I was honored to represent MS Mindfulness in this webinar along with three other amazing mindful leaders. The collective wisdom here was just wonderful. Here is a replay of the webinar. Enjoy!
Join Me!
I’m going to be one of the speakers on this free webinar. I hope you can join me! I’m looking forward to the discussion! Click on button to register.
What I’m Reading now…The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
I love sharing book ideas especially when I come across a book that truly inspires me. Michael Singer is a bestselling author, a meditation center founder, and a former software programmer. He starts the book in a private jet on his way to do a billion dollar deal reflecting on a life that was given to him that was beyond his wildest dreams. He wants to share how this happened, his wisdom and life experiences with his readers so that we too can live a life that is beyond our wildest dreams.
In his early twenties he had a profound meditation experience that changes him for life. At that moment he comes to a realization that this universe operates pretty much on its own in a perfect way without us interfering. For example the planets are in perfect rotation and when a seed is planted it doesn’t need us to tell it what it needs to be. So he thought what if he trusted that his life has a perfect unfolding too. What if he just trusted the process and trusted what was put in front of him will bring him greater joy? And as you can guess, he had the most amazing life full of these incredible experiences and incredible success. What I like about this book is that he gives great examples of what is laid before him and any resistance he would feel about it and why. Then regardless of the voices in his head that would try to discourage him, he would gothrough with it and shares how it turned out to not only benefit him but the greater good. He says he would take anything that was put in front of him as an assignment from the universe; therefore, he would give it his complete best. I love that way of thinking. The other amazing thing is that everything came to him. He didn’t have to chase anything or force anything to happen. He didn’t have a plan and just allowed the flow of life to happen. He was open to all possibilities. I am personally getting this concept myself. There’s a quote by Rumi that I have on my phone that speaks to this. It says:
When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety;if I sit in my own place of patience,what I need flows to me, and without pain. From this I understand that what I want also wants me,is looking for me and attracting me.There is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp it.”
I personally am beginning to experience the perfection in trusting the process and allowing the things I want to come to me. Now I am not saying I don’t take any action on things, but I only take what I call inspired action. And yes things are coming to me that bring me a lot of joy and excitement. This book confirmed for me that I am onto something here. This universe is constantly surprising me and delighting me as I trust and surrender.
The other thing that Loved about his story is that he was dedicated to his meditation practice. He never let that go by the wayside no matter how busy he was. He meditated twice a day. His meditation practice is what kept him grounded and open. I can relate. My meditation practice is very important to me. It’s vital to my existence. In my opinion, meditation creates the space to allow the clarity, the ideas, the inspiration, the peace to flow into my life.
So I encourage you to read this book. I loved it! It’s my go-to gift now for the ones that are willing to trust and follow the flow of life…like me!
Synchronicities: A Sure Sign You're on the Right Path
Loved this article. We get signs and messages all the time if we are willing to be open. I love it when I get a sign from the universe. My favorite ones are the license plates that are put in front of me that are spot on with what I’m thinking about in those moments! They always make me smile and think how playful the universe can be! Click below to read the article.
Why successful people spend 10 hours a week on ‘compound time’
Great article I just had to share! Just goes to show you how down time can serve you!
Hay House You Can Heal Your Life Summit
You don’t want to miss this! Access to intimate conversations, powerful lessons and wisdom from leading experts in health, spirituality, wealth and more! The last day to listen for free is May 16 until 9:00 PM PT.
The Guardian of Your Solitude
Born in 1875, the great German lyric poet Rainer Maria Rilke published his first collection of poems in 1898. This piece is from Rilke's timeless letters about poetry, sensitive observation, and the complicated workings of the human heart. When I read it I had to share it with others especially now during this time of solitude. There is such clarity and purity in his words. Enjoy!
LETTERS
~ By Rainer Maria Rilke ~
Marriage is in many ways a simplification of life, and it naturally combines the strengths and wills of two young people so that, together, they seem to reach farther into the future than they did before. Above all, marriage is a new task and a new seriousness, – a new demand on the strength and generosity of each partner, and a great new danger for both.
The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of their solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust. A merging of two people is an impossibility, and where it seems to exist, it is a hemming-in, a mutual consent that robs one party or both parties of their fullest freedom and development. But once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side by side can grow up for them, if they succeed in loving the expanse between them, which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole and before an immense sky.
That is why this too must be the criterion for rejection or choice: whether you are willing to stand guard over someone else’s solitude, and whether you are able to set this same person at the gate of your own depths, which he learns of only through what steps forth, in holiday clothing, out of the great darkness.
Life is self-transformation, and human relationships, which are an extract of life, are the most changeable of all, they rise and fall from minute to minute, and lovers are those for whom no moment is like any another. People between whom nothing habitual ever takes place, nothing that has already existed, but just what is new, unexpected, unprecedented. There are such connections, which must be a very great, an almost unbearable happiness, but they can occur only between very rich beings, between those who have become, each for his own sake, rich, calm, and concentrated; only if two worlds are wide and deep and individual can they be combined….
…For the more we are, the richer everything we experience is. And those who want to have a deep love in their lives must collect and save for it, and gather honey.
Not Feeling Like My Best Self
Are you feeling like you aren’t your best self these days? I know I am. I’m feeling so stretched thin and I just can’t seem to give all the areas of my life my best self. But how can I? We are in a crisis! I can’t expect to be at my optimal level when so much is being thrown at me all at once. All I can do is try and give what I can at that moment in time. I take things as they come one by one and focus on the task at hand. and then when something else comes up that needs more attention then I focus on that. I try to be present with everything that is in front of me. I personally don’t believe in multitasking. I think it’s pretty impossible. I am proud to say that I am a single tasker and it’s working out pretty well. But that’s a whole other blog that we can get into. So for now I am trying to be as gentle as I can be with myself and others. Remind myself that I am human and so is everyone else. And this too shall pass!
So I got a text today to watch this video. It came at the perfect time. Exactly what I needed to hear and exactly when I needed it. Enjoy!
Meditation App I Use
One of the meditation apps I personally use and enjoy is Wellness Coach. Their mission is to inspire people to be their best selves. That’s right up my alley! Right now they are offering a free trial during the current pandemic. One of the features I really enjoy are the live classes. It’s like zoom meets meditation! You get to meet so many higher thinking individuals and learn from their wisdom. In addition to the many guided meditations, they even have a timer that you can use with nature sounds or just silence. They are great about constantly putting up new content too. The founders are a husband and wife team that love all things wellness. They are super great humans too! I had the honor of working with them on a few projects for my firm including a recorded meditation by yours truly. They made the experience just so easy and fun. So if you are looking for an app that covers mind, body and spirit then look no further! Give Wellness Coach a try! Enjoy!
Have You Ever Had A Family Meeting?
So I just had my first family meeting with my eight-year-old daughter, Grace. I got this idea from a virtual parenting class I took a few weeks ago with Ann Parkin Magalheas with the The Parent Practice NY. Ann mentioned that a regular family meeting is a great way to connect and help the kids feel empowered because they also have a voice at the meeting. I think most of us think of family meetings when something serious needs to be talked about. I liked the idea of not waiting for something serious to happen in order to have a family meeting. When you think about it, there’s always something to talk about in a household. So I decided to give it a try. Ann also suggested creating an invitation and an agenda which appealed to me because #1 I got to make something creative and cute #2 it does make it feel more real and formal.
My daughter was on a group chat with her friends when I gave her the invitation, she looked at it and looked up at me and gave me a thumbs up then turned to her friends and said “my mom is acting weird”. That made me laugh so hard. But sure enough she met me downstairs and we had our snacks and went through the agenda. I first started the meeting with why people have meetings. I told her we have meetings in my office because they help us to get things done, be on the same page and give everyone a chance to say what’s on their minds. She nodded in agreement. I find that kids are usually in agreement when something makes sense to them. It’s always worked out for me when I explain why we are doing what we are doing. They have the right to know anyway. I’ll never be that parent that says “because I said so”. I want her to be on board and not just going through the motion.
Well I’m happy to report that we got a lot accomplished and laughed during the process. It was a huge success! I will definitely incorporate this into my life as a parent. Open communication it’s just so important in any relationship and the relationship between a parent and child is no different. I hope you give it a try and enjoy the process as much as I did. Be well! Johanna
‘May You Be Happy, May You Be Healthy And May Your Life Be Full Of Joy’
Sharing what we are doing in my part of the world when it comes to meditation and mindfulness.
Wisdom By Dr. Shefali
Dr. Shefali is a NYT bestselling author of The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family. She is also a clinical psychologist, an international speaker and a ...
Little Humans
Want to take your parenting to new levels? Then join me and watch this series. The Little Humans Video Series takes you on a journey into today’s most important parenting wisdom. You’ll get tools and practices you can instantly use to nurture a happier and healthier child at any age.
He’s Just Not That Into You
I may be late to this party but I just recently discovered this book called “He’s Just Not That Into You” that was published in 2009. Well it was great advice then and still great advice today! I wasn’t halfway through this audiobook before I picked up the phone to call my friend Carol to tell her that EVERY single female on the face of this planet should listen to this book. She laughed and was like ok I’m going to download it right now. Her and I are both single and we often talk about getting back into the dating world. This book is like a prerequisite to dating and just a great reminder of how simple things usually really are. I often say that road to happiness is usually pretty simple. But we just like to complicate things and make excuses for dead end relationships. This book is going to help me not waste time and energy and that’s a beautiful thing.
I enjoyed how this book answers a ton of questions from different women in a ton of different situations, but I especially enjoyed the “what it should look like” portion in every chapter, I think a lot of us need models and examples of what healthy responses and reactions should look like because we were never modeled those growing up.
Here is one example from the book of an excuse that women have made for their unsatisfying situations. They also include handy titles to clue you in.
The “Maybe He Doesn’t Want to Ruin the Friendship” Excuse
Dear Greg,
I’m so disappointed. I have this friend that I’ve known platonically for about ten years. He lives in a different city and recently he was in town for work, so we met for dinner. All of a sudden it felt like we were on a date. He was completely flirting with me. He even said to me, as he was checking me out, “So, what, you’re working the whole ‘model thing’ now?” (That’s flirting, right?) We both agreed that we should get together again soon. Well, Greg, I’m disappointed because it’s been two weeks and he hasn’t called me. Can I call him? He might be nervous about turning the friendship into romance. Can’t I give him a nudge now? Isn’t that what friends are for?
Jodi
FROM THE DESK OF GREG
Dear Friendly Girl,
Two weeks is two weeks, except when it’s ten years and two weeks. That’s how long ago he decided whether or not he could date a model or a girl who looks like one. Can you be a pal and give him a nudge? Nudge away, friendster—but watch how fast that nudge doesn’t get a return phone call. And if your dinner/date did feel different to him, it’s been two weeks and he’s had time to think about it and decide he’s just not that into you. Here’s the truth: Guys don’t mind messing up a friendship if it could lead to sex, whether it be a “fuck buddy” situation or a meaningful romance. Go find someone that lives in your zip code who will be rocked to the core by your deep conversation and model looks.
I hate to tell you, but that whole “I don’t want to ruin the friendship” excuse is a racket. It works so well because it seems so wise. Sex could mess up a friendship. Unfortunately, in the entire history of mankind, that excuse has never ever been used by someone who actually means it. If we’re really excited about someone, we can’t stop ourselves—we want more. If we’re friends with someone and attracted to them, we’re going to want to take it further. And please, don’t tell me he’s just “scared.” The only thing he’s scared of—and I say this with a lot of love—is how not attracted to you he is.
Now go get the book. You won’t regret it. It was the best relationship advice I’ve heard in a long time!
Stop Settling and Start Dating Smarter
Listen to Oprah’s Super Soul Conversation with comedian, musician and co-author of He's Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt and his wife Amiira Ruotola. They explain why they believe so many women lower their standards when it comes to dating. Together, they share the biggest mistake women make in dating, what single men are really thinking and why it is important not to lower your personal standards. They also discuss their book It’s Just A F***ing Date.
What Is Calling You This Year?
Happy New Year everyone! As we leave one year behind and roll into the next one, I hope the New Year brings you good health and prosperity, and the successful and fulfilling career and personal life that you all desire and truly deserve.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce has a great quote that says "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
As I am writing my 2020 book I am going to share with you what is in my first chapter. It’s my New Year’s Resolution. I believe that we were all born magnificent and somewhere along the way we have forgotten our own magnificence. Now it’s just a matter of remembering. Remembering that our natural state of being is one of truth and well-being. As a teacher and student of human potential, I strive to be my best individual unique self in everything that I do but I’m taking this to another level this year. My new year’s resolution is to be my truest self. What does that mean? It means that I am going to be myself no matter what with no apologies or edits. To be transparent and honest. And I mean really honest…honest with myself and everyone else. Not pretending to be something or someone other than myself or pretending to know more than I do. Accepting my present moment and my present self to be enough and exactly where I need to be. Allowing myself to be the fullest expression of myself. To cope with and accept things truthfully and not for the sake of appearance. I do not have to be great, I am a simple human being, and like many others I have great powers that I have yet to realize. They are in me, but can only manifest when my perception of my truest self becomes more truthful.
So what is calling you this year?
“Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.” – Mr. Rogers