A place to to recharge your battery, jump-start your passion, and refuel your hope.

To open a door, to let someone else cut in line, to pick up something dropped out of the reach of another… these can be huge gifts even though they appear like small kindnesses.

Life is a group participation experience. There are over six billion of us walking around this planet and it seems unreasonable to think we are meant to manage life alone. No one need feel isolated if only we dare to reach out to one another. And yet, connection does little if it remains superficial and meaningless or only practiced if self-serving.

We must dare, not only to connect, but also, in order to have the peace we all long for we must learn to be kind.

But has kindness become obsolete? Have we become too busy and numb that we have forgotten how to be compassionate with one another? Life is messy and now moves at such a hurried pace.

Too many men have forgotten the power that comes from tenderness and slowing to truly listen, and too many women have abandoned their authentic nature to survive in the fast paced and competitive game that has long been played by men. Standing elbow to elbow we have somehow created separation by forgetting that control is an illusion, perfection is fleeting, excellence is possible, and love is the answer to every question. [Read more →]

“The greatest gift we give ourselves or anyone else
is the quality of our attention.”

– Richard Moss

“We have not been called to change this crazy world.
We are called simply to love it.”

– Maithri Goonetilleke
Australian Doctor, Author and Poet
More ‘Change’ Quotes  Today’s Story: ‘One For
My Sister’

“When we serve, we see the unborn wholeness in
others; others may then be able to see their
wholeness for themselves for the first time.”

– Rachel Naomi Remen MD

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”

– Albert Einstein

Be on the lookout for a reason to smile!

Life moves along at a hectic pace these days. In just one day we are bombarded with and expected to process the same amount of information that a century ago was experienced over a two-year period of time.

As many of you know, I have a three-year-old grandson who experiences autism. He is an amazing child who ‘marches to the beat of a different drummer.’ Passionate about the power of connection, I have felt drawn to him who has difficulty connecting, and have shifted my life to be close by to honor him in his world and hopefully expand his world to more fully include ours.

In June I will start a five day intensive training called Son Rise to learn more fully how to be of service to Brody’s needs and set up a home program for him. Who knows where this ‘YES’ will take me. It already has stretched my capacity to love authentically.

This program was started by Barry Kaufman, author of Happiness Is a Choice. Barry has long inspired me, even before I was aware that he had a severely autistic child who has since graduated from Brown University and is the CEO/Director of the Son Rise program at the Autism Treatment Center of America. Miracles do happen, and as Raun, his son, says, “I would rather be accused of having unrealistic optimism than unrealistic pessimism.”

These amazing kids are ever increasing in number, and I believe they are our canaries in the gold mine, here to alert us to the need to transform and heal our world and our way of being in relationship. They are here to remind us what is truly important.

Remember the story or the frogs and boiling water? If a frog is placed in a pot of already boiling water, the frog will make every effort to jump out, but if a frog is placed in a pot of cold water on the stove with gradually increasing heat, instead of jumping out when the water gets too hot, the frog will stay in the water and fall asleep until he meets his doom.

(Image by purpleslog via Flickr)

Reflected in this tendency, humans are similar. As the pace of life has gradually increased, we falsely believe that if we just run fast enough we can keep up with and manage all the pressures! Rather than recognize and declare our limits, we accommodate to the point of not knowing what we want. We are only half present when we are spread too thin. Attempting to juggle one more thing on top of another leads us to a state of “overwhelm” where all we do is react to all we face rather than choose to best design the life we want. We feel a victim of our circumstances rather than a co-creator of our reality. It’s hard to feel happy when we feel we have no life to call our own and stress is our only predictable emotion.

Under this kind of persistent pressure, everything seems urgent and we lose our ability to prioritize. When we are reacting rather than responding, we choose to fulfill the expectations of others rather than make decisions based on our values and what is important to us.

So, what is important to you? [Read more →]

Do you want to see what happens when happiness, passion, and tenacity meet?

I am fortunate to have as a colleague a powerhouse of a creative woman, Aymee Coget. She dreams big and has put her magic touch on a new organization to round up all those committed to happiness. I am delighted to introduce you to  The American Happiness Association.

How AHA came about:

A seed was planted when Dr. Aymee Coget and Sandi Smith first met at a happiness conference in November 2008. In their first phone call, they both shared their vision of conceiving an organization to help people be happier, even down to the acronym of AHA. Dr. Coget brought her long-time mentor, Bob Nozik, MD, in on the conversation, and a few meetings later, the American Happiness Association was officially born on February 18, 2009 as a California nonprofit corporation.

All three of us saw the challenge: so much amazing happiness research that never got out to the public with the exception of the periodic news story that may or may not be all that accurate. Some of the happiness researchers collaborate with others, but there has been no centralized place for all this wonderful life-changing science-based happiness information. Until now! AHA brings together hundreds of researchers results and translates it into tools you can use every day to make your life better.

Each original founder provides unique and complementary skills to the American Happiness Association. Dr. Coget brings her education in positive psychology, her connections with other happiness experts in the field, and her experience in transforming individuals through her Happiness Makeovers.

Ms. Smith, a CPA and MBA, offers her business development skills, an education in neuroscience and positive psychology, and her own happiness coaching and training programs. Dr. Nozik imparts his medical experience as a physician who has treated patients, and a researcher, where he has authored numerous medical textbooks and teaches university courses.

The most important thing about all three founders is that not only are they happiness experts academically, they are all truly, deeply happy people. To learn more… [Read more →]

A reminder to gather together wherever you are to celebrate Earth Day April 22, 2009. With your individual touch and by gathering with others you will expand consciousness for our Mother Earth. No matter where you are, you will be gathered in Spirit with those celebrating with you in gratitude for all the wonders we are blessed to have and want to preserve

Here is a wonderful video from HeartMath Institute.

When you first open your eyes in the morning, what is the first thought that crosses your mind?

“Good God, it’s morning!” or “Good morning, God.”

Especially if fatigue permeates you or the pressures nip at your heals, it may be a challenge to ignite your optimism for the day.

If you can embrace that your attitude shapes your outcome, and choose over and over the path of joy, even if step by step, soon sustainable joy will be a way of life, regardless of your circumstances.

I find great joy in passing along the reminders that come my way to keep me on course. I am delighted to promote those who I feel are authentic in offering their wisdom and information to serve in expanding joy.

Here is a meaningful nudge toward happiness I received today from a dear friend, ongoing mentor, and amazing women, Betty Lue Lieber. I trust it will assist you in having a beautiful day, even when there are storms all around you.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

When you cannot find the music in your heart,
When you do not hear the birds singing in the trees,
When you are not aware of how much you are loved,
When you are consumed with the business of life……….
Make up your own personal prescription list of how to heal.

When in doubt, Bless
When in fear, Love.
When angry, Breathe.
When critical, Forgive.
When alone, Listen.
When hurt, Comfort.
When lost, Pray.
When unhappy, Appreciate.
When confused, Open.

Life is filled with healing tools.

You are the Healer and the wounded.
You are the Reminder and the forgetful.
You are the Way Finder and the lost.
You are the Chosen One and the dismissed.

Each of us has the power and the purpose to find what is missing.
Each one of us has the inner knowing and the key to the door.
Each one of us has within us the strength and the opportunity.
Each one of us has been where we are before.

We know.
We have.
We are.
We can.

Let us take the time today to stretch our wings and fly.
Stretch our faith, open our heart, soar with joy and bless our lives.
“Birds can fly, so why oh why can’t I?” Somewhere over the Rainbow
Yes, I can.

Betty Lue Lieber, Ph.D. MFT and Robert Waldon, Ph.D. ND
Values-Centered Coaching and Counseling, Holistic Health Consulting
LovingReminders.org
CreativeSolutionsCoaching.org
BettyLue.org
UnityontheDelta.org

Dear Happy Travelers,

Parenting (and grand-parenting) has its bumps and detours, and through it all offers so much joy. Being a grandma is as much fun with less responsibility. Still, one of my greatest challenges is to balance self-care with my urge to care for them. I want to spare both my babies and grandbabies from any hurt and would like to think that I know best.

Here we walk a fine line between Divine Order and Ego Expectations. It is hard to discern sometimes  when to actively help, or when it is best to ‘help’ by ‘not helping.’ Sometimes we guess right and sometimes we guess wrong. Regardless, our intentions are most likely good, and this is important.

It has taken me years of practice to understand (most of the time) that those we love, especially our children, have their own lives. They need to learn from their own mistakes. It can be deceiving, but worry is not the same as love. Worry makes us feel like we are doing something when we feel out of control.

It is important for all of us to remember that it is not our job to fix anyone. It is our place to empower them to know that they carry that strength within themselves… as do I. All we must do is access it. It is so much easier to guide our children and feel we have to define their direction that offer our self the same care and nurturing.

I have always told my daughters that I would rather visit for a few fleeting minutes by choice rather than days and days of forced connection out of obligation. Love is not measured by time, but by authenticity. It is not as much about quantity, but quality of time spent in one another’s company.

As my two daughters continue on their individual unfolding adventure of relationship and parenting I experience a relief in observing that I have nudged them out of the nest with a sense of their own strength and magnificence. We lean on one another often, but know that we can travel the road alone without resentment and expectations. We all forget at times, but when things get tough, they dig deep and access the power that comes when you remember who you really are. As hard as it is, we must not deprive our children to gain the experience of their own power by interfering on their journey. This does not mean we don’t step in to help, but that we do so mindfully, and without guilt when we cannot assist them. We listen from within rather than push from without.

Though my ‘default’ used to be set to worry and fret many years ago, I recognize now (and sometimes day by day) that such concern is really counter-productive. Worry offers us a choice-point… to waste our energy and teach learned-helplessness, or to choose to trust they will find their own way to their magnificence so they can become fully who they are meant to be.

My mom always was the first to remind me that “experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” Although we all want the road to be smooth, challenges are often our greatest teacher. The reason I want to jump to their aid is because I’ve gained a bit of wisdom through my mis-steps. Still, there is no better unforgettable lesson learned than through our own experience.

There is nothing more important than to give your child than the courage to know  that they are capable. No one needs to be rescued or fixed… only bathed in the light of encouragement in order to connect with their own wonder.

When we learn how to take full accountability and responsibility for our own happiness and connect fully with our magnificence, the gifts we offer become more true, our happiness is more durable, and blessings become more evident. Life is an incredible dance, an intuitive adventure, where those with hope experience more durable happiness.

After all, would you rather be accused of false-hope or false-pessimism? [Read more →]

I don’t know about you, but meaningful quotes (thank goodness!) seem to find me at just the right moments and re- balance me.

When time is so short and demands are so high, leisure and lengthy reflection opportunities can be illusive.

In those rushed moments quotes like these revive me, remind me of my purpose, untangle what my mind has made difficult, and return me to my  true self.

Do these speak to you today?

Life always gives us
exactly the teacher we need
at every moment.
This includes every mosquito,
every misfortune,
every red light,
every traffic jam,
every obnoxious supervisor (or employee),
every illness, every loss,
every moment of joy or depression,
every addiction,
every piece of garbage,
every breath.

Every moment is the Guru.

– Charlotte Joko Beck
American Author and Zen Teacher

“Every experience in your life is an opportunity to love”

– Rich German

“The mind is the last part of yourself to listen to.
It thinks of everything you can lose.
The heart thinks of everything you can give,
and the soul thinks of everything you are.”

– Neale Donald Walsh [Read more →]