An excerpt from A River of Hope

Sometimes we must let go of the old to make room for the new. We become accustomed to holding onto the familiar, even when it hurts. It is difficult to consider letting go. This opens the door to the unknown. It advances the reality of change.
But when we finally let go of whatever it is that’s holding us back: old habits, negative behaviors, past emotions, painful memories, grief and sorrow; we are able to embrace the new. Our hearts are free to experience the refreshing joy of change. Our minds can be vibrant and creative. God can work through us. He will equip us to affect the world in miraculous ways. We can utilize the power of his love.
Life can be viewed as a seriers of new creations. We leave mistakes and regrets behind. We move beyond doubt and disbelief and receive grace and forgiveness. We are formed anew. We are reborn.

Tis the season to discover love. We do not have to look very far these days to see the shapes and colors of Valentines fill the air through advertisements, store aisles, billboards, and television screens. But have you ever stopped to consider what it all really means? Is it all about cupid, candy, jewelry, flowers, and chocolate? No doubt these things are nice, but what else is love trying to show us? We can search within to begin finding a new meaning this Valentine’s season. Love is caring beyond what is right in front of us. It extends further than the trinkets and good wishes of the season. Love extends our hearts into a broken world where we can work to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Love is healing. It is empowering. It is who we are.

Looking at some excerpts from my new book Sacred Peace…
Love is what the journey is truly about. It is who we are created to be. We can follow our hearts, for our hearts have the power to recreate the garden here on earth. Through our inspiration and actions we can bring about a new age; we can help others see that the birth of the new world has already begun. We do not need to sit around and wait for anyone or anything. We have all we need to prosper. We possess the ability to be happy, joyous, and free. We can begin today.

Another Sacred Peace excerpt states…
Love is the most amazing treasure! It affects us on many levels. It works deep within the soul, as well as in the situations, experiences, and events that unfold throughout our lifetime. Everyone and everything we encounter is meant to help us discover love. This is why we are created. We are born to discover the beauty and depths of love. This is an ongoing process, a lifelong journey, for love is the highest form of intelligence. It is incessantly compassionate. It will be patient. It will wait for us to come.

Let’s broaden our vision this Valentine’s Day and let love show us how spectacular our lives can be! It is great to show your loved ones how much you care, but let’s also reach out and welcome someone new. Help a friend or fellow traveler in need. Greet a passer-by with a smile. Begin an outreach. Change a life. There is no better way to live than in the heart of the universe. We can carry this love with us all year long. It is ours. It is amazing!

We can look forward to a new journey in 2012. We can make our lives whatever we want them to be. We can create a new destiny for ourselves. Our future will be as bright as we dare to imagine. Our present can be as wonderful as we dream. And we can let go of the past with peace and acceptance. We have done all we can. It’s time to move on.

Do you ever feel stuck? Have you tried and failed or given up in the past year? Have you quit believing in the future? You are not alone.
There is hope. We can create a life we want to live. This is exciting and rewarding. It’s amazing how our thoughts and actions can lead us to a better tomorrow. We leave pain and struggle behind. There’s no more room for sorrow. We have spent plenty of time captive to despair.
We are turning the corner now. We are approaching the crystal clear dawn of a bright and glorious season. We can put one foot in front of the other and open our hearts to a new journey. God wants to show us the very best. We can step into the radiance of his love.

Today, I will begin a new journey. I will let go of pain, regret, failure, and despondency so that my heart can be illumined with the hope and fascination of the season just ahead. I will begin creating the life I have always wanted to live. It will begin today!

Interview Summary

Q & A Interviews

Have faith in the journey!
We can all have faith in the journey. We know deep down that our journey will be beautiful as we walk in the light of who we are. Each one of us has a wonderful journey that is uniquely and incredibly designed for us to experience and share with one another. Our journeys weave in and through each other, creating the mighty tapestry of love that makes the world such a lovely and miraculous place. We can have faith in the many steps that form our path. We can put one foot in front of the other with kindness, compassion, strength, and love. We will be guided to a bright and meaningful future. We can trust in the process.
The journey is ours to savor and enjoy. You have heard the expression “It is the journey, not the destination.” It is good to have plans, dreams, and goals; but we can enjoy each step along the way. We can have faith that we are moving in a direction that will be rewarding and successful.

Have faith in the journey. Have faith in today. Have faith in the moment. God and the universe are guiding us with care and protection. Trust the process. It is our gift.

*An excerpt from Lesson 26 in my empowerment series for women.

Have you been struggling to let something go? We all have our troubles. We would not be human without them. We live in an imperfect world and we are not perfect either (although we may wish we were). It is refreshing to realize that we do not have all the answers. The most beautiful parts of our journey are often unknown until they arrive. We can learn the art of humility.

According to my new book Sacred Peace: We can begin by humbly asking God to be our helper and our guide. We can open our hearts and feel his love for us. He will not lead us astray. We can count on his providence. When we make a decision to rely on our higher power, we flow with the energy of the universe rather than struggle against the grain. We can relax and trust that God will do for us what we have not been able to do alone.
We can surrender our weaknesses to him. We can lay them all down at the altar. We were not created to travel alone. Many of our shortcomings are simply survival tools that we have learned over a lifetime. They are defense mechanisms, worn out coping skills. They have kept us safe and protected.

You may be struggling with personal challenges today. Like this passage says “you do not have to travel alone”. Embrace humility. Ask for help. Our burdens are lightened when we lean on God, the universe, and others. Let down your guard. You will begin to experience the world in new, more joyful ways. Turn your troubles over and live your best life. Trust me. It works!

Do you ever find yourself feeling down? How about stressed out? Perhaps you are having a rough time at work. Maybe you are facing personal challenges or family struggles. Or, just maybe you are one of the millions who are frustrated and discouraged by today’s global and economic crises. In any case, there is a simple formula that will bring you comfort, peace, happiness, and release. It is “Living in the Gifts.”
We all have our challenges, and yet we are each blessed with numerous gifts in this country. Watching the recent emphasis in media coverage on the hardship and starvation in third world countries reinforces this great fact. We are blessed beyond belief in comparison to our neighbors overseas. We can develop gratitude. We can learn to live in our gifts, which brings peace, joy, wholeness, and harmony to our lives. You might be wondering how. This might sound good, but where do we begin?
Here is a ten point plan to help you live in your gifts.

#1) Trust in the ultimate goodness of the universe.
A divine spirit of love, peace, and triumph guides and protects each of us, including the world in which we live. We can let go of our fears and trust that everything will work out in the end. It might not be the way we anticipate or envision, but rest assured everything has a way of working out to our greatest benefit when we live in goodness and trust that all is well. A larger tapestry is being woven than we can see, and its colors are more brilliant than we can imagine. Let go. It is not always easy, but it does work. Live in the gift of trust.
#2) Harvest your gifts. Express yourself!
The journey passes by very quickly. We are each gifted in unique and incredible ways. We are all equipped to make a difference in this world. Expressing our gifts works like magic, it is a way for us to help others whereby feeling better ourselves. The positive correlation between sharing our gifts and our experience of joy is truly amazing. The more often we reach out and express ourselves, the greater peace and happiness we experience. Stress and fear literally disappear, they cannot coexist with love. Numerous opportunities are available in our communities and around the world. So many people have been affected not only by global devastation but also personal struggles and tragedy. We can harvest our gifts. We can reach out to a world in need. We can express our love and kindness. We can live in the gift of self-expression.
#3) Live in Abundance
Many of us compromise our lives in fear of scarcity. We believe there is a shortage of resources and treasures. We are under the false assumption that more for some means less for others. From a global perspective, consider the way we view China. We compete against this country as a superpower as if their success threatens or at least limits ours. It is refreshing to consider we could live side by side in a mutually inclusive success that benefits all countries. Success can be shared on a personal level as well. We do not need to envy others. We can be satisfied with our gifts. The universe is abundant. It will continue to provide us with exactly what we need as we care for it, others, and ourselves long the way. Abundance is a supreme, universal truth we can count on. As we move away from our fear of scarcity, we are given lasting peace and satisfaction. Live in the gift of abundance.
#4) Learn to Love
Love transforms fear. Try it for yourself. The next time you experience stress or anxiety, focus on love. Consider helping a friend, doing a kind deed for someone in need, or simply smiling at a stranger. Love and fear cannot coexist. They are emotional polarities. Learning to love others, ourselves, God and the universe will chase fear far from our lives and this world. It is already happening. Many have stepped up and helped in the numerous crises of the past decade. We have donated our time, money, and other means of support to help those in need. We are helping to change other countries. We are beginning to see the colors of change in our own hearts. Fear is being conquered globally by the personal sacrifices of love we are making. We can offer this same love to ourselves. Live in the gift of love!
#5) Awaken to new dimensions
Another way we can live in our gifts is to awaken to new dimensions. Some of us live in the illusion of fear. We are burdened with unrealistic expectations, false hopes, and misled desires. Fear clouds our vision and prevents us from interpreting our most fundamental needs: those for love, security, comfort, and peace of mind. These are the deeper dimensions of who we are and what we really need. When we turn our attention to these truer depths, we are free from the grip of fear. The journey is enriched with the deep and radiant colors of peace and joy. We can rest in the assurance of hope for a brighter future. We can live in the gifts.
#6) Enjoy the journey
One of the simplest ways to live in your gifts is to enjoy the journey. We all have plans and goals. You might picture the day when you can retire, or when you land that “dream job”, or perhaps when you achieve your business or financial aspirations. It is comforting to remember to enjoy each step along the way. Life passes by very quickly. Before we know it, it is time to move on. Our journeys become abundant when we make time to enjoy each moment including the infinite number of gifts within and around us. Stress disappears in the light of gratitude. The more time we take to enjoy, the less strained we are. Enjoy and live in your gifts.
#7) Find your path
Finding your path also helps you live in the gifts. Consider your destiny. What are you meant to do in this world? You can pursue your path through your vocation or it is quite possible to work toward your destiny through a hobby or part time job. Whichever method best suits your lifestyle, by all means find your path! We all have a purpose. We each have a unique and incredible destiny to fulfill. No one else can. No one else can accomplish exactly what we can by displaying our innate gifts and talents. We are each designed to do great things on this earth. Discovering your created purpose will help you live in the gifts.
#8) Become aware. Appreciate the moment.
Learning how to live in the moment is invariably one of the most effective ways to live in your gifts. Many of us get caught in the future or even the past. We might be reaching toward a goal or trying to accomplish something and before we know it, our thoughts are obsessed with possible outcomes. Or, perhaps we miss the past. Maybe our children are raised and gone or we have lost a valuable career. We may harbor regret. It is not always easy to forgive ourselves for the mistakes we make along the way. All of these things breed fear. Increasing our awareness of the moment at hand can help us escape traps like this that steal our joy. We can stop our thoughts as they jump toward the future or drift into the past. We can gently turn our attention back to the moment we are in. The present is our safety. It is our comfort. It provides stability and peace of mind. It is where we can enjoy our many gifts!
#9) Practice Gratitude
Another way to live in our gifts is to practice gratitude. We can count our many blessings daily, even hourly. We are so fortunate in this country. We have an abundance of food, clothing, shelter, and wealth. Many of us are further blessed with good health. It is amazing to reflect on the numerous blessings we have in our lives. Take a minute and list the blessings in your life. You will feel stress and anxiety begin to slip away. Gratitude chases fear away. The heart swells as we reflect upon our many gifts. We are filled with love, fear’s adversary. It is truly miraculous. We will begin living in our gifts.
#10) Remember Love is the antidote of fear
It has been said and it is true, love conquers fear. Love erases fear. It stamps it out. Fear and love lie at opposite ends of the spectrum of emotions and they cannot exist in unity. Many try to dispel fear. We suppress our negative thoughts and worries. What happens? They creep back in. Without replacing our fear with something else, all that remains is an empty void. It is only a matter of time before the stream of negative thought flows back in. Filling the mind with positive thoughts, images of love, pictures of giving, and other creative energies fills the void that fear leaves behind. Focusing on love provides the sustenance we need to protect our emotions from fear and anxiety. Love conquers. It heals. Love paves the way to live in the gifts.

We can all learn to appreciate the journey and live in our many gifts. Utilizing this ten step plan can not only help you live in your gifts, it can help you discover your purpose and destiny. We all have an incredible life journey that awaits us. The earth is ripe with inspiration. It is time for us to make a difference in this world, on global and personal levels. I believe the universe is calling us all to new and brighter days. We can reach deep within and find the reasons we are here. As we work from the depths of our heart in the miraculous light of love, we encounter the finest gifts of all. We are placed in a position of security, where emotional comfort and happiness reign. The world will become a better place and we will know that we helped to make it so. Nothing will ever be the same again. We will be living in the gifts!

Life is full of unanswered questions. We seldom know the outcomes of our actions, especially when others are involved. We encounter many situations with no reasonable explanations. Logic slips through our fingertips, and we are left with faith alone. And yet, as we mature spiritually, we discover that faith is sufficient. It is all we need!

We need faith to embark upon new beginnings. Life is full of change. We are led to multiple points of new beginnings along the journey. Each time we step in a new direction, every time we travel an unfamiliar road or head down a different path, we cannot help but question what lies ahead. We may fear the future. What will we find in the distance? It may be hard to step forward.

We can cleave to faith. Faith is the answer. Holding on to faith helps us live our journey in confidence. We discover happiness and peace. We accept that many of our questions will remain unanswered. Even the answers we find often lead us into yet deeper perplexities, larger problems to be solved. We can accept this as well. Faith is true wisdom. It is the fiber of our existence. It is what leads us to destiny.
******************************************************************************
Today, I will have faith. I am ready for new beginnings.

Today’s Message in a River of Hope

There are times throughout the journey when we are placed in situations that bring back memories. We are fond of some. Others, we would rather not recall. We may be captured in reminiscence. We might slip backwards for a moment and remember who we once were. Or, we might not want to experience our past. We shut the door. Whatever our reaction, we can learn to feel the past, and then, gently let go. It is behind us now. We are embarking upon a beautiful new journey.

Life is full of discovery. We pass through many portals. Each one is designed to help us grow and mature in our created image. There are bright and dark seasons. There are times we face severe challenge and times of happiness and prosperity. We can savor each segment of our past (the good and the bad) as it has helped us become who we are. Then, we can let our memories go, to embrace tomorrow. We can open our hands to the freedom of a new day.

I will learn to feel the situations that arise in my life that stir past emotion. I will be still and brave. Instead of running, I will stay for a while and experience the moment. Then, I will gently let go.