If This Were My Last Hour

If This Were My Last Hour

Moving Past Fear to Joy

A friend of mine was telling me about an opportunity she had to attend a special family event. Her brother Steven held a birthday party for his wife Janice and arranged a surprise appearance from Janice's favorite musical artist Lori McKenna.  Lori is a nationally known folk singer/storyteller whose music touches on topics about life, motherhood, and spiritual inquiry.

Steven's wife, Janice loves to sing (and has a wonderful voice), and during Lori's performance the crowd began to cheer for Janice to join with Lori on a song.  Feeling shy and embarrassed, she refused, and yet you could tell by the look on her face that some part of her desperately wanted to say yes.

How often have you found yourself in a similar situation? Maybe you wanted to get up and dance to your favorite song, yet felt funny because there weren't enough people on the dance floor yet.  Or, maybe you had a strong desire to raise your hand and offer your point of view during a workshop, and yet felt too afraid that your comment might not be well received.

How might life be different if you challenged yourself to do those things that the deepest part of you -- your soul -- really wants to do?   For example, imagine what might happen if you asked your boss to let you try the new idea that you've been fantasizing about.  Or think about how your body and mind might change if you finally took that dance class you've wanted to take.  And what about that speech you've been dying to give?  Who knows where that might lead
 
When you find yourself lacking the courage or confidence to comply with your desire, here are three things you can do:

1.  Find a way to make yourself feel more comfortable.  For example, while Janice refused to get up on stage with Lori, she did agree to sing with her while sitting in her seat.  By taking a step to increase her comfort, she was able to fulfill her desire while still feeling safe and less exposed.

2.  Try a practice run.  If there's a speech you'd like to give, gather trusted friends or colleagues together to act as a test audience.  Protect your dream by asking them to only give you positive feedback so you can build on what works.  (We're doing this for someone this week and I can't wait to see what happens!)

3.  Motivate yourself with the following question:  "If I do this one thing, what else might I be able to do in my life?" Remember that when you take a step outside of your comfort zone you expand this zone to include an ability to do other things that used to feel impossible.  I'm sure you've experienced this before -- you finally tackle one fear only to have more energy and courage to try something else.

When we listen to our soul's desire and follow through on its wishes, magic happens.  Once Janice moved past her fear and decided to sing with Lori, not only did she radiate joy, she spread this joy throughout the room. Everyone was deeply moved by her gift and her courage.  That's what happens. When you move beyond your fear and share your gifts with others, everyone benefits.  So what's the moral of the story? Don't rob us of our joy :)..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

This week choose one thing you've wanted to do for some time and write it down.  If nothing comes to mind, ask a few close friends to remind you of the ideas that you may have spoken about in the past.

Once you have an idea, ask yourself the following questions:

• What could I do to make this desire easier to fulfill?

• How might I practice fulfilling this desire before actually doing it?
• What other actions will I be able to take as a result of doing this one thing?

6:06 AM - 4 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Love vs. Fear

Sometimes, entire countries get
"out of order"
and our answer is to declare war on them.

These are all things that are done
out of FEAR.

We fear that,
if someone is out of control,
that is, not following the rules
we set up for them to follow,
they are a threat to us,
and we fear they will harm us in some way.

So we react to our fear
by attacking them first.

That is the way of this world.

The law of the jungle so to speak;
eat or be eaten;
kill or be killed.

That is the way of fear!



The way of LOVE
is quite the opposite.

It makes no rules,

We as individual entities,
sharing one God mind
can make a world of love.

We can do this by keeping connected
to our Source,
which in fact we are,
but need to open our awareness to it.


Love is LIGHT.

Fear is DARKNESS.

When you turn on a light,
darkness is no more.

There is not a trace of it left!
There is not even a hint of darkness
ever having been there!

1:15 PM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Please send light, love and healing energy to Michelle
Current mood: hopeful

Please join with me in sending love, light
and healing energy to our friend Michelle

http://www. myspace. com/theoceanbreathezsalty 

Michelle started chemotherapy today,
and will be receiving it for a year.The treatment leaves her feeling very sick
and very weak.

Please include Michelle and her children
in your prayers and meditations.

She has given many of us so much,
now she needs us to support her
in light and energy
as she travels this journey
of healing and wholeness.

With love and appreciation,
Brad

9:04 PM - 7 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Life Review

Life Review

As we approach the midpoint of the year 2008, it can be a good time to reflect on the positive changes you've made in your life. This is the time to acknowledge the steps you've taken thus far.

Remember, the quality of your life is directly related to the quality of relationship you have with  yourself.

When you feel good about who you are, you allow better  things - people, experiences, jobs, opportunities, etc., into your life.

Taking the time to inventory your positive changes is an important step in developing this stronger relationship. And it's a key way to reinforce good habits!

To stimulate your thoughts, here are some questions to help you get started:

11:09 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Drama Free Zone

Drama Free Zone

Years ago, I read a slogan
that captured the guiding rules
for how I have run my nonprofit agencies-
"Work Hard, Have Fun, No Drama." 

Although it was originally developed
as a business tool,
I quickly adopted it for my personal life, too. 
Last week, however, I broke rule 3 ­ No Drama.

About a month ago i received a piece of equipment
for our new home that arrived damaged. 
After careful inspection,
I decided to refuse the shipment
and have it sent back to the company. 

Once the truck left,
I called and asked to have a credit issued
on my charge card. 
I was told it would be taken care of right away. 
One month later I discovered
that the credit was never issued.

When I called the company to inquire
about the charge, I learned that the
equipment was still sitting at the warehouse
near my home. 
I was transferred to the president
who offered us a discount
to have the item repaired
so he wouldn't have to incur the cost
of shipping it back to his warehouse.

Empathizing with his dilemma,
I agreed to have someone sent to the warehouse
to assess the damage. 
That's when the drama began.

What I thought was a simple solution
(we were told the repairs would be easy),
turned into multiple, daily phone calls,
way too much paperwork,
and dealing with an owner of a company
who didn't take responsibility
for his lack of follow-through.
After two weeks of feeling hassled,
I realized that my frustration
stemmed not from the problems,
as much as from ignoring my rule of
"No Drama." 

 In spite of how poorly
the company was handling the situation,
my desire to help out the president
was now costing me precious time and energy.

We all get caught up in drama
at one time or another. 
It comes in many forms. 
You might be struggling
with in-fighting between family members,
roped into a legal hassle
with someone who mistakenly sees
the proliferation of paperwork as progress,
or embroiled in a nasty divorce
that keeps everyone living on the edge. 

Sometimes the drama occurs
in our minds ­ obsessing over something
we did in the past,
worrying about whether or not
we'll get an outcome we desire,
or overthinking a problem to death.

You know you're caught up in drama
when you feel a sense
of ongoing, emotional entanglement
in a situation ­ a circumstance
that seems to take over your life. 

While there are some events
that will take time to get resolved,
that doesn't mean that you have to suffer. 
If drama is on your plate,
here are three things you can do:

1.  Stop talking about it. 
Don't gossip with others,
don't debate the situation to death,
and don't allow others to bait you
with inquiries about what's going on either. 
Talking about the details
over and over again gives more energy
to the problem rather than the solution.

12:44 AM - 6 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Letting Go Takes Love

LETTING GO TAKES LOVE

  To let go does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.



To let go is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization I can't control another.



To let go is not to enable,
but allow learning from natural consequences.



To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.



To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.



To let go is not to care for,
but to care about.



To let go is not to fix,
but to be supportive.



To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.



To let go is not to be in the middle
arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.



To let go is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.



To let go is not to deny,
but to accept.



To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings
and correct them.



To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.



To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.



To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.




To let go is to fear less and love more
Remember: The time to love is short

4:57 PM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Embracing the "Sacred Masculine"

© Bulletin By...Warrior, Dreamer, Shaman...~John B.~

© Embracing the "Sacred Masculine"

Centuries ago and in many cultures, it is fair to say that violence was a part of everyday existence. It was a matter of life or death, and in many ways it may have been one of the most needed survival skills of all. In the early times of man, violence was necessary for gathering food. It was necessary for protecting oneself and community from animal attacks, and from enemy attacks. It was a way of life in the primitive cultures. A means for survival. However there were some tribes and cultures that did very well at avoiding violence. Nonetheless, it was a survival skill...

In the most primitive of forms of the word Warrior, long before the word Warrior was even coined or spoken, the definition of this archetypal man was as so...

"One who protects women, children, and community. One who places the safety of others in front of his own..."

So, at one time, there was a certain noble aspect of being a warrior, it was a calling to service. It was a thing of honor, duty, respect, and service to be a warrior. In my belief system, there is no higher calling than to be of service to the community. I believe that the warrior served that role brilliantly...

Unfortunately as technology, religion, politics, and the ego self developed, warriors became soldiers... dominating and destroying in the service of tyrant kings, rulers, and dictators. The word warrior then came to represent, those who needed to dominate and destroy, in order to feel superior. This was a cultural step backwards, and one that has continued on its path of wavering into and out of the darkness. Our understanding of the word warrior is often given to the images of barbarianism such as the great Vikings and other cultures of fearless fighters. However, in these cultures the lacking element was of balance. They were often the aggressors and went into unprovoked battle. Driven by the greed and power authorized to them by their rulers, many of these era of warriors raped and pillaged smaller and defenseless communities. Thus it became known that being a warrior was not quite a noble position, but a power position. The word warrior became synonymous with the word barbarianism...

Make no mistake, this is far from the truth and the true definition of the word warrior is one of honor and respect for all life...

The word warrior is truly in alignment with the "Sacred Masculine"...

So, what is the sacred masculine anyway? I like the definition given below by the Mankind project of L.A. from their website, as It refers to the sacred masculine for our times...

(source link below)
Mankind Project of LA

THE SACRED MASCULINE: In our culture, every era had its popular male traits. The '50's man was aggressive, liked sports, never cried, and always provided for the family. In the '90's, the "sensitive" man became popular, one who shared child care, was devoid of gender bias, and was in touch with his feminine side. These popular visions of manhood, however, lose sight of both the life giving and protecting characteristics of men, and the destructive facets of manhood. The "sacred masculine" acknowledges both aspects of a man's character. It provides a model for men to generate and maintain their lives in such a way as to include and yet rise above life's issues and struggles, for the betterment of his life, his family, and his work, and thereby make the world a better place to live in. Because we have had so little experience with this type of thinking, this can be a very scary step into the unknown...

We live in a culture where violence and aggression are often glamorized by television and movies. We live in a culture where depicting women as only objects of sex is socially acceptable. We live in a culture that often teaches us that it is more important to "win" than to be true to yourself. We live in a culture that enforces that stepping on the backs of others along your road to the top is a good thing. We live in a culture where we are allowing our youth to be taught that being pimps, gangsters, thugs, drug dealers, and thieves, are not only acceptable but allows a certain level of social status. These are all the wrong messages for manhood, and yet we as a culture haven't quite figured out how to teach a better way...

Moving into a place of accepting your sacred masculine, and modeling that in the way you live is a start in the right direction. The industrial revolution really did a good job of removing fathers from a nurturing role. In this shift, boys have lost their way, and fathers have lost their way, and the results are a society with the highest levels of incarceration ever known...

If we were to accept and teach our role as the sacred masculine, might we actually be teaching a sense of responsibility, duty, and honor? Might we actually be teaching a way of life that enforces that we as men have an actual "Mission in life"?

One of the common theories on why we struggle as a culture is that we men lack a sense of mission. That we see our role as breadwinners, but it is so unfulfilling and shallow, that we seek out other ways to find our sense of self... who we are. Seeking to be seen as important and viable, we often seek the unhealthy paths because they seem so much more attainable than the healthy ones...

The sacred masculine is a step towards embracing all that you are as a man. Father, teacher, mentor, protector, and listener. It is not about besting everyone who enters your vision, but about helping all that seek. It is not about how many women you can bed, but about how deeply and beautifully you can love the woman you have chosen. It is not about being weak, it is about allowing yourself to be vulnerable in order to access your true strength. It is not about shaming others, it is about encouraging them to shine. It is not about being violent, it is about knowing where to draw the line as a protector, and when to step back and allow words to be words. It is about teaching strength from the depth of your raw and unharnessed truth, and expressing all that you are with passion. It is about HONORING... the beauty of the feminine, and not abusing it. It is about recognizing your true role in society from a primitive standpoint, in our advanced culture. Respecting all that is natural, and making the bold statement that...

"In this world I am first just a man, and that is good enough..."
~Warrior, Dreamer, Shaman...~John B~

Embrace the light that you are...

There are many paths into the sacred masculine, seek and you shall find one that fits. There are many paths home to the truth of your heart, and all are correct...

Being a true "Warrior", in todays culture, means being a "Warrior of Peace". It means teaching love and strength. It means learning and teaching boundaries and respect. It means being of service to a higher sense of humanity, and doing the small things that matter. Especially when nobody is watching. (And someone is always watching...lol)

" ♥ ~The standards that you set today,
will long be remembered
in the hearts of those you have touched~ ♥ "

Warrior, Dreamer, Shaman...~John B~

Peace To All



Please note...
Much labor and love go into the making of bulletins...
Please do not alter or add to, and please allow
the credits to the author to remain intact~

~Thank you~





Posted by Warrior, Dreamer, Shaman...~John B.~

11:53 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

The Power of Dreams

The Power of Dreams

One of the truths to which I have always subscribed to is the adage that the best social program is a job. It always thrills me to see the positive effect meaningful employment has on people, especially young people. Thats why one of my primary focuses in working with youth is to get them connected to a worthwhile, rewarding job that will hold their interest, offer growth and advancement and provide a sense of challenge and accomplishment.
             Sometimes the job is full-time, sometimes its part-time, and occasionally itll be volunteer work. It all depends on the person, where they are in their growth, their needs and what they can handle. The important thing is to get them connected. Its much more important to help them find a part-time job that is challenging and their needs are being met than a full-time job that is demeaning and/or unfulfilling. Employment is far more important than just a way to get a paycheck.
            The key is to help them discover their dream, connect them with their passion. When a person is creating their dream, even the most meaningless tasks become worthwhile.
            My dear friend Tara exemplifies this perfectly. When Tara was about seven years old, she was out working in her yard. According to her mother, she had been busy all day, collecting pieces of wood, pounding old nails, sawing and measuring. Her mother was impressed with the enthusiasm and focus her young daughter had maintained throughout the day, especially since most of what she was doing was monotonous activities.
            Later that afternoon, after Tara had been hard at work for most of the day, some friends of her mother had stopped by. Soon everyone was watching Tara as she meticulously went about her work with excitement and focus. As they watched her, one of the guests asked Taras mother what she was up to. Her mother responded that she wasnt exactly sure what she was doing but she had been busy building something all day.
            About that time, Tara walked into the room, her eyes focused as she continued about her mission with zeal.
            One of the other guests asked, Tara, what are you up to?
 Tara looked at him, her young bright eyes glowing with excitement and joy, I am building my dream fort! she exclaimed.
 What a difference. Tara wasnt just collecting wood, pounding out nails and sawing. She was creating her dream.
            The same is true for each of us. When we are connected to our dream, when we are passionate about what we are doing, no job is monotonous or boring. When we are building our dream forts, life is magical. Even when we are pounding out old nails from scrap pieces of wood, it is exciting and meaningful, because each nail brings us closer to our dream.
            A great example of the power of this ability to change ones life is beautifully exemplified in Perrys story. I first met Perry one day when he came into the Center tweaked out on meth (under the influence of Methamphetamine). He was bouncing around the Center talking a mile a minute. I watched him for a few minutes, and then invited him to talk with me in my office.
            We had a stilted but meaningful discussion. The primary purpose of which was so I could assess any health risks he presented to himself and to ensure there werent any dangers to his safety. He was having a hard time staying on task, but he was able to assure me he had a place to stay that night and his friends promised that they would take him there. I told him I wanted to talk with him when he was sober, and sent him on his way. I remember wondering if I would ever see him again.
            A few days later he came back in the Center, sober, embarrassed and apologetic. He quietly approached me and asked if we could talk. Never wanting to miss an opportunity to build rapport, I quickly said yes.
            Perry couldnt have been more contrite. He sincerely apologized and told me how embarrassed and ashamed he was for his behavior. He promised hed never come in the Center like that again. We shook hands and a friendship was created.
            A few weeks later, I saw him on the street. He was in short pants, with no shirt, and no shoes in the middle of the winter. He was talking wildly about all kinds of paranoid thoughts.
            I was worried for his health and safety, so I pulled over and asked him to get in my car. He hesitated, his meth induced mind creating all kinds of paranoid delusions. We spent several minutes as I reassured him I wasnt with the police, FBI or DEA. Finally, I was able to get him to focus long enough to be able to remember who I was and that he knew me from the Center.
            I soon learned he had been tweaking (being high on meth) for three days. He hadnt had anything to eat or drink during that time. He was now coming down hard and fast off the high of the meth and was experiencing the hell that every meth user goes through when they are coming off it. Fortunately, his half nude traipse around town had only lasted a couple of hours. He was scared, disillusioned and depressed. (When a user is coming off meth it is not unlike a schizophrenic having a psychotic break. Their mind and thoughts are out of control and it scares the hell out of them.)

We drove to a restaurant close by. I tried to persuade him to eat, but because of the meth, he had no appetite. I was able to get him to drink some coffee to warm him up and rehydrate his exhausted body.

We sat there, drinking coffee and talking. Perry was trying hard to get his thoughts and emotions under control. He would do pretty well for a time and then break down into tears and delusional rantings. My goal was to just be with him, to figuratively hold his hand and try to help him through this. Ive helped a number of kids come down off meth. To me, its the closest thing to hell for a person I can imagine.

We talked through a couple of hours and several coffee pots. Most of the conversation was around his confused, delusional and paranoid fears. However, there were a few moments when we seemed to be able to connect and have a better understanding for each other. As Perry was able to start gaining control over his thoughts and emotions, he asked me for a ride to a friends house. I drove him there, we said good night and I watched as he went into the house, wondering, as I often did, if I would ever see him again alive.

Several more weeks passed. I heard from some of the kids at the Center that Perry was still struggling with meth. Word on the street was that he was too embarrassed and ashamed to come in because he was tweaking so much. I continually tried to reach out to him through his friends to let him know that he was welcome to come in to the Center and that I was anxious to see him.

Then one morning when I arrived at the Center to open it for the day, Perry was waiting for me. He looked terrible. He was disheveled, gaunt, and filthy and it was evident that hed been crying. Perry finally had hit rock bottom.
 We went into my office and I listened while Perry opened his wounded heart and poured out the pain and struggle he had lived with through his childhood and his life on the streets.

I listened intently. The love and admiration I have for these kids goes deep. Once again, the power of their souls never ceases to amaze me. Here was a true Arnold. I felt honored to be able to work with him and support him in his growth and self-discovery.
 We started talking about his passions and dreams. Two things were on the top of his list. First was his love for his sweetheart, Shelly. He deeply believed she was his soul mate and he loved her with all his heart. His second passion was commercial design. He had taken some design classes in high school and had found his passion. He had always hoped to go into Graphic Design in college but family problems interfered.

We focused on these two dreams; getting his life together so he could support Shelly and pursuing a career in Graphic Design. We also came to the realization that fulfilling his second dream would lay the foundation for the first.

I called a friend Cathy, who owned a graphic design studio, and asked for her help. She helped Perry put together a resume and gave him some job leads, one of which was the owner of a local sign company. Perry called him and it turned out that he had one opening for a part time janitor in a store that was about 40 minutes north of Salt Lake. The owner promised Perry that if Cathy and I would vouch for him and if he showed initiative, he could receive training in design while he fulfilled his other duties.

Perry collected all his belongings, which he was able to load into one backpack, scrounged up the bus fare and headed north. He planned to stay in a shelter until he could afford an apartment. We shared a hug and Perry was off to pursue his dream.

I didnt hear anything from him for about three months. Then I opened my mailbox to find a joy-filled card. It was an invitation for a housewarming party for Perry and Shelly. They had rented an apartment and wanted Cathy and I to come up for a celebration with them. We were delighted.

However, there were more surprises yet to come. Within six months after starting as a janitor at the sign shop, Perry had worked his way to the position of assistant manager of the store.

It may be difficult for anyone to identify his or her dream career at first. One solution is to help them find what they are passionate about, whether it is a stereo system, a musical instrument, a car or a dream vacation. The possibilities are endless.

The importance of connecting people with their passion can perhaps be best demonstrated by an example from a program I co-created for adults with learning disabilities after leaving DCFS. These were people who had learning disabilities and described themselves as slow learners. They were very capable in many areas of their life, having difficulties only with more technical things like budgeting, balancing a bank account and meal planning; however, the fact that their intelligence wasnt lower disqualified them for disability funds and/or programs. I loved working with these clients and became very close to them. One of the primary challenges these extraordinary men and women faced was finding the motivation and drive to do their best working at jobs that they really didnt find that fulfilling. Because of their limitations with complex assignments, they worked mostly in the food and janitorial fields.

As these sensitive and caring individuals looked into their futures, they found it difficult to generate and maintain enthusiasm about spending the next 30-40 years cleaning toilets or asking would you like fries with that? By connecting with their dreams; however, they were able to find this motivation and drive.

Kathy, a 40-year-old woman who worked part time as a busser for a tearoom, was a good example of this. She loved the TV show, The Love Boat. For years, she had maintained the dream to take a cruise. However, her family didnt feel it was feasible with the income she was making. We were able to help Kathy create a budget for herself that would cover her expenses and allow her to set aside $50 a month toward her dream, even though it would take 2 1/2 years for her to realize it. Nevertheless, Kathy wanted that cruise and she had the support she needed to keep her dream in focus.

For the next two years, Kathy would often walk into the office singing the theme song to The Love Boat. We helped her keep the dream fresh by sending away for brochures, hanging posters on her wall and having cruise parties whenever she reached milestones in her fund raising goals.

Because of the timing of seasons and inflation, it was nearly three years before Kathy was able to realize her dream. Nevertheless, realize it she did. Her sister agreed to go with her, and Kathy had the vacation shed always wanted. She took several rolls of pictures and came home with a lifetime full of memories.

With the thrill and momentum of this success, Kathy had the confidence to set a new goal; going to Ireland. This goal would take another 5 1/2 years to realize, but Kathy now knew that dreams can come true and she was more committed than ever to make this one a reality as well. I have no doubt that she celebrated the success of that goal too!
 There is no limit to the magic that can occur when a powerful soul connects with their dream.

As Ive said before, these youth survive conditions that would destroy the majority of us, just as Arnolds workout would be too much for most of us. Nevertheless, when we can tap into that strength and power, and attach it to the magic of dreams, nothing is impossible.

Posted by gentlesoul4peace

4:02 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Believe In Easy

Believe in Easy

Do you expect things to be hard
or do you allow them to be easy? 
When something goes wrong
are you able to step back
and imagine a simple solution
or do you automatically envision
a major problem waiting to be solved?

Do you belong
to the worst-case scenario club?

Do you expect things to be hard?

During a warm, spring day a friend decided to try the air conditioning system in
 their new home only to discover that it didn't work. They contacted the company
and waited for them to show up three days later to investigate the problem.  In the meantime, they found themselves imagining that the unit was defective, that there was a broken line in a wall and that the wall would need to be torn down for the line to be repaired, or that the whole system had been designed improperly.  Talk about worst-case scenario.

When the repairman finally showed up, he discovered a broken seal on an outside line -- a simple repair that took a couple of hours to fix. As hedrove out of the driveway, my friend thought,
"Why didn't I even consider
an easy solution?"

Generally, we tend to be optimistic people.  We tend to see the upside of life and am able to look for the positive opportunities in even the most challenging situations.  But, many of us have a habit of thinking that we may not be conscious of:  The tendency to expect things to be hard.

As we consider this pattern of thinking, we can easily think of other examples. 
When preparing our taxes, do we ruminate about how long it will take to get them done.  Do we imagine days of arduous labor, only to have it take three or four hours. 

Or, when when we have computer porblems,  do we expected to lose all of our files, only to have the computer tech not only repair the problem, but improve the performance of the machine.

While some may argue for the benefits to considering worst-case scenarios --
being better prepared or better able to handle setbacks, etc. –
stewing in a pot of negativity is not productive.  When our mind is focused on all that could go wrong or how hard it will be, it's as if we empower the very outcome we most want to avoid. 

If you're about to go through a divorce,
for example, and you keep worrying about how contentious or painful it will be,
there's a good chance that you'll behave in a way that allows for that experience. 

If, on the other hand, you breathe through your fear and frustration and keep returning your mind to the present moment trusting that all will unfold in perfect order, you'll have a much better chance of experiencing a smoother ride.

When we expect simple or easy solutions to life's challenges, we set ourselves up for a more positive experience
(whether it turns out to be easy or not).  We show up with the right frame of mind, we focus on what works instead of what doesn't, and put ourselves in a more open and receptive state that attracts the people or resources we need to get
things handled.

This new awareness will inspire us to change our expectations.  

10:19 AM - 6 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment