Welcome to September! Geesh snuck up on me – how about you?

I have been steadily working on my list from the last post. Item #1 is completely checked off the list and the rest of them continue to be a work in progress. How about you – how are you doing on your list? Check in and let me know how you are doing.

In the meantime, here are some things to ponder for September.

Some questions to consider this month:

• What are you willing to do to expand into more of who you really are?
• What can you do each day to nuture your creative spirit?
• What does taking ownership of what is truly important to you look like, for you, day to day?

And one more wild card question – What are 3 things you will thoughtfully and consciously commit to this month (completing something, being something, creating something, starting something new and sticking with it, etc…)? Care to share with all?

Here are mine:

• I will consciously commit to cleansing my body this month.
• I will consciously commit to completing my vision “notebook” this month.
• I will consciously commit to creating a workshop, this month, to deliver in Santa Barbara in Oct.

Keep your light on!

J2

I’ve been playing with an interesting topic the last several days. I invite you to share your ideas and thoughts on the subject in addition to your “list.” The topic is this – if all that you have wished, hoped, dreamed, desired (you get the point) manifested right now – are you prepared for it?

So like the title here – are you ready to blast off in every area of your life? Think about it – what if success in all areas of your life hit – now…are you set up to handle it?

When you look around your life – what are the things that are distracting you or that you are tolerating? I’ve been having some fun putting my “preparing for blast off” list together.

Here are a few of mine so far:

1. Call the landscape company and have them come do some general maintenance and cleanup in my yard.

2. Go through my “albums” (yes those great big disks), cassette tapes (yes those too) and CD’s (yes I’ve progressed with the times) and jot down the names of songs I want to add to my new 80 gig iPod. I’ve decided in the deliciousness of blast-off the idea of having really good music at my fingertips adds to my enjoyment and well-being.

3. Is anyone else feeling the overwhelming urge to simplify? I’m experiencing it in my physical surroundings – I have so much “stuff.” I’ve been making mental notes lately of the things in my home that I absolutely love - the for-sure keeper stuff. Likewise I’m spotting other random stuff that is just well – unnecessary. My task around this is to go room by room and start making a list of the “random stuff” and ask myself who could really use this? I imagine there will be several answers to that question so my goal here is to get a list of places for donation or to sell the items and start making some calls and moving stuff out! BTW – did you know the first week of August is “National Simplify your Life week ? What does simplifying your life look like to you?

4. The next area is to spend some quality quiet time examining all the fun-cool stuff that is my life and make some clear directional choices. My intention is to dissolve any hesitation that remains. As a friend of mine said recently – “you are crossing the high wire Jane – you are confident in your ability to cross it – but from time to time you look down and see there is no net and then you hesitate.” So hesitations gotta go! Are you hesitating in your life? Are there things in your life that you need to get a handle on?

5. Clean up my language! By that I mean remove the word “help” from my vocabulary – period. It’s a tough one to let go of and at the same time absolutely necessary. Why you say? Well when someone is in the “business” of “helping” others – there is an energetic implication that the others are in some way broken or unable to help themselves. None of us are broken in any way from time to time we can all use a little assitance that’s all. Also when you use the term to “help” someone you become invested in the outcome and risk becoming energetically entangled. There is no need for any of us to give ours or take others energy. Either someone is willing or not willing to make the modifications necessary to upgrade their current situation. This subject came up recently in a conversation of describing what I do. So rather than me explaining that I help people blah-blah-blah the re-do on that sounds more like “I bring a unique perspective and offer direction on any topic.” Any topic Jane, really? Let’s just say that my wonderful coaching clients have invited me into all areas of their lives to provide direction. It rocks and we have great fun getting to the good stuff!

6. Did you know I also do intuitive type readings? Yeah – not many people know that either. So another one for the list is getting that service information out there (hummmm I kinda started that here! Cool!).

Enough about me and my growing list! What is on yours? Are you prepared for blast off? What’s on your list so you will be ready? By the way, the month of August is a GREAT time to prepare. Lots of great cosmic stuff to support your efforts. Get started now!

Keep your light on! High vibes!

J2

Wow are you picking up the vibe going around these days? The one where if something isn’t working – it is really NOT working! I am seeing this all over in people’s lives especially in the relationship area (but certainly not limited to relationships). I would be tempted to change the title of this post to – if it’s not flowing – it’s gone!

I thoroughly enjoyed Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth . The information he shared about the ego – what it looks like, how it works (predictably so), and what fuels it increased my awareness about the little entity – tenfold! As a result, my noticing of it in myself and in others makes for some fascinating study of human behavior (something I have had a passion and a talent for my entire life).

I am going to draw on some studies and add my own twist in this next area – so stay with me! I was introduced to the concept of Shadow and Light by my friend and teacher Charles Marshall – The Soul Mechanic. Simplistically speaking and greatly abbreviated, Shadow is that part of us that does things that don’t necessarily feel good – but we do them anyway. I would also add a strong dominating ego. These are some of my observational descriptions of ego: win at all costs attitude, a huge capacity to consistently not appreciate others, consistent engagement in destructive or addictive behavior patterns, being less that forthright in communication/information. The ego essentially is the alleged “protector” of looking good. It will turn any outcome that reflects negatively and call it a win – just to preserve an image. I find the study of the ego interesting because always, always, always the person with the gigantic ego has a belief that no one is as smart “at the game” as they are. They generally put themselves above others intellectually and generally become masters at manipulating others (who are vulnerable). They are usually very charming which gives them the confidence and rewards for continuing the behavior. But alas, my observations also have found these folks to be/feel very empty. Their relationships don’t have depth, their careers are just a game and a way to win and they don’t have the capacity to care for themselves in loving ways and therefore – others. You may or may not disagree with what I’ve written here – but it is my observation. You are free to make your own.

Now for Light – folks that operate from a place of Light tend to do things for themselves and others because it feels good. There is an absence of ego in doing things for others. Things are done because it is the “right thing to do” or some other similar reason. These folks are generally optimist and feel a kinship with like-minded others. When a person comes from a place of light they have a drive to be/feel/act more authentically, do meaningful work, raise thoughtful-aware kids, walk their talk and all that good groovy stuff.

We are all made up of both Shadow and Light and it is at different phases of our lives that you can see when one is more dominant than the other or when there is a balance between the two.

I get the sense that what is happening right now, energetically, is that those that have chosen a way of life that is predominately “light” and who are in relationships with those who have chosen to live a life that is predominately “shadow” are clashing right now. I am hearing about lots of breakups in relationships. And in all cases there is one person that operates from a high ego state and another that doesn’t. It’s also interesting to note that I see a waking up, if you will, by those “light” folks as to how they have supported their ego mates over the years. Some may call it enabling – or keeping the peace. A strong ego needs constant feeding and that means it needs lots of stroking from others and it generally solicits the much needed fuel from others – at every opportunity.

What those operating from a big ego base don’t realize is how completely transparent they are to others (again their inflated intellect believes they are concealing all their vulnerabilities without exception). At the same time, they would not be able to even “hear” anything contrary to what they believe to be true – so the charade continues. There is great sadness in the lives of those who operate from a predominately shadow/ego perspective.

I have to look at them with great compassion because it takes a lot to keep covering up the really good parts (and they are there – hidden deep within the shadow) and choosing to live in a manner that feels inauthentic.

We are going through a shift in consciousness at this time and all things shadow are being revealed for what they are – there is no hiding. As a result we are seeing relationships crumble and businesses deceptive practices exposed, just to name a couple.

If you find yourself going through some tough relationship times, don’t despair, you are not alone. You will come out stronger, healthier and a whole lot “lighter” as a result of it.

Keep your light on! Go with the Flow!

J2

Have you ever longed to be part of a transformational lifestyle process? How about one where the emphasis is on making over your eating, fitness and thought/behavior processes? Currently, I am contributing my coaching services as part of such a process. It’s a six-month makeover called the Biggest Winner Challenge and it kicked off for 4 lucky contestants in May. The team consists of 4 personal trainers and myself along with supporting nutritional and wellness support.

If you are interested in following the progress of our 4 contestants see both the website and magazine for updates.

Scottsdale Personal Trainers

Sweat Magazine

What transformational lifestyle changes would you like to make?

There is a lot of energy buzzing and consciousness shifting going on right. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to be part of the flow. Lots more on those subjects to come. Stay tuned.

Raison D’etre!

J2

Hi all – it feels like centuries have passed since my last blog entry!

Some quick catch up for you. The CoachCast call on May 6^th at Compass went fabo (click the CoachCast ink to have a listen). Had a great time and my friends Kris Knopp and Kim George were great interviewers! They are really up to some cool stuff at Compass.

I recently visited Santa Barbara and had a great time catching up with my sister Barbara and nieces Lily (7) and Emma (4). I also had an opportunity to meet a good friend of Barbara’s that is too much fun to keep a secret. She is an accomplished writer and has also added publishing to her list if talents and skills. She’s written a great book called The Parent Trip. Her name is Jenna McCarthy and she has that witty, clever writing style that I just adore. She also writes for the magazine Real Simple and others. I recommend you check out her site and buy her book!

I also have a couple questions for those of you who have read the original entry of Let’s Create in 2008 posted January 9, 2008. It seems to have international appeal and my questions are: what, if anything in that post, resonated with you and how have you taken that information and applied it’s relevancy to your own life? I’d love to hear from you – please post your comments to this (or the other) entry.

Now – let’s do a little mid-year check-in on how creating in 2008 is going. Did you create a LifePerk plan for yourself? To refresh, that’s where you choose focus and personal themes for yourself. Those also go hand in hand with setting up your personal environments to support you in the flow of life (vs. resistance) and the flow of that which is wanted. I’d like to hear from you – how are you doing and would love it if you share your themes!

Here’s a little update from me on my progress. Something I really enjoy doing, when I do it, is writing and yet…it’s been ages since I updated this blog. So I’ve been pondering the question lately: Why, then, do we not do what we enjoy, when we clearly enjoy doing it? I can trace the writing example directly to my focus theme of connection and my personal theme of spreading my wings. I feel so connected when I write and the words come pouring, out of me, onto the page. I also enjoy exploring, with you, some of the deeper, perhaps quirkier thoughts that run through my head on a regular basis. There are many things that can explain why we (I) don’t do things that are clearly enjoyable in nature – there are the usual suspects: been busy, traveling, working with clients, launching some new programs but if I believe that all those things keep me from doing what I so clearly enjoy – aren’t I really just trying to convince myself to believe my own “story?” And truly, what value does a “story” that is excuse ridden serve? I think it keeps us stuck and keeps us from giving ourselves permission to make time for things we enjoy. My challenge for all of you is to answer these questions: What is the story(s) you tell yourself and others? What purpose does it (or do they) serve? Does it (or do they) bring you enjoyment (flow) or create feelings that are not so enjoyable (resistance – cutting off the flow of energy)? Are you willing to stop telling that story and start living a new one? Do what resonates.

On another note, what is on your summer reading list? Would love to hear from you on what you are enjoying!

Until – next time! Be the change folks!

J2