Our 5 Senses Awaken us to a Richer Life – Are you Receiving?

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To enjoy our senses (taste, touch, hearing, seeing, smell), we need some quiet space. That space is the space inside of us. The clearer it is, the more we can understand the language of our senses. To have it be clear, we need to give ourselves time, time for quietness and to simply be. Our senses need our attention so we can enjoy the gifts that they so readily offer. And we tune into the information they give us on what is right for us in the moment. As we enter into relationship with our senses, our lives are uplifted, our energy restored, and our spirits healed.

When was the last time you smelled the freshness of a lemon, noticed the feeling of water running through your fingers and toes, allowed your tongue to revel in the taste of your favourite fruit (mango is one of mine!), listened to the simple sound of wind chimes, or let your eyes rest on the beauty and softness of a flower petal?

It is the resting in these moments that brings them alive. Something awakens in us so we may feel our connection to the beauty around. To connect with oneness, we must allow ourselves to feel instead of creating barriers. The acts of pausing and noticing enrich our path.

Whether there are tears or bliss or wonder, I find my senses transporting me to a different place. In that place I remember who I am. I delight in the moment and the gifts all around me. I rejoice in my abundance. My healing comes to take care of that which I may have lost or left behind in my busyness or in the twists and turns of life. If the tears come, I know they are cleansing ones, helping me see better, and reminding me to care deeply for life.

To become sensitive to my senses, I must enter their space gently. I must quiet myself to receive their gifts. I take a breath, pause, look or listen. With music, I allow the first few sounds to arrive, letting their vibrations wash through me, becoming one with the music. I move with love and care, allowing my movement to caress me.

I knowingly left this place for what has been quite a while, afraid of feeling, afraid of remembering that I had desired something which did not appear on that occasion, afraid of being in the murkiness. It felt too potent. And what if I fell apart and couldn’t be put back together?

I have been reminded, when we come across a long (or recently) forgotten pain, it’s ok, it’s simply waiting to be softly embraced and brought into wholeness with us.

It is time for me to dive down, to feel, to know, so I may be refreshed and stronger and willing to pursue and live my real dreams of a wildly beautiful life.

I know I must return to this place more often. It is my Eden, my Heaven. I must also remember that it needs space all around it to be felt, sensed, and experienced. It makes everything right. And from that place, I can step forward knowing that I am coming from Truth.

New to Nia? Free Class on April 7

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If I could have as many people as possible experience my Nia class, I would! The joy of our movement is a miraculous power and I love having people step into their own. It’s a visceral thing, making it a challenge to describe. And being visceral, the experience is totally personal, so I cannot know how it will show up for each person, just that it will when they enter with willingness.

As a fitness practice, Nia delivers. Having taught 3-5 times a week for many years, I benefitted on a physical level (keeping healthy, slim, youthful), on an emotional level (releasing or expressing my emotions), on a mental level (boy, did it unearth my creativity), and spiritually (giving me a weekly practice where I can show up as I am and simply open to the power of grace).

I have witnessed people attend one of the larger events I used to help organize and lead – where 60 people or more would show up – and even though they were new, they did not feel the self-consciousness that many dance classes create. Instead they felt the energy of their own presence, movement, strength, beauty, and much more.

I’ve taught Nia to women, men, young to old, in community/dance/fitness centres, and at corporate wellness events, and at various public events. I was slightly uncomfortable the first time I taught outdoors in a wide open public area (outside in Yaletown to be exact). I wondered how Nia’s power could be understood or felt if it was done in a way that I viewed as a form of entertainment rather than as a class. Of course, I needn’t have worried. I had people tell me how moved they were watching, while others couldn’t help but join in once the music began.

We human beings are made to move our bodies. Too many activities today create sedentary lives or ones lived on automatic. Nia helps you be here now and experience the wonder of that simple yet exhilarating feeling.

Free Class for New Students, Sun, Apr 7, 11-12:15, Scotiabank Dance Centre. Spring term begins the following week. 10 and 20 class passes will be available for purchase as will Nia CDs.

Are you Ready for Real Change?

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Real change is that which goes under the surface and essentially repatterns things in a fundamental way. Superficial change is sugarcoating and it covers the surface with something that looks attractive, but leaves the essence unchanged.

Superficial change may look like any of the following: dressing up in confident looking clothes yet still feeling insecure, doing repetitive fitness moves without your soul and emotions engaged, reading personal growth books and not taking action, succeeding at work without a real sense of fulfillment, or smiling when you feel numb. When life is busy, it’s easy to succumb to this posturing. Take a look and check in with yourself. Is there any part of your life where you may be doing this? It’s the kind of thing that can creep up when you thought you were doing your best! And it will feel empty.

I’ve given you a hint to one of the causes.  Busy-ness is a big culprit. When busy, the truth gets masked. Feelings of loneliness, fear, doubt, anxiety or depression get hidden under the surface rather than seen so they can help you take the steps you need.

The most powerful way to alter anything is to slow down so you can really see and feel it. Real change means going to the core even when it ain’t pretty. This may not be easy by yourself, especially if you’ve let ourself be blinded by rationalizing things that don’t feel quite right.

So what leads to fulfilled heart? Let’s look at what that looks and feels like first in a simple and powerful exercise.

Think back to a time when you had it. What was going on?  Usually we feel totally engaged in life. It could be great relationships, meaningful work, a purpose bigger than ourselves, or laughter arising from the simple act of living life. Before you read further, take yourself to this time or place through your imagination and let the feelings sink in.

Ok, now bring those feelings into the present moment. Let them live in your body. How does that feel? Can you sense your eyes sparkling? Can you feel your heart beating?  What is going on?  There is always a physical sensation. Now let that feeling stay a while. Take it into your day and you will be more alert to anything that takes you away from it and you will be more alert to that which nourishes it. This is how you will begin making decisions to support real change.

Your heart is most fulfilled when you can let joy live inside of you no matter what is going on outside. It means allowing yourself to feel, not only happiness but all emotions. It means allowing yourself to know the truth and being ready to do what needs to be done with it. It means not waiting in hopes that things get better, but making decisions that  align with your vision. This may mean taking action or it may mean reaching a truth within and confidently sitting with it.

Real change is the moment that you begin making decisions from a place of joy and choosing to make it your default setting. It may require a significant decluttering of things or thoughts that don’t work. (This is one place you can start on the outside by cleaning out your drawers, closets, and shelves. I’ve been doing that and it has been amazing, creating space for the new.)

Once you’ve slowed down, cleared some space, realized that you are ready for real change, then what? In my experience, real change is created by taking action and getting help. If you can do it by yourself, you’ll find your jets fired up and action growing through momentum.  Wonderful!!

But if you find yourself feeling lost or unclear on what to do next, then you’re going to need support. Most of us fall into this category. Fortunately, there are so many ways to get support these days. So many people have gone through what we may think is only our challenge and many of them are happy to be our guides. When we ask for help from those that are willing to give it, we are both blessed and gifted.

I am a firm believer in joining a course, enlisting in a program, or hiring an expert. It can take you from only producing superficial results to a well-earned leap. It can also reduce the time required so you can spend it doing what you really want.

A big reason most people stop from reaching out for professional support is money. Money is energy though, and if it’s only focused on paying your monthly expenses, that’s where it’ll remain.  If you use it to support the bigger changes you want, then it’s being invested wisely. Once you begin treating money for what it is, it begins to work for you. If you’re not sure how to do this, find an expert who’s good at it.

You’ll notice that real change brings out aliveness, desire, a wild peace, and laughter. It transmutes energy into results. Real change gives hope to everyone around you. It is the beacon that many lost souls look toward when things feel impossible.

Is it time for your real change? What can you do next to say “Yes”?

I offer inspired coaching programs. Having worked with several hundred people throughout my career, my skill is in being able to see the bigger you from an inspired (coming from spirit) place. I offer insights that remove your limited vision and help you walk deep into your heart where the real and powerful you resides. If this is your time, let’s get started.

More Nature’s Stillness Photos and a Conversation

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False Creek, Vancouver, Canada

False Creek, Vancouver, Canada

Underlying the adventures of life is the soul’s journey. Nature can bring us back to this vital key that is able to open the door to hear our soul’s desires.

We know nature comes from somewhere or something that is not human. We have seen its power and how that power comes from the invisible. At times, it arrives gradually like spring buds coming to life and other times it comes through the vast energy of a hurricane. In these moments, we somehow return to ourselves and the realization that there is something beyond us that we must listen to and honour. Personally, feeling small in relation to this invisible power is what helps me let go and be in wonder, knowing that there is so much beyond what I think I know.

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I recently received a recording of a conversation with Neale Donald Walsch, author of “Conversations with God”. It is an invitation to a course he will be leading online. You can listen to the discussion here. I thought some of my readers may find it valuable.

Mount Seymour, Vancouver

Mount Seymour, Vancouver

 

Nature’s Stillness Soothes the Soul

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I’ve been needing nature’s gift of stillness lately. It soothes my soul when I get caught in busyness, lost in thinking, or mired in meaningless frustrations. So, it was a gift to walk along the seawall last weekend. Initially disappointed that the sun had disappeared, I noticed how the fog rolled in to create a different backdrop to a familiar scene.

The fog brought with it a sense of mystery, quietness, and protection. It imbued the moment with the experience of being somewhere else, on a trip far away. The lights of the surrounding city could not be seen and my eye could only travel so far in the mist.

The shift in the atmosphere felt comforting, a reminder that something seen so many times could appear so different and offer a new beauty and peace.

And isn’t that how it is with life? Looking at it from a particular angle, everything can change. We can become the winners in our stories. We can see our bravery, hope, compassion and caring. We can admire our humanity and the steps we take in the experience of life. We can create a fairytale or a comical movie. We can also explore the darkness, get caught in detours or dead-ends, surprise ourselves or take a ride on an emotional roller coaster. Each path provides something.  

By returning to our soul’s natural vantage point, we begin to see the bigger picture and learn to let go to trust.

My walk reminded me of nature’s gifts and how I must go in search of them when I feel too lost in things that don’t really matter to find my centre, my well-being, my truth once again.

Funny how a foggy vista became a portal to clarity.

What Are You Not Wearing and Why?

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Oscar de la Renta (photo credit: imaxtree)

Do you have one or more items in your wardrobe that was bought with the intention to take you from an old comfort zone into something new? Maybe it’s a never before worn colour, something more beautiful or sexy than you’d normally choose, or even a piece that oozes confidence? While you purchased these with the excitement of wearing them and bringing into your life the qualities they possess, they somehow grew far too comfortable hanging in your closet and remained there.

If this story rings true for you, you’re certainly not the first! Over time, I’ve learned to do less of this and buy things that I will wear today, not in some distant future when a hypothetical event arrives requiring exactly that outfit that I drooled over but rarely got a chance to wear.

At the same time, however, I’ve realized that choosing such an item in the first place signified more than I was willing to realize.

I was at a client’s place the other day doing a wardrobe cleanse.  Let’s call her Suzy. After half the session was over, Suzy pulled out a couple of beautiful items that she was dying to wear, but hadn’t found an occasion for yet. We talked about what was stopping her and what they represented. Her eyes quickly welled up with tears. I had seen the real her. I knew the pieces were a reflection of what she wants to bring out, but didn’t quite know how to do yet.

What had stopped her? There was the practical side of matching the items with pieces that she still had to purchase. This was an easy task for me and I gave Suzy some ideas, which she loved, and one she’s already acted upon. Then there was the deeper emotional dream that she feared she couldn’t quite live out. This is where my career coaching came in handy as we talked about her goals and ambitions and whether she was going for them. Wanting to update her wardrobe at this time was her way of saying that she now wanted to be ready. We talked about specific ideas on how to do that so she could step more firmly into her dreams.

I also encouraged Suzy to get comfortable wearing the pieces at home on occasion until they begin to feel more natural. (Personally, I’ve created events so I could wear outfits that otherwise may not have seen the light of day!) Sometimes it takes time to get comfortable in our skin, especially when it’s one we may naturally hide from others, or more often, the parts that we hide from our own selves.

While our culture promotes being confident, beautiful, and successful, it can also feel fake to dress that way unless we nurture and develop these qualities within. That’s why so many shy away from fashion – it brings up things we don’t always want to feel, the parts we feel we lack or want to hide. That is also why fashion has power. It exposes what you are comfortable expressing and what you are not comfortable expressing. So my thought is, why not make clothing a bridge to becoming more of who you are?

If you’re holding onto things and not wearing them – ask yourself, what do they represent? What am I afraid to show? What am I willing to now express? How can I get more comfortable with what may feel like a “new me”? Clothes can just be clothes, or they can be a window to your soul as you step outside everyday having consciously chosen how to show up in to the outside world.

As a personal stylist with a deep interest is in personal growth, these are the things that I help you answer so you can feel and look attractive while being totally comfortable in your skin.

Entering 2013

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Here we are in a new year!  It feels good. I continue to learn so much that I am excited to put it into practice in 2013. My biggest lesson from last year was that I can create what I put my mind to. And putting my mind to things is essentially about practicing enough to create a natural habit. And once it’s a habit, it’s a real part of my world.

Difficult you say?  Well, when it’s worth it, it doesn’t even matter. However, it can also be much easier than we make it. What fuels any change is desire.  Once the desire burns hot enough, it has the power to change us – even when we feel that change seems “impossible”.  Sometimes we require things to get “bad enough” so that we want something different; other times openness to an inspiration, a word of a stranger, or noticing of a synchronicity is enough to shift us 180 degrees in a split second.

I love working with inspiration as much as possible which is why I need a fair amount of quiet time in my world – to listen and hear. It’s also a trait that I take into all work I do with others. Knowing how to listen to myself allows me to hear others even when they don’t hear themselves. It’s a gift all of us have the power to give each other and one I consider my duty as a part of my business.

We can also call upon the power of Love to change us; i.e. to drop what gets in the way of us having what we really want, or to create the momentum to feel our own ability rise.

What does it mean to call upon love? It could be spiritual, a sincere prayer followed by active faith. It could be the love of people in our life who make us want to become better and give us the confidence to do what we need. It could be the love of the goal or joy in the doing.  Or it could be the sheer desire to prove your love to yourself.  It doesn’t matter, because love is the most powerful force – we often just have to find out out where we left it and bring it up again. So, here’s to love leading our way through 2013.

In the coming weeks and months of this brand new year, I am committed to living more of who I am and invite you to do the same. A benefit of years passing is the strength and confidence that can come with them. Fully feel your desire and use that energy to change what you need. It is up to you. And do remember to laugh, a lot, along the way!

 

 

Dream, Dream, Dream

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‘Tis the season to dream.

Having the space and time to dream flights of fancy makes this time of year auspicious.  Do children dream of sugar plums and snow, gifts and peace, happiness and family? Yes they do.  All the things that send them to a happier place that they one day may experience. They know the power of believing.

I ate a sugar plum once under the light of the brightest moon…thanks to a magical person one close-to-Christmas day three years ago. To say it was sweet would be an understatement, but it was delicious knowing that I was eating a real sugar plum.

What more could I conjure up?

Today I viewed a video about bringing dreams to life through fashion. It told me how important it is to go there and I will be sure to spend some time revelling in ideas, images, and bathing myself in the beauty of creative expression. An absolute flight of fancy where the arts dance together.

Dream, dream, dream of all that will delight you. Visit that place and spend some time there soaking it in. Use words, music, art, photos, dance…whatever creative act will transport you as they do into that place that is possible, first in your dreams, and then somehow in moments and events in your life.

Even if it’s simply feeling the possibility.

This gift has the power to light your 2013, so begin now.

 

 

Skills Found Behind the Scenes

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There are so many more books, coaches, and workshops to help you find your bliss or passion compared to when I began my own journey as I ventured from university to the so-called real world.

One of the key steps is always looking at what interests you or what you seem to do whether someone pays you or not. As you begin this treasure hunt, you arrive at skills that remained invisible because they came so easily, or because you’d spent so much time perfecting them that you didn’t realize you’d become good at them.

This has come to my awareness again lately. I’ve said before that I never expected or planned to use my communication skills (writing, public speaking) as a significant part of my career path,  yet somehow they’ve come to the forefront on many an occasion.  I feel like one of those actors who says they are shy but find they light up on stage.  Likewise, writing and public speaking have given me opportunities to have a voice when I was more used to being introverted with my opinions and ideas.

It is a joy to dig through what you do on a regular basis and discover that a skill taken for granted is something you’ve come to enjoy immensely. This is the finding of a thing that’s been there all along, therefore bringing with it a sense of ease, truth, and delight.

Once the skill is seen and owned, it can be taken into a new hobby, career path, or way of life. The choice is yours.

My interest in clothing began very young, but was something I didn’t discuss. On some level, I was afraid it would be seen as shallow (compared to my own perception of it reflecting joy, dignity, beauty, pleasure, authentic expression).  Years upon years of this quiet “behind the scenes study” and awareness gave me a skill that I finally brought into my business in 2009. And the more I provide personal styling, the more I realize how much I’ve absorbed over the years and now have to offer clients. It is a joy to give what feels so natural while being of value. It has become a passion in practice.

It can take time to own who we really are and the gifts that we have been given, usually from a young age. Take a look, notice the bread crumbs along the way in the form of natural talents and skills that brought you to where you are today. And then, open your mind to see what you could do with them…if you so chose.

 

Silence: A signal of process

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I’ve been wanting to write for weeks and instead have been rather silent. It’s a mix of having too much to say and not knowing where to begin, feeling like it’ll just be a jumble if the words do come out. So I thought I’d begin anyway…

Being away and immersed in a whole different life for 5 weeks (you can check out my 35daysinParis blog) has left me somewhat speechless it seems. Attempting to share the experience with dear friends has brought up a level of frustration that makes me uncomfortable. I want to share, but like writing this now, where do I begin and how do I put it into words that will be understood? You see, style/fashion/textiles/design are subjects that fascinate me at a rather minute level (i.e. learning that satin is the result of a weave, watching my favourite fashion journalist walk by) and everything in me lights up as I learn and talk about it. In a way, it almost feels too deeply personal to share. How strange is that? And I’m afraid I’ll either bore or shock people with my gleeful excitement of things they have never thought of and likely don’t care about.

Perhaps I’m just uncomfortable showing my possible nerdy preoccupations. They’ve been a rather private matter for most of my life you see. Not intentionally, just that I had other things I was doing and I hadn’t planned to purse these, at least not officially.  I know I must find a place or people to discuss and explore all this with. Is this the place?  Hmmm, I don’t think so. So this is part of why I’ve been silent.

Studying fashion in Paris also raised the question of “what now”? What do I “do” with what I learned and experienced (not that I have to do anything)? The busyness of being back engulfed me to an extent, and so I haven’t been able to sit and mull over these questions as I would love. I am running on faith that the answers will reveal themselves at the precise moment that is needed, i.e. exactly when I’m ready for them. It really feels like a vault waiting to be opened.

So, this post is really just touching base and writing to say that I haven’t forgotten my blog. My silence is a signal that I’m processing, even if I feel like I’m not doing that. Things are percolating in a pre-verbal state I believe, a bit like a foggy dream before it crystallizes into a clear picture.

Thanks for checking in :)