I need help! & Being Bold enough to ask!

Here's the deal. With YOUR help.

I will:

Launch a workbook with an interactive gallery installation. July 2 - invites coming soon!

Launch a Blog and website that tells the story!

& Launch a Global Book Tour. YUP have the nerve to say that one out loud! Already in conversations with buds in Birmingham, Boston & Chicago.

The results:

More people will ask for help with:

Depression

Creativity

Suicidal Thoughts

Relationships

Addictions

Personal Growth

Finances

& Spiritual Evolution.

I decided long ago that, if I were to write about the cycle of giving and receiving help, I best be able to walk my talk. I could not do this book alone, it has been a massively collaborative effort. Literally hundreds of people from all over the world have helped me create the stories, supported me financially, spiritually, emotionally and most importantly, helped me garner the courage to bring this work to life.

I initially created the workbook several years ago and then became seriously ill, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It was put on the shelf and what I realized is that I had to learn the next level of asking for help. Literally had to ask for help to stay alive. I tell ya, it makes the kind of asking I am about to do, seem like a piece of cake.

So this is the beginning of a a few months of bold faced asking for help. I know these things happen in phases and really want to collaborate with my posse to bring it to life. The bestest and funnest things in my life have been done with others, so naturally this biggest event of my life should be done with you!

If you would like to collaborate on bringing the dream of "Who's Helping Who?" to life here are a few things I need help with over the next weeks and months. There will be more asks, I promise!!

1. Look in your junk drawers. Need small objects the size of a marble/quarter for the installation. Anything, buttons, machine pieces, toys, etc...They will be part of the interaction during the month long installation. Please call me and I will come pick up objects if you are local or mail to me by June 25th.

Florence Haridan

247 Lobelia Road

St. Augustine, FL 32086

2. Write a short passage about how you helped me and or how I helped you. OR Raise your hand to be interviewed and taped for pod casting. 

This passage will be added to the blog as part of the back stories of the the book. Many of you have been formally interviewed for the book and others have contributed in other ways in my life. Please share. I need you once again... Or I have helped you in some way. Big or small, each exchange of help changes our lives...email it to me at florence@gathernow.com or post it here.

3. Help me find locations to install the interactive experience.

If you are part of a club, organization or church and would love to bring a fun experience to them, I have created the installation to be movable.  I have a formal description of the installation that I can share with you, so you have something to speak to your connections about. Call me, 904-612-3934

4. Sponsor the installation of the interactive experience.  Estimated cost to take it on the road locally is about $200. To take it to your city... $300 + the cost of a flight and a hotel. A great way for your business to gain exposure. Bringing the message of the cycle of help is a message any business/organization can be part of. Your company/Org name will be recognized as a sponsor!

5. Open a door to a publisher. I have initially self published with all the confidence that a publisher is waiting for this ground breaking topic! I have the book out for first reads and will have some great quotes from other authors soon!! Call 904-612-3934 to share...

And last, but surly not least...

6. Prayer...That I continue to have the courage to talk about this important and potentially life saving topic. Over the coming months, I shall share my personal challenges with asking for help, as well as interview others. I pray that we are able to share of ourselves so our victories may inspire others. Please also pray that I stay focused and have the self love to care for myself fully through this adventure. Please email me florence@gathernow.com or share here...

Blessings all!

Who's Helping Who?

Take Yourself Seriously?

Do you? Really??

For most of my life, I did not either. I spent my life trying to prove myself, trying to get others to love me, trying to prove to myself I was worthy.

I was busy helping others so they would love me, yet I was not able or willing to receive help. When I was able to reach out and receive help my entire world changed. I was able to give selflessly and with love, instead of want.

As I began to take my life seriously, I began to take actions that helped me see, feel experience my worthiness. As I sit writing this, I am taking my life seriously. I am sharing my experiences and opening the door of my failures and successes, so they might inspire others.

Over the past years I have overcome some pretty intense situations. I have been willing to put the work into healing and allow myself to become whole and complete...ya even though some crazy stuff happened to me. I am letting go of the past and allowing myself to be here right here and now.

I am proud of myself for taking myself seriously and doing the work necessary to bring my gifts and skills to full blossom. It is hard work that I gotta tell ya, feels amazingly great. I face my stuff, hang with it to learn and move forward. I try not to allow the hard stuff paralyze me any more like it used to. These days, I am smart enough to reach out to others to help me through those hard spots.

I take my life seriously enough to know, I not not have all the answers nor should I. Oh right, that is why there are all these amazing people in my life...hee hee

We are all blessed with amazing people in our lives. By virtue of being in relationship with these people it is our responsibility to tap into their greatness! When we ask for help we get to make them feel like thay matter. That we respect them and love them, and are willing to be helped by them. WOW! Win! Win! We all get to feel good. Quite the miracle...

So the question is...Are you willing to take your life seriously and ask someone for the help you need??

Maybe it is hard to reach out to someone you know because you think they will judge you, been there. I started by asking professionals and eventually I created the right blend of professionals, friends, family and even strangers that turned into friends...

Your life, your dreams, YOU, ARE worth taking seriously! I know it you know it!!

If ya really ready...contact me...I am patient and a heck of a lot of fun to grow with...

gathernow.com

THINK Different! BE Different! ACT Different!

Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

I had an experience recently that ruffled my feathers a bit and then I realized that they were being ruffled because they needed to be.

I was not accepted into a networking group. The feedback they gave me was, "You are too un-traditional." Oh wow, it reminded me of some feedback I had received from someone saying, "You are too enthusiastic."

I remember the few times I interacted in the group feeling uneasy. I experienced a structure that is formulated to create a special result they desire to create, yet not one that I believe builds meaningful relationships.

Now, I have to admit, I was miffed for a moment. I then realized that God was asking me to rejoice in my self and accept my unique approach to life. I am different and I am glad for that...

The different kind of life I have led as an artist, designer, writer and spiritual seeker has made many people uncomfortable. I know that I am here on this earth to affect it. I push. I probe. I seek the truth.

I ask questions that disrupt the current way of thinking. I ask WHY? I ask, Why NOT??

As this world shifts and evolves, we must be willing to THINK Different, BE Different, and ACT Different.

We know that the way things are going right now is not bringing the results we as a world need. We need to be willing to step away from the pack and step into our unique gifts.

A week or so ago a friend forwarded a link to a great little video about being different to me. It is a promo piece for Youngme Moon's Different

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26PVrm4iLA0

Youngme Moon is a professor at the Harvard School of Business. Her book discusses the power of being different and helps us see the idea from a new point of view.

I remembered this link, while I sat thinking about the group who did not want me. I decided that I would bring together people who celebrate being different and know that being different in these times is exactly what needs to happen.

I have set up a lunch time call for us to read spend time discussing the ideas she presents and to discuss how these ideas inspire us to action...

Here the information about the call,

Friday, May 21, 2010
12-1pm - bring your lunch and break bread with people from around the world!

Conference line number
1-213-289-0500
Participant Access Code
498649

and the Link to reserve your spot...

http://guestlistapp.com/events/21324

And to purchase the book....

living a dream come true...Installment ONE

It has been over a week since my opening at the Butterfield Too Gallery. It has taken me a while to reflect on what this huge step as an artist, coach and seeker means to me.

Two years ago I started to create the prayer bead sculptures as a way to express my pain, fear and the power of hope that my prayer life was beginning to bring me. I began sharing the stories behind them with friends as part of the creative process and what I realized was my prayer process.

As I shared the stories, I realized that the prayers they represented were universal in theme. The pieces were my way of visually expressing my challenges, needs and desires. The work brought me through very hard times in my life and allowed me to express complicated thoughts in a way that blessed me with a sense of peace, joy and acceptance.

I used the work to live through a divorce, a life threatening illness, the death of my mom, financial ruin and the loss of my life and dreams as I knew them.

As I created the pieces, I tuned into my greatest pains, fears, joys, hopes and desires as creative fuel. The prayerful creative process helped me not only create a body of work that documents my journey, but also helped me to literally recreate a life full of meaning and joy. My relationship with myself, others and God evolved with such grace.

The whole experience of bringing the work to the gallery space was an adventure that I could not have predicted, yet as I lived it felt so right. I had been talking to Jan Miller, the owner of the gallery, about my sculptures since I began working on them. We would have casual conversations and I began to imagine them in Butterfiled.

Butterfield is the best gallery here in Saint Augustine. The work is authentic, conceptually sophisticated and well executed. I knew the work needed to continue to evolve if I were to be asked to show...I continued to refine the work and create pieces, I felt were at the level of Butterfield.

Last year, Butterfield expanded and opened Butterfield Too, which is a space that provides smaller spaces for artists to show. Perfect, I thought, my way to inch myself in. Finally I gained the courage to ask Jan if there were any openings, with a huge smile, she said. "YES, as a matter of fact. We would love for you to apply."

Well my heart went wild with excitement. I had envisioned the work there and had imagined what it would be like to bring the prayers out into the world. She described the application process and told me the date I was to present my artist's statement and statement of intent. I smiled and walked away, with a giddiness that I can still feel as I write this...I was on my way to a dream becoming a reality.

stay tuned...

to my knees - my art of prayer

HOW THE WORK BEGAN...

 

Hard for me to express how happy I am to send the invitation to this show out. I have imagined the work in a gallery since the day it began.

Two and a half years ago I began to become ill. I really did not know how ill I would become, I just kept working to stay on top of things. I had begun using a spiritual coach to help me cope.

One Friday morning, we were having a session and I was in a major funk. Part of my illness, pernicious anemia, is depression. At that time I had not been diagnosed, I was just tired, depressed & beginning to fall down. I was frustrated that I was not accomplishing all I desired. I was working on my book, trying to launch my business and creating a new life after ending my abusive marriage, I had lots to do!! Yet I did not have the energy, focus or ability to do them all. I felt like a failure. I was spinning my wheels trying to achieve things and yet little did I know the illness had begun.

So as I shared the pain of failure with my coach, he was trying to get me to see all I had accomplished so far. The loss of over 200 pounds, leaving the marriage, speaking in front of thousands of people, the first draft of the book…and yet through all of that, I was unable to see those as accompishments, I had my eyes on what I could not accomplish.

He suddenly blurted out “Seems like you need a visual rosary.” I said, “What is that?” “Beats me.” He exclaimed…well my mind went a pondering. We hung up and back to bed I went. Those days I was spending huge amounts of time in bed, just lying there. My mind started exploring…my mom and I had prayed the rosary a few weeks before that, during a visit up north. One evening as we were falling to sleep, I noticed her fingers and lips moving. When I asked what she was doing she said praying the rosary. She admitted she had been too lazy to get up out of bed to get it, so she used her fingers to keep count. We then began to pray together, and both drifted off to sleep with prayer upon our lips. It is one of my fondest memories of my mom. She died just about a year later.
 

As I lay there, I began to pray the rosary and fell asleep praying. I slept the whole day I remember. When I woke up the next morning I headed to the studio and begun to putter around with the visions of rosaries in my head. I began pulling elements together and found myself praying as I constructed it. Element by element it began to form.

I knew the rosary would symbolize all the things I was grateful for. I had decided that the flat surfaces would hold little homages to people, events, accomplishments that were meaningful to me.

I knew it needed a cross. I had begun to wear a cross again and decided to use the cross that had been gifted to me by my personal trainer that had helped me relearn how to take care of my body through exercise, prayer and commitment.


As I created and prayed, I began to feel a peacefulness wash over me. I began to create the little collages to honor parts of my life. A cutout from my book, a shell from the day I was divorced, a sunset from a delightful date. I began to see the richness of my life in a whole new way. I still add to this very first piece and will I image for a very long time.


What are you grateful for??

 

Reflection and the Creative Process

Recently I was preparing a meal for some friends. I brought myself to the moment. I took time to ponder what it had taken to get to that moment. What had I done to get here and what energy had been expended? What emotions had fueled the investment of such energy?

Quite a simple answer to the emotion question, love! Pure and simple. Love for my friends, love of food, love of my skills, love of history and most importantly, love of the creative process!

I had invited my friends, prepared the menu, made the list for shopping, went to several stores to collect the ingredients and now here I was in the kitchen, enjoying all the effort I had already focused.

For me the creative process feeds my soul. When I jump into it fully, I feel my greatest skills and talents coming to the fore. I am at my best and highest self.

As I continued to prepare the meal, I was in sheer joy. Smelling the food, tasting the nuances and touching creations of God. The zestiness of the limes transported me to Key West, the smokiness of the bacon reminded me of my grandmother cooking breakfast and the sweetness of mangos, brought my every sense alive, recalling sharing a mango on the beach under a hot sun.

Continuing to enjoy the entire transformation of ingredients into a meal, that I knew my friends and I would savor, I rested into the skills I have. The cooking skills I possess have been honed and evolved over many years. What I think I really enjoy about cooking, it that there are physical skills like chopping, intellectual skills governing the laws of chemistry and the spiritual skills that help me tune into the nuances of the flavors and combinations of textures and tastes.

In the romantic comedy, Kate and Leopold, Leopold states, as he is serving a lovely meal to his beloved, "Food is a product of reflection." What a delightful thought! It states what we often times forget. Creation requires reflection. We tap into our memories and combine experiences and knowledge to create anew.

Resting into the creative process is about honoring the past while creating the future.

A passage in The Book of Unholy Mischief: A Novel by Elle Newmark expresses how I feel about cooking in a delicious way.

"He picked up the onion and his voice turned brusque. "Inhale the aroma, the soul, but take your time. The art of cooking like the art of living, must be savored for its own sake." He wafted the onion under his nose and inhaled deeply. "No matter that the food we prepare will be eaten in minutes; the act of creation is everything."

I read this and immediately I felt my heart leap. Yes, the creative process is everything! Each of us knows this feeling! Whether we are creating a meal, a solution, a garden or a work of art, we know what it feels like to use our skills and gifts to create. We know that surge of energy that takes over and guides our minds and then hands. As we create from this place our sense of purpose and connection is heightened. We feel we are doing what we are supposed to do.

As I sit here creating this entry, I am in the flow of creativity. I am feeling the energy and the passion that I feel for creative expression expanding. I am immersed in the passion of inspiration, knowing that potentially I might inspire someone else to be creative, someone else to feel connected, or someone else to feel joy. In essence I am living the creation of my vision.

My vision is to inspire creativity and joy by helping people to find their own answers by sharing my story and skills.

Several years ago after I left Citibank to create Gathering, I read Laurie Beth Jones's, The Path.

In it she expresses the importance of creating a vision. She clarifies how a vision is the result of a mission. It is emotional payoff to the hard work. Jones outlines the steps to creating a vision and mission, both she explains, are informed by reflection.

She writes, "A Sufi poet wrote, The Universe surrenders to a mind that is still." And in order to truly find The Path, each of us must loosen our minds, and begin from a point of wonder and openness–of being willing to not know. We must receive before we can give."

This profoundly shifted how I approached the creative process. Reflection is a part of my process now without exception. I know that when I am able to tune into the creative force within me, I will allow the greatest things to flow with the greatest joy in the experience of it.

Within the creative process there are so many subtle elements. Making myself conscious to be aware of those nuances and opening myself to the wonder of it is such a blessing.

May your creative experiences be inspired by reflection, fueled by passion and appreciated with joy!

When are you taking time to reflect??

How do you get back in the Light?

There are two kinds of light--the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.
James Thurber (1894 - 1961)

Stepping back into the light after being in the dark for a long time, can be painful. Our eyes just want to close, they strain to adjust and suddenly can see! Eyes adjust naturally to the light, just as they did in the dark. Our eyes are capable of seeing the tiniest shard of light in the dark and will instinctively close when the glare hurts. We know intuitively what the right light is and can feel the power of it when we do.

Our physical coming into the light is evocative of our spiritual journey. Coming back into the light takes a bit of patience and a lot of faith. Trusting the process and knowing that the light you find will be the one that illuminates the way to joy is the blessing of the adventure.

I had been in the dark for a while and now have stepped fully into the light. This lovely place of hope, of possibility and God's grace. My dark place was an illness that robbed me physically and emotionally, yet spiritually blessed me beyond belief. I have become grateful for my courage to explore the dark in a way that allows truth and brings me to a deeper love of self, of God and others.

These days when the dark calls, I know there is wisdom there for me. If I am smart enough to be there, explore and move through it with grace, the riches will bubble forth. I have learned that there is a time for me to be alone with God in the dark and then there is a time for me to reach out and seek a hand to explore it and move through.

Debbie Ford, released a movie recently called the Shadow Effect. It features spiritual journeymen like Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson to name a few. They discuss the necessity to adventure into the dark with the faith that if explored with honesty, it will bear riches. We live in a society that is focused on running from the dark or we wallow in it. We avoid "feeling" bad. We seek escape and fantasy and end up numb. The movie compels us to bravely go into the dark and face the sides of ourselves that are craving the light of day. It is by going into the dark that the light can find a way there.

Elizabeth Lesser, one of the founders of the renowned Omega Institute, wrote a book called Broken Open. In it she explores what is available to us in times of brokenness. She shares her own hurts and exposes her frailties to herself and others in order to grow. Her honesty and willingness to be vulnerable inspired me greatly. I learned that through a willingness to be vulnerable with myself and the right people, I would be able to excavate the gold in the dark places.

And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
—Anaïs Nin

Lesser opened her book with Nin's quote. It makes a powerful statement. I am inspired by this quote to be honest with my own fear to blossom. I am evolving my business and finally launching my book. I am finding myself in the wonderfully incredible process of creative chaos, joy and fear rumbling around together.

We all have times of self doubt, fear, and weariness. It is how we respond to these feelings that makes a life or breaks it. This morning, I was having the dreary Monday blues. Feeling overwhelmed and confused, I reached out to my best friend. He reminded me of my strengths and brought a smile to my face by reminding me that he felt good cause I called him for help out of the dark. He got to be my light for a moment, while mine became stronger with a dose of his love.

We laughed at the nuttiness of the moment. Here I am the girl who wrote Who's Helping Who? A book all about reaching out for help and the grace that ensues because of it. There I sat feeling ashamed that I needed a bit of TLC, while he sat feeling blessed to be a beacon. OH right he reminded me, I am human...

It is hard to admit we're having a bad day or a bad spell in our lives. They come. Sometimes, you can go within and seek the strength to move through it, other times reaching out for a hand is what is necessary. What I know for sure, is getting out of the dark is so much easier with the loving hand of a trusted friend.

Which friend of yours sheds light in the dark? Give them a call and say thanks for being a light!!

Jovial

jo·vial
Pronunciation:
\ˈjō-vē-əl, -vyəl\
Function: adjective
Date:1592
1capitalized : of or relating to Jove (Zeus)
2: markedly good-humored especially as evidenced by jollity and conviviality

Last week I started attending a new visioning class based on the work of Michael Beckwith. Quite powerful stuff!!

We were given a structure for our morning meditation practice that includs a series of questions. One of which is, “Who do you need to be to suport your vision coming to life?”

Today the word that popped into my mind was jovial. I began to giggle and enjoy the moment of discovering a word that many have used to describe me.

Jovial. Hmm... For me I began to think about the funny stories I tell about all the adventures I have. It is about funding the humor in things and being willing to bring it forth. I know that when I am in this frame of mind, I attract people, energy, and experieces that create and support joy.

Being jovial to me is about seeing the bright side. Bringing levity to a situation and keeping it all in perspective.

So today I will continue to remember the jollity within my heart and know that as I step into who my heart calls me to be, I shall feel the presence of the Divine.

Who are you called to be?

How did I get here?

Yesterday morning a friend asked me a simple question, "How did you get here?"

The here she is speaking of is a place of possibilities on many levels, with looming reality ever present.

As I shared, she insightfully expressed that she felt it was important for those around to greater understand where I have been, so they might help me move forward.

What became clear as I told her the story of the past year and a half, was her surprise at the evolution of my self image.

As I sit here and try to recreate what I was able to express to her verbally, I am filled with hesitation. Trying to express in the written word is now a challenge for me. The affects of the pernicious anemia on my whole life has been greater than I or those around me have understood.

Yesterday as I told of the journey, I was able to see how the puzzle pieces of my life have shifted and have created a new version of Florence. A version, I know that is stronger and more connected to God, myself and others.

I will continue to try to tell of where I am and how I am working to understand the affects and create anew from there.

Many people in my life right now are helping me to see this evolved version of myself is here, because I have been willing to do the hard work of facing the pain and moving through it with deep faith.

Hope Gathering

Hope - Huge word even though it is four letters...

As I jump back into evolving the world of Gathering after my illness and the death of my mom, all is NEW. So many possibilities...

I have committed to using this space to create the right energy and momentum that I know is needed to bring Gathering to the next right incarnation.

SO stay tuned and please contribute, your ideas on what you know of me, Gathering and what you think, I can bring to life...

Exciting times.

How do you spend your spiritual cash?

'Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.'


Bob Proctor


How do you make your selections from the catalog of infinite possibilities?

If Bob Proctor is correct in surmising that "Thoughts become things", one could consider a person's thoughts as a sort of cosmic cash, bringing into your life whatever you place your attention on.

We live in a Universe that is so full of unconditional adoration for each and every one of us that She unquestioningly provides us with every thing we desire, under the assumption that what we think about is what we desire. And why wouldn't it be? Certainly, you feel better when you envision yourself driving that brand new car than you do when you think about the faults of your current one. But the effects are more far-reaching than just instantaneous warm-fuzzies... Positive thinking is an investment into your future!

Whether you choose to or not, you are setting events into motion, on physical, energetic, and sub-atomic levels, based on what you think, what you say, and how you spend your time. Pause for a moment, now, and observe your current mental and emotional states. Would you be content to feel this way for ever?

It is an important question to consider because NOW is all you have, and an eternity is encased within it. Stop putting off your own happiness, and making it dependent upon certain conditions that may or may not be met. Start focusing on what you want this moment.

The kingdom of heaven is within you, and the Universe holds infinite possibilities, all for you. In an existence such as this, with so many experiences at your feet, all you need is faith and focus to purchase what you truly desire.

You cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought.
-Peter McWilliams

What makes you enthusiastic about your business?

“The greeks gave us one of the most beautiful words of our language, “enthusiasm”. The word enthusiasm translates to “a God within”. Within you is an infinite passionate soul that wishes to express itself.”

Wayne Dyer, The Power of Intention

Each of us has created within our minds, a vision for what we see for our business, we create wonderfully detailed images of what success and fulfillment look like. We create wonderfully detailed images in our minds consciously and unconsciously. We "see" happy customers, new products and services and financial success. Ultimately we feel happy when we think these thoughts.

Our minds naturally create plans that are possible. We create the story of success with each daydream, each conversation, each list of to do's.

The mind cannot create a vision that is not in someway possible. The mind consciously and unconsciously pieces together ideas, facts, and experiences to design a new reality based on your history.In essence it creates history, waiting to be created.

It is then up to us to get the story of the of the new history expressed. It is called your business plan. It is your vision wanting to be created.

It is up to us to get those unconscious thought out into your conscious mind, so you can bring it to life, It is in this expression, the conscious mind can accept it and apply logic and reason to create tactical plans for its realization.

Speaking about the ideas allows for the written word to be created. The connection between the verbalization of an idea opens the pathway to the written word, the visualization elements and the emotional connections. The act of storytelling allows us to connect to our experiences in a organic way. Our brains naturally connect ideas as we access our experiences, our knowledge and passions.

Brenda Laurel in her book, "Utopian Entrepreneur" states, "Story telling is a nurturing act. It is not simply the transmission of narrative material. It is a purposeful action that is intended to communicate, to teach, to heal. Stories are content, storytelling is relationship."

The stories we create around our goals, be them personal or business, respectfully, recreate from our past experiences, failings and successes. They gently blend all these into a healing salve. They take the lessons, insights and wisdom that were deposited over time and weaves them together into a new version of reality.

The sheer act of telling these new stories, allows healing, forgiveness and an honoring of the past. As it is expressed, we open the door to be able to use it to plan the future, tactically and tangibly. It moves from our mind to reality.

Tom Peters, business guru, his book RE-IMAGINE, calls us to re-look at everything we know about business. He asks us to face, "It is not your... father's world" He compels us to see anew and re-imagine the business we know are possible. One where design, planning, strategy and fulfillment are possible.

We must he says be willing to do the work. We must take time to flesh out our visions and share them. It is in this act he states that a new way of doing business will come to life.

What is the story you are creating?

Who can you tell your new story to?

Have you seen the vision of your life’s purpose?

Life is a promise; fulfill it.
Mother Theresa

Imagine being in a new town on vacation and leaving from your hotel to go to the grocery store. You’ve got your shopping list in hand and your eco-friendly cloth bags in the trunk. You set out on your mission with goal in mind, and as you drive out of the parking lot, you realize – you have no idea how to get to the store!

Life visioning is like having spiritual GPS. You may have a fuzzy idea of your mission in life… some things you would like to have or to accomplish. But do you know what it looks, smells, and feels like? How much time do you spend allowing yourself to feel what you’re hoping to create? Once you have a clear vision you can set your life on auto-pilot and let the Divinity within you take over from there. The name of the game is trust.

As Mike Dooley put it, “The secret to living the life of your dreams is to start living the life of your dreams, at once, to any degree that you possibly can.”

Life visioning is going within to find exactly who you were born to be. This is like finding out which store carries the right brand of soymilk before you get in the car to go there. You want to head straight to the source, without having to waste time hopping from destination to destination finding the right fit. You want specifics, and the beauty is that it’s all within you already. (Silk brand is great organic soymilk, by the way)

When it comes to discovering our individual purpose or mission, the most profound and effective way to begin is by consciously catching the Spirit’s vision for our life. But unfortunately, it takes some time and work to open our heart’s eye enough to see.

There are a few different ways of ‘programming our internal GPS’, so to speak. First, we have to come to know ourselves on a profound level. Unless you know who you are from every angle, even the scary or less-than-flattering ones, you won’t know how you and the qualities you posess are vital to your life’s purpose.

A few avenues for self-exploration that I’ve found to be extremely helpful in my own life are: astrology, numerology, fasting, dreamwork, breathwork, yoga, and meditation. (for more information on these topics, check out the links on the right hand side of the page or e-mail me with questions at anandi@gathernow.com)

When you come to know and love yourself, your calling will make itself known as you take more notice of what that motivates you (past and present), what attracts you, what you resist, and what frustrates you.

The important part is just opening up to it. Being active in a conscious search for purpose signals to your subconscious mind that you’re serious about finding it. No book, guru, or class will tell you what your purpose is (wouldn’t it be nice if things were that easy! Like room service, forget about going out for soymilk.) The answers are within you. All that is required to receive them is to call them forth. Be open to receive. Openness invites the subconscious open up to you. Judging what you receive, or think you receive no matter how little sense it may make to you in your current life and mindset, scares off any insights that may come through. The inner eye is like a muscle, and it takes a lot of exercise to get it to see clearly!

Often, once you open yourself to it, your purpose may become clear through synchronicities. Carl Jung coined the term "synchronicity" to describe events that were more than coincidental and could have significant implications on your life path. Paying attention to synchronicities can be very important to discovering your path. Synchronicities can show up in a fragment of an overheard conversation, a song on the radio, an article in the newspaper, or a sign on the road. A repeated word or phrase could be a key to your path. It may not be the end-goal, but it can be significant step or a turning point on your path, if you stay alert.

Remember,
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you”
Matther 7:7

Usually, we use our eyes to guide us and take us in the direction we want to go. In the same way, Spirit, whatever you conceive of Universal Power to be, has given us "spiritual eyes" to help guide us in the realm of the Spirit. Paul spoke of this....

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”

Ephesians 1:18-19

Visioning enables the "eyes of our hearts" to see clearly in order that we may know the Divine Intelligence's perfect plan for our lives and the "incomparably great power" of God. This was God's intention for us when It created mankind.
As Michael Beckwith put it, "Through Life Visioning, we become the living condition through which divine ideas express themselves. These ideas can be anything from solutions to problems to a new business model to direction in your spiritual development. With Life Visioning, you place yourself in position to "catch and articulate" the eternal broadcast of that which is seeking to manifest through you, for the benefit of all.

Remember, your highest dreams and greatest aspirations are Spirit’s vision for your life. Gos works in, as, and through you to manifest greatness in form. Allowing that to flow does not imply giving anything up. Generally we think of the term surrender as having a negative connotation. But because God lives through you, he wants only the most blissful, peaceful, successful, and healthful experiences possible for human beings.

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)

Don’t think that you have to get “there”, wherever “there” is for you, with what you have now. In terms of money, confidence, talent, connections, whatever. It doesn’t work like that. And thank goodness, because that’s a scary thought. Once you set yourself in motion, the necessary resources - money, confidence, talent, connections, etc. – will be drawn to you! YES, it’s that easy!

Your destiny is divine. Your destination is certain. And your intuitive GPS is accesible. There is nothing in the way of your spiritual success, you precious spark of God’s light!

Namaste
Anandi D.



“Relax. Contrary to popular belief, figuring out your life’s purpose is easy.
Living it is even easier; you were made for it!
You deserve a clear, precise vision of what you incarnated to do on Earth, and you deserve to start feeling the effects of that confidence immediately.

Let’s program your spiritual GPS and get you on the road to your destiny.”

These websites provide the most accurate and in-depth astrological charts and readings available on the web.
Astro.com
Chaosastrology.com

Numerology:
Affinitynumerology.com

Dreamwork:
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/

Yoga and breathwork:
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/pranayama/

Meditation
http://www.how-to-meditate.org/

fasting
http://www.new-life.net/fasting.htm

For more information and an in-depth process for discovering your purpose, I recommend the audio series, “life visioning” by Rev. Michael Beckwith, available on amazon.com

Do you believe in your plan?

Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.
Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)


Do you have a plan?

For your business? For your life?

I love this quote by Edison, it teaches me to come back to plans, to ponder, analyze, appreciate and revise. So often we create plans and because they do not work out we leave them by the way side and miss out of all the wisdom they hold for us.

When we are diligent, we continually re-look at plans and adjust actions and forecasts. I recently met with a very successful accounting firm partner. He described the quarterly review of their business plan and ongoing adjustment to marketing, staffing and resource strategies. He was able to speak with authority on where the company had been, where they are now, as well as where they want to go.

He had insights into trends and was able to speak intimately about the business with confidence and ease. As I reflected on the meeting, I was struck at the ease with which he spoke about the numbers. It was of course typical for an accountant t be able to spew out numbers with confidence. What I was struck by for myself is my lack of confidence as a business owner to talk with such confidence about the numbers, about the forecasts, the trends in my numbers. I was humbled, as I am sure most of us would be.

It really gave me deeper insight into the many facets of business and how we as responsible business owners need people around us and on our teams who can speak to the many facets of a business. Finance, marketing, business development, etc.

Is there a part of your business plan that needs a re-look, a readjust?

Marketing?
What are your three key brand values?

Sales?
What are your three key competitive differentiators?

Strategy?
What are your three key business drivers?

So take some time to analyze and possibly even bring in a pro to help!!

How does your current schedule support your growth?

The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.
George Eliot (1819 - 1880)

Each choice we make has a result. Not choosing is a choice.

For me each day is full of choices how I best spend my time ad energy. I work to prioritize my choices and know which ones will give me the desired outcomes I am looking for.

Choosing to grow and expand is a choice we are all called to do. Whether we choose to grow or not grow consciously is where the opportunity presents itself.

Making choices to spend time looking at our choices, lives, dreams, relationships, etc, is critical to our growth and evolution in these areas. Oftentimes we set out upon a course of action only to find it is not yielding the results we are looking for, yet continue to make the efforts.

An ongoing review of strategy, plans and results will give us the best use of our precious time and resources. Looking at and making choices will energize and focus the investments and potentially ignite new growth.

What do you need more time for? Why?

How would you describe your scheduling Philosophy?

What choice is next?

What routines keep you aligned to your values?

Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982)

WOW, this quote has always blown me away. The clarity and the precision of the thought is so in line with so many of my beliefs and experiences with my own journey and those of my clients.

Each day we are given 24 hours to make the most of. We sleep, we eat, we play, we work, we grow, we pray... the list is endless.

We have choices that ultimately affect our happiness, our relationships, and our sense of self. What we accomplish each day is the result of our ability to make the right choices that inspire action, creativity and results. The old adage, "Time is money", so under states the value of routine and planning.

As a business owner the adage helps me see clear as to the physical value of time, it does not however inform the way I feel when I fritter away time and do not bring my ideas and dreams to life. This for me is element of inspiration to drive me to action.

Living to my values...now that fires me up and inspires me to get busy with the calender and do to list. Lately, I have become acutely aware of how routines serve me.

For instance, when I am not routinely spending time with my coach and giving voice to planning and strategizing, I loose momentum and often direction. Similarly when I am not investing in my spiritual path, I become disillusioned and lost. If exercise and eating well are not committed to, sluggish and tired is the result.

Now, think about it...we create these amazing visions, and then struggle to bring them to reality because we as big thinkers and free spirits buck routines because we think they will rob us of freedom or something???

Well I have experienced that it is the total opposite. Routine brings freedom. Routine brings results, Routine brings happiness... woo hooo.

So I have decided that id I want the happiness of living to my values. I surrender to the routines that will help me to achieve them. Planning. Exercise. Meditation. Sleep. Play. Sales calls...you know the drill.

So..

What investment of time does your business need to move to the next level?

What routines need to be committed to?
Financially?
Physically?
Spiritually?

What are you curious about?

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. ~Clay P. Bedford

Are you trying to make a decision?

What are you doubtful about?

Each day we make scores of decisions effortlessly. It is because we are able to trust ourselves and the knowledge we have at our fingertips to reason through options.

When we avoid making a decision, we have often come to a place in the decision road that keeps us from taking action. It is a lack of information that keeps us from stepping in faith.

As I watch people make decisions, it is the research process that brings them to action with assuredness.
Taking actions that are based in reality vs blind faith allows us to have faith in our selves and the decision making process.

Research. Even the word itself connotes that we are searching again. Re-looking for more information, validating an idea, a belief, a process, etc...

Each time we spend time to validate and enrich our ideas, we are making decisions easier and more connected to our visions and mission. It is the commitment and the due dilligence that brings confidence and ability to step in faith in our selves and our beliefs.

What needs a dose of faith?

What needs more information?

Are you alive?

When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918 - ), "Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art", 1980

Who do you allow yourself to be vulnerable with?

What are you missing out on by keeping yourself closed?

Who do you feel drawn to open yourself up to?

Each and every day we have choices to open ourselves to possibilities, to others, and most importantly to love. Taking chances with our minds, requires one sort of risk, while chances of the heart are unquantifiable. I know each and every time I choose to open my heart and mind, I choose to be open to God's love that flows through others.

I know as I open my heart, the wounds that have happened in the past are exposed. I also know that by opening, they are healed too.

When I open my mind, new ideas and energy flows from places that often surprise me and very often astound me.

This notion of vulnerability has me thinking about truly being seen. Allowing myself to seen by those around me and trusting that I will be loved and accepted is a leap of faith. I know that it is the trust I have in myself and my intuition empowers me to open myself to the people who are worthy of my trust.

As I open my self, I see others around me open up. It is a rare thing to be able to be in that space of trust and faith with another person. Be it a friend, a colleague, or a lover, each requires a willingness to be vulnerable to achieve the highest levels of intimacy. Intimacy on all levels, be it Intellectual, emotional, physical or spiritual demands faith in oneself and the other.

My experience has shown me the depths of intimacy takes time to develop. There are relationships that evolve quickly and others slowly. The pace of true intimacy developing is directly proportional to the amount of vulnerability each person is willing to expose.

In my life, I feel as if I develop deep relationships with people pretty quickly because of my willingness to be vulnerable. I have decided for myself that I desire deep relationships and that I have enough faith in myself and God to open myself. I trust that I am opening myself to the right people and I will learn and grow from every relationship I have.

Intimacy scares many people. I thrive in it. I love the space of it and open myself to all that it has to offer. I know that the risks I take and the hurts I experience are far out weighed by the gifts and blessings I receive. I have deep faith in bliss. I believe in a world that creates relationships and experiences that are full of love. Yes there are relationships that are hurtful and impure. I just refuse to believe that if I keep myself shut down, I will find the right relationships.

Yes, I have opened myself up and been hurt. I have also learned and grown immensely from them. I look back on each relationship and take the lessons and put them into play as I create the next ones. I am fascinated by the correlations between personal and business relationships and how they potentially can inform and inspire each other.

I am currently developing several business alliances, that I believe have great potential. As we work to solidify the agreements, we have been required to expose ourselves. I believe we have been able to do that because we each desire to be in alliance with people who share values and dreams. With out the willingness to open up, it would be impossible to create together.

We have been sharing elements of ourselves professionally and personally that have allowed us to see each other fully and hence make decisions to develop alliance or not. I believe my willingness to open, has allowed them to open. A colleague, shared that he had never so easily come to consensus on goals as easily as we did.

As we expose ourselves, be it intellectually, emotionally or spiritually we take chances that we will be hurt, judged, and maybe even be asked to do something that we do not want to do. Fear of these potential risks often close us to down to seeing the possibilities.

We know, we are all looking to be loved and accepted as we are. We desire relationships that respect our hopes and dreams. We seek support of them in every way. As we expose those dreams, we take the risk that the other person will not support it or worse disrespect them.

With each step in faith, I know I am able to create meaningful and impact full relationships. I believe in the power of love, non-judgement and faith. If I have faith, all things are possible...

Do you trust yourself to open up to the right people?

Are you willing to step in faith?

GO FOR IT!!!

Where are you focusing your energy?

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)


Are you focusing on the right things?

Have you spent time deciding where you put your energy or are you caught up in habits? In putting out fires? In old routines?

When was the last time you decided where you spend your energy, instead of being pulled by the current of life?

I often find myself doing activities and tasks that do not inspire me. I have realized that I want to be more mindful of where I spend my energy, passion and focus. We all fall into ruts that at one time were new and inspiring. Are you in ruts accomplishing little or routines that support your well being and vision?

For many years I wasted energy and allowed myself to squander it. After making decisions as to where I placed my energy and focus, amazing things happened. I look back over the past few years and sit amazed at the power of focus to create results.

The word persistence, inspires me to look at the value of commitment and dedication to my vision. Keeping to a routine or a practice that will yield me the results desired over time, has taught me to trust myself and has brought me an understanding of the word patience. Sitting back after time has passed and being able to see and feel the results has been a critical element for me to keep up with my practices. It teaches me to allow myself the time to comprehend the power of persistence. It shows me each effort adds up and brings me closer to the vision I desire.

What needs a focusing of your attention?

What action will get the energy moving?

What is your journey telling you?

What do you need to pause to notice?

What insights have you had recently?

What has the twist in the road taught you?

Has your destination changed?


My journey this past year has been full of twists and turns.

Each has brought an insight and lesson. Some were fun to learn others painful. Yet each has its place.

Through these adventures I have learned about myself, others and most importantly my relationship with God.

Lately I have become clear that my journey is trying to teach me to slow down and enjoy the trip. A friend asked me so pointedly. "Where are you rushing to?" WOW it made me really pause to think. Right after that I became very ill and my body told me the same thing. Slow down, actually my body stopped me outright, took me down and forced me to pause and reflect in the slowness of healing.

I learned about patience in a way I never imagined possible. I had to accept my body healing in God's time.

In the slowness, I experienced myself in a new way, I saw that I could be patient. I was able to take it slow and one step at a time. I actually enjoy the pace of it. It helped me to see, feel and experience my world in a whole new light. I have learned the power of being in the moment. I know the joy of a breeze, the yumminess of a luscious peach, the vibration in my heart from a riff of jazz and the inspiring touch of a friend's loving hand.

I have begun to look at those around me in a whole new light as well. Many friends have shown up as the hand of God in some of my darkest moments. I have seen hope, faith and strength in their eyes, and felt it through their prayers.

So what is journey telling you these days?

What lesson do you not want to miss???