Surrender and Control: “It Is What It Is”
Published on 27 May 2010 at 11:20 am.
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Filed under Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
Someone cuts you off while you’re driving, your computer goes down, you have a conflict with a friend, a client fails to hire you, your cash flow is tight, your commitments and intentions for the day go awry…. and you kick into high gear with your thoughts and feelings going in all directions until you feel pretty bad, right? Exhausting, isn’t it? Dramas!!!
If you can relate to getting caught up in that mind trap (and most of us can!) you might not know much energy and inner peace the emotional turmoil costs you. Tons, actually.
The only one who really suffers is you.
Whatever you expect, anticipate, imagine and become attached to may actually manifest, which may be more of what you don’t want. Have you heard the phrases, “Life happens when you’ve made other plans, or If you want to give God a laugh, make a plan”, often hooks us into those pesky mind traps.
Reactions do not change the outcome of what has already occurred. Your thoughts and feelings make no difference in changing what has already happened. You have the power to affect what happens next as long as you are able to surrender and accept the present moment instead of struggling against it.
Because…..It is what it is.
Not good or bad, right or wrong. It just is.
Surrendering invites you to be present and being fully accepting of what is, in the moment. By releasing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual struggles, you experience the freedom to respond to life, rather than living life through reaction.
That’s been an area of focus for me for the past few months - surrendering without resistance especially when the present moment sucks.
In your daily life, do you surrender to your experiences or attempt to control the outcome of what happens, or doesn’t happen?
The need to be in control is a sure sign of fear operating in your life…..
What needs to occur or change before you let go? I don’t mean becoming a doormat, complacent to your experiences and sacrificing your well-being: I do mean being open and flexible to the unpredictability of life and flowing with them with a sense of curiosity and adventure!
Surrender allows us to attract new possibilities and invites the Universe to shower us with blessings and gifts. Surrender connects us with the Divine and defuses fear.
So, the next time things don’t go your way, and you become aware of mounting stress and irritability, take several deep breaths and exhale slowly. Remind yourself, “It is what it is” and ask, “What is mine to do?”
Practice accepting the present moment because the only moment you have is NOW. Let go of any hopes and expectations that are unrealistic. Save your energy for things that are more pleasurable and productive.
St Theresa’s PrayerMay today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
Here’s my invitation:
For one week, surrender (as often as you can) to as many situations that arise.
Notice:
- How often do you truly surrender?
- What are your obstacles?
- How is fear influencing your ability to surrender?
- How does courageous, faith, and trust influence your ability to surrender?
- What shifts do you need to make in order to let go? (emotionally, physically, psychologically, spiritually)
- What are you noticing when you let go of resisting or attempting to redirect, shift or control? What happens? Are you feeling more relaxed, less stressed, clearer, happier, lighter?
Here’s a bigger invitation!
Pick an issue in your life that you have been struggling with, holding on to, trying to change, feeling angry about - get the picture?
What do you need to surrender in order to move forward towards resolution?
What do you need to let go of to expand your experience?
What gifts and blessings might you be overlooking that is in service to your growth and evolution? For example, can you find one thing good about situation that might create a different perspective?
Remember, you create your misery by how you choose to view your life. You are the Creator of your reality moment to moment. Choose wisely in how you show up either in reaction or surrender. The choices you make today create your future.
PS - Read my article on Shifting From A Victim of Circumstances To The Hero Of Your Life Story
Have a great day 
Blessings,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2010/05/27/surrender-and-control-it-is-what-it-is/trackback/
Taking Personal Time Doesn’t Mean Slacking Off
Published on 25 May 2010 at 11:19 am.
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Filed under Courage Series, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
I haven’t been blogging a lot this month because I haven’t felt like it. Last month I launched my new Courage program to powerfull support people in learning how to transform fear into faith, trust, and courage. Ya know how they say that you teach what you most need to learn? Boy, am I taking my relationship to faith, trust , and courage to a new level as I am walking this program personally!
In fact, for the last several months of creating this program, I have felt like I have been walking through a fire initiation in my own healing journey. I use the reference of a fire initiation to mean a cleansing period of letting go. Whenever we raise our vibrations and reach into a higher consciousness, there is a releasing of ways of being and doing to make space for the newness that is asking to emerge.
For the last two months I have been shedding a ton of old beliefs about money, fears, health… working with some healers including my buddy Ann Taylor, my mastermind group, and close friends. It’s been very intense.
In this space I’ve been in, I’ve been letting balls drop and pulling waaay back in my usual busy day of doing. In fact, I have felt like a slacker. Yeah, but I have soooo many things to attend to! has been my argument to resist slowing down and not feeling guilty.
There have been times when I have focused only on the day’s priorities and invested most of my time and energy on introspection – meditating on my deck, listening to CDs and DVD’s, doing some writing, taking walks in nature and resting because I have been feeling exhausted.
I have had to remind myself that when you are making internal transformational shifts, you are moving a lot of energy and you need to create space for integration. And I have been committed to shifting from ego and fear-based action to inspired action that feels spiritually guided so I am dancing with the Universe rather than charting my own path and walking alone.
It has felt really weird to be doing so much less than I am used to without feeling guilty. And yet, I can sense something really big happening.
I am reminded by a friend who says that the Universe is working 95% on your behalf to bring you what you desire and that is for your best and highest good. Your job is to show up 100% for your 5% and when you are in harmony vibrationally with your desires, meaning you are a perfect vibrational match, then things flow quickly and easily.
She also says that the most important relationship to cultivate is the one you have with God/Source/ The Divine and your soul. Why? Because the ESSENCE of who you really are is SOURCE energy and when you are connected with God, you walk with faith, trust and courage knowing that no matter what happens in your life, you are ok and all is well.
Today, I have a nudge to do a little work and take the rest of the day to be with Source and I am not feeling guilty. I know that the time invested in my transformation and healing will help me to show up to the “what’s next” that is calling me forward with greater faith, trust , and courage. And I also know that we are all connected in consciousness.
What I do for me today, I do for you. My step is your step as yours is mine.
I’ve written that these are incredible times on the planet. Despite all the upheaval you are witnessing and personally experiencing in your life, it is important to remember that sometimes things must fall apart before things come together and to come together is a new, fresh way that is of greater service to your life journey and path as well as for the world.
And I remind you that when we get scared the tendency to constrict, fight back, push through or withdraw are some of the ways we react to uncertainty and change. Doing battle is the old way of handling change. Surrendering to “what is” and releasing resistance and judgments is the pathway through every life situation, no matter what that situation is.
So, if you are feeling a DIVINE nudge or pull to step back, decompress, play….and it is in the middle of your “work day” and you can let a few balls drop, do it. Surrender. Do it for your SELF and do it for the world. Give yourself permission to say YES to your heart. These times of self-reflection and renewal are all part of the journey of life to support you in showing up to be your best .
I sure hope this has been making sense
Have a great day!
Blessings,
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Things Aren’t Always What They Appear To Be
Published on 20 May 2010 at 7:43 am.
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Filed under Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
By Christine Kloser
Things Aren’t Always What They Appear To Be
Have you ever been 100% certain that a situation really was exactly what you thought it was; only to find out later you were completely wrong? The truth is things aren’t always what they appear to be. Often when you’re totally convinced that a certain thing is true, you end up finding out it’s not true at all.
I recently met an incredible singer/songwriter, Tiamo, at an event with Christian Mickelson and his song “Universe” speaks directly to this experience. Here are the opening lyrics to his song…
“I had a conversation with the Universe late last night.
It told me that the things I think are wrong always turn out right.
Cause blessings often come to parties uninvited in disguise.
So when you get the door, it’s always best to have an open mind.
Because I believe that everything has Divine reasoning,
and I believe that everything has deeper meaning.”
~Tiamo
The truth is that everything does have a deeper meaning. Underneath every supposed challenge or struggle, something deeper is happening.
I’m sure if you take a moment right now to think about a challenging time in your life, you can look beyond the challenge to see the gifts from that experience. Hindsight is always 20/20.
So, are there situations appearing in your life or your business right now that appear to be “true” for you, and are causing you to contract, rather than expand? Perhaps you’re struggling with financial, emotional, relationship or health challenges and you are only seeing what they are at the surface.
I invite you to look deeper at these issues and look for the gift(s) they are here to bring….
- What if the financial challenge you’re facing is here to teach you about and bring you abundance
- What if the personal issue you’re facing is here to help you to believe in and love yourself?
- What if the relationship issue you’re facing is showing up to mirror back to you the places you need to heal?
- What if the health issue you’re facing is surfacing for you to learn to take care of yourself and receive love and support in your life?
- What if…
The only way I’ve managed to gracefully move through the challenges I’ve faced (and continue to face) is my commitment to looking beneath apparent circumstances to find the deeper meaning. This is what I hope for you as you journey through your life and business.
You’re always going to be thrown curve balls, especially as an entrepreneur. Your soul signed up for this journey! The truth underneath everything is that you are never given more than you can handle; the Universe is indeed conspiring for your highest good, always… including right now!
So, let go of your grip on what appears to be true in your life, and dig underneath it to see what’s really true. Chances are you will discover a gift that’s been waiting for you. It’s time to unwrap that gift and receive it!
NOTE: If you want to listen to Tiamo’s song “Universe” or view the lyrics, just go to http://www.tiamomusic.com/music.html.
© 2010 Christine Kloser
Christine Kloser is the award-winning author of The Freedom Formula and Conscious Entrepreneurs. She is widely recognized as an expert in the field of conscious entrepreneurship having spoken alongside such luminaries as Neale Donald Walsch, Dr. Joe Vitale, Arielle Ford, James Twyman and Marianne Williamson. Christine works with entrepreneurs to embrace a new paradigm of success… helping them experience true freedom and fulfillment in their life and their business. Get a F R E E chapter of her award-winning book, The Freedom Formula at www.thefreedomformula.com/freechapter.
The Difference Between Fear And Caution
Published on 2 May 2010 at 10:48 am.
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Filed under Attraction, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
With the work I do with clients on transforming fear, I am often asked about caution and fear that might result in procrastination and getting stuck.
Being cautious can be self-serving when it is supporting you in feeling safe and protected so that you do not put yourself in harm’s way or to make informed, smart decisions that will bring you desired outcomes. Caution can calm impulsiveness that is rooted in fear rather than Divine inspiration that usually results in regrets.
Take your time to gather information, tune into your inner guidance and wisdom and listen to the whispers of your soul for direction to take courageous and inspired action.
If you feel desperate or pressured to say yes, you are listening to your fear. When you hear the voice of spirit, there is peace and calm.
When you feel fear, your attention is focused on the future or remembering things from your past that felt uncomfortable and scary. What becomes important is to bring your attention and energy back into the present moment for perspective and realize that what happened in the past is not a guarantee that your future must repeat. You are not the same person you were then and hopefully, you have grown and learned from past experiences to be able to bring that wisdom forward to create new life experiences that are more aligned with your dreams and desires.
More and more we are all being called to take leaps of faith into unknown and uncertain territory. It is normal that fears arise when there is a lack of feeling safe and secure in knowing with certainty that you will be ok.
Your ego communicates it’s fear of survival through the thoughts and imaginings that begin to rumble in your mind, - all in an effort to keep you safe from harm. The problem is that what you might be resisting is the longing of your soul to express itself in your life. And believing in the illusions of your mind will hold you back from taking the steps forward to live the life you were born to
Consider times in the past when you might have been in a similar place and you might not have known how you would get through challenging or fearfull circumstances; past experiences when you have shifted from fear to faith, when you have been courageous championing yourself through a scary, difficult or seemingly impossible situation. Your personal history can be calming and comforting to the fears and imaginings of your ego to give you strength, confidence and courage.
Try this exercise:
Describe/recall times in your life when you felt afraid or faced something that felt insurmountable and you took that leap of courage and moved through that experience.
- How did you do that? What happened?
- What gave you the courage to go the distance to get to the other side?
- What did you learn about yourself from that experience?
- Where were the gifts and blessings your received? (There always are!)
- What helped you in the past that is available to you now that you can tap into over and over?
Your personal history is proof to your ego that can be calming and comforting to give you strength, confidence and courage.
Remember that wherever you place the most attention and emotional intensity is what you will attract back into your life. When you focus on all that is possible, happy, positive and right with your world without stuffing your feelings, you will attract more of the things you want most.
The Universe is a loving and friendly place. The more you learn to dance with it rather than to fight and resist against LIFE, the more you will experience ease, flow and joy!
Below is a recent message I receive in my email during the week from neale Donald Walsch
How timely is this with all the upheaval you might be feeling!
On this day of your life I believe God wants you to know…..that caution is natural, but fear is not. Do not give in to fear, yet do not abandon caution.
It is a balancing act. Caution is what causes you to look both ways before crossing the street. Fear is what keeps you frozen on the curb forever.
You know the difference.
You can feel it.
If you’re “stuck” right now, you’re probably into fear.
Get out of there. You’ve already looked both ways. Now cross the street, for heaven sake. The cars have long since gone.
The coast is clear.
Your only obstacle now is your own mind.
Have a great week
Blessings,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2010/05/02/the-difference-between-fear-and-caution/trackback/
The Power of Staying The Course
Published on 22 Apr 2010 at 11:49 am.
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Filed under Courage Series, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
“When we come to the edge of all the light we have
And must take a step into the darkness of the unknown
We must believe one of two things
Either we will find something firm to stand on
Or, we will be taught to fly.”
by Patrick Overton Copyright © 1975 The Leaning Tree,
I wrote this article as a monthly contributor to Alex Blackwell’s blog, The Bridgemaker, which is a fabulous blog. I’ve added some additional thoughts to the original article post which I hope you enjoy.
The Power of Staying The Course
Have you ever felt stretched to the limit? You believe that you cannot handle one more thing. And if something more happens that causes additional stress, pain, and anxiety…. you worry you might not be able to keep it together and you will fall apart. And if there are others depending on you to be the “strong one” the pressure to hold things together becomes even more burdensome.
You might be facing relationship challenges, struggling to grow your business, dealing with family issues, money worries, debts, divorce, or an illness. You feel tired as if you have been in a battle and you just want a break, a time out, a space for things to be easier to catch your breath, at least for a while so that you can regain your strength for what’s next.
Some part of you is certain you will crash and burn while another part of you stands strong with a knowing that the place you are in is rich with growth opportunities with long term benefits if you will just stay the course. This part whispers, “Stay committed to your life path. Keep going and trust that all will be well.”
You take a deep breath, renew your commitment, and take that next critical step to continue walking in faith. The yearning to fulfill your life purpose can give you strength and courage to overcome your fears
and doubts.
I’m reminded of that scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when he must take a step forward to get to the other side of a ravine and there is no bridge to cross. Once he takes that first step, a plank appears beneath his feet so he can cross safely. That’s how the Universe responds to faith when we surrender the resistance – it shows up. That movie clip is one of the memories I recall when I am feeling fear rising.
I’ve had several meltdowns in the last two months. I’ve been on my knees in prayer, alternating between sobbing and anger. I’ve been stepping out in my life and business in bigger ways and there have been financial, health, and time challenges that have created so much stress and stretched me to my limits. In this emotionally charged space I’ve travelled though despair, hatred, desperation, frustration, depression, discouragement, anger, fear, to hopefulness, optimism, positive expectation, enthusiasm, happiness, passion, joy, and love. I’m feeling a bit wiped out from this internal battle I’ve been waging inside to navigate through the messiness of this LIFE period.
I recall a dear friend asking me, “What if everything you are experiencing that is causing you pain and hardship was designed to bring you closer to your Divinity?”
That question resonated deeply in my heart to bring me peace and courage. I believe that every person and situation in our life is in service to our personal growth and soul evolution. And I want all the gifts, blessings, and miracles that have my name on it!
When we come to the end of our tolerance with life situations and must take that step into a greater unknown, our mind and ego goes into a panic. Our mind believes if we take that leap and push farther outside of the safety of our comfort zone, that it’s survival is at risk. If we continue, our ego fears it will die and then what? What will happen to us? Our thoughts race with panic and perceived danger. Our self-talk paints a bleak picture of worse case scenarios with the finesse and skill of a seasoned litigator seeking to woo us back to it’s version of safety.
My friend Brent says many people quit five minutes before the miracle happens. They come to a point where things feel too hard, too painfull, and too uncomfortable. So they back off and return to their comfort zone.
How about you?
- What are you totally committed to?
- Where is your breaking/braking point?
- Do you stop too soon and give up?
- Do you stay too long when it’s time to let go?
- What are you holding on to that is time to surrender?
- What do you want so badly you are willing to do whatever it takes?
- What fuels your courage and faith to stay the course no matter what?
Your past is a reflection of the choices you have already made. Each minute, each hour, and each day you make decisions that lay the groundwork for your future. Going the distance takes renewed commitment, trust, and faith that what we feel called to be or do is sanctioned by the Universe. It’s like walking through fire and knowing that you won’t get burned.
I havewritten that we are living in incredible times. It is no longer life as usual or business as usual. The world seems to be falling apart in so many ways which creates the space for new ways of be-ing and do-ing to emerge. In the chaos there is a Divine plan unfoldingwhich takes courage, faith, and trust to go the distance and ride the wave of change.
You might feel like a stranger in a strange land learning a new language. You might even feel a deep inner calm that is confirming that your life is aligning with Divine Will and Flow all is in perfection for what is next.
It is in perfection.
Right now in this moment
Let go of the problems and the evidence in your external world that binds you to worry and fear. That is a signal that you have disconnected from your Divinity and an invitation to go within for guidance and direction. For every problem, there is a spiritual solution. Remember to engage in the dance with the Universe rather than to fight against it.
Be open to all the ways LIFE responds to your call for help and say, “Thank you”. Every prayer is always answered for your best and highest good.
Stay the course….all will be well.
Blessings,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2010/04/22/the-power-of-staying-the-course/trackback/
