CHANGE YOUR LIFE, CHANGE YOUR WORLD:

Ten Spiritual Lessons for a New Way of Being and Living

- by Amoda Maa Jeevan

This is an edited excerpt from the introduction to my new book .. I wrote this book because of the imperative for each of us to anchor ourselves within our inner light so that we become the change that we seek .. the ten lessons arose out of a vision I received that revealed the way to do this, step by step and within our everyday lives so that real change can happen.

So many of us these days are feeling the strong desire to make changes in our lives that will shift us to a new level of happiness. And so many of us are feeling the urgent call to make changes in the world that will create a brighter future for us all. This book presents the steps for creating everlasting change in your world in the only way that counts … from the inside out. I have called these steps to change ‘lessons’ because this is a spiritual workbook. It contains insights for con- templation and actions to take on a daily basis. Your commitment to the process will lead to a transformation of consciousness that can radically change how you see things and how you experience things. And this will have a direct impact on how you do things. Inner transformation is the key to outer change. However much we may want to save the world or fix what’s wrong, the truth remains that we change the world by changing ourselves. This book is for those of us who are tired of complaining and blaming, and instead are ready to re-create ourselves by becoming the change we want to see. It is for those of us who are ready to do what it takes to shift from smallness to greatness. Because that’s what it will take to re-create our world as we wish it to be.

The Ten Lessons in this book arose out of a vision. Although this vision was transmitted to me personally several years ago, I believe it does not belong solely to me, but to each and every one of us. It is a collective vision for our times and it speaks to the inherent knowing in our hearts. This collective vision offers us a road map through tough times. It shows us how to walk through the darkness of fear, doubt, uncertainty, and pain towards the light of our true inner radiance. It shows us that this light has the power to transform our lives from suffering to joy, and the power to transform our world from terror to peace. And it gives us step-by-step instructions on becoming an Agent of Change.

What do I mean by Agent of Change? I’m talking about someone who has the courage to take the steps to inner transformation. Someone who takes full responsibility for the experience of their life because they recognize that their outer world is always a reflection of their inner world. Someone who does what it takes to overcome self-limiting beliefs and to replace them with life-affirming choices, because they recognize that living from their highest potential is a gift to themselves and to others. And someone who dives deep inside to discover the truth of who they really are, because they recognize that only an awakened being can bring light to the world. Very often we think that being an Agent of Change means that we need to do something to make things better, that we need to campaign to save the world, fight the good cause, fix what is wrong, or banish the enemy. But all the fighting in the world will not bring us the change we desire. It only serves to perpetuate the same fear-based paradigm that got us into the mess in the first place. To be truly effective as an Agent of Change, we need to change our internal paradigm first – our thoughts, our feelings and our beliefs. In other words, we need to change how we respond to life. Our habitual self-protective and self-serving reactions aren’t work- ing any more. We need a whole new approach.

An Agent of Change has the courage to choose a new way of being. It’s a radical shift in consciousness that comes from having the tenacity to walk through the internal landscape of darkness with an open heart. The new evolutionary impulse requires our participa- tion. We cannot sit back and wait for salvation from Heaven. We are required to consciously collaborate in our own awakening by choosing to take the inner steps to transformation. And we are required to consciously collaborate in the planetary awakening of our times through getting excited by the potential of radical change for humanity.

One person at a time is how we change the world. When each of us awakens to the miracle of our own power, we shift from being victims of our lives to being conscious co-creators. When we awaken to the power within us, we come into alignment with the power of Creation and miracles happen. But in order to awaken this power, we need to activate an inner muscle that, when used over and over again, creates ripples of remembrance in our body-mind-soul, and plugs us into the field of infinite possibilities.

The Ten Lessons outlined in the collective vision and presented in this book are a way of re-activating our true power by awakening us to the truth of who we really are. Each lesson is based on a facet of our true radiant nature and activates a specific quality, or power, that creates inner and outer change. Put together, these ten qualities become like a jewel that expresses the magnificence of who we really are. The transformation starts now … there is no time to waste! Your life is waiting for you to awaken and re- create yourself anew. The world is waiting for each of us to awaken and become Agents of Change in the shift to a new paradigm. We stand at a crossroads and it is up to each one of us to make a choice. We either wake up and create a new world of harmony … or we continue to bury our heads in the sand and we fall into a world of unthinkable suffering. The future is in our hands.

For more info about Amoda and her work, go to http://www.AmodaMaaJeevan.com

To purchase Change Your Life, Change Your World from Amazon, go here http://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Life-World-Spiritual/dp/1780281242/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1334078702&sr=8-2

Join Amoda for the AWAKENING YOUR EVOLUTION Virtual One Day Retreat on JUNE 10th 2012 … a global gathering …

Poised at the mid-point of this momentous year, the AWAKENING YOUR EVOLUTION Virtual One Day Retreat is an opportunity for those of us who are ready to take the next step to come together from all over the world with the intention of taking a pause amidst the turbulence and full-speed of today’s life and to prepare for change as we birth a new world. So many of us have been immersed in “spiritual practice” for many years and so many of us have experienced amazing “spiritual states”. The next step is “What now?” In other words … how do we integrate this spirituality into our daily lives and of what relevance is it to the emerging new paradigm of awakening?

During this retreat, Amoda invites you into the recognition of your true radiant nature and offers you guidelines on how to anchor yourself within this light by activating an inner spiritual muscle. This inner transformation is the key to living an authentically awakened life in which you become a beacon of light unto yourself and unto the world.

If you want to consciously collaborate in the evolutionary shift of our times, the courage to step into your greatness and to manifest the highest expression of your awakening is the single most important thing you can do today. The AWAKENING YOUR EVOLUTION Virtual One Day Retreat is offered as a way to create a momentum for change and to provide guidance and support on your journey of evolutionary awakening.

Using cutting-edge technology, you will be able to see Amoda live via video webcast and you will be able to interact via audio … all you need is a phone and computer with internet connection; all at a very low cost.

FOR FULL DETAILS, go to http://www.amodamaajeevan.com/events/awakening-your-evolution.html

I am thrilled to be a Blog Buddy on the very first Day of the Blog Tour of author Patricia Shaw whose book Healers Almanac, Journey into Health with Wisdom from the 21^st Century Goddesses!  Launches on Amazon on Thursday January 5^th 2012.

Patty Shaw is an UCM minister, Reiki Master, Spiritual Counselor and teacher and has been interested in the way we heal for most of her life.  When she became a mother she took her own mom’s strategy for health care for the family and added to it by exploring many alternative healing modalities and medicine.  Over the last twenty years Patty has been helping others create happiness through creating health in our body, mind and spirit.  Patty is passionate about helping people whether it’s in her private practice, at her Reiki Clinic or at her School of Akashic Healing where she teaches others how to be spiritual healers.

Patty is also co-owner of Coventry Creations with her sister Jacki Smith. Coventry Creations is known for its candles incense and oils that inspire us to make magic the Coventry way.  No matter what’s getting in the way of your success, Coventry Creations has a candle for that.

Here’s what Patty and I chatted about the other day when I got to ask her some questions about being a Spiritual Healer. I hope you enjoy it.

Kimberly Coots: There is much more to the Healers Almanac than information on alternative healing   modalities; tell us about the goddesses and their messages and meditations.

Patty: The goddesses of the Healers Almanac were my muses that lead me down an unexpected path of introspection.  Together we crafted messages of encouragement and enlightening meditations.  I felt connected with something very loving and understanding while I was writing with them.   At times I wondered if I taking dictation from the goddesses themselves. When I was done, I was so in love with all twelve goddesses, that I felt something very special just happened for me.  It is my hope that the readers feel the same love and support as they read their messages and go on the meditations.  In retrospect, I realize that I was being taught to love myself again and that true empowerment is about finding the tremendous value in myself.

Each goddess addresses a different area of life where we tend to shrink away from our potential. These are all important areas we will need to face at some point in our growing up.  Rebecca teaches us about the importance of being responsible for ourselves, while Meredith shows us that living a life in balance promotes success and sanity.  Monica reminds us how to ignite hope, and Katelyn challenges us to show off our individuality.  All twelve goddesses have come to cheer us on and shine the light on what stops us in our tracks and do something about it. They use our own experiences to teach us that we are so much more than what we think we are and give us a real map to follow so we can find ourselves again.  This was the first time I had asked goddesses energy to help me, and look what happened, we wrote a book together!  Goddesses believe in our greatness, not our limits.  I invite everyone to spend some time with the 21^st century goddesses of the Healers Almanac and tap into your potential.

Kimberly:  What kind of healing work do you do?  

Patty: I am energy therapist of sorts and I help my clients work out the kinks and blocks in their energy field that act to short circuit your best efforts to live a happy, fulfilling life. 

With the help of spirit and the many tools I’ve learned, healing becomes a series of myth busting awakenings and course corrections.  Once lessons are learned and truth is embraced and we release fear, we create lots of room for the love we desperately crave to come in.  Every time we forgive, love and let go of destructive or outdated beliefs, traumas from the past and limiting family habits it’s a lot easier to love ourselves. Re-connecting with self love and that we are loved completely is the miracle of healing. Learning the name of what is in the way of self-love is how I help my clients.

Even if the only complaint we have is in our body we can look to the meaning of the illnesses and diseases. We ask; what are you are trying to tell yourself through these aches, pains and conditions?  The story of our illness demonstrates the things we need to change so our body can begin to heal.  Spiritual healing is a very deeply rewarding experience and will help us evolve our soul, heal our body and ignite our life.  When we understanding the reasons behind our challenges and connect back to our higher truth and spiritual expression, new possibilities unfold for us.

Healing is also a lot fun and literally lightens us up as we dump our heavy duty feelings from our heavy duty stories and experiences.  Making time for spiritual healing puts a spring in our step.  The world is a better place when we are happy, our body feels good and we’re in the driver seat again.  Learn more about a healing session with me at www.HealingWithPattyShaw.com.

Kimberly: What is your advice to anyone who desires to become a spiritual healer?

Patty: The desire to become a spiritual healer, of any kind, is also a calling.  It’s hard to put that down and walk away, but you do have choices and a free will.  My advice is to meditate on it and make sure you are ready for a career in service.  This is a very rewarding career, but it is demanding.  You will be overjoyed by seeing the light return to your client’s eyes and health to their body, but there will be a fair amount of darkness you will trudge through with them.  One is not found without experiencing the other. 

I also recommend experiencing many different kinds of healing modalities to get an idea of the different ways you can approach healing, and there are many, many ways. Find out what appeals to you and how you wish to interact with people.  Are you a one to one kind of person or is working with groups more your style.  Do you wish to be in physical contact with the body or work hands off?  If you aspire to do spiritual counseling, do you wish to be a life coach or help with personal issues? You also need to identify your gifts, develop your skills, awaken talents and overcome your own fears.  You’ll need an education and a supportive network.  Your healing practice is not meant to be an island, so don’t isolate yourself.  Stay in touch with other healers, and the healing community. Continually add to your repertoire of healing modalities that support your talents and gifts. You won’t be able to be everything to your clients, so I highly recommend having connections with other healers who offer complementary services.  Finally, healer, heal thyself, but not by yourself.  Make sure you have your own healing practitioners that you can count on to help you grow, heal and learn.  We are all a work in progress and when you stop healing yourself, you are no longer able to grow along with your clients. One last thing, learn about marketing yourself and being self employed, not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of your practice.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Patricia Shaw and that you’ll check out her book Healers Almanac, Journey into Health with Wisdom from the 21^st Century Goddesses at http://healingwithpattyshaw.com/launch-bonuses

Here’s why you’ll want to do that:

When you visit the page at the link above and request a “launch reminder”, you will automatically receive a FREE gift from Patty. The audios from her Get Healthy Stay Healthy Seminar.

These recordings are completely free “no purchase necessary” gifts from Patty

FREE GIFTS

When you buy Patty’s book on Thursday January 5, 2012, you can ALSO receive many inspiring and uplifting gifts from authors, speakers, coaches and other enlightened professionals from the four corners of the world.

To claim your GHSH seminar (5 audios in all) and read about the all the free gifts, go to: http://healingwithpattyshaw.com/launch-bonuses

Thanks for reading! As usual, please feel free to share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.

AND… be sure to follow Patty tomorrow when the next stop on the Blog Tour is with Andrea Hylen, who will be discussing with Patty, Deciding to be Happy and Healthy. To visit that “stop” on the tour, go to http://andreahylen.blogspot.com/

Happy Holidays,
Kimberly

Today I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 13 of the Virtual Blog Tour of author Lynn Serafinn whose book The 7 Graces of Marketing: how to heal humanity and the planet by changing the way we sell launches on Amazon on Tuesday December 13, 2011.

Lynn Serafinn, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach and teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and bestselling author. Her eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. In her work as a promotional manager she has produced a long list of bestselling mind-body-spirit authors. Passionate about re-establishing our connection with the Earth, she supports the work of the Transition Town network in her hometown of Bedford, England.

Yesterday, Lynn visited Tambra Harck at http://theartofwellbeing.typepad.com/the_art_of_wellbeing/2011/12/7_graces.html , where she interviewed Lynn about how can consumers help biz owners behave with more Grace.

Today, I’d like to share with you a recent interview I had with Lynn when I got to ask her some questions on the subject of how does the 7 Graces of Marketing support Abundance in marketing?  I hope you enjoy it.

——-

Kimberly Ann Coots: What is the purpose behind the book The 7 Graces of Marketing?

Lynn Serafinn: Well, Kimberly, the original purpose when I had first decided to write the book was for it to be a source of guidance for small business owners—especially those in holistic professions—who didn’t like to do marketing. I wanted to show them how there are many good, sound reasons why marketing rubbed them the wrong way, especially due to the fact that most modern marketing gurus teach people how to incite feeling of fear, anxiety, dissatisfaction and inadequacy in order to make a sale. The end result of such tactics is that sales are made, but trust and loyalty is not. The long term effect of this is that our society has become more anxious, more lacking in self-worth, and less trusting. Of course, people in holistic/healing professions are first and foremost interested in healing and serving, and they intuitively understand (even if not consciously) that this kind of strategy is not in alignment with their values.

But after I started developing the book, I realised that it was a much bigger project. While it certainly serves the initial purpose of being an eye-opener for business owners who “hate marketing”, it’s bigger purpose is to serve as a call to action to all business owners—all the way up to multi-national corporates—to take a good, hard look at the long-term impact of their business and marketing strategies upon people’s health, our global economy and our natural environment. The truth is, modern marketing has created a world of over-production and over-consumption, which is rapidly destroying not only the natural balance of our planet, but also the natural balance of our economic, emotional and physical wellbeing. I provide hundreds of examples in the book to show why I believe this to be so.

Ultimately, my vision for the book is to create a movement whereby business owners and consumers start a dialogue for change, so we can re-create our world where everyone is prosperous in every way—financially and in terms of health, happiness and true quality of life, and where the delicate and beautiful rhythm of Planet Earth is restored.

Kimberly Ann Coots: How does this book support abundance in marketing?

Lynn Serafinn: One of the “7 Graces” in the book is Abundance. Its nemesis is the “Deadly Sin” of “Scarcity”. The chapter on Scarcity in the book is probably the longest, because scarcity marketing is just so prolific in modern marketing. It is so ubiquitous, most of us don’t even notice it anymore, and we’ve come to accept it as a “normal” part of marketing. Scarcity is actually taught as a fundamental part of economic theory, and it is based upon the assumption that there are limited resources in the world to serve unlimited human wants and needs.

But when I dove deeply into this subject, what was amazing was the fact that most of our so-called “unlimited” wants and needs were things that have been fabricated by marketing. One of the big examples I give in the book is the cigarette industry. Prior to the turn of the 20^th Century, there was not mass production of cigarettes, and people had no need or desire for them. It was marketing that invented the desire for cigarettes, and I give many examples of specific campaigns of how it did that. But really, this is only one industry of thousands that create false needs, and hence induce feelings of Scarcity and dissatisfaction, and which also can lead to actual Scarcity of natural resources.

Abundance, on the other hand, is the fundamental belief that there is enough for all, when we live in balance and rhythm to the pace of the planet. Abundance is actually our natural state of being. I give many examples in the book of how we can shift our perspective towards Abundance, both in marketing and in life in general. When consumers have an abundance perspective—and this includes thinking abundantly about who they are—they are far less susceptible to messages of lack that they hear in the media. The knock-on effect of this of not being susceptible to Scarcity in marketing is that we spend less on things that we once believed would bring us self-worth, and as a result have more money to invest in things that actually make our lives richer. And when business owners operate from the perspective of Abundance rather than Scarcity, they are, in effect, diminishing the amount of fear and anxiety in the world, and they are also diminishing their own fears and anxieties as well, allowing them the ability to think more clearly, and become more innovative to make their businesses more lucrative, in a holistic, sustainable way.

In short, the message about Abundance in the book is this: Scarcity creates more Scarcity; Abundance creates more Abundance.

Kimberly Ann Coots: What are the 7 Graces of Marketing?

Lynn Serafinn: I’ll list them here, alongside their corresponding “Deadly Sin” from the book:

1. Connection (as opposed to Disconnection)
2. Inspiration (as opposed to Persuasion)
3. Invitation (as opposed to Invasion)
4. Directness (as opposed to Distraction)
5. Transparency (as opposed to Deception)
6. Abundance (as opposed to Scarcity) and
7. Collaboration (as opposed to Competition)

Each of these Graces/Sins is a very substantial topic, which is why the book is over 400 pages long! We don’t have time to go into detail on these in this short interview, but I have been told by many readers that simply reflecting upon these words can be a “liberating experience” (Tad Hargrave of “Marketing for Hippies” actually said that to me).

If your readers would like to know more about the 7 Graces, I invite them to check out a special 7-part telesummit I just finished yesterday, where I discussed each of these pairs in detail with a panel of 23 guest speakers (more information on that below). And then, of course, I hope they’ll check out the book The 7 Graces of Marketing when it launches on December 13^th, and begin to implement these Graces in their marketing, and in their lives. I believe, if we all embrace them, we can collectively begin to change the world for the better.

Thanks so much for the interview today, Kimberly. As always, it’s always a pleasure to speak with you.    

———-

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Lynn Serafinn and that you’ll check out her book The 7 Graces of Marketing: how to heal humanity and the planet by changing the way we sell at http://the7gracesofmarketing.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.html

Here’s why:

The 7 Graces of Marketing Telesummit

A FREE 7-Part Online Happening!

December 6th-9th, 2011

Register at http://the7gracesofmarketing.com/free-telesummit

When you visit the page at the link above and request a “launch reminder”, you will automatically receive a FREE pass to Lynn’s 7-Part online happening “The 7 Graces of Marketing Telesummit” with an illustrious panel of 24 bestselling authors and world-renowned speakers and media experts on society, business and marketing coming together to discuss how we can bring ethics and values back our business and marketing practices, and restore balance to our health, our economy and our natural environment.

Here’s the spectacular list of guests speakers for the event:

Dr. Joe Vitale * Greg S. Reid * Dr. Eric Pearl * Dan Hollings * Pamela Slim * Liz Goodgold * Allison Maslan * Suzanne Falter*Barnes * Tad Hargrave * Misa Hopkins * Richard S. Gallagher * Ward Vandorpe * Barbara Altemus * Andrea Conway * Renee Baribeau * Renee Duran * Michael Drew * Chris Arnold * Jeffrey Van Dyk * Tanya Paluso * Kate Osborne * Shelagh Jones * Paula Tarrant * Lynn Serafinn

You can listen to the telesummit online in the comfort of your own home, and even ask questions during the broadcast.

If you are reading this after Dec 9th, 2011 you can still access the playback for a limited time when you register at http://the7gracesofmarketing.com/free-telesummit

This telesummit is a completely free
“no purchase necessary” gift from Lynn

FREE GIFTS

When you buy Lynn’s book on Tuesday December 13, 2011, you can ALSO receive the MP3 download of all 10 hours of this historic telesummit, plus a complete library of beautiful personal development gifts from authors, speakers, coaches and other enlightened professionals from around the globe including one from me;

Free Share Your Message Workbook ($37 value)

To claim your FREE pass to the 7 Graces of Marketing Telesummit

and read about the free gifts, go to:

http://the7gracesofmarketing.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.html

Thanks for reading! As usual, please feel free to share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.

AND… be sure to follow Lynn tomorrow when the next stop on the Virtual Blog Tour is E.Dee Conrad, who will be sharing her recent interview with Lynn about How can society benefit from wisdom of 7 Graces of Marketing? To visit that “stop” on the tour, go to http://edeeconrad.com/2011/11/11/virtual-interview-with-lynn-serafinn

I had a profound awareness this past weekend that I wanted to share with you.  I feel at a cross roads of sorts, or rather, I feel a cross roads coming up.  There are some decisions I’ll be making on the direction of my business, and I’m feeling a mixture of both excitement and fear about it.

I’ve been running through different scenarios with each opportunity.  Although I have an amazing mind that is very proficient at analyzing, if I’m not aware, I can be led by my head, rather than my heart. 

The profound awareness  I had (which I mentioned above) is a result of this question: “Am I coming from joy or need in this decision?”.  It’s a good indicator I’m coming from a “lack” mentality if I say “I need  to do this because…”.  That lack mentality is a result of two of my biggest fears:

1. I am not enough
2. I won’t have enough

I do sometimes have to remind myself that I AM enough already, and that Life always supports me…and  I’m not all alone having to try to control everything to be how I think so I can be safe… because these fears are so conditioned in me (especially when I’m leaving my comfort zone).

When I make a choice for the joy of experiencing life and expressing myself, the energy is abundant, light-hearted and exciting.  From neediness energy, it feels heavy, serious and nerve-racking. So when I find myself in the “need” energy, I ask myself how I can turn it into a “joy” energy.  For example, in the choice I am making, I ask
myself “how does it feel to express myself and experience from a place of joy in this choice”? 

If you find yourself in the “need” mentality, check-in with yourself by asking what fear(s) may be lying beyond that thought? Ask yourself the joy question I shared with you above. 

I feel so connected to Life when I’m in joy.  I’m also thankful for the times that I feel needy because it is telling me my fear is driving me and I can then choose differently with this awareness.  I can choose Joy

Guest Blog by Allyson Spellman

“To be, or not to be– that is the question…”

This is one of the classic lines from Hamlet’s soliloquy in Shakespeare’s famous play.

Did you also know that it is THE question for you too?

There is another line in the modernized version where a character claims “There is method to his madness” when observing Hamlet.

This line is also true for you.

How?

Believe it or not, there is a method behind your madness.
When I say “madness” I am talking about the things that are driving you crazy in your life including all your complaints.

My question to you is: Are you being or not being?

Are you being your authentic self or who you think you need to be?

What does “being” really mean?

“Being” is living purely you.
You- unplugged without any loud bells and whistles or amped up music.

Here’s a clue- when you are just being, you are connected and in the moment.
You are in the moment with others and yourself.
There is a certain peace and sense of contentment.
The need to prove yourself or hide yourself doesn’t dominate your world.

When you are “not being” you are plagued with worry, fear and inner negative chatter.
There is so much static noise it drowns out your authentic voice.

When we are “not being” we are subscribing to limiting beliefs that hold our truth and greatness bondage.

It then becomes easy to take on a persona that is not true to who we really are at all. This inauthentic persona gives us an excuse to fall back on when things don’t work out.

Although we think being something we are not protects us from possible pain, it actually leads to the ultimate hurt – the slaughter of our identity, purpose and truth.

When we are not being authentic, we are caught in a vicious cycle that constantly creates situations that keep us unhappy and disappointed.

It drives us crazy that we can’t seem to ultimately get what we want- that fulfilling relationship, the job that we love, being healthy and fit, not living paycheck to paycheck or the freedom to really speak what is on our mind.

The truth is we bring our limiting beliefs to all we do.

You may not realize it, but the truth of what you REALLY believe is surrounding you right now in your life. Your limiting beliefs have become your method and they will always lead to madness.

I would start by exploring your state of being with a few questions:

-What bells and whistles are you adding?

-How are you embellishing or hiding your being?

-Why do you feel the need to do this?

The first step is always awareness.
It’s like peeling an onion.
We have to acknowledge and take off many thick layers to get to the core of who we really are.

Start the process of reclaiming your authentic truth.
Take time to reflect and get some honest answers.

To Be or Not To Be?
That really is the question.
Now what will be your answer?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allyson Spellman is the founder of Unleash Your Voice.  She is a freelance writer, speaker and empowerment coach dedicated to helping women redeem and unleash their authentic voice- loudly, boldly and unapologetically.

She is also the creator of “Sheeple Reform School” designed to free women from unknowingly subscribing to a herd mentality, following the crowd and unintentionally undermining their own identity and voice.   

To learn more about Allyson and to sign-up for her FREE Voice Redemption newsletter visit http://www.unleashyourvoice.com/

I had a very powerful awakening this past week.  During a session with my spiritual counselor and friend, Barbra White, I told her I’d like to work on my relationship with my body.  I was experiencing a struggle between health issues (and the pain from it), as well as feeling a loathing toward food that created a disconnection from my body.  Not to mention, I suddenly became obsessed with my weight because I was eating too many comfort foods.  This was a sign to me that there is something going on and I decided to work with Barbra to help bring it to my awareness to acknowledge and heal it.

My body is recovering from a severe jaw infection, and the aftermath of medications and surgeries that I experienced in the healing process.  Nerve damage from the surgeries created constant pain in my jaw.

I’ve been struggling with my relationship with food too.  I just didn’t know what to eat – I was hearing so many different opinions about what to eat:  a vegan diet, alkaline diet, meat and veggie diet, clean-eating diet, all-fruit, no-fruit, etc.  It was driving me crazy because I couldn’t decide what to eat, and this drove me to eat more of the foods that comfort me, but aren’t necessarily the best for me (like cheese!).  I eat meat and it literally makes me cry because I know the suffering the animals live in and go through in factory farms.  Ugh…it’s been a struggle!

Barbra asked me to feel the physical and emotion pain I’d been experiencing and describe a symbol that represented the pain.  Immediately a razor blade came to mind.  She asked me what that means for me.  I told her about my self mutilation and suicide attempt as a teenager (using a razor).  I had felt so much pain and didn’t know what to do with it and couldn’t handle it anymore.

I asked the pain what message it had for me…what it was teaching me…and the answer I got was “Pain helps me to know that I am here”.  This stunned me because it helped me realize that as a child and teen, I had lived with family and friends and felt unwanted.  I tried to hide and be silent so I wouldn’t be a burden. In school, kids ignored me or taunted me so I tried being invisible.  The pain helped me to remember that I DO exist…that I am here.

I went even deeper with this and asked my inner guidance why I needed to be invisible…why I felt like I was a burden.  The awareness that came to me is “because I am BAD”.  I conditioned myself to believe I was bad because of how other people treated me, and how I treated myself.

This deeply-seated, unconscious belief was reflected back to me through my relationship with my body and with food.  I’m bad so I won’t take care of my body (because I don’t deserve to be taken care of).  I’m bad so I will eat foods that aren’t good for me and then punish and beat myself up for doing it.  All the while, the pain of it all helps me to realize that I am here.  What a catch 22 huh!

So what did I do?  I embraced this illusion and thanked it for showing me my way home to myself and my truth!  I affirmed with great joy that “I AM HERE AND I AM GOOD!”.  This created such a profound healing within me.  I know longer need to create pain in order to remind myself I’m here.  I know longer need to punish myself because I KNOW that I am good.  My relationships with both my body and food have shifted because my belief about myself has shifted.  I had to first become aware of what this belief was before I could embrace and heal it.  I’m grateful to the illness and the pain that I experienced because they have been such powerful teachers on my path to self love and awakening.

This post is from a special guest and friend, Saskia Roell.  Be sure to get your free gift from Saskia “21 day road map to your dreams” at http://yoursoulguidance.com Enjoy!

Have you ever wondered why habits are hard to break?

Especially those habits that you don’t name as “bad” habits even though they cost you a lot of precious time?

Do you have such habits? Usually, they’re hidden and they keep you from living full-out.

Let me share how changing one habit changed my life and how a long cherished dream came true.

In that endeavor I also discovered that when you change a habit, you have to be ready to meet the new you.

One day in our Soul Tribe Coaching, I talked about our habits: how they’re formed without our awareness, and how they can keep us stuck without us knowing.

Each tribe member picked a habit, and I chose to change the habit of my daily food shopping.

I thought that it was easy… but I was in for a big surprise.

Since we live in America, I drive daily to the grocery store, which takes about an hour-and-a-half of my time.

You’d think I’d have lots of extra time.

Not really! Imagine a household of seven people—including five teenagers, two dogs, three cats, and a litter with four cute kittens.

Not only does everyone need love, care and food, there are plenty of rides to basketball, baseball, and soccer games to entertain me in my schedule.

Why waste so much precious time on this habit?

When our kids were little this habit served me, because in Holland I walked daily to the store with my kids in the stroller while we all enjoyed our time outside.

Living in America and having left the strollers on memory lane, I never realized that this habit didn’t serve me anymore.

Unfortunately, habits stay for life unless you let them go. Here’s what happened when I decided to let this habit go.

Amazingly enough, as soon as I enter the grocery store my resistance comes up. Suddenly I am forced into thinking about tomorrow. What groceries do we need and what meals will we eat?

Because I’d never worked with lists and planning meals ahead, this gives me an instant headache.

I never knew that to change this habit I had to change more than walking into the store and buying lots of food. I had to come prepared, and that had never crossed my mind.

But more surprises were waiting.

I walk from aisle to aisle and improvise the various meals inside my head while trying to keep my calm. I leave the store with an overloaded trolley and an aura filled with bliss.

I feel so organized until I come home and unload the groceries.

When I open the fridge I am horrified! There is no storage room for a week’s supply of food. When I open the cupboards, there is no space for planned-ahead pancake feasts and everything else I had in mind.

My cupboards and fridge need a complete makeover to accommodate my new habit. Who had thought of that?

I sit down and imagine the angels looking down from heaven and having a good laugh. There is more food in the house than there’s ever been, but no place to put it.

For a moment I wonder if I am ready to meet the new me who will eagerly enjoy the extra time to write.

And then I start to fantasize about how to spend the extra time…

Changing a habit requires more than a decision. You have to be ready for the fact that one change ignites a string of other changes and behaviors.

Are you ready to change a habit and change your life? Are you willing to remind yourself daily and reset those habits that don’t serve you?

What’s happened for me since this habit changed?

I’ve been given and hour-and-a-half of extra time daily, and that’s why you’re reading this story. I’ve became a blogger!

Needless to say, some days I want to run mindlessly through the store and check out at the express counter, but in those moments I remind myself that it will cost me a blog post… (smile)

With love,

Saskia

About Saskia:

As a Soul Guidance Coach, radio host, bestselling author, co- author with Jack Canfield, Stephan Covey and Deepak Chopra, international speaker, clairvoyant healer and mother of five, Saskia successfully cracks open the lives of her clients to bring their Soul purpose alive. Saskia is the CEO of Your Soul Guidance International. Working with people from all walks of life, Saskia reveals the North Star in the Soul of every client and shows them how to follow it and live a life beyond their wildest imagining.  http://yoursoulguidance.com

I was doing an oracle card reading and this is the card I drew…”Whom do you need to forgive?”.  As I pondered this question, I thought of any feelings I was holding around shame or blame.  The feelings of blame and shame are indicators of grievances you may be holding.

Grievances create self-limiting thoughts that block your ability to fully experience joy and fulfillment. Forgiveness is affirming that you are no longer willing to carry around pain in response to the actions of yourself or another.  Forgiveness is opening to compassion and unconditional love that creates true freedom.

Feelings of shame (or guilt) are grievances you are holding against yourself, and indicate that you may need to forgive yourself to let go this block.  Blame indicates you are holding a grievance toward someone else, and practicing forgiveness toward others can create profound healing.  Since we tend to project our inner issues within ourselves onto others, blame can also be a call to love ourselves.

In my book, Divine Worth – Break the Bonds of Unworthiness and Create the Life You Desire, I share the Forgiveness Letter Template.   Forgiveness is a powerful healing tool, and this template is a great tool to support you in practicing forgiveness, and I’m sharing it with
you here.  You can also get access to a free audio meditation that supports forgiveness at http://divineworth.com.

The Forgiveness Letter Template:

Write the letters from a place of love and compassion, not anger.  “Feel” each sentence, and invite unconditional love and compassion in as you practice this exercise. Copy and use this template for as many people as you need to (including yourself) for releasing grievances.

Dear_________________,

I release any feelings of pain, blame, or shame that formed in response to my experience you. My pain is reflected in you, and vice versa. I set us both free by remembering who we really are and  acknowledging our unconditional, divine worth. Our worth is not based on our actions, and I reclaim my sense of unconditional self-worth by releasing my grievance about our experience. I extend compassion to both of us, for I understand we operate from our own self-limiting beliefs, pain, and conditioning that direct our actions. These illusions do not change the truth that we are both worthy of love, forgiveness, and compassion for forgetting the truth. I choose my own empowering beliefs, which are not based on anyone else’s illusions or actions. I cannot change the past, but I can decide what I want for myself now. I choose forgiveness for all involved, and I choose inner peace and love for myself.  My forgiveness releases me from perceived pain. I invite loving, healing energy to fill the spaces in my being, and in your being, where the pain and grievance once resided. I am grateful for the healing of this grievance and for the wholeness that I am and that you are also.

In gratitude,

(your name)

Kimberly Ann Coots is a transformational spiritual counselor, business coach and best-selling author. Called the “Wisdom Guide for Women”, her passion is to help shift humanity’s consciousness to love, connection and abundance. Kimberly specializes in helping women recognize their true worth and purpose, transform self-limiting beliefs and patterns, and create prosperity for themselves and others. Through her coaching, courses, speaking and books, Kimberly is a guide to transforming unworthiness conditioning, stepping into your power and experiencing a life that you love!

Visit http://kimberlyanncoots.com for more information.  Learn more about her best-selling book, Divine Worth, at http://divineworth.com.

I went to a concert with my teenage daughter for a popular rock band.  As we were “rockin”, I was aware of the energy going on between the band and the audience.  I discovered some cool things about this inter-action to make our lives a little more “rockin’”.

The singer of the band was so engaging with the crowd.  I also noticed the crowd was made up of all different types of people.  The singer was confident but he was also down to earth and he was connected with the audience.  I asked myself these questions:

1. What makes him so confident, but from a place
   of being real, not “better than” everyone?
2. How was he able to connect with and
   move thousands and thousands of people?
3. How can I apply this in my life?

The answers that came to me are:

• He was fully centered in his presence.  He wasn’t thinking about what was going to happen tomorrow.  His full, undivided attention and heart was
  poured into what he was giving.
• He knew himself and what he stands for.  For anyone to be truly confident about anything, they must know it…whether it’s knowing your self, knowing your material, etc.  He wasn’t depending on the crowd to tell him who to be. How well do you know yourself…who you are and who you choose to be no matter what?  Having a deep sense of self  creates the space for confidence.  People often morph into a persona to please other people, but if you don’t stand in your sense of self consistently, how can you know who you are? Do you know what you stand for in life?  What is your movement?
• His sense of vulnerability in sharing his self from his core created the space for his audience to connect with and engage with him.
• I (and you if want) can apply this to life by being fully present in the moment, giving my all in what I’m passionate about, knowing who I am and what I stand for, and being more vulnerable to opening up and sharing myself with the world.

Rock on!

SIMPLE BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT MAKE MORE “CENTS”

Being in the business world as a corporate executive and as an entrepreneur for over seventeen years, I’ve learned a few important keys to success that save time and create greater prosperity and fulfillment for everyone involved:

1. Listen and provide solutions based on your target market’s needs:

Rather than coming up with services and solutions that you think are cool or will be well received by your target market, listen to what their needs and desires are and create solutions based on their feedback.  When meeting with a potential client, don’t try to “sell” them on how great you are.  Instead, ask them what their needs and desires are and truly listen to their answers (and respond based on that).  Other ways you can find out your target market’s needs include:

Send a survey to your clients and prospects with simple questions that uncover your clients’ needs and desires.  www.surveymonkey.com offers free surveys online.

If you have connections with your target market on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, ask them questions that inspire feedback.

Look at groups on social media in your industry and read what your target market is saying.

The more you understand your target market’s needs, the better you can serve them with solutions that truly fit for them.

2. Have a clear brand for your business:

Your brand is the experience you want your internal (employees) and external clients to have in working with you.  What experience do you want to create for them?  Think of some words and emotions that capture the essence of the experience you strive to deliver.  Is this brand or experience communicated throughout everything you do in your business from marketing to billing?  If you aren’t clear on what experience you want to deliver to your target market (or don’t know who your target market is), your communications will not be clear and connected for your target market to engage with.

3. Build authentic and mutually beneficial relationships:

Relationships are an important key in any successful venture – whether it is in relationship with yourself, vendors, partners, or clients.  Business is about serving and in order to serve to your fullest potential, connecting with your circle of people is essential.  If you lack trust or communication in any business relationship, your ability to serve may likely be compromised (and therefore, so may be your prosperity).  Choose to work with vendors, partners and clients that align with your values, and nurture the relationships that you form.