Your Magical Life Blog

Imagine Being YOU!

nancy — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:20:25 +0000

We are moving!!

You might have noticed there hasn’t been a new post here for quite some time. The new year is bringing — well, change!

One of the changes you will notice is a move from this address to the new URL: http://imaginebeingyou.com. As I follow where the energy is for me, I find myself being more and more drawn to this magical mystery of being and becoming. While a magical life is something that is organically created when we start living by our own truths, and energetically stepping into who we really are… somehow "Imagine Being YOU!" seemed a little more fitting.

But what does that really mean? You might be thinking, “Why would I ‘Imagine being me’? Of course that’s who I am.” But for just a minute, breathe into the words, and see what your body/soul reflects back to you.

If you’re like many of us, when you breathe into the words, and fully “Imagine being YOU” you might sense of quiet stirring in your soul. The truth is that many of us have learned to be someone else – not by consciously choosing, but by unconsciously accepting the expectations others have for us, or the rules and beliefs handed to us through the culture we live in.

“Imagine Being YOU!” is a heartfelt invitation to see what’s really inside – to see what song your soul wants to sing.

The new blog will be a place for articles that invite you to gently [and maybe sometimes, not so gently] consider who you really are. What would it be like for you to express what’s in your soul? When you reach that place of the imagination deep within you, what do you hear? Who are you longing to be?

Join me for musings and other comments that have to do with getting you in touch with who you really are! From that place, life truly does begin to feel magical!

Since journeys are often more fun with like-minded souls, I invite your questions, comments and suggestions. What do you want to hear about? Together, let’s embark on this journey to be all that we are!!

Love and blessings,
Nancy

What kind of adventure would you like to create today?

nancy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:34:59 +0000

Last night, the belt on my swamp cooler bit the dust, and I was feeling quite cranky thinking about it. My landlord’s manager would not be able to get here to fix for another couple days. I thought about the house holding the heat of the day without the swamp cooler sucking in the nice cool air of the night. The angst started building. Uggghhhh.

My body responded with tension as I anticipated what it would be like when I ‘tried’ to sleep…. Then I caught myself in my story.

Did you catch it? The story about how awful it was going to be. I created a whole episode about how uncomfortable it was going to be, and my body responded to those stories with predictable tension. Preparing for the worst. Even if the house cooled a little bit, I had set myself up for a night of worry and discomfort.

Then my mind picked up on the tease of adventure. When I’m on an adventure, I’m open to whatever shows up next. I’m curious about it. I decided to be curious about the situation, and drop my judgment. I replaced the certain angst with ‘hmmmm, isn’t that curious?’. ‘I wonder what will happen next?’ Once I decided to change my perspective, I felt my body relax, and my spirit lift.

The choice to embrace adventure freed up my energy. I was open to seeing what could be done to get as much outside air as possible, circulating around the inside. It was still warm in the house, but at least it didn’t get warmer, and I was able to get some sleep.

Today, I’m embracing a new adventure of being curious about whatever shows up in front of me. I could tell myself stories about what I think will happen today, but I’d much rather be curious! It’s a lot more fun:)

Please leave a comment to share where you might like to play with the spirit of adventure today. I’d love to hear what’s up for you!

Curiosity and the Cicada

nancy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:09:27 +0000

Cicada emerging from it's shell

I have always been fascinated by cicadas. You know them by the sound they make: the deafening high pitched whir that pierces your ears from late afternoon through the evening late in the summer. The cicadas are back. You may find the fragile brown casings left behind–as the insects make their journeys to the tops of trees or find other places to emerge from their old protective wrappings. If you’re really lucky, you may find one still in the shell–and be gifted with opportunity to reawaken curiosity!

When I was a child, every summer we visited relatives in small towns in Nebraska. One of the most cherished memories from that time, has to do with the upward migration of a group cicadas. The streets in the neighborhood where my grandparents lived were dotted with mature trees that provided perfect migration vehicles for cicadas ready to transition into their short lived adult-hood. One year, in particular, there was an abundance of the fascinating insects.

As my sister and I would walk along the streets with my dad, we studied the tree trunks closely, hoping to find one of those curious cicadas as it made it’s ascent. Mostly what we found were the empty shells left behind–with the trademark split down the back. One evening we spotted a live cicada in the midst of it’s climb! I was totally excited! My dad picked up a small tree branch from the ground, and we gently removed the cicada from the tree, and put it onto the smaller branch.

We carefully carried the branch to my grandparent’s house – being mindful not to disturb our prize. Once we got there, we propped the branch up in a glass, and watched as the cicada climbed to the top of the little branch, where it stopped. We sat for a couple hours mesmerized as the back of the crusty brown shell began to split, and a larger green insect began to emerge. As we watched the transformed life emerge, I remember my body being filled with excitement and anticipation! It was truly a magical moment. A miracle. And I was witnessing that miracle right before my eyes! It took several hours for the adult cicada to emerge fully.

Curious, we watched in total amazement, marveling at the bright green color of it’s body, and tiny folded transparent wings that were tucked carefully inside like a folded parachute. As the insect continued to emerge, it moved slowly as if to carefully weigh in the impact of it’s growth, and assess the newness of the world around it. Once it had cleared the old shell, the wings began to unfold. It was an incredible sight.

What I remember about watching the miracle unravel before my eyes, was the excitement I felt in my body and my entire being. It changed me in that moment. Something so beautifully colored and amazing had emerged from the cast away awkward looking brown shell. It seemed absolutely impossible, yet I was watching it before my eyes! That sense of new possibility, of awe was locked into my awareness and memory. The memory was so vivid, I remember it, some 40 years later, as clearly as if it were yesterday. At that moment anything was possible!!

As I reflect on watching that miracle unfold, the question I am left with in my current life – is the question of “what feels SO impossible today, that could possibly come alive with a fresh breath of curiosity?” I offer the question for your consideration!

The cicada had to leave behind the old brown fragile covering that no longer served a purpose. That shell reminds me of old worn out beliefs that have also outgrown their purpose. And yet, the tendency is often to protect those old beliefs fiercely–as if they were as fragile as those discarded outer coverings of a cicada.

What one belief are you willing to consider that you have outgrown? Can you see yourself breathing a fresh breath of curiosity around that belief and allowing it to transform?

I invite you to consider that in a split second, curiosity allows anything to be possible!

(photo graciously donated by Anita Gould. You can see more of her photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/anitagould/)

5 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of Magic in your Life – Part 4

nancy — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:24:51 +0000

In the last couple days we’ve looked at the first 4 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of magic in your life. In this final part of the 4-part series, we’re looking at the last of 5 Warning Signs. This one seems easy to ignore, yet has the potential to perhaps be the most insidious pattern if not addressed.

Warning Sign #5 – You find that you are continuously cranky around the people you love the most, and who you usually feel the most joy around. Have you ever had a "bad day" where you’re feeling cranky? Most of us have. By itself, a day of crankiness is not a problem. We trust that "this too shall pass." And for the most part, those we know and love trust that when the crankiness subsides, some sense of order will be restored. It becomes a problem when one day turns into weeks which turns into months, and before you know it, you’re like the cooked frog that we talked about in Part 1 of the series. Pretty soon you’ve forgotten how to ‘not be cranky’, or maybe even that any other state of being exists! People around you are sure to notice, and may start to alienate you.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I’m feeling cranky, it’s because I’m not taking care of myself in some way. Take a look and see if there’s something you really want or need to do to take care of yourself, but you aren’t allowing yourself to do it. Perhaps you need to set a boundary. Consider taking a mental health break and give yourself even 5-10 minutes of doing something you’ve been missing.

Giving yourself a 10 minute nap may allow you to feel cared for in a new way. Getting a massage or taking a walk are all activities that may help activate or restore a sense of loving joy or wonder and begin to dispel lingering crankiness. 10 minutes reading something that inspires you may help to draw you out of or away from your own problems, and allow you to reconnect with the world from a fresh perspective.

The idea is to be alert to continued crankiness (especially in response to people you care about the most) as a potential warning sign, and nip it in the bud before it steers you on a wayward track. Even small increments of self care may be just what you need to begin to restore yourself to a joyful, magic filled space.

To recap the 5 Warning Signs:

Warning Sign #1 – You are always stressed about time (and may even obsess about it!)

Warning Sign #2 – You find yourself continuously complaining that life is such a struggle.

Warning Sign #3 – You feel resistance to doing activities that you usually love (or have loved) the most.

Warning Sign #4 – You dislike most of the actions or options that are in front of you.

Warning Sign #5 – You find that you are continuously cranky around the people you love the most, and who you usually feel the most joy around

Learn to spot these warning signs and take actions that bring you more into alignment with your values and needs. Oh, and be prepared – you just might find yourself engaging more fully and sparkling in the richness life has to offer!

5 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of Magic in your Life – Part 3

nancy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:04:12 +0000

This is the third post in the 4-part series looking at 5 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of magic in your life. Yesterday we looked at stressing about time, and complaining that life is such a struggle. Today we’re looking at the 3^rd and 4th Warning Signs.

Warning Sign #3 – You feel resistance to doing activities that you usually love (or have loved) the most. For example, let’s just say you really love your Aunt Gladys (it could be anyone!), and enjoy visiting her. Let’s also say it’s a beautiful Saturday, and you really want to take a bike ride, but have a voice in your head telling you that you “should” visit Aunt Gladys today.

The energy associated with words like “should” or “want to” are very different energies. If you find phrases like “can’t,” “should,” “shouldn’t,” or “have to,” are regularly creeping into your language, chances are great that you’re probably not steering your own boat.

Begin to let go of activities that reflect someone else’s agenda or values, and get in touch with your own needs and values. Learn to say no when you mean it, and start enjoying activities you love (even if you only have small increments of time available). You will find renewed energy and you’ll be more fully engaged and enjoying life when you do say “yes”.

Back to the example above with Aunt Gladys and the bike ride. When you think about visiting Aunt Gladys because you “should,” your energy is not likely to be very joyful around it. It’s quite possible that if you took even a few minutes for that bike ride, you will then really want to visit Aunt Gladys; and you will be engaging with her in a very present way.

Warning Sign #4 – You dislike most of the actions or options that are in front of you. If you have a decision or choice to make and no option or action ahead seems joyful, check first to see if you are caught in judgment. Stories you make up about things in your life, can easily keep you stuck. A great place for “judgment stories” is about things you’re afraid of. I’ve heard several sources reference the word FEAR as an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. Think for a minute — do you let stories around something you fear, run your life?

If you’re able to get past fear, and still having trouble identifying likeable options for some situation you’re facing, consider inviting some playful energy in, and see what shifts. That might look like simply asking new questions like “What if there was a different way to do xyz,” or “What might it look like if I really wanted to do abc?” or “What might it look like if I was really good at xyz?” Shifting perspective can do wonders toward allowing you to attract creative solutions. Ahhhh… and that can be a springboard to ease!

Stay tuned tomorrow as we look at the final warning sign that you need more joy or a sense of magic in your life. Read the entire article at http://budurl.com/mmqt. Begin changing outcomes by taking steps toward new actions now!

5 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of Magic in your Life – Part 2

nancy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:05:16 +0000

Being in a state of joy-less-ness can really sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention! It can start as little things you are putting up with, until those little things accumulate, and pretty soon there’s no joy left.

In part 2 of the 4-part series, today we’re looking at the first 2 of 5 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of magic in your life.

Warning Sign #1 – You are always stressed about time (and may even obsess about it!). Time is really outside the scope of things you can control. We each have the same amount of hours in the day to fill; no more and no less.

What creates stress around time, is over-committing. Signing up to more activities than you could possibly handle in the available time. It doesn’t matter if you’re committing to yourself or someone else…. a commitment is a commitment, and on some level you know you have a commitment to honor. Learn to say “no” to things that are not truly important to you, your values or vision for yourself.

Spend your discretionary time wisely. Be sure and spend some time choosing to do what you really want to do, and with people whose company you enjoy.

Warning Sign #2 – You find yourself continuously complaining that life is such a struggle. Contrary to what you may believe, life does not require struggle. when you pay attention to your energy and use your values and inner wisdom to guide your choices, you may be surprised at how circumstances and situations like up to support you in easy, joyful ways!

Join us tomorrow as we look at Warning Signs #3 and #4 that you need more joy or a sense of magic in your life. Read the entire article at http://budurl.com/mmqt. Begin taking steps toward new actions now, before you become like the cooked frog!

5 Warning Signs that you need more joy or a sense of Magic in your Life – Part 1

nancy — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:59:28 +0000

Have you ever noticed yourself meandering through life thinking everything is all hunky-dory and suddenly realizing that you’re not having fun? And the more you think about it you haven’t been having much fun for some time?

Suddenly discovering a life sans joy, can happen to all of us at one time or another. I remember a story from some time ago, and I don’t remember where I heard it. A point was made using science experiment analogies with a frog and a beaker of water. Perhaps you know it?

It unfolds something like this…. If you drop a frog into a beaker of boiling water, the frog will immediately jump out of the water because it notices the water is too hot for survival.

On the other hand if you place a frog into a beaker of room temperature water and gradually turn up the flame, the frog will be dead before the water reaches boiling. Why? The frog got used to the gradual heat, and didn’t realize when the water got too hot.

That simple illustration is one that I don’t think I will ever forget. How often throughout my life even, have I allowed myself to stay in situations that were harmful to my spirit because I gradually acclimated to circumstances that were really intolerable.

If you find yourself in such a situation, or fear you may be headed there, stay tuned as tomorrow we begin to reveal the first two of 5 warning signs that you may need more joy or a sense of magic in your life.

Read the entire article at http://budurl.com/mmqt. Begin taking steps toward new actions now, before you become like the cooked frog!

How to get what you really want – Wishcraft anniversary

nancy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:05:31 +0000

Did you know the book “Wishcraft” by Barbara Sher is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year? I found that out last fall from my friend Gudrun who teaches Success Team Leaders in Germany and has translated Barbara’s book into German.

This fact is notable to me, and very much worth celebrating for the simple reason that the book changed my life well over 20 years ago. I was working in Corporate America at the time it called to me from its shelf in the bookstore.

At that point in my life, a few years out of college, I believed that my work/life formula would be to get a good job with great benefits, then keep said job. My story continued: at some point in the very distant future, I would be able to retire living on the retirement benefits earned, and THEN would be able to enjoy life. It didn’t feel right to me, but I had no other model to go by.

WOW. Wishcraft turned my world on it’s head, as the ideas resonated deep within my core. As I read and re-read those pages several times over the years, the idea was planted that I could begin to live my dreams NOW. I could maybe even do work I loved, and perhaps even create something of my own design. The wheels started spinning.

Then something interesting happened. Settling for less than being authentic at work became harder and harder for me to do. Such began a long creative quest to find the work I was born to do. As I continued to search, I was still terrified of jumping off the cliff of the old model to embrace the new paradigm. As I look back, it’s interesting that I didn’t create the support to help me do that. Barbara very clearly shows how… I was just so busy searching and continuing to absorb great ideas. Yet the entire time, I continued to hang onto the essence of possibilities.

That is what I will always appreciate about the book Wishcraft. On it’s pages Barbara got me excited about possibilities. Possibilities I could dream about and perhaps one day create! Even though it took me 20+ years to get brave enough to make the leap off the “old paradigm” cliff, I had a new belief in possibilities. And that is truly a gift.

As a final thought for today’s post, it occurs to me that perhaps when it was first published, Wishcraft was way ahead of its time. Now, more than ever with the job market fluctuating wildly, I believe it is important to be doing something you truly love, and finding new ways to bring your passion to the world. We need the authentic you!!

If you’ve not read this book, it is very high on my list for recommended reading!

Thank you, Barbara Sher for sharing your authentic voice, and Happy Anniversary Wishcraft! You have my deepest gratitude!

3 simple tips: Make this your Magical year!! Part 4

nancy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:58:27 +0000

For the last few days, the posts have been around tips for making this year your Magical year.

The third and final tip in the series has to do with encouraging your inner child’s voice. What does your inner child know that the adult you has forgotten? I believe the inner child is that creative part of self that is in direct connection with source energy.

What can you do for even just 5 minutes each day to encourage that part of you to emerge? Things like writing a poem, singing along with the radio, dancing to a song on the radio, drawing a stick figure cartoon… the possibilities are endless!

So, just to review, the first tip was about paying attention to inner wisdom. Tip 2 is about noticing and changing words you use in order to empower yourself, and invite the energy of wonder. Tip 3 is to do something every day to encourage your inner child’s voice.

Following these three simple tips will help you set the stage to invite a sense of playfulness and wonder into your life. Make this your Magical year!!

You can read the entire article at http://budurl.com/vhpv.

3 simple tips: Make this your Magical year!! Part 3

nancy — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:58:16 +0000

Yesterday’s tip for creating a Magical year had to do with paying attention to inner wisdom, and specifically paying attention to what messages you may get through your body.

The second tip is to pay attention to the words you use, and notice what happens in your body when you use them. Become aware of ways in which you hint that something is “impossible”, and stretch your language for possibilities. Here’s what I mean by that.

Replace words like “I can’t,” with phrases like “I won’t,” or “I don’t want,” (the latter being not only more empowering, but probably closer to the truth). Do you notice a difference with how each of those phrases feel in your body?

Replace “I shouldn’t,” with something like “I could,” (which you could even follow with “if I wanted to”). When you find yourself thinking something is “impossible,” ask “what if it were possible?” Again, pay attention to what happens in your body when you use each of those language options. By the way, ever notice the word “possible” lives inside the word “impossible?” Think about it!

Take ownership of your words and your personal power is likely to rise, along with your energy level! The second phrases in each example are empowering. They put the ball in your court and allow you to start noticing what’s important to you. In addition, “what if” questions bring in a playful energy, and invite other solutions where you might otherwise be limiting yourself.

Start playing with your language and see how things change for you!

To recap, the first tip was about paying attention to inner wisdom. Tip 2 is about noticing and changing words you use to empower yourself, and invite the energy of wonder.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 4 – (the third and final tip) and you can read the entire article at http://budurl.com/vhpv.