Archive for the ‘Living Brilliantly Blog’ Category

Flash, Universe Provides Insight (UPI) press

It was announced today that Superman has replaced Clark Kent, the mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet.

Superman revealed that he and Clark Kent are one and the same.  Superman confessed that his decision to hide was initially made in order to fit in with the establishment.  Ashamed that he was able to leap tall buildings with a single bound, he created the mild mannered persona of Clark Kent.  “It is no longer possible to hide behind a meek reporter’s image, so that I will be safe from humiliation because I am different.”  The hero went on to acknowledge all the Supermen and Superwomen on Earth who face life fully without hiding behind a mask.

The cape’s out of the bag, so to speak.  Superman, as an advocate for all the hidden supermen and women in the world, announced that the time has come for them to step forward as themselves.  “The Earth needs humans to step into their full potential, without regard to the need for approval, security, or control,” said Superman.

When asked who inspired this revelation, Superman acknowledged it was the actor, Christopher Reeve, who taught him that it is not physical strength, but strength of character, determination, dedication, love, and the willingness to be vulnerable that convinced him to “get real.” Every human has their own “kryptonite” that has the potential to weaken them.  A truly great person learns to overcome their challenges and turn them to strengths.

Superman hopes that his decision will inspire others to live fully and rise to the challenge of becoming powerful heros and heroines in their own lives.  That, concluded comic book hero, “is the way to transform your world.”

Asking for what we want is not always as simple as it seems.

I’ve noticed that women, in particular, don’t ask directly.  Take for example, a conversation I recall with my husband many years ago.  “Honey, we’re out of milk.”  Nice statement, but it didn’t ask him to bring any home!  Challenges, challenges, challenges.  Expecting our spouse to mind read and translate “we’re out of milk” into “bring it home” sets us up for a starring role as a major victim! Not only that, but the only thing we’re likely to get is a good dose of resentment, self administered.

Manipulation or expectations are guaranteed to get us in trouble.  It takes great courage to ask for what we want.  First off, we might not get it.  Secondly, it may come with strings.  Third, what happens if our request doesn’t meet with someone’s approval?  Fourth, we may lose our sense of security of we get a “no” and lastly, we let go of control when we ask someone else for something.

There is a condition prior to effective asking.  To get what we really want, we need to know precisely what we do want and why. Such clarity increases the odds of success.

Knowing what we want, and why frees us from the bondage of manipulation or plain lack of awareness. Awareness of what drives us to behave as we do sets us up for success, and removes us from being at the whim of others.  When that happens, our need for approval, security or control will lesson dramatically.

Here’s a challenge for you:  Start small and begin asking for what you want.  Take the time to know yourself, know your preferences, and know what pushes your buttons!.  If your why is in alignment with your purpose, it’s easy to ask, and ask again.  Make someone’s no a “not yet,”  particularly if it is in business.  Effective asking is also a function of effective timing.

Don’t despair, practice makes asking easy – and you just might get what you want.

So many miracles of manifestation, completion, and new beginnings have occurred since my last blog post.  The stream of life flows so quickly that it takes  a huge effort to stop, reflect, and consciously let go of what has passed.  This week will mark the two year passing of my dear husband, James.  It has been both an eternity and the blink of an eye.  In many ways the wife, lover, and friend that I was to James no longer exists.  Today I am the product of those two years of letting go and embracing the next chapter in the the Book of Lin.

That’s where the Noble No comes in. To get to the BIG yes, we must say no to anything else.  Temptation tells us that we must settle.  Perhaps that is a big lie.  Perhaps, however, it might just be that sometimes we need to say yes to to something not quite perfect, so that the greater yes can appear.

For two years I have wanted to move.  Rather than rush the process of grief, I lived with it. That included allowing myself to stay where I was until I found something better.  I didn’t know exactly what that would be, I just knew I would recognize it when it occurred. I made a decision to allow the Spirit to bring my new home in the perfect time.  In my mind’s eye, I saw the things that would be part of my new home. During the last two years I have looked at many spaces, none of them even remotely as wonderful as my current home.

The practice of the Noble No is a discipline that allows us to become attuned to the highest and best opportunity in any moment. The effort needed to be still and observe the impact of a yes or no on our body, mind, or spirit opens doors to new vistas. This is exactly what happened, in the most wild and wonderful way, when I said yes to a new beginning.

Just three weeks ago I had a strong urge to walk to the post office.  It made no sense, but the urge was strong and I heeded it.  That was my original yes. To my surprise a vacancy sign hung on an apartment building I had admired for several years. I said yes when I made the initial call to see the vacant apartment.  It was almost perfect, except that the view outside the windows was downright ugly!  I gave a tentative yes, focusing on what I liked about the apartment, and chose to override my visceral response to the ugly view. The building manager said no to my offer to write a check to hold the space.  That was his mistake and my blessing.

I sat with the decision for a week and submitted an application.  Days went by. Each time I wanted to call my intuition told me to “let it be.”  I prayed, “If not this, then something better. Please lead me.” Shortly after, I had a deeper recognition that beauty was important to me, hence my revulsion with regard to the view.  Yet, in spite of that I was willing to move, since this apartment had almost everything I wanted. Some part of me was willing to settle, but a greater part knew that it wasn’t the perfect fit. Yet in the midst of this uncertainty, I was still called to say yes to the apartment.  I was so confident that I was moving that I called the movers and gave notice to my apartment’s management company. Not logical, but a decision that came from the deepest part of my being. I knew it was the right thing to do.

Finally, I knew it was time to call the building manager at the new apartment. He did not return my calls promptly. When he did, he said that he “forgot” to turn in the application, then he made a mistake and it was declined and resubmitted it. There were lots of signs that this was way too complicated. Something was off, and it felt like there was another space. I just didn’t know where to find it! I called an intuitive friend who commented, “I think that you are going to be upgraded to more beauty.  There is no need to search for it.  It is a gift and it will appear shortly.”

The very next morning a dear friend presented me with an advertisement for a brand new apartment building. It had everything I wanted, including amazing views from every window.  The totally unexpected apartment in an unexpected location had everything I had written down as part of my original ideal scene. We went together, I submitted an application, and two hours later I was approved. My new home is six blocks from the beach and I’m surrounded by nature. The view is sublime.

So why then, did I have to say yes to something that was not 100%?  In my willingness to say yes to the first apartment, I gave myself permission to stretch my comfort zone in many ways. I was in a neighborhood I knew, just six blocks from my current apartment, with friends nearby.  By the time I saw what I really wanted, I was able to say yes to a new neighborhood. The intermediate and tentative yes to change was replaced by a resounding YES!

The sweetest thing of all is that I signed the lease for this apartment on the day of my 10th wedding anniversary.  I get the keys to my new apartment on the two year anniversary of my husband’s passing.  The probability of this unfolding of events, and the timing surrounding them, is something that my angel in heaven would have orchestrated!  He had a sense of humor in life, and I expect that it exists beyond the grave.

In either event, it is a full circle that allows me the grace to say No to what was, and yes to what is to be.

The Noble No is a wonderful container. Pay attention, for it holds the space for your big Yes to manifest.

Let us all live long, say yes, and prosper.  In the words of my husband’s favorite song, “The best is yet to be.”

How has your no led to a bigger yes?  I’d love to hear from you.

A View of the Beach

Miracles of giving and receiving ebb and flow from moment to moment. That Divine flow of goodness is always present when we pay attention.   The caveat is that one must be present in the moment to capture them as they occur.  Sometimes, in reflection, their perfection is breath taking.

Saturday in the parking lot was one such day. Here follows the the anatomy of miracle making.

I awoke abruptly at 7:15 a.m. with a clear thought that I should visit a garage sale.  Now, that is unusual, since I never attend them and I’d been looking forward to sleeping in.  I’d read about a multi-family sale the evening before, so decided I would listen to the inner prompting and see what was there.

Nothing!  I sat in my car, wondering why in the world my intuition had rousted me so early.  In the wondering, a thought popped into my head that I should call my friend Sandra. “Want to take a walk?” I asked.  Sure, come one over, we’ll walk to the beach.  We never got there…

Five minutes into our walk we saw vendors setting up all sorts of goods in a parking lot, and we wandered over to take a look.  It wasn’t yet open, but I spotted a lovely outfit and was told I had to come  back when they opened for  business.  We returned later and at our very first table we met a most delightful woman selling vintage and designer clothing.  I had no intention of buying anything.  A good 45 minutes later I had two bags full of treasures, each purchase more beautiful than the one before. I also had a new friend and after speaking with her husband I’d found a possible partner for a documentary I’m exploring.

That was miracle enough.  But there was more.  As we turned to walk away, my eyes fell upon the most  beautiful hand carved teak screen.  Another vendor offered to sell it with the comment that her mother had given it to her 40 years ago, and that she had just decided to part with it.  I’d been looking for an original screen for my new home, and this was exactly it.  Two amazing miracles of receiving. The price itself was miraculous.

But there’s more, again. Here’s where the miracles really get interesting. Sometimes we are the answer to someone’s prayer.  Sometime that person is a total stranger.  Had I not been there at precisely that time, at precisely that place, our paths would not have crossed.

I asked about the story of the screen, so that their history might become a part of my history.  She began to talk and I listened. The great miracle was that through our conversation she healed a lifetime of believing that her mother didn’t love her.  In the most amazing intimate context, in the middle of a parking lot, a lifetime challenge of feeling unloved dissolved and a major healing of memories occurred.  Her mother, deceased 15 years, came alive to her daughter once more as she uncovered the deep mystery behind her mother’s strange gift.  Ironically, she had just re-read her mother’s old letters to her the night before…

The true gift and peace offering from a mother 40 years earlier was finally received.  There’s a whole lot more that could be said about what occurred in the parking lot on Saturday, but some things are beyond words.

I have a confession to make.  I’m an Odd Duck, and proud of it!

Odd ducks have certain characteristics. Read on to see if you fit the bill…

Odd ducks sometimes feel like they don’t fit in….they are only happy when they waddle to their own inner drummer.

Odd ducks think differently than other folks.  They tend to see and value life differently.

They act differently, frequently spending thousands of hours perfecting something that interests them. They perfect their craft.

Odd ducks take flight in their own timing, oftentimes judging themselves for not flying in formation with others.

Odd ducks are brilliant, love freedom, and wonder about stuff that other people don’t wonder about. They also tend to care deeply.

Odd ducks feel, well, odd.  Throughout history, they have been laughed out, ostracized, ridiculed, or called quacks.

Here’s a curious note about the word odd. It derives from the Old Norse word oddi, which means “point of land, triangle, odd number.”  It has also come to mean, “Deviating from what is ordinary, usual, or expected; strange or peculiar.”

If there were no odd ducks, there would be less artistic expression, fewer inventions, and the status quo would remain just that.  Thank goodness for the odd ducks who preceeded us.  To name just a few: Beethoven, Mozart, Buddha, Mohammad, Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Leah Walesa, Abraham Lincoln, Mohammad Ali, or the Wright Brothers.  So let’s unite, celebrate, and encourage the odd ducks among us, and get busy with the business of living brilliantly. Odd ducks, you are not alone.  The world is waiting for you to take flight…

There are some days when something happens that takes your breath away, leaves you in a state of panic (maybe terror would be more accurate) and frozen.

Take heart. That moment won’t last forever.

Here are some keys that will keep you going to the challenge, through the challenge, and beyond it.

First, BREATHE! Panic, shock to the system, even good news, will make us hold our breath.

Right now, breathe. I’ve talked about this before, but it is the best, most useful and comprehensive way to de-stress that I know of. Like anything else in life, it bears repeating.

So breathe your way through the initial shock, upset, anxiety, worry, fear or panic.

Breathe yourself through the amazing news that you got a promotion, the job, or your wife is pregnant! Breathe your way right into the now, that moment where all healing and courage arise.

Next, I do what I call a mini future projection. During my years, I have had lots of opportunities to practice what I call the “visualization of champions.” In the midst of the dark, hold the image of yourself wiser, happier, and stronger as a result of having faced the uncertainty in front of you.

For some, that may be the thought that you need to close the doors of your business and get a job. For others, it may be that you lost your job. Yet others may be facing retirement, the decline of their 401K, and watching their “golden retirement” funds going down the drain.

It doesn’t much matter, the “cure” is the same. Take heart, find courage. Interestingly enough, the word “cour” in French has to do with the heart. So taking heart also means taking stock, evaluating, and acknowledging what is present. In that moment, is the power. In that moment, you can go deep inside and find the courage to keep going.

Negative expression will tell us to give up, give in, succumb to the inner victim and blame others.

No! Stop, breathe some more, and find the gift in the midst of the challenge. To take heart is to take stock of all that is good, all that is loving, all that is uplifting. Within every upset lies the seed of great growth and goodness.

So breathe, take a walk, take a break, and know, really KNOW, that this, too shall pass.

May the Light that dwells in our Hearts light the way through the most challenging of times. If you can’t see it in yourself, surround yourself with people who will hold your vision when it grows dim. Practice gratitude for all you have that is present in your life right now. It’s the best antidote to panic that I know.

A dear friend used to say that “If it is funny in five years, make it funny now.” So, I challenge you to make it funny, distance yourself from blame, shame, upset, worry and anxiety. Smile, even if it hurts… Mutter “Joy, Joy, Joy” until it makes you smile for real. Pick yourself up, get yourself going, and know, in your heart of hearts that “All will be well. In all manner of things, it will be well.

For more information about Dr. Lin, go to www.linmorel.com

This Fourth of July is the second without my husband.  It’s hard to believe that 23 months have flown by, and that this month marks our 10th anniversary together.  While he may have passed from my life, he lives on in my heart, and in the heart of others that he touched. James loved the fourth of July, and he loved our country.  He was proud to be an American.  That seems to be in short supply, to listen to lots of folks on the street.  I, for one, am glad to live here, the “land of the free.”

Today I got a petition from a friend in France that set me to thinking. It had to do with the World Health Organization (WHO) wanting to force all people to be vaccinated against the “pandemic Swine Flu.”  I was shocked, but not really.  I recognize that our European neighbors are embarked on a path where “authority” will tell them what do do, decide the nature of their health care, and generally “take care of them – or not – if they don’t measure up or deserve it.”  Where does the line get drawn?  Unless Americans consciously guard their right to choose for themselves, beginning with our thoughts and actions, someone, somewhere, will to tell us what to do, how to think, and decide for us how we are to take care of ourselves.

How can we take personal responsibility for our life?  Pay attention.  Focus.  Decide what is important to you, and make it a priority.  Freedom is a gift in this country, paid for dearly.  It is up to us to choose to become free from the tyranny of our own “little” self/authority or ego.  Like death and taxes, our ego is a part of life.  It doesn’t mean that it has to run us.  In fact, the ego makes a lousy master. It is, however, a great servant.  One that is required if we are to focus on the details of our daily life.

The business of living fully is actually a simple, although not always easy, matter.  First, breathe in and out.  Today, for example, I woke up grumpy, and when I finished an early morning phone call that pulled me from my meditation, I found myself downright angry.  There are those people that just know now to ignite an inner fireworks display, no matter how peaceful we are or intend to be.  We all have them, and they spark us to anger, resentment, upset, sadness, or even longing.

None of these feelings are bad, nor are they good. They just are.  Our path to freedom is to focus on what is important, and choose on whom we will serve.  I choose to serve the authentic still small voice within.  With it, I am know there is always a way through and around any challenge.  Here’s to the freedom to learn, grow, and life fully.  So get moving, change your mind, your focus, and your life.

Do what you love and the Spirit will follow! In today’s world there is a growing trend toward applying spiritual principles in everyday life. That includes not only your personal life, but your business life as well.

Millions of individuals are no longer willing to compromise their ethics for their paycheck.  Large portions of corporate Americans are leaving, either by choice or lay off.  Many are choosing to simplify their lifestyle, oftentimes choosing to follow a dream and become entrepreneurs. Greed and corruption have broken the backs of many corporations.

There is a countering ground swell of people who practice applied spirituality. They care, take appropriate action, and actively work to make this world a better place. They have always been there. Now, however, the are becoming more visible.

What is practical spirituality? I refer to spiritual as that which expresses the highest part of our nature, and religion as a container through which we express this nature. Spirituality can be expressed apart from religion, although religion is not really separate from spirituality.

Practical spirituality is the application of spiritual principles to life. Love, faith, integrity, trust, gratitude, acceptance, cooperation, curiosity, joy, service, and creativity represent facets in the fabric of spiritual expression. When these attributes are applied in the business world they foster good will, loyalty, and a host of other benefits to employees and customers alike.

In the four years between 1994 and 1998, the Gallup organization found that the number of people who said they needed spiritual growth jumped from 56 to 82 percent. Today, workshops and books integrating spirituality and business are common. 

Fifteen years ago, the separation between spiritual practice and business was distinct. Boundary crossing was an illicit journey.  As a national karate champion, I had the luxury of sharing my spiritual perspectives with the language of the martial arts. The paradox is that the martial arts are spiritual arts.

Commitment to something you love will eventually blossom into the language of spirituality.  To love life is to live fully.  To live fully requires discipline, or discipleship towards something. Martial arts, a business, a loved hobby, service to others, caring for those you love, and commitment to a cause are all aspects of a spiritual life in action.

Retired Americans  are looking for second or third careers. While some do so out of necessity, others express a heartfelt desire to make a difference in the world – spirituality in action.

Young people have embraced social entrepreneurship and social media as avenues to create change.  It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to donate 10% of their income to charities of their choice. Young and old alike are actively reaching out to build bridges of opportunity for those they have chosen to serve.  The gifts they bring gives me hope that, “The best is yet to come.”

If you would like more information about integrating practical spirituality in the business world, register now in the box below for a complimentary tele-seminar on June 18th, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. PST.  The call will be hosted byTom Martin of Martin Media.  Learn how to build your bottom line while lifting your Spirit.

Your confirmation will go directly to your inbox. Please hit the respond button to insure your registration.  Thanks for investng in your own future.

Chaos is a constant companion to a lot of people right now. Job-loss, health challenges, fires, earthquakes, pending heart transplants are only a few things I’ve heard about recently. The business world mirrors chaos on a huge scale as ineffective systems break down, exposing scandals, greed, and dishonesty. Household names are on the brink of extinction.

There were times when I couldn’t see a way out or through my predicament: closing on a house and losing my job the following day; my husband’s dying when his ultralight crashed; my retreat center burning down. Those weren’t exactly part of my life’s goals. None the less, my life changed. Like it or not, it was what it was. I could either accept my chaotic situation or resist.

My responses opened the door to a re-organization of my life. Our world and the human race are what science calls open systems. A characteristic of an open system is that they no longer function properly when faced with overwhelm. Eventually, the old system will collapse or re-order itself into a higher level of functioning. The result is a new you. In short, we are born again into something completely different from the old.

Here are a few tips that allowed me to let go of resistance. They got me through to the other side of letting go, and I expect they might help you too.

1. Accept. Forget blame, shame, shoulds or coulds. Just pick yourself up. Lose the complaining and look for your next step.

2. Let go of the excuses as to “why” things are as they are. Look at what you need to do to break down the excuses and move in spite of them.

3. Recognize that overwhelm is a natural by product of the chaos that proceeds growth. Breathe. Acknowledge what you have. Find something to be grateful for.

4. Know that no matter how dark it seems, chaos is a precursor of growth and new beginnings. I am reminded that a good gardener prunes back her plants to maximize new growth. Looking at setbacks as opportunities keeps your attitude and action positive.

5. Be willing to trust yourself to take your next step, even if it is to “sit and do nothing.” There is a time to move forward, a time to be still, and a time to retreat. Wisdom and practice will help you flow with the correct choice. Don’t be so quick to judge. Wait and see. Be patient.

6. Reach out to others. Sooner or later, we all need help. Sometimes a listening ear is worth its weight in gold.

I love the thought that I am an open system and connected to a universal flow that encompasses all life. Ilya Prigogine, a Nobel Prize winning chemist, first described open systems during his exploration of thermodynamics.

Every open system loses energy, which is dissipated into the environment. When its ability to discharge can’t keep up with the input, it begins to break down. Ironically, Prigogine’s words are similar to those of the Seneca Native Americans. The Seneca state that “stress is the genetic energy for change.” Seneca or scientist, it’s all the same. When things break down, there is a good chance there will real breakthrough.

So lighten up, breathe, forgive, and have some fun. If you know you are in the midst of chaos, rest assured it won’t last forever.

If you want to learn more about chaos and the human mind, check out Thresholds of the Mind by Bill Harris, founder of Centerpoint. I highly recommend it!

Have you noticed that it’s crazy out there in the world these days? Thank goodness I don’t often dwell on the negative news that we’re fed. The last few days, I’ve had enough of my own inner mental chatter to fill all the tabloids and then some. While I don’t have a lot of control over what stories the media covers, I can choose what I read, and when I read it.

It’s the same with my mind. I get to choose when and what I dwell on. Thank goodness most of the time I can tune out the naysayers that live inside my head. Some days it is easier than others to pick myself up, dust myself off, and find something funny about the situation at hand. Other days it takes commitment. Add a little grace and humor, and the tide will eventually turn in joy’s favor. Breathe in, breathe out, find humor. Let go. Repeat over and over. Remember that eventually things change. Be grateful. Forgive. Look for the lesson. Laugh at myself. Note to file: This (fill in the blank) will eventually pass. Keep breathing. Relax, breathe more, have patience and trust.

Today was one of those days. My feet had no sooner hit the floor than I realized that my mood was in the basement! I didn’t want to work on myself, nor did I feel like forgiving anyone nor anything. It was clear that I needed a break from my inner media channel, so I had a cry (ah, the joy of a good conscious tearing to clean out the pipes), talked with a friend, and set out to do my morning meditation. Instead, I sat down and reached for my crochet needle. I had this really amazing Italian yarn that was just calling to me. It was long and fuzzy and so much more inviting than stilling my unruly mind. Yarn won hands down.

I love when the invisible is made visible. The little fuzzies absolutely refused to cooperate with my well laid plans to ease my way into meditation. It didn’t take long until I realized that my yarn was my meditation! That lovely yarn mirrored my state of mind. In a flash, I knew that I’d copped an attitude with myself around my perceived inability to install a new shopping cart on my (almost brand new soon to be released) website. I saw that the solution to my frustration was really simple! Do one little fuzzie at a time. Give up the lurking self-judgment and enjoy the process.

My yarn mirrored my own attitude, but mercifully I didn’t respond to my yarn the way I’d responded to my shopping cart experience. All I did was focus on each knot as it presented itself, follow the little fuzzies to the source, and untangle them. It was tedious work, but about 20 minutes later I realized that cooperating with my uncooperative yarn put me in a happy state of mind. I’d been fully engaged in the process. That set me free and set me loose to experience an amazing day of breakthroughs.

The day, which began in the basement, ended up in the penthouse. The view is a whole lot better from the top…