January 16, 2008 |
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Monthly Support
& Guidance For Manifesting Change From The Inside Out Helping You |
Teacher, Author & Life Coach |
STANDING IN "THE NEW"
**** —Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., author of Kitchen Table Wisdom **** I welcomed in the New Year creating visually on a poster board what I intend to manifest this year, just as I often encourage my clients to do. Looking at this delightfully happy piece of art - which my designer friend fined-tuned with her expert eye for detail - I saw quite clearly the “new” joyful and empowered me. Reclaiming these lost parts of my essence is a huge celebration. I had just endured an intense seven years of burying both parents, ending a marriage, and starting a business from scratch while single parenting two young children without the help of any extended family. That “old” story of survival and “doing it on my own” has been replaced with a new story of thriving in connection with others. Life is easier when we’re supported and work in teams. And like a newborn baby full of innocence, I find the clean slate full of promise and new hope. Lots of false beliefs got released in the process of my own healing, and I created a community of trusted people to mirror back to me my own blocks, just as I do for my clients. Part of living in integrity, which is my number one value, is walking my talk. Whatever I teach clients, I live or have lived through myself. To fully embrace the new beginning, and LIVE into the new story, we need to let go of the old. Your “old” may mean:
Most importantly, bless each person and event of the past for how they served you. Then, create your new set of intentions not only for the year, but for how you want to live every moment of your life. Visualize the outcome you hope to attain, much the way athletes are trained to anticipate victory. Accept there may be a gap between the old and new, and that doesn’t mean you are doing anything “wrong.” As William Bridges, author of Transitions, has noted: “New beginnings are sometimes messy.” They are messy because we need to accept internally first what we want to live out in the world. Often, that integration takes some time. With joy, Gail Featured Article Manifesting Anew: Laughter and Pleasure Often, when people set intentions or resolutions for the New Year, their lists include very specific goals—from losing so much weight to earning so much money. Getting clear and specific is helpful to creating what we want in our lives. However, sometimes we forget to include statements about “our way of being” versus doing. For me, I want to live each moment as lovingly as possibly, and feel lighter this year and more present to the “now.” Inspiring and attracting - versus pushing, pulling, willing and directing - are other “goals” of mine. I also INTEND to experience a lot more pleasure and laughter, which may sound simpler than you think. Although specializing in women’s health care, the following expert’s opinion can apply to all of us who live in this Western culture still so heavily focused on “productivity” and trying harder. Dr. Christiane Northrup in her PBS special on “Menopause and Beyond, New Wisdom for Women” says we need “to PRACTICE the DISCIPLINE of pleasure.” It takes courage and an ability to let go of resistance to embrace pleasure, she advises, noting that our culture has “a no pain, no gain mentality” and a certain cynicism around having “too much fun.” Elaborating further, I have coached clients to stay focused on the new intention for two minute intervals, at least daily, which helps accelerate the manifestation of a goal. For what we desire externally in life must come from the inside first. Too many times people are waiting for pleasure to come TO them, hoping something fantastic will be delivered FROM the outside world versus creating within themselves the opening for pleasure to grow. If your desire is to increase pleasure you may begin by getting clear and defining what is pleasurable for you—from smelling fresh baked bread or watching clouds roll by to spring skiing on a sunny day and making love with your soulmate. Create a list. Then, start envisioning the feelings you have when you experience pleasure from those items on the list. Discipline yourself to choose to pursue pleasure versus pain, and set aside time each day to nurture that part of you that wants more fun. Also, begin mindfully savoring all the little pleasures available on a daily basis. My other “goal” this year of embracing more laughter typically involves other people as I love to share. Lately, I’ve been laughing mostly at work with my colleagues when we go on new business adventures or read our daily horoscopes “for fun.” I also laugh more frequently when I’ve made a mistake, or hit a growth spurt a bit challenged by the edge and caught off-guard. My children make me laugh, too, when they tease me about my shortcomings or call it like it is more bravely than I would say something. Most importantly, I am CHOOSING pleasure and laughter, and by so doing, creating a new lens through which to see the world. The new view is a lot more brilliant and expansive, sort of like when the movie the Wizard of Oz changes from black-and-white to color. And in the moments when I feel stressed out or overwhelmed, I’m going to tell myself it’s just a time gap between what I’ve known in the past to what I am committed to creating more of now. Then, I’m going to find something pleasurable to do. BELIEF TIPS OF THE MONTH What parts of you do you want to express this year? Is there any resistance to bringing them forth? You may want to try incorporating some of these beliefs into your intentions for the New Year:
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COMING NEXT MONTH: February’s feature article will be “Living Happily Now.” |
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To contact Gail: |
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