Inspired Leap

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

On the trail this morning, a new friend who moved to Austin from Los Angeles, started talking about how being such a decisive person got her into trouble when she bought her house. She felt pressured from the real estate agent and ignored her unusual wavering over the decision and said “yes” when she now knows she should have said “no.”

I grew up hearing “Make a decision even if it’s wrong.” This can be great advice when we’ve spent days, months, or years going round and round in our heads about a decision. However, for those of us like me and my friend who already have a bias towards action, this well-meaning advice only makes us more uncomfortable with waiting for clarity.

Sometimes we jump forward or backward in our anxiety to move on with our careers or lives when a time out or waiting period might help us get aligned with the best answer for ourselves. If you find yourself anxious to make a decision or feeling pressured by someone else to say yes or no, deliberately pull back from the decision.

Take a few minutes, an hour, or a day to breathe deeply, relax, and focus on the wisdom of your intuition or heart. Ask yourself if you really, truly need to make the decision right now. Chances are the answer is “no.” Let that understanding help you to relax and not force a decision.

Trust that the answer is within and allow it to reveal itself to you at the right time. And giving yourself mental space to allow the answer to come to you when it’s ready usually means the answer will come quickly!

While sitting quietly or walking alone in nature, ask yourself what the right decision is and release it. That means letting your intuitive mind, heart, and soul work on it.

Your thinking mind will want to figure it out, looking at every angle and possible ramification of the decision. Distract it! Remind yourself that the answer’s coming and focus your attention on something completely different, like your breath or the beauty around you.

After about 20 minutes of peaceful distraction, gently ask yourself what the answer is. If nothing comes to you right away, trust that it’s being worked and will come. Be okay with being in that “not knowing” place. Remind yourself that you’ll know the right decision when you’re supposed to and go about your day.

And if you forget all about this and make a ‘bad’ decision, your work is now to learn from the mistakes and turn your attention to all of the good things that came out of that decision. In my friend’s case, she now has much more clarity about what she really wants in a home and neighborhood. And, she has the time to look carefully for just the right place. Aha!

Technorati Tags:
Aha, yes, no, pressured, real estate, agent, purchase, forward, backward, timeout, intuition, heart, not knowing, distraction, nature, beauty
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

In the midst of reading Gregg Braden’s fascinating book Fractal Time, I’ve been thinking about what time is and how I experience it. To explore the mystery of time, Braden shares a very simple and profound view of time by physicist John Wheeler: “Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.” [p. 95]

Quantum physics tells us that time is a human construct, with the past, present, and future happening all at the same time or all accessible at any given time, so Wheeler’s definition makes sense. Time is our friend because it keeps us sane (from overload) and is ours to manipulate. Or, as author Gay Hendricks tells us in his powerful book, The Big Leap, “You’re where time comes from.” [p. 160]

Hendricks takes this wisdom and teaches us the secret of Einstein Time which includes acknowledging that since we’re the creators of time, we can make more when we need it! I highly encourage you to read his book for a variety of reasons, but understanding the concept of Einstein Time is reason enough.

While I haven’t mastered the art of creating more time, I am slowly, but surely remembering to engage my mind in the concept, as well as in acknowledging with gratitude the gift of more time.

For example, this morning I was running late (according to the clock) to drop off my car for servicing. Part of the reason for the delay was a stop for hot tea and breakfast in anticipation of a potentially long wait to receive my loaner car. On the way to the dealership, I kept telling myself to relax because I’d be arriving at exactly the right time. That inner dialogue gave me permission to take care of my needs – - breakfast and tea, even though that stop would ensure I arrived late.

When I pulled up to the Subaru service area, the service associate was waiting for me with paperwork and a loaner car and no stress or issues about my late arrival. Within 5 minutes, I was on my way for the day! I had clearly arrived on time and received a bonus of even more time which fueled my expectation that this would be a great day.

How do you view time? Is it your friend or enemy on most days? What if you could make friends with time and begin to witness the power you have over how time flows in your days? How might your stress go down and your effectiveness and mood go up?

Technorati Tags:
time, Gregg Braden, Fractal Time, Quantum physics, John Wheeler, past, present, future, Gay Hendricks, The Big Leap, Einstein Time, Subaru, service, late, bonus
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

“Third time is the charm” is a phrase we use in the U.S. to convey the idea that there’s something magical about attempting to succeed at something the third time. We’re encouraged to keep trying for something we believe in.

However, sometimes trying beyond that third time eats up too much time and energy. Maybe the message is to relax, wait, and focus our attention on something else. Perhaps there are a few necessary steps that we can’t see that need to occur before our success is assured.

In those cases, pay attention to a different ‘third time.’ This is the third time you hear, see, feel, or sense something. This divine guidance comes via friends making the same suggestions within a few days of each other, hearing a speaker say something about the very thing you were mulling over in your head, or seeing an image in a magazine that triggers a connection to what you’d been thinking, for example.

An attendee at a workshop at Lake Austin Spa Resort recently shared with me her belief that these are “sacred echos” communicating important guidance to us that we need to heed. And, just like we seem to need to try three times for things to happen for us, perhaps the universe needs roughly the same number of shots at getting us to pay attention and heed a message.

This happened to me a few weeks ago. I’ve been offering workshops, retreats, and coaching while pursuing speaking engagements and promoting my book. Oh yeah. I’m also chairing a conference for 500 women in Texas that occurs on November 11^th! (check out the 19^th Annual Money and Power Conference at www.womenschambertexas.com).

Over a period of three weeks, I heard gentle comments about focusing my attention on my coaching business, which is flourishing, and my book, which inspires me and will lead to the speaking and other options. Yet, I had workshops on the schedule, enjoyed doing them, and so I made no decision.

HA! The universe had other ideas. Within a few days, I clearly heard the message to focus on coaching. The last time I heard this suggestion on Thursday, October 1^st from a fellow entrepreneur, coach, and friend, I laughed out loud.

I may have a lot of things on my mind right now; however, it’s hard to miss something that keeps coming up from different sources. This time I listened and dropped all of my workshops through the winter. Once I got the message I acted and have been feeling great about the decision ever since.

Is there something you’ve heard about or have been reminded of two or three times in a relatively short span of time? Take a moment to check in with your inner wisdom. Is this a big clue from the divine or the universe to take action in a new direction?

Technorati Tags:
Aha moment, pay attention, charm, three times, energy, message, relax, listen, sacred echos, communicating, guidance, coaching, Annual Money and Power
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

While getting my dog settled in the back seat of the car yesterday morning, in anticipation of driving to a favorite trail for a great hike, I looked out at the street and noticed orange safety cones carefully placed down the center of the road. As it was a quiet Sunday morning, I was a bit mystified as to why they were there. I soon found out those cones were only the beginning.

The on ramp to the freeway was blocked off and side streets were barricaded closed. “What’s going on?” I asked myself. Of course I had no answer, but I kept fretting about it. And then my mind jumped to wondering how I would get back to my house later that morning, after the hike. Would the road be completely blocked off then? Very quickly I had myself worked up, with detailed visions of the challenges that would await me coming back home.

Do you ever do this? Do you find your very active imagination jumping to conclusions and actively creating worst case scenarios? That’s your inner critic, monkey mind, or little voice as I’ve heard this part of the mind referred to. It finds a way to jump in and pull you down when you’re very happy, high on life, or excited about a new opportunity. Worrying about what might happen is a trick our mind plays to calm our system and bring us back down to our old emotional set point or level.

This is great when your active mind is reminding you of good things to bring you back up to a ‘normal’ state of hopefulness, but not so good when it’s trying to bring you back down from a state of excitement and eager anticipation. When you want to make changes, you need to stay alert and witness how your mind jumps to different topics and mental pictures in order to scare, anger, or depress you.

In my case, after a stressful week, I was happy to be feeling the joy and healing of an amazing Reiki session Saturday afternoon and experiencing excitement about getting back to a trail I hadn’t been on in months because of the drought and heat. With lots of rain the past month and cooler temperatures, I anticipated a beautiful hike. I had moved to a higher, more positive emotional state.

Thankfully, I was alert enough to notice the foolishness of the thoughts I started thinking about the traffic redirection and the way it was affecting my mood and bringing me back down from my ‘high.’  I began to redirect my thoughts toward the hike. Again. And again. Don’t underestimate the power of your mind. I had to be vigilant in catching myself and redirecting my thoughts to the joyful experience of walking the trail – - to being in the present moment.

The hike was amazing. After not hearing the sound of flowing water on that trail for about a year, it was heaven to walk along and through the creek and see my dog happily playing in the water. The drive home? Easy. No blocked roads. No blocked entrance. Once again I had another opportunity to laugh at myself!

Technorati Tags:
imagine, worst, dog, trail, hike, orange, safety, Sunday, road, off ramp, freeway, imagination, conclusions, Reiki, joy, inner voice, redirect, happy, joyful
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Many of us had the childhood or teenage experience of being told our dreams were unrealistic or a recipe for a life of poverty. We were subtly or not-so-subtly directed to get an education or a job in a practical field that would guarantee us a job or income for life. It’s not until we’re adults – - sometimes many years into a career that we don’t even remember wasn’t our choice – - that we realize we’re doing something that has nothing to do with what we’re passionate about.

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of hearing a panel of successful Austin business women talk about how they got where they are today while attending a breakfast celebrating AustinWoman magazine’s 7^th year. At one point in the conversation, two of the women shared how they’d originally been advised by their parents away from careers or education that supported what they dreamed to do as children.

Thankfully, the dreams of jewelry designer Kendra Scott and film maker Elizabeth Avellán were so powerful they ultimately were led back to doing what they wanted to do as young girls. For example, Avellán’s mother scoffed at her idea of being a TV or film producer saying it was too hard. Scott shared that she grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin – - far away from the fashion world that she wanted to be a part of. Well-meaning family members said she should do something more practical, but her aunt would show slides of her trips to Paris as a fashion buyer, and she was hooked. Years later, she found her own unique way into the world of fashion – - jewelry design. Given those dreams from childhood and the images her aunt planted in her brain, is it any wonder that Scott’s designs quickly caught the eye of the fashion world?

Perhaps you were told “No, it’s not possible,” or “You can’t do that! You’ll never make any money at it.” Or, “That’s too hard. Why not go into something that’s guaranteed to get you a job.” Don’t be surprised if well-meaning guidance from years ago still keeps you from going after a hidden dream. However, like sand in an oyster, this dream still has the potential to turn into a pearl of a vocation. It’s never too late to turn around old messages. What “no” do you need to turn into a big “YES” to yourself?

Technorati Tags:
say yes, teenage, childhood, dreams, unrealistic, poverty, education, job, income, passion, AustinWoman, Austin
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Tonight marks the official launch of my new book, Aha! Moments: When Intellect & Intuition Collide, with a book signing and launch party at BookPeople in Austin. This independent bookseller is an Austin gem that I’m thrilled to have hosting the kick-off celebration.

As I prepare for tonight’s gathering, I’m reminded of those famous lyrics “We get by with a little help from our friends.” How blessed I am to have such a rich mix of friends in Austin and around the country who encouraged me to make this dream a reality and have sent uplifting messages of congratulations. I hope the book trailer inspires you pass on the message of how brilliant each one of us is. At any given moment, we have the power to access the wisdom we need to make any decision. That’s the message of the book.

How different would your life be if you truly appreciated and made the most of your brilliance? Knowing how brilliant you are, what decision will you make today?

Click here to view Aha! Moments Book Trailer

Technorati Tags:
Aha, book, intellect, intuition, inspiration, book trailer, movie trailer, video
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

At both the end of the first half and the end of the game, football teams, especially quarterbacks, test their ability to manage the clock while simultaneously executing the game plan to march down the field and score before the half or the end of the game. Some quarterbacks self destruct under the additional time pressure; others seen to play their best football.

On Saturday night, ABC & ESPN TV commentator and college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit (a former Ohio State quarterback) noted that Colt McCoy, quarterback for Texas, played his best football of the first half during the two-minute drill, pointing out that McCoy seemed to be “thinking too much” during much of the game, but “just played ball” during the closing minutes of the half.

Like McCoy and other football quarterbacks, we can think too much about all we need to do, the responsibilities on our shoulders, and the possible ramifications of any actions. When we do this, we stumble and underperform. Then, like magic, when put into a situation where we don’t have time to think, our performance peaks.

In many situations, thinking about possible negative and positive outcomes is best done before we’re called to act—in practice or in preparation. We need to trust that our brain and body have absorbed all of the possibilities and let them work their magic in the moment.

What’s the “two-minute drill” in your career? Do you freeze up or over think? If so, take time to practice how you’d handle any possible scenario and then deliberately put yourself in some challenging situations that force you to respond in the moment (no time to think).

The more you practice whatever rapid-fire situations you’re likely to be called on to deal with, the more at ease you’ll be, even in the face of a surprise scenario or “attack.” You’ll be able to trust your ability to respond. Why? Because you’ve already successfully dealt with other, similar scenarios. Your brilliant mind has seen this before and knows just what to do. Trust it.

Technorati Tags:
Aha, two-minute drill, football, quaterbacks, Kirk Herbstreit, Colt McCoy, performance, peak, responsibilities, ramifications, brilliant mind, trust
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Go for a drive when you’re stuck. Get out of your home or office (except during rush hour!) and go for a drive. With much of your thinking brain busy driving the car, inspiration (intuition) can flow in to generate the clarity you need about whatever challenge you’re facing.

My friend Giselle shared this great tip for generating an Aha! Moment while trying to decide about whether or not to pursue a job opportunity that was good, but didn’t fit her ideal. Would she be making a mistake to go for this job?

“You know this job hunt has been hard and the types of jobs for which I am qualified and want are scarce. There was this one job I had dismissed because of the commute and a few other factors. I found out it is still open. One of my former bosses had referred me to someone who works there. So I contacted them and found they were still looking and they accepted my application for the job. The next day they called to schedule an interview. That’s coming up. I was excited to get an interview and I know the firm to be a good one. Then I started thinking negative thoughts about it and finally decided to go get a coffee and go to my favorite thinking place.”

“Off I go and as I am driving there it occurred to me (Aha!) that I needed to stop thinking about my job title, etc. (which is ego) and focus on the important things like I am doing this for the family unit (me and the cat). This means I can indulge in my hobbies again, shop and think about the possibilities for the future. Not to mention just being able to work again and be fulfilled by that and do something meaningful.  I also realized it was the kind of job where I could do what I love to do 100% percent of the time and not have to spend time doing things that don’t get much results and take a lot of time away from what I love. Once I realized all of this it’s like this huge weight lifted off my shoulders.”

“In a lot of ways this drive to the park’s boat launch area is my version of a time out. You just have to physically take yourself places to get clarity or in this case remember the important stuff and forget the ego stuff. Fortunately I didn’t have to drive a heck of a long way to experience my Aha! Moment.” (But, wouldn’t it have been worth an hour drive or even longer, for that kind of clarity?)

I couldn’t have said it better myself! If you have a great Aha! Moment experience you’d like to share, please contact me. I’d love to hear it and (with your permission) share it with others.

Technorati Tags:
Aha, clarity, decision making, brain, inspiration, intuition, share
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines something sublime as “inspiring awe or admiration through grandeur, beauty, etc.” My friend Julie Wickert (True Story Communications) reminded me of the power of this word months ago when she recommended that I describe Aha! Moments as “sublime experiences.” I couldn’t agree more and have used ‘sublime’ to convey the transformative power of an Aha! Moment in many of my marketing materials.

Don’t we all deserve to have more Aha’s and sublime experiences in our lives? In order to do that though, you need to be willing to break out of your routine to experience new things or shift your perspective to see something old in a new way.

This morning I played hooky from a weekly networking group meeting and took my dog to a nearby off leash park, Red Bud Isle, and coffeehouse, Mozart’s, on Lady Bird Lake. As I was enjoying my cup of tea and a croissant with Forest by my side, I looked out over the lake with turtles lazily coming up for air, geese winging their way east, and a blessed, cool breeze brushing me,  and the word sublime popped into my head to describe the experience.

Something about the combination of a cool morning breeze (finally!) to signal fall’s approach, the peacefulness of the soft morning light, and the time just spent in nature with my beloved dog—in the middle of the work week—conveyed a deep appreciation for the beauty in my life. It nourished me in ways that are hard to explain, lifted the stress I’d been feeling about some experiences the day before, and will sustain me through the mundane details and to-do’s I need to take care of today.

What a gift! And, it all came about by simply following my inspiration for how to spend the early morning hour. Even with all of the deadlines and demands on your time, I bet there’s a way to carve out time to shift your perspective one morning, lunch break, or evening during the week.  What sublime experience or Aha! Moment will you cultivate in the next few days?

Technorati Tags:
experiences, Aha, sublime, Webster’s, inspiring, awe, routine, shift, perspecitve
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |