Clarity of Vision

You might be wondering where I disappeared to the past few months. Nothing is ever dull in my life, and the past year has been filled with more change than even I am used to. After a need for some downtime, I’m beginning to resurface.

Recently, I took a five-day road trip from Dallas, Texas to my home in Portland, Oregon. Eleven years ago, I had taken the same trip in the opposite direction. Many things have changed since then, but I realized on the road that one essential thing has not: I have a passion for adventure and discovery, for travel and new perspectives, for learning more about myself, no matter the means or the vehicle.

Writing is one such vehicle, and I haven’t been filling that tank much lately, although I teach my writing coaching clients to use the adventure of writing to discover their true self, to dive deep into their experience, find the pearls that define who they are, and bring a new perspective to the surface. Unfortunately, I had not been doing that for myself.

Just before the trip, I started to write on my long-awaited book, Stumbling Into Grace. In fact, I had been stumbling over what direction to take the book and had been working on the subtitle, thinking that would help me clarify my message. After I returned, I pulled out all of my old journals, looking for some creative juice.

Ironically, what I discovered was a common thread through many years: That I love road trips, adventure and discovery, and I love to write about those themes. What a surprise.

As I traveled down memory lane through my journals, I put some music on, choosing the first album I ever purchased, Cat Stevens’ Tea for the Tillerman.

The first song that came on was “On the Road to Find Out”. The lyrics described me to a “T”, from the first stanza… “Well I left my happy home to see what I could find out. I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out…” down to the final line… “…pick up, pick up a good book now…”

The universe had gently giving me a roadmap and was nudging me to finish the journey.

Stumbling Into Grace: On the Road to Find Out is the story of my journey to find the essence of living a grace-filled life, despite obstacles, wrong turns, and an occasional collision along the way.  I still have roads to travel, and more sights to see. I hope you’ll join me on the adventure.

I’ll be sharing my writing in this blog. I’d love to hear your feedback. Constructive comments are welcome!

This morning I read an article by John Canzano, sportswriter for the Oregonian, Portland’s daily newspaper. The article was an update to a Christmas day column he wrote about 24-year old Katie Shearer, who died Sunday after a lengthy battle with melanoma.

By the end of the article, tears were pouring down my face. Here was a young woman who was at peace with her death because she had already lived a full life. The lesson Katie shared is that we are all mortal. In fact, she had thought about having a tattoo with “Memento Mori” (remember you are mortal) lasered onto her wrist. Katie understood what life is about… evolving, learning, looking at life as the journey, rather than death as the destination; enjoying each moment that remained and living life to the fullest.

What would you do if you knew you had a week to live?

Most of us trudge through life looking more critically at what we haven’t accomplished than what we have, at what might not happen instead of what is happening right now. What a way to live life. I know, I’ve done it. Katie’s story reminded me that the present is really what it’s all about. Each moment is full of joy, if we embrace it. Instead, we regret the past and fear the future. In the meantime, we miss what’s happening right now.

If you knew in this moment that the next moment would be the end of your life, what would you do? Would you be worried about the economic uncertainty in the world? Would you treat people with more respect? Would you laugh until your ribs hurt? Would you revel in all you have done in your life? Would you by happy or sad? Would you just be in that moment?

What would you do with this moment if you knew you it was your last?

Why wait?

Ever wondered why you aren’t getting what you desire, even when you think you are following the Law of Attraction?

One clue: Look at your “But” statements; they reveal your sneaky beliefs.

What are those? Let me give you some examples…

“I’d like someone who is physically attractive, intellectually stimulating, emotionally available, mentally stable, and spiritually expanding,” I said with conviction and seriousness. Then I added, “But, I don’t know if there’s really anyone out there who has all of those attributes.”

What do you think I got in relationships? Lot’s of people who didn’t have everything I wanted. Here’s another…

“I want financial prosperity… But, money goes out faster than it comes in!” Guess what happens?

And another…

“I bring healthy, positive, and uplifting friendships into my life.” What I added was, “But it’s hard to find new connections.”

Those sneaky beliefs are everywhere! Not just when saying affirmations, they often come up in conversations with others, in humorous things I say to myself, as passing thoughts.

What I say and how I think are part of my awareness, creating that energy, no matter how slight the thought is, or how frequently I might utter a statement about that thought. When the energy is there, the law of attraction does its work, effectively canceling out the affirmation that the universe wants to answer. Whether joking or serious, thoughts make up my belief system, even if I don’t immediately realize they are a part of my thinking.

So, to be the container for what I want to attract in my life, I have to pay attention to what my real beliefs are regarding what I desire.

What are your “But” statements that are keeping you from being the container to receive your desires?

A few years ago, I attended a college graduation ceremony. I don’t remember the speaker’s name, but I clearly remember the story she told. She had graduated with a degree from the college she was now addressing. After a few years of working in that field, she knew it wasn’t a passion of hers.

After months of soul-searching, trying to decide what to do as a profession, she was standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf full of cookbooks, picture books of food, and travel books related to eating. Her husband walked into the room and asked her what she was doing.

“I’m trying to decide what to do with my life,” she replied. “I just don’t know what my passion is.”

Her husband rolled his eyes, looked at the wall of books, and suggested that she look more carefully at what was filling her library.

Message received, she went into the food industry and is now one of the leading authorities in her field.

A few weeks ago, after having read The Passion Test by Janet Atwood, I stepped in front of my bookshelf to see if it reflected a direction I might follow. What I saw were shelves of books on spirituality: The Bible, texts on Buddha, the Baha’i, Native American, Jewish, Mormon, Islam, Shamanism, and many, many more. Alongside of those were books on healing and personal and spiritual growth. Almost as many, were books on writing and publishing.

This may be an odd time with the economic chaos surrounding us for me to take a leap of faith, but I am driven to follow that passion.

For the past 12 months, I tried to mold myself into a teacher of social media, then to meld that with writing, looking more at the “business” end of my business (read: follow the money). The result has been a feeling of frustration, emptiness, and regret, all resulting from my fear that using my genius and talents in a way that honors my desires and purpose would be a financial risk.

Ironically, the other path didn’t really bring that much financial return, because it’s hard to attract something you want into your life when the vibration of energy isn’t there.

The recent upheaval in the world due to the illusory picture of the economy has been the final piece that is leading me to move to a business that encompasses healing and spirituality. Ironically, what the world needs more of right now are those who can help bring a message of change to help shift perspectives, reduce stress, and come together as a global community to help make our way through this scary time. It’s a time for healing, personally, in our communities, and in our world.

My vision for years has been that leaders become healers and healers become leaders. I have been inspired by the changing paradigm to stop dreaming about it and take an intentional leap of faith that healing and bringing that message of healing leadership to others is truly what I am meant to be doing in my business.

For those of you who are looking for more information about writing, I am most definitely going to continue to bring that knowledge and experience to my readers and clients. More than ever, the messengers of transformation and healing need to know the strategies and vehicles that will bring their voice to life.

For those of you who are looking for information from me about social media and how to use it to build your business, I will still be using those tools on this new path, researching what works in this fascinating world of technology, and will continue to pass beneficial learning on to you.

You might say it will be an eclectic mix of discussion, information, and sharing of perspectives.

I welcome you to join me. Please enter your comments at the bottom of this post. Leave your information, so others can find you. Let’s connect. That’s what the internet and social media is all about – the coming together of like minds to share information. And remember to subscribe to the RSS feed so that you know when a post or comment is made in response to yours!

Thank you for letting me take a moment of your time to share my path with you. “As Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” It is my renewed intention to follow that wisdom.

I hope you will stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Marilyn

“The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself” ~ F.D.R.

I made the mistake this morning of reading the newspaper. Waking up with enthusiasm and energy for new ideas for my business, I read the gloom and doom, the predictions of scarcity, and felt myself beginning to question my ideas for changing course in these “uncertain” times.

Ironically, the energy from the collective fear is creating the very outcome that we fear! Reactionary response is causing chaos. The more we follow the illusion that’s being created by others, instead of looking at what we are capable of creating, the closer we get to falling into the abyss, along with everyone else.

If you find yourself anxious and stressed, here are some tips for surviving these “Uncertain” times:

1. Seek support from like-minded people. Not those who are tied into the fear, but those who are looking at a bigger vision, who are working for positive change, who are willing to create something that will empower others, and in the end empower themselves.

2. Look forward, not back. A large part of human suffering stems from our unwillingness to accept what is. What has happened has happened. You can’t change it, so focus your energy on what CAN be done. Find ways to move forward into a new reality, even if you don’t like it. The faster we adapt, the faster we reduce suffering.

3. Channel your fear. If you are overwhelmed by your emotions, express them. Find good support through friends, family, and community. Instead of being fearful, focus on what you can do to change outcomes, yours, your community’s, your country’s.

4. Learn stress management techniques. Read a book, take yoga, learn meditation or breathing techniques, whatever helps you from storing the energy in your body and creating more reasons for stress. Think as it as preemptively keeping you in a good space to handle whatever is on the horizon.

5. Focus on the moment. How do you know you are living in fear? If you are regretting the past or anxious about the future, you are not in the moment, and that means you are in a place of fear. Joy can only be felt in the present. Outside of the moment, and, I guarantee, you are in a place of fear.

6. Stop Reading/Watching the News! Feel your energy when you watch or read about what’s going on in the world. If you believe in the law of attraction, the energy you are feeling is what you will bring more of into your life. This isn’t doing anyone any good, not for you, not for your family, not for the world. Put down the paper, shut off the T.V., and step away!

7. Go Back to the Basics. Everything that I’ve suggested is very simple. What is happening in the world is a wake-up call. We must begin to ask ourselves, what is important? All the money in the world won’t give us true happiness. It’s the simplest things that bring the greatest joy. Do what comes natural and free of fear, and you will find the riches you seek.