Walk in My Shoes

Here is an excerpt from my forthcoming book, 21 Steps to Better Relationships, being released August 15, 2012. Enjoy!

Could a greater miracle take place than for us
to look through each other's eyes for an instant?

Henry David Thoreau

If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “Take a walk in my shoes,” you knew the person saying it was asking you to see things from their perspective. The power of perspective is in our perceptions—what we know and believe based on what we’ve previously experienced. Since the diversity of our cultures, climates, and customs creates so many variations of our unique life experiences, we are never done learning. By maintaining a perspective of curiosity, we open ourselves to the perspectives of others. These lessons often come in the form of shared stories and opinions. This is wisdom passed forward.

Learning to appreciate differences helps us to make connections with people who have different viewpoints, beliefs, and experiences. Appreciating perspective practices compassion and builds trust. When we express empathy, we make a deep and valuable connection with someone’s feelings and demonstrate respect for their perspective. This builds a foundation of trust in new relationships and strengthens trust in our existing ones.

In relationships with healthy and balanced communication, we can compare our perspectives, beliefs, and opinions without fear of rejection. Sharing similar perspective is a form of validation. The phrase, “Been there, done that,” is a great example of a quick way to make a connection with someone with which whom you share a similar perspective. Appreciating perspective is a fundamental skill in collaboration. Utilizing our active listening skills gives us access to new information and insights previously unknown in our own experience, and allows us the opportunity to expand our knowledge.

Activating perspective keeps you open to new understanding within relationships.

The next time you speak with someone, imagine where they are coming from. If they’re telling you a story, imagine how they are feeling. If they offer an opinion, ask them for more clarification or meaning. Really seek to understand them and their thoughts and feelings. Take a walk in their shoes, and learn to truly appreciate their perspective. It will change your relationship!  

Namaste,

The Ambassador

Appreciating Differences

As I look out into our world and see so many recent personal and political debates over inclusion, prejudice, and judgment, I can't help but feel bewildered that so many people still aren't able to see our differences as strengths, and not shortcomings. So today I'm going to share a story that may help put this into better perspective.

An Old Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments and the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the woman one day by the stream."I'm ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to accept each person for what they are and look for the good in them. 

Take time to value and appreciate your relationships with others, for there you will find the harmony, unity, and balance of our unique diversity and color.

Thank you to my friend in South Africa for sharing this story with me!

Namaste,

The Ambassador

 

It's Called T-mail

"I'm so glad you called. You must have gotten my t-mail."

"T-mail?" Shawn asked, "What's that?"

My best friend, Shawn, and I had just been chatting about when someone is on your mind how they often show up in your life soon afterward--they call you, text you, email you, or you run into them in public--somehow they just appear. How many times have you told someone, "I was just thinking of you!" It happens to me all the time. 

The energetic Universe is larger and more complex than we can possibly imagine, and although there are many things we cannot "prove" scientifically, we can still experience them. If you know about personal frequencies and how each of us is an energy source emitting vibrations--much like radio stations--you will understand that thinking of someone sends out an energetic signal. This signal, in turn, can be received and interpreted as either a thought, image, or response. Sort of like when we say our nose itches or our ears are burning, we have the potential to equate an energetic response as a vibrational feeling when someone is thinking of us. Perhaps this may be an urban legend or old wive's tale, but interesting nonetheless. Plus, it's kind of fun. And why not have fun with the unexplained?!

So the idea of "t"-mail is simply "thought" mail--a fun way to describe the feeling of a message sent and received to one another through our thoughts.

Whether it's sending and receiving t-mail, or simply focusing our thoughts to create a positive experience, our thoughts are major contributors to our life experiences. And if we remember that our thoughts form the basis for our attitudes, actions, and words, whatever we pay attention to will expand. So be sure and choose wisely which thoughts you focus on throughout your day.

Learn more about your thoughts, personal frequency, and the frequencies of others in 21 Days to Better Balance--and how becoming aware of your thoughts can help you find better balance in your mind, body, and spirit.

Have you checked your t-mail today? :o)

Namaste,

The Ambassador

Foresight is 20/20

 

You've probably used the phrase "Hindsight is 20/20" at some point in your life to describe the fact that it's easy to be wise about an event after it has happened. But have you ever felt a wisdom about an event before it has happened? Have you gotten "the nudge" that something did or didn't feel right? What did you do, or not do?

While we hope to learn our lessons from past events or circumstances that didn't turn out the way we expected or left a negative impression on us, we generally don't try to repeat the same mistakes on purpose (though some old habits do, indeed, die hard)—but lessons learned equates to wisdom gained. With our experiences we have the ability to make new and better choices in the future. But what is that prompt? That nudge? It's our intuition—that little voice inside which says it knows what's best for us.

Intuition is the language of our spirit—a connection to God, Source Energy, Creator, the Divine, the Universe, or whichever name you use to describe a power greater than any one of us. The voice of our intuition is quiet and often difficult to hear. We can become aware of our intuition by taking the time to listen to our thoughts, acknowledge our feelings, and create a space for our intuitive voice to be heard.

Think of intuition like a compass. If we are hiking and need direction, a compass gives us feedback about our current position in relationship to North. With this knowledge, we can reset our course with confidence and return to our journey. Our intuition is like a spiritual compass and will always point to our inner truth—our True North.

Take time this week to get in touch with the quiet voice of your intuition. As you begin to add intuition to your thoughts and feelings you will come into better balance and alignment with yourself—and you'll start to realize the role intuition plays in your daily decisions.

Harness the power of your thoughts, feelings, and intuition. Then use that power to see your choices more clearly, and experience that foresight can also be 20/20.

Namaste,

The Ambassador

Start off spring by "spring cleaning" within! Read more about your intuition in 21 Days to Better Balance and put yourself back into alignment. Now also available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.  

Things We Can Learn from A Dog

Sometimes, finding better balance in our day can be as simple as spending time with a favorite pet. Let's take a moment to remember some simple things we can learn from our furry canine friends:

1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

2. Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

6. Take naps and stretch before rising.

7. Run, romp, and play daily.

8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

9. Be loyal.

10. Never pretend to be something you're not.

11. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

12. When someone's having a bad day, be silent, sit close and nuzzle gently.

13. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

14. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

15. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

16. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

17. If you’re scolded, don't pout... run right back and make friends.

18. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

19. Learn to adapt to change quickly and naturally.

20. Appreciate those people who can scratch the itch you can’t reach.

Amazing what our animal friends can teach us!

Namaste,

The Ambassador

3 Steps To Better Balance

Finding better balance? Really? Where? I thought if I work hard enough I will arrive at a state where my life is in harmony with my desires, right?

Almost. In actuality, finding better balance is a process of returning to a natural state within us. We are born in a state of equilibrium: the mind, body, and spirit have been designed to work in harmony. It's just that as we grow, we absorb the fear of the world and begin to lose our alignment—our 'centered'ness—which contributes to our feelings of being out of balance.

So how do we return to a state of better balance? By removing the barriers to balance within us, many of them created by our own thoughts and behaviors. As I started writing about balance over 15 years ago I knew there must be a way to break old patterns and return to a healthier balanced state. In my book 21 Days to Better Balance, I highlight several of the ways I’ve found that have had the largest impact on my balance. Sometimes the best teacher is our own experience.

Much like eating a meal a bite-at-a-time, the book is portioned into 21 themes, each designed to bring you back into better balance with your mind (thoughts); body (feelings); and spirit (intuition). The themes are divided into a three-step process. Here is a quick review the 3 steps and the accompanying themes:

1) Awareness

Our powerful consciousness is absorbing and processing everything in our environment—sights, sounds, and smells—whether we realize it or not. In order to find better balance in our lives, we must first become aware of the factors that influence our balance.
Themes: Thoughts, Feelings, Intuition, Frequency, Fear, Time, Flow

2) Alignment

Alignment happens both on the inside and outside of us. Alignment means that our thoughts, beliefs, and intentions are aligned with our deepest truths. Internally, this means that we strive to be conscious of our thoughts, feelings, and intuition so that our behaviors reflect our true values. Externally, this means that over time, we bring our attitudes, actions, and words closer to our fundamental beliefs.
Themes: The Body, Relationships, Silence, Truth, Intention, Purpose, Abundance 

3) Activation

Activation puts theory into practice and ideas into motion. Without activation, good ideas are only ideas. Activation is the key to implementation and the third step to finding better balance.
Themes: Choice, Boundaries, Perspective, Focus, Empathy, Allowing, Gratitude

The mind, body, and spirit were designed to work in harmony and unity with one another. My hope is that the personal observations, insights, and analogies that I’ve used to find better balance in my life will help you find better balance in yours. After all, what good is wisdom if we don't pass it on?

Interested? Find the book and eBook here.

Namaste,

The Ambassador of Goodwill

Relationships Begin With You

Our relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives. Our relationships help us define who we are and who we strive to become. They mirror our strongest feelings about ourselves and show us where we need to grow. Therefore, the first and most important relationship we need to develop is with ourselves. All other relationships—family, friends, coworkers, romantic partners—stem from this important relationship.

True love for oneself comes with the acceptance that all we have experienced and are currently experiencing is a necessary part of our own personal evolution. It also comes from a constant commitment to healing and repairing those parts of our lives where there is still pain, anger, or lack of resolution—which are all based in fear. The purpose of fear is to remind us where we need to place focus in our lives. Feelings such as self-doubt and impatience are clear indicators that we are having a difficult time balancing our priorities with our intentions, and the first person we will blame for that is ourselves. And that is painful. We blame ourselves for "not doing it right", for missing out on great opportunities, or for repeating the same mistakes. Although these feelings appear to be legitimate, they are based in fear and may cause us to feel powerless to change them.

Fortunately, a key to assist us through these feelings is surrender. Not surrender in the form of quitting, but surrender as a means of allowing—releasing our need to: 1) control everything that is happening to us; 2) control those around us; and 2) controlling the need to know what is going to happen next. In other words, surrender is learning to stay present. Being truly present is, in itself, a challenging task especially when we are busy. But being present opens us to alignment, and alignment is the key to finding better balance with ourselves and others.

Another support we have are two helping hands: trust and faith. And the most powerful forms of those two amazing allies are the trust and faith we have in ourselves. Trust in yourself says, "There's nothing I have to have, nothing I have to do, and nothing I have to be, except exactly what I'm being right now." (compliments of Neale Donald Walsch in Conversations with God). We can only expect ourselves to show up each day, take things as they come, and do the best with the knowledge and information that we've been given. Loving yourself releases you from doing or being anything other than who and what you are right now. The rest of life is just "what it is". Faith says, "I was made for a purpose and that purpose is being fulfilled in every moment of my being." This state of being provides the basis for patience—the ability to know that we are in alignment with all that we are requesting in every moment regardless of when it shows up. There is a divine timing to all things and our trust and faith allows us to accept our reality with gratitude.

Remembering we are all Divine beings and believing we are perfectly aligned with our purpose in each and every moment—even when the moment may be challenging—gives us the opportunity to breathe, relax, and center ourselves. Remember: we each chose to come into this life to create the highest and most joyous experience of ourselves. When we are in alignment, the miracles we’ve personally requested will begin to come to us and we will regain our personal power to create what we truly want. Then, and only then, can we experience true self love.

Namaste,

The Ambassador

Start the new year by coming into alignment with your thoughts, feelings, and intuition. Read 21 Days to Better Balance to get that jump start!