Knowing we need no thing or no other to be complete gives us freedom to be ourselves. Freedom to be ourselves releases the magic of who we are–without longing, anxiety, or regret for the past or the future–into a relaxed strength in the present that is simply irresistible.
Contentment isn’t the property of the lucky or the wealthy. Contentment is free to whomever decides to stop the futility of complaining and reach out to claim it.
If we want the world, this is the only way to get it.
It may not feel like it, but we can make it so…
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
When I get out of bed saying this, instead of something that indicates dread or discouragement, I can watch my peace and joy emerge, even through…
Somehow, my true self recognizes that I am not a victim but the hero of my story.
My power may be buried and dormant, but the seed of my strength is only waiting for activation.
(It helps to listen to powerful or peaceful songs of victory. I ask Alexa for meditation music, Jock Rock, or classical marches.)
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in fear and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray (what the heck?)
I woke. The dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off and my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee
These are words to a powerful, ancient song by John Wesley. Many of us can relate to the imprisoned spirit and dungeon parts. But, this morning, I thought for the first time about the very strange “eye diffusing a quickening ray” line and (from personal experience) translated it as…You focused a laser of life-giving power directly upon me and, in a millisecond, I was free…
So, if today I need freedom (miracles, hope, direction, wisdom, forgiveness, power), can it be that the laser of life-giving power might focus on me, one more time?
Today, I inaugurate myself
As the commander in chief of my own future
I celebrate my promotion
To the role of the productive leader
Of my life, full of promise and hope
Out off yesterday’s role of
Chicken little, hopeless victim, or discouraged martyr
Today I will usher myself
With a flourish and a solemn promise
Into my new position of power
Supported by the noble and the brave
Who have gone before, and will come after
Those who chose, and will choose
Action over words
Mercy over malice
And resolve over fear
My daughter was the absolute least experienced, youngest, and worst player on her middle-school soccer team until she blew everyone’s minds by scoring three goals! At halftime, I said, “Pammy, what happened? How did you do that?”
She said, “I don’t know. I just pretended I was Mia Hamm.”
I now use her simple method when I feel defeated or the most insecure. I tell myself I am one of my role models and then…go for broke. When I see myself as more talented, more courageous, stronger, or more successful, I usually am.
Just one, “I suck at this,” or “I am not good at that,” is a death sentence for my success.
Who I tell myself I am really matters.
I used every one of these lines arguing with possibility. I really believed them.
Yet, saying them caused internal bleeding. My misery spread like a plague on to family, friends, and innocent bystanders.
When I finally decided that inaction was more painful than action, I was able to squelch the censor and breathe freely and deeply for the first time.
Universal response that I also had: “I should have done it a long time ago.”
I woke up sobbing once from a nightmare about unrequited love. In the dream, the harder I tried to get that love back, the crazier I acted and the more I was rejected. Unfortunately, this is more than a nightmare for many, many people. Multitudes live in constant fear and pain over losing jobs, people they love, or something else they think they must have, and are losing their dignity in the process of trying to save it.
It took me way too many years to learn that I already had the significance and security that I craved.
I now stand tall, understand I am valuable, and feel the power of The Universe behind me.
No more begging. Only accepting (and fully utilizing) what I have already been given.
To draw energy, experiences, joy, and the right people toward us, we must have qualities of gravity: the pull, the gravitas, the force.
If we think about the people we admire or enjoy being around, it’s not hard to identify the elements of those qualities.
Yesterday, I noticed these qualities in Lisa Huffaker, a presenter at Last Writes of Spring Literary Festival. She taught kids (and adults) to make their own small magazines, and she was so completely present and delighted in the process!
Passion, childlike delight, presence, courage, contentment, and not taking oneself too seriously; these are the qualities that draw me in. These are the qualities I want to have today. Thanks Lisa Huffaker for reminding me.
Sometimes we need rest.
Sometimes we need to push ourselves.
We can only know which is appropriate if we are willing to do either.
Recently I played a tennis match in bad weather with a bad cold. Halfway through the match I changed my internal dialog from “I can’t do this,” to “I can do this.” We battled for over two hours. Afterward, my cold was gone.
Dotie Olsteen did the same when odds were much higher.
Interesting enough, Dotie’s prayers weren’t about cancer. The theme was forgetting about cancer.
What should you do? Only you can answer that. Both choices take power.
Choose whatever takes the most power.
Let me be content to see the innate value of every human being.
And, may I have the honor of helping others discover and appreciate the power they have over their own lives.
Two-Minute Tune-Up 
