As I write this, we’re winding up a Caribbean cruise.  It was a great getaway, even though cellphones and computers now operate on most ships.  There was a time, not so long ago, when we could cruise away from it all, without a virtual connection back to the real world of home and business.  Not so anymore!

These days, cruises are great for all types of people…from the elderly, to kids, to special needs.  I love cruises, because I really love the ocean …but the secret reason I love cruises is because I love the lull period, which happens sometime in the middle of the voyage.  This mindless time happens when I’m lulled into the peaceful place of not having to think, or steer, or even plan dinner….For a couple of days, I’m just on cruise control.

This glorious time of blissful relaxation only lasts for a brief moment in time, to be replaced by something very different in the last few days we are at sea.  Always, predictably, in the last few days of any cruise, my mind begins the gradual shift back to reality and responsibility.  Even when I try to stay on cruise control, reminders of work, and of home, start to creep in, and I begin returning to making conscious choices.

I write for people who are developing, and growing, and nurturing their potential and purpose in life.  Conscious choice is something I write and speak about, because conscious choice is the glue and foundation of our potential and purpose. Conscious choice keeps us on track, and on course, for creating who we want to be in our lives.  Each choice that we make now, appears as our future potential…choices we make now limit, and determine, what choices will be available to us in our future.  What we are currently receiving in our present life, we have most likely chosen, and given, in the past.

Because we need to be aware and focused on conscious choice so much of the time, we all need cruise time..a time when we can relax not just our bodies, but also relax our minds and our spirits…times when we can be carefree.  The truth is…a cruise doesn’t always have to take place on a ship. We can experience cruise control anytime that we create a space to still the day to day world…we can do that in any way that works for us….any way from gardening, to walking, to bathing, to playing, to sitting.  The key to turning an ordinary time into cruise time, is the intention we bring to the space.  Cruise time must be chosen…it will not appear unless you consciously choose it.  The secret to experiencing real relaxation in mind, body, and spirit, is that we must give our full attention, and focus, to what we are doing….we must be totally present….No multitasking, or turning our mind to choices is allowed.

An old friend once said that she liked regular days more than holidays…I never forgot what she said, and I realize that now I find myself feeling that same way.  She was a joyful and creative person.  She was content in her life.  Special days weren’t so outstanding to her, because she loved the reality she had created for herself.…She was a woman fulfilling her potential.  When we make choices that bring us closer to who we are in our purpose, we too, will love each day, and be focused in the present.

Could you take some cruise time today?  Could you choose a time, and an activity, or a relaxation, which would quiet your mind, relax your body, and refresh your spirit?  Could you plan that time into your day?  Could it be a gift you give yourself?  Could you consciously choose to take cruise time?  Go ahead…turn off the world, and sail away!  And wherever you are, be there!

When you return from your cruise, notice the souvenirs you bring back with you….I know you brought back some gifts for yourself, too….a few little things like:

Renewed energy

More patience

Sharper focus

New perspective

Fresh creativity

Your presence is important to everything you do.  Be present in all your life…and you will enjoy it!  Consciously choose some cruise time, and remember your sunscreen!  Shine on!

Joy & Blessings, Carole  xxx

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

I may have received my first glimpse of self responsibility as a young child, when my mother looked me in the eyes and said, “I think you did that on purpose.”  Until that day, my misbehaviors had sneaked under her radar, because she believed I was too young to understand consequences.  This time, however, I was mature enough to know what I had done, and why I had done it.  My will and intention were maturing, and mom was right…I had done it on purpose!

I once heard Dr Wayne Dyer say that the question he is most often asked is that people want to know how they can discover their life purpose. Most of us question our reason for being here at some time in our lives.  Some of us lead lives of frustration believing we are not fulfilling what we came here for.  Almost all of us have a tendency to view our life experiences in one extreme or the other.

• Good or Bad
• Win or Lose
• OK or Not OK
• Success or Failure
  

There’s an authoritarian aspect of us that causes us to perceive our experiences through a black or white, negative or positive filter.  Realistically, most of our choices, accomplishments, and our experiences tend to fall somewhere in a gray or middle area.  Don’t automatically assume that a gray area is a bad place to be…it’s where most of life takes place!

One of my favorite quotes is by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  You’ve probably heard it before, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Emerson was acknowledging the power of being in the present, and the reality of continuing to live and thrive without reaching a final destination.

The life purpose we all search for is not a single goal, or attainment.  Our life purpose is a series of accomplishments…actually, a multitude of intentions which lead to accomplishments.  We find our life purpose when we discover who we want to be.  Life purpose is not a single mountaintop experience.  Life purpose shows up everyday that we are living consciously, and making choices based in the intentions which reflect our deepest values.  Every experience, every lesson, every win, every loss, is a valuable and necessary part of life’s journey.

Realize you are on purpose, in your life purpose, right now.  Your will and intention are mature enough to make you aware of exactly what you are doing.

Are you becoming the person that you want to be?  Are you making conscious choices to move toward that goal, that reality, that life, of who you are, in the deepest part of you?  Each choice you make reveals choices which were unavailable to you before.

Grow your life purpose…it’s your assignment here on the planet. 

Stay in the present.  You are enough!  And by the way, wherever you are, be there!

Joy & Blessings, Carole  xx

Whatever the challenge is, I usually don’t have the option not to do it, or not to be it, or not to face it.  The Universe doesn’t always offer us an opt out.  Sometimes the not knowing what will take place, and the not knowing what will happen afterward, are the hardest parts.

There are many effective things you can do to prepare yourself for a day that stresses you and threatens to overwhelm you.  It’s always important to center yourself…to get quiet and still…to ask and accept help from our loving, creative Universe.  It’s important to set our intention to have clear perception and right action…that is, action which is in alignment with our deepest values.  Any time you set your intention to open up to clear, loving perception and right action, you’re making a joy choice for yourself and others.

I want to share with you 2 simple but powerful ways which will make your challenging day much easier and more joyful.  When you make these ideas a habit, life gets a little easier!

We all use the words present and gift interchangeably.  If you can remember these 2 important words, you’re on your way to having an easier time on challenging days.

In a moment, I want you to imagine that you are giving yourself 2 things.  Imagine that you are giving yourself a present, and you are giving yourself a gift. .

Close your eyes and open your 1st present:  The present you are receiving is the ability to focus on the present time, choosing to stay in the present, and choosing to keep your mind and heart focused on each moment that you exist in during the day.  Being in the present, keeps your perception clear by staying out of the what if’s of the future, and out of the why me’s of the past.  Be present to what you must do right here, right now, and bring yourself back to the present when you get lost.  Focus on the present time throughout your day to stay centered and clear.

Now imagine you’re opening your 2nd gift:  This gift you are receiving is the ability to accept the gift that comes from the challenge you are facing.  When we experience fear and anxiety about something, we block out our perception of the good which the challenge may be bringing to our life.  When we look for, and receive the gift, that is the good, in a situation or a person, we change our attitude of mind, and open ourselves to more good, to clear perception, and to right action.

If a day of challenge looms on your horizon, remember the present and the gift.  These are yours to take home:

I am fully present, with clear perception and calm mind

I am seeing the gift, being aware of and receptive to more good and right action.

You have great contributions to make to this planet.  Accept the presents and gifts in your life joyously!

Joy & Blessings,  Carole  xx

I want to remind you (and me) that we can use the same skills we already know to push through fear when we really need to…whether we’re learning new computer skills, changing jobs, navigating a drive to a new place, or attempting anything else that’s new to us.

Here’s a little secret up front:  You have to talk to yourself!  Ideally, this would be in private with no one listening except maybe your cat or dog…they understand completely.  Here’s some suggestions for what to ask yourself and what to answer:

Q: Am I smart enough to do this?

• Lucy can do this
• I think I’m probably as capable of learning this as Lucy
• Lots of people manage to learn, do, or accomplish this
• I can get answers and help if I need them
• If I were really incapable, I would not be attempting this

Q:  What else have I attempted that compares to this, and succeeded?

• I’ve learned to do similar things to this before
• I can concentrate and follow directions
• I feel good about myself when I conquer something new
• Nobody knows how to do it until they do it

Q:  How can I get support?

• Online, phone, and live help is available
• I can get help with the first step, or all the steps
• I can trade skill trainings with a friend

Q:  What am I confused about?

• Do I know what I actually want to do?
• Do I have all the instructions I need?
• Am I afraid of looking dumb?
  

Q:  How can I move in the direction?

• What one action can I take to start the process moving
• I’ll start the process by myself, and get help when I need it
• What is my first step?

All of us have a fear of failure, a fear of not good enough, not smart enough, not skilled enough, not capable enough.  These are fears that are natural to all of us.

People who accomplish amazing things have the ability to motivate themselves to keep trying, and to persist until they are absolutely sure they can’t accomplish a difficult task, or they do it!  Even then, people who go on to do great things, push through fear, and continue…or they find help to do what they want to do.  Becoming one of these people is a matter of building an attitude of persistence and faith in oneself, knowing that the worst case scenario may just be getting help if you can’t do it alone.  Fear can’t  exist where faith is present.

It’s OK to fail, especially if we learn something in the process, and if we continue trying.  A new attitude is built on realizing some fear may arise, making a conscious choice to push through the fear, and continuing to a  point of accomplishment, or pride in oneself for giving it our best.

Don’t let the two F’s keep you stuck.   Fear and frustration can create overwhelm which stops you, unless you learn to talk your way through whatever is keeping you from trying something new.  Talk to yourself…the dog will never tell!

Joy & Blessings, Carole  xx