We meet with some interesting people once a week and do among other things what is called "The Realization Process" based on work by Judith Blackstone. This process connects you with your body, so that you are fully inhabiting it and at the same you focus your awareness on the fact the "space" you inhabit is part of a continuum of space. It is all connected. In another process called "Core Breath" this becomes more apparent.
So, a few days ago after we had done Judith Blackstone's "Realization Process", our group was talking about how "the one" pervades all of us. Yet we are all differentiated and distinct. How is that we questioned? We are all different, yet one. Almost a Koan... right. Then, I saw it clearly, the underlying energy of us all and because of this energy we can be differentiated as we chose it! As I sat with this realization... I could see how we make agreements to come into the duality. We take on certain energies that we choose... some of which we then choose to "shift" here in this duality. These energies can and do pervade us and the reason we make the choices to shift them. This was such a powerful insight for me because I saw it perfectly clearly...at the knowing level...
And, I'll add here... I actually had a complete sense of the energy underlying all of us and then actually saw the way we assemble the subtle energies to our being. It is like a sculpture. There is a base... and then form is added that differentiates it from...say a "plain" rock. The "form" is added by choice and can be shifted as we choose. All this is part of a free-will universe. Although, I will say, sometimes the "choice" is only to say yes, as may be the case with karmic issues.
The reason I'm mentioning this now is to provide some background about lids. This form we put on to form all of who we each are can contain lids that we may wish to shift during our life in the duality. In total, I really can't address where all of these energies come from. There may be karmic issues that need to be addressed etc. Given that, it is what it is. Actually, I'm being as clear as I can be because every issue, every lid is there for a reason. As I have said many times... there's nothing "wrong" here. And, this is very important. The ego may take this into judgment because that is what the ego does. It assesses and differentiates. That assessment can cause action on your part. You can decide to shift something because ego has notified you that it is "wrong" or does not work for you. That is how the choice to shift something may arise. Even though that choice arises at the level of mind, it can still be useful to you. As the ego learns to trust you and YOU learn to trust the ego a balance is reached. Also, YOU and the ego will learn that the assessment is not black and white. It is what it is and there are choices you can make around that. The ego may initially perceive it as black and white, but YOU will add scope to it by using your total awareness. By doing this, you will learn to deal with the ego's assessments! Just ALWAYS be aware, there is nothing wrong here... it is what it is and there are choices to be made.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
More About Lids...
So, the lids are the invisible fences of our being. That is why it takes vigilance and perseverance to detect them and come to terms with them. Sometimes it happens as a Satori... a moment of complete recognition. Oh, this is why I do that ...or this is why I believe that.. It all comes from your inner knowing in those moments. At other times you need to look at your life and ask yourself... why is this happening or why is my life like that? Ultimately, it is all about your attention. When you ask yourself the right questions and put your attention on the lids that are confining you, you can begin to see them. It is important to realize that there is "nothing wrong here". Put another way... eliminating the negative... everything is the way it is supposed to be ..until this point of recognition! Now, at the point of recognition, we can make choices around what we see as lids or confinements. Some are very simple.. in an instant you know, this no longer serves me! Others times you may struggle with it. You may "need" to see them a few times until you are willing to trust your knowing and make a decision to go beyond them. Also, any criticism you have is a product of ego. Ego is looking for things for it "fix" so it has to be able to assess them.. this is wrong, this is too this or too that... however, it is still ego talking... ego assessing... at a deeper level you just know... GONNA do it differently... then ego may kick in with a justification ... Oh yeah, this isn't working.. fine, but your inner knowing has spoken... and because of the depth of the knowing, ego was not required to justify your actions... your actions are of being and choice... not of ego and rationalization!
Ever hear of someone who just said, "I'm gonna quit smoking" and stopped right then and there, cold turkey? Who do you think made that choice? I have seen that several times. And, it is a powerful place to BE. It's about an inner truth and it comes from being. The ego will "struggle" with it, but YOU know what needs to be done and do it completely and immediately. In this instance, smoking was a lid to that person's health... boom... a decision from core... gone!!
And, this is true of ANYTHING in your life! Boom a decision from core.. gone if need be or brought into your life if need be, a creation... boom done! That's how powerful we are as humans when we stand at the precipice...
Ever hear of someone who just said, "I'm gonna quit smoking" and stopped right then and there, cold turkey? Who do you think made that choice? I have seen that several times. And, it is a powerful place to BE. It's about an inner truth and it comes from being. The ego will "struggle" with it, but YOU know what needs to be done and do it completely and immediately. In this instance, smoking was a lid to that person's health... boom... a decision from core... gone!!
And, this is true of ANYTHING in your life! Boom a decision from core.. gone if need be or brought into your life if need be, a creation... boom done! That's how powerful we are as humans when we stand at the precipice...
Monday, March 17, 2014
Taking The Lid Off!
Taking the lid off? Off of what? YOU!
I had been concerned that Montressa or I had not posted to the blog in awhile and the other night I heard - "Take the lid off!" So, I said, "Okay, let's look at that."
Well first thing, what is the lid? As you do, I had a sense of the metaphor presented by this. As I sat with that for awhile, I started to look at how the "lid" confines me. And then, what would happen if there was no lid. If my confinement was removed?
So, then I started to look at what confines me. Then where does that come from?
One thing for sure is my thinking that things are a certain way. They aren't any way. They are the way they are and they shift according to my attention. That is, as soon as I put my attention on something it is already shifting. Sound familiar? Heisenberg Theory of uncertainty. As soon as you go to examine something it becomes vague. You then are uncertain about where it "really" is. Interesting how we accept this in the physics lab, but not our life.
Okay, so where is this lid? I mean a pickle jar has a lid and I know where it is, right? How about us as humans? Where's our lid?
That question is worth looking into in detail. My immediate answer is that it is invisible, at least to us!! And, that is exactly the issue. We need to look for it. Look for bars that are confining us. That's the thing. It's a prison where you can't see the bars without looking for them. Yet, if you put your attention on them - they show up! I love Dr. Heisenberg! IF there is a reason to become an aware individual that would be it! To look for your invisible confinements. Look for things that are keeping you from being YOU. Looking for that lid.
Even our fear is part of the lid... oh my what would happen if the "lid" came off? There is fear in that question that probes our most intimate of unknowns.
There are many that would like to keep the status quo. Well, even if it is "bad" at least it is known, not like what could happen if we take the lid off. Scary, right? So, fear does "help" keep the lid in place. Remember, it takes courage to be you. It's not that you don't have the fear... you do... but take it with you as you look for the lid in you.
I had been concerned that Montressa or I had not posted to the blog in awhile and the other night I heard - "Take the lid off!" So, I said, "Okay, let's look at that."
Well first thing, what is the lid? As you do, I had a sense of the metaphor presented by this. As I sat with that for awhile, I started to look at how the "lid" confines me. And then, what would happen if there was no lid. If my confinement was removed?
So, then I started to look at what confines me. Then where does that come from?
One thing for sure is my thinking that things are a certain way. They aren't any way. They are the way they are and they shift according to my attention. That is, as soon as I put my attention on something it is already shifting. Sound familiar? Heisenberg Theory of uncertainty. As soon as you go to examine something it becomes vague. You then are uncertain about where it "really" is. Interesting how we accept this in the physics lab, but not our life.
Okay, so where is this lid? I mean a pickle jar has a lid and I know where it is, right? How about us as humans? Where's our lid?
That question is worth looking into in detail. My immediate answer is that it is invisible, at least to us!! And, that is exactly the issue. We need to look for it. Look for bars that are confining us. That's the thing. It's a prison where you can't see the bars without looking for them. Yet, if you put your attention on them - they show up! I love Dr. Heisenberg! IF there is a reason to become an aware individual that would be it! To look for your invisible confinements. Look for things that are keeping you from being YOU. Looking for that lid.
Even our fear is part of the lid... oh my what would happen if the "lid" came off? There is fear in that question that probes our most intimate of unknowns.
There are many that would like to keep the status quo. Well, even if it is "bad" at least it is known, not like what could happen if we take the lid off. Scary, right? So, fear does "help" keep the lid in place. Remember, it takes courage to be you. It's not that you don't have the fear... you do... but take it with you as you look for the lid in you.
Monday, February 10, 2014
A Few Comments on The Last Blog...
You create your life. One of the points from the last blog was that even if you become aware of or find yourself in a situation that you might have a judgment about, it's where you place your attention that drives your life. So, no matter where you find yourself, once you become aware of your situation you can shift your attention. For instance let's say a person finds themselves living in their car. One conversation that could come up is the judgment, "I'm not making it" or "this is not good". That's perfect. You are in the most powerful place in the universe... you know where you are!! I'm living in my car and "it looks like" I'm not making it. This now gives you choices. And, this is where passion comes in as well. First thing is, be totally honest with your self. Is it worth it? Really.. is it? That answer will well up in you. Oh yeah, I want to be a... whatever it is. What do you know at his point? "This is hard". Yup... in a judgment, yes it is hard. More accurately, "you don't like it." That's fine. Will you keep doing auditions or submitting your work? Yes. You want this. Also, immediately start doing something to shift the attention. Opposites... NEVER, EVER think this is trivial and "sounds" good. It resets your life flow. The trick, if there is one, is to actually get your being to THAT place. So, what's a good opposite - well you were at "I'm not making it..." Notice the "not". The universe, from an attention perspective, only focuses on the key words anyway - "making it"! So, what to do... "I am making it" and "I have done it this 'way' so far". That shifts "this is not good" also.
Don't believe this? Dr. Amen, a cutting edge brain researcher, has done brain scans where he actually can see visually, yes visually, the effect of opposites on the brain. The brain begins to function differently. A friend of mine has chatted with him about this.
The words give access to your being and how your life is flowing, your Qi. Do you want to keep it and your life path flowing from your deepest aspect that you've connected with? Really... it's that simple. Who do you chose to be? I have to use "not" here. It's NOT about the words themselves... they are ONLY telling YOU what is happening energetically for you. The words are your "sign post" of existence. Usually, you only speak words that reflect your state of being. By shifting your words, YOU shift you. By listening to the words you have access to YOU. You must at least start by shifting the words to where you want to "be"... as in your being would like to "be". Saying the words starts that process. But wait there's more... a little more time and they settle in to the point that you do not remember or connect with the previous emotional state. That is when you have fully shifted to the new perspective AND your life shows it to you immediately. Most write this off as my "luck" changed. Well, that would be great in a random universe. The universe is very precise, specific and on purpose.
Now, you are going to ask, "Well, did those performers actually DO THAT? Did they really shift it?" Yes.. they did. How do I know? Well - what happened? How did their life turn out from that point? Now, here's the important deal... they did not need to use any "technique" to get there... somehow... some way... something shifted them... a phone call from a friend... a donated coffee from Wendy's. Doesn't matter how... what matters is they shifted!! Their being unaware of, we'll call it, the "quantum process" makes no difference because they did what they needed to do in their being. They came to a place of "moving" forward. That is all they needed at any given time. What I am providing here is an insight into the mechanics of the shift and a way to manually get there.
The real point of that post was that however anything looks - YOU still get to say!! On this planet, in the words of Henry Ford, "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!!" It is THAT simple. And, in the paraphrased words of Pramahansa Yogananda, "You're not beaten until you quit!" He has a great story about a staggering fighter ready to go down, but summons the courage to throw the last punch and knocks his opponent out!! That is a shift of attention - motivated by sheer determination!!
Your life is motivated by your passion and sometimes it just looks like "sheer determination".
Don't believe this? Dr. Amen, a cutting edge brain researcher, has done brain scans where he actually can see visually, yes visually, the effect of opposites on the brain. The brain begins to function differently. A friend of mine has chatted with him about this.
The words give access to your being and how your life is flowing, your Qi. Do you want to keep it and your life path flowing from your deepest aspect that you've connected with? Really... it's that simple. Who do you chose to be? I have to use "not" here. It's NOT about the words themselves... they are ONLY telling YOU what is happening energetically for you. The words are your "sign post" of existence. Usually, you only speak words that reflect your state of being. By shifting your words, YOU shift you. By listening to the words you have access to YOU. You must at least start by shifting the words to where you want to "be"... as in your being would like to "be". Saying the words starts that process. But wait there's more... a little more time and they settle in to the point that you do not remember or connect with the previous emotional state. That is when you have fully shifted to the new perspective AND your life shows it to you immediately. Most write this off as my "luck" changed. Well, that would be great in a random universe. The universe is very precise, specific and on purpose.
Now, you are going to ask, "Well, did those performers actually DO THAT? Did they really shift it?" Yes.. they did. How do I know? Well - what happened? How did their life turn out from that point? Now, here's the important deal... they did not need to use any "technique" to get there... somehow... some way... something shifted them... a phone call from a friend... a donated coffee from Wendy's. Doesn't matter how... what matters is they shifted!! Their being unaware of, we'll call it, the "quantum process" makes no difference because they did what they needed to do in their being. They came to a place of "moving" forward. That is all they needed at any given time. What I am providing here is an insight into the mechanics of the shift and a way to manually get there.
The real point of that post was that however anything looks - YOU still get to say!! On this planet, in the words of Henry Ford, "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!!" It is THAT simple. And, in the paraphrased words of Pramahansa Yogananda, "You're not beaten until you quit!" He has a great story about a staggering fighter ready to go down, but summons the courage to throw the last punch and knocks his opponent out!! That is a shift of attention - motivated by sheer determination!!
Your life is motivated by your passion and sometimes it just looks like "sheer determination".
Friday, February 7, 2014
It's A Hard Knock Life...or Is it?
Montressa has been a bit quiet this month so she wanted me to talk about dramatic shifts in life! Well, here goes...
I woke up the other day and I was contemplating life changes in people. And I know I post a lot of stuff that sounds like ra..ra... yeah, go for it... you can do it! Like a workout coach...just one more set.. and you've got it.
So... the title came to me from a song from the Little Orphan Annie play and movie...
It's A Hard Knock Life
(Orphan's Chorus)
It's the hard-knock life for us!
It's the hard-knock life for us!
(Annie)
'Steada treated,
(Orphan's Chorus)
We get tricked!
(Annie)
'Steada kisses,
(Orphan's Chorus)
We get kicked!
(Everyone)
It's the hard-knock life!
Clearly, at this point in her life Little Orphan Annie has her "attention" on how "hard" things are.. BUT we ALL know things will be getting "better" for this little admirable and clever orphan!! Why because her attention was shifting. No matter what the circumstances, she put her attention on the things that mattered for her!
As a point of reference, I decided to research the paths of some people you might recognize..
Let's start with:
Sarah Jessica Parker
Life had it's issues for this Ohio native. In fact, SJP's mom, a teacher, and her truck driver dad had to go on welfare at times to feed their six children -- then the aspiring star got her big break on Broadway at age 13.
How about, Tom Cruise
While Tom Cruise's net worth is somewhere north of $250 million, did you know his childhood was spent living in near poverty? His family moved over 15 times -- even into Canada -- as his father searched for work. As Tom pressed on he got a big "so called" break.
And, you know Jewel
This country crooner readily admits the fact that her childhood wasn't picture perfect. Check this, her childhood home in Alaska didn't even have running water and she and her dad performed in local bars to provide income. What some call "hard work" paid off for Jewel: After she lived in a van while trying to break into the music biz, her first album, "Pieces of You," went platinum 15 times. She's has also sold 28 million records, reportedly earning $30 million to give her son, Kase (who she had with musician hubby Ty Murray), a much different upbringing than hers. Hopefully she has a copy of Annie Burnside's "Soul to Soul Parenting"!!
Want more?
Jim Carrey
When he was a kid, his dad lost his job. The family was forced to live in their car. To help get the family back on track, Jim got a job as a janitor at Titan Wheels Factory in Canada when he was in ninth grade. The year he got that job, he started performing stand-up comedy in local clubs -- which clearly has paid off.
Never forget, Oprah... either
Oprah was a rural Mississippi native. She was raised by her single teenage mom, and later by her dad in Tennessee. Raped at 9 years old, got pregnant at 14 and her infant son died. But, she stayed focused, followed her passion and worked hard and things turned around once she got a gig as anchor for a Chicago news station.
and what about
Hilary Swank
Hilary draws from her life experiences when she's getting into character. For many years her family lived in a trailer park in Washington. Finally, Hilary dropped out of high school to pursue her acting dreams and moved to L.A. with her mom, where they lived in their car. She then booked "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Next Karate Kid."
Shania Twain
Shania is a survivor. Growing up in rural Canada, her parents sometimes couldn't afford to feed their kids. Shania taught herself how to hunt and chop wood. She also performed in bars as a young girl to earn family money. When her mom and stepdad were killed in a car accident at 22, she moved home to care for the rest of her siblings for several years before heading to Nashville in 1993 to go for her big break.
J.K. Rowling
In the '90s, J.K. Rowling was a single mom trying to make ends meet. Writing in her little apartment, "Harry Potter" suddenly became wildly popular and her life was transformed forever. These days, she uses her $800 million fortune for good by donating to organizations that help the poor and kids who come from single-parent households.
Now, clearly and I have stated this before, YOUR life path is YOUR life path! It is a private thing between you and yourself. At the same time - a life path is a life path and your life is driven by your internal conversations and your passion!! The possibilities are exactly the same! The ONLY difference is that for YOU they are YOUR possibilities. The above are clear examples of the tenacity it takes... it takes guts to be you... but it is sooo.... worth it!!
Choose to be all of YOU... I endorse this message!!
I woke up the other day and I was contemplating life changes in people. And I know I post a lot of stuff that sounds like ra..ra... yeah, go for it... you can do it! Like a workout coach...just one more set.. and you've got it.
So... the title came to me from a song from the Little Orphan Annie play and movie...
It's A Hard Knock Life
(Orphan's Chorus)
It's the hard-knock life for us!
It's the hard-knock life for us!
(Annie)
'Steada treated,
(Orphan's Chorus)
We get tricked!
(Annie)
'Steada kisses,
(Orphan's Chorus)
We get kicked!
(Everyone)
It's the hard-knock life!
Clearly, at this point in her life Little Orphan Annie has her "attention" on how "hard" things are.. BUT we ALL know things will be getting "better" for this little admirable and clever orphan!! Why because her attention was shifting. No matter what the circumstances, she put her attention on the things that mattered for her!
As a point of reference, I decided to research the paths of some people you might recognize..
Let's start with:
Sarah Jessica Parker
Life had it's issues for this Ohio native. In fact, SJP's mom, a teacher, and her truck driver dad had to go on welfare at times to feed their six children -- then the aspiring star got her big break on Broadway at age 13.
How about, Tom Cruise
While Tom Cruise's net worth is somewhere north of $250 million, did you know his childhood was spent living in near poverty? His family moved over 15 times -- even into Canada -- as his father searched for work. As Tom pressed on he got a big "so called" break.
And, you know Jewel
This country crooner readily admits the fact that her childhood wasn't picture perfect. Check this, her childhood home in Alaska didn't even have running water and she and her dad performed in local bars to provide income. What some call "hard work" paid off for Jewel: After she lived in a van while trying to break into the music biz, her first album, "Pieces of You," went platinum 15 times. She's has also sold 28 million records, reportedly earning $30 million to give her son, Kase (who she had with musician hubby Ty Murray), a much different upbringing than hers. Hopefully she has a copy of Annie Burnside's "Soul to Soul Parenting"!!
Want more?
Jim Carrey
When he was a kid, his dad lost his job. The family was forced to live in their car. To help get the family back on track, Jim got a job as a janitor at Titan Wheels Factory in Canada when he was in ninth grade. The year he got that job, he started performing stand-up comedy in local clubs -- which clearly has paid off.
Never forget, Oprah... either
Oprah was a rural Mississippi native. She was raised by her single teenage mom, and later by her dad in Tennessee. Raped at 9 years old, got pregnant at 14 and her infant son died. But, she stayed focused, followed her passion and worked hard and things turned around once she got a gig as anchor for a Chicago news station.
and what about
Hilary Swank
Hilary draws from her life experiences when she's getting into character. For many years her family lived in a trailer park in Washington. Finally, Hilary dropped out of high school to pursue her acting dreams and moved to L.A. with her mom, where they lived in their car. She then booked "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Next Karate Kid."
Shania Twain
Shania is a survivor. Growing up in rural Canada, her parents sometimes couldn't afford to feed their kids. Shania taught herself how to hunt and chop wood. She also performed in bars as a young girl to earn family money. When her mom and stepdad were killed in a car accident at 22, she moved home to care for the rest of her siblings for several years before heading to Nashville in 1993 to go for her big break.
J.K. Rowling
In the '90s, J.K. Rowling was a single mom trying to make ends meet. Writing in her little apartment, "Harry Potter" suddenly became wildly popular and her life was transformed forever. These days, she uses her $800 million fortune for good by donating to organizations that help the poor and kids who come from single-parent households.
Now, clearly and I have stated this before, YOUR life path is YOUR life path! It is a private thing between you and yourself. At the same time - a life path is a life path and your life is driven by your internal conversations and your passion!! The possibilities are exactly the same! The ONLY difference is that for YOU they are YOUR possibilities. The above are clear examples of the tenacity it takes... it takes guts to be you... but it is sooo.... worth it!!
Choose to be all of YOU... I endorse this message!!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Synchronicity... How One Blog Affects Another Blog...
So... Mike read a blog this morning by Annie Burnside... and he said that I should talk about my qualifications and my desires in terms of my career. He mentioned that the blog talked about the "need" to be certified for doing what you do.
Well, in relation to me and my life THAT was the point. While I did attend a prestigious business school and it did qualify me to do the kinds of business things I was doing... that truly was not where my heart was. As I got older I began to realize that big time!! But, you know there is all this pressure around you to keep going in the direction you are on, so you just keep doing what "seems" to be working. So, there was my family, there were my "failed" relationships and there was my boss. Powerful combos to keep doing what I was doing. Of course, there were also subtle health issues, failure to establish a new solid relationship and dissatisfaction with the ethics of my business climate that also added to the equation that was me. And, of course my bff ever, Alex, would ALWAYS give me the straight scoop. And, of course, I always initially resisted her wisdom!! Apparently, I wasn't fooling anyone but myself. You know, the German Shepard thing... just because my head is hidden and my butt is sticking out, no one can see me! My point being, you need to get honest with yourself... brutally honest. You look at yourself in the mirror and see little "laugh" lines that aren't so funny. You take a GOOD and honest look at your face and you see, yes, literally see, the stress in it. Then the question pops in your mind... WHAT THE HELL are you doing GIRL!! That was a satori moment for me. A moment of "enlightenment".
For me, I need to plot things out... I pulled out my computer and started to look at my holdings to see what would happen if I quit my job. I chatted with Alex who basically needled me. And, you know I can't blame her. Things were pretty obvious.
So, here's the deal. I hadn't finished my PhD, in psychological studies, but I really wanted to contribute to "transpersonal psychology". Like, how do you go about doing that? Well, I'll tell you. You become very clear on exactly what you want and then go for it!! And, as I've said in other posts, sometimes the "overnight" success could take 20 years... and that's okay as long as you are ALWAYS moving to your goal... whatever that is. For me, I had the money to do that and move quickly. Well, there were sacrifices I needed to make initially. For most people they would be trivial. You know, I had to give up my house help... shudder... and my Lotus... shudder... shudder... well... that was tough for me!! You could at least offer a hanky!! Hey, that was as difficult for me as, say, giving up Starbucks fancy drinks.
My life got better and better. In fact, after a few months, the reduction in my stress just let me smile ALL the time. Not to mention my meeting the coolest people on the planet and taking a deeper dive into me. Oh yeah, things were still stressful at times, like when Ross flipped out over lack of sleep at the lab. But, remember, we were doing things we loved to do. So, well a little overload here and there is a small price to really enjoy who you are and what you are doing!!
Then too, I was the needle for Ross. That's probably why our paths crossed. Well, that's another story... sort of my "pay it forward"!!
Well, in relation to me and my life THAT was the point. While I did attend a prestigious business school and it did qualify me to do the kinds of business things I was doing... that truly was not where my heart was. As I got older I began to realize that big time!! But, you know there is all this pressure around you to keep going in the direction you are on, so you just keep doing what "seems" to be working. So, there was my family, there were my "failed" relationships and there was my boss. Powerful combos to keep doing what I was doing. Of course, there were also subtle health issues, failure to establish a new solid relationship and dissatisfaction with the ethics of my business climate that also added to the equation that was me. And, of course my bff ever, Alex, would ALWAYS give me the straight scoop. And, of course, I always initially resisted her wisdom!! Apparently, I wasn't fooling anyone but myself. You know, the German Shepard thing... just because my head is hidden and my butt is sticking out, no one can see me! My point being, you need to get honest with yourself... brutally honest. You look at yourself in the mirror and see little "laugh" lines that aren't so funny. You take a GOOD and honest look at your face and you see, yes, literally see, the stress in it. Then the question pops in your mind... WHAT THE HELL are you doing GIRL!! That was a satori moment for me. A moment of "enlightenment".
For me, I need to plot things out... I pulled out my computer and started to look at my holdings to see what would happen if I quit my job. I chatted with Alex who basically needled me. And, you know I can't blame her. Things were pretty obvious.
So, here's the deal. I hadn't finished my PhD, in psychological studies, but I really wanted to contribute to "transpersonal psychology". Like, how do you go about doing that? Well, I'll tell you. You become very clear on exactly what you want and then go for it!! And, as I've said in other posts, sometimes the "overnight" success could take 20 years... and that's okay as long as you are ALWAYS moving to your goal... whatever that is. For me, I had the money to do that and move quickly. Well, there were sacrifices I needed to make initially. For most people they would be trivial. You know, I had to give up my house help... shudder... and my Lotus... shudder... shudder... well... that was tough for me!! You could at least offer a hanky!! Hey, that was as difficult for me as, say, giving up Starbucks fancy drinks.
My life got better and better. In fact, after a few months, the reduction in my stress just let me smile ALL the time. Not to mention my meeting the coolest people on the planet and taking a deeper dive into me. Oh yeah, things were still stressful at times, like when Ross flipped out over lack of sleep at the lab. But, remember, we were doing things we loved to do. So, well a little overload here and there is a small price to really enjoy who you are and what you are doing!!
Then too, I was the needle for Ross. That's probably why our paths crossed. Well, that's another story... sort of my "pay it forward"!!
Friday, January 10, 2014
We Further Interrupt This Blog.... for Mike Vecchio's 115th Dream... Land of Hope and Dreams
Since, once again, this is outside the scope of Montressa's experience and she has graciously allowed me to commandeer her blog...
I was driving back from Florida this past week in an effort to beat the storm to my hometown... and I did get there before the storm did.
I have some select tunes on my phone - and I connected by Bluetooth to the radio errr..."entertainment console" of my car. I played the Bruce Springsteen song, "Land of Hope and Dreams" and something came over me - is the best way I can describe it. To provide some back story, my mom lived in Asbury Park a few blocks from where Bruce Springsteen lived and one night friends of hers and I were chatting and telling stories about Bruce. One told about how they used to see the neighborhood kids gather at his porch and Bruce would come out and jam with them. This was during the early 80's at a time he was struggling to make headway with the E Street band. Fast forward, I watched the show he appeared on with Jimmy Fallon one night and then we attended his "Wrecking Ball" concert in Pittsburgh in Oct. 2012. and watched him perform live and crowd surf the audience... so I feel very close to Bruce...
As I listened to the lyrics of the "people's poet" I marveled at his greatness. Suddenly, Bruce and I were hanging out at a small dinning table. He had a warm cup of coffee in front of him, his hands wrapped around the cup and I could feel his calm and almost self-effacing energy. He was staring at the cup, almost mesmerized in the moment. So, I told him, you know this song is great. He shrugged his shoulders... "It's what I do, you know? There isn't another way."
In another instant, I was immediately transported to the previous week. I was sitting side by side with my son who was looking at and processing my daughter's marine biology diving pictures on his MacBook. His fluidity with it blew me away. I then saw I was sitting next to greatness. The Greatness of who my son is... and the Greatness of who my daughters are and the Greatness of their significant others... I was transfixed at this realization as I drove... and I returned to Bruce then and asked to no one in particular... what IS Greatness? By this time, the honor of being allowed to see all this greatness caused tears to well up and run down my face as I drove.
Then I asked again - So what is this Greatness?
Please... please really get this...
Here's the answer:
"Greatness is about the "excellence" with which you approach who you are..."
I was driving back from Florida this past week in an effort to beat the storm to my hometown... and I did get there before the storm did.
I have some select tunes on my phone - and I connected by Bluetooth to the radio errr..."entertainment console" of my car. I played the Bruce Springsteen song, "Land of Hope and Dreams" and something came over me - is the best way I can describe it. To provide some back story, my mom lived in Asbury Park a few blocks from where Bruce Springsteen lived and one night friends of hers and I were chatting and telling stories about Bruce. One told about how they used to see the neighborhood kids gather at his porch and Bruce would come out and jam with them. This was during the early 80's at a time he was struggling to make headway with the E Street band. Fast forward, I watched the show he appeared on with Jimmy Fallon one night and then we attended his "Wrecking Ball" concert in Pittsburgh in Oct. 2012. and watched him perform live and crowd surf the audience... so I feel very close to Bruce...
As I listened to the lyrics of the "people's poet" I marveled at his greatness. Suddenly, Bruce and I were hanging out at a small dinning table. He had a warm cup of coffee in front of him, his hands wrapped around the cup and I could feel his calm and almost self-effacing energy. He was staring at the cup, almost mesmerized in the moment. So, I told him, you know this song is great. He shrugged his shoulders... "It's what I do, you know? There isn't another way."
In another instant, I was immediately transported to the previous week. I was sitting side by side with my son who was looking at and processing my daughter's marine biology diving pictures on his MacBook. His fluidity with it blew me away. I then saw I was sitting next to greatness. The Greatness of who my son is... and the Greatness of who my daughters are and the Greatness of their significant others... I was transfixed at this realization as I drove... and I returned to Bruce then and asked to no one in particular... what IS Greatness? By this time, the honor of being allowed to see all this greatness caused tears to well up and run down my face as I drove.
Then I asked again - So what is this Greatness?
Please... please really get this...
Here's the answer:
"Greatness is about the "excellence" with which you approach who you are..."
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