I have a friend whose birth name my mother swears is "my girlfriend Lisa" -- ma says this is the only way I refer to the woman.
So as not to buck a trend, she will heretofore be known as "my girlfriend Lisa".
She is my gab friend, my long-distance laugh and cry about our husbands and kids friend, my 'hey what did you get at Trader Joe's/Whole Foods friend.
She is my girlfriend.
This year she has also been my accountability partner.
We belong to a women's vision group of six female friends who come together to lay out our goals and visions for the year and for our lives.
It is a circle of trust and transparency in which we can count on each other for support in shaping our lives, dreams, and personal growth.
At the beginning of this year, we decided to pick personal accountability partners to sort of 'up the ante' of goal achievement.
My girlfriend Lisa is my partner.
Not only does she keep me on track, but it so happens we are on the same track in many areas of our lives.
It's amazing how God can use a person to be a mirror or to provide confirmation about something with which you are dealing.
During this Sunday's accountability conference (read that: weekly phone call) Lisa expressed how God had given her clarity about something she desired to Do/Be.
She says that He had orchestrated circumstances in such a way that she has 'no choice' but to Do.
This was not just clarification for Lisa, but fresh revelation for me.
When I look back at my vision board for 2008, there are things laid out in Big, Bold letters -- this is where I ' wrote the vision and made it plain'.
But laying it out is only the beginning.
What was clear for Lisa was just as clear for me -- yes, the journey of a thousand steps begins with the first one -- but it doesn't end there!
We are called to keep on moving -- 'to run with it'.
So what vision do you have for which you need to take action?
As I look at my various goals I can recount various small achievements here and there -- even some medium to large if I look closely enough and grade on a curve.
But there are some for which I know I must move daringly and faithfully forward.
God is leaving no doubt about that.
He is saying -- as He will to all of us at one time or another -- that prep time is over.
It is time to Do and Be!
Are you ready to run?
My girlfriend Lisa is -- Run! Girl! Run!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
That's What Makes It Brave
For the last month or so, our 3-year old, formerly champion sleeper has been given us fits at bedtime. According to her active toddler imagination everything from sharks (who can not only live on dry land, but in little girl's dressers) shadows, and monsters are occupying her room at night. Her solution is to sleep in our room -- our solution is for her NOT to sleep in our room.
This impasse has lead to many hours of crying and screaming (some of which has been done by the child). As nerve-wrackingly frustrating as this has been, I do know this is just a phase and 'it too shall pass.'
At the heart of the matter is what trips up many of us -- the dreaded "C" word -- "Change". Recently, dd was relieved of her sippy cup which she religiously sucked on as a way to lull herself to sleep. Soon thereafter, we became her sippy cup.
But, as is often the case with substitutes, they just won't do --not these substitutes anyway.
As I watch my my kid go through her own struggle, it makes me wonder about my own.
I look at the ways that I wrestle with fear, change, and security in my so-called grownup life
In what ways do I retreat from those things which appear scary but over which the Word tells us we already have victory?
What necessary changes am I reluctant to make because I'm in a place that is comfortable -- though not fully satisfying?
My little one is slowly making her way back to her room --she is now sleeping in the hall (NO! you Still cannot sleep in our room) -- and during daylight hours valiantly claims that tonite she will sleep in her own bed.
We're still waiting -- just as our Father is waiting on us to trust in him more fully.
So as I watch her work her way through I realize that what I tell her also holds true for me: "I know it's seems scary -- but that's what makes it brave".
This impasse has lead to many hours of crying and screaming (some of which has been done by the child). As nerve-wrackingly frustrating as this has been, I do know this is just a phase and 'it too shall pass.'
At the heart of the matter is what trips up many of us -- the dreaded "C" word -- "Change". Recently, dd was relieved of her sippy cup which she religiously sucked on as a way to lull herself to sleep. Soon thereafter, we became her sippy cup.
But, as is often the case with substitutes, they just won't do --not these substitutes anyway.
As I watch my my kid go through her own struggle, it makes me wonder about my own.
I look at the ways that I wrestle with fear, change, and security in my so-called grownup life
In what ways do I retreat from those things which appear scary but over which the Word tells us we already have victory?
What necessary changes am I reluctant to make because I'm in a place that is comfortable -- though not fully satisfying?
My little one is slowly making her way back to her room --she is now sleeping in the hall (NO! you Still cannot sleep in our room) -- and during daylight hours valiantly claims that tonite she will sleep in her own bed.
We're still waiting -- just as our Father is waiting on us to trust in him more fully.
So as I watch her work her way through I realize that what I tell her also holds true for me: "I know it's seems scary -- but that's what makes it brave".
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Be Not Deceived
Ok -- God never fails to amaze me!
He put universal law into effect and it just keeps on going.
You either work with it -- or let it work against you!
Recently, my husband and I recommited to transforming our relationship with money.
We are not spendaholics or gamblers, but we just felt we could be better stewards over that with which we are blessed.
In order to partner action with our vision (see today's previous post: what are you willing to do?), we retooled our budget, committed to becoming totally debt-free, and cleaned out our paper clutter (reorganizing our files and our mail).
This clutter-busting demonstrates respect for what we have.
Plus, it makes room for the overflow to come pouring in.
So what happens when you get moving...you give God something to take over...
In just two days of getting going ...I've found a check I didn't know we had and gotten us a discount on our car insurance plus a refund.
When you crunch the numbers it may not add up to much, but to me it says a WHOLE LOT about what can happen when you jump into God's Divine flow.
He put universal law into effect and it just keeps on going.
You either work with it -- or let it work against you!
Recently, my husband and I recommited to transforming our relationship with money.
We are not spendaholics or gamblers, but we just felt we could be better stewards over that with which we are blessed.
In order to partner action with our vision (see today's previous post: what are you willing to do?), we retooled our budget, committed to becoming totally debt-free, and cleaned out our paper clutter (reorganizing our files and our mail).
This clutter-busting demonstrates respect for what we have.
Plus, it makes room for the overflow to come pouring in.
So what happens when you get moving...you give God something to take over...
In just two days of getting going ...I've found a check I didn't know we had and gotten us a discount on our car insurance plus a refund.
When you crunch the numbers it may not add up to much, but to me it says a WHOLE LOT about what can happen when you jump into God's Divine flow.
What Are You Willing To Do?
In my first post I talked about daring to imagine the life you want to live, daring to imagine that you could actually feel, see, and "be" in it --- smack dab in the middle of the life you have right now.
However, "seeing" it is just the first step, we must partner "action" with vision.
So in that vein, I ask: What Are You Willing to Do?"
What are you willing to give up, take on, revisit, or let go?
What bad habits -- either emotional or behavioural do you need to change?
This year, I've been working on changing some destructive and deepseated emotional habits that I know have hindered me from fully living the life for which I am Purposed.
Oftentimes it our mind's negative tapes that are the root of our self-sabotage.
These secret thieves, can be difficult to dig up.
Are you ready for the heavy lifting?
If you knew that all that stood between you and your dreams was a 'renewing of your mind' -- would you put in the necessary work?
7 months of stops and starts has not deterred me from trying to "root" out my internal resistance.
But there is more than just our internal work, we must modify our behaviours.
This blog is just one attempt to change mine.
If I want to write...then I must write!
Simple, but not always easy.
So again I ask, what are you willing to do?
If being debt-free is one of your "dreams", what are you willing to sacrifice in the "now" to ensure the "future"?
Are you willing to say no to the dinner out on the town and not feel the need to explain your budget decisions (notice i didn't say restrictions)?
Do you have the guts to downsize from a gas guzzler to a fuel efficient car and NOT feel the least bit diminished because your identity is NOT tied to your STUFF?
Whatever your heart's desire, whatever's on your life list -- are you "Willing to LIVE like no one else, so that you can LIVE like no one else"?
Just asking.
However, "seeing" it is just the first step, we must partner "action" with vision.
So in that vein, I ask: What Are You Willing to Do?"
What are you willing to give up, take on, revisit, or let go?
What bad habits -- either emotional or behavioural do you need to change?
This year, I've been working on changing some destructive and deepseated emotional habits that I know have hindered me from fully living the life for which I am Purposed.
Oftentimes it our mind's negative tapes that are the root of our self-sabotage.
These secret thieves, can be difficult to dig up.
Are you ready for the heavy lifting?
If you knew that all that stood between you and your dreams was a 'renewing of your mind' -- would you put in the necessary work?
7 months of stops and starts has not deterred me from trying to "root" out my internal resistance.
But there is more than just our internal work, we must modify our behaviours.
This blog is just one attempt to change mine.
If I want to write...then I must write!
Simple, but not always easy.
So again I ask, what are you willing to do?
If being debt-free is one of your "dreams", what are you willing to sacrifice in the "now" to ensure the "future"?
Are you willing to say no to the dinner out on the town and not feel the need to explain your budget decisions (notice i didn't say restrictions)?
Do you have the guts to downsize from a gas guzzler to a fuel efficient car and NOT feel the least bit diminished because your identity is NOT tied to your STUFF?
Whatever your heart's desire, whatever's on your life list -- are you "Willing to LIVE like no one else, so that you can LIVE like no one else"?
Just asking.
Monday, July 7, 2008
When Half is Twice as Much
I've recently added a new committment to my life's mission statement: I will live in such a manner that my convienence will not be to another's detriment. One thing I kow for sure is that there is NO LACK in the Universe.
When God took a rest on the 7th day and declared He was finished...that was it...done...finito...no more.
From Infinite source comes our infinite resourcest--- the only thing standing in our way is our belief that that there is not enough ---thereby creating the very circumstances that first existed in our minds (more on this in another post). So when I came across this article http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/02/hunger.house/index.html
it was further confirmation that I'm on the right track.
People God is more than enough...we just have to ACT like we Know It!
When God took a rest on the 7th day and declared He was finished...that was it...done...finito...no more.
From Infinite source comes our infinite resourcest--- the only thing standing in our way is our belief that that there is not enough ---thereby creating the very circumstances that first existed in our minds (more on this in another post). So when I came across this article http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/02/hunger.house/index.html
it was further confirmation that I'm on the right track.
People God is more than enough...we just have to ACT like we Know It!
Just Imagine
Welcome to my first posting on my first blog, in my foray into what remains to be seen.
This blog came about as I tried to "imagine" the life that I wanted to create, embrace, and fully live in.
Excuse me as the road ahead may be bumpy...but in life...after all the journey is all there is.
Can you open your mind and picture your ideal day in your ideal life?
How it feels, what does it look like, what does it sound like, how does it smell?
What would you be doing, where would you be, how would you look and sound?
What would it be like to be in your skin on that day?
Now open your mind just a teensy bit further (no heavy lifting required) and imagine what you could do to make those things real in the present moment.
How can you make more of those things BE each day.
And I'm not talking about the stuff (and I know you saw some stuff -- cause I saw some stuff myself ...just writing about it...more money, the bigger and/or better house, the designer clothes --- you know --- STUFF).
After all it's really not about the STUFF anyway...it's about how the stuff makes us feel.
How we feel holding it, how we look next to it, how we feel telling other people we got it.
So what can we do to feel more like that with 'the same ol' stuff we already have?
How can we learn to be content (dare I say Happy -- maybe even Joyful)?
What if we used all of our available resources(time, money, and our minds for example) more respectfully, wisely, efficiently and effectively.
Most importantly what if we cast our gaze inward instead of out.
What if what we saw was that we ARE ALREADY all that we want and hope to BE.
JUST IMAGINE!
This blog came about as I tried to "imagine" the life that I wanted to create, embrace, and fully live in.
Excuse me as the road ahead may be bumpy...but in life...after all the journey is all there is.
Can you open your mind and picture your ideal day in your ideal life?
How it feels, what does it look like, what does it sound like, how does it smell?
What would you be doing, where would you be, how would you look and sound?
What would it be like to be in your skin on that day?
Now open your mind just a teensy bit further (no heavy lifting required) and imagine what you could do to make those things real in the present moment.
How can you make more of those things BE each day.
And I'm not talking about the stuff (and I know you saw some stuff -- cause I saw some stuff myself ...just writing about it...more money, the bigger and/or better house, the designer clothes --- you know --- STUFF).
After all it's really not about the STUFF anyway...it's about how the stuff makes us feel.
How we feel holding it, how we look next to it, how we feel telling other people we got it.
So what can we do to feel more like that with 'the same ol' stuff we already have?
How can we learn to be content (dare I say Happy -- maybe even Joyful)?
What if we used all of our available resources(time, money, and our minds for example) more respectfully, wisely, efficiently and effectively.
Most importantly what if we cast our gaze inward instead of out.
What if what we saw was that we ARE ALREADY all that we want and hope to BE.
JUST IMAGINE!
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