Hello, Margaret! It’s me, Margaret!
April 16, 2014
“Without self-reflection, how is it possible for one to know himself or herself? And if I don’t know myself, how can I lead myself? And if I cannot lead myself, how can I lead others?”
–Harry Kraemer, former CEO of Baxter International
When I think of leadership, both in our careers and in our personal lives, (parent, volunteer, sibling, spouse, etc.) I cannot separate it from awareness. In fact, from my perspective, you cannot lead your life effectively without it. Awareness, or consciousness, must be at the foundation of your leadership, and it begins with self-awareness.
So what does being self-aware look like? At Life Well LED we help individuals know themselves deeply and honor who they are at their core. Through assessments and coaching that reveal amazing discoveries you can SEE and FEEL who you are and how you interact with others in your world. You can define the foundational principals and values that guide you; the beliefs that support your emotions and actions (good and bad), and the unique combination of talents that only you have, and that with proper investment, become strengths that lead you effectively toward the whole-life success you desire. Conversely, you also can shed light on your default tendencies—those habits that can prevent you from achieving that sense of success and purpose that we all crave.
In some ways we understand these things about ourselves, but with the noise and stress of daily life we often operate unconsciously—just going through the motions with little intention, which often results in a lack of energy (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually) to be able to get from point A to point B faster and easier…if at all (spinning our wheels endlessly!).
When we are highly aware we also pay attention to how we are perceived—how we operate through the lens of others. Are we as effective as we can be? Are we being the kind of leader that others need and expect of us? Are we others-focused, or are we only caring about ourselves and how we win?
Science and statistics show us the strong link between awareness and leadership. I cover a lot of this in my courses. I love being a scientist of human potential and connection! In fact, Emotional Intelligence (EI) experts, like Daniel Goleman, teach us how EI (EI = Awareness, Expression & Management/Controlling of Emotions) is far more necessary than IQ in powerful and effective leadership. IQ only takes you so far. You can’t build EI without awareness!
The path to being a highly-aware individual and leader is not easy, but it is so worth it! Through awareness you create meaningful connections… with you at your core, with those you work with and lead, with those closest to you, and with your and your team’s goals and mission.
In closing, to help you become more aware of your awareness (LOL!), try this very simple daily strategy:
- Set your timer to go off every hour for one week. If this is too much, try it twice a day—one during lunchtime and once in the evening when you’re winding down from the day.
- When your timer goes off, just take 5 minutes or less (no more than that) to create a short list that answers the following questions:
- “What did I notice about myself in this hour/morning/afternoon?”
- “What did I notice about others?”
- “What did I notice about my environment?”
At first this may be really hard and you won’t come up with much. But as you get used to it, you will realize so much about yourself, others and your environment because you are paying closer attention. You’ll see things you never did before. You’ll have many “hmm’s?” and “aha’s!” You’ll also notice more ways to connect with others and the world around you. We don’t live alone in this world, right? We certainly can’t accomplish much on our own either!
I’d love to hear what you noticed! Please make sure to share below and keep the dialogue moving and growing! Feel free to comment on my Facebook page as well!
Here’s wishing you a day of shock and awe! You’ll see both with this exercise.
For some more fun reading, here’s a great FastCompany article that details some of the benefits of being aware and mindful. Enjoy!
Wishing you a life well led,
Monique
Pushing Through.
February 27, 2014
As a young child I experienced a strong sense of motivation, because I knew at a very young age that I loved to dance and perform. I began dancing at the age of three, and time stood still when I danced. Even when I was not in class, but at home, I would play music and choreograph my own dances in front of our ceiling to floor mirrors. I was in my flow.
That was my experience, but not necessarily my daughter’s. As an achiever, it would be easy for me to push my dream, or a form of my dream on her to do the same, but I have worked so hard not to do that. I remember the day she told me she wanted to dance, but those classes did not last long. Although she was great, it was not her thing! She is now going on 10 years of age, and I think to myself, “Is she really going to grow up not playing any sports, or dancing, or…?” Recently, I heard the statistic that 80% of the most successful women in Fortune 500 companies all played competitive sports in high school, and my next thought was, “Wow, as a ‘good’ mom do I need to force her to do something to ensure her success?” That thought, of course, came from a place of fear, not love.
I think back to when she was potty training and everything that could go wrong did. In fact, it wasn’t until she was almost five that one day she said, “Mom, come look. I did it!” And that was it. She knew what she had to do, and she did it when she was ready.
Nia finally picked something new to try. She recently started Karate. Although her general modus operandi is to be a bit lazy when it comes to physical things (she’d rather be exploring out in nature!), I find that she likes Karate just enough to not quit. In fact, one of her teachers saw something in her, not on the physical toughness side, but, in her energy—her essence to want to do be noticed for her intelligence and to win. She is quite competitive! So, she’s was invited to try out for the competition team and I’ve seen her turn a new page. I see her fighting harder and not giving up when the going gets tough. She is pushing through. I also know that these teachers breathing belief into her is helping so much! They, too, could easily give up on her and tell her she’s not yet ready. What they have done is open the door for her to decide to do something very challenging while feeling supported.
In the same, the protective parent in me wanted to make it easy and safe for her. I had many “Oh no, she can’t do that!” or “She’s not ready to do that!” moments. But I kept those thoughts in my head. Instead, I cheered her on and allowed her to make the decision to stick with it or walk away.
Reflecting on this has helped cement a few concepts for me, which also may help you in a particular situation in which you may find yourself. They are:
- We each have unique passions that call to us and put us in our “flow” and/or help us to feel strong/on the verge of greatness.
- There is a time and place for everything.
- Pushing through in some way in our lives helps us to achieve a sense of purpose and pleasure.
Where can you apply this learning?
Where can you Push Through?
How can you support someone else to do the same?
Make sure to comment below. I’d love to hear your examples of pushing through.
It’s your life. Lead it well.
Namaste, Monique
Get Loving!
February 20, 2014
As you’ve learned through my last few blog posts, we bring energy into our lives in many ways. The last one I’d like to touch upon this month is moving.
Through observing others, and myself, I can see that movement for some individuals is absolutely essential, so they do it often (usually daily and first thing in the morning). That is empowering, and I celebrate them for being able to make it a consistent priority. For others, moving is more challenging due to our busy lives, and it jumps to the bottom of our to-do list. Oftentimes, because we can’t move the way we ideally want to, we don’t do it all. This is not good, of course, and it becomes an excuse after a while. Are you nodding your head in agreement?
Although I have been a dancer all my life and that is my absolute favorite way to move, it’s not always possible for me to energize myself through dancing. But, I know that I need to get moving, literally, not only for my health, but for the incredible energy and agility that I want to result from it.
For the purpose of simplicity, and the idea of Kaizen (very small changes that bring about lasting change), I’d like to suggest a very simple two-step process to making a positive change toward prioritizing moving:
Change the “M” in MOVE to an “L” to create LOVE!
1. Yes! When we bring movement back up the list, even in very small ways, we are actually making an intentional choice to LOVE ourselves.
That’s step one. Here’s step two:
2. Ask yourself, “How will I choose to LOVE myself today for just 10 minutes?” Small steps, remember?!?!
For me, this looks like stretching in my office, or taking a brisk mindful walk on campus. When I really want to feel the LOVE, I will do about 30 squats, 30 sit-ups and some push ups.
What I’ve noticed for myself is when I can make the time for 10 minutes of movement, I want more of it! In fact, just recently I purchased a video system where you exercise for just 25 minutes a day. I recall my mind chatter telling me, “Really, Monique, can’t you make yourself a priority for just 25 minutes a day?” I enlisted my husband and son to join me (Can you say accountability partners?!?!), and we are all working hard together and loving it! What I’ve also noticed is that we (including my 9-year-old daughter) are all craving a more active lifestyle because of it.
It all started with 10 minutes of LOVE for myself!
If you’re not moving much, I’d LOVE for you to try my simple 2-step technique and report back what changes you’re noticing (mind, body & spirit ones!).
Sharing is caring, and MOVING is LOVING!
It’s your life. Lead it Well.
Namaste, Monique
Breathe in. Breathe out.
February 12, 2014
For those mommies out there, or perhaps athletes or actors, who had to learn how to breathe a certain way to give birth with less pain (yeah right!), or manage your energy and nervous system, you probably recognize the importance of BREATH in these circumstances. But how often do we use our breath daily, consciously, to regulate our emotions and mange our energy?
It just so happens that breath is another one of the primary inputs into our energetic system. If creating a high level of wellness and energy is important to you, then becoming a bit more aware of your breath and using it as a tool is a great way to achieve that goal. In fact, our bodies are mostly made up of water and oxygen (65%). If being more of who we are naturally helps us feel at our best, then giving our bodies more O2 is definitely a great strategy.
I recently learned that while working at a computer, adults’ breathing rate increases by 30% to 18 breaths per minute, which can lead to hyperventilation, increased neck and shoulder tension and fatigue. Add coffee to that equation, and “Houston…we’ve got a problem!” And, since the majority of us are technologically ON all the time with our “smart” tools, is it no wonder we are exhausted, tense and, literally, running out of breath?
Personally, I LOVE my productivity tools, but, I, too, understand the importance of being aware of my breath and using it proactively to help energize me and give me a greater sense of well being.
Here’s a simple way to breathe more life into your mind, body and soul:
Begin to associate sitting with breathing. When you get into your car in the morning take a deep, expanding belly breath and blow it out through your nose. Do this at least three times before you turn on the ignition. Try breathing in slowly to the count of four and slowly exhaling to the count of four.
Then, when you get to your office and sit down at your desk do the same thing. When you need a potty break, guess what? Do it again! (Not kidding). When you sit down to eat, do it again. Continue this throughout the day during those “breaks” when you sit down to begin a new task. Pretty soon you’ll have created the awareness and habit of sitting and breathing—giving you many tiny moments of delicious breath and consciousness.
If you’re super busy and can only take one deep breath each time, that’s okay. It’s a great start and will make a big difference.
Try it out and see how you feel. Ahhh!
Share your outcomes with me below.
Sharing is caring!
It’s your life. Lead it well.
Namaste… Monique
Knock Some Sense Into Yourself!
January 28, 2014
In my communication, courses and coaching you’ll always hear me talk about energy and it’s direct link to our potential and personal leadership. One of the inputs into our “system” that creates our energy is our senses—what we see, hear, smell, taste, etc. When we sense things we create awareness, and with continued awareness we create conscious living. Here’s the kicker…science proves to us that the more conscious we are the more likely we are to reach our full potential. That’s an equation I’m always interested in!
I’m sure you’ve had many unconscious moments daily, as we all do, like driving from point A to point B and not really remembering how you got there…what roads you took, etc. But, you know you got there, right? Well, the key to reaching our potential and living more purposefully is to slowly lessen the amount of time we are unconscious…just going through the motions.
Here’s a simple way to knock the senses back into your life…Pay Attention!
You can decide how you want to do this, but here are some easy examples.
- Become very aware during your drive today. What is the temperature like? What kind of car is driving in front of you? Can you see the person driving through their rear view mirror? Are they male or female? Are there stickers on the car?
- When you arrive to your location, who is the first person you see? Make eye contact with them and smile. Can you sense their mood by the tone of their voice, facial expression, movements or attire? How do you feel on this day? Are you excited to get your day going? Are you hungry, distracted, sad, happy, etc.?
Why would being aware of these things help us become good leaders? I’d love for you ponder this on your own, but here are some opportunities that may have shown up for you from this simple exercise…
- If the car in front of you accidentally hit another motorist and took off you could be an eye witness and potentially help the victim.
- If you noticed it was a bit cooler and you didn’t have a chance to look at the weather report, you might have run back in the house to grab a sweater for your child, protecting him/her from the on-coming cold front you didn’t know about.
- If one of your employees was having a bad day, which you were able to sense by their eye contact and tone of voice, you could be a part of helping them to move forward positively in some way.
- If you realized that you were not feeling excited about your day, you could take a few minutes to take personal responsibility for yourself and choose to shift your thoughts and emotions so that you could feel lighter and have a more successful day.
Living consciously is habit we can cultivate slowly, but the outcomes can be hugely impactful for ourselves and for those we lead.
I’d love to hear about your awareness aha moments! What opportunities showed up for you? Please write to me below. Sharing is caring!
It’s your life. Lead it well.
Namaste…Monique
Hooray for the Magic Conch!
August 22, 2013
I love it when Spongebob gives me blogging content! It just so happens that this episode about the Magic Conch (or consciousness) is a fun way to teach kids (or anyone!) about awareness, tuning into positivity, and having unshakable belief!
Just yesterday my son and I were watching a program on TV about Einstein and how he seemed to be able to access other realms of possibility…a universal pool of ideas and opportunities available to all of us if we become open to receiving that knowledge (a.k.a., being more conscious!). Certainly, the study of Einstein’s brain showed that he had significantly above average mathematical, visuospatial, imagery and synthesis abilities. But, for those of us with a more average brain, how do we help ourselves out? Can the “Magic Conch” help?
Absolutely!
Many of you may have seen an image like the one below which depicts the tip of the iceberg we would see if we were cruising on very cold waters. What we normally wouldn’t see is the enormous iceberg which continues for miles below the tip, outside of our view or awareness. That’s a great representation as well of our consciousness (or Spongebob’s Magic Conch). We can only tap into its vast knowledge if we are aware of it.
This Spongebob episode in particular provides a funny metaphor for problem solving and how the Magic Conch can help guide the way.
Spongebob’s Magic Conch takeaways…
- Get on the right frequency. Squidward represents the frequency of negativity or low consciousness (challenges).
- Tap into the universal source–the 90% we don’t normally see (like the iceberg). The Magic Conch represents that “answer”; the frequency of high consciousness (solutions).
- Have unwavering trust and know you will receive what you need (info or resources).
The Magic Conch said to Spongebob and Patrick “Do nothing; wait.” They did just that, happily, and the resources they needed just fell out from the sky! That’s how the universe works too.
I bet you can think of a time when this has happened to you. Would you share it with me?
I find that one of the best ways for me to access this pool of knowledge and inspiration is by going on a walk. Walking puts me on that high conscious frequency every time. I always get my best ideas that way. For others, their Magic Conch can represent meditating, praying, chanting, singing, running, or day dreaming.
What’s your Magic Conch?
Namaste,
Monique
Acceptance and Love NOW
August 16, 2012
How simple it is to see that all the worry in the world cannot control the future. How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now. And that there will never be a time when it is not now.
-Gerald Jampolsky
Many times in our lives we all will experience unexpected challenges we must confront. Challenges which can pull us back into the past and keep us there, or have us worry so much about what will be.
Just recently I experienced one “of these” during a very unexpected time. But since I teach people how to find joy and opportunity regardless of what life throws them, I found it serendipitous that I was placed at a resort called “now.” If you know me well you know that I don’t believe in coincidences. Each time I saw that word “now” I was forced to bring myself to the present moment and inquire within, “How can I release the worry that I’m feeling right now? And how can I choose a more productive thought or action now?”
We all know that releasing worry and choosing a new thought is much harder than it seems, especially when the situation feels so heavy. Does it really work? My answer is YES, but you have to be just as dedicated to the emotions and truth of the new thought (or the real, love-based thought) then of the worry itself (false & fear-based).
Some of my “gurus” share these strategies…the very ones I did my very best to employ during this challenging time:
• Eckhart Tolle– the king of living in the “now” -tells us that if we are not in the state of either acceptance, enjoyment, or enthusiasm then we are creating suffering for ourselves and others. For many reasons, my only choice in this specific scenario was to be in a mode of acceptance. Tolle states that “On the surface, acceptance looks like a passive state, but in reality it is active and creative because it brings something entirely new into this world.” In that moment I could not choose joy and I could not choose enthusiasm, but I was very conscious of the situation, the feelings of the individuals involved, and to my part and my choices. I chose to accept the whole kit and caboodle. I truly sat with what was–good or bad.
• Byron Katie tells us that suffering is optional. Whenever we experience a stressful feeling- – anything from mild discomfort to intense sorrow, rage, or despair (I went through the entire range!)- – we can be certain that there is a specific thought causing our reaction, whether we are conscious of it or not. When we believe our thoughts instead of what is really true for us, we experience the kinds of emotional distress that is suffering.
Katie’s work goes much deeper and stems from her personal pain. Her work helps us do what Tolle speaks of- – getting to what really is true. Her experience helps to make concrete the TRUTH that everything (including each and every thought, action, belief, etc.) comes either from LOVE or FEAR. If we consciously choose to be in a state of acceptance and love WHAT IS IN THIS MOMENT even if it is painful, our fear dissipates and what remains is love…love for ourselves, for others, and for whatever life brings. It also allows forgiveness of self and others to manifest, something which is very difficult. Katie says that loving what is becomes as easy and natural as breathing.
Finally, Katie shares her simple, yet powerful inquiry process, which I used during this personal crisis. Here it is:
Deeply question the following about the feeling or thought:
1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it is true?
3. How do you react when you think that thought?
4. Who would you be without the thought?
There is one final powerful step to this process (the turn around), which helps you to take responsibility for your thoughts and really understand their intention, but that would require a much longer post!
Here’s a very brief “on the job” example of using steps 1-4 (with a few enhancements):
Thought: “He is always condescending to me in front of others, and clearly never wants me to advance. I am stuck!”
Ask: Is that true? Really true?
“Well, not always, I guess. Sometimes he can be supportive of my ideas, but I always feel like he will put me down if he has the chance. I guess I also have the choice to leave and not feel stuck.”
Ask: How do I respond when I hear/say that thought?
“I always feel like I have to be defensive; I am really angry for what feels like an eternity. I have seen others act in this way and I don’t want to be this way or be perceived as a difficult person who has to fight all the time.”
Ask: Can you see a reason why to drop the thought?
“Yes. I would like to drop this thought. I guess if I think this way all the time and expect the worst I always will feel defensive, angry, and stuck.”
Ask: Who would you be without the thought?
“I would be more relaxed, happy, and confident in who I am regardless of anyone above or below me.”
Etc…
Try it for yourself with a thought/situation that may be pulling you out of the “now” and into sorrow, worry or pain. Spend time in your own dialogue when answering the questions. You may go back and forth for a bit, after all, Katie calls this process The Work!
How can choosing acceptance and love over fear in the “now” move you forward today?
When you are present in the moment, you break the continuity of your story, of past and future.
Then true intelligence arises, and also love.
-Eckhart Tolle
10:42 minutes that can change everything
October 25, 2010
Nance Guilmartin, a dear friend and mentor, and author of Healing Conversations and The Power of Pause, sent me a link to a video that she thought I would appreciate. She was right.
This post, unlike my usual ones, will not contain many words or insights, because its power is simply in sharing this video. Nance shared it with me, and I feel deeply driven to do the same.
As I mentioned to Nance, I appreciated receiving it this week in particular as our world lost two men close to my family– one 26 and one 52. Too young and too soon.
Although I understand that some are called “home” sooner than others and find solace in this belief, I too understand that the loved ones very close to these two men may never be able to find the forgiveness in their hearts and release the pain necessary to move forward and lead powerful, meaningful, and passionate lives as they once had.
Many of us unnecessarily hold on to pain, conflict, and anger– in small or large bits– for too long. Letting go is not easy, but it is the answer.
Please forward this along. Post it to your profile. Share it widely.
You will, for sure, be paying it forward.
From my vantage point, it’s the best 10:42 minutes you’ll spend today. 🙂
In the spirit of forgiveness,
Monique
Dogs, Vampires and Screams, Oh My!
September 7, 2010
Are you caging yourself or being caged?
The second half of The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon gives us some great food for thought. I enjoy the metaphors sprinkled throughout the book, because they help to create a visual that can act as cues to remind us of when shifting our energy (or removing ourselves from negative environments) is essential.
Since Halloween is drawing near, I decided that I would use the months of September and October to practice ridding my inner and outer surroundings of the “negative dogs” and the “energy vampires.” By the time October 31st comes around I’ll be ready to celebrate the success of this challenge.
Truth be told, however, we don’t need an occasion like Halloween to practice these techniques. The dogs and vampires surround us daily, and relinquishing them of their power on a daily basis is where the mastery lies.
So, what’s all this dog talk? Here’s the story from The Energy Bus.
“A man goes to the village to visit the wise man and he says to the wise man, ‘I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One dog is the positive, loving, kind and gentle dog and then I have this angry, mean-spirited, and negative dog and they fight all the time. I don’t know which is going to win!’ The wise man thinks for a moment and he says, ‘I know which is going to win. The one you feed the most, so feed the positive dog.’”
We all have those voices inside barking at us all day. Which one is more productive and energy building, and which one makes us foam at the mouth (practically!) and sends people running in the other direction? I bet I don’t have to answer the question. It’s kind of scary to see yourself as a dog on attack, but many times that’s exactly how we act toward ourselves and others. Yikes! So, let’s heed the wise man’s advice and FEED THE POSITIVE DOG!
Joy, the super positive Energy Bus-Driver also refers to another creature we need to watch out for. She explains:
“I call the people who drain your energy Energy Vampires and they will suck the life out of you and your goals and vision if you let them. They will cause an engine leak, make your ride miserable, or even worse slash your tires.”
I never thought of these “energy suckers” as vampires before, but the visual is very powerful. We all know who these people are, don’t we? Sometimes we call them Debbie Downers, or Sore Losers, Wet Towels, Buzz Kills, etc. Humorous, yes, but true. When we are in our “flow” and feeling great, one of these vampires comes along and drains us of our energy through his/her complaints, accusations, depression, etc. Sometimes, we are the vampires. Yes, looking in the mirror often can be enlightening. We all have a shadow side and many of the things we see in others that make us feel uncomfortable are the very things we do to others unconsciously.
So, how do we not become the negative dog or energy vampires, and how do we avoid getting the energy sucked out of us from other negative dogs and energy vampires?
One way is to increase our self awareness, or consciousness. Take your dog on a walk; WALK THE TALK. Here’s what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, has to say about leading your energy through consciousness:
“A person can make himself happy, or miserable, regardless of what is actually happening ‘outside,’ just by changing the contents of consciousness. We all know individuals who can transform hopeless situations into challenges to be overcome, just through the force of their personalities. This ability to persevere despite obstacles and setbacks is the quality people most admire in others, and justly so; it is probably the most important trait not only for succeeding in life, but for enjoying it as well. To develop this trait, one must find ways to order consciousness so as to be in control of feelings and thoughts.”
He also said:
“But no social change can come until the consciousness of individuals is changed first. When a young man asked Carlyle how he should go about reforming the world, Carlyle answered, ‘Reform yourself. That way there will be one less rascal in the world.’ The advice is still valid. Those who try to make life better for everyone without having learned to control their own lives first usually end up making things worse all around.”
Yes, folks, it all starts with us.
And, Joy, our super positive Energy Bus driver tells us that these are the final rules to creating our Energy Bus (continued from my last blog):
6. Post a Sign That Says No Energy Vampires Allowed on Your Bus. That’s right, just don’t let them in! Tell them to stay away. And, if you are the vampire, you’ve got some work to do.
7. Enthusiasm Attracts More Passengers and Energizes Them During the Ride. Do you want to be on the Debbie Downer bus or the Bob the Builder bus?
8. Love Your Passengers. The heart acts as an emotional conductor and radiates how you are feeling to every cell in the body via the heart’s electromagnetic field; this energy field can be detected up to 5 to 10 feet away. What are you attracting? Do you want to attract love or fear?
9. Drive with Purpose. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you get to where you need to go? Drive your bus with purpose daily and more people will come along for the ride.
10. Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride. In the end, isn’t this what life’s all about?
No Energy Vampires Allowed!
More and more, what matters to me is enjoying the process, not the end result. Finding joy and living energetically in the moment can provide us with millions of meaningful moments along our journey.
While common sensical, The Energy Bus provides us a story that we can relate to. We encounter individuals on a daily basis who have either given up, or who are fighting way too hard. Sometimes, we, ourselves, are those people. Author, Jon Gordon, gives us 10 simple steps to gain more control of our lives, raise our energy, live with heart, and allow the flow of life to bring us joy again.
We can choose to be energetic and happy. The choice always begins with us.
Halloween doesn’t need to be every day. That’s really scary! Let’s get rid of those nasty dogs and vampires and get a move on!
Enjoy your ride!
Monique
My Relaxed Book Club will discuss selections from books I feel help high-achieving professionals continue to develop themselves and work on their personal leadership leading to more fulfilled, balanced and successful lives and careers.
The Beauty of Today
May 9, 2010
Me and My Babies - Mother's Day 2010
What I love most of my Relaxed Book Club is that it is RELAXED. Today, I thank myself for knowing myself so well. Yes, you may giggle. I am giggling as well as I type these words, because I knew that I needed to make this initiative “relaxed” for those occasions, like today, when I need to step back, breathe, and be only in the NOW.
This week I have chosen not to blog about what I am supposed to. That can wait one more week. Today, I choose to honor myself as a busy woman; a mother on Mother’s Day. It is a sacred day for me. Today, I look more deeply at my children, in awe, and give thanks for the opportunity to be their mother.
Today, also, I wish to share with you a short passage from an article in O’s tenth anniversary issue, written by Eckhart Tolle. I believe we all can benefit from this passage, but today, I dedicate it to all mothers, who sometimes, need to try a bit harder than most to be in the present. Enjoy!
Where to find that goodness…In all the things that we tend to overlook: feeling the gentle breeze on your skin, the sunlight filtering through the clouds, the sound of the rain, the wagging tail of a dog, the shiny apple you are about to bite into. You notice the in-and-out flow of your breath, the feeling of aliveness inside your body. And then there is the beautiful stillness behind it all, which is deep within you. It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.
So, let’s celebrate our anniversaries (I substitute this for “special occasions”) as they arise. What we are really celebrating, though, is the present moment, the doorway into Spirit, and all there ever is.
Enjoy Today. Enjoy Now.
Namaste,
Monique
My Relaxed Book Club will discuss selections from books I feel help high-achieving professionals continue to develop themselves and work on their personal leadership leading to more fulfilled, balanced and successful lives and careers.
Illumined Life Leadership 