The Power of Words: Creating Your own Book of Happy

The ability to read is truly magical. It makes it possible to communicate with one another and it opens us up to new ideas and fresh perspectives. My son has just taken a big jump in his ability to read and last time we went to San Francisco he spent the whole car ride happily reading out loud all the signs we passed. It was as if the places we passed were now disclosing secrets he had never imagined before. Sure, you can see it’s a gas station, but did you know that you get a free cup of coffee if you fill up there? A plain building on a corner sparks new interest when you can read the words “Youth Center” over the door and begin to wonder about the lives of the kids who hang out there. Words open your mind to new worlds and shift your energy. So why not put word power to work for you instead of against you?

What will your book of happy look like?

In this post I’m going to share how to make a simple journal with short, sweet entries that even the busiest people have time to do. Once you have a few entries done you will have created a powerful tool for combating worry, concern, and fatigue. Just reading what you’ve come up with will leave you with a much more positive mindset.

Start by getting a small notebook to keep your entries in. Some people, (like me), are really picky about the design and color of the notebook, but don’t let the lack of a perfect notebook stop you from getting started. I also encourage you to pick a friend or friends to do this with and read your answers out loud to each other. Speaking the words aloud gives them more power and it’s always inspiring to hear what other people have come up with. As a coach I find that people who have done this exercise really enjoy the process of sharing their answers even if they dread it beforehand.

You can answer more than one of these questions at a time or work at a slower pace. Of course, you can also add other positive entries to your journal, but here are some basic ideas to get you started:

1) What makes your heart sing? Try to come up with a minimum of 5 things.

2) What are a few of your favorite quotes, poems or song lyrics?

3) Write the names of each of the people in your life you see the most often. Include family, friends, and co-workers. Then write three things you appreciate about each of them.

4) Write down one thing you’ve accomplished that you’re proud of.

5)  Write down at least one thing you’re grateful for this week.

6) What’s the best vacation spot you’ve been to and why did you love it? Or where would you like to visit?

7) What are three things you appreciate about yourself? (This one might feel hard, but it’s important to acknowledge yourself.)

8 ) What is your favorite activity with your best friend, partner, or children?

9) What is one thing you do for yourself?

Pick up your journal anytime and instantly reconnect with the good things in your life!

[This article was originally published in the March issue of the Nurturer's News parenting newsletter.]

In-Genius News: Cultivating Personal Power

The topic for September is Cultivating Personal Power. This month we’re all about doing whatever it takes to support yourself so you can show up for others. The 5 Minute Meditation will invite you to look at a situation where you can create boundaries to thrive and the feature article will show you where to start hunting for your personal power when it feels like, in the words of the muppet Rolf the dog,your get up and go has got up and went. Plus I’m offering an introductory deal on Spirit Coaching® sessions. It’s a really, really good deal and I might not offer it again, so check it out!

Happy Reading,

Adee

TO READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

Express Yourself: And Make the World a Richer Place

I talked to two people this week who want to share their vision and improve the world by reaching more people with their message, but are afraid of technological glitches and making mistakes. I can relate to that fear! It takes courage to get up in front of others and share your ideas. Some mistakes are inevitable, but here are three secrets successful teachers, coaches, and trainers use to get past this fear:

1)      They have an innate sense of their mission and vision and know that anything they offer is not a one-shot thing. They know it’s one of many chances to articulate their message and share it with others.

2)      They are able to roll with the punches. They correct mistakes quickly without beating themselves up.

Get your message across clearly.

3)      Finally, they know one of the most important things you can ever learn when teaching or dealing with the public: If you’re ok with a situation then others will be ok with it.

Remember, when you are living your purpose the world becomes a richer and more dynamic place.

Altar Your Life

There is a story in my dad’s family that a relative of his returned from the Second World War with a pocket full of European jewels that he had managed to “liberate.” The soldier then gave the gems to his sister, who was a nun. The pilfered treasure wound up adorning an image of the Virgin Mary in her convent. This story is retold with a tinge of disgust by my dad and the other non-religious members of the family for whom donating the jewels to the church was pretty much the equivalent of throwing them out the window of a speeding car. I suspect that the donation stemmed from the man’s gratitude at finding himself returning home after the war in one piece. He understood the value of altars for making visible the link between Spirit and our physical reality.

I was raised without a spiritual tradition and was well into my twenties before I realized how vital it was for me to have a connection to something larger than myself. Having a special place set aside to remind you of this connection is an essential part of homes in many cultures. My own altar space continues to evolve and I just made a very special addition to it. Here are some thought on how to “altar” your life.

Something old, something new

This quilt is the newest part of my altar. I won it as part of a contest at the Awesome Women Hub on Facebook (check it out if you haven’t been there yet). It’s made by Leslie Fisher and infused with Reiki and embellished with healing stones. How gorgeous is that? Here is her description of her work: “HealThy Self™ custom-made quilts based on a medicine wheel design, are reiki-charged and embellished with healing crystals to balance the chakras and facilitate your own body’s ability to heal it’s self.” You can fine Leslie Fisher’s work at www.usefulartonline.com and on Facebook (Go check that FB gallery out! It’s fantastic.)

Heal Thyself Quilt

Speaking of jewels, I just had an amazing thing happen. When we moved into our current house a few months ago it took me a while to set up my altar. At first I had other, more essential things to unpack. Then I noticed that it was bothering me not to have my beautiful things gathered as a reminder to bring more love into my home and my life. I saw it was time to remove some items that were no longer a good fit for the altar and to include new ones like the collage and life purpose statement I came up with during Spirit Coach training.

Jewels on the altar

I found a bag of semi-precious stones my husband had bought as a souvenir in India. They were just sitting in a drawer and it occurred to me that I could sprinkle them over the altar. Guess what? I balked at the idea. It seemed too extravagant to have those stones sitting out even though they aren’t really worth much money. It really took me a while to feel like spreading these stones over the altar was ok. It’s amazing where we find opportunities to transcend our limits!

So, how will you altar your life?

Sone & stones

Spirit Nourishing Summer Explorations With Your Family

Summer fun

“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started… and know the place for the first time.”  -T.S. Eliot

Summer is here and that means many families will be heading off on adventures big and small. Whether you’re going around the world or sticking close to home family trips provide special opportunities to broaden your outlook and bring you closer together. I know traveling with young children isn’t all fun and games, but I’m going to share some ideas for making the experience more pleasurable, engaging, and rewarding for everyone involved. Summer explorations can indeed nourish your spirits!

Make your itinerary as kid-friendly as possible. My husband and I were just talking about how many stops we had to make on the way up to his mother’s place in Tahoe when our son was little. He didn’t do very well on long car trips and everyone was happier when we took frequent breaks. We tried to stop in interesting places along the way and take these extra rest stops as a chance to get to know towns we weren’t familiar with. I think I’ve made a pit stop at every possible place between here and there over the years! We’ve also chosen to take longer but more scenic kid-friendly routes on car trips when possible. For shorter getaways, a great strategy is to pick destinations that appeal to kids. Taking short, fun trips when they’re little can help instill a love of travel in your children.

Explore with a purpose. Chronicle Books recently posted an article on their blog by San Francisco-based artist Josie Iselin on getting your kids interested in collecting natural objects. In it, she advises people to get their children interested in finding treasures on trips to the beach. She does remind us to respect the environment and not to remove things from parks where it is prohibited, but she suggests that you can get around those restrictions by bringing a journal to draw the special items or a camera to take pictures. I know we often come home from trips with a special rock or stick. These can also be used for art projects later for preschool aged kids. On a trip to Monterey we ended up leaving the famous aquarium when it became too crowded and found a small beach where we could explore tide pools and collect tiny shells and beach glass. Our impromptu beach adventure was just as much of a highlight of the trip as the time spent in the aquarium. My son still talks about that afternoon.

Traveling with kids lets us see familiar places with fresh eyes. One particularly fun thing about being a parent is getting to show your kids places that you frequented as a child. While they’re not guaranteed to love the same things you did, it’s a great feeling to be able to share something that was special to you. I’ve also found it rewarding to visit places as a mom I used to go to when I was single. I loved to walk around Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park when I first moved to the SF Bay Area. In those days I walked with friends for exercise and we tended to be concerned with our pace and conversation and less aware of the beautiful surroundings. Each time I’ve brought my child there he has found something new and unexpected. As a toddler he was fascinated by the turtles. Now that he’s older he loves finding new trails to explore. We never take the same route around the lake twice.

Find the places that nourish your spirit. One of our favorite day trips is to a kid-friendly Redwood park. Many of the trails are wide, flat, and kid-friendly. Walking under the ancient towering redwood trees kids tend to get more centered and adult stress melts away. I know other people feel that way about going to the ocean. But you don’t have to go out in nature to find places that give you a boost. A break at a special café or fun store can also replenish your energy.  Sometimes we make the trip to the next town over just to get a change of scenery and a little walk. My family has also found relaxing coffee shops near both sets of grandparents that we can visit to regroup and get some quiet time when visiting family.

So wherever your travels take you this summer, know that you can make the whole process smoother by planning ahead and making a few adjustments to your itinerary and your expectations.

This article was written for the Nurturer’s News, a parenting newsletter for families with young children.

Something to think about…

A few years ago we visited a wildlife sanctuary in Virginia. They were caring for a couple of bald eagles who had been shot and could no longer fly. The docent told us that a pair of wild eagles would fly over from their nest on the riverbank to sit in the tree next to the captive pair’s aviary for hours at a time.

Don’t Forget to Breathe

I’m taking swimming lessons for the first time since I was little. When a friend who has been swimming her whole life offered to teach my son I suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to use the lessons for myself. I really wanted to try something new to pull me out of my comfort zone. Learning to swim with good technique seemed like just the thing I was looking for. I’ll admit that I immediately had a bit of remorse after scheduling my first session. I’m comfortable in the water, but for all I knew I was going to look terrible while learning the finer points of freestyle!

Then, when I got in the car to go to my first lesson, my finger hit the scan button on the radio by accident. The unfamiliar station it landed on was playing a song with the lyrics “swim, swim, swim, swim out until you can’t see the shore.” I didn’t catch the name of the song or artist because the station was engulfed in static moments later. I did, however, take that message to heart. I know a good sign when I hear it! I knew I needed to immerse myself in fluidity and to let someone who is knowledgeable and kind help me erase the self-imposed boundaries of my previous shoreline.

Now I’m several sessions into this process and I’m remembering how intimidating it can be to ask for help. I’m freshly aware of how humbling to explore activities you’re not comfortable with. I’m also letting myself be coached instead of being the one in charge . I have to admit, the payoffs for trying something new have been large. I’ve found that I love the feel of the water and I love exploring how to move though it in new and better ways. Probably the single most important thing I’ve gotten from these lessons is an awareness of my desire to hold my breath until everything is perfect. My teacher pointed out that I can go farther more comfortably by allowing myself to take in all the air I need. She continues to remind me of the need to breathe often and is helping me integrate my breaths with the rhythm of my stokes. It turns out that there is an unlimited supply of  air available, even close to the choppy surface of the water. And don’t many if us have to relearn this lesson daily? We hold our breath and dive into the situations we’re presented with, forgetting that there is an inexhaustible amount of air around us all the time. We don’t remember that it’s there even in the midst of the most turbulent interaction. So don’t be afraid to do something new and shake things up. Let yourself be guided into uncharted waters. Experience what it’s like to try, to learn, to trust and never, ever forget to breathe

In-Genius News for May: “Clear Communication”

5 Minute Meditation: Sing, Sing a Song

Are you a car singer? I’ll admit that I belt out tunes on the freeway from time to time. One night a few weeks ago I was driving to an energy work and intuitive development class I assist with on Thursdays. I’d had a long day and didn’t quite feel ready to show up for the students I’d be interacting with. I popped a tape into the car stereo and on came “Dancing Queen” by Abba. I sang my little heart out in the car that night and by the time I got to my destination I noticed that I was not only more relaxed, but that my voice was actually lower, richer, and more free.

Next time you have an important call to make, have to go to a party, or speak in front of a group try this trick. Pick something fun to sing along with. Don’t judge yourself on your performance and don’t choose anything too emotional or serious. If you don’t know the words just hum along. And in the immortal words of the Sesame Street classic “Don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear.”

READ MORE OF THIS NEWSLETTER  HERE

In-Genius Life News: Choose Wisely

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra

Each month as I sit down to write my newsletter I do an intuitive reading with the intention to pick the topic that will be the most timely, inspiring, and entertaining to the people who will be reading it. This month a topic just wasn’t coming. With April 1 fast approaching, I started to worry until I came across this quote by Karen Kaiser Clark: “Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” We’re bombarded by so many choices in our lives, but so few of them are actually essential to our well being.

This month I want to inspire you to daydream about how you would choose to benefit others if given the chance with a 5 Minute Meditation that’s more of a 5 Minute Daydream, and the featured article will help get you started on the road to achieving those big dreams by practicing the art of choosing wisely. By the way, in this month’s article I’m sharing some very key information about the most important little choice s you make everyday. I even underlined it for your e-news browsing convenience.

Happy Reading,
Adee

Read April’s News HERE

Celebrate Spring – Let Your Creativity Bloom

‘Just living is not enough,’ said the butterfly.
‘One must have sunshine, freedom,
and a little flower.’ –Hans Christian Andersen

For most people, connecting with nature has an immediate and positive effect. It reduces stress and lifts our spirits. Spring brings a little

Crazy Tree

something extra in the way of inspiration. All around us plants are sending out new growth and gardeners are getting to work with renewed vigor. Even if you spend more time in your car or around your neighborhood than out on the trail, it’s impossible not to notice the flowers blooming and the tender light green leaves on the trees. In honor of the season here is a fun art project that kids love, but is fun for all ages!

Crazy Tree Art Project: Start with a large piece of paper. Glue on some real seeds or draw them. Next begin to imagine what those seeds could become. If you’re doing this with kids ask them what type of plant they think the seeds will grow into. The sillier the answers the better! Next, draw the outline of a tree.  Gather materials to make into leaves and flowers. The sky’s the limit.You can use

Reaching Hand Tree by David, age 7

natural materials, fabric scraps, paper clips, markers, magazine pictures, small toys, buttons, and more. Just let it flow. Many spiritual traditions use the metaphor of the sprouting seed to describe personal growth and development. The simple act of envisioning the transformation of seeds into plants can help you get in touch with your intuition and create new avenues of possibility for yourself. Try using plain objects as well as beautiful ones for this project. Celebrate the coming together of diverse elements to create something extraordinary and invite that energy into your life.