What I Know

Public Radio has a series called What I Know for which listeners send in pieces about something that they know. I was thinking about this and came up with some random things that I know—or at least I think that I know. These are:

How much I do not know.

My father was a doctor, and he would attend medical conferences from time to time. He seemed to be the person who would attend all the sessions that he could. I would often ask him what he had learned after the conference. His answer was always “How much I don’t know.” 

One of the doctors from the clinic where he had practiced came to my father’s funeral. He told me that he had not been at the clinic very long when my father made an appointment with him so that my father could learn from him what was new in this doctor’s field of medicine.

I hope to always have my father as an example and to remember that there is always a lot more to learn. What is as important to remember is, that I do not know everything. There are things I have come to believe in and have learned that I would have said “oh, right” (with a tinge of sarcasm) about 20 years ago. 

Lifelong curiosity is good.

I think that the above story about my dad illustrates this. Curiosity, if not the intrusive kind, keeps us stretching and learning. It keeps us seeing things with new eyes, hopefully with the curiosity of a child, seeing everything as new.

Be nice to everyone.

I watched my mom be nice to just about everyone she encountered. And, that was what people would say about her, “she’s so nice.” Certainly being polite and courteous is the next best thing if you cannot be nice to everyone. I also remember watching her and her mother (my MorMor as we called her) work a room, greeting everyone they could, smiling, asking them how they were. The warmth of these two women was wonderful to see.

A number of years ago, I made being at least polite, if not outright friendly, to cashiers, store clerks, wait staff, and those in similar positions my New Year’s Resolution. I am trying to keep this as my annual resolution. It can make a difference in someone’s life, or at least their day, if that person is treated courteously. 

Angels and Guides are more tolerant and humorous than many people.

I have been working with angels and guides for a number of years. They have yet to chastise me for what I perceive as failings and missteps. They do not give me a hard time if I do not follow their advice or fail to ask them for advice before I do something. They, rather, encourage me to learn from these and to move on. In fact, one of the sayings that came through for the Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be* is that, at any one moment, your are perfect for who you are. The angels and guides, however, do want us to learn and then to move on, to not be held back by fear and regret. The counterpart to this saying was that we are expected not to be static, but rather grow and change. 

I do know that angels and guides laugh at times. How could they not living directly in the unconditional love of Source and experiencing the joy that comes from that?

There are things I am just not good at, so I should just let those who are good at them do them.

One of the things I am not good at is that I am not very athletic. Just not. Never have been. Most likely will never be. So, instead, I walk, do gentle yoga from time to time and the like. I admire those who can run 5 miles, do triathlons, swim easily, play golf, or any other numerous athletic activities. 

I can knit well, but hate needlepoint so I am not great at that. I leave it to those who are fantastic at it and/or love it. 

I am a great life coach, but I am not trained as a psychologist, so I know enough to keep out of that role. I am not afraid to suggest that someone needs therapy. If they keep seeing me as well as a therapist, that is great. If they choose to see a therapist only, then bless them for taking that step.

The less personally that I take things, the more joyful life seems to be.

I find that if I do not let myself become entrapped in fear and distress for things not being the way I want them to be, the more I can enjoy what I do have. The more I detach from the outcomes that I would like to have, the more open I am to what opportunities are presented to me.

Every day is a new beginning.

Jon Kabat-Zinn says that every meditation is a new beginning in his book on mindfulness. You can easily say this about a day, a task. Am I 100% on anyone of the things that I have written about in this post? Of course not, although I wish I was. That is another thing that I know. I am able to start over every day to work on these or any task at hand. 

What are the things that you know? 

*My friend, Linda, and I are still working towards the self-publication of Opening the Heart. We expect that it will be out sometime this fall.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryn Samuelson, as an intuitive, channels your angels and guides who are delighted to connect with you, and who are uniquely suited to answer your questions and address your concerns. She can receive information as to who your angels and guides are, as well as receiving information for you about family, health, job and career, and life path among other issues and concerns. She provides this guidance through the use of spiritual writing, a practice that she has engaged in since 1993. In her life coaching practice, she welcomes all clients, but specializes in helping those who are undergoing a transition in their lives—whether it is a move, a job or career change, a loss of some type, or some other transition issue. She was certified as a life coach in 2007 by the University of New Hampshire. Kathryn also leads workshops based on the set of meditation cards and book called Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be. She created this set with her friend, Linda Lewis. For more information: www.kathrynsamuelson.com, klsamuelsonATyahoo.com, or 781-799-7332

Other Blog Posts by Kathryn Samuelson:  Practicing Radical Ambiguity and Radical Persistence, Part 2, Practicing Radical Ambiguity and Radical Persistence Part 1, Turning from Rage and Fear, Adventures in Publishing, Social Media Fatique, Sustain Your Life Card Set: A Review, The Day that Changed the World, Metanoia or the Radical Transformation of Heart and Mind, The Language of Place, Coming Back from the Dead, December 21, 2012 - What I Believe, Something I Learned in France, Buddha, Christ, Merlin: Three Wise Men for Our Age Book Review, Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: Book Review, Please Keep Me from Taking Myself too Seriously, No One is an Island, Being in Time, What Comes Before Happiness? Small Businesses as a Sign of Hope, When is Enough Enough?, Just Because We Can, Should We?, Choosing a Slower Path, My Journey with the Angels, Odds and Ends, Dissolving Limits, Brave Spending, Mindful Spending, Would You Have the Courage to Act?, Growth in the Winter, Book Review: Find Your Spirit Animals, As We Grow Through the Season, Simple Ways to Give, Turning Left Rather Than Right, Giving Thanks, Nurturing the Ego, Letting Things Go, Real Energy Book Review, Living with Doubt and Uncertainty, Bardo - The Things In Between, Musings On Mindfulness, You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps, The Choices We Make, Beyond: Buddhist and Christian Prayers CD Review, Riding Out Irene: A Practice in Maintaining Balance,

Healing Emotional Pain: Embrace Your Emotions

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart - Helen Keller

Maybe like me, you have difficulty feeling your emotions. You may question why would we want to feel painful emotions?

Embrace Your Emotions

What if, we allowed ourselves to fully feel our emotions/feelings?

Sri Bhagavan of the Oneness University in India teaches any feeling or sensation experienced fully in the present moment will eventually transform into joy. This includes the most challenging situations or intense emotions.

Robert Tennyson Stevens’ Conscious Language also says that any emotion fully felt will turn into its strength, grief into joy, fear into confidence, and pain into love.

When we stop resisting pain, and surrender, Divine Grace can enter our bodies. Contraction ends and a flow of energy opens, allowing change. I have experienced this. To allow this transformation involves a mastery of staying in the center of a feeling. It means neither going out of body nor drowning in the feeling.

We can understand the above experience better by seeing a surfer in the curve of a big wave, perfectly balanced on his board. He neither gets tossed up into the air nor does he get submerged under tons of water.

It is impossible to stop fear or pain in our lives. When, however, we learn to experience our emotions fully, we take charge of them.

When we practice staying present with whatever emotion or pain arises in our bodies and master this, we experience something different, inner stillness.

Sri Bhagavan of the Oneness University calls this experience of inner stillness: bliss; calm; peace. I have felt this peace.

According to Bhagavan, with stillness, no energy gets lost. Thus, we feel this stillness as calm or peace. We have accepted the reality of our feelings. On the other hand, Bhagavan says when we resist our feelings this fight uses a lot of energy and we experience pain, suffering, and conflict.

The best way out is always through, said the poet Robert Frost.

The Best Way to Handle/Embrace Your Emotions: 

1. Become aware of them. When we push them away they become stronger.
2. Accept your thoughts or feelings.
3. Focus on the sensations in your body, however vague.
4. Pick one sensation and stay focused on it.
5. Resist any desire to change what you feel. Allow it to be.
6. Sit and feel the sensations without doing anything to change them.

If you start to think about the past or future, come back to feeling the sensations in your body. Focus on your breath to help you. 

Stay with the sensation until it transforms on its own without you doing anything. This may take for example, 30 minutes, 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months. As you have time keep coming back to the sensation, feeling, or issue until it transforms on its own.

Would you like more calm and peace in your life, less stress? Practice the above meditation daily or at least when intense feelings come up.

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR   

Michael David Lawrience is the author of Emotional Health: The Secret from Drama, Trauma, and Pain  His book provides ways for improving emotional health, easing pain and stress, healing physical and emotional abuse, and spiritual awakening.

Michael as a Residential and Self-Esteem Coach and Mentor has over 13 years experience teaching teens self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-reliance. See eBook Self Esteem- A Teen's Guide for Girls 

Michael offers Bowen Therapy in person in Sedona, Arizona for easing physical and emotional pain. See http://emotionalhealthtips.com/bowen-therapy

Other Blog Posts By Michael D. Lawrience: 

Top 5 Stress Relievers for Men, Top 10 Tips Indicating Signs of Spiritual Awakening/Enlightenment Part 2, Change Your Emotions Change Your Life, Inner Body Awareness: What is it? Sedona Vortexes: What is a Vortex?, How to Alleviate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Pain–Part 2?, How to Alleviate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Pain–Part 1, Top Dysfunctional Family Roles Affecting Self-Esteem–Part 2, Top Dysfunctional Family Roles Affecting Self-Esteem, Men Stopping Violence: Active Listening/Validation - Part 2, Men Stopping Violence: Communicate With Daughters and Women, Alchemy of Sedona: Sacred Vortex Sites , 3 Tips to Overcome Negative Thinking , What is Solar Light Body Activation?, Top 7 Tips to Shift into Spiritual Awakening, 2012 Scenario: Manifesto for the Noosphere Book Review, Solar Revolution Book Review, End of the world: December 21, 2012?, Emotional Healing Tips: Angel Healing for Your Inner Child Part II, Emotional Healing Tips: Angel Healing for Your Inner Child, How to Heal the Pain of Low Self-Esteem, Revealed: Why Men and Women Handle Stress Differently, Top 5 Stress Relief Tips for Women, Top 5 Stress Relief Tips for Men, Energy Medicine: How to Reduce Fatigue and Stress?, Does Your Inner Child Feel Abandoned?, Your Pain Body: Friend or Foe?, 21 Qualities to Cultivate for Spiritual Awakening Part 4, 21 Qualities to Cultivate for Spiritual Awakening Part 3, 21 Qualities to Cultivate for Spiritual Awakening Part 2, 21 Ways to Cultivate Spiritual Awakening Part 1, 7 Tips: How Does Emotional Abuse Damage Children’s Self-Esteem? Part 2, 7 Tips: How Does Emotional Abuse Damage Children's Self Esteem Part 1, Energy Healing: What Everyone Should Know About Emotions, Emotional and Physical Pain: The Only Way Out is Through, Emotional Health and Solar Flares: The Miracle of Our Feelings, Do Solar Flares and Earth Magnetics Affect Our Emotions?, 5 Tips to Overcome Self-Sabotage, Self-Sabotage - Why Do Our Intentions Fall Short of Our Desired Results?, What Self Sabotaging Behaviors Create Stress? What is the Difference Between a Subpersonality and a Multiple Personality?, Discover Your Subpersonalities: How Do We Heal Them? Part 3 Continued, 8 Steps to Discover Your Subpersonalities: How Do We Heal Them? Part 3, A Meditation for Discovering Your Subpersonalities, How Do We Discover the Subpersonalities That Run Our Lives? 12 Steps to Recovery from Codependency Traits - Part 3, 12 Steps to Recovery from Codependency Traits -Part 2, 12 Steps to Recovery from Codependency Traits - Part 1, Angel Light Healing, How Many People Does It Take for Planetary Awakening? What is the Phenomenon of Spiritual Awakening Sweeping Around the Planet? How Does Sedona, Arizona Assist with Emotional and Spiritual Healing? Top 10 Tips Indicating Signs of Spiritual Awakening, What Are the Benefits of Living Your Life Purpose?,How Do You Find Your Life Purpose? Self Love: Twin Souls Twin Flame Relationships, Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment: What Does it Mean?, Spiritual Planetary Awakening and Enlightenment: How Many People Does it Take?

Most Benevolent Outcome Stories June 2013

Welcome to the Benevolent Outcomes Blog, and welcome to everyone who subscribed in the past week. This Blog is for people just discovering how to use a very simple, yet powerful and effective spiritual tool you can use every day the rest of your life. It will lessen the stress and fear of life in general, and will make your life easier. It’s so simple a lot of people say “It can’t be this easy,” but it is, because IT WORKS! This reconnects you with your Guardian Angel, or higher power, or whatever your belief is. You simply say, “I request a Most Benevolent Outcome for…….., thank you!” When you read the stories below, sent from all over the world, we use the acronym MBO for Most Benevolent Outcomes, GA for Guardian Angel, and BP for Benevolent Prayers (what you ask for other people).

SPECIAL NOTICE:

Please email me your MBO stories to show others how to use this simple tool to TomTMoore6(at)aol.com. 

Now for some inspiring stories.

MBO’S FOR BETTER LIFE

Dan writes: You often ask for blog submissions, so I thought I'd get this one in way early. I don't have one great story to tell, but rather would like to share a different view. I've spent a good part of my life 'searching' for answers to life's big questions, even to the point of going to a bible college for a few years. I thought, if anything, this would be the place to figure out the big questions about God in my life and how I should live. Unfortunately, I never got that answer there.

When I was introduced to your MBOs, I found a tangible and easy way to connect with that spiritual part that I knew existed but was somehow unattainable. Since then, I've now come to the point in my life where saying MBOs to start the day, even before I leave my bed, and to use them throughout the day are as essential to me as breathing and just as natural. I now find I get stressed far less, almost to the point of 'not at all.' Not that challenges don't arise, but I truly worry far, far less about them, and leave them to my GA.

I also use BPs for things I can see coming for family and friends, but also use them on the spot, such as when I'm passing an accident scene and see emergency responders on-site. I can also say my life definitely seems to be 'blessed' in virtually every way, from good health to career success to prosperity. I've also shared my story with many friends and family, many of whom also use MBOs in their lives with positive results.

I guess in closing I can only say that MBOs were the literal 'missing piece in the puzzle of my life' and have helped to provide the direction and connection I felt I was missing. Thanks Tom, I hope this helps your readers in using MBOs in their own lives.

MBO BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Lee writes: My husband is in the hospital, again, and I needed to stop on my way to work to drop something off for him. So, I requested MBO's for the drive, a good parking space and to get to work on time. Well, traffic was slow, crowded and just awful. I got to the hospital and parking was out in the lot far from the front door. I thought, wow, those MBO's didn't work! I parked and got out of my car, turned and there was the most delightful gentleman driving a courtesy golf cart and asked if I wanted a ride! I never use them as I prefer to walk but today I accepted. He drove me right to the front door.

I had to ask at the desk for directions to his room as they had moved him and a nice woman took me right to his door and the best thing was it was on the first floor and not too far off the lobby so I got to spent a few minutes with my husband instead of traveling through the hospital just to get to his room Soon I had to leave to go to work and headed for the exit and who was sitting there but the same delightful gentleman! He said that was quick and did I need a ride, which I gratefully accepted. I told him I wasn't sure where I was parked as I didn't make note when I got out of my car earlier. He said it was no problem as he remembered where I was parked and promptly drove me right to my car! I thanked him profusely and told him he was my guardian angel! I made it to work on time.

Tom, the universe gave me such a beautiful gift this morning with how my request unfolded. I regret that I was frustrated that it wasn't working out as I had requested but am so happy that it worked out the way it did. The gentleman truly was delightful and I am sorry I didn't get his name to write a letter telling his boss what a gem he has on his staff. This experience made my day. And even better, my husband was able to come home this afternoon! Thank you for MBO's!

MBO AT CASHIER

André writes: A perfect solution to today's meal: the local market had a special on meal salads today, 2 for 5 Euros, while normally they cost 3 to 4 Euros a piece. I added three cans of Monster in case my friend Paul did or did not stop by tonight, and made my way to the checkout. My favorite cashier was talking to a colleague, so I figured I'd have to make do with her one of the less experienced ladies. I should have known better and trusted the Grand Overall Design; by the time I was first in line, the young lady was relieved by the colleague I considered most in resonance with me, although I'm quite sure she didn't know that a Most Benevolent Outcome request had made her do it.... Unless of course she is part of the team of angels assigned to make my dreams come true.... ;-) ♥ And while walking out the door, I saw that I'd inadvertently taken one can of Yellow monster, just like I'd briefly considered while taking them out of the rack! MBO's happen to you whether you actually voice them consciously or not.

Yes, but they happen much faster and better if you voice them each time. A physical action requires a physical request.

MBO FOR OFFICE MATE

Janet writes: My office mate decided to move out and I put out an MBO for the perfect person to share my space. The person who was sent to me via a friend, needs the space on the days and evenings when I'm not using it which works out perfectly for both of us plus we use similar types of furniture in our practices, I as a nutritionist and she as a craniosacral worker. I am relatively new to asking for MBO's and I am very excited to move beyond manifesting good parking spaces! Thanks again for this fantastic gift!

BP FOR NIECE’S PERFORMANCE

Sandy writes: Said MBO for my niece to play an awesome show despite cold. It worked, she tore the place up.

MBO FOR COMPRESSION OF TIME

Nancy writes: Driving home from the hospital after visiting a friend I realized that I was going to be late for an appointment. Sent up a MBO for a time collapse or something so my client wouldn't be standing outside waiting for me in the rain. When I got to the office I found all the lights on and my client inside. Turns out my business partner 'just happened' to stop by on her day off at the same time my client showed up! I arrived 10 minutes later, right on time for the appointment.

MBO FOR FINANCES

RubyStar writes: I have seen many people post MBO stories for financial help on your website. I decided I would say one, as everything helps. After I said one, the movie theatre where my boyfriend works had openings for managers (where he applied and got the job, we of course said MBO's for this) and for the last two months we haven't had much bills due to "my great payment record" they are refunding all my deposits on the water, natural gas, AND electric. My total bill to pay this month was literally $0.48. Really helped as my boyfriend is just now starting to get the manager pay. I was very shocked when I received the bills and the amount due was $0.00 or NONE.

MBO’S FOR BABY, BIRDS, DOCTOR BILL

Yvette in Australia writes: I always request an MBO for a parking space which works every time.
I have a 4 month old baby boy. I request MBO's to help him to settle for his sleeps, works a treat.

My husband is a mechanic and does some work on people's cars at home for extra pocket money. I said a few benevolent prayers and his business has increased by 50%. Mostly new customers as well as his usual customers have been ringing regularly. Has certainly been helping to pay the utility bills!

One day I said an MBO to see some beautiful bird life. I saw a grass parrot on my balcony. I also saw a very special frog mouth owl one night and I knew that special forces were at work, I rarely see owl's around our neighborhood.

I was expecting a very large bill from my Doctor (around $2000-$3000) after having my baby in February. I said an MBO for an affordable bill better then I hoped for or expected. The bill came this week $213. I thanked my guardian angel profusely.

I am really enjoying your newsletters, blog and books.

Thanks for all you do Tom.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom T. Moore is an entertainment industry CEO, author, and speaker. He is the author of THE GENTLE WAY: A Self-Help Guide For Those Who Believe In Angels and THE GENTLE WAY II: The Story Continues .  His newest book is, CONVERSATIONS WITH AN E.T.--First Contact! He publishes a weekly newsletter.  Visit his website at www.TheGentleWayBook.com. 

Other Blog Posts by Tom: Most Benevolent Outcome Stories, Understanding Orbs, Potpourri of Most Benevolent Outcomes March 2013, Spiritual Path as Old at Atlantis, Probabilities and Predictions, Tools for Abundance, If Heaven Were a Corporation, Angels and the Holidays, The Origin of Christmas,Have More Success and Less Stress in Retail.Traveling with Your Guardian Angel, Angels Friends and Coworkers, Changing the Future, Your Pets and Your Guardian Angels, Most Benevolent Outcome for a Lost Dog, Junior Creators in Training, Potpourri of Most Benevolent Outcomes, A Simple Tool for Your Toolbox, Potpourri of Most Benevolent Outcomes May 2012, Guardian Angel Conversations and Most Benevolent Outcomes,               

We are Beautiful!

All it takes for us to realize that we are truly beautiful in all regards is our willingness to look at those parts of ourselves, which wish to be released or transformed. This releasing and transformation is needed not because we are inherently flawed, but because those parts stand in our way of recognizing our own magnificence and the truth that we are inherently beautiful and good. Most of what we need to clear and surrender, is not even ours. They are patterns, belief systems, and automatic responses and so forth, which we have picked up along the way through our upbringing and conditioning and they truly do not serve us. Anything that truly belongs to us is good in its own nature, in its own essence.

The things which we find to be our flaws may belong to others, or they have been established as a “protective” response. When we are or feel threatened at any point in life, it is human nature to go into a reactive response of defense. That defense can show up in many forms. And typically it is either immediately maladaptive or becomes so down the road, when it no longer serves us.

When we desire a Joy filled life, then it is necessary to relinquish ALL, which does not serve us; including any layers of protection that are functioning in a way that is out of alignment with our true Self’s wishes. It IS important to feel and to be protected, and yet, so often we choose ways which do not truly fulfill that purpose.

When we are willing to let go and to let in Love, everything has the potential to shift and uplift us. With that, life can bring us all those things which we have been longing to receive. It is time to realize that we totally deserve the Love that we so long for, and that it is up to us to open our Hearts fully to the receiving of this Love. When we do, Love showers us and then others do the same naturally; for it is our radiance of Love which attracts more Love. And what is most beautiful about this is that now we no longer yearn so much for the Love, but welcome it and that is a huge difference. For with that, we have set ourselves free. We no longer demand, but allow. Love flows where it is welcomed; for then it can enter, flowing freely along its natural path.

First and foremost, when we are upset, it is important to look at what our inner children are saying to us as to what their needs are. It is highly important that we nurture our inner children, for all of them may have wounds of some sort until we embrace them and include them into our Love that we share with the world.

Let us shower them first with what we have to give and we will see the greatest rewards. Let us call them back into our fields from the exile they have lived in for so long. It does not matter whether seemingly one or both of our parents sent them there or whether we did so ourselves. What matters instead is that we bring them back and welcome them into our Hearts, so that we can be whole once more.

Anytime we feel distracted from that on which we wish to focus, it is a great opportunity to see whether our own inner needs are being met. If our inner child is craving attention and we are dismissing its need for Love, then we are battling a battle that cannot be won. The only true solution here is to embrace that child and hold it dear to our Hearts, let it feel the Love and rest. Then, our focus can return to what we seek to share ourselves with.

So when you find yourself distracted, check in with yourself and listen and feel and respond with Love. You will be grateful you did and you will find that it takes very little to make a child feel loved. When you are fully present with him or her for even a few moments, he or she will feel heard and that is what most of us are craving for more than anything. If we are fully heard and listened to we feel cherished and honored and we can truly heal. Try it out and see for yourself.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Polly N. Benkstein is a contributing author to the book Divine Inspirations - Stories of Awakening and Empowerment by Everyday Lightworkers.

She is a passionate Healer, Channel and Writer. On this plane, her teachers include many well known and not so well known ones. Polly trained in many healing modalities, and loves to use her own ecclectic approach. Her motto is: WE are called to be the change we wish to see in the world, WE are the ones we have been waiting for. To find out more and/or to connect with Polly, you can visit her website at http://www.claimingyourdivinebirthright.com/ or email her at 333HeavenOnEarth444@gmail.com

Other Blog Posts by Polly: Life is an Adventure, The Gift of LIFE, Discovering the Secrets to Life, Feel the Resistance… and Then Move Through it Anyways, Trust Your Guides!, Trust Yourself!, Being a Great Friend to Ourselves, Finding Balance, The Power of Perception, Plain Talk about Belief Systems, Answers to Our Prayers, Are You Living Your Vision?,  The X Factor - What is YOUR Dream?,The Healing Power of Self Love, The Perfect Mirror, I Envision a World of Peace and Harmony, When You are Seemingly Dealt a Bad Card, Look Again,

What Are You Good At?

In the book Three Feet From Gold, the author Greg Reid is talking to Joe Dudley, CEO of Dudley Products, one of the largest manufacturers of ethnic hair care products in the world, when Joe offered, “The key [to success] is to discover what your advantage is and utilize it.”

Then he asked, Greg, “What are you good at?”

When I read this, it reminded me of working at Ernst and Young in Dallas. After being there a few months, I was flown to New York for training. The training conference room was set up like the Knights of the Roundtable. As I took my seat at the table, I knew I was among the best and brightest accountants in the world. A few years later, up on the 36th floor of a high rise building in downtown Dallas, a partner was reviewing my audit workpapers. He turned to me and said, “You’re one of the smartest auditors I’ve ever worked with.”

A Master/Partner in the field of accounting thought I was good. Damn good! When I left the office, I kept replaying it in my mind. On some level, I think I knew it was true, but sometimes it's hard to admit you're good at something. It takes someone else making the observation to wake you up.

I never forgot that piece of praise and treat it like gold. That one comment has come in handy from time to time, when I've had bad days, bad months and bad years. Knowing what I was good at has gotten me through periods of layoffs while the companies I worked for split up into parts and pieces, the business dried up because of 911 and the Great Recession. Knowing you’re good at something regardless of the circumstances around you, is your emotional port in a storm. That knowing is something no one can take away from you.

It's not arrogant to admit you're good at something. I've spent many hours getting my Bachelors Degree in Accounting, passing my CPA exam, working many nights and weekends in public accounting and working for public and private companies mastering my craft. Own it.

If you don’t know what you're good at, ask someone you know. Whatever they say, that’s what you’re good at. Simple. I never had a friend who wouldn’t tell me what I was good at if I asked.

Joe Dudley’s final piece of advice to Greg was to, “Fill your mind with books of inspiration. Work hard, work smart, and at the end of the day, become a job-maker, not a job-taker. In other words, make your own opportunities.” 

When you’re good at something, others will notice. You will attract opportunities where none existed. If you’ve been laid off and you’re good at something, it’s fairly easy to get back up on the horse and hit the ground running. Start a new business doing what you’re good at or use your time in between jobs or projects for experimenting with new things you’re good at…like writing. Who says we can only be good at one thing?
   

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. Ann Rousseau is the author of the novel Portsmouth, A Love Story.  

Follow R. Ann Rousseau on Twitter: 
@RAnnRousseau 
@portsmouthalove 
@explorebeyondusual 

Facebook: 
www.facebook.com/PortsmouthALoveStory
www.facebook.com/rannrousseau

Signs and Wonders Part I: Eat, Pray, Run Like Hell And Create, Create, Create

Eat

An author friend will often eat a pizza and write at a local pizza parlor. I find it absolutely incredible that given all of the distractions, she can do this. But she does. She has. And she is successful at it. Heck, she probably wrote most of her recently published book there in that very spot among the smell of freshly baked pizza, screaming children, hoards of folks texting, tweeting, facebooking, instagramming (and whatever else we do with our smartphones these days) and the constant swing of the doors opening and closing with pizza dinner hopefuls coming in and out!

Maybe I should take a leaf from her book and just, well, eat. (I would probably become better at this)!

Occasionally a funny thing happens to me as I am walking my dog on the beach. This same pizza parlor writing friend will show up coincidentally (tongue in cheek) and we will meander along talking about the thing that burns most for the moment. It is casual and fun and stressful because she will inevitably ask, “So how is the book coming?” Or, “Where are you in the writing process?” Or, “Is the manuscript finished yet?”

Annoyed, I will always reply, “It’s coming along nicely and no, I am not quite finished yet”. 

 To which she ‘hmm’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ and precedes to offer unsolicited advice.

I turn my nose up, internally. And our walk continues. She is wonderful to put up with my attitudes and never mentions it, although clearly it is there.

I have gotten to be an expert at ignoring messengers and messages like those that find their way to me on the beach while walking my dog. Or that pass me on a local road in the form of a late model SUV with plates that scream “Writer +”.

Today, the message showed up as a single word on my computer screen. Create.

Pray

A few days ago I prayed a prayer again, that I have prayed many times over. God, I want to write. I am a writer. I want to always write, so help me to do this. Amen. 

God was silent. I didn’t hear anything. At least that is what I told myself.

But actually, God’s response was (and is) all around me. It was in the voice of my friend who spoke to me on the beach. It was showing up in the license plate of that battered late model SUV that appeared out of nowhere seemingly. It was burning in my heart so much, that I am wide awake at 2am. (No, I don’t drink too much coffee)! But like so many, I was not paying attention.

I was tortured. I was that creative “genius” with the atlas. I was like a volcano of stories, ideas, characters, and they were all talking at once--telling me their stories, and there wasn’t enough time or energy or space to get them all out fast enough. They hounded me like hired assassins. Always on my trail. Relentlessly pursuing me. Their conversations popped up at any given moment in the day. I can see their faces in my dreams and in my waking reality. They held me hostage, and the only thing that freed me was to put their words on paper. But there just didn’t seem to be enough time. I couldn’t pray hard enough to make it happen.

In 2009, author of the best seller Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert described the late poet Ruth Stone's creative writing experience like this:

As [Stone] was growing up in rural Virginia, she would be out, working in the fields and she would feel and hear a poem coming at her from over the landscape. It was like a thunderous train of air and it would come barreling down at her over the landscape. And when she felt it coming...cause it would shake the earth under her feet, she knew she had only one thing to do at that point. That was to, in her words, "run like hell" to the house as she would be "chased by this poem.”

The whole deal was that she had to get to a piece of paper fast enough so that when it thundered through her, she could collect it and grab it on the page. Other times, she wouldn't be fast enough, so she would be running and running, and she wouldn't get to the house, and the poem would barrel through her and she would miss it, and it would "continue on across the landscape looking for another poet."

And then there were these times, there were moments where she would almost miss it. She is running to the house and is looking for the paper and the poem passes through her. She grabs a pencil just as it's going through her and she would reach out with her other hand and she would catch it. She would catch the poem by its tail and she would pull it backwards into her body as she was transcribing on the page. In those instances, the poem would come up on the page perfect and intact, but backwards, from the last word to the first.” - Elizabeth Gilbert On Nurturing Creativity, 2009

When I read this. I laughed and I cried and I breathed a sigh of eternal relief. I was not alone in this deeply moving process of creating and expressing my insides.

Thank God!

Run Like Hell

Ruth Stone said she had to "run like hell" to get to a piece of paper and write down the poem that came “barreling down at her over the landscape”. I hope that reading this conjures up the same image I have in my head every time I read that phrase. It is laugh out loud funny...and simultaneously awesome.

I have to run like hell to solitude, so that I can pound my stories out on my mac. And then I run like hell back to my solitary world, so that I can field more of the stories that come. And hear clearly the conversation of the characters and keep myself open to that realer reality that most never recognize. So my feet go away from people and things and noise to the still quiet place to calm myself and all of those characters inside my soul to write. A brutal truth hit me when I came across Ruth Stone’s life. If I don’t get my stories out, they will torment me relentlessly and then finally giving up after seeing no welcoming embrace, the grace appointed to me by the Divine creative genius, God - will find another vessel. 

Yes. If I won’t, someone else will.

So I run like hell; you should too.

Create, Create, Create!

So, artist, create. It’s what you were made to do. When you pray, don’t just talk. Listen. Listen to God. He speaks through friends, situations, signs, music, late model SUVs, billboards, and countless other ways.

He really does. He is just that BIG.

Elizabeth Gilbert said in a TED talk back in 2009, labeling someone a genius is like asking them to “swallow the sun”. It’s too much responsibility. But I beg to differ on that point. I believe that it is not too much responsibility when we acknowledge the power of God in us, when we honor His gift by creating. Whatever that gift is in you - create it. Create it now. Don’t hold on to your past failures - they were all a set up for NOW. Don’t wait for the future - it isn’t promised. There is only NOW, that is all we have and it is fleeting, much like a mist. If we don’t seize it like Ruth Stone said she did, then it passes us by and pursues the person who is willing to grab it. I think we should swallow the sun...it is so brilliant!

So, artiste, create and carpe diem!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R.A.Weems is a writer living in New England. She spends a good deal of time allowing her dog Bolinas to walk her on many of New England’s dog friendly beaches. R. A. Weems is currently writing her first novel, God In My Dreams. Her websites: www.roslynweems.com and www.godinmydreams.com

Other Blog Posts by R. A. Weems: What You Say, From Process To Promise, Starting, Not Staying, The Fabulous Five

Practicing Radical Ambiguity and Radical Persistence, Part 2

The question, then, is what are the ways that we can live with radical ambiguity and be able to continue radical persistence? How can we work through the fear, anxiety or stress that keeps us from being able to live with ambiguity and to persevere?

I would like to repeat a technique from my previous blog post on the subject of practicing radical ambiguity and radical persistence. I said in that post:

I have been reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting through the Storm. On page 87 he says:

"There are several simple methods for taking care of our strong emotions. One is “belly breathing,” breathing in the abdomen. When we are caught in a strong emotion like fear or anger, our practice is to bring our attention down to the abdomen. To stay on the level of the intellect is not safe. Strong emotions are like a storm, and to stand in the middle of a storm is very dangerous. Yet that’s what most of us do when we get upset; we stay out in the storm of our feelings, and they overwhelm us. Instead, we have to ground ourselves by bringing our attention downward. We focus on our abdomen and practice mindful breathing, just giving all our attention to the rise and fall of the belly."

Bringing our attention downwards can, I think, help us move into that space of being at peace with ambiguity and away from the fear and anxiety that ambiguity can create in us. And, coming into that place of serenity can allow us to continue our practice of radical persistence in moving to a place of healing and living our purpose.”

Thich Nhat Hanh then asks us to notice a tree in a storm and how that tree may sway but does not break. He then asks us to be like a tree when the storm of emotions passes over or through us and to breathe into our trunks, i.e., into our navels. We should follow the rise and fall of our abdomens, breathing in this way for 10 to 15 minutes until the storm has passed. He suggests that we make sure that we do this in a stable position, such as sitting.

Meditation can help us move through the storm of emotions somewhat surprisingly by helping us to face them while at the same time bringing calmness to us. I also find that walking helps me during those times that I am stressed or worried. Another practice could be combining practices. I took a long walk early this morning and made it a walking meditation for at least half the walk. It was interesting concentrating on where I was, the meditation, my breathing, and feeling solidly in my body. I felt very calm afterwards.

Naming our emotions helps us to face them and to move through them. Naming them can also help us avoid masking them with depression or another emotional state.

One of the meditation texts that came through to me for Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be (the book that a friend and I are working towards self-publishing) is: “Dance your body through life.” I think that putting on music and dancing, twirling, spinning, in other words moving, can help us through those storms and lead us to be able to cope with ambiguity and to persevere. Dancing or some other form of movement such as yoga, Pilates or whatever form of exercise calls to you would be helpful, I think. I went to You Tube before sitting down to write this post. A search popped up yoga videos to help you deal with anxiety, fear and stress. There were videos to help you create fearlessness through yoga.

I think that singing, chanting or toning might be a technique that would be successful for some people; after all we are bundles of energy, with each of us having an electromagnetic field. I believe each of has a unique frequency of our own. By becoming aware of or “in tune” with our frequency we can, I believe, ameliorate the effect of worry and stress, to open ourselves up to peace and trust.

A personal practice of mine has been to say the following during many meditation periods:

I love myself, my work and my life. I love what I, my life and my work are becoming.

I trust in myself. I trust in the process. I trust that I am healing and will be healed. I trust that I have more than enough money and will always have more than enough money.

I act with love, compassion, kindness, and wisdom towards myself and others. Thank you.

I repeat these statements a number of times—whatever feels “right” for a particular meditation session. Then I reduce it down to I love. I trust. I act. Thank you.

I also say the following when I want to bring more solidity and trust into my life:

Great Mother:

I place myself in your hands and I trust that you are providing me with everything that I need and want at the right time.

I place myself in your hands and I trust that you are providing me with everything that I need and want at the right time.

I place myself in your hands and I trust that you are providing me with everything that I need and want at the right time.

I place myself in your hands and I trust that you are providing me with everything that I need and want at the right time.

I try to repeat this several times during the day when I am feeling a bit rocky and unsure. You can, of course, change it to whatever name that you call the Divine.

Just sitting with nature is a technique that some use to bring peace. I recently heard about what its practitioners call earthing. Earthing is placing your bare feet on the ground and letting yourself become grounded by the earth.

I read this quote this morning on the White Feather Farm blog: 

“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.” -Soren Kierkegaard. 

It occurred to me when I read this that sometimes just taking the leap with faith, to dare is what is called for to practice radical ambiguity and radical persistence. The challenge is to breathe deeply and trust through the risk. 

I have begun to notice a shift in myself through the various practices I have personally done over time. What practices have worked for you? I am interested to know.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryn Samuelson, as an intuitive, channels your angels and guides who are delighted to connect with you, and who are uniquely suited to answer your questions and address your concerns. She can receive information as to who your angels and guides are, as well as receiving information for you about family, health, job and career, and life path among other issues and concerns. She provides this guidance through the use of spiritual writing, a practice that she has engaged in since 1993. In her life coaching practice, she welcomes all clients, but specializes in helping those who are undergoing a transition in their lives—whether it is a move, a job or career change, a loss of some type, or some other transition issue. She was certified as a life coach in 2007 by the University of New Hampshire. Kathryn also leads workshops based on the set of meditation cards and book called Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be. She created this set with her friend, Linda Lewis. For more information: www.kathrynsamuelson.com, klsamuelsonATyahoo.com, or 781-799-7332

Other Blog Posts by Kathryn Samuelson:  Practicing Radical Ambiguity and Radical Persistence Part 1, Turning from Rage and Fear, Adventures in Publishing, Social Media Fatique, Sustain Your Life Card Set: A Review, The Day that Changed the World, Metanoia or the Radical Transformation of Heart and Mind, The Language of Place, Coming Back from the Dead, December 21, 2012 - What I Believe, Something I Learned in France, Buddha, Christ, Merlin: Three Wise Men for Our Age Book Review, Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: Book Review, Please Keep Me from Taking Myself too Seriously, No One is an Island, Being in Time, What Comes Before Happiness? Small Businesses as a Sign of Hope, When is Enough Enough?, Just Because We Can, Should We?, Choosing a Slower Path, My Journey with the Angels, Odds and Ends, Dissolving Limits, Brave Spending, Mindful Spending, Would You Have the Courage to Act?, Growth in the Winter, Book Review: Find Your Spirit Animals, As We Grow Through the Season, Simple Ways to Give, Turning Left Rather Than Right, Giving Thanks, Nurturing the Ego, Letting Things Go, Real Energy Book Review, Living with Doubt and Uncertainty, Bardo - The Things In Between, Musings On Mindfulness, You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps, The Choices We Make, Beyond: Buddhist and Christian Prayers CD Review, Riding Out Irene: A Practice in Maintaining Balance,