What's YOUR window on the world? What colours and shapes your perceptions? How do your perceptions reflect back to you the world you see? How are your perceptions linked to your knowledge, assumptions, beliefs and experiences? And what does that tell you about your understanding of truth?

In preparation for a recent talk on transformative experiences, I recalled poignant moments from my teenage years that illustrated for me the particular nature of my windows on the world at the time, although much of that, and its wider implications, I only grasped gradually. Let me tell you the story:

I grew up in a small rural town in Germany, West-Germany at the time, a place my parents still call home. Due to my cousin Ulrich’s diligent passion in genealogy, we know that both sides of my family tree have been rooted for centuries in the same small town. Although I couldn’t quite articulate it then, I felt bound and stuck by the world into which I was born. I was longing for more depth and breadth and spaciousness.

“I live in a very small house. But my windows look out on a very large world,” says Confucius. Well, It seemed that the only window I knew was a tiny, heavily obstructed window looking out on a very small slice of the world. No wonder I liked school as it held for me the promise of adding more windows to my house that would enlarge my view. And no wonder I couldn’t wait to start grade 5 at the ‘Gymnasium’ (the academic high school) in the nearby bigger city. My new beginnings, and the potential to gain an expanded view of the world coincided with my home town’s 1200th anniversary in 1967.

In the early 70s, our school choir had arranged an exchange with our partner school in England, in Romford, located in Northeast London. We, the German 9th graders were in our 5th year of English studies, whereas most of the English girls knew no German at all or barely enough to say hello. It put the onus on us to manage most of the communications, even within our families and our host families. As you can well imagine, never having been outside of a German-speaking country, I anticipated the trip with excitement and trepidation.

We encountered much that surprised us during the ten days across the Channel, such as round-abouts (unknown then in Germany), driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road (of course we knew about it, but experiencing it was quite different), waiting stoically in queues-even with just three people–standing for the national anthem in the movie theatre, the structure and format of the school day and year, even table manners! Who knew that switching your fork over to the right hand and putting your knife down was considered perfectly good etiquette?!

Two experiences still stand out for me, though, that emerged at the Grammar School we had to attend when we were not singing still: one in Math and the other one in History class.

Presumably you were taught one particular process of writing down long divisions and multiplications. (Just a reminder that I belong to the era BC-before calculators or computers!)  Picture my amazement, when the division on the board was written up in a way I had never seen before and seemed odd, and yet the result turned out to be the same as mine! It had simply never occurred to me that even divisions and multiplications harboured within them the potential of diversity and possibility. I wondered what else could be done differently than I had accepted as a given.

History class revealed itself more as a shock than a surprise. How was it possible that not only the tone and the direction of the discussion of early 20th century history differed substantially from what I had been taught, but also the so-called facts that were presented? I had never heard of some of the names, places and accomplishments that figured so prominently in the discussion!

My teachers tried to mitigate my confusion by pointing to my insufficient knowledge of English, but I didn’t quite accept that explanation. I suspected something quite different, much more important and bigger, was revealing itself to me even if I couldn’t really identify it. My deep inner knowing as a child suggested to me that the world had to consist of many different shapes, hues and textures–and I don’t mean landscapes, peoples or languages in themselves. What I was given to understand, though, as truths and facts we were required to memorize, for instance, became continuously more questionable and at the same time more inexplicable.

Within the five years that followed my first trip to England, I travelled and studied for extended periods of time in England, France and the Soviet Union, then still behind the ‘Iron Curtain.’ My studies of English and Russian literatures in particular that followed my completion of high school perpetually opened my eyes and my mind to even further contradictions of truths, and thus to endless possibilities. How many versions of the purportedly same events do you believe I learned about? And yet, how many individuals, groups, organizations and groups believe they own the truth?

It dawned on me during my time of studies how accurately Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the amazing German writer and polymath, had captured the insights I was gaining: “Man knows himself only to the extent that he knows the world. He becomes aware of himself only within the world and aware of the world only within himself. Every object well contemplated opens a new organ within us.”

Having travelled to, lived and worked now in numerous countries, I realize how much of a larger picture of the world I have been enjoying over the years, how the view has changed. Quite honestly, though, many a time I only appreciated the blessings after the fact. Rubbing up daily against mind-sets, beliefs, behaviours and experiences that differed from what I was used to, frequently was at the least uncomfortable, often extremely painful and frustrating. However, each instance compelled me to re-examine my own attitudes, priorities, behaviours and beliefs.

Life’s happenings certainly continue to provide me with the opportunity to contemplate many an object and trust that each time “a new organ,” a new connection or insight emerged for me. Going back and forth between various cultures keeps me on my toes not to succumb to numbness and habit. Isn’t it really easy to get caught up accepting apparent truths because so much of our lives remains habitual and unexamined? And what does that do to the window on the world? How wide open is it? What's the world we look on to?

I would say, as the title of my August newsletter suggests, that our perceptions reflect the world back to us, a world which we create from the inside out. Getting to know ourselves and what we acknowledge as our own truths, therefore, must remain a work in progress because life presents itself to us as a steady flow of experiences. Lets be aware, however, that the moment we perceive something, it becomes static in our awareness, which leads to potential inflexibility and artificial conviction on our part. This paradoxical attribute of perception requires from us creative approaches (I wrote about the topic of creativity, “Looking at Life with a Squint” in my last blog) and a willingness to remain flexible and open to the flow of life.

So here is my invitation to you:

    1)   Choose a particular area in your life and examine your perceptions. These areas may pertain to fairly concrete realms of life, such as your physical body, your daily routines around the house, or your eating habits. Or perhaps you may wish to focus on one of your political views, your attitude towards the environment or religion, so-called fringe groups, or perhaps the organizations or institutions you dislike or detest.

    2)   Now do your best to discern, simply as an observer without judgment, out of which window or windows you are looking at that particular aspect of the world. How large a piece of that world can you see?

    3)   If you feel you would like to enlarge your view, ask yourself how you can infuse movement into this aspect of your life. For instance, can you change your routines or something else in the exterior environment that might allow you in turn to see the world differently? Or how about this: Could you concede, even for just a moment, that you may not know the answer or you may be incorrect in your own position on a subject? How about then engaging in conversation with others (imagined or real) who may offer up a contrary point of view - but not from a position of righteousness, but coming from your heart space? Try it out and see what happens to the slice of the world you will be able to see through your windows. Is it getting richer and more varied? What colours, textures and nuances can you perceive?
   
If you are interested in further ideas on the subject, including out-of-the-box presentations and references, see the article on my website, “Cleanse the Doors of Perception .” In addition, peruse the Newsletter Archives for more inspiration and suggestions for practical application.

I was just uploading the photos I took of Miss Kitty when it occurred to me that my cats are far less limited than I in their approach to life’s adventures. For them, each moment consists of endless possibilities. A box or a fruit bowl, as you can see in the pictures, simply offer creative opportunities. A leaf landing on the grass becomes a fascinating toy, and a dripping faucet turns into a splashing water fountain. They definitely put into practice what Lewis Carroll describes in his poem:

What about us, you and me? How often do you look at life with a squint? Or do you find yourself caught in habitual patterns that remain largely unobserved? Perhaps you observe them, but you don’t consider yourself creative enough to make a change? Intellectually, I am convinced that life is full of infinite possibilities. And yet, how often do I get myself stuck by sticking with the same routines and the same old way of thought or behaviour, by not squinting at life differently?

Maybe you question the validity or benefit of such an approach to life? Why bother? Well, I’ve come to the conclusion that we get to know ourselves, our essence, our relationships and the world much better when we are courageous enough to dig deeper. Surprises and mystery emerge as we delve into the creative process.

Granted, the digging may confront us with our fears and darkness that tend to lie hidden behind the normal, habitual and rule-bound behaviours we have learned, adopted and assumed most often in an unexamined manner. Therefore, I’m encouraging you here, just for a few moments, to shift your position a bit. Begin to look at life with a squint, Lewis Carroll suggests. Find a different angle or ask a question. It’s an art and a skill you may wish to cultivate and practice because you deserve to live into the possibilities that emerge when we we experiment. "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better," suggests Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Wait a second, you may say! ‘I don’t feel particularly adventurous or creative.’ Creativity is what others possess!

Is that so? That’s how I thought of myself for many years, and, I have to admit, I still catch myself in that mindset from time to time. I’ve come to understand and appreciate, though, that the reason for such unproductive, and often self-destructive thinking results from a deeply skewed perception of what creativity means. I suppose I was waiting for the moment when that light bulb would go on, for the Eureka moment, or however else you want to think of it. I was waiting for an idea or a concept to grab my attention and consume me until I had given expression to that idea. Although I know now that creativity can and does take hold of us that way in some circumstances, this rather expressive notion portrays only a small percentage of the entire picture.

I’ve come to appreciate the simple definition of creativity that the writer and philosopher Rollo May provides: “Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being.” What a succinct description! So, Miss Kitty brought something new into being: both the fruit bowl and the cardboard box, which she also filled with her catnip pillows, became a safe haven, a playground and bed for her.

How do we bring something new into being? We don’t need to write the new Canadian - or American - bestseller of the month. Rather, let’s continue with the idea of ‘Discovering the Extra in the Ordinary’. We can stimulate the process of creation–not only creative thinking but also creatively being–by small shifts in our approach to daily living. Because creativity is a skill, we get more adept as we practice and learn to transfer our new insights and skills into other areas of our being.

Start by observing yourself and your habits. Pick one or two of your established patterns. What might happen, for example, if you decided to drive or walk to work or the gym or to your kids’ school along new routes? Of course, it means you will need to let go of the certainty first that you will be just as fast as on your old route. But just imagine what you might gain! You might discover, for instance, a magnificent garden or meet a new person.

Here is another simple example, how about you use your non-dominant hand to wash the dishes or brush your teeth? You might start laughing at your clumsiness, but what else might be happening? Where could it lead you? It’s important to remember, though, that you will need to stay committed to the new way of engagement in the chosen activity for a while to see the possibilities emerge.

Let’s choose a different scenario. You engage in a conversation with a friend. You bring your entire being to the moment and listen. Instead of offering advice or a comment to a situation she recounts, how about you simply pose a question, an open-ended question, focused and non-judgmental, that would allow both of you to consider the situation in a new light?

After all, “creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach–how you look at things,” according to Osho, and I whole-heartedly agree. So, if I pick a few flowers from my garden, arrange them in a vase and enjoy the view, isn’t that the result of a creative activity? How about cooking, cleaning, gardening, or tidying up the house? Change some of your routines and break the ‘rules!’ Experiment and see what happens! Encourage yourself to shed new light on familiar aspects of your day!

I invite you to ‘Discover the Extra in the Ordinary’ by stimulating your own creative juices. Remember that creativity flourishes with practice, passion and commitment. Look at life with a squint. After all, “There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” – Buckminster Fuller

Please note: Visit my website for further reflections on the topic. In the upcoming newsletter 'From the Insight Out," I will broaden the discussion of perception. Stay tuned. As always, I welcome your comments and enjoy your sharing with all of us.

How can less be more? When we live a simpler life where less is more, we create a spaciousness and clarity that allow for balance, relationship, peace, harmony and contentment to arise organically in our lives. In a sense we prepare the spoil in which we grow and nourish our soul so the essence of our being and relationships, human and spiritual, can emerge and express itself freely. In the words of Professor Ludwig Wittgenstein, “The aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.”

Living simply leads to a renewed and fresh ‘felt experience’ of love and grace that remains elusive in busy, stuffy and cluttered environments. There, we are preoccupied with doing and having. How do we ever discover our ‘being’ in this noise and hectic that drown out the often quiet voices of our essence? It’s simple–not simplistic and not necessarily easy though: Let’s shift from DO and HAVE to BEing out of which the DOing arises that will lead to certain HAVEs. In turn, whatever we HAVE and DO informs and enriches our BEing authentically and with integrity.

How simple is your life? I mean all aspects of your life; your personal and professional life, which entails all physical, emotional, mental, relational and spiritual aspects of your being. Let’s say, on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being absolutely simple, what number will you assign your way of living and being right now? Just take a breath; be still and see what number pops into your awareness.

‘Wait a second,’ you say. ‘Life’s too complex for such a simplistic assessment!’ Is it really? Are we perhaps just scared of the implications? In the Western world, at least in the last 60 years, we certainly have not been taught to understand and appreciate the values inherent in ‘letting go,’ saying good-bye, subtraction or departing, or death. And the unknown tends to frighten us. We want to be able to get to the bottom line, the root cause and fix the problem. So, eliminating ‘stuff,’ either material or immaterial, from our lives inevitably causes us some grief. Many of us want to avoid grief at all cost and pretend it doesn’t exist since we haven’t learned how to appreciate the tremendous challenges and opportunities–often painful, agonizing and simultaneously mystical–the experience of loss and grief in any form offers to us.

Perhaps we have just allowed ourselves to complicate life as consumerism continues to thrive and our notion of well-being and wealth centers on steady and increasing accumulation and additions. A simple example are the hundreds of TV channels or products online and in stores from which we can now choose. Does the choice inherently bring quality or an increased sense of contentment? We’ve been good students in a culture that defines progress by how well we amass material possessions, often under the pretext of providing security and safety.

Growing sophistication and complexity in our societal structures have not resulted in growing happiness, more time, freedom or wisdom. To the contrary, it appears that what we are growing is our ability to destruct not only ourselves, but everything around us, including our precious planet Earth.

Simplicity appears to suffer from a bad reputation (just think of the connotations of the word ‘simpleton), probably because we look at life from the perspective of opposition, of polarities, of dualistic thinking, expressed in the notion of ‘either/or’ and ‘but,’ rather than ‘both/and.’ (Our justice system, the adversarial system, serves as a great example.) We often equate simple with bad, insufficient, weak, inadequate or limiting. I remember as a child feeling embarrassed, maybe even ashamed, at times when my family’s simple ways did not seem to measure up to other’s elaborate life styles. How grateful I am now for these experiences that have helped me shape my understanding of the importance of simplicity not just for me, but for us as a human species.

I contend that living simply (’living simplicity’) requires deep awareness and reflection on our part because of the choices that are required of us in a seemingly confusing and complex time. I further contend that it demands enormous courage, willingness, discipline and soul searching to arrive at a solid inner state of harmony and peace that support expressions of simplicity in all areas of our lives.

Have you ever taken pride in your ability to handle successfully complex situations? Do you get satisfaction out of embellishing and exaggerating certain moments in your life because it ‘looks’ or ‘sounds’ better, perhaps creating more of an impression than the simple moment that truthfully occurred? Or maybe because it makes you feel more important and tickles your sense of self-esteem the right way? I certainly can recall some such moments in my life where I was seeking external recognition and validation–never with lasting results, though.

I’m assuming I’m not alone here. Now, let’s turn it around. How much pride have you taken in your ability to simplify your life? Let’s look at the physical aspects of your life, such as your living space, your closets, your desk or your vehicle or vehicles. Much has been talked about de-cluttering lately. What’s your most rewarding experience in this area? How does it feel? What’s the effect of a de-cluttered environment on your mental or emotional state?

Now, how cluttered and ‘stuffed’ are your emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of your life? Have you sorted through those areas and given away your outdated beliefs, aired out the stuffy corners of your mind? What about your spiritual beliefs, routine and disciplines? Perhaps there has not even been room or air left for any of them to flourish because you have hung on to too much stuff?

Or could it be that you are frustrated with your attempts at de-cluttering because they tend to be sporadic, momentarily gratifying, and–just like many New Year’s resolutions–they vanish into thin air despite your best intentions? Have you given up because you feel you have not really been successful yet?

Remember that learning only lasts if it’s intrinsically motivated. That means, we have to find a strong drive within ourselves that leads us to the action of ‘letting go.’ When we feel the obligatory ‘should or must,’ we set ourselves up for failure. This is how we return to the idea that what we DO and HAVE can only arise authentically from who we truly are. When doing and being are incorporated into our BEing, we can make lasting changes.

So, what’s the one area in your life that calls your attention right now where you can make ONE change that will simplify your life? Where less is more? Don’t think about it! Just let it pop into your awareness.  Got it? Does it resonate with you at the core of your being? Yes?! Now commit yourself 100% to implementing that one change that simplifies your life–'unstuff' yourself! Not 90% or 99%, but 100%! Remain alert and recognize over the course of the next two weeks the potential ripple effects of your decision to create simplicity. When you are ready, repeat the process with another item that calls for your attention.

Enjoy! I look forward to hearing your stories of simplicity!

“Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify, simplify!” – Henry Thoreau

Do you ever feel or think you are not good enough? Or perhaps not smart enough, funny enough, worthy enough, attractive enough, rich enough, educated enough, witty enough, slim enough, honest enough, organized enough, energetic enough and on and on it goes?

Have you ever had doubts if you measure up? Or have you entertained the idea you are a fraud? How did that make you feel? Lost, perhaps, and lonely? Afraid of being cut off; afraid of losing your connections with the rest of your world or being an outcast?

The sense of 'not enough' often arises out of deep seated scarcity and fear of inferiority based on unconscious and conscious comparisons, which in turn fuels our drive towards power, control and perfectionism. It leads us to crave for the 'extraordinary' moments in our lives, sometimes presenting to us as adventures or people we seek out and admire for their ‘extraordinariness’ and talents, wealth, fame and fortune.

'Ordinary,' on the other hand, does not excite many of us, yet 'extraordinary' does, a tendency that feeds our perpetual consumerist greed and more. Our drive for recognition, private or public, becomes a measuring stick with which we apparently value individual contributions and even lives. We seem to make significant allowances and exhibit immense tolerance for behaviours and actions that are motivated by our perceived need to attain or maintain the status of 'extraordinary.'

How much of your life, do you estimate, is motivated by your sense of 'not enough?'

In whose eyes might you not be measuring up? In addition to your own judgements, who else may be giving you this message of 'not enough?' When you feel crushed by unreasonable and unattainable expectations–your own or those of others–how do you react?

Do you default to blame? Whom do you end up blaming? Yourself or others, or both? Have you considered what blame might be covering up? Could it be that when we resort to blame, we discharge a sense of overwhelming shame?

Shame? Was that the word that came to you here? Shame is not a word many of us use nearly as much as the word guilt, with tends to be more familiar to us; just think of the justice system. What is shame? Simply put, it’s our sense of being flawed and unworthy of love, acceptance, and belonging. Just like blame, it engages us in exclusionary tactics of isolation and invisibility. We either don’t want to be seen or believe others don’t see us, for example. We may be shunned or withdraw ourselves because of our sense of shame or guilt.

Perhaps the following statements might demonstrate what I mean. Imagine a situation that is stressful and worrisome to you, in which a friend, an acquaintance, your boss or a colleague says to you: “Stop being so defensive.” - “I thought you were stronger than this.” - “I didn’t realize this was such a big deal for you.” - “Why do you always have to be/do…”

How might that make you feel? Could any one of these sentences give you the message that suggests something is wrong with you? If so, your feelings of shame were triggered. Does this help as an example?

Rather than shame or guilt, perhaps the words embarrassment and humiliation resonate more with you. Keep in mind, though, that  these four emotional reactions, despite being somewhat related, differ considerably from one another.

– By the way, do you know what the common denominator is for the words human, humble, humiliation and humility? Hmmm, read on and you will find out. –

For many of us, embarrassment and humiliation appear to occur more temporarily and on the surface. We feel we can get passed them more easily. Guilt, the way I see it and the way most of the literature on the subject defines it, arises when we have done something wrong.

Shame, on the other hand, is linked to our personal identity, to our sense of ourselves being wrong or flawed. It lives in the core of our being and holds us in its iron grip from the depth of our being.

Perhaps that is precisely one of the many reasons (Freud's focus on guilt certainly contributes significantly to the overemphasis and generalization of guilt) that shame gets pushed on the back burner and we focus on guilt. Since guilt is related to actions, finding a remedy for actions that may cause us guilt, appears in reach of successful resolution.

What do we do, though, with our feelings of shame? Just think of our vernacular; we say that we ‘die from shame;' or we are ‘mortified by shame.’ When we feel shame, we tend to feel exposed, naked and raw because we feel disconnected and have lost our sense of personal dignity. That suggests we no longer have or recognize the boundaries that give us a healthy and sustainable sense of self. Do you see that an action plan appropriate to deal with guilt won’t work here?

Just like guilt, our proneness to shame is inherent in our human condition. What that means, the way I see it, is this: Because I am human, moments arise for me where shame and guilt will get triggered. These moments offer opportunities of learning and growth for me; learning and growth that transcend the personal self and strengthen my spiritual core. Shame and guilt serve as warning flags for me that I have lost my balance and have temporarily forgotten my wholeness within the universe. They alert me to pay attention to whatever aspect of my relationships–to myself, God/Spirit, the environment or others–appears broken or imbalanced. Perhaps my ideals and expectations do not match my behavior. Perhaps certain values that bring meaning into my life have been deeply questioned. Or perhaps certain boundaries have been violated that would make me feel exposed in an environment that is not nurturing to me.

It takes ‘ordinary courage’ (courage that comes from the heart and addresses ‘ordinary’ issues of life and living) to understand and address my own weaknesses and limitations. Once I’m able to accept myself with all my flaws, shortcomings, gifts and strengths, I’m ready to acknowledge my own humanness. With great humility and gratitude to Spirit, I can then move towards expressing my humanness through accepting myself just the way I am.

The minute I can accept myself ‘just the way I am,’ I have regained dignity and integrity. Dignity and integrity form the prerequisites of authenticity, which allows me to share myself openly and sincerely, spontaneously and genuinely. It increases my capacity for love and compassion because I can see myself as real and reflected in so many others around me.

This journey through guilt and shame keeps me humble and ordinary–I am just as unique, special and human as everyone around me. I feel my connection with Spirit precisely through my humanness.

I am now open to explore the spaciousness that such spiritual connectedness provides for me. I feel grounded and deeply rooted in this spaciousness in which I can hear the guidance and support Spirit has to offer. Paradoxically, ‘not enough’ cannot take hold in this spaciousness of my authentic being. ‘Not enough’ finds itself replaced with a sense of openness, confidence and remembrance of my wholeness. No need to hide or seek.

So, did you figure out the answer to the riddle I posed earlier? Here it is again: What’s the common denominator for the words human, humble, humiliation and humility? All these words are derive from the same root in Latin, which is ‘humus,’ the word for ‘earth.’ Isn’t that rather peculiar?

At the very least, the ‘root’ – no pun intended – common to all these words support my view of how important it is we ground ourselves in our ordinary humanness through which we give Spirit voice.

How much magic would you like to experience in your life?

What sort of magic, you are asking? Excellent question, I must admit, because I'm not talking about the wonders of the magic wand, the thrill of a lifetime, or bliss and instant enlightenment (without the endarkenment or shadow, of course). I'm aware that magazine headlines capture the 'blissful moments' many of us long for. And certainly, advertisements appeal to our almost manic need of the "WOW" factor in our lives, as do many TV programmes and talk shows. In short, it seems much of the Western world, at least, craves bedazzlement, a form of irresistible pleasure with which we tend to be blinded to the world within and around.

That's NOT the magic I have in mind even though I can certainly identify with the longing for the big "WOW" in my life. What about you? Are you longing to be bedazzled by the waving of the magic wand or the snapping of fingers–yours or somebody else's) through which your life changes miraculously?

What about a different way for you to live the magic that emerges from your everyday life? Just think for a minute about Buckminster Fuller's statement: "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." For me, it evokes a sense of enchantment and deep satisfaction, which in turn reveals spaciousness and beauty, curiosity, connection and compassion. Are you game for an adventure? Here we go.  

I'm suggesting that the most enduring form of magic, bedazzlement or bliss arises for me when I realize, with all of my being, the truly extra-ordinary moments and aspects of my ordinary life. Are you still with me? I will do my best to provide you with examples and a succinct explanation.

Picture this: Two people meet in a two-minute conversation. One speaks as the other one listens attentively. The two people discover the Extra in the Ordinary when their seemingly ordinary encounter results in compassionate curiosity; where they generate new insights, learning and shared understanding.

This happened at a recent conference, where I asked the participants to engage in an empathetic listening exercise, which only lasted four minutes. You should have heard the spoken and unspoken "wows" that followed the two times two minutes. The speakers were amazed how freely they could talk when they knew the listener's job was to listen and to hold the space while giving feedback only through body language. Generally, listeners felt deeply heard, appreciated and loved in this process. In addition, as one participant revealed–and others concurred, she realized that she had answered her own questions because she felt immersed in a spaciousness on so vast she could hear her own inner voice (intuition, wise inner genius, high self, Spirit, Source or however you understand it) and accept her as guidance.

The listeners reported that they were equally 'bedazzled' by the experience. It had given them a sense of freedom because they did not have to think of something to say, to sound clever or empathetic, for instance. Not only could they remember almost verbatim what the speaker talked about (their minds did not have to prepare a response), they also felt intrigued and became increasingly more curious and engaged. The listening experience, despite it being silent, had turned into a true dialogue where new understanding was gained by both participants in the process.

Now, how is that for magic? Both parties felt transformed and full from the inside out. What do I mean by that? The participants felt complete, energized and motivated. A sense of awe inspired them. My hope and wish is that they still feel inspired enough to transfer this experience into other moments of their everyday lives. How is that for Discovering the Extra in the Ordinary?

This is just one small example of how we can relish our lives, moment by moment, as we discover the special character and gifts of each situation and encounter. Then we realize how rich a life we are living and perhaps relinquish our need to search for magic out there. Our consumer society serves as a great illustration of the never-ending thirst and hunger for more and different, along with increased hype and sensationalism to demonstrate that the outside-in approach does not work. As we know, out there usually does not suffice because gratification must arise from the inside out for a lasting effect.

What stories do you have to share that illustrate how powerfully we experience life when we Discover the Extra in the Ordinary?

Of course, you may experience the Extra in the Ordinary in a completely different way because nothing feels really that extraordinary at all. If that's the case, perhaps you are already living in that spaciousness of BEING, where life just is and that includes you. Take a good look and notice how remarkable such existence is. What is the Extra you can discover that you offer to yourself and others that enriches the ordinariness of the moment? I look forward to hearing your accounts of how you experience and model for all of us the Extra in the Ordinary.

Over the next few months, I will elaborate further on this topic of Discovering the Extra in the Ordinary. I will explore, among other ideas, how imagination and creativity I will present my ideas and understanding of this dynamic and creative process of living and learning that feels natural and nourishing from the inside (and insight) out. For now, I suggest you read further in my June newsletter , where I offer various perspectives on the 'Ordinary,' as seen by Shinzen Young, Eckhart Tolle, Ezra and Sarah McLachlen.

Are you showing up, right here and right now, for this particular moment in your life? Are you present, truly present? Silly questions, you might think, but are they? After all, you are reading these lines, so, technically you are here. Are you really?

I invite you to check in with yourself. How much of you is present in this very moment? Any conversations happening inside of you? No? Yes? Maybe not real conversations but fragments of ideas, shoulds, shouldn'ts, what ifs, musts, to dos and more floating through your mind? Where are you emotionally?

So, on a scale of 1-10, how much of you is present in this moment? A 10 would indicate 100%. My sincere congratulations to you if that's where you find yourself. You may not need to read on.

Just in case you assess your number to be closer to a 5 or six or lower, don’t despair. Instead, be kind to yourself and breathe. Allow the breath to settle, anchor yourself and bring your awareness to the moment. Even though I set my intentions each day to show up fully to each moment and be present to it, this very endeavour continually requires my utmost attention. I can and do distract myself so easily, particularly with my attachments to the past or my meanderings into the future to determine the what ifs, for instance.

Now don't get me wrong. I love to dream and daydream, to engage in future thinking and planning. There’s definitely a place and time for it, just as you may wish to dedicate time and attention to healing the wounds that stem from the past. After all, our lives are replete with losses that require healing.

Back to this moment now. It takes more than just your physical presence to be fully present, as you well know. Check in right now and see if you truly feel in your body. Are you able to feel the expansion of your breath in your body?

How about your mind? Where is it? Where are your thoughts that generally are expressed in language fragments that float around, creating fascinating dialogue or boisterous town hall meetings, perhaps even shouting matches sometimes?

Here is a revealing exercise for you, in case you've not paid much attention to the seemingly random thoughts that go through your mind. Several times a day, jot down what thoughts and fragments of comments cross your mind in just a minute. I bet you it's more than a handful in many cases. See if your monkey mind or your cow mind has the upper hand. I'd be curious to know.

What does such an active cow mind or monkey mind do for you? Apart from draining and exhausting you, it leads you astray and distracts you from accomplishing your goals. Furthermore, you miss the opportunity to give to and gain from each encounter you are experiencing because only a part of you is present.

Let me provide you with an example: How many times in a conversation have you prepared a response to the speaker, even if this person is your best friend, while the person was still speaking? This suggests your attention was not fully on the speaker, but on yourself. Have you ever interrupted somebody because you felt the need to add a thought? I’m certainly guilty of both behaviours. My impatience or anxiety around forgetting something I wish to contribute or my eagerness to look informed or knowledgeable, however, mainly demonstrate my own needs and desires to be acknowledged and seen. That, in turn, takes me away from embracing the moment. I’ve then lost the ability to hear the speaker’s truth because of my premature engagement. Does that sound familiar to you?

I will extend this thought a little further. Perhaps you are dealing with a challenge in your life that absorbs much of your thoughts and emotions. Perhaps you feel numb, unable to even label what you are feeling. Perhaps you are experiencing much love and happiness right now. All of it just IS. In itself, it is neither good nor bad; it's just our thoughts and attitudes that make it so because we continually compare to events and experiences of the past. The question remains, are you fully present to even the joy and happiness you’re experiencing?

What if you find yourself in a situation that you consider undesirable? In such an instance, Eckhart Tolle, the author of The Power of Now, suggests you have one of three options: 1) Remove yourself from the situation or event. 2) Change it; and 3) Accept it totally. He continues to propose that whatever you choose (and there is no right or wrong), do it fully and accept all anticipated and unanticipated consequences in the process.

That advice in itself certainly resonates with me. I have successfully exercised the first two options, even under challenging circumstances. The third choice–total acceptance–that’s the tough one for me. How about you?

How can I totally accept whatever comes with the situation if I cannot remove myself from it or I don't have the power to change it? It’s a hard pill to swallow. Do you feel that's where you are at now or where you have been in the past? How do you accept a situation fully and completely if it is something you neither wished nor chose to have in your life at all? That’s when we tend to feel sorry for ourselves and fall prey to victimhood–justifiably so, we believe. As examples, I’m thinking of a life-threatening illness, a traumatic experience or the death of a loved one, and, of course, other scenarios may be true for you.

If all my being resents the circumstance or situation, what does total acceptance mean? To me, it suggests embodying all the thoughts and the emotions, a process which requires honest recognition and awareness of all the feelings, thoughts, sensations, and emotions that well up inside of me.

The wise words attributed to the Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius, "Wherever you go, go with all your heart," express clearly my embodied sense of Tolle’s statement. Even when my heart feels broken and my soul feels trapped in the darkest and longest nights of the abyss, I need to open myself to the presence of each moment. Then, and only then, do I learn to embrace the paradoxes life has to offer rather than feeling engulfed by the tension of the opposites that tear me apart.

These are not empty words, as you may already know. My manuscript Invisible Connections bears witness to such an experience where I express my attempts to acknowledge and be fully present to each moment through poetry and memoir. I invite you to read the excerpts I’ve posted on my website under the heading Writings .

Do you have anything to share with me on this topic? I’d be very interested in hearing your musings on this subject. Enjoy having fun and practice showing up and being present when life throws you little teasers. That’s the practice we need to become proficient and effective even during the tough times. Let me know what happens when you do show up and are present.

Piercing screams, gallopping feet, chasing, hissing, growling, fur flying!

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I found myself in the middle of the worst cat fight I have ever witnessed. Certainly the worst one to date in my own house. I kept yelling 'STOP' until I was able to lock Oskar into one room, and calm down Miss Kitty. The third cat, Mr Tibbs, was still growling, hissing and screaming somewhere in the house.

I was stunned. What happened? I finally caught Mr Tibbs. Blood - Mr Tibbs's front paw was bleeding. His right paw prints stained my beige Berber and Duvet cover red. How could they fight this viciously? What on earth caused this aggression?

When all the cats had cooled off a little, I realized that Miss Kitty, whom I had suspected as the culprit, appeared to be innocent. She had simply been caught in the crossfire. That's even worse I thought. It left one of my two handsome, well-behaved, docile, loveable and playful boys as the aggressor. They are, after all, brothers from the same litter who have been with me for nearly two years. They clean each other's ears, eat and play together daily.

How could I help? I needed more information. I combed the Internet and consulted with vets and cat experts. Now, wouldn't you know it? In the feline world, the behaviour my cats exhibited is generally known as 'redirected aggression.' Well, doesn't that sound applicable to many human situations?

Can you honestly say never to have redirected your frustration or anger, fears, worries or anxieties to another person, even someone you loved or liked? Isn't that how serious family fights and prolonged feuds begin? Who can remember after a while what sparked the initial disagreement?

That's what appears to have occurred with my cats. For the next few days, I spent much time with each cat, especially the boys. Repeatedly, I stroked them, stated and showed my love for them, tapped them on the nose if they started growling and told them in a stern voice that that was not an option. I frequently affirmed that all would be well and that they were safe.

I kept Mr Tibbs and Oskar separated for the next four days, bought pheromone diffusers, adminstered rescue remedy and together with friends (earthly and in Spirit) we offered all the help we could and invited healing and harmony through rebalancing and recalibration.

On the fifth morning after the initial explosion, Mr Tibbs succeeded in opening a closed door in the middle of the night. I shot up like an arrow when realized the door was ajar and listened for the noise. Except, silence was all I could hear.

I crept out of bed and tiptoed through the house looking for my boys. Here they were–lying next to each other on the futon, one licking the other as if nothing, absolutely nothing was wrong! With one minor exception, they have been best buddies again for an entire week now. (Just on a side note, in case you may end up in this situation: The readings on the Internet made the possible long-term consequences sound much worse than what I experienced by using discipline, love and energetic interventions.)

What a lesson these cats taught me, particularly considering all my family illnesses and chaos along with other challenges that have arisen lately!

Here is my learning. I must be ever watchful of the 90/10 principle that Stephen Covey popularized. I have no control over the outbreak of the fight between my cats. That accounts for 10% of the 90/10 principle.

I do have control over the missing 90% of the 90/10 principle, according to Stephen Covey (and I agree). We each decide in each moment how we wish to respond to a situation; what course of actions we choose; when and how to take responsibility; whom to fault or blame; what roles we end up playing–the persecutor or victim, perhaps. We just need to become conscious of these reactions first.

Back to my story. My cats' behaviour was unacceptable to me. I vowed that harmony, safety, and peace were going to be restored in my house within a week. I appreciate that my determined discipline, love, play and energy work payed off within five days. All that constitutes the 90% of Stephen Covey's 90/10 principle.

Now let me elaborate a bit and make this scenario applicable to a humans. Unlike cats, we tend to remember and hold onto whatever/whoever we perceive 'caused' the initial aggression. We find it challenging to arrive at a place of acceptance and loving kindness (perhaps not intellectually but on a felt/heart level) after a serious conflict. What does it take to embrace the other person fully for who they are, just the way Oskar and Mr Tibbs did in the end?

I have learned that if I follow four important action steps, I tend to be able to deal successfully with explosive situations and aggression that may be redirected at me.

First, I breathe and anchor myself, which prevents me from becoming trapped in reactive behaviour, derived from the emotion of the moment. If possible, I exit the physical space, even for just a few minutes as that helps me to recompose myself.

Second, I ask myself where I really want to be and how I wish to feel at the end of this situation/event? What's my goal? These questions assist me to reframe the moment and function from a clear and balanced place of being present.

Third, I quickly assess if I need to take responsibility and apologize for my actions or behaviour. If that's necessary, I offer a sincere, succinct and heart-felt apology. Sometimes that may not be possible in person, but you can do it in writing, even if you never send it to the person. As long as it comes from your heart, it sets the right action in motion.

Finally, I ask myself what and whom I need to forgive. I agree with William Bridges that asking others for forgiveness is a form of manipulation. When I ask others to forgive me, I put the onus on them. Instead, I must engage in the act of forgiveness as it my work that will lead to forgiveness. As Matthew Fox states, forgiveness is another word for letting go. The key to forgiveness consists, as I understand it, of my willingness to take action and to let go of the past. I cannot be present as long as I am tied to the past by grudges, hurts, pain, anger or wondering about the 'what if' and more.

Although the action of forgiveness takes place within me, I would like to emphasize that vocalizing the statement of forgiveness to a witness, such as a friend, confidant, or spiritual director who knows how to listen and be present, becomes an extremely transformative action.

Unlike humans, animals do not need these action steps to arrive at mutual love and acceptance, even after a vicious fight of redirected aggression. How grateful I am to my felines for illustrating the explosive potentials of ordinary moments.

Thank you, Mr Tibbs and Oskar, for reminding me of the transformational power of simple action steps, particularly the power of apology and the action of forgiveness. By redirecting my emotions and my mind from the past to the present, I arrive at a calm, peaceful and joyous place within myself whenever I get caught up in a sudden explosion.

How does this story resonate with you?

Change - Chaos - Transition! How familiar are these three words to you? They aptly describe my birth family's situation right now, with four immediate family members going in and out of various hospitals, and with at least one needing long-term care, most likely.

It fascinates me that the topic of transition has moved me deeply in this last year, to which my choice of conference topics and seminar offerings attest. Given my immediate experiences from this past week, I've decided to write more about the subject, as writing always assists my own healing. May my musings serve as an opportunity for you to reflect, heal and feel inspired.

I will do my best to present a brief overview on my understanding of the three concepts, Change, Chaos, and Transition. Change does not necessarily lead to chaos and transition. But I would contend that change often occurs to challenge, throw, or invite us into the process of transition. I will explain further.

Change happens constantly and perhaps it may be only my impression, but it seems to me that more than the usual amount of change is definitely in the air. You, just like me, might find yourself caught in the midst of it. I am deliberately choosing the word 'caught' as that reflects best my feeling. It makes sense I feel caught because I see change as something that happens externally and generally is situational. Change can happen fast. It often arrives and passes quickly and might require a focus on immediate problem solving, goal orientation, and alteration in plans and situations.

Let's look at my family's immediate situation where rapid changes occurred within several days.  I consider the various illnesses and hospitalizations of family members on the other side of the Atlantic, events that remain outside of my control..Life happens and continues to surprise us. In the meantime, measures need to be taken within my family now how to connect with each person, look after their immediate needs, and see what the external circumstances require for everyone involved to go about their business as efficiently and smoothly as possible. Who does what and where and how are the immediate questions that call for attention.

More change will follow as the failing health of my parents necessitates further modifications or radical reorganizations within the larger family unit. The impact these external and situational changes make on each participant will vary greatly and depend, of course, on a huge number of variables.

So, what do YOU consider change? Where do you agree or disagree with me? I'd be curious to hear your insights on change.

Now to the ensuing chaos. Most changes, I would contend, create initial chaos. For my definition of chaos I'd like to resort to 'chaos theory.' - Keep breathing, I won't get too technical. If you are a scientist, I'm asking you to look at my simple presentation with a kind heart. Generally, we feel comfortable (at least to some degree) when life continues as we know it. Our sense of safety and well-being, sometimes even self-esteem, tends to depend on our familiarity with the status quo, the current and familiar situation in which we find ourselves. That does not mean, the status quo is necessarily helpful to us. Either way, any change that happens contains the potential of a threat to the familiarity of that state of being.

For many of us, that creates discomfort, uneasiness, dis-ease, frustration, and anxiety, just to name a few emotions. We tend to worry or panic when the initial conditions are threatened and feel the possibilities of danger and further change looming above or ahead of us. That's my basic description of chaos.

Here is how Ian Stewart formulates chaos to whom the concept of the butterfly effect is attributed (which is part of the chaos theory). "The flapping of a single butterfly's wing today produces a tiny change in the state of the atmosphere. Over a period of time, what the atmosphere actually does diverges from what it would have done. So, in a month's time, a tornado that would have devastated the Indonesian coast doesn't happen. Or maybe one that wasn't going to happen, does. (Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice? The Mathematics of Chaos, 141)

How does this rendition of the concept of chaos sound to you? Does it make sense? Maybe it helps you to shed light on your own experiences. And if so, would you like to share those with me? If not, how do YOU understand chaos?

Transition expresses itself as an internal process that is highly individual in form and nature. Through this transformational process we adjust, adapt and come to terms with the changes and the chaos that have permeated the life we used to know. A multitude of emotions characterize this process that invites each one of us to reassess ourselves, life and the world. The words of the writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez depict beautifully what transition entails: "Human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but...life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves."

Gabriel Garcia Marquez captures the essence of the three important phases that characterize the process of transition–ENDING, EXPLORATION, EMERGENCE. (I highly recommend William Bridges' work on Transitions as I consider him an authority on this subject. He refers to the three phases as zones: ending, neutral zone, new beginnings.) I prefer to use the terminology 'phase,' but want to emphasize that these phases, as distinct as they are, may overlap. The initial phase of transition is considered the ENDING (or death) of a particular identity, form, value, understanding or situation. Change often precipitates this phase. It's important to keep in mind that even desired change, such as the birth of a child, a move or a wedding, frequently propel us into transitions as they, too, contain the ENDING of a life we leave behind.

I refer to the second phase of transition as the EXPLORATION phase, which may often feel and look like the Great Unknown, a dead end, an abyss, the gulf of darkness, or an emptiness (the dark night of the soul) where we feel the ground shaking and the atmosphere whistling past us. It's completely unsettling, confusing and creates a sense of disconnection and loneliness. Of course, you recognize the chaos in here! However, it is precisely in this phase where we abdicate control and enter into a state of surrender.

No prescribed time line confines us in this EXPLORATION phase that may be filled with tears of joy and grief, pain and agony, doubt and certainty, grace and grit, and many more seemingly conflicting emotions. When we use our time and resources creatively and consciously, though, when we take time to reflect and engage ourselves in inner work and contemplation, we will sense the nudges and eventually the arrival of the next phase. With the support of those who know how to listen, hear us and create a safe space for us while we are immersed in EXPLORATION, we recognize the truth in Lewis Carrol's words, "I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then."

This recognition and acceptance signals our initiation into the third phase of transition, EMERGENCE. Here our internal restructuring and reorganization takes shape. By connecting with the sources that can sustain us from within, we begin to gain or regain a sense of purpose. We make plans, we picture and connect with new ways of being and we prepare ourselves to play new roles in our lives.

I am very curious to see, despite the whirlpool of emotions I can feel inside of me, how the changes that have been sparked in my family will translate into personal transformational experiences. We have been invited into the process of transition and each one of us has been given the opportunity to accept and rise to the challenge.

I realize I have not yet gone into the emotional and spiritual components of transition. That requires more time and space than a blog allows. Let me know, though, if particular questions arise for you that I might be able to address in this format.

For now I wonder what transition means for you. What aspects–of my extremely brief description–of this process resonate with you? What emerges for you when you enter a transition? I am looking forward to hearing your insights.

Success! Failure! Two extremely powerful words that make hearts sing or bleed! They etch themselves into our minds and souls, causing us much grief and maybe some glory, as many athletes, coaches, families and whole nations can attest to right now during the Olympic Games.
A difference of two 1/100th of a second can turn a success to failure, it seems. To put it in perspective, that's just about 2.5-3 times the speed of the blink of an eye. Imagine that! Now imagine the consequences of seeing your apparent success turn into failure because you were off by three blinks of an eye.

The power of words! Who grants them this power? Who accepts the power? Words amaze and fascinate me - and always have, I must confess. I suppose you can tell! I absolutely love Lewis Carrol's humour, wit and wisdom. Let's see what he contributes to our exploration of success.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master – that's all."

In the context of the Olympic Games, success appears to be defined primarily by a place on the podium or a personal best, but the latter doesn't even make the news beyond the immediate moment. Do the athletes choose individually what success means to each of them, I wonder? Are they in charge of the words or do the words master them? What do you think?

Are you deliberate about your choice of words, both spoken and unspoken ones? How conscious are you about the meaning behind and contained within the words you use? Do they mean the same each time? Do they mean the same when you are the speaker and when you are the listener? Can you state with Humpty Dumpty's conviction that the words mean just what YOU choose them to "mean–neither more nor less?"

I have to admit that for years I manipulated words unconsciously, words that included 'work,' 'love,' being strong,' 'pleasing,' and countless more. I had absorbed the meanings of words as they were passed on to me through the cumulative powers of my entire environment, from family, school, and church to media, history and more. Therefore, the temper of words, to quote Humpty Dumpty, certainly could affect me, often negatively. They mastered me most of the time, I would surmise, because I allowed myself to be limited by them.

Only in my twenties, when I was studying foreign languages, literatures, cultures, histories and philosophies, did it dawn on me how important it was for me to learn to choose the exact right words. I realized that in the blink of an eye, my choice of words and my intentions behind them, could divide, rather than unite. And that was just the beginning of a process that's still ongoing for me.

I recognized that I needed to gain clear understanding on how to define or redefine the meaning of each word for myself. I needed to shed layers of assumed identities that I enacted through the use of my words, in particular the ones I spoke quietly to myself on the inside. Only then could I move towards mastery of the words, as Humpty Dumpty suggests–a potential and possibility I continue to live into. How clear and conscious are you on the intentions of the words you are using?

Now back to our starting point: the word success. In my life, numerous understandings of this word have percolated through my being, all leaving their marks on me at certain times. I moved from regarding success as working hard, high academic achievements, financial wealth, having a family and a nice home, to attaining fame in the world and to actively changing the world. In retrospect, all of these meanings point to three common elements in my outlook on life; first, I needed to prove myself to others; second, success was connected with the concept of the extraordinary; and third, I wanted to leave the world a better place.

I want to emphasize that you will come to your own personal insights, which may match or completely contradict mine. And that's just fine as it underscores our uniquenesses. What is most important is that you gain clarity for yourself.

What does the word success mean to me now? Success still means I want to leave the world a better place. So what makes the difference you may ask?

I realize that the word no longer masters me. Instead, I continue to live into the possibility of mastering the word. In this process, I feel grounded and at home most of the time, even when I am confronted with losses and so-called failures or internal and external doubts or questions. I have reshaped the 'world' for myself to symbolize 'my internal landscape.' No longer do I feel compelled to change the world out there because I have relinquished my need for external control. If I believe that we are all whole and that as individuals we reflect the whole, then it follows that I do not need to change the world out there. "Effective action is personal, not social or cultural," aptly states Joseph Chilton Pearce.

In other words, my desire to 'leave the world a better place' can only begin and end with weeding, tilling, sculpting, shaping, pruning, planting, seeding, fertilizing, harvesting, and caring for my internal landscape. Out of this fertile and beautiful landscape grows my notion of success. I challenge myself to treat each seemingly ordinary aspect of the life around and within me with extraordinary attention and intention and a sense of mystery. When I connect with this purpose and passion in myself, the changes in my eternal landscape awaken possibilities not only in me, but by extension in others. To me, that's how resilient community arises, out of this "bond of the heart," to quote J. Pearce again. Resilience, by the way, connotes the ability to absorb shock, adapt and change in a healthy and balanced manner.

Let me summarize what I mean by success. I recognize my success when I light up from the inside out. Success suggests I manage to give the most ordinary aspect of my internal and external life the most extraordinary attention by tending to that landscape. Such purposeful curiosity and passion awaken me to the possibilities that lie within. When others around me start to reflect back the same light, I know I am reaping the extraordinary benefits of the community that emerges from my conscious efforts to master the word success.

1. I breathe and anchor myself. I go to that magic place of peace within me where I can simply be.
2. Ibecome aware of the agitation, the resentment or frustration I'mfeeling towards the task or situation at hand. I connect with it andfeel it in my body.
3. Then I remind myself of this: Nobody canmake me do anything and nothing can cause me to feel a particular way.Even though I may not be able to change the situation, I can always choose how I wish to respond to it. Each choice, though, comes with a consequence (both action and feeling).
4. Iimagine the choices I have in this particular situation, which mayinclude elimination of a task altogether. Then I sum up theconsequences. I give myself less than 30 seconds to picture the choices.
5. Iask myself next: Which of the choices (with the accompanying benefitsand rewards or drawbacks we call consequences) honours best allinvolved in the process? - It's important to go with whatever pops intomy awareness first.
6. Last question: What's a good investment ofmy time, given the choices and consequences I have identified? I listento what feels right for me overall - should, ought, cannot, must etc have no place here. Instead, I listen for "choose" and "want" and "I will."
7. Finally,I find a visual, verbal or acoustic cue that reminds me of the shiftI've just made. It needs to symbolize for me the shift to investment of mytime and energy that arises from a place of choice. I keep that symbolclose by until I have created a new habit for myself.

That'sit! See what happens when you set your intentions to invest your time.You may be surprised by the ease and peace, the joy and magic youcreate in your life.