Risk

Today's post is about risk.

It's as much about what we stand to gain as well as what we may lose from taking a chance in life.

I have never been a fan of gambling---for someone born and raised in New Jersey, I've only been to Atlantic City a handful of times. I don't like the idea of wasting my money on something that may or may not have a payout.

But sometimes life forces us to gamble something we have whether we like it or not. We are safe and comfortable with some material possession, a relationship, a business agreement and then suddenly the Universe cues us that a change is imminent.

We have to choose between growth and stagnation and during this time of choice and transition we are faced with the ultimate consequences of whatever it is we choose to do. We stand to gain or lose no matter our decision.

Think of a time in your life when you were faced with a choice---what did you do? What did you stand to gain? What did you lose?

Recently I was faced with several major life decisions---each with a major cost and benefit. I had to weigh each carefully, ponder the pros and cons of each action, conversation and motivations involved in each decision.

I have been blessed with generous mentors and unconditional support from wise friends. I also have spent countless hours of introspection and have surrounded myself with wisdom and skills from many sources. I knew I possessed what I needed to make wise, informed decisions about risk and prudence.

You have to take a leap, but be sure you have provided yourself with a safety net. It makes the jumping easier when you're on belay.

I had previously assigned a negative stigma to risk. I had only ever feared change and thought risk always meant a loss of some sort. I have come to know that to be very true. With every risk comes the death of something--but it doesn't necessarily mean we lose something that we can't get back or that the loss in and of itself is a bad thing. Perhaps we needed something to end in order to create space for something new and amazing in our lives.

Often, it is in risking that we become stronger, more confident and gain more than we previously possessed.

I learned this concept while studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Applying the concept in my own life is both terrifying and exciting. To be awake to one's own evolution is both humbling and precious.

What awareness do you bring to your fears and your own courage to overcome them?

Small Steps make for Big Transformation

I sat down recently and took note of how many times in the past month or so I said, "I don't have the time for..." and realized---wow. I was really making life difficult. 

I was limiting my own power and potential.

Why was I doing this? How was I doing it?

Well, I needed more time. I needed it to accomplish things like seeing friends, returning phone calls and getting much needed work done to stabilize and build my business. I needed this time to move forward with my personal and professional goals. I had identified what needed changing but I still felt like a hamster on a wheel. 

I kept saying I needed change. But I wasn't doing anything different to bring that change about.

So recently, I changed my schedule. I set the intention to create more time for myself AND create a master schedule so I can make more efficient use of the time I do have. Funnily enough, as always, one of my clients said the same thing in his session--without even knowing that I was doing that for myself.

He said, "I need to make a master schedule so I know what I'm accomplishing".

Funny, eh?

One small step can make such a huge difference in our lives. In fact, small steps or changes actually are ideal because they don't bring a tidal wave of change to manage. 

Try to find one area of your life that needs tweaking and identify one small thing you can do to change it. In addition to changing my schedule, I also began running a few times per week. I have an idea of how long I'd like to run (the recommended 30 mins, 4x/week is always in my head) but the goal is to get my shoes on and go. Whatever happens after that is awesome. Setting an intention, sticking to it, and giving myself the chance to acclimate is a positive transformation in my own head and my own attitude which, ultimately, will show up in my whole life. 

How many times can I make it happen this week? 

What simple change can you make to your life and how will you hold yourself accountable?

10 Tips to 2011-- DAY 1: LOVE

 My last tip for you is my gift on this first day of 2011.

1.1.11.

Love.

It is my experience that love begets love. More love doesn’t hurt anyone, despite what the media, your broken heart, fractured ego/psyche and defense mechanisms might say.

An attitude of abundance empowers us all to believe and experience that love for ourselves expands to love for others and the more we give, the more we receive. Scarcity, fear and “othering” has only ever brought me sadness, pain and solitude. No matter how many people or material possessions were in my life, I never felt happy enough, stabilized, content or fulfilled. Like an itch I could never scratch.

My concept of love makes me think of the Big Bang Theory. I try to imagine nothing exploding into the massive Universe but I can’t. My little human brain can’t conceive of it. But I can feel the concept of love. I experience it when a baby smiles at me, when I hear my friends’ familiar voices over the phone or when I taste my first sip of a mocha from Diesel café.

 Cultivating an attitude of gratitude and love for myself and others is a daily practice. It isn’t easy and I am not perfect at maintaining this attitude 24/7. That isn’t the point. It’s about the intention. I have taken stock of what love has given me this past year, and compared it to other years. I heard from a college pal recently—after several years of being estranged—and without skipping a beat, we connected like no time had passed at all. We were good friends, and definitely shared a platonic love for a couple years as young adults in college and then time and many factors caused us to part ways. How magical and cosmic is the experience of reintegrating that person into my life so effortlessly? How did it happen? Love. That energy never faded, it only changed form. Where love once was, it is always. It always has the potential to heal and balance and satisfy, especially when fear and ego are absent.

Take 10 minutes today and feel the presence of love in your heart, your body and your thoughts. Compare that sensation to the effects of fear and separateness. What do you notice?

Exercises for Cultivating More Love in your Life

Love yourself by eating whole, healthy food. Avoid eating what you know to be unhealthy, toxic foods.

Love yourself by surrounding yourself with good friends—and by being a good friend to others! Avoid the company of oppressive, toxic and miserable people. Their energy dampens and darkens your spirit.

Love yourself by celebrating and moving your healthy, strong body. Avoid taxing it with too much weight, unhealthy foods and toxic chemicals and/or substances.

Love yourself by developing and maintaining a spiritual practice. Avoid denouncing and condemning others who don’t share your political and spiritual beliefs. Send energy toward those who make the world better, avoid publicizing the actions and tactics of people who set us all back. Celebrate health and progress.

Love yourself by acquiring fulfilling and satisfying work. Avoid keeping a job because it’s a “paycheck”. Share your gifts and light where they are wanted and appreciated. Aspire to do your best no matter your circumstances.

As you leave behind 2010, be grateful for who you were, what you did and where you find yourself.

Enter 2011 with the intention to be happy, healthy and grateful. Expect the best, strive for the best and EXPERIENCE THE BEST!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!