On Being Fearless..

So anyone who knows me at all knows that probably my favorite word this last year has been the word FEARLESS. When I started my journey, this is the word that was used most often as I learned to step out into my greatness and make life happen.   As I was challenged to move from my head to my heart my friend would constantly tell me I was FEARLESS!   In time, I began to believe it myself and it became the word I would go to when I doubted myself.

To further this belief in how fearless I was, I was given a "fearless gem" like the one above to carry in my pocket as a reminder that I was fearless when I was feeeling overwhelmed or that I could not do something.  Soon, this gem was not needed as I let this notion of being fearless get into my heart!  This belief that because of the greatness in me, I could do anything I set my heart too.  I could move forward and make life happen, it was really my choice!

So you may ask, what does being fearless really mean?!?  Well, here is the definition I love the most " to be bold, brave, unafraid"  To me personally to be fearless means the following "that you have the courage to smile and hope on the darkest of days. That the WMD's (worry, misery, doubt) have no hold on your life that you can resolutely move through your day with courage that you can accomplish anything.I have fiound this to be true on many days that I thought I could not move one more step forward, but at the end of the day, realized I did

So where am I today?  Well, I am still on the journey, I choose to live fearlessly each day (some days more than others)  and allow myself to realize that this is a journey that allows for constant growth!  When I think I have failed, I remind myself of my greatness, remember that I am fearless, and move on - not looking back, but moving forward.

Being fearless is not magic, it is a lifestyle of courage.  Knowing that you are greater than anything that comes your way!  How will you choose to be fearless today?

Growth and Greatness

Well, it has been an interesting couple of weeks to say the least as I have had a LOT of alone time as both my girls are out of town!  I have been on a "high" for the last year.  Yes, I have had my ups and downs, but so much has happened so fast that a day to day existance or "normalcy" has not really been a reality until now and it has proven itself to be a challenge. 

In the past 18+ months I have lost 125lbs, made a whole new group of amazing friends, been writing this blog, started wrting a book, have discovered my job is not my identity, become as assistant Girl Scout leader and shared my journey at a Nurtured Heart Approach Global Summit in New Mexico...whew!

But, believe it or not...I have been struggling with myself and negativity regarding my life, feeling disconnected, what I look like (physically) and my worth.  I have questioned whether I am good enough, what do I have to share, have I really changed, and a lot of self doubt.  I have allowed the WMD's (worry, misery, and doubt) to set up camp in my heart, and road blocked the "18 inch path" from head to heart.

Yet, as I have been running that past couple of days (this at times is great therapy for me)  and allowed myself to listen to the whispers of my heart I have come to a realization that I am enough!  I have remembered that my greatness is not based on what I have done, or even what I am currently doing or not doing.  It is not based on who I am in relationship with-I don't need any one person or persons to feed my greatness.  My greatness, my worth, my identity come from within...and these things have always been there!

Yes, I admit, I have become side-tracked and even seen some old behaviors surface slightly, but that is what makes the power of the reset so amazing, and also what makes the three stands of the Nurtured Heart Approach ( Absolute Yes, Absolute No, and Absolute Clarity) so powerful!  I have been able to reset and recognize who I am and the greatness that is in me and revitalize it within my heart.  In my alone time I have recognized that allowing the three stands to operate in my life in regards of who I absolutely am and who I am absolutely am not and to gain clarity in both has cleared the road block from head to heart and allowed me to settle back into my heart where there is peace.

The most anazing thing about all of this is the growth that I have allowed to take place, the "cleansing" I have allowed to happen of my heart all in the doings of day to day life with no "high" occurring.  This to me is perhaps the greatess growth I have had in a while.  That I don't need the "high" of constantly doing and can just be.

It is with this clarity that day to day life can be amazing and does not have to be mundane as I allow my greatness to shine in all I do!

Abounding Greatness

Well, I have come home full in heart after attending a conference on the Nurtured Heart Approach founded by Howard Glasser.  I was given the great privilege of sharing my journey to greatness and making the 18 inch trip from head to heart in the process!  I was overwhelmed with the amazing response I got and my heart was touched deeply.

I attended this conference at the urging of a friend and with even more coaxing presented as well.  I did not think in any way I was qualified as I am not a therapist, a teacher, a social worker, or the like.  In fact, I am not even formally trained in the Nutured Heart Approach.  But, the fact of the matter is, I have received one-on-one training as I have applied the principles of greatness to my life over the last 18 months and as a result I am living life like never before!

I discovered in an even deeper way what greatness really is and how it can not be swayed by how you feel, what is going on at the moment, or by what others may say or do to you!  Greatness just is...it has no qualifier and no one is exempt! 

So, to be totally honest, even after being at such a conference for three days and allowing my heart to be full to the point of overflowing, I tried to derail myself on the way home.  Go figure?!?  I tried to convince myself that as I returned home to an empty house (my girls are both out of town) to a job I do not like that I had nothing to return to.  Thankfully, I had three determined friends that would not give up and continued to energize me and in time the reset happened and I allowed myself to return from my head to my heart once again!

Here is what is interesting, I am still there in full force!  I have been hit with some challenges at work, I am home alone in a VERY quiet house, but I have a calmness within and a deep-seeded knowing of who I am and the greatness that is within me.  In fact, this is deeper than anything I have felt in the past year!  The roots of knowing are deeper and more meaningful than ever before.  I have vision, I know what I want to do and where I am going!

This is what living FEARLESSLY is really all about.  It is knowing that your greatness is not something that comes and goes, it is in you from the day you were born!  It cannot be taken away no matter what circumstance you are in.  To know this, allow yourself to journey the 18 inches from head to heart.  Will it be painful at times-possibly, but I can guarantee you without any doubt that the journey will change your life in ways you never thought possible.

At the end of your journey (which by the way never really ends) you will find abounding greatness that was always there. It was just waiting to be discovered and to lead you along a path of life that is one of hope, healing, grace, empowerment, courage and much more.  You will find yourself living fearlessly and knowing your are "cape"able of all things.  Yes there will be setbacks, but these just provide opportunity for more growth and more greatness!

So I challenge you my friend...what is your heart telling you?  What are you holding on to that will detour you from the life you have always dreamed of?   Listen to that voice deep within your heart and allow it to lead the way...only greatness awaits!