Trust in yourself

Sometimes one of the hardest things to do is sit, wait and trust that you are on the right path. Especially when the path starts going a new direction. It also seems that the path takes it turn somehow when it's the darkest. This is when all it seems the only way to navigate at this point is slowly and by some internal instinct. You feel like stopping, but you know that you can't, and honestly, don't want to because you know that there has to be something new ahead. Hopefully it's something better and more exciting. It's usually much different than what was anticipated.

But you know that by moving forward, using all your own strengths, resources, skills and abilities, you can trust that you will end up in a good place. It's this basic trust in yourself, which is often shakiest at this point, becomes your strength.

Remember you made it this far...be open to how much farther you can go!

Bread or Hyacinths?

Beauty is both a curative and a restorative, where there is beauty, there is healing, and where there is healing, there is renewed life. A neighborhood where there are flowers acquires more value; people behave better when they are in beautiful surroundings. Masterpieces of art or literature speak to us on the level of both appreciation and inspiration.  These are some thoughts on beauty from a great daily meditation book called Angel Wisdom.

Too often we forget how important it is to bring beauty into our lives. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity!  Why is it we send flowers to someone when they are sick, it brightens their day, and can often help in the healing process—especially when sent from someone who truly cares. 

So remember to bring something of beauty into your life regularly.  With your last pennies, would you buy bread for your body or hyacinths for your soul?

Not Working? Networking!

In today’s tough career market, it’s important to explore new avenues and broaden your horizons. It seems that when I’m looking at the job listings online these days there are not a lot of jobs available and even less that match my specific qualifications or experience. What I’ve been doing more and more is branching out and looking for opportunities to network, especially in fields that are outside my usual business ventures. Stepping outside the norm can lead to greater self awareness as well as opening up new opportunities.

Recently, I went to a networking meeting with a group of book publishers. I figured, well, I do write, so let’s check it out. One topic that can up during the meeting was how to prepare for public speaking events and self-promotion when talking about their books. How do I get over the nervousness? How can I effectively present myself and my book? Since I’ve spent over 10 years working with people on their presentation skills, I realized that can bring great value to them. Because of this event, I have now have teamed up with author Perry Brass, and we are doing workshops together based in his book, The Manly Art of Seduction.

I am now getting more involved with the art and non-profit world, and started taking courses at NYU in arts administration. Back in school, talk about networking opportunities!!! One of my classmates came to our gallery opening, along with someone who took my workshop. Talk about connections!!!

My challenge for me, and you, is to look for groups that share your interests and check them out -- who knows where it can lead! So turn your free time from Not Working, into productive time, Networking!

Stick around, it'll change

When I was living in Chicago, I remember someone once saying to me, “if you don’t like the weather, stick around a bit, it’ll change!”  Well, life is like that too.  I know that change is hard, and even unwanted many times, but you know, it’s a good thing – even when it doesn’t feel like it. 

What would life be like if it NEVER changed?  When I think back to high school or college days, which were a lot of fun, would I still want to be living that exact same way forever?  I remember someone saying, enjoy your college years, it’ll be the last time you’ll have to worry about money.  I didn’t know what they meant at the time as I scraped by on very little, but now I know. Even though things today are tougher, honestly, I wouldn’t want to have remained there forever; especially when I look back on all the great things (okay, and some not so great) that have happened since. 

So now that I just turned another year older last week, maybe I am getting a bit wiser.  Or maybe just learning to appreciate life, because of and in spite of it’s changes and challenges.  Stick around and things will change.

Some of my favorite quotes...

"Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
~Walt Disney

"Security is mostly a superstition. It doesn't exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
~Helen Keller

"There is nothing that a person isn't capable of if the motive is strong enough."
~Unknown

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission."
~Eleanor Roosevelt

"If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live."
~Lin Yutang quoted in "Zen and the Art of Anything" by Hal W. French

"We must overcome the notion that we must be regular . . . it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre."
~Uta Hagen

"One should integrate all aspects of one's life throughout the day."
~Jerry Kajpust

"For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and of discovering my true self."
~Thomas Merton in "Seeds"

"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."
~Erik Hoffer
"Kindness is the strong man's realization of strength, his strength."
~Zane Dalal

"The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years but the one with the richest experiences."
~Jean-Jacques Rousseau

But today, I can start again...

One thing great about life—when I suddenly realize that something isn’t work out or going well; I’ve no longer get enough exercise; or we suddenly realize that hey, no longer take part in a hobby or pastime that I used to enjoy; or I’ve stopped meditating, reading, etc.—is each day starts anew and we can make a change.

For example, I had great intentions of writing on my blog at least twice a month, and as you can see, haven’t done so well. But today, I can start again and work to achieve this or any other goal that may have fallen by the wayside.

Maybe it’s the sense of Spring in the air, maybe it just missing something I like doing, and maybe it just life’s natural ebb and flow. But today, I can start again.

It seemed I was doing well with daily routines, working toward goals and keeping focused, but somehow it started to slowly slip away. I can get a bit down about that, beat myself up, get depressed and so on, but today, I can start again.

I know we all have these ups and downs in life, but what’s great is that:

~ Today, I can start again!

There’s seems to be an optimism in the air, even though things are still tough for many of us. Maybe it part of the resilient human, or maybe it’s just that things are always in the process of change.

I know for myself, I’ve began looking at life, and my expectations in a different way. When I first moved to New York two years ago, I was expecting to get that great 6 figure job, and enjoy going out to great restaurants, Broadway shows, etc., Well, I didn’t get the 6 figure job, but I’ve learned how to enjoy New York with many of the free and low cost things that are available. I’ve also been focusing on people and building relationships, which honestly are richer than the finest food in the best restaurant in town.

Life has a way of challenging us to grow and change, but if you stay open to it, it offers new insights and ways to enjoy life. I’m just starting working with life coaching group and it’s great to see how many people, even though life isn’t what they had expected, it’s still offers new dreams and opportunities.

Perry Brass and I had a very successful first launch of our workshop “The Manly Art of Seduction.” We had a diverse group of 17 attendees who not only gained personal insight but also learned some important communication skills. The two main ideas from the evening were 1) you can initiate action, instead of waiting for something to happen, and 2) no matter what happens, as you become more in touch with this marvelous person inside you, your own Deeper Self, you will not reject yourself.

Thanks to all who attended, and we look forward to sharing this same message with another seminar in the Spring!