ask. let go. receive.

since i am really in want of what i am about to ask for, i need to focus a good part of my energy on the letting go piece. letting go means that you trust you will get what you asked for–maybe not on the time frame you’d like, but it will still happen. i’ve realized that i’m great at asking for small things or even material items that i would like (this is how i got my dining room table and my antique coffeetable), but when it comes to things that really matter (i.e. when big emotions are involved), i sometimes have trouble seeing that what i ask for will be given to me, so i don’t usually ask.

today i change that.

today i ask for one thing: trust.

trust in love, trust in myself, trust that not all people behave the same way. and trust that what is happening here for me now is for my highest good.

and now i start figuring out how to let go. the first thing i’ll do is entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe it IS a possibility to get what i’m asking for. now i’m going to go think about how that would make me feel. and i bet that’s a whole lot better than doubting.

sometimes i feel like i’m 104 years old. aches and pains that seem to never stop, no matter what i do. [truth: i could probably be doing more to help] i’m learning to use my body as a compass and realize that it’s trying to tell me something through the pain. something isn’t right. i want to view my body as a temple, not a human garbage disposal.

so i’m also going to ask for the knowledge and strength to detox my body and create a sustainable long term plan. temple > garbage disposal.

never stop asking.

this week i’m asking for a surge in ENERGY [note capital letters].

ENERGY that will help me endure the parts of my day that i am only tolerating.

ENERGY to find the strength to act from a place of love, even when i’m feeling stubborn.

ENERGY to that will light the way for me to work on the things that fill my soul  instead of feeling that i am much too tired.

*bow to the energy gods and goddesses*

**drumroll please**

1. the strength to push through the difficulty that may ensue with my soon to be new lifestyle change a la a raw diet

2. a pain-free physical body

3. to meet more of my “tribe” to connect with

how would someone with incredible strength to formulate a new way of eating with a pain-free physical body and amazing like minded people who support her act? THAT, my friends, is what i’ll ponder today. acting as if. i’ve heard that this really works in bringing what you want right to you. why reinvent the wheel, right? sometimes it’s nice to be handed the key.

One of my new favorite books is Michele Woodward’s I Am Not Superwoman: Further Essays On Happier Living. Without a doubt, Michele digs deep down and asks the important questions–the ones that help us get really clear on the stories we tell ourselves and why we make the choices we do. Her collection of essays will help you get to the core of who you really are, teach you how to get out of your own way and why that’s critical to your authentic happiness.

Her approach is supportive, non judgemental and often times humorous. She won’t scold you for how you’ve always behaved, but will invite you to entertain how you can get to a better place, tell a better story and maintain that happiness. This book helped me put my perfectionistic thinking (that has never, ever served me) under a microscope where I could break it down little by little.  Talk about a  freedom I’ve never known before!  With Michele’s help, I’ve been able to remind myself that Superwoman truly is mythical and I look much better as what she calls, Imperfecta Girl. Superwoman might have a mean outfit, but I bet she isn’t as interesting and happy as Imperfecta Girl!

Treat yourself to this gem by clicking here. It’ll change your life.

1. Self-care has to be deliberate until it becomes a habit. There’s nothing wrong with putting it on the calendar–in fact, I’m more likely to follow-through with it if I schedule it in.

2. Doing things for me makes me feel refreshed. Shocker!  It often changes my clouded perspective and re-energizes me. It makes me a better everything.

So doing things that  I love and normally don’t make enough time to do are now becoming a priority, and so is getting clear on what I want and asking for it. When you ask, and then let go of [I still need work on this part], the Universe/God/Bhudda/Elvis/Etc (yes, I’m reading Kris Carr’s book) has no choice but to deliver. And that my friends, is what I’ve come to think of as the meaning of life–find the things that make us happy, pursue them with reckless abandon by asking and then allowing. Repeat over and over until, well, death.

So, without further ado, the Saturday asks:

1. I ask for a pain-free physical body.

2. I ask for the strength and continued inspired action to change my diet completely.

3. I ask for the financial ability to pay my outstanding debt and go on Cayamo, a Journey Through Song [aka the most amazing musical experience on a cruise ship]

4. I ask for an amazing new opportunity to fall into my lap related to my life’s work.

5. I ask for my group to raise enough $$ for the conference planning we’re planning to get Kris Carr to be the speaker, and for her to be able/want to do it.

Dream big, people.

xo.

UNO: I’d like the pain I’ve been experiencing in my lower back/hip area to be healed. You don’t think much about things like walking until you can’t do them so well.

DOS: I’d like to be more present in everything I do this week.

TRES: I’d like to feel more energized than I have lately. [with a capital E]

I am grateful for the change to heal my physical body, for being more engaged in activities as I do them, and for feeling more energetic than I ever have before!

1. A new tradition in which I communicate openly with the Universe the things I want on Saturdays; it’s purpose being deliberate creation.

I got this idea from the brilliant Havi Brooks, author of The Fluent Self blog. For the last year or so, it has become unmistakable that if I ask for something, I inevitably get it. Gasp. I know. And because I’ve grown tired of wondering why I don’t ask more, I’ve decided to, well, ask more.

Why do I think this will work? Because it’s worked before. I have proof. As I flex the muscle of asking more, being deliberate about what I want, it will become easier and my sometimes disbelief will leave me once and for all. And frankly, it’s the law. If you want something, you’ve got to feel it. That feeling will attract it to you. Not to go back to high school science class, but it’s just like the teacher said, like attracts like.

So, without further ado, here are my Saturday Asks:

1. Please deliver what I need to know in a very clear way, one in which I recognize undoubtedly. While I’m listening to music I love and/or while I’m driving would be great.

2. Clarity. I’d like more clairty around what specific things I need to be doing to reach the most fulfillment possible in the areas of my work and my love relationship.

3. Help on being more present.

I ask for these things for the sake of my highest good.

I’ve chosen my theme for 2011, and it’s radical self-care. Shortly I will be starting a 30 day self-care challenge and I’m inviting all of you to participate with me. Mostly because it will be fun, because we can learn from one another and because having support makes things like this easier. So this is my formal invitation, from me to you. If I sent it to you in the mail, it would be wrapped in a shiny red bow.

First of all, the WHY. The why behind doing anything is the golden ticket for getting it done. The why creates and maintains your mojo. Ask yourself [as I ask myself]: why would I want to take part in a 30 day self-care challenge? Well because. As if we should really need a reason to take care of ourselves, but we do. We’re tired. We’re busy. And we can’t fathom adding another thing. This is exactly the reason why I need to do this, and I’m guessing it is for you, too. I’ll tell you, though, this isn’t just another thing. It’s THE thing. The one that will, once you make it a regular practice, change your life for good. I need more creative energy and inspired action and to prove to myself that I can bring whatever it is that I want more of into my life. That’s why I’m doing this.

[ready?] The details: The challenge begins on Jan. 31st and goes until March 1st. Nothing like a little self love mixed into a month that already has a reputation for being a love month. Each day our challenge will be to do something that supports our own self-care, and only you know what that is. I ask that you keep a notebook of your liking set aside for these 30 days and that you write down what 1 think you did that day that fell under your self-care umbrella. Easy, right?

[set] Preparation: This is probably the best part, partially because I love to make lists; my left brain marvels at this. If, in fact, you are right brained, don’t fret. Draw your list. Paint your list. Make a mind map. Or a collage from magazine cut outs. Someone one said to me that if you need to pound a nail into a wall, it doesn’t matter if you use a hammer or a shoe. So, so true. Now. Make a list of as many things you can think of [big, small, shiny, round, you name it] that would feel like self-care if you did it. Even if you think you don’t have time for it or it’s too big, name it anyway. Let your intuition guide you–if something pops into your head while making your list, it’s because…it was meant to be on the list.

[go] My list, for your viewing pleasure:

Taking a nap.

Or a bath.

Cooking a meal.

Saying no to things I don’t want to do.

Doing something imperfectly and not judging myself for it.

Sleeping in.

Playing my guitar.

Connecting with friends.

Getting enough sleep.

Doing the stretches my chiropractor gave me.

Massages.

Making time to read the ten million books in my queue.

Enjoying a nice soy chai

Seeing live music.

Writing.

Meditating.

Engaging in craft projects.

Listening to my favorite upbeat, mojo creating music.

Choosing not to believe the junk that is sometimes in my head.

Allowing myself to do nothing.

Playing with my canine & feline loves.

Laughing.

Listening to my body compass.

Releasing my stubbornness.

Going to the movies.

Drinking out of my favorite Peanuts glass.

Having a day of wearing pjs only.

Visiting my vision board regularly.

Accepting where I am.

Guacamole from Sole.

In no way is this list comprehensive. It’s a start, and a start puts me on the path. And it can put you on the path, too. I’ll be updating my progress daily for all 30 days and hope you will share yours with me. And remember, if we miss a few days, it’s o.k. Remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination.

Who’s coming with me? [feel free to bring some friends to join us!]

Revolution is a big word, I know. But trust me on this one. The only thing required to create one is a slight change in the above Do-Have-Be formula, and that is Be-Do-Have. BE what you want to be and you’ll create inspired action to DO the thing you want to do. And then, almost like magic, you’ll have everything you want. But only it’s not magic, it’s the power of your own creation. The power of you.

So this year I’ve decided to make a list of things I will stop doing in support of that. You know, so that I can make more room to be who I want to be (inspired, fulfilled, energetic, connected), which will then allow me to do all of the things I’ve only dreamed about, which will then bring what I want to me, right where it belongs. It almost sounds too easy and that’s because it is. I’ve learned and have proof that once I get out of my own way, things are exactly as I want them to be. So, on to my list.

Things I will stop doing in 2011: [in no particular order]

1. Waiting. I’m going to stop waiting for the moon and starts to align before I take action.

2. Trying to be perfect. Even if this elusive phenomenon wasn’t so….elusive, what would happen once I reached it? Would there be any room left to grow? I doubt it.

3. Putting self-care activities off until everything else gets done.  This makes me cranky because this means I usually don’t get to them.

4. Believing things that I tell myself that aren’t true. This might be a little difficult to do since I’ve believed some of this stuff for way too long, but I have the tools I need to do it [like a lie detector].

It starts here, right now. With me.

My.Personal.Revolution.

What will YOU stop doing this year?