It's okay to SEE YOURSELF in new ways. You are free to frow

 Good mawning! (somewhere ;) )

I am not the wholeness of what I have done... otherwise they couldn't get to be who they are now or will become.

Imagine... you have done a thing or thought something of yourself and you have stuck WITH "it"... periodt!

And "it" is happy as a clam! It's existence persists while you are being latched on to who you were in the past.

Even though your very being desires to change, you believe that if the change can't happen while you remain the same, then it's being difficult.

What if you just unlatched yourself? Be weaned from the milk and habits of your "youth". Flowing 'with' your growth and change may seem scary, but it is actually less work or thought, filled with adventure and discovery, and where you are designed to be.

It's okay to grow. To dance. To find out what it feels like to leave "it" sitting at a table in the corner while you excuse yourself and "try on" this experience of dancing for yourself.

You are okay and safe in the living of life that is calling. It's okay to love and show love in new ways. It's okay to create in new ways. It's okay to SEE YOURSELF in new ways.

Be.

And from "doing" that step, you will have life to enjoy... And maybe even more fully.

#ThankyouGod #gratitude #Divinegifts #letitgo #letitgrow #tistheseason #growthmindset #fixedmindset #mindsetmatters #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #relationships #biggerpicture #ofgreatValue #lifetothefull #Sawubona #LoveFirst #raisingmen

Have robins in your life that will sing your melody back to you with encouragement

 Good mawning!

A robin perched outside our kitchen window and began to sing. I tried to whistle back to the bird in a similar song and got it totally wrong LOL. My son cringed (the music guy) and laughed at me while shaking his head. I sounded NOTHING like the robin ( I can usually do a decent bird song) and the melody was totally off. And after a long pause, the robin chimed back in….matching the melody I had whistled. WOW! I shared my amazement to the bird and thanked it for its encouragement and connection. And then again! It did the same melody back to me as though prompting me to follow suit. More than 3 times…while I just continued to speak back with my “regular” speech. Usually I am up for the challenge of mimicking the melody of a bird singing and whistling it back…but not this time You see, I was already in shutdown…from continuing on with my window of connection and creation. A reflex I found myself in recently that cut in on my creative mode. It was a moment that inspired a big pivot. But at least I kept the conversation going with the robin and the robin continued to sing back to me in response. It was a beautiful moment and reminded me of a very important check in… Are you surrounded by celebrators or scoffers? Are you being built up or shut down? As I am stepping into a new phase and energy of vision creation, I know that the circle around me this time will be more aligned to the vision I am creating. Every “success” I have sought had those around me or in my circle of influence present due to their ability to support the vision that was coming into form. I encourage you to have robins in your life that will sing your melody back to you with encouragement…to keep going and to keep trying. To continue to explore and connect and make and create… To sing with those who are eager to celebrate your song. Not like the “scratching-ears” thing, but as a call to grow and stretch yourself to new edges of what you’ve seen as possible and be in the joy, delight, wonder, and connection of it all. There is such love and living in the process of life…if we allow it to be. #ThankyouGod #lifetothefull #encouragement #biggerpicture #ofgreatValue

Let’s talk about perfect

 Let’s talk about perfect

Definition: having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

We’re done!

You ARE already! For the moment that you are in now and the life you are living now AND for who you will become from the place you stand in now, you are perfect.

What if you allowed yourself to question…?

How do I ALREADY have all the required or desirable elements?
How do I ALREADY have all the required or desirable qualities?
How do I already have ALL the required or desirable characteristics?

How are things as good as they can possibly be?

This prompts for me more questions…

For what? What is the main objective? WHO holds the main objective? What is the plan or intention that is operating?

And… how could I possibly add anything additional to the moment that I am in now before it passes?

You see, as I look at this definition (I haven't referred to my old crusty dictionary that I found in the shed yet LOL) and contemplate, I know that my contemplation of it is perfect in this moment.

It’s currently my quiet time, where I listen to and study out God’s word and get into conversations (podcasts, videos, reels, etc.) and this word stood out to me in what they were sharing.

I then opened up a bible resource, and looked up scriptures with the word, “perfect”. I saw many that spoke of God’s Way and Word being perfect and then the phrase came to my head (no more can be added and it serves a great purpose).

I then referred to the dictionary to see what they had to say about the word perfect.  And upon seeing that it is” …as good as it is possible to be”, I found myself washed over with peace and connection. It rested on me as a dove… it reminded me of the zen philosophy of Enso (part of my core “toolbox”), and in that space I felt grounded, centered,  and supported.

You see, this week I felt the weight of not having met a timeline I had been working toward. Even the idea of moving the needle forward to allow for more time, just didn’t seem to “fit”. I haven’t given up, but I do know that, years ago when I “struggled”(?) with perfectionism, this would have tore me up inside. It would have started a wave of critical self-talk, using phrases that were whipped against me for years from others that were in my life. I took on that harmful language as my own, proving them “right” over and over again. One or two phrases still haunt me out loud. I can kinda hear one right now… and then the voice of advocacy comes in with compassion and grace and reminds me… “...things are …as good as it is possible to be”.

WOW right?? Look how that stepped in and made Grace my companion. <3 

So this goes back to some of my original questions… “What is the plan or intention behind this “perfection”?

Well, I think it depends on how people relate to the idea of “perfection” and ultimately the relationship they create with it.

For me, my relationship with “perfection” NOW is one of grace, compassion, and celebration. It’s one that is connected to a bigger picture. And that bigger picture has me “...as good as it is possible to be” moment to moment, choice by choice. If I believe that I am divinely supported and celebrated to be my better and best self each day, wouldn’t I continue to take steps to follow through with some sort of action (again another toolbox zen philosophy, kaizen, chimes in here) each day so that I can partake in the witnessing of what is being “observed” at some higher viewpoint over my life?

I remember the exact moment that I was released from the perfectionism “prison” I found myself in…

I was shoveling snow. We lived in our westend condo. Our neighbours had a rough night (they lived a rough life…) And it was first thing in the morning. He was out for a smoke and I was playing with the phrase “practice makes perfect”. He spoke up and said, “Why are you shovelling now? You know it’s just going to get covered in snow again in a few hours.” And I replied, “Perfection is in the practicing.” BOOM! The door to the prison cell flung open and I realized that it’s the practice of LIVING that holds “our” perfection. And that it is unique to each and every one of us. My prayer for having compassion for humanity was answered in that moment. Or at least in a tangible way that I could move forward and apply into my life.

It’s in THIS space that I recognize that we are both enough as we are right now AND in the full permission to pursue “more” and “better” and “best” and “excellence” and mastery in our lives going forward. It’s by design…and I think that “design” is pretty “perfect”. ;) 

The scripture Phil 4:8 is one of my favourites, “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. “

Alrighty, time to perfectly continue with my morning routine and the rest of my day. What a “perfect” quiet time this was ;) 

As diamonds are formed. Perspective on the pressures of life

 As diamonds are formed

Photo by Doz Gabrial on Unsplash

I had this amazing experience a few days ago.

I reached a point of completion on a project that has taken a bit of “push” and persistence to complete.

I equated the process to childbirth in a post I wrote for a group before the completion point. Many “contractions” that came in waves (trust me, that’s it for the details LOL). And if I didn’t know that I was “pregnant” with a thing, then I would assume that there was something wrong with me or the situation that I was in. I would want to get out of the pain and far away from the situation as quickly and as far as possible.

But from experience, I realized that feeling and familiar “pressure” that was upon me….to get it OUT and let it “breathe” and live life. Let this “creation” that wants to be born take in air and continue to grow in its own way, with proper nurturing and care.

For those that create programs and products, you know that there is already a version 2 coming after version 1 is launched. 

So the project in its infancy was born, but I noticed a continuation of the pressure and disruptions…

And then it dawned on me… why are these things coming in increasing measure? Why is it, as I progress in my journey and growth, are there now more of these pressures being added onto me LOL? 

In a space where one problem is solved and it’s solution applied and embraced, a new level of “problems” arise. It just opens up a new door of opportunity…for different problems to be met with the new solutions that you can provide.

As you grow more and more into the “answer” for someone else’s need, you will experience the nudge to continue to show up with the gift that YOU are. You being revealed as  a radiant and shiny diamond doesn’t happen without some pressure.

However, this realization or pondering, as it were, also made me value even more the importance of being supported in our journeys.

We can’t do this journey alone. It has always been intended for this life we are living to be shared with the presence and support of others.

I am surrounded by a community. Not just those in my neighbourhood, but also those of like-mindedness in multiple areas of my life. I also have coaches and mentors who support me. I am working on building a “team” of supports in business… At every level of my life, I am NOT alone in my growth and progress.

And neither should you be.

Seek out support. Turn to those in your life that are currently supporting you and thank them with your appreciation.

Give your whole-hearted awareness to their contributions that help you to keep going each day.

I hope this pondering blesses you in some way. And if you feel compelled to share or reach out, please do.

#thankyouGod #lifetothefull #oneanotherlove #radiant #underpressure #refinement #greaterstill #weare #ubuntu #Divineradiance