Inspiration Lives Here

Do you ever wonder where inspiration lives?  I’ve spent the last few weeks searching for it, running away from it and being shrouded in moments of joy and sadness. I don’t wake up every morning jumping from my bed on a quest to be inspired and to provide inspiration to others, but throughout the course of a day that’s just what happens.

I received a lovely message from a new friend who thanked me for sharing my experiences (you know who you are and I am grateful that you found me). She helped me understand that although I may feel alone on this journey, people are watching what I am doing and being inspired. It’s really a weird thing sometimes. I do what I do because I am moved towards it or I am avoiding a consequence.

I often think about if my actions will have a negative impact on people’s perception of me, my family or my business, but I don’t stop to wonder if they will inspire someone. I’m working to create original content that will inspire people to make positive changes in their lives and the lives of those in their surrounding communities. I guess I’m now understanding that inspiration starts with the air I breathe, with the actions I take or avoid every day.

This includes the food choices I make, the way my home is maintained, the positivity or negativity I spew on my social media sites. I know I’m responsible for the energy I carry around with me (thanks, Oprah) but I guess I didn’t consider how far-reaching it can be. When I am truly being 100% honest, and not limiting myself based on fear, I can tell that I am a powerful woman who is a force to be reckoned with. I have not even begun to access the ridiculous gifts I have within me.

I find it scary to admit that. I used to think that might come off as arrogance, but since I have not been prepared to own my gifts and make the most out of them, it’s hardly even recognized. I’ve coached friends that the world is waiting for them to step up and share their voices. Encouraged them to realize the blessings they are in an often weary world. As I go into a few days where I will need to step up and talk about myself, my business and my vision for my future, I offer myself that same coaching.

I get to speak up passionately about who I am, what I can do and what I have to offer this world. I get to understand that there are people waiting to hear my message and desperately seeking what I am selling. I don’t need to beg, borrow or steal. My greatness is unique and priceless. What I get to do is to refine my approach so I can line up with the abundant forces of the Universe, share my blessings far and wide, make a positive impact and be handsomely rewarded – financially, spiritually and emotionally.

Guess, what? You get to do all those things to. Why not join me?

Passion – Bursting at the Seams

Have you ever felt like you were about to burst at your seams?  I have this feeling often. It’s overwhelming and it’s usually in response to inspirational stimuli. If I had to describe the sensation, it might be like trying to hold a lit firecracker in the palm of your hands – squeezing tightly so no smoke, sparks or explosive elements could get out. It’s not a firecracker, it is passion. Passion and inspiration.

I know that I am incredibly blessed to be in place where I have access to my passion. It hasn’t always been that way. I don’t think I felt this at all when I was working in the corporate sector. I know I felt this all the time when I was on set working on the independent film No Boundaries. This is how I know I’m doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

The trouble? Making the shift from being impoverished to a financially self-sufficient artist. I do believe in the words of many spiritual teachers like, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, who speak of living in an abundant universe. One that makes abundance available to each and every one of us. To some it may seem too good to be true. Not to me. I don’t doubt that my company will be hugely successful and that I will get my chance to have a substantial acting career, all of which will provide me with a great deal of wealth.

If I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed each day and put the time and effort in. I work each day, not just for my own success, but for that of every person who has ever believed in me, given me a word of encouragement, a moment of their time, provided feedback and especially for the amazing people who have worked on our projects because they believed in our vision. When you have people lifting you up towards success, there is an obligation to do well for everyone involved.

I probably spend more days feeling like a shrinking violet than an invincible tigress, but once that tigress is on the prowl…watch out! I woke up with a fire in my belly and a desire to go out and kick major tail! I wish I could bottle this feeling because I know it won’t last. It is one of the universal truths of my life. This too shall pass. My job is to make sure I do enough to make a huge and lasting impact while on top of this peak.

Your Dog Won’t Meow, So Stop Waiting.

I had a conversation with a friend who was bemoaning her parent’s flaws. This is a conversation we have often. So much so that she says, “I know, I know. They’re not going to change.”  That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. If we just pay attention people will tell us exactly who they are and how they are going to operate in this world, regardless of your wishes. People can change, but they often won’t.  It’s like asking your dog to meow. The crime is when we waste our energy waiting on them to change and even worse, griping about why they won’t.

I caught myself doing it a few minutes ago. It is pointless to waste time, brain cells and energy wondering why a person won’t do what you would do or what you want them to do. The best we can do is accept that they are who they are, and love them or let them go (my preference is to love them). It can be incredibly challenging to accept, especially when you have a vested interest. When it’s your family, spouse, parent of your child, best friend or someone who could positively impact your life but doesn’t, it becomes personal.

The problem with getting caught up in the “why not” and “how could they” is that we miss what they are bringing to the table.  We may not be tuned into the blessing they are providing.  I might sit as judge and jury and decide that you are not doing enough to satisfy other’s needs, or more likely, my own needs. Well, I guess the question is, who am I to make that determination? I guess it goes back to the famous quote about he who has no sin casting the first stone.

I am full of sin, wrongs, flaws (whatever you want to call it) so how can I judge someone else’s actions. It’s oh so tempting. Of course, I do get caught up in judging others. It’s something I’m working on. Instead of judging someone else as unfit, incompetent or lacking, it is my responsibility to look inward and see where I need improvement. It will take the rest of my life to make me a better person, which means I’ll have no time to fix or change anyone else.

A Perfect World

Sometimes my friends ask how they can find themselves or become more positive.  When that happens, I end up asking them what they would do if they had a magic pill. This pill, once taken, would allow them to wake up to a perfect world. Not a really nice or really good world, but a perfect world. The kind of world where you have no debt and never will, all of your family and friends are taken care of, you are passionate about your life, you jump out of bed thrilled to start tearing up the day, as a matter of fact you don’t even want to go to bed because life is just too perfect.

Every time I have done this, the response is the same. They start telling me stuff that would make their lives a little bit better. We don’t seem to be hardwired to think about having a perfect life. Maybe that’s because it’s not practical or maybe it’s because deep down inside we don’t believe we can have what we want. I’ll admit, it is hard to get started with this exercise. When I first contemplated it I did the same thing as my friends.

I now contemplate this question often. It allows me to have a vision for my life. According to The Law of Attraction, what you focus on is what you attract. If that’s the case I want to channel all the goodness and abundance that I can. My perfect world looks like one where there is world peace, an end to hunger and homelessness. A world where children are safe from violence, where all people are safe from violence and where we all are equal . Yeah…I know, I know…that’s Utopia. What’s wrong with that?

My perfect world also includes a beautiful home for my family (one that has been rehabbed from an existing structure and that is energy-efficient, energy producing if possible). I would travel the world – visiting one new international destination each year (for a period of no less than a month). I’d piggy back home with my family and friends who hail from Morocco, Australia, Argentina, Africa, Haiti, France and many other places so I could explore their homeland as they do, not as a tourist. I’d make sure that my travels included trips to places like New Zealand, India, Tahiti, Switzerland, Russia, Belize and many other destinations. My passport would be packed to the brim.

My job would be my passion. I would be stunned that people offered me money to do what I loved. It would inspire and motivate people to make positive changes in their lives. My family would be healthy and empowered. We would work to make a positive impact on our local and global communities. I would have deep, lasting and meaningful relationships with the people in my life. I would be humble, grateful and a life long learner. I would be more loving, less prideful, more risk taking and I would throw myself into life full speed ahead. I wouldn’t waste a second doing anything that didn’t leave this world a better place than it was when I came into it.

Finally, I’d have an amazing man in my life. He’d be mature, grounded, intelligent, handsome, love to travel and salsa dance. He’d be my kindred spirit – one who is gentle and passionate about life with an enormous capacity to love. The list could go on and on, but instead I’ll just turn to making sure I am all of those things too (thanks Marlene for that wisdom) so we’ll be able to connect when he enters my world.

I can’t travel the world right this second, but by putting it out into the Universe I believe that I have set things in motion to make that a reality. Same with every other utterance, thought or line that I write.  My life is not perfect, it may never be, but I know what I want it to look like. Knowing what I want allows me to see it and accept  it when it materializes.

I’m ready to leave behind the stuff I don’t want in exchange for the stuff that will get me one step closer to a perfect world.

Some Days You Lose.

Day 4 blogging and I am sitting down to write at 10:30 pm. Sigh. Yesterday was filled with focus, risk taking and task slaying. Today, however, has been filled with one necessary yet endless task. Everything seems to be taking longer than usual. Add Week 7/Day 2 of my 5K101 training (http://runningmatemedia.com/), an evening conference call and a pile of work still on my desk and you have a nice case of exhaustion. I wish I could click my heels and be in a theater watching a great new movie – Rio, Something Borrowed, Thor or Green Lantern. Alas that is today’s pipe dream.

Instead I started my day listening to a meditation podcast about cleaning and organization. I can’t really say that I lost today, it just feels like it. I look around my place and STILL see piles of paper on my desk, the same clutter on the kitchen island and about 20 new emails that need to be addressed. Back in the good old days I’d just stay up till I dropped, some days I still do but I can’t afford to do that anymore.

I’ve learned that my patience is directly related to the amount of sleep I get. When I don’t sleep and am stressed out my daughter ultimately is the one who loses. Life is full of stress, but she didn’t sign up to have a disconnected overwhelmed mom.  So…what gives? Judgement.

I’m not a bad mom or a terrible homemaker because “IT” didn’t all get done. Reading to my little one at bedtime was just more important than handling a pile of filing. I did a lot of stuff today. Important stuff that is in line with my vision and achieving my goals. It needed to be done and no one else is coming to my place to do it. The life lesson? Live in the moment, appreciate the challenges and be grateful when I get another chance tomorrow.