Take time to breathe in greatness, strength, and the potential

to compose the story that describes you with sincerity.

Excerpt from Singles Guide to Greatness…

Winter

Power of Your Breath:

The existence and beauty of one’s breath becomes visible in the cold air on a crisp winter day. You can use conscious breathing to direct your awareness and energy to specific parts of your body. This ability has helped many stimulate the healing energy inherent from within. To encourage the natural healing and growth process, singles can imagine that you are breathing through the part of your body that needs restoration. It is believed that a number of common health problems exist due to blocked energy and breathing deeply releases blockages and leads to an unhindered flow of energy through the body.
What to do: Each time that you notice the magnificence of your powerful breath on a cold, refreshing winter day, take time to breathe in greatness, strength, and the potential to compose the story that describes you with sincerity.

Unique Like Snowflakes:

Like you, snowflakes are unique and cannot be duplicated. They are one of life’s simplest pleasures. In 1931, Wilson Bentley, who became known as “the Snowflake Man,” published over 2,000 images in his exceptional book, “Snow Crystals”.

He stated, “Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind”. So during winter, as well as within one’s life course, the probability of two crystals growing with exactly the same pattern is extremely small. You’ve experienced different things, have a different biological composition, know different people, and so on.

Winter also brings about the hibernation of many living species and animals. It is a natural time that supports renewal and conservation of energy sources. For singles, winter can be a time to slow down your pace. Being more dormant brings about anticipation of new possibilities and a time for planning and preparation. Contemplate your plans and progress. Spend quiet moments acknowledging your value and vision. Be at peace with the greatness of the spirit within.

In the solitude of your mind are the answers to all your questions in life.
You must take the time to ask and listen.
~ Bawa Mahaiyaddeen

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DECLARE YOUR MAGNIFICENCE AND MOVE FORWARD

Excerpt from Singles Guide to Greatness…

A vision declaration becomes your governing message for everything that provides energy, purpose and fulfillment. It will help you move forward from this place in your life and remain consistent over time. When you face an outcome that threatens your foundation, it is so important for you to separate the experience from you as a magnificent being. Create a moving on declaration to revitalize your beliefs and stay on the peak solo course regardless of what type of disappointment you encounter. Robert G. Allen reminds us that no one drowns from falling into water. They drown by staying there.

Sample Declaration:

I am an incredible individual with an abundance of gifts. I give fully to all that I do. My goal is to succeed in the endeavors that I pursue but I recognize that life is a growth process and there are many lessons to be learned. These lessons may seem unreasonable and complex. The message is not clear; however with grace I accept the opportunity to discover and develop new skills and strengths that will assist me (and possibly others) in the future.

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An excerpt from Singles Guide to Greatness:

There truly is beauty and many gifts that invite personal transformation within each season. Fall is no exception. Some would argue that fall offers one of the most pronounced visual displays and the miraculous patterns of adaptation and preservation of life found in nature. With careful consideration you will notice the lesson it offers for courage.

The leaves during this period stand out and attract considerable attention. Most would describe them as bold and vivacious. If you have an appreciation for nature, the stunning palette of multiple colors will amaze you every time. It is not unusual to find a single tree hosting a variety of shades. It’s as though they are commanding our attention. What do you think their message to the world would be? My guess is, “Look at me. I am dynamic and astounding - naturally.” A lesson for all. You don’t need to flaunt yourself using false representations. You just need to be willing to put your unique potential out there in a vibrant, fearless way.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.  ~Ambrose Redmoon

In what ways will you use your vibrant gifts and bring courage to your life?

Today I will have the courage to…

Affirmation: Courage resides within me and paves the way to growth.

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Understanding how you give and receive energy is essential.

Northwestern University researchers studied the emotional responses of both dating partners and college roommates. They found that people in both types of relationships became more alike in their emotional reactions.

It was also noted that dating partners who demonstrated emotional resemblance had relationships that were more solidified with lower rates of dissolution. The findings suggested that some individuals are more likely to spread their emotions while others could be more susceptible to catching the moods of others. Your awareness in both areas is essential for your own well-being in addition to those who are in contact with you. The ideal is to catch lots of positive emotions – your friend’s enthusiasm over a new opportunity – and avoid the negative ones. It might help to recognize when you are affected by the energy of others and release what is not supporting you to flourish.

Listen completely and attentively to not only the words but also to the feeling of what others are conveying and practice awareness to the reciprocal nature of interactions - on all levels.

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Flex your inner muscles and strengthen your power to be at your best!

In her book, Stand Up For Your Life, Cheryl Richardson defines real power. She says, “power is an energy that fuels our actions.  Unlike the traditional patriarchal definition of ‘power over’, or control, real power is the spiritual energy that comes form living with integrity, from aligning with your thoughts, words, and actions with the deepest part of who you are - your soul.”

So, what you think, say and do carries tremendous weight. You can be in the best possible “physical” shape and lift more than anyone in your class but how do you get strong within? It is a question that we are often too busy to contemplate. Do you possess a power that moves you in a purposeful and “prosperous” direction? Can you identify the fuel that is represented by the culmination of your key interests and gifts? It really begins and ends with our belief system - the story that guides our experience of life.

“Your inner vision of greatness is the interior mechanism of your brain that empowers you to be your best. With a mind that is wired for greatness, you resist settling for less than your best.”~ Singles Guide to Greatness

Are there some areas where you have ignored your ability to acknowledge and exercise your personal power? Think carefully about your real power. Feed your internal well-being like Popeye and his spinach. You’ll be stronger in all that you do!

Affirmation for Real Power: I am getting my inner work-out on!

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All relationships develop from what lies within

“The most crucial relationship is the one that you possess with yourself. If you are depriving yourself in this area, guess what? Others will naturally follow suit. Your foundation of self-love must be rock solid for you to attract relationships that complement and enhance your vision and values in life. Contrary to popular belief, it does not work in the reverse. There are so many people who, often unknowingly, bring into their lives the very things that are undeveloped in themselves.” ~ Singles Guide to Greatness

Sometimes, improving the way we interact with others requires that we find freedom from the past issues that are impediments to our personal best. That is why I encourage individuals to focus on revising life stories to that which acknowledges and brings peace where there has been turmoil or an impasse. You don’t have to be a product of your past and let your life happen to you. Remember, you are now “driving this great life”. Start with a deep and unshakable love from within.

Affirmation for Reuniting with the Love Within: I know love. I am love. I share love. Healthy love originates from the strength of the love that exists within.

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It’s Within You

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.

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Fresh air. New possibilities.

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.

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Choose to embrace your activities with zest!

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.

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Free your heart to experience unlimited love.

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.

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