More Baby Steps....

Let's talk more about baby stepping. In the last post I talked about baby steps vs. leaps and how both work in getting you to your goals.

I learned about visualization about twenty years ago, listening to a Jack Canfield tape, I believe. Then I learned about dream boards and setting intentions in personal growth courses. I would practice what I'd learned and sometimes I manifested what I wanted, and sometimes I didn't.

And then we all watched "The Secret." It was a wonderful reminder and triggered me to do additional research. I recognized that I needed to raise my vibration during visualization. Oh, and to feel good! Okay, a little more success.

My thirst for knowledge brought me through two manifesting programs in the last couple years that added neurological adjustment techniques, goal setting, and doing affirmations correctly. So, I got my meditations, my affirmations, my vision board, my story of my masterpiece of a life that I read over and over and over. I keep my vibration up, my brain linked, my picture perfect.....

I forgot the baby steps. I'm trying to get from where I am to where I want to be in one leap. Of course the perfect man for me is on my vision board - smiles, walking together, dancing, hugging, growing old together. But here's the kicker. I forgot to visualize "meeting someone", then "a date", then a "second date."

And there's my perfect body on the dream board - riding a bike, hiking, doing fancy yoga twists. I forgot to visualize buying a bike and putting the present body on it, or walking this present body around the block, or enrolling in a yoga class. My baby steps are missing.

Now, the baby steps are probably listed in the plans as things "to do." And they are still on the "to do" list because - I'm focused on the big picture and I forget to look at the list of things "to do."

Baby stepping in visualization is about being. It's about letting the Universe know what you want to experience now (like, a date!), and allowing that manifestation. If I'm looking off into the future, I'm going to miss that wink from across the room.

So today, I'm breaking it all down in my my visualization. I'm even picking just two or three manifests instead of all twenty-five "I've arrived" future items on my board. Letting the Universe know I'm ready and willing to meet the man, allowing the perfect bicycle to show up, and choosing to feel good instead of overwhelmed. Ah, what a great day!

Baby Step vs Leap

When my daughter (my constant teacher) decides she wants to change something, she usually takes baby steps to get there. One teenie action at a time. Now, for me, I'm the one standing back wondering why she doesn't Just Do It! Take the Leap! No, it's "baby steps, Mommy (she still calls me Mommy - she's 26), baby steps."

Recently I've stepped back to analyze this process versus the process that others choose, including myself. What prompted me was looking at the long list of things I wanted to change and accomplish and being overwhelmed with where to start. Baby Steps? Leap? Both?

It became clear to me that some things needed preparation (steps) before the leap. And some situations begged for a leap, then action in followup steps. For instance, you decide you want to sell your house. Now action must be taken to bring that manifestation to fruition - do you take baby steps or do you leap? If your neighbor and best friend lives next door, you can have her over for a glass of wine and ask her to bring over the appropriate documents along with a For Sale Sign out of her trunk. Leap. If not, it is best you use some discernment as you research and interview for an agent that is a match with you. Baby Step/Baby Step/Leap.

Or, you may take a look around and think that the house needs a lot of work before you can sell it. (read numerous baby steps here) Now, this is very workable as you hold the intention of selling in mind, but there is a danger. Focusing on the work instead of the intention, the goal.
If your intention is not clear, or you have a fear of succeeding, you could be taking baby steps indefinitely, going in circles, creating more and more Baby Steps to take to avoid taking that Leap!

There's really no right or wrong way to do this. It is all about what works best for you! Which way lights you up? Do you love to plan? Are you adding Baby Steps to avoid the Leap? Does the Leap thrill you, and you handle the steps later? Do what feels powerful.

What I know for sure, if it's too hard - I won't do it. That's when I practice Baby Steps. Unless, of course, I don't. That's when I take the Leap - just to get it done! If I need to learn before I jump in, Baby Steps. When I've taken all the Baby Steps I can, I'm at the edge, and I need a push - I ask for it.

As for my list, I've noted that there are some things on it that have been there for years. It's time I quit baby stepping and take the plunge - Just Do It! Here I go................

P.S. My daughter, Anna, just read this before I posted. She explained that, for her, it's like walking. She likes to make sure one foot is planted before taking the next step so she's remains - upright! Like, that step is established and secure, then moving on. And, "Mom," she said, "I have taken Leaps!" I said usually, honey, usually.

Unless - A Manifesting Mishap

How does one say “Yes” to possibilities, and still be impeccable with ones word? How does one manifest purposefully and powerfully, yet not get attached to the results? I don’t think I can answer all these questions today, but I’ll keep you posted as I work it out.

Today I want to look at one way we self-sabotage our manifestations, our intentions and dreams, by the thoughts we have upon declaration of those desires. The unconscious or subconscious thoughts that confuse the Universe about what we really want.

One conversation:

I’m going to Sedona in October with my women’s group.
(unless they all back out)
I don’t have the money yet, but I know it’s coming.
(unless it doesn’t, or I have to pay bills with it, or the car breaks down)
I’m going to hike to the vortexes in the Red Rocks.
(unless I break my leg, or get sick)
I’m going to stay in a wonderful timeshare resort.
(unless there are none available and I have to stay in a dump)

I call this the “unless” conversation that usually happens in the subconscious, but you may notice the thoughts coming up for you if you are aware and truly listening to yourself talk to yourself. This establishes the limitations even before they have an opportunity to show themselves from the unconscious part of you.

Another conversation:

I’m going to Sedona in October with my women’s group! I am so excited!
I have the money! Not in my bank account, but I know I have it! I’m so grateful!
I’m going to hike to the vortexes! I’m getting in shape now and I feel great!
I’m staying in a wonderful timeshare resort with a pool, Jacuzzi, kitchen, comfortable beds, located close to everything I want to see and experience! This is going to be an awesome trip – I feel like I’m there already!

This is a much more powerful conversation. In this conversation, “unless” thoughts may surface, but I recognize them as my own creation and let them go; release them to allow my intended creation to become a reality. And, very importantly, I maintain a vibration of feeling good, being excited, and having the feelings of already being there. In this high vibration I visualize what it is a say I want. Then I take action.

So I ask you to notice what you think when you go for it, whatever “It” is! Do you have thoughts that begin with Unless, If, As Long As? How do you feel when you have these thoughts? What do you do once you are aware of these thoughts and feelings? Let me know and we’ll pick up this conversation then. Namaste’

I Yelled, and Lived

I yelled at someone, and the earth did not crack open under my feet and swallow me up. I yelled, and lightning did not strike me dead from the heavens. I yelled, and no one got hurt, no one bled, no one got mad or declared revenge. I yelled, and I lived to tell you about it.



I don't yell. I rarely raise my voice. Well, except with my daughter but not so much now that she's grown. It's that indoctrinated thing about how a mom should be. Hard to break, even through enlightenment and knowledge that in most cases it is the ego wanting to manipulate the child into doing what the mother wants........whole other post.



In my younger (much younger) years, raising my voice was disrespectful, or so I was told. Projecting my voice would often be misinterpreted as hurtful and mean. I didn't understand it, but I did learned to control the tone, or keep my mouth shut. More often than not, I kept my mouth shut.



When I yelled and didn't die, I wasn't angry. I wanted to be heard. I had something to say, some new information that would change the direction of the current discussion, which was at the moment being conversed in raised voices. I was right, this time, and we all became more productive toward our goal, in a peaceful and loving manner.



So, when have you not yelled or raised your voice to be heard? Have you ever not raised your voice to say the one thing that could bring peace to the situation, because you believed that yelling or speaking loudly was not peaceful, loving, respectful, or may be detrimental to your current well-being - like being struck by lightning?



I yelled, and every day since my mind and my heart remind me that I yelled and lived to tell the story. This reminder nudges me to take a really good, deep look at this part of myself. And I wonder, where have I not yelled when yelling was exactly what was needed to be the catalyst toward peace?



And I now promise to raise a passionate voice, with love - sometimes called yelling.

Is It Me? Is It You? or Is It Memorex?

Last week I had the opportunity to experience an extreme energy in my body for one full day and half the next. My mind wanted to label it anxiety attack, not knowing what else to call it. Looking at all that was going on in my world and the lives of many close to me, I could gather evidence to support this theory. I thought "maybe I'm being gifted with anxiety so I can have empathy with them."

Later, I thought "or, maybe I've been gifted empathy, which is causing me to experience the anxiety of those around me", thinking empathy was something I may have been lacking.

I did not like this feeling. I did not make it right or wrong, good or bad, I just stayed with it, flowed with it, was fascinated by it. In the safe place that is my Women's Empowerment Group, I powerfully spoke what was on my mind via email. Around the house, I kept my mouth shut, afraid of what might come out of it.

The next day I checked in with Daniele Devoe, reader/healer at the Higher Self. I asked her which interpretation was correct? She said - neither one! Daniele said I was experiencing a shift, an energetic/vibrational shift.

So, when have you made your feelings all about you, or all about them, when actually it was just - what it was? This time, it wasn't me, and it wasn't them, it just was what it was.

February - Where have all the resolutions gone?

Typically, many resolutions have bit the dust, poofed into thin air, as if they never existed. But this is not true for us, is it? We know they are alive and just waiting for a little attention. Pick them up, dust them off and do a little review. Where are you in this intention? Maybe you made a little progress and forgot, or gave up - too hard.

Don't make it so hard! Baby-steps! Lay out a plan to help ensure that you can stick to it. If your dream, your intention, is big enough it is worth the journey. Don't let it go just because you became distracted or disapointed.

This is an excellent time to reflect: How many times have I attempted this and failed? Do I really want it? These questions will lead to more questions and give you the opportunity to dig a little deeper, uncover some old issues that need a good look, a touch, a thank you, and a toss out the door.

We often don't truly recognize the progress we've made in the shadow of what we didn't do. Congratulate yourself for these! Celebrate them!

For those of you who simply forgot what you wanted, may I suggest - Post Its!