Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!

No Show, Rocky Flow, No Woe

The final performance of "Tuesdays with Morrie" was presented at New Stage Theatre yesterday and I really wanted to see it. Greg was not available to go with me and I didn't know of anyone who would be free at the last minute, so I decided to enjoy the performance alone and call it an artist's date.

I learned about the concept of an artist's date years ago after reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. The idea is to have a date with yourself once a week in order to feed your connection to your creativity.

I have noticed that since I've been working on a few creative projects, I have felt the need for a creative connection to something outside of my own stuff. Perhaps the concept of an artist's date not only feeds creativity but brings inspiration and a break to those who are already in a creative mode.

After driving into a very full parking lot, I got a little intimidated. I am a little rusty at going to these kinds of events alone. Now that I've been married for almost seven years, I usually have a companion. Nonetheless, I got out of my car and walked into the theatre. Apparently many others had the same idea because several other hopeful people were waiting to get tickets. I decided to wait it out and assume that I would get to see the show. When they told those of us who didn't make it into the coveted seating area that the show was sold out, I was so disappointed that I almost cried. I walked back to my car feeling as if I'd lost my best friend.

Coach Beverly came out to give me a little pep talk. "Everything is how it is meant to be. Everything happens for a reason. What did you learn from this? How do you turn lemons into lemonade?" Before I knew it, my car was heading toward a women's clothing store and I found some great, fun tops that suit me perfectly. I topped off the afternoon by going shoe shopping and even though I didn't find any that I liked, it sure was fun trying on shoes and being selective about all of my purchases.

Big lesson here? Go with the flow. When the music changes, find a new way to dance. Everything does happen for a reason and everything is how it is meant to be. I really believe that.

I'm still feeling inspired to schedule weekly artist's dates with myself. Now that we have entered the the glorious season of spring, the juices are really flowing. I want to do everything I can to support the ever expanding right side of my brain. If you have any fun, suggestions for a solitary artist's date, I'd love to hear about them. Just leave a comment and share if and how you nurture your creativity.

Happy belated Sacred Sunday!

Beverly

PS: Photo of Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii taken by Greg Smith in April 2007.

And the Winners Are.....

First, I print all of the wonderful comments under the Druthers Give-Away post. Next, I use scissors to separate the comments and toss them into a container. Then, I get a little dramatic and blindfold myself to make sure the drawing is completely fair. Have you ever taken a photo of yourself while you are blindfolded? At least part of me is in the photo. (I managed to capture one of Stacy's mandalas in the background. It was not planned but I'm glad it happened.) Of course, the fun part is drawing the names, unfolding them and discovering who wins a FREE copy of The Book of Druthers. I always trust this process and just go with it

I loved reading all of the answers to the Druthers question for this drawing. It's fun to find out someone's Druther and to CHOOSE your Druther too! The winners of this drawing are Debi Lewis, owner of JoyFlow Yoga in Madison, Mississippi and fellow blogger Kate Robertson of Meanderings. Thanks to everyone for playing and be on the look out for future drawings. ~Beverly

What's Your Druther?

Having Fun with The Book of Druthers

Every once in a while, it's good to step out and try something new! I thought this would be a neat way to share some Druthers fun with everyone. I love Druthers because it's a great way to practice making choices that best suit you. What's your Druther? Leave a comment and let me know. Blessings! ~Beverly

My Sacred Rug

Sacred Living - Day 2

Something so incredibly sacred about circles. That's why I knew this circle rug was meant for my sacred space. I sit on this rug to pray, meditate, drum and rest. Other times I dance, sing, give thanks or simply be on this rug. Women gather around this circle rug in my women's coaching circles too. This rug is packed full of sacred energy and I love, love, love starting my day within the space of this circle!

What's sacred in your life today?

 

Learn more about the sacred life project by visiting Carla Blazek's blog.

Blessing to you this week!

Beverly

PS: Next women's coaching circle begins in Clinton, MS on Sept 21 at 10:00 am. We will be playing with The Life Oganizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden. Two spots left. Register now to save your spot. Only $65 to attend four weekly two hour sessions!

Can SAD Be Good?

It was an unwelcome surprise to have such a long spell of cold weather in April. My new burst of springtime energy faded away as the number of consecutive cloudy days increased. My blue couch swallowed me as I wrapped myself up in the handmade quilt that I depend on during cold weather. Books fell into piles all around me. My laptop also moved to the couch as I became more and more reclusive. At first, I didn’t mind. I had a great excuse to be a couch potato as I waited for the return of spring.

Unfortunately the cold snap lasted for more than a few days. I sank into a dim depression as I longed for the warm weather and the sun. I wondered if ongoing cloud coverage could make me irritable as I checked the weather forecast daily to see when the sun would return. As I noticed my undeniable longing for the sun, I decided that it was time for me to finally accept that I suffer from SAD, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.

For many years, I suspected that I had this trait yet I refused to give it that much thought. I tend to steer clear of labeling myself with anything that ends in disorder. Embracing the idea of having SAD is a bit like embracing a shadow part of my psyche. I felt a sense of freedom after allowing myself to accept that I need light like a fish needs water. Fortunately, I live in the south and our winters are mild and short. However, when the sun goes away for too long, I become depressed, moody, irritable and unmotivated. Totally!

The good news is now that I accept that I have SAD, I am more conscious about how important it is for me to have exposure to lots of light. When I think about how this can look in my life, I got excited and it is easy for me to step into a perspective of seeing SAD as a huge gift in my life.

Here are the ways that I cope with SAD. (This has worked for me but that doesn’t mean that this will work for everyone. Please consult your doctor for your best treatment.)

• Live in a house with lots of windows so natural lighting is prevalent in the home. There was an extended period of time in my life when I sat in a small office without windows for forty hours a week. My salvation was to spend many of my lunch hours sitting outdoors in a nearby park.
• Exercise for at least one hour outdoors whenever possible. This is helpful even on cloudy days. I enjoy taking morning walks as the sun is rising. Starting out the day with a dose of light, exercise and endorphins greatly enhances my mood. Other options include biking, swimming, tennis, running, dancing, baseball, soccer, frisbee, basketball, skating, hiking, rock climbing, snow skiing and so many more.
• Drive a convertible. Now, this is a fun one for sure. Driving around with the top down is one of my favorite ways to get relief from SAD symptoms.
• Boating. This is a lot like driving around in a convertible except you get to add water into the mix too. Pure heaven! (This includes fishing, water skiing, sailing, paddle boats, etc.)
• Outdoor chores like yard work, gardening, washing the car, painting the exterior of the house are all productive ways to experience relief from SAD symptoms. (Also, a feeling of accomplishment is an added bonus!)
• Here is an easy one. Simply spend time outside for a minimum of thirty minutes. Use sun screen. No need to get burned while getting your sun fix. Also, this works on cloudy days too! Make this really easy on yourself by buying yourself a nice lounger!
• Make indoor activities outdoor activities. Eat, read, talk on the phone or bond with your computer outdoors. Get creative with this! What other activities can you do outdoors that you normally do inside the house or office?
• Travel to sunny, warm areas during the winter. If this is not an option for you, consider light therapy. I have not tried light therapy but have read that many report good results with this practice.
• Sit by a fire. Enjoy the flames outdoors at a campfire or indoors in a fireplace. Candles are helpful too. (Check out Zenamoon Candles! They're wonderful!)
• Wear light colored clothes. When I wear black or darker colors, I noticed that I do not feel quite as chipper, energetic or happy. Experiment with your wardrobe by choosing light, colorful clothing and see if it makes a difference in your disposition.
• Good nutrition always enhances well-being. There are also herbs and vitamins that can help. St. John’s Wort is said to be helpful for mild-depression. Turn to a nutritionist if you don’t know where to start.
• Examine your life. What changes do you need to make to bring greater fulfillment and peace into your existence? Take steps toward making those changes. (Self-help books, a therapist, coach or healing circle can help with this one.)
• Educate yourself about SAD. Consider the possibility that there might be a link between sunlight and your mood, energy level and overall feelings of well-being. Medication is available for this disorder. It is always a good idea to consult your doctor and see what options will best suit your needs.

My energy level, mood and sense of well-being are enhanced by the activities that I have listed. While I realize that SAD is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly, (no pun intended!) I also appreciate that this disorder makes it absolutely necessary for me to get out there and soak in all the light that I can! Just look at all of the fun ways you can choose from to cope with SAD. Are there any other ideas that you can add to the list?

Suggested reading to learn more about SAD

Winter Blues, Revised Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder
by Norman E. Rosenthal

Beverly Keaton Smith is the founder of Embrace Your Gifts and Soar! which offers individual coaching, workshops, classes and retreats which support women as they journey toward wholeness.

Copyright 2007: Beverly Keaton Smith

This article may be republished. Please include bio with the article. Thank you! Beverly.

Flow

The sun in the sky

said, "come on, let's play!

The sky is blue and

it's a beautiful day!"

So I hopped on my bike

to go for a ride

because I wanted

to be outside.

I pedaled and pedaled

to make my bike go

and all of the sudden

the wind did blow.

I struggled against

the mighty strong wind

and wondered what message

he was trying to send.

Riding against the wind

made the journey quite tough.

The ride was not fun

because it was so rough.

A reminder I received

from the earth on that day:

Simply go with the flow

to make work seem like play!

Copyright 2002 and beyond: Beverly Keaton Smith

-------------------------------------------------------------

Today, I found this rhyme in one of my old journals. I remember that day so clearly. It was such a stuggle to ride my bike against the strong winds that came out of nowhere. It was a big relief to turn around and ride with the winds that led me back home.

Being in flow means that you feel on track in your life. Coincidences happen that open doors. Supportive people, places and things pour into your life. Clarity replaces confusion and all of your needs are miraculously met. Life becomes easier and more joyful. You spend more time living in the present moment and trust and act on on your intuitive thoughts. You walk in faith and believe that the Great Spirit is preparing the way for you...and so, He is! You see the positive signs everywhere and they confirm that you are in flow.

To read more about what being in flow means, visit...

http://www.flowpower.com/What%20is%20Flow.htm 

Related Book:

The Power of Flow:
Practical Ways to Transform Your Life with Meaningful Coincidence 
by Charlene Belitz and Meg Lundstrom.

   

Aimless or Aware?

What will this day be like? How will it unfold? Joy-full, stress-full or something else? Will setting an intention make any kind of difference in your day?

Yes!

One of the benefits of taking a few minutes to set an intention each morning is that you become mind-full of how you want your day to be. Once you become mindful, there is a much greater chance that your day will be more "full" of what you most want in your life.

One of my favorite intentions is to "be present" throughout the day. Instead of pushing myself into the future, looking back at past moments or being completely zoned out, I want to hang out in the here and now. By doing this, I find that I am much more likely to notice my blessings throughout the day. This causes gratitude and joy to become much more alive throughout my life.

For example, yesterday as I drove home I saw a family of three deer on my street. I noticed them because I was present in the moment. It was a magnificent sight! The buck with his growing antlers, the large doe and a younger doe all seemed to be as fascinated by me as I was by them. We watched each other for about five minutes before they finally dashed away.

It was such a simple thing and it felt like such a gift.

Remember, your intention is like a rudder on a boat. It creates guidance and a clear direction. Play with the setting an intention for your day and see what happens. Whether it be around getting goals met or a preferred way of being or something else, intentions make you mindful, conscious and more aware of what is important and most worthy of your energy.

Here are a couple of related books:

The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way by Wayne Dyer.
http://www.drwaynedyer.com/products/index.php

Living With Intention: Designing a Wildly Fulfilling and Remarkably Successful Life by Deanna Davis
http://www.deannadavis.net/

Onward!

Beverly

Does It Have To Be Brilliant?

I'd like to make a blog entry right now just because I want to.

I notice that I often hold back from writing on this blog because I feel that I do not have anything brilliant to say. It now occurs to me that shooting for brilliancy on an ongoing basis halts the creative process all together.

So for today, I'm writing from a place of full permission and realizing that brilliance is an illusion. Improvement can always take place. The bar can always go higher. There will always be someone out there who will shine more more brilliantly than I could ever hope for. Does this mean I quit trying all together? Heck no! Because here is one thing that is for sure. I'm definitely not going to get get any where near brilliance if I don't at least try.

Does the desire to be appear brilliant keep you from taking your first steps on a creative path? Perhaps you might mingle with writing, painting, photography, inventing, redecorating or any other number of creative outlets if you allowed yourself to be less than brilliant right out of the starting gate.

Why not just go ahead and make a mess? Dabble, play, explore! Stick your big toe in the water and see what happens. No matter what size the splash might be, at least you will be able to give yourself a big pat on the back for having the courage to lightly step or plunge in to the unknown wavy waters.

I hereby declare that I am not brilliant and proud of it!

Recommended Related Book: Forget Perfect by Lisa Earle McLeod
http://www.forgetperfect.com/books/forgetperfect.htm

Onward!

Beverly

Beverly Keaton Smith, CPCC
www.embraceyourgifts.com

Listening to the Body*

“You have a herniated disc. You are going to have to live with this pain. I don’t recommend surgery.”

That’s what my doctor said to me after looking at the results of an MRI that I agreed to have due to excruciating back pain. He offered me nothing, not even hope. As soon as I heard this man coldly inform me that I would live a life filled with chronic pain, I silently refused to accept his words as my truth.

I Must Heal!

I set a strong intention to become pain free and my journey toward healing began. I became a regular at the chiropractor’s office. Adjustments and weekly therapeutic massages became the norm for me. While working, I often found a flat surface to lie on during my lunch hour. This was the only way I could manage to sit behind a desk all day. (so much for packing errands and eating into that short time frame!)

During the evenings, I often soaked in a hot bath and used heating pads to relieve my pain. Even though my chiropractor suggested ice, I loved the way heat soothed the muscles spasms I frequently endured. Meditation, yoga and deep breathing helped me manage the pain and the stress it added into my already stressful life.

Pain encouraged me to slow down so I did. Along with changing my lifestyle, I also entered into an intimate relationship with my back, neck and shoulders. These parts of my body that had been taken for granted now guided me in almost every move and choice I made.

A Blessing?

My herniated disc is one of the best things that ever happened to me. It set me on a path toward learning about the mind, body, spirit connection before I reached my thirties. I began to realize that my choices greatly impacted my health. Now I have learned to listen to my body through my experience with back pain. If my back pain flares up, I know it is time to examine my choices, get a massage, sit in hot water, stretch or simply rest.

Tuning into the Body

It is easy to take the body for granted and forget that it is truly a miraculous container for the mind and spirit. Try getting mindful about your body. Tune into it and listen to what it is saying to you. It's likely that your body can serve you in more ways than you may realize.

Tips for Tuning In:

Check in to see how your body feels when you are making a decision. A tight feeling in your stomach might tell you which options are not in your best interest. Pay attention! Your body is trying to point you toward the best choice for you.

Honor pain. Often, we curse pain. What good does this do? Try viewing pain as your ally and see it as a guide toward healing. Follow your pain around and see where it takes you.

Notice when you feel good in your body. What are you doing? What feels right about the moment? How can you bring more moments like this into your life?

Practice love and gratitude for your body. Instead of focusing on the body’s imperfections, focus on all that it does for you. Send your body love and connect with it more fully in a positive way.

Suggested Reading to learn more about the mind, body, spirit connection:

Heal Your Body by Louise Hay
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing by Christiane Northrup, MD.
Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power by Caroline Myss, Ph.D.

*("Listening to the Body" is about the mind, body, spirit connection. This article is based on my personal experience and opinions. It is not intended to be medical advice. ~Beverly Keaton Smith)

(c)2006 Beverly Keaton Smith