Magnificent You - Find Your Voice

Yesterday I shared a video of a child who confidently communicates a very animated message - that no one can quite understand. Like many infants, she is not the least bit inhibited by the fact that her exchange has yet to develop to a stage that others can comprehend. She just let’s it all flow.

I wondered what happens to that confident freedom of self-expression as we become older. What stands in the way of our ability to find and speak our truth? Speech can be seen as the divine mediator between our thoughts and our emotions. It allows you to speak your mind as guided by the heart. You express the words that support the articulation of “self”.

The challenge for many is that we lose the ability to listen to the messages from within and/or we have experiences that limited our capacity to express our thoughts and feelings. We might have been told that our opinion and how we felt was not important. The result: an unhealthy flow of confidence.  As adults the impact can be seen by those with excessive or inhibited communication styles.  Some have adopted the concept that dominating a conversation is the norm while others have lost a connection to the voice within. The goal is to find that ideal balance.

Take time to consider the strength of your voice. Is it overpowering or muted? Find it, honor it and share it!

Affirmation for Finding Your Voice: The power of choice to express the messages within is mine. The energy of my voice is strong and confident.

Bookmark It

Magnificent You - Spring Growth

Excerpt from Singles Guide to Greatness:

For some, spring cleaning is exhilarating and for others it is a huge burden. One of the universal parts of the ritual is getting rid of clutter that you really don’t need. As you undertake this practice in a physical sense, it is also the right time to turn your attention to cleaning the clutter taking up valuable space in your mind. I am encouraging you to do this on a regular basis, but now you can look even deeper into the things that aren’t serving you well. The indoor air may be stale during colder months and spring warmth allows you to open windows of opportunity. Bring in the fresh air that welcomes new perspectives and an evolving great life story.

New seeds are planted in spring. They are the seeds that will grow to glorious blooms during the hotter summer months. Quite often we see the lovely flowers growing and fail to honestly think about the journey that transpired for the beauty to be admired at that time. The same is true for our lives. In the book, Acts of Faith, Iyanla Vanzant says, “If we want to lay back and sniff the lilies of our valleys, we must tend our seeds of thought with constant care.” What you put in and give the place to grow will ultimately determine your story.

Affirmation for Spring Openings: The richness of each possibility is nurtured by the quality of what lies within.

Bookmark It

Magnificent You - Live It with Love

I was traveling on Bayview Ave. in the midst of morning traffic and remembered that I needed gas. I thought for a moment about the time that it would likely take to get back onto the busy street when I was done. Then I reminded myself that it was a minor matter - patience is the lesson. I pulled up to the pump and turned off the engine. As I reached for the door handle I glanced at a sign hanging on the pump saying “Pay at the pump not working. Please pay inside”. Now the former me would have turned that engine right back on and drove to the next convenient pump that allowed me to pump-and-run. I was stopped by a voice that said “take the time to go inside”. Again the lesson was patience (and others that I didn’t immediately recognize).

I pumped the gas, put up my hood to protect my hair from the rain and went in to pay. the clerk at the counter said “twenty dollars please”.

“Can I also get ten dollars of lotto max?” I asked.

“Ten dollars for the winning tickets” he sang in a very off tone but with joy. “She wants ten dollars” his song continued.

By this time I was laughing at this entertaining attention to my gas and lottery purchases. He continued to sing every response until I had my receipt and tickets and his final notes accompanied his words “have a good day”.

I smiled all the way to my destination and thought about how, no matter what you do, you can choose to do it with a sincere love for the opportunity to contribute your gifts to the world.  It really is magical how each person gives of themselves in so many unique ways. You give to yourself by bringing out your passion and you extend that passion to those you come into contact with. So my questions for you are: Do you love what you do? Can you shift your mindset to love what you do? How can the love of what you do be shared with others?

Affirmation for Loving What You Do: Today I recognize the moments that I have been given to appreciate the potential for my bliss and for others.

Bookmark It

Magnificent You - Softening the Heart

On the way to school, my daughter and I sang our favorite Princess and the Frog songs from the soundtrack CD. Quite often we talk about the scenes of the movie as each song plays. On this particular journey, she reminded me about the practice of acceptance, forgiveness and love for others.

“Do you like Dr. Facilier mommy?” she asked.

“Not really. He does things that aren’t nice” I replied (as I said many times before).

“I do” she said.

I turned back in surprise. Normally she says that she doesn’t like him either because he tricks Prince Naveen. I paused…

“Remember you said that even when I’m not listening you love me?” she continued.

“Yes” I replied.

“And you said if one of my friends doesn’t play with me today, we are still friends and like each other?” she said.

“That’s right” I agreed.

“Well, I like Dr. Facilier even though he’s not nice to everyone. I like all of them” she concluded.

“You’re right. Just because someone does something that we may not be happy with, we can still like them”. I thanked her for reminding mommy about that.

That conversation made me think about the difficulty that many of us have in releasing the harsh feelings resulting from conflicts and disagreements with others. Our hearts become hardened for extended periods of time and the anger is actually similar to a toxin that quietly invades our health, our mental and emotional capacities and other relationships.  In Singles Guide to Greatness, I mention that “repression or explosive episodes of anger will not help you in the long run and they are enormous energy drainers.” The chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Leo Maddow also says: “Someone who stays angry long after the particular incident that caused the anger may be committing slow suicide.”

At times, we can be quick to judge but slow to forgive. In the end, your judgment and resentment of others will only keep your heart hardened. The person may not appear to be affected in any way, while you carry a weight that blocks the freedom of a fully open heart. As I’ve said (and reminded myself) forgiveness is not for them.  You don’t have to be in their company or engage in a meaningful relationship but do yourself the favor of letting go and accepting them as an individual who has made certain choices in their lives. Allow your heart to soften enough to beat freely, uninhibitedly and joyously - you deserve it!

Affirmation for Softening the Heart: Today I release all judgments and bitterness towards others as a divine gift to myself. My heart is soft and flows freely.

Bookmark It