Saturn's Return

"Right now, and in every now-moment, you are either closing or opening. You are either stressfully..."

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:03:05 -0500

“Right now, and in every now-moment, you are either closing or opening. You are either stressfully waiting for something - more money, security, affection - or you are living from your deep heart, opening as the entire moment, and giving what you most deeply desire to give, without waiting.”

- David Deida

Live Your Life

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:02:07 -0500

Lean Into Fear — fear is an indicator that you’re on the right path
Talk Less, Do More — you are what you consistently do
Boldly Experiment — embrace uncertainty and realize what’s possible
F*ck Mediocrity — we don’t have to do things the way we’ve been told
Vulnerability is Power — have the courage to be authentic
Better self = Better world — to change the world, start with you

here all is well.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:11:18 -0500

here all is well.

nevver: la bibliothèque I want this.

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:23:37 -0500

nevver:

la bibliothèque

I want this.

Photo

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:23:06 -0500

Take away: Our happiness is based on just 10% of the world...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:20:00 -0500

Take away: Our happiness is based on just 10% of the world around us and 90% of how we perceive the world.

“We believe that we should work to be happy, but could that be backwards? In this fast-moving and entertaining talk from TEDxBloomington, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that actually happiness inspires productivity.”

Shawn Achor is the CEO of Good Think Inc., where he researches and teaches about positive psychology.

Action: Positive thinking can be instilled within 21 days. Shawn recommends:

1) Taking just 2 minutes/day for 21 days to write down 3 new things you’re grateful for

2) Think about 1 positive experience within the last 24 hours

3) Exercise

4) Meditate, forcing you to revisit these positive experiences/thoughts

5) Find ways to do random (“conscious”) acts of kindness such as an email praising or thanking someone in your support circle

Completed Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s Plant Based Nutrition...

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:01:15 -0500

Completed Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s Plant Based Nutrition Course!

6 Leadership Styles, And When You Should Use Them

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 18:09:27 -0500

6 Leadership Styles, And When You Should Use Them:

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

Taking Action - Letter to Al Gore RE: Food Production and Climate Change

Thu, 31 May 2012 18:04:03 -0500

Rather than continuing to complain, I’ve been inspired by by Plant Based Nutrition Certification class to take action and let someone with influence know whats really going on! Feel free to steal and send one of your own…

May 31, 2012

Honorable Al Gore

Chairman of The Climate Reality Project

2100 West End Avenue

Suite 620

Nashville, TN 37203

Dear Honorable Gore,

Thank you for bringing the issue of climate change to mainstream media with your “An Inconvenient Truth” and contributing to the awareness with your other sustainability books and groups. You have been instrumental to moving in a better direction for our planet Earth.

There are other inconvenient truths, however, that based on multiple studies (i.e. “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell and “The Food Revolution” by John Robbins), have shown to have an even a greater negative impact on our world - food production. While it may be politically unpopular to question the dairy and meat industries its important to inform people of their impact on our earth.

Health reasons set aside, it is more sustainable for our environment to move towards a whole foods plant-based diet. According to Dr. David Pimental, one acre of land is required to produce food for a year for a child, but only one-third of that if the child is vegan/vegetarian. Rather than ask people to drive expensive hybrids, we can ask them to eat more plants and less animals. A 2006 University of Chicago study found that a vegan diet is far more effective than driving a hybrid car in reducing our carbon footprint. The scientist who conducted the study stated that a Prius driver who ate a meat-based diet actually contributes more to global warming that a Hummer driver who eats a more vegan diet.

With fossil fuel for animal production being almost 11 times greater than plant production and livestock processing alone responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, a bigger share than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, buses, trains, ships and planes in the world combined this topic is worth looking at in order to better protect our world.

I think one of the first steps involves taking a look at what our government has chosen to subsidize and the what harmful farming practices they are allowing that impact, not only our land but our waters as well. In Sweden, they have been able to reduce pesticides by 68% without any reduction in crop yield. I see no reason why this country, who has put a man on the moon, could not do the same.

With your influence and credibility on the topic I am hopeful that you can help start this conversation and work with our country’s leaders to make some hard, but needed, changes. Please let me know how I can help.

Sincerely,

Sarah Wallace

"For most important things the timing always sucks. Waiting for a good time to quit your job? The..."

Sun, 27 May 2012 10:03:17 -0500

““For most important things the timing always sucks. Waiting for a good time to quit your job? The stars will never align and the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time. The universe doesn’t conspire against you, but it doesn’t go out of its way to line up all the pins either. Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you…If its important to you and you want to do it ‘eventually,’ just do it and correct course along the way.””

- Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Work Week

Start Something That Matters

Sun, 27 May 2012 10:00:02 -0500

Start Something That Matters:

Just finished reading! Great story with with lots of good resources for starting/improving your own business.

A Richer Life by Seeing the Glass Half Full

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:08:08 -0500

A Richer Life by Seeing the Glass Half Full:

“…optimism is not about being positive so much as it is about being motivated and persistent.”

Chicago street artist, CLS. This guy is good.

Wed, 23 May 2012 23:38:00 -0500

Chicago street artist, CLS. This guy is good.

Gary Vaynerchuk’s Business Success...

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:24 -0500

Gary Vaynerchuk’s Business Success Advice

http://addicted2success.com/success-advice/multi-millionaire-gary-vaynerchuk-shares-his-sketch-notes-for-success/

“…Give it a try. Whispered the heart.”

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:10:53 -0500

“…Give it a try. Whispered the heart.”

"a compassionate recognition of the need to meet someone where they are and move forward from there."

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:30:23 -0500

“a compassionate recognition of the need to meet someone where they are and move forward from there.”

- unknown student regarding effective communication

by Cara Kukuraitis (ckukuari.xanga.com)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:40:00 -0500

by Cara Kukuraitis (ckukuari.xanga.com)

Vulnerability: Get over it

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:35:00 -0500

“Because a deliberate life is a balanced life”. Blog by: Brene Brown via http://ckukurai.xanga.com.

(Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work. A brilliantly in touch and profound woman. her book- I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power)

Today I am wondering about the ability to feel connected… after all, it is neurobiologically how we are wired. So why is it that when you ask people about love they tell you about heartbreak? When you ask them about belonging they’ll tell you the most excruciating experiences of being excluded, and when you ask people about connection, the stories they tell you are about disconnection.

I think it stems from the fear and questioning of one’s self: is there something about me— that if other people know or see, will make me unworthy of connection? How do we engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to embrace our imperfections and to recognize that we are enough — that we are worthy of love, belonging and joy? Why does it seem that most people can’t stop themselves from spewing out negatives? ie: “I’m not this, I’m not that, not smart enough, not rich enough, not thin enough” It’s the underlying idea that I am curious about.

So how do you achieve this feeling of connection and value? And why are so many people lost in the dark? I believe that in order to feel connected, we have to let ourselves be seen. More importantly, we have to be vulnerable.

Lets start with those that have no trouble feeling connected. They are the ones that have a strong sense of worthiness and loving belonging. In contrast, there are those who struggle for it…aka those who are always wondering if they’re good enough. Brown points out that the variable separating those who have that sense of self and those who struggle with it are those who believe and know they are worthy of love and belonging. The hard part that keeps us feeling disconnected is our own fear that we are not worthy of connection.

So, what do the people who believe they are worthy of love and belonging have in common? Is it that they are simply and inherently whole-hearted people?

I believe that it is courage. To me, the definition of courage is heart; to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart. To have the courage to be imperfect, the compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others. Just think, how can we practice compassion with other people if we cant treat ourselves kindly?

Or, perhaps those individuals find this connection as a result of authenticity?

I say it is both! People who feel “connected” are willing to let go of who they think they should be, in order to be what they are. And more importantly, they fully embrace vulnerability. Because what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful! So, yes, being vulnerable is a necessity. But in doing so, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable nor excruciating. For instance: The willingness to say i love you first. The willingness to do something without guarantees. The willingness to invest in a relationship that may or may not work out.

This is fundamental. It is the core of shame and fear and worthiness but yet it is the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging and love. Vulnerability is a constant fight for some. a push and pull. a street fight, really. what are we doing? why do we struggle with it? are we alone in struggling with it?

I think we are all tempted to numb vulnerability. And the problem is that you cannot selectively numb emotion. You cannot say “here is the bad stuff… and I don’t want to feel these so I’m going to push that aside and keep moving.” because when we numb vulnerability we also numb joy, gratitude and happiness! It’s safe to say that we are basically the most in debt, obese, addicted and over medicated adult cohort in U.S. history. And as we attempt to numb vulnerability, we begin to feel miserable! So, we go looking for purpose and meaning again until we are once again faced with these same feelings of vulnerability. And what happens? Again, we look to numb this scary feeling. We have a couple beers and a banana nut muffin and so comes this dangerous cycle.

To continue on this path, so many people want to perfect. Just think, we take fat from our butts and put it in our cheeks. We even struggle to perfect our children, too. But be wary. Our job is not to say “look at her, she is perfect and it is my job as a parent to keep her perfect.” Instead, I believe it is ever more important to admit that you are imperfect and wired for struggle— but reaffirm and understand that you are WORTHY of love and belonging.

So, in the end, the key to connection is that we must let ourselves been seen. Deeply seen. Vulnerably seen. To love with our whole hearts, even though there’s no guarantee. To practice gratitude and joy in those moments of terror. When you find yourself wondering, can i love you this much?? Can i believe in this this passionately? Can i be this fierce about this?

Just to be able to stop. And instead of catastrophizng what MIGHT happen, instead say— i am grateful. Because to feel this vulnerable means I’m alive! To believe that we are enough. Because when we realize that we are enough, we stop screaming and start listening. We are kinder and gentler to the people around us and kinder and gentler to ourselves.

"“The world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is..."

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:54:35 -0500

“

“The world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is going.”

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”

“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”

”

- Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich”

"If you ain’t making waves, you ain’t kickin’ hard enough"

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:40:22 -0500

“If you ain’t making waves, you ain’t kickin’ hard enough”

- Unknown