Inspired Possibility
  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy
  • Work with Me
    • Coming Home to Yourself Coaching
    • Serenity Now Retreats
  • Events
    • Come Home to Yourself Retreat
  • The Book!
    • Book Testimonials
  • Blog
    • Subscribe
  • Resources
  • Contact

Life, Death, and Rebirth

5/10/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is the name of one of the Tai Chi moves we do in Tai Chi for Recovery, and it strikes me that this is what this season of Spring is all about.

Nature is making it abundantly clear that we are in a time of transition.  Each of these elements: life, death, and rebirth are at play.

I see life in the trees and flowers budding and springing to life, in the baby ducklings scurrying to keep up with their mother as they somersault haphazardly off the bank, frantic to not be left behind.  There is life in the call of the migrating loons on our lake – these visitors that are only here for a short while.  The longer days with more sunshine and the skies filled with birds flitting busily about feel very much alive.

As trees and plants come to life, we can also see the ones that did not make it.  The death and decayed material on the forest floor that now becomes the base of life for new growth. 

Rebirth – the perennials and bulbs that miraculously burst through the ground after so many months of hibernation, resting, doing whatever magical things they do in the soil when the snow and grey days are here.   The tiny lilacs, their buds the size of a tiny pearl, slowly becoming more vibrant, more open each day.

And I am reminded of these cycles that live within each one of us all the time.  We are always in transition, whether we know it or not.  Physically our bodies change every single day – as Wayne Dyer used to remind us, we are not the body we were at 6 months old, even though we are still the same person. 

As we learn, grow, and evolve, our thoughts change. We find new ways. We unlearn old ones that are not helpful and maybe even harmful.  We replace old, destructive habits with new healthy ones.  We slip back.  We begin again.  Life, death, rebirth. 

Bursts of inspiration and energy carry us toward possibility.  Fear and doubt stop us in our tracks.  Then we begin again, slowly gaining traction.  Life, death, rebirth. 

Dreams and ideas fall away as new ones come to light.  Roles are abandoned or redefined.  We step into a new sense of self, perhaps one that feels more aligned with who we are in this chapter of our life. 

It seems in every group I participate in, people are talking about feeling “up in the air,” uncertain of the future.  I sense a heightened awareness to the truth that we don’t know what lies ahead.  We don’t know.  Individually and collectively, we have no ability to see, with certainty, how our next move will play out down the line.  For some at some times this brings fear and anxiety.  We want to know.  Our minds love to think they’re in charge and that if we craft just the right plan, then surely, we’ll be ok.  We’ll be safe.  Now we can go ahead.  We forget that plans are destined to be changed. 

Others are more comfortable with stepping out into risks, taking a chance, making the next move that feels like the next right or best step.  We do what we can to set ourselves up for success. And, as we step into action, maybe we weigh pros and cons.  We do the research, play out scenarios, try to prepare for all that could come up.  (I certainly do that and have likely wasted a lot of time and energy in the past in this mental activity – somehow it makes me feel better.  Gives me a false sense of security).  Sometimes we simply take a leap of faith, trusting that if we don’t learn to fly, the net will appear. 

On my last retreat I spoke about the sense that my heart just keeps breaking open.  A friend asked what that looks like.  The best answer I could give is that I’m filling with compassion to the extent that I can no longer tolerate things that are not Love.  That I feel both a sense of urgency and also a call to slow down and savor.  To pause and notice the teeny tiny buds, to listen to the birds, to not miss life’s unfolding.  To really be present with a friend.  To reach out and put everything else aside so that I can just listen and hear what’s going on in her heart.  To stop telling my son what to do, but to get curious, ask, and give him space to open his heart to me.  To share our thoughts, our feelings with a sense that what we’re up to is somehow very, very sacred. 

And, also, urgency… I feel a pull to show up more and more authentically, to speak up, to speak out, to be part of the revolutionary work I am called to.  To notice that there are more causes that need attention than I can even imagine, and if I try to take them all on, I will be completely burnt out and ineffective in everything I do.  So, slowing down, asking within and getting clear on what causes I am here to serve.  Howard Thurman’s words live in my heart:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

The energy of these words pulses through my heart and veins.  I can literally feel it calling me to life.  Letting go of ideas I’ve had about who I was or what I should be doing – allowing them to die away so that I can be reborn into this new day.  Aligning more and more with what Parker Palmer calls my “soul’s imperative…”  That call which I cannot deny. 

Can you feel this within yourself?  This letting go or dying off of old things, old ways, as you step into new life with fresh energy, new possibility, new beginnings to be born anew as this next version of you? 

When I witness people release a career that’s been bogging them down for decades and allow themselves to feel the excitement of a fresh possibility, as they allow their creative muse to take them to a dream that’s been hidden or a light that beckons, I can feel them coming to life! There is a tingling in the air when someone listens to the call of their heart or soul. When someone says “Yes!” to a dream they have no idea how to fulfill. When they simply take that first small step.  Life in the making! 


0 Comments

Striving, Success, and Sustainability

4/22/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
Seems a lot of people begin their adult lives striving… working hard, trying to achieve something.  For many there’s a vague sense of what they’re aiming for, and for others there’s a very clear end goal in mind.  And, so the climb begins…  striving, driving, pushing to achieve, to prove, to feel worthy. 

We may be following a dream or course set out for us by someone else – our parents, teachers, or other adults who thought they knew what was best or right for us.  Things might look great and we feel like we’re checking all the boxes.  And then, at some point we may find ourselves unhappy, dissatisfied, even if things look great on the outside.

Somewhere along the way, many of us hit a point of wondering what the heck we’re doing.  Feeling like the goals we had set don’t matter as much any longer, whether we’ve reached them or not.  We begin questioning what really matters.  Is it having a 6 or 7 figure salary?  The fancy car? The prestigious title or position?  Who are we trying to impress and what are we trying to prove? 

So, we begin to look at the pace we’ve been going at and find that it’s just not sustainable.  In order to see if what you’re doing is sustainable, take a moment and get really honest about your energy, resources, reserves, and sense of enjoyment and fulfillment.  You may discover you don’t want to keep going the way you have been for decades.  If that’s the case, it’s time to start looking for what brings a sense of contentment, peace, and joy. 

Each one of us gets to define what success is for us.  How is it measured and how will you know if you’ve arrived? What will a successful life look like?  How will you be spending your time? Who will you be with?  What does an ideal day look like in a successful life (for you)? 

Asking these questions can free us from staying on a path that no longer makes sense.  It allows us to lean into our own values and priorities and create our reality with these as our guiding forces. 

One friend says “Hey, we only get so many heartbeats…” True and that number is unknown.  But each day we can decide where we allow those heartbeats to take us.  What we do know it that “finitude” is certain.  This life will end.  When you are looking back over your days, how will you feel about the way you have spent them?
 
The Dash Poem
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning...to the end
 
He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
 
For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth
 
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
 
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
 
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
 
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
 
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while
 
So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?
 
As you reflect on your life and how you’re spending your time, energy, and resources today, are you content?  If not, what changes do you want to make? 
​
As you look ahead to the rest of your life, how do you want to feel?  What impact do you want to have made?  What do you need to do now so that you don’t burn out before you get there?  


Picture
2 Comments

I Will Not Abandon Myself

7/16/2015

1 Comment

 
I first heard these words from Renee Trudeau, and they spoke directly to my soul and quickly became one of my guiding mantras from that moment on.  No, I will not abandon myself. I will be true to me in all areas of my life.  Even when (especially when) it gets hard. These words serve me because they remind me to stand steady on my own ground, even when the earth is shaking around me.  Even when other people’s stuff is raining down on me.  I invite you to try this out for yourself.

In order to do this we need to realize the choices we have.  What am I in charge of? Me.  My actions, reactions, and inactions.  That’s all I can control.  People will do things around me.  Events will happen in my world.  And, I am always at choice about what I do with those moments. When I forget that I have a choice and react in a way I wish I hadn’t, my choice now becomes how to respond to the mess I might have made.

What does this look like in real life? Here’s how it plays out in the day-to-day

Self-Honoring – The most important component in being true to oneself is taking the time to develop a really good relationship with yourself.  Know what you need to be your best self. Know what your standards, values, and boundaries are so that you can create a life that is aligned with them in any moment.  Because life is in constant flow, check in regularly on what you’re feeling, thinking, needing, and wanting and see how you can go about addressing those things.  Trust your gut and your heart to guide you to what is right for you in any moment. 

This is not about being selfish. It’s not about doing anything that would hurt anyone else.  At times it could be about making tough decisions that others might not like.  That’s ok.

Know what form of true self-care supports you to be your best and make sure you schedule it in to your life.  Without a solid foundation here, you won’t be able to give your all to other areas of your life. What is it that nourishes you?  What fills you with joy? What makes your heart sing? What calms your systems and grounds you? What restores, rejuvenates, and recharges you to keep on going? What else comes up for you here as you think about self-care? 

Relationships – We get to choose who we spend time with and whose energy we allow into our space – in person and online. We get to set boundaries that determine how we will be treated and what we will put up with.  Think about the people you spend your time with. Are your relationships adding value to your life or are they taking energy? Are there lines in the sand that need to be drawn with those you are in relationship with?

Do you have friendships that are fulfilling – those where you lift each other up, enjoy each other’s company, truly care about what’s going on in the other’s life, and celebrate together? 

Do your business relationships have a mutual respect, collaborative, supportive energy without threat or competition, and are they rewarding to both of you?  Are the communities you are involved in supportive, enjoyable, and meaningful to you? It’s worth reassessing these areas from time to time.

Work – As I learned from Laura Berman Fortgang in my Now What?® coaching training, there is more to life than making money or doing what I’m good at or what I’ve always done.  What’s important is whether I get to be who I want to be while I’m doing my work.

Find or create a career that fuels you rather than drains you. I do what I do is because it energizes me and because I love to help others find that energy as well.

Far too many people are having the life sucked out of them by toxic environments.  I know I don’t ever want to be one of them, and I hope you don’t either.  Life is too important and too short. Find a way to do work that lights you up if possible.  If not, at least find work that is energy-neutral (not taking more than it’s giving) that will pay the bills while you do things that light you up on the side.

Physical Self – We only get one body in this life so it’s a good idea to take really good care of it.  Learn  what foods provide true nourishment and sustenance for your body, not just comfort in those stressful moments. 

Believe me, I get stress eating and comfort foods, and I’m learning that the stress reduction is short-term and the “comfort” often leaves me feeling more uncomfortable than when I started eating. And sometimes I succumb anyway, forgive myself, and get back on track as quickly as possible. At least the awareness is there now and I recognize the choice I’m making.

What exercise is fun for you?  If it’s not fun, it might not be worth the stress it causes you to think you “should” be doing it!  So, really, how does your body love to move?? 

How much sleep do you need to function optimally? Does your body need to get out in the sun, be in nature, breathe fresh air, glide through water, or soak in the starlit night?  

This ties back in with self-honoring because it requires a strong self-awareness and a commitment to take care of yourself in the way that works for you.  What works for your neighbor or friend may have no connection to what you need. 

The opportunity - I invite you to take time to tune in to yourself.  Engage in regular dialogue with yourself through meditation or journaling or daydreaming (whatever works for you) to access your inner wisdom.  Be still, get quiet, and listen.  You’ll be amazed at what comes to you.

What are you being called to?  What are you being called away from? Where are you abandoning yourself and how can you make a change? Pay attention and see how things shift when you begin to honor the wise guidance that you have within you! 

Try something new and remember that decisions aren’t forever.  You can choose again if you want to. 

My wish for you… Be true to you.  It’s the best way I know to live an authentic, joyful, peaceful, and impactful life. 

1 Comment
    Subscribe

    About me...

    I am a writer, coach, and teacher, and I love capturing life's many moments through writing, whether that be journalling, blogging, poetry, or essay.  I have always found the written word as a natural way for me to express what lies within.  

    This is the space where we get real.  I will write about my life experiences and things that I find my clients encounter in their daily lives.   

    What's real for you? What would you like me to write about?  Feel free to share with me topics you would like to see discussed and please join in the dialogue through the comment section. Your engagement makes the blog a much richer place to hang out!

    Thank you for joining me on this journey!!    

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    Addiction
    #AtoZ Challenge
    Balance
    Biopsy
    Cancer
    Career
    Challenge
    Change
    Choice
    Comfort Zone
    Commitment
    Compassion
    Connection
    Coronoavirus
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Discernment
    Discomfort
    Disconnect
    Dreams
    Election
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Extraordinary
    Family Recovery
    Freedom
    Grace
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Health
    Holidays
    Hope
    Inner Work
    Inquiry
    Inspiration
    Intention
    Intuition
    Joy
    Kindness
    Letting Go
    Life
    Light
    Logic
    Loving Kindness
    Meditation
    Mental Health
    Mindfulness
    Mom
    National Recovery Month
    New Year
    Overwhelm
    Pause
    Peace
    Perfectionism
    Personal Growth
    Perspective
    Possibility
    Presence
    Procrastination
    Purpose
    Quarantine
    Recovery
    Relationships
    Responsibility
    Rest
    Retreat
    Sadness
    Self Awareness
    Self Care
    Self-care
    Self Compassion
    Self-compassion
    Self Renewal
    Self-renewal
    Slowing Down
    Solstice
    Sport
    Stillness
    Strength
    Substance Use Disorder
    Support
    Thanksgiving
    Time
    Transition
    Wellbeing

    RSS Feed

Barb Klein
Inspired Possibility
585-705-8740
barb@inspiredpossibility.com