Your Inner Smile

True Abundance.
~ Robert Holden

Abundance is not an it.
It is not to be found in
a shopping basket.

Abundance is not an achievement.
You will not find it at the end
of your never-ending
to-do list.

Abundance is not a place to get to.
Your zip code will not make you
happy.

Abundance is not a competition.
You cannot have more than your
neighbor and feel truly
abundant.

Abundance is not having everything.
You can’t have everything.
Think about it.
Where would you put it all?

Abundance is not about
getting more or
having more.
First and foremost, it is about
being more.
Being more of Who you
really are.

The reason why abundance is so
desirable is that it is your
true nature.

Abundance is Who you are.
It is what you experience when you
stop depriving yourself of what
is already yours.

You might want to read the poem a second time, out loud.

Be part of the cause of the turnaround!

In the middle of an economic recession is an ideal time to talk about abundance, especially in the way Robert Holden describes its essence in his poem.

What are we presented with in this recession?

1.  We are being challenged to let go of obsolete practices for creating happiness.

2.  We are each being called to reflect on what we really value in our lives, and live from those values.

3.  We have been given an opportunity to create a new world.

This requires change, individually and collectively. We can do it with higher consciousness, through empowering mindsets, positive energy, and inspired actions.

Imagine our world when the majority of individuals and organizations are making a positive difference by leading from their own well-being.

If you are ready, there are plenty of opportunities to be part of the cause of the turnaround!

An example to illustrate the opportunity

If someone values money and identifies a sense of security with the value of a financial portfolio, she is probably feeling threatened.  She is seeing evidence everywhere of her deepest fears.   Her self worth drops with a decline in the value of her portfolio.  It rises with the value as well.  It is like she is on a roller coaster ride, feeling fear because she thinks she has no control.   The stress of it is taking its toll on her physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally.  Yet, she always has a choice.

Many people value financial freedom; I certainly have it on my priority list.  Now is a good time to understand what it gets you.

It is helpful to ask yourself the question, “What is important about financial freedom?”

Then ask yourself, “What is really important?”

What many people find through this inquiry and reflection is that what they really value isn’t tied to the market value of their portfolio, level of salary, or number of assets.  When they look more closely what they really value often is free -   loving relationships, a sense of belonging, health, and happiness. They realize money is a means, not an end. They understand their sense of security doesn’t come from “out there,” and who they really are isn’t represented by what money can buy.  They start to appreciate what is really important to them; who they are; and what they already have – in abundance. 

Take time with your Self
An opportunity to connect and listen to your inner wisdom

Create a memory.

Take a moment and see yourself 5 years from now.  Your life is really, really good.  You are healthy.  Your financial portfolio has rebounded, even into surplus.  You are enjoying a great career and loving relationships.    You feel great; you look great!  Wow you have prospered– emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, socially, and mentally!

You are looking back to today and on how you got yourself to such a wonderful place in those 5 years.

How did you do it?

Now! Be that person! Go do that!

You can ask for help.

You have a major choice right now.  Most people are at the effect of what is happening.  That’s the norm.  Some people are being proactive, and they are doing more than surviving; they are thriving in all areas of their life. 

Now is a good time to put your life in your own hands (rather than in the hands of the news, the market, or the government).  A coach can help you.  Now is the time to take control of your life, and you need a plan.  A coach can help you with that.  Now is the time to invest in the only asset guaranteed to grow – You!

Contact me for a free consultation at denise@yourinnersmile.com today to take this opportunity to be at the cause of a turnaround for you and our world.

Your Inner Smile is a leadership style.  Leading from your own well-being is the difference that makes the difference in your world.  Bring your happiness to Life!  You can find out more about your different coaching options on the Services page of my website http://yourinnersmile.com.  

You can look forward to the launch of a coaching group very soon!

“Most people are about as happy as they make their mind up to be.” 
~ Abraham Lincoln

In these times we might feel less in control of what is happening around us, yet it holds true - in economic highs and lows - we choose how we feel.  We slip into being victims when we stop honoring our power to choose our state of being.

Events are simply what they are.  We decide to label them “good” or “bad” and then experience emotions accordingly.  What if we thought of events as information only; information we can use to help us learn something or make a decision.

It might seem harder to maintain an enduring feeling of contentment and centeredness - key stones to happiness - when there is so much “bad news.”  I’m recommending that you continue to be aware of your experience and notice how it changes depending on how you choose to think and feel.   “Try on” different thoughts and feelings.  Notice the effect on your health (heart rate, blood pressure, energy level), what you see reflected back to you, and your overall state of well-being when you choose to be in different states based on what you hear and see.  Keep reminding yourself you are more capable of being productive and creative with all that life throws at you when you choose to be in control of who you are being in the moment.  

It also helps to express gratitude and see the positive.  One way is to reconnect to the present moment by asking yourself some “connecting questions” and being guided by your inner wisdom.

WHAT IS WORKING RIGHT NOW?

WHAT ELSE IS WORKING RIGHT NOW?

WHAT IS A HIGHER THOUGHT RIGHT NOW?

WHAT AM I INSPIRED TO DO RIGHT NOW?

What this exercise does is help you quickly feel one step better than where you are, and then better still and even better still.   In this higher state of being you have a new energy reference point - your inner smile.  This is much higher creation energy than the lower levels of stress, overwhelm, and anxiousness. 

You would agree that you’re better able to handle what comes at you when you’re feeling centered and capable, wouldn’t you?  

Here’s a story to illustrate the point:

“A master of happiness was traveling with a cumbersome bag upon his shoulder when he came across a seeker.  The seeker asked him what true happiness really felt like.

The master paused a moment, then smiled and took the bag off his shoulder.  As it dropped heavily to the ground, he stood tall in the freedom from the burden he’d been carrying.

The seeker said, “I think I understand. And what do you do once you’re happy?”

The master smiled, hoisted his bag, and carried on down the road.”

(Source: Michael Neill’s book “Feel Happy Now”)

Take time with your Self 

1. Ask yourself the connecting questions in moments when you are feeling frustrated or anxious.  You will shift your state and access the best of You.

2. Watch the movie “Happy Go Lucky”.  Here is an extract about the film (http://www.happygoluckythemovie.com/).  Poppy is a free spirited primary school teacher who brings an “unsinkable sense of optimism to every situation.”  This film offers a “touching, truthful and deeply life affirming exploration of one of the most mysterious and often elusive of all human qualities: happiness.”

3. Do more creative projects, just to enjoy the process of creation.  These become metaphors for your life experience.  It’s yours to create (in every economic climate).

4. Act as if the news you read about is just information and it is there to help you make a more informed decision.  Notice your state.  Ask connecting questions if needed. 

A Resource for You

Coaching can help you find your inner smile and raise your creation energy.  You can find out more about your different coaching options on the Services page of my website  http://yourinnersmile.com.   

Happy New Year!

The first of January was dedicated by the Romans to their god of gates and doors, Janus.  He is often depicted with two faces, as if regarding behind and at the same time looking forward. 

The origin of “January” is the Etruscan word jauna, which means “door.”

Let us then be inspired to go through this month as we would walk through a door to get to a new place.

Let us use the month of January to look back to create forward more of what we want in our lives.

In this spirit, allow me to recommend a twist on the more traditional approach to making “new year resolutions.” 

Part One: Looking back on your life in 2008.

I am recommending that you take some time to look back on the previous year through a very specific lens, looking for what you didn’t want in your life.  (Yes, you read that correctly.)

It’s helpful to put down on paper what you didn’t like and you didn’t want in the past year for a number of reasons, all of which contribute to not only resolving to change but creating the changes.

1. This exercise creates space within you to allow what you do want to come to your mind.  As your focus shifts so does your personal energy, from a negative vibe of the “don’t want” to a positive vibe of the “do want.”

2.  You gain insights that can lead you to defining the right goals for yourself at this time in your life.  A constant complaint could be a disguise for what it is you want most. 

For example, if someone is repeatedly complaining “I have so much to do at work, I’m always working late,” she can turn this dissatisfaction into a goal to “delegate better so I can have more of a social life during the week.” 

3. These “don’t want” situations are where your deepest held values have “been offended.”   It’s helpful to understand what you value and how what you notice around you does or does not align to what is most important to you.

Continuing the example, it’s helpful for this person to understand she values social connections and by repeatedly working late she is reinforcing an imbalance in her life.

4. A situation can represent a projection of a part of you that needs additional attention or that wants to have a greater input into what you do and who you are.

In my example, there is a part of this person that wants to connect with people and a part that wants to “do it all herself.” Her complaint represents the internal conflict.  This results in her lowered energy level and frustration with the situation.  (Can you guess what she is attracting more of in her life?)

Even if you have made your New Year’s resolutions list, you might find it helpful in walking through a door to a new place, to understand: what you value, where you might have internal conflict, and what is the essence of what you really want in this time of new beginnings.

In Part Two…

I’ll share with you how you can improve your inner alignment and increase your creative energy so that you can be the best of You and enjoy what you find reflected back to you in your world in 2009, and beyond.
 

Take time for your Self

1. Reflect on your life in 2008 and appreciate all that you experienced over the year.  You can do this by breathing deeply with a focus on your heart while adding a feeling of appreciation for someone or something in particular.  Spend a few minutes in this appreciative state. You’ll feel your energy rise, a sense of inner peace, and a greater awareness of your intuition.

2. Take each area of your life: relationships, career, finances, health, community, etc. and write down what you didn’t like; what you complained about repeatedly; what bothered you the most, or what you just plain didn’t want.

3. What theme(s) do you see in your experiences?

4.  What would you want to experience instead?  (This is a key attraction principle; define specifically the experience you intend to have in getting what you do want.)

5.  How would you like to turn the main 3-5 examples of dissatisfaction into specific goals? 

Now, put these goals in writing, with lots of details about what you want the experience of having it.  Write the goals in the present tense, as if you are already living that experience. 

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well.  Just get up and dance.  Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.” 
~ Martha Graham, dancer, teacher, and choreographer

As we follow our intuition to set our intentions for 2009, it might be helpful to get into the state of mind and exude the attitude Martha Graham offers in this statement.  Uncover your passion and live it.   Want to write a book; enhance your passion for the subject and practice writing everyday.  Want to wear a size 6 dress; love who you are and enjoy exercising.   Want to get a new job; be the person making the kind of contribution you want to make in that new role.  It’s important to define the outcome (the effect) and then focus on our energy.  This way we are more at cause in our lives and can enjoy the effects!

My family started a new tradition. 

Instead of presents under the Christmas tree, we each have a Christmas sack.  It’s a creative, economical way to have the joy and fun of presents and stockings! 

I love the surprise element of a stocking, and some of the best presents I have ever received came out of Christmas stockings.  When I was three, I found a live puppy in my stocking.   Over the years, I have pulled out everything between candy and diamond earrings.

Last Christmas, spending the holiday with my (then) boyfriend, I pulled out a small notebook.  It had a Vera Bradley design and the words “Noteworthy” in script font on the front.  It tied closed with a red ribbon and a white button. 

The notebook has come in handy, and I have noted a number of ideas, quotes, book titles, and to-do lists in it over the past year.  The person who put it in the stocking said he noticed that I liked to have a notebook with me and was always writing things in it.  This pretty, little, now well used, notebook ranks high on my list of best “stocking stuffers” because of that thoughtful intention behind it. 

As we close this year and begin a new one, I am reminded by this little notebook that we can give love everyday in ways that let people know we care.  It’s the little gestures that have the greatest meaning, and it’s that meaning we keep in our hearts, even when the people are no longer together.

I wish you the everyday joys of being the best of You, and enjoying what gets reflected back to you in your life.

To quote a quote from my notebook,

“Dance as though no one is watching you.
Love as though you have never been hurt before.
Sing as though no one can hear you.
Live as though heaven is on earth.”