Inspired Possibility
  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy
  • Work with Me
    • Coming Home to Yourself Coaching
    • Serenity Now Retreats
  • Events
    • Inviting You Home Feb 2021
    • Mini Retreats
  • The Book!
    • Book Testimonials
  • Blog
    • Subscribe
  • Resources
  • Contact

What Do You Love?

5/8/2020

1 Comment

 
PictureImage by congerdesign from Pixabay 
Now wait… before you read on,… pause.   Take a breath.  Maybe close your eyes and put your hands on your heart.  Get curious.  With an open mind and an open heart, ask, with genuine interest… what do I love? Then see what rises up.  Be willing to be surprised.  What DO you love??
 
Recently I posed this question to a group of women who may not often think about this, particularly in the context I asked it.  Also, I asked it in the middle of a global pandemic at a time when many of us are feeling weary, worried, unsettled, and uncertain.  I asked moms of kids who struggle with substance use disorder –what do you love about your son or daughter?  What are their best qualities? 

Lots of women replied, naming so many beautiful qualities their kids embody, acknowledging that it’s been awhile since they’ve reflected on these aspects of kids who are often associated with pain and struggle.  Which was exactly my point in asking the question.  Not to pretend that the horrendous experiences aren’t there, but to remember that beneath this disease, there is still a loving, caring, kind, humorous, creative, generous being. 

If there is a person in your life with whom you have a challenging or complicated relationship, you might take a moment to consider what qualities you love in this person.  

Why am I asking you now at a time when there’s so much we don’t like, so much we are worried, scared, or discombobulated about?? 

I find it really helpful to remember that the whole messy mix can be true at the same time.  It’s not all or nothing, black or white, good or bad.  Rarely does life present itself in a neat package despite our mind’s desire to simplify it that way. 

We look at what we love, not to erase or to pretend that the painful, uncomfortable, less desirable things aren’t also here.  We do this to see that there’s room for it all.  That it can ALL be here, at the same time, in the same reality, in the same heart.  We don’t have to choose what we hate or what we love, what we’re for or what we’re against, what we want to lean into or what we want to eradicate forever.  We can be with it all.  You can love the sunshine and warmth, remembering that beach in your happy place, even as you cringe at the snow that is here when it shouldn’t be! 

It’s a simple practice to wonder and to notice from time to time.  And, so, I ask you, even in your sadness, despair, worry, or fear, to consider, remember or discover the part of you that loves.

Right now… consider, what do you love? 

About yourself? What are your best qualities? (let's start here... and, if you go no further, that will be more than enough!) 

About the situation you find yourself in? 

About life?

About the person or people who challenge you deeply? 

What do you love to do? Eat? Experience? 

Who do you adore, and what is it about them that you love?

What do you love to be? Do? Have? 

Feel into it with all of your senses – what images, thoughts, scents, feelings emerge?  What brings a smile to your face or lights you up inside? 

What brings a sweet “aaahhhh….?”

For me, a few things that come to mind right now that I love are sunsets; lakes and oceans; “The Grinch;” Snoopy; the smell of a bonfire or fresh-baked bread; sunshine and warm, fresh air; laughter; deep honest connections;  the smell of a horse farm and feeling my body sway with a horse; and helping other people light up! 

Now, let's be honest... it might be way easier to know what we don’t like, what we wish were different, even what we hate…  And if that’s where your mind goes, then start there.  When we’re deep in the muck, it can be hard to see out.  Then, take a moment and look at the flip side.  The opposite of what you hate is likely what you love or what you’re longing for. 

Let it all be here.  There is no need to jump over the uncomfortable, the painful, the sad or scary to get to the happy, peaceful, joyful feelings.  We have the capacity to hold it all in these hearts of ours. 

When we can touch in with what we love, we soften, if only for a moment.  Something inside of us stirs.   We awaken maybe a long-forgotten spark.  We connect with something deep and true. 

From this place, maybe we allow ourselves to dream or desire.  Or maybe we allow ourselves to simply accept someone else as they are, even with the parts we don’t like or wish weren’t there.  Maybe for a minute we are able to see the essential goodness in another person. Maybe we energize ourselves enough to take that next step. 

What do you love? 
​

Feel into it.  Awaken your heart.  And, then please share in the comments and let’s sprinkle some love around today! 

1 Comment

Do You Feel Free?

7/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I woke one morning last week clearly hearing this question in a woman’s voice in my head: “Barb, do you feel free?”  It has stayed with me since then.  It’s hung around because I’m not sure how to answer it.  In many ways, yes, I absolutely feel very free.  And then there are the ways I don’t… the ways I hold myself back and the reasons I do.  The things I let stop me.  The beliefs behind those decisions.  The people I care about and what I think they need from me.  Responsibilities, obligations, and commitments.  Financial realities.  Rules and laws. 

What does “free” even mean?  Apparently that’s a great question since Merriam-Webster has 15 definitions, many with their own sub-definitions…  Take a look and see which ones you are curious about.

The one thing that helps me to feel free is to remember that I am always at choice -- as long as I am willing to accept the consequences of my choice.  I don’t get to choose how other people behave, but I am not powerless about how I respond.  I get to decide what my role will be, what words I will say and what actions I will take.

I don’t get to choose my feelings – they come in without warning quite naturally. But I do get to choose what I do with those emotions.  How I respond, how much weight I give them, how long I stay with them.

I do have choice, even though I may not realize it in the moment. 
Freedom to choose is paramount.
. 
I think I’ll spare you further musings while I continue to ponder this question that is landing deep in my being and invite you to join me. 

Do you feel free?  What does “free” mean to you and how do you know if you are or aren’t?  Where do you feel free?  Where do you feel trapped or powerless?  How might you bring in some more freedom to your days?  Why is free important?  What would life be like if you were free? 

Here’s one of my favorite songs to accompany you as you explore. 


Please, please share in the comments below.  This feels like a rich conversation! I look forward to hearing your insights and thoughts. 

Thanks for playing!  

0 Comments
    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

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

    RSS Feed

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