Rituals for a New Year 2014

How are you planning to close out your year?  The photo above was of one of my happiest times this past year, celebrating a milestone birthday with my family.  Do you have a reflective practice of looking back before looking forward?  While reading many posts today about letting go of things in your past that don't serve you or prevent you from achieving your dreams, I was thinking of what I wanted to do this year.  I have used the burning bowl method:  http://stirringthespiritwithin.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-are-you-willing-to-be-do-have-in.html

I've made vision boards & set new intentions:

http://stirringthespiritwithin.blogspot.com/2011/01/2010-take-stock-then-move-into-2011.html

Today I was struck by one I read on the Ford Institutes' webpage that Debbie Ford (rest her soul) came up with in 2010.

http://www.thefordinstitute.com/v/vspfiles/files/docs/newsletter_123113_web.html

There's a vow or affirmation to state daily recognizing the blessings in your life, seeing your greatness, remembering your perfection, and stating what you want like love, peace, or prosperity.  It reminds you to be that in the world first. Give it away to others. We can trust that what we "put out there" will be given back to us 10 fold.

The rest of the ritual is as follows:


"Make a list of 10 experiences that blessed and nourished you in 2013.

To complete 2013, write out why you chose the challenging experiences of the last year. Do this from the highest perspective so that you can find their gifts.

Notice if you're carrying any dark, small or limiting thoughts into 2014. Write them all down. Affirm you don't need them anymore. They're not the truth. They're just thoughts. Then rip them up into 100 shredded little pieces and throw them in the trash.

Choose one quality (e.g., love, peace, success, respect, etc.) that you most want to express and commit to in 2014. Write out 5 ways that you can give and share this quality with others.

Write down 5 goals that you feel inspired to commit to in 2014.

Read this vow or use one of your own each morning to reconnect with the power you hold to light up the world."

Tweak this and make it your own. Every part may not resonate with you.  If it doesn't, leave it out!  Add something that fits better. Use one part or several.  The point is, do SOMETHING!  In order to get different results in your life, you have to do something differently!  Complacency is your enemy.  Change that pushes and stretches you is your friend. 

What are some of your blessings from 2013? 
See the photo of one of mine above.

What would you love to experience in 2014?  
I plan to travel to Costa Rica and enjoy many old and new relationships with others this coming year.

Imagine your energy merging with all the creative energies in the Universe flowing to and through you!  Make it a golden 2014!

Taking Stock ~ Then Moving Forward with Intention!

I get daily messages from the  Abraham-Hicks Publications and Notes from the Universe.  I love knowing that the thoughts and energy we take in and radiate out helps to create our life.  As Mike Dooley would say- "Thoughts become things."  More than things they create...

...this swirling Vortex and the power of attraction responding to pure, nonresisted, focused desire. The Vortex is literally drawing in all things necessary for the completion of every request it contains. All cooperative components are being summoned and are coming for the completion of these creations, for the answering of these questions, for the solutions to these problems. - Abraham (adapted)

Have you taken a few moments to take stock of 2010?  The wins or goals you accomplished - what did it take to make that happen? What worked for you?  What supports did you use?  Pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments of this year!  Celebrate the littlest to the largest accomplishments is a very important step toward solidifying your current and future successes.  If you don't do it, how can you expect anyone else to value them?  Take a moment right now to say Yippee and Congratulations. 

My year in review included passing the Virginia State Reading Exam for Specialists and getting that put on my state license, holding not only my first, but second coaching workshops at Unity Fellowship Church, and becoming a International Association of Coaching - Certified Coach!  I trusted the process along with my abilities, got coaching support, and persevered.  Now to celebrate ~ a cruise perhaps?

Kiss any frogs this year? What have you learned about what's best for yourself from life's uncomfortable experiences? How can you turn those lessons into beautiful blossoms for your highest and best life?
What did not happen that you hoped for? Are you able to see the blessings in that yet? If so--more hugs - if not, sleep on that thought and think about it again tomorrow.

What you like to see happen in your life this year.  Why is it important to you?  What will it feel like to be a player in your life when you've accomplished these things?  Close your eyes and play a movie in your mind complete with full surround sound, high def technicolor and emotional mind-body connections. See it.  Feel it. Taste it, Hear it. Touch it.

Here are my three top Intentions and why they are important:

1. I have a new dependable, fuel efficient car that reflects me uniqueness & is affordable for me.

*I am free of the fear of a breakdowns & expensive repairs. I'll feel calm and secure knowing I have dependable, affordable, (sporty-unique) transportation that helps me save energy.

2. I am connected with a partner who is aligned with my unique essence & being. He will be a partner who communicates honestly and values me. There is a balance of give and take in the relationship. We share a soulful connection.

*I am at my best when I am in connection with others and feel valued and understood. I love being in intimate connection emotionally with someone with whom there is a balance in the relationship. Being partnered with this person makes my energy zing & my essence sparkle!

3. My health is in balance - including my BMI (healthy range)- cholesterol, flexibility & strength.

*My health is balanced, I have more energy, flexibility, strength & less aches and pains. I feel confident in my clothes and other aspect of life in front of people. I am happy that my risks of weight related disease are diminished.

Got Inner Peace? What daily practices or supports do you want to try in the up coming months ahead to move forward into these new intentions? ~ journaling, meditation, reading inspirational/spiritual thoughts for the day, or visualizing and focusing on your intentions via a vision board?  Commit to 10 min. a day for 30 days. Who's in?  What are you willing to let go of or embrace to make this life possible? 

You can do it - I can too!  Be open, be vulnerable - take a chance on yourself and your best life.

Share your thoughts by commenting here now.  If I can help you in anyway let me know--really.

Inspiration to write up my intentions popped up upon reading the blog Expanding Your Comfort Zone.  Being connected to so many intelligent and like-minded coaches is one structure of support in my life I appreciate tremendously!

Gratitude and Growth

Beauty & Growth from the toils of winter

Let me thank all my friends now and say "You've helped make me who I am"!  What motivates me is motivating others to see the goodness already in their lives now.

Look around you right now. What can you see that is a miracle of creation, growth, or motivation?

• The tenacity of a squirrel chasing a robin away from his stash of acorns or his nest.  
• The beauty of the budding forsythia, daffodils, or Easter Lily.
• The cool moist air on your face.
• The stalks of pussy willows that represent the possibility of blossoming and growth.
• The gift of friendship. 
• The ability to be active.
• The abundance of food.
• Family gathering around you

What is good in your life right now? What would you like to have more of and how could you take steps toward getting a little closer to that goal?

What are you willing to let go of to have that feeling that you are in harmony in mind body and spirit?

Many of you already know one of my favorite quotes is from Lao Tzu. I recently realized there was a second line to this quote.

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
 When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need".

So get up off the couch, get dressed and go, live your life NOW.

Relax-Renew-Refresh-Rejoice

And don't forget to have some fun too!

How Thankful Are You?

Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold. - Maurice Setter

"Appreciation of the Good Things in Life--How many times are we blind to the good in front of us because we're looking past it for something better? It's like watching the railroad track your entire life, waiting for a train to come in and never realizing that you're sitting smack in the middle of the splendid Grand Central Station. Take a second look at your goals. Are they building on the good already in your life? Are you taking full advantage of the strengths you already have? Is it worth giving up what you have for what you might have? In many cases, the answer is yes. To that we say "Go for it!" with all the enthusiasm we can muster. Those are the meaningful goals. If the answer is no, try reworking your goals to include ones that complement your present life rather than substitute for it. Whatever the answer is for you, we could all use a little more appreciation for the pieces of silver in our lives. " sparkpeople.com

By the end of a recent call on Attraction and Gratitude I was literally glowing with warm fuzzy feelings! All of the us expressed gratitude for pieces of our lives that brought us to our present circumstances. The more each of us opened up, the more others thought to be grateful for. It was contagious! There was no way to be unhappy with whatever circumstances, because we each embraced the gold nuggets of learning and growth that came with it.

My thoughts ran from gratitude for parents who were had high expectations, to having an education and job that support me, to being grateful that I walked through the fires of hell in 2005 and came out the other side a better person (the dross turn into gold). I sustained multiple loses (read more at my website), and underwent a powerful transformation. I literally "stirred the spirit within." by being grateful for all that I had and what I could become

Do you need big things in order to be grateful? Of course not! Do you have at least one good friend who is always there for you? How about a dog or cat you gives you unconditional love and acceptance on a daily basis? Did you see a beautiful sunset, a rainbow, or the most perfect flower in passing? Do you have a family who nurtures you? What about a spiritual family that uplifts and supports you?

What would be possible to create in your life next if you aligned your goals with the values strengths that are uniquely YOURS? Find little ways to pull more of that into your life. Visualize yourself being thankful that these goals are already true and in your life now. You just have to accept them. Stop looking down the track at what what you don't have and get on the train.

What are you grateful for today?

Grateful for Luxuries

"You'll never miss the water, 'til the well runs dry."- W.C. Handy

Even if you've never seen it, you are probably aware of the CBS reality show Survivor--sixteen castaways sent to live on an island to duke it out and vote one another off for a million dollar prize. What is most striking about this concept is not the competition, but the absolute gratitude these people hold for things we take for granted everyday. The dirty, unpurified water they cling to for life is the same stuff we flush, wash, and cook with everyday without batting an eye. They covet and fight for food that we could easily pop in our microwaves or sit down at a restaurant to order. The very fact that you can read this at your computer signifies that you are one of the most wealthy, educated persons on the planet. Take a moment to think about the luxurious and privileged life you live. Give thanks for a whole body, everyday freedoms, your family, and all of the choices you have. Cherish what you have while you have it because you never know when your life could change. " from Sparkpeople.com Healthy Reflections

Wake up dissatisfied that you don't have the newest car with all the bells and whistles, less money today than yesterday in your investment account, or had to cancelled the upper tier of your cable?

Think about what you do have today. Enough money to pay the bills, basic cable and Internet, and a reliable car that gets you from Point A to Point B.

Today I have not only a high school degree, a BA degree, and in one more month, a Maters degree. I have a full time job with health benefits teaching school and a retirement plan. I was able to afford a full coach training program and have a coaching business. I have the freedom to choose my profession and where I live. I own my home outright and my 7 year old car is paid for, in good condition, and has a garage to be parked in. My trusty companion, a pointer mix dog, is healthy and I can afford veterinarian fees to keep her so. Three grown children are living lives out from under my roof. My laptop had a meltdown this weekend, but I'm grateful that I backed up most of my files on a thumb drive and have a generous loving son who helped me pick out and install a new hard drive which is humming away.

A few years ago I would have given thanks that I had a wonderful husband of 30+ years and 2 loving parents, but that has since changed. My marriage went by the wayside and my parents made their transitions within months. Does that make me feel lack? I will admit to grieving those losses deeply and fully, but I've found the growth and blessings in them too. I now have a bit of financial security and was able to rediscover the core of who I am and always was. I've learned to tap into my own power and stand in my own light! I have memories that sustain me of those times and have chosen to remember the good and learn from anything that doesn't seem to fit that category. For more on gratitude see DailyOm.com

What luxuries do you have today?

http://www.stirringthespiritwithin.com/

Seeing the wonder in the smallest details

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.
- Albert Einstein, physicist


What do you appreciate and what do you ignore? Is a sunrise any less special because its image wouldn't make it on a magazine cover? Is any day less precious because, in your mind, "nothing special" happened? For some reason, it's hard to be impressed with anything these days. Driving a car is a source of strain instead of wonder. The internet is already old news. Quick--when was the last time you paid attention to a space shuttle flight? Remember when that was all people could talk about? Once you take something for granted, you also take the life out of it. When nothing is "special," boredom and gloom aren't far behind. Look around where you're sitting right now, and try to see it for the first time, like a child would. Think about the human potential that created the stuff in the room. Think about the miracles of nature right outside your window. Think about how amazing it is that you're even here to see it. dailyom.com

Even the Grinchi-est of us can stop, smell the spiced cider, the fresh evergreen, (OK-so you don't have a real tree--go outside!), the recent huge full rising moon. For me the little things in life make it all worthwhile. The kiss of my dog when I get home, the sparkle of the lights during this season. Appreciate, really appreciate what you have now. If you don't have the money to buy expensive gifts, give the gift of love. Write letters to those in your life that are there for you. Tell them how much you appreciate all that they do. Even those people who irritate you. Surely there's something about them you can appreciate. It will come back to you ten fold. Be the candle in the mirror--Be the change you wish to see.~Here's my wish for you~Let your heart glow with the light that is of you!

This is the season of light, a time when hearts are aglow. I picture the image of a light that holds my attention. It may be a streetlight with sparkling snow flurries whirling past it. Perhaps I see sunlight creating prisms on a snow's glittering surface or moonlight moving shadows across a meadow dusted in white. My image may be of a single candle lit in the window with an intention of holiness. In this stillness, I reflect upon the light. I breathe and relax. All is tranquil, prayerful.

This is a time of insight, radiance, and joy. I give thanks in advance for love, sharing, and guidance. I realize I can let my own inner light shine out more brightly. With wisdom and kindness, I make a difference in the lives of many.
dailyword.com

If you're not feeling amazed and amazing--the light and the love--what changes do you want to make in your life?

Contact me--Let's stir your spirit within. jude@stirringthespiritwithin.com