of this and sharing it with you.

I had lunch with a dear friend and colleague in a small suburban town near the car dealer where I took my car to have my oil changed. He was gracious enough to pick me up from the car dealer, we had a wonderful lunch and he dropped me off to pick up my car afterwards. I started to head home and it dawned on a few months back I was looking for some stones and my friend Steph recommended someone she likes who sells them. I had received an email that they now had a location in the downtown area where we had just eaten lunch, so I decide while I’m in the area I need to check it out.

I tried to call Steph, and no answer. Well, I think to myself, I’ve had the Universe guide me before, so I’ll just ask, and follow the guidance I receive. Blinker on, ready to be led, I make a right turn back down to Main St. (literally.) Here I am driving slowly down Main St., which normally has little traffic, looking from left to right on the store fronts for the name of the “stone lady.” Of course, some nice older gentleman happens to decide to drive down Main St. at this very point in time, but, he is in a hurry and on my bumper. I feel extremely guilty and since most of the shops face the street the first place I can pull over to let him go by, I do. I go to pull out, and nope, a women in a hurry is headed that way, so I patiently let her go on by.

My venture continued up and down streets, calling information who had no listing of that name in that town, sitting in the parking lot searching google on my blackberry, and darn…where are you Universe?

I finally decide, go to Starbucks (I know where the closest one is) and search the web some more, wait for Divine Inspiration, or give up. Grande Decaf Mocha Light Frappuccino in hand I decide to call Steph once more before heading home, a little disappointed my “connection” hadn’t worked. This time, she answered and I had the name close, but wrong, and of course helpful friend that she is, she says let me look it up for you, I’m right in front of my computer. She tells me it’s at 445 Main St. inside “The Brick Street Mall” and I bust out laughing.

Yep, you got it if you saw this coming, the place I pulled over to let the man by was “The Brick Street Mall.” Now, the stone lady’s name was not outside because it is one of those places you share space, but wouldn’t it have made sense for me to park, go inside and ask someone inside if they knew where she was. Not only that, but realize I went to pull out and was told to stay a second time and didn’t listen.

Gotta love the lessons… I was guided but didn’t recognize the answer and was even given a second chance and still didn’t listen. Better than that, if I had just thought to ask another person for help I would have been right where I need to be. You never know in what shape or form the Universe is going to send your answer, so don’t pre-determine how it’s going to work.

The happy ending is since I didn’t give up, (although it could have been a lot easier, I’m the one who made it hard – yet another lesson) I left with lovely stones in hand, that I got at a reasonable price, and a story for all of you to read.

What's really going on?

There is a slight difference, but sometimes we aren’t arguing to be right, we are arguing not to be wrong. The ego has taught us being wrong makes you less of a person, while being right makes you the better person. I think both stances are wrong, but let’s look a little deeper at what’s really going on.

For comparison, first think about the way you feel when you want to be right. Stop right this moment and really think about how it makes you feel. It shouldn’t be hard to come up with a recent situation where you wanted to convince the other person you were right and they were wrong.

Now, think about the way you feel when you don’t want to be wrong. It’s not just a matter of correcting the other person or convincing them they are wrong, you absolutely cannot be wrong. You don’t really care that it may be a matter of perception, you might have heard something incorrectly, or your memory of it isn’t correct…you have just can’t own the feeling you were wrong.

If you pay close attention, there is more fear attached to not wanting to be wrong. Wanting to be right is more of a statement of fact. Not wanting to be wrong attaches more of a negative emotion to it. I think it has to do with the fact in one situation you are using the word “want” and in the other you are using the word “don’t.”

Here’s what really is the underlying issue, no matter which one is the reason. If you find yourself correcting others, or constantly seeing their faults, you are seriously having issues with a belief in lack. They have to wrong so you can be right, thus you believe if they have something it take away from you.

Interesting how deceitful our ego can be, hiding our true issues behind something else. The lesson here is- don’t take things at face value. If you find yourself doing something you don’t like, dig in and figure out what’s really going on.

What matters most?

I think our initial reaction on how to answer the question “what matters most to you?” depends on who you are and where you are in life. For example, a man may think “my wife and kids,” and a women may think “my family” Without children, the man may think “my job” and perhaps a women may think “my appearance.” Ask a teenager and they may think “my car.” Give it a minute and I’m sure you can see how answers to this question can be all over the place.

So, let’s dig deeper and figure out what really matters, or more importantly what should.

Here’s the deal… there is only one person, guaranteed that you have to live with your entire life and that person is you. If you don’t recognize how much you matter, if you don’t love yourself unconditionally, how can you give someone else something you don’t have?

We are taught that it’s selfish to think that we matter, and it would be if it was at the expense of someone else. If you are connected to your Creator (or whatever you believe in) you would never choose anything other than what’s in the highest good for everyone. That’s why you need to completely tap into the belief just how much you do matter, because then, and only then will you be able to help others. You will be able to give to others what you have discovered within yourself.

I ask you “what matters?”

I tell you – you do!