MY APPLES!!!

I know this happens to all of us, but because I'm an author and blogger, I get to write all about it...for public consumption.
Several weeks ago, my normally "happy little joy-filled, life-is-so-magical" apple cart was rather violently overturned, in what seemed like a fraction of a second. My lovely, nicely maintained, aesthetically pleasing pile of apples was suddenly spread out, far and wide, and the cart toppled onto its side. I had spent the previous months, perhaps even years tending to this cart, polishing the apples, knowing that this entire little cart that I called my life, was going in a divinely protected and guided direction. La la la...down the path I stroll.
Then, seemingly out of the blue....KABOOM...over tips the cart. Apples thrown hither and yon!
After a good, long, tear-filled, profanity ridden tantrum,(which, by the way, lasted approximately 2 1/2 - 3 weeks), with the help of my amazing family, I turned my cart back upright, and I began picking up my apples.
One by one, among whimpering and 'woe is me' sighs, I collected my apples, and put them back in the cart. Some bruised, some split, some still whole and seemingly undamaged...all were going back into my cart. Same apples into the same cart.
Then I picked up one apple in particular. It was squashed and gooey. Not something I really wanted on my hands, let alone gooey-ing all over the rest of my apples. That's when I realized it. Maybe I shouldn't be collecting all these apples, in varying degrees of dissolve, and putting them BACK in my cart. BACK in my world. BACK in my life.
Clearly this little 'episode' of my life wasn't about apples, nor the apple cart in which I held them. This episode was more of an implosion of my construct of thoughts, beliefs, ideas and conditions in my life. In hindsight, I am able to see what happened to me as a total and complete mental/emotional meltdown. A few outside circumstances systematically combusted, resulting in the apparent collapse of my world - the turning over of my apple cart, the destruction of my paradigm. Life, as I knew it, blew up in my face.
Back to the apples. Lets entertain, for a moment, the apple cart metaphor. Our "apples" are the thoughts, beliefs, actions and habits that make up our experience of life.
Say your 'apples' get overturned. Do you pick them all up, and resume along your journey with the same, busted, bruised, beat up apples that don't really work for you anymore? Or, perhaps is it time, to sift through your own apple cart, and remove those that stink up the place!!
As I was 'reloading' my apples, I began to realize that there were some thoughts I'd had, ideas I'd entertained and actions I'd repeated that I didn't really want to keep around anymore. Things that were holding me back, keeping me 'stuck' and maybe even pushing me backwards.
It was within this realization, that I was able to be much more picky and precise about which apples I wanted to put back in my cart, and which ones I wanted to leave behind. As I did so, I also realized that since I had only picked up a select few of my previous 'apples', that left a lot of room for NEW, fresh and beautiful apples in my cart!

SO...here is my invitation to you! I invite you to take some time in the next few days, and really take a look in your own apple cart. Take a look at what beliefs you may have, that might be holding you back from living the way you'd truly like to live. What thoughts, actions or ideas might be stopping you from being fully happy and fully satisfied with all areas of your life? Its not always a fun process, (sometimes you may get some gooey apple gunk on you), but it is a wonderfully helpful process, and one that will definitely free up some space in your cart, where you can put new, crisp, beautiful apples!
Don't let rotten apples ruin your cart. You don't necessarily have to wait for the whole cart to be overturned, (aka total meltdown) before you can clear out your old apples. Take the time to clear them out, so you cart doesn't HAVE to get overturned!

With that, I bid you a wonderful apple cleansing process!

Until Next Time,
Jill

http://www.jillainethompson.com
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Well...What Did You Expect??

...and...did it turn out otherwise?
Did you expect the promotion? Expect your appointment to start on time? Did some person, event, or situation not turn out the way you expected it to? Did YOU do something that didn't meet your own expectation?  The topic of "expectations" is so rich, so loaded and SO deeply embedded in our lives, that when we really take a look at it, it's quite easy to get sucked down the proverbial rabbit hole!
That being said, lets simplify.
We have expectations in just about every area of our lives. We expect our alarm clocks to wake us up. We expect the water to come on when we start the shower. We expect our drive in to work to include a specific route, and take a specific amount of time. We expect the key to work, that gets us into our office space. We have a constant stream of expectations going on all throughout the day. We rely on these expectations to be met, and have a tendency to 'lose it', or feel derailed, if or when it doesn't happen. Don't agree? Try having just ONE of those above listed expectations not met.
This phenomenon includes everything from expecting to see when we first open our eyes in the morning, to having the car to start when you turn the key in the ignition, to expecting the promotion, relationship or vacation to go 'as planned'.
Look into your life, and spend a moment in the times when you were thrown into a tailspin. Chances are, that tailspin was a result of some expectation not met. Some thing or some one did not respond or turn out as you had expected. The marriage. The job. The purchase of a car. The move to a different city. The list of possibilities is utterly endless.
Enter the phrase, "Keep your expectations low, and you won't be disappointed", or how about the idea that 'low expectations = less disappointment'?  I've even heard, "expect nothing...you'll be happy with whatever you get". Really? Is THAT the solution?  Things don't turn out how we expected them to, so we lower our expectations, even down to nothing?? Phooey!!
I say keep your expectations SKY HIGH!! Expect magic. Expect miracles. Expect results FAR beyond that which you even think is possible!!  Here's the secret, tho. Along with expecting the person, situation or experience to turn out TOTALLY in your favor and beyond your wildest dreams, is learning the skills to deal with it, just in case the result is something other than what you envisioned. Learn how to handle a result that looks different than what you saw coming.
This is the key that's missing in the world today. We 1) expect to get the shaft, so we're down and droopy all the time - or perhaps paranoid that the Universe is conspiring against us, or 2) we keep expectations high, but have absolutely no coping skills to get us over the hump when things don't 'go our way'. We as a society throw tantrums left and right. Road rage. Assault. Situational depression. 'Going postal'. Social media 'mud slinging'. Bullying. Feeling defeated. We, as a whole, have lost the ability to deal with things not going 'our way'.
Example: We go into the 20 items or less line at the grocery store. (go ahead, laugh...but you know its a 'thing'!!)  Ever count the items in someone elses cart, and consider saying something to them if they have 28 items...or maybe even if they have 21 items? We expect people to have 20 items or less, I mean they DID choose that line, right? So, they're aware of the stated parameters! But we may get a little ruffled if someone is in the 'wrong' place.
Or, how about studying night and day for the upcoming exam, and finding out that you got a C, instead of the A you worked SO HARD to get? Flight delays. Late dinner guests. Gas prices and kids coming in past curfew. Then, we get all upset and sideways because of these 'disappointments'.
ENOUGH, I SAY!!!
Yes, have high expectations. High hopes and dreams make life more colorful and engaging! But, learn how to handle it, when something turns out in a way that appears to be blah!
In any and every situation, there is ALWAYS a good, strong, balanced and healthy way of seeing things. Maybe you didn't get the job because there's something better on the horizon! Maybe the detour on your way to work will bring you by a new coffee shop in town, which you never would have seen, had you just stayed on your 'normal' route.  Maybe the person ahead of you in the express lane is too worried about a family member to even realize that they're in an express lane, and the one thing you can do to help make their day better, is to just let them go about their way. Flight delay? Gives you more time to practice your patience and 'disappointment handling' skills :-)
The world is much brighter, people are more friendly, opportunities are more plentiful, and days are much easier, when you go through your life expecting miracles!
Aim ever so high, and know that if something/someone appears to 'land short' of that expectation, that your grass is just as green, you can be just as happy, and life is JUST AS MAGICAL is it was before that result appeared.
The world is a place of endless possibilities. Keep allowing those possibilities to show up in your life, and keep on paddling. Life is but a dream...
A spectacular day to you,
Always,
Jill

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www.JillaineThompson.com
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Mind Your Mind, And Speak Your Life

We've all heard it a hundred times..."What you think about, you bring about"...or something very similar. We've heard it so many times, perhaps, that we stopped believing it to be true. Maybe it sounds so cliché, that we just don't even register when we hear it anymore.
Well, folks, I'm here to remind you. It is absolutely true. I have countless examples in my own life, not to mention the hundreds, possibly thousands of times I've seen it happen in the lives of my friends, family members, coaching clients and readers.
I'm not writing this blog to beat you over the head, once again, with 'be careful what you think about, because you will draw it into your life'. The reason for this gentle reminder, is an attempt to encourage you to invite much more joy, more peace, more love and support, and more fulfillment into your life. I recently read, then re-Tweeted, Facebooked, and Facebooked again, a great quote from America Ferrera, star of the TV show Ugly Betty.

"I think it's about surrounding yourself with people who remind you who you want to be in your life," - America Ferrera

So very true this statement is. In fact, the very DAY I read, then posted this comment, my family and I had ''game night" at our friend's house, where we met and made another incredible friend! No sooner had I absorbed then shared the quote, than yet another person, who reminded me who I want to be in my life, was brought directly into it!  That's how this works. Get passionate about the things that you're passionate about, and watch them show up in your life!
Jobs, people, relationships, objects, interactions, goals and plans...all of it! Think it, own it, let it really soak into your awareness, and POOF, it'll you'll see it!
One of my favorite books, Spiritual Liberation, by Michael Bernard Beckwith, talks about this very topic in depth, and you can't help but look back into your own past, and see time after time, where you've actually 'thought' something into being.
"You'll always know what your conscious mind is thinking about, because it shows up as your life!!" - Rev. Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith
We've also ALL heard the saying, "Don't even SAY that!" Somewhere, deep in our psyche, we all know that there is truth to the idea of 'thinking' something into being.
This blog, again, is an invitation to YOU, to spend some time, consciously drawing toward you, what it is that you want to experience in your life. Worry brings about worry. Wonderful, uplifting, joyful thoughts bring about wonderful uplifting joy. You get to pick which you get more of :-)
Once you're done 'thinking' about it, surround yourself with people who remind you of who you want to be in your life, and you may be surprised how quickly your life becomes exactly as you've dreamt it to be!
Feel free to drop me a line, and let me know what you're creating!

Wishing you a most glorious and beautiful day today...and always,
Jill

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www.JillaineThompson.com
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The Truth and Tragedy of Facebook

Ah, Facebook. "Social networking".  The great connector of people. Rekindling friendships, unifying social groups, keeping families and friends updated on your activities...and perhaps even your meals.
Doing something fun? Post it. Having a rough day? Post it. We use Facebook to incite, inspire and infuriate each other. When something exciting happens to us, we 'Facebook' it. When we feel the need for attention, we 'Facebook'. When we want other people to jump on our bandwagon, we 'Facebook' it. (Note: when I use the word "Facebook", please feel free to substitute the words "Instagram", "Twitter", "SnapChat", and yes, perhaps even 'Blog'.)
We have come to use Facebook, as our own way of standing on the rooftop and screaming at each other. That's a truth. It is also...a tragedy.
It would benefit us all, to keep 2 small yet powerful statements in mind, when using any form of social media. 1)"Anything you say, CAN AND WILL be held against you..." (for eternity) and 2) (perhaps more powerful) "You have the right to remain silent".
Here's what I love about Facebook. I have a friend who is currently living in Thailand, and I am able to see what he's up to on a regular basis. I am very blessed to have friends and family members all over the country, and even some who live overseas, with whom I am able to stay in contact. I have a book that I'm writing, for which I can post updates, gather readers and share ideas.
If it were only used for kind, inspiring purposes, I think we, as a collective whole, would be far better in touch with ourselves and each other.
However, all too often, this medium is used as a vehicle for spreading gossip, sharing judgments, touting righteousness, and basically keeping ourselves and each other stuck in a bottomless pit of drama and 'he said, she said'. "Friends" aren't always actual 'friends', but people we want to keep track of, for one reason or another. Sometimes, we keep them around, just because we don't want to deal with the backlash of 'unfriending' them! As though 'unfriending' someone means that either you or they will instantly cease to exist on this planet! Remember the days when you'd actually go months, even YEARS without connecting with someone! Then, one day in a grocery store, BOOM!!!, there they are! Still on the planet. People stay in touch with 'ex's' because they don't want to think that they're gone forever. Toxic.  So often, people have come to judge their 'like-ability' or self worth, based on how many 'likes' they get on their page!  Absurd.  We'll even go so far as to keep tabs on how many 'friends' our friends have, to make sure we stay ahead. Sad.
I understand that Facebook, and social media as a whole has many, MANY positive aspects, and can absolutely be used for good. But, as with so many things that go on in a glutinous society, we've gone completely overboard with our use of, and involvement in social media. It has become our favorite pastime, our soap box for 'getting our point across', and the scale by which we gauge our likability.
That is nothing short of tragic.
So, here is my invitation to you. Next time you have a coffee break, time between classes, or 30 minutes while you wait for your clothes to dry, I encourage you to:

• put on your sunglasses, and go walk around the block
• go talk to someone, face to face, in the next cubicle, in the hallway or at the water cooler
• call a friend, pet your dog, read a magazine or just spend some time in your thoughts.

There is a beautiful and amazing world going by, OUTSIDE of technology. Take a little time today to get reconnected with THAT world, and allow yourself to be in it.

Wishing you a most glorious and beautiful day today...and always,
Jill

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Adios Jan!!

Thanks for the memories!!
On this the last day of January, 2014, I have decided (and encourage you to) take a moment to reflect in gratitude for the blessings of this past month. For myself, there were family members' birthdays and a special anniversary for a very dear friend. My brother and sister came in from Michigan, and my Earth Angel and her mom came in from Utah. I was blessed to have countless enriching and inspiring conversations with friends, patients, clients and family members. I was asked to be a Bridesmaid in my beautiful and amazing cousin's wedding. I had a fantastic meeting with my book editor, and remained strong and healthy throughout the entire month, while the flu ran amuck all around me.
This past 30 1/2 days have been filled with lots of Laughter, Love and Light. Thank you, January 2014 for all the beautiful blessings you brought into my life, and I bid you a fond and gratitude ridden farewell.
Now...on to February!!

What are some of the events, activities and memories you experienced this month? Write, remember and be grateful for them all!

Until Next Time,
Jill


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That Split Second....

That Split Second, When The Whole World Looks Different...

As anyone in my personal life knows, I've see the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" five (yes, 5) times so far. Those who know me best totally get why I can't get enough of this movie, while others ask, "Why so many times?"
Although the movie, in its entirety, is an incredibly uplifting, heart-felt and inspiring experience, the 'snapshot' above...the very moment captured in this still photo is my primary 'draw' to this story.
In a very quick nutshell, the movie is a fantastic journey that one man takes, as he transforms is internal and hidden 'sense of adventure', and brings it all to life, as his daily experience. The moment captured in this single frame (above) is a pivotal moment in that transformation, from my perspective.
Just prior to this frame, he took a literal leap of faith...a leap doused in fear, and jumped onto an already launching helicopter. In this frame, and for the next several seconds of the film, you can clearly see the look of "HOLY CRAP!!! I DID IT!!!! I ACTUALLY JUST DID THAT!!!!!!", and his life, his perspective, his words and actions are never the same!
It is this very moment that has me captivated. The moment of shift. The moment of exhilaration, when everything that you thought was extreme, unlikely or 'outside of your reach' is all the sudden firmly in your grasp.
When you take that leap into the space that is just past what you think you can do...the world suddenly opens up, and things you never imagined could happen for you - are within arms reach.
It is only when we are willing to take that leap into the unknown or uncertain, that we are able to truly see the vast expanse of possibilities that are available to us.
If you have a goal, an intention, an idea or a dream that you are not acting on, nor moving toward, you truly have no idea how magical your life can be. Its like living your whole life, believing that ice cream comes in just one flavor. You cannot even IMAGINE what you're missing!
So, this is the draw that The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has for me, and this is what I invite you to explore in your own life!
Take that step. Make that leap. Chase that dream. Because in the process, things, people, places and opportunities BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION will open up for you!!
As the movie says, "Life is about courage, and going into the unknown"...so GO!!
GO!! There's no more to read here...GO MAKE YOUR LIFE HAPPEN!!! <3

Until Next Time,
Jill

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Gifts or Burdens??

Is it a gift or is it a burden? How do you know the difference? What do you do with it, once you've determined its appropriate category? Does it really matter how you look at it? What are the qualities that make one thing a "gift" and one thing a "burden"?
So many questions to ponder! I assure you, these questions may come off as a burden to begin with, but they're truly a gift. :-D Lets jump right in, shall we?
According to Merriam-Webster, a gift is
: something that is given to another person or to a group or organization

: a special ability

According to Merriam-Webster, a burden is

:  something that is carried :  load

:  duty, responsibility

:  something oppressive or worrisome

 

According to Jill Thompson, the only difference in these 2 ideas is how you choose to receive whatever it is that you are given.

 Lets use this first, in the context of the upcoming holidays. A gift card. Someone gives you a gift card as a holiday gift. What is your first thought?

1) "WOW, COOL! Now I get to go to the _____ store and buy myself the _____ that I wanted!"

OR

2) "okay, now I have to add a trip to _____ to my ever growing list of things to do, so I can try to pick something out that I can use."

Gift or burden?

In this example, as with everything else, its all in how you look at it.

Someone at work shares their heart with you. Gift or burden?

A neighbor gives you a holiday present. Gift or burden?

Your kid needs a ride to his/her friend's house. Gift or burden?

A friend of yours says, "I need someone to talk to, do you have a minute?". Gift or burden?

These are common examples, just to set the stage, because I'm about to "go big" with this idea, so brace yourself. I want to make sure that you get the entire concept of 'gift or burden', because it covers just about everything that we encounter during any (and every) given day, and I think a clear understanding of the GIFT of choice can truly help make a difference in your day...every day.

Now, lets go BIG!

Your skills. Your dreams. Your interests. Your special qualities.

Does it stress you out, trying to pursue your passion, or does it come easy for you?

Does it bring about worry to pursue your interests, or do you find joy in that process?

Are you 'fighting' to live your 'purpose'?

I'm a sign language interpreter. That is a passion of mine. I learned the alphabet from a lady named Holly Hugdahl when I was in 2nd Grade. I spelled EVERYTHING until I met Stacy, my first deaf friend in college. I spelled everything to her, and in a very short amount of time, she said, "This conversation could take forever, so let's teach you signs, okay?" OKAY!!!!

I learned from her (gift), then was able to test out of ASL 1, and ASL 2 when I transferred to California State University, Northridge (gift). I took several more classes at CSUN, and graduated with an Associates Degree in Deaf Studies. Since then, I've been blessed to have several jobs as an interpreter, as well as many "in the right place at the right time" occurrences where sign language was needed. For me, sign language is a huge Gift. It took some work on my behalf to get skilled enough to be fluent, but never once has it created stress, worry, panic, or up-set in my life. Its never been a struggle, and I've never felt 'guh, why do I have this burden to carry?' One of the (many) greatest memories in my whole life, was standing at the stage, at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, interpreting for recording artist, Jewel, and having her watch me 'present' her songs in a way that went far beyond the auditory senses.

My reason for using this example is because I do know several people who see 'knowing sign language' as a burden. They 'had' to learn it because they have a deaf parent or sibling. I know a couple of parents of deaf children who refused to learn sign language, because they wanted their kid(s) to learn how to function in the 'hearing world'. One mother actually told me "it would have been too hard to learn a whole other language as an adult." For me (and MANY others!) learning sign language opened so many doors in my life, that may not have been opened otherwise. Some of my dearest friends are deaf...and if I hadn't learned to sign, that may not be the case. But there are plenty of other people who see sign language as a burden, or something that they 'have' to do, because of other circumstances in their lives.

The minute you receive something, a present, a phone call or text, an idea, a dream, an insight, epiphany, or realization of your inner-self, you get the opportunity to see and accept it as a gift or as a burden. That choice is completely YOURS. How you choose to receive it will determine your path for handling it.

Going back to the Merriam-Webster definitions, I offer this.

A "gift" is

: something that is given to another person or to a group or organization

: a special ability

:  something that is carried :  load

:  duty, responsibility

that makes you happy, and brings joy to your life, and consequently to the lives of others

 

A "burden" is

: something that is given to another person or to a group or organization

: a special ability

:  something that is carried :  load

:  duty, responsibility

that causes you stress and disharmony, should NOT be passed on to anyone else, and should be discarded and/or eliminated as SOON AS POSSILBE!

Take a burden and drop it like a hot potato, or change something about IT or YOUR THINKING, and make it a gift.

Whether we're talking about a personality trait or characteristic, a job, a task (or a whole list of them!), a person, a dream, an idea or an opportunity, the choice is YOURS to receive it as a gift or a burden.

Choose wisely because therein lies your journey.

Have you got something that you see as a burden, and cannot see how you could possibly turn it into a gift? Comment below, or shoot me an e-mail, I will be more than happy to help you reframe it, and make it work in your favor!

Wishing you an amazing selecting process, and days filled with joy, love, happiness and GIFTS!
Jill

DrSeanAndJill@TheNaturalBodyWorks.com

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Which Voice Are YOU Listening To?

Listen to your heart? Listen to your head? Listen to your gut? Listen to those other voices that exist in that 'somewhere else' - out there? Listen to the voices from your childhood? Previous relationships? Ex-employers? Bullies from long ago? (or bullies from NOT SO long ago?)
Our days are filled with a constant barrage of voices. Some positive, some less so. Some, downright hurtful! The sad truth is, that most of the negativity that flies around in our minds is self-induced!
Although we may have actually heard those voices, speaking hurtful words, they probably do not exist in this very moment. But, we can hear them as though they're the loudest thing in the room. We carry voices with us all day. Some ours, some not. But regardless of whom they belong to, we have conversations going on in our heads ALL DAY and most of the night! Go ahead, try to have NO conversation in your head. Try it. I'll wait.

Over the past several months, my life has taken some pretty measurable turns. My attitude has changed, my happiness has dramatically increased, I've lost weight, I sleep better, my business has gotten much busier, and more successful, my friendships are stronger, and I have more of them. My outlook on life has widened, and I almost feel taller!
So I asked myself, what changed? What happened that created all of these wonderful and positive changes. My answer came quickly and clearly. I changed the voices that I was listening to. That's it. That one change in my thought process, resulted in every aspect of my life getting noticeably better.  Clearer. Stronger. Brighter. Healthier.

You know the image. The devil on one shoulder, and an angel on the other. Each one whispering their sound advice into their respective ear. It would be much easier if there were only 2 sources from which we get these voices! Trouble comes when there are SEVERAL voices, and we hear them ALL, and try to sort through them to determine which ONE we're going to listen to! "Yes", "No", "Maybe", "What if...", "How will I.."and the list goes on.  If only it were as easy as eenie meenie miney mo!
Do any of these sound familiar?
The Fear Voice. What if this doesn't work? What if I'm wrong? How many times do we have to 'start again' before you realize you're not going to accomplish this? You can't stick to anything. That kind of happiness, just isn't for you. You're better off not even trying, because you're not going to make it, anyway. You're not smart enough. You're not talented enough. You're just going to look stupid, so don't even bother.
The Doomed Voice. This is as good as its ever going to get. There just aren't that many jobs available, so be grateful for the one you have. Good enough is good enough. You're too old to get started on that now - learn to be happy with what you have. Its too late.
The "Yes You Can" Voice. You've got this! You're better off now, anyway! This is all you!

You recognize these? Well, I'm here to tell you that NONE of these statements is true.. Not one single one of them. We go into much more detail in the book, (The Perfect Cup of Coffee), but in short, here's the TRUTH. Not one of these statements is more true than any other.
"Whether You Believe You Can, Or You Can't, You Are Right" - Henry Ford
So you get to pick. You get to decide which voices you're going to listen to, and if you're in a place in your life where you're 'stuck' - you're listening to the wrong ones! Make another choice.
We tend to allow these voices (good or bad) to ring in our heads like the drips of water torcher, so you want to make sure you choose wisely! The "plink...plink...plink" of Walt Disney's quote, "If you can dream it, you can achieve it" is a WAY better way to spend your life than the plinks of "What if I'm wrong", agreed?
So, take inventory. Which voices are you listening to? Often the ones in our heads have the most 'outside influence', and tend to be 'thoughts of old'. Habitual thinking. The 'mind thoughts' tend to be the most stale. That's why you tend to get a physiological reaction when a 'new thought' comes in and resonates with you. Even your BRAIN gets excited to receive new ideas! (Again, more about that in the upcoming book, The Perfect Cup of Coffee). Our heart-voice tends to be pretty reliable, although it communicates regularly with the head, so there's some 'outside influence' in there, as well. Gut - that's a pretty safe bet. The gut keeps its distance from both the head and the heart, so it tends to protect itself from the outside influence. It also tends to answer most quickly, and over-analyze the least! "Gut-instinct", if you will.
Take your inventory, and be sure to evict the voices that tend to harm you the most. You don't need them. They certainly don't move you forward in your life.
I invite you to comment below - what voices are holding you back? What are you hearing, then repeating to yourself, that may be keeping you stuck? What voices do you hear that propel you forward? What can YOU do to only hear the ones that inspire you?
I look forward to your comments!
A beautiful, selectively thoughtful day to you!
Jill

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NO, Your Past Experiences Do NOT Make You Who You Are!

You know the phrase, "Our past experiences make us who we are today", right? Well, please forgive my frustration, but, that's an airy-fairy, overused 'feel good' line for trying to make someone let go of past bad decisions or perceived injustices. So many people use incidences of their pasts, and let them be an excuse for their present and future beliefs, actions and behaviors. I'm here to set the record STRAIGHT!
Contrary to 'popular cliché', our past experiences DO NOT make us who we are today. What makes us who we are today, is who we DECIDE TO BE! It is completely irrelevant, whatever has happened to you up to this very moment in your life! COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT! I don't care where you live, what you've 'done', what's been 'done to you', what you've experienced, how you experienced it, who loved you, who left you, what job you quit, what employer fired you, how many kids you have, or the fact that you can't have any. Doesn't matter how much money you have, nor how little. Doesn't matter where you grew up, and in what type of environment. Irrelevant is the fact that you were abused as a child, or were raised in a life surrounded by fluffy clouds and bunny rabbits. All equally immaterial.
That is one of the gifts of this BEAUTIFUL life! You get to choose, each and every day, who and how you want to be! You can choose to live your whole life, being a victim of your childhood. The victim of an abusive marriage. The victim of an illness, poverty or rejection. Its totally your choice, and you get to pick something different EVERY DAY, if you'd like!
The magic of the mind, is your absolute key to freedom!
So, here's a fun game that you get to play, if you so choose. Play with your past. Rewrite it. Make it EXACTLY the way you want it to be, and live your life as though every bit of it were the truth. Did you grow up in a castle? Did that relationship end because you decided that you wanted more from your life than that situation could ever possibly offer? Do you have the most perfect and ideal job, but you're just doing this one to see how 'the other folks' live? Open your mind to absolute creativity, and see what shows up. You get to own whatever it is that you want to, because your thoughts, your memories and your 'past' belongs to you. Do with it WHATEVER you want!.
Your 'past' is just a bunch of memories, all of them totally inaccurate to what ACTUALLY happened anyway, so mold those old memories like play-doh, and recreate them to make you who you want to be right now. If that 'you' stops being fun, change it up again!
Life is all about what's happening now, anyway, right? So redefine anything that 'happened before' that is slowing you down, or appearing as an obstacle, and get it the heck out of your way! That is NOT who you are.
Who you ARE is whomever you want to be. REALLY!!!
With that, I wish you all a beautiful, colorful, fragrant, LIFE FILLED DAY!!!

Until next time,
Jill

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www.TheNaturalBodyWorks.com
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Stop Struggling and LIVE!!!

 

Seriously, its time to stop all the 'struggling' that we've got going on and start LIVING! This life is not about 'getting through it' or, making the best of a bad situation. This  life is about living! Seeing, experiencing, growing, learning, understanding, loving, laughing and LIVING!
Here's the thing. Just the term 'struggle' implies that you're at a disadvantage. I don't care what it is that you 'struggle' with (well, of course I care, because your struggle is my struggle, as we're all interconnected - breathing the same air, moving through the same energy field, etc), but the 'what' that you're in battle with is quite irrelevant. Just the fact that you see it as a 'struggle' means that you're at odds with something, and that you're at the disadvantage.
It doesn't matter if you're 'struggling' with money, weight, drugs, family, loneliness, boredom, alcohol, religion, gambling, relationships, sex, smoking, proverbial 'forks in the road', depression, anxiety, or any one of a number of other issues. Just the idea that you are struggling sets you back. It puts you in a position of weakness. We ALL know that its much harder to 'get ahead' when we're starting from the back. So...today, we collectively start at ground level! We're all starting every day with an even playing field. Some of us have different tools in our toolbox, some different skills that we need in order to best express who we are. But starting out any day, project, conversation or mindset from the place of 'struggle', does NOTHING but add the need for battle during that day, project, conversation or mindset. Any situation that we go into with the understanding that it's a 'struggle', is going to get by us. We're going to miss something in the magic, the learning, the beauty of that experience, because we're so busy feeling that we're in a struggle, that we DRASTICALLY limit the possibilities that can occur in that situation.
For example, lets say you go into a situation wherein your first thought is, "I just have to remember not to _____. This is always a hard situation for me, so I just have to make sure I _____."  You've already missed out on SOMETHING, because your focus is on the 'struggle' rather than the event/activity/situation.
Lets say that you have told yourself (in the past!) that you struggle with smoking. You've been trying to quit for X number of years, but you just can't get it down. Today. Today is the day you quit smoking, right?! You've tried and tried and tried, and it just seems to be the ONE thing you can't let go of. (Here's a secret...once you DO quit, there will be something else that shows up, to become the ONE thing you can't let go of. As long as you have the mentality of 'struggle' you can bet your bottom dollar that smoking WILL BE REPLACED with something else! Bank on it!) Anyway, you've tried and tried...but today, yes today will be the day. Even just THAT thought process put you at the disadvantage. You suddenly became the underdog in your very own life! The victim of the smoking habit. Why? Because your thought is that you have something within yourself to beat. Something within YOU to conquer. Something from deep inside, that is NOT GOING TO GET THE BEST OF YOU! So, you're fighting already.
Same with weight. Same with money. Same with drinking, drugs, gambling. Same with deciding which religion to follow. Which direction to take in your life. Anything that you deem a 'struggle', is going to become harder.
Okay, Jill, so what do I do about my struggle with ____??? Pretend it doesn't exist?
No. LIVE. Live your life. Own what you want, and let go of anything that is a 'struggle'. So much of the beauty and magic of this magnificent life is lost, missed and overlooked, because we are so wrapped up in our personal struggles. Out to dinner with friends, and all we think about is how many calories we're taking in, and going to have to 'work off' later. Or how much money we're spending on said dinner. Or how we just can't wait to get home to have that internet time.
Mind you, I'm not saying we should ignore all these things, and just lives of gluttony. What I am saying, is that we need to pull the word 'struggle' out of our internal dictionaries, and know...KNOW that we are in total control over ourselves, our actions and our choices. We're not 'victims of a weight struggle'. We're not minions to a negative desire or habit. We are in control of our actions and thoughts. You feeling like you are losing the battle with depression. Go outside and wrap your arms around a someone who is hurting. Bask in that exchange of love and BOOM, you just beat depression. The idea of your "struggle" is over.
Feeling down? Feeling powerless? Feeling broke? Whatever the negative feeling, do something right in that moment to change it.  Live your life in your own power. You may not be able to make yourself a millionaire in a moment, but you can CERTAINLY stop struggling with the idea of being broke. Plan a vacation.
Feeling like you need a drink just to 'cope' with something. Go for a walk and take lots of deep breaths.
Feeling alone? Go to the mall, and start up a random conversation with one of the many people who ask, "can I help you?"
There is literally no end to the list of things that you can do, that will help you deal with the issue at hand, that DOES NOT INCLUDE making it into a struggle. Its just a thing. An idea. A situation. It is not a struggle, unless you label it so.
What is it that you feel like you are struggling with in your life right now? What can you do to look at that issue from a different angle, and dissolve it to just being one minute piece of this beautiful, vibrant, orchestra of light, sound, taste, touch, emotion and energy we live in?
Remember, we're all breathing the same air, wandering through the same energy field, so any 'struggle' you have, you're sharing with all the rest of us. So just letting go of one thing, one negative idea that holds you back, sets us all a bit more free.

With that, I wish you all a beautiful, colorful, fragrant, LIFE FILLED DAY!!!

Until next time,
Jill

www.TheNaturalBodyWorks.com
720-938-5455

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An Introduction to Your Own Worst Enemies!!

Holly & Harvey Habit.

Perhaps you've never been formally introduced to Holly & Harvey Habit, but you do know them...you know them entirely too well! They're the ones who encourage you to live tomorrow, EXACTLY as you will today, simply because its how you lived yesterday! They're the horribly stagnant couple who keep your life predictable and contained, status quo, if you will.
Today's message is about your life. What excites you...what makes you happy...what makes you feel ALIVE!!! In order to live that ALIVE life, you need to meet, acknowledge, then EVICT Mr. & Mrs. Habit!

Do you wake up in the morning feeling worried? Stressed? Anxious? Already bored? Or, perhaps do you wake up in the morning, WITHOUT the use of your alarm clock, because you simply cannot WAIT to get out of bed and be YOU for another day!?
My guess is the former. So many of us wake up in the morning, and our first thoughts are of worry, negativity, or 'dread' for the upcoming day. Some of us would lay in bed for hours on end if we were given the choice. Living an unexcited, uninspired life...just from one 'routine' to another. Waking up to an alarm clock that seems to go off earlier and earlier every day. Reporting to a job we don't even like, but that "pays the bills". Watching the same TV shows at night, because that's just 'what we do'. Making habitual, unconscious decisions all day, just waiting for the end of the day to come, so we can climb into bed, feeling relieved that the day is over...only to get an 'average' night's sleep...to get up and do it all over again the next day.
That doesn't sound like a very happy life, does it? Yet that is how over 80% of us "live" our lives Unconsciously.
Holly & Harvey Habit are the chains that tie you to your existence...and truly keep you from LIVING! The difference between existing and living is immeasurable, but about to become very clear.
You have a purpose. You have a passion. You have at least one of each of those. Something that gets you excited. Something that inspires and energizes you. (If that purpose or passion doesn't come to mind right way, take a second and think about something that you've EVER said, "I would love to do that...someday", or "if I had the time/money, I'd _____").  There's a spark inside of you that has never gone out, and (for over 80% of us) it is very alive, just waiting to be fueled. Many of these things you'll find in the form of a "Bucket List".
You have these energizers for a reason. These 'things' you want to do, see, become, give, understand or LIVE. We all have them, but those pesky residents in your life, Holly Habit and Harvey Habit, work very hard to keep all those wonderful attributes, activities and accomplishments at bay.
I'm here to invite you...to STRONGLY invite you to take your 'existance' BACK from the Habits, and choose your life! Become conscious and aware of what you love to do, and DO IT! Spend time EVERY DAY doing something that you love! ANYTHING that you love!!!  There is a reason that you have a passion for ____ (fill in the blank!). There is an undeniable, undefinable, profound REASON that you are drawn to that thing, idea, activity, behavior, or goal. The truth is, we are not all drawn to the same hobbies, professions, friends, activities, forms of entertainment or life goals. Yours are special to YOU. A seed wouldn't be planted in your head, if you were not meant to enjoy and partake in the growth and development of whatever it is that excites you.
We have to learn to put value in the things that excite and energize us, and value ourselves enough to make those things happen in our lives.
Do you like to travel? Study? Teach? Are you drawn to painting or drawing? Are you inspired by music? Literature? Dance and/or movement? Writing? Architecture? What is it that sucks you in, and if only for a moment, gets you really excited or inspired?
Spend some time, really day-dreaming about what things or activities really resonate with you, and really get your blood pumping. (Keep in mind Holly & Harvey are not going to like this, and you're going to get lots of reasons thrown at you as to why you can't have, do, see, accomplish or acquire those things - they want to keep you engaged with them...doing the same things every day, thinking the same way, stuck in the same ruts).
But, I invite you to stand up for yourself - stand up for your LIFE, and spend time engaging those things that are interesting and exciting to you. Your life is meant to be LIVED, in full Technicolor, HD and Surround Sound...not just 'gotten through'.
Do something TODAY that 'dabbles' in your interests, desires, passions, dreams. If you LOVE to travel, but don't appear to have the time, money or resources to do so...pack a lunch and 'travel' to the park for a picnic. 'Travel' to the corner coffee shop and sit for a minute and plan a trip for your future. Do something that engages your interest, and you'll feel a little more ALIVE! Change one piece, one 30 minute block of your day by including something that drives you, and you'll already start taking back your life.
There are countless ways that you can begin to evict the Habits from your life! Countless little steps you can take every day to move towards owning your life again. You can certainly take HUGE steps every day, but that can seem a bit daunting, so you may want to start with small steps.
Start with a list. Just a short list of things that you are interested in, or excited or inspired by. The list can include material things, activities, people, hobbies, areas of study, anything. Just what comes to mind, then each day, start by acting on one or more of those things.
But, definitely start with SOMETHING. Your life belongs to YOU...take it back, and LIVE IT! It is NEVER too late!! If the dream or desire is in there - FEED IT! :-D

As always, I'd love to hear what you're up to, so please drop me a line and let me celebrate YOUR LIFE with you!!!
Until next time,
Jill

www.TheNaturalBodyWorks.com
720-325-9886

The "Rut" Isn't the RUT, Ya Nut!!!

Okay, so you know the days....nothing seems to go right, nothing seems to make sense...you kind of walk around in a mental fog, when you question what you know and what you believe. Life is still going on around you, but you have this feeling of being disconnected from it all..as though everything for everyone ELSE is just fine, but you seem to be thinking, moving and living in slow motion. You know these days, right?

Well, I've had a series of them. About 8 in a row, to be exact.

So, I thought myself to be in a rut. Ruts happen to us all, and this one seemed to be a doozie! Lasted 8 days, and those days were loaded with knowing that my 'give a damn' was busted!

This morning as I sat, well, really SLUMPED on the couch and drank my coffee, it occurred to me, that this rut has GOT TO STOP! So I got myself upstairs to jump in the shower...and WHAM!!! It got me right between the eyes...this 'rut' wasnt my rut...the past several MONTHS have been my rut, and the last 8 days, have been the breaking point. Eight days is a LONG time to spend at a 'breaking point' but some of us really need to 'be' and marinate in the blech, before we are able to get out of it, I suppose. It takes a lot to drag me down, but once I get there, I'm SO there! :-D

Anyway, here's what I learned in my most magnificent shower this morning. When we get into a rut, or a 'slump' or whatever it is that we want to call it, we tend to look at that time as though IT is the problem. "I had a rough couple of days", or "I'm just having a tough time right now, but I'll get over it". What I learned this morning, is that the "rut" isn't the problem...the time BEFORE the rut is wherein the challenge sits. The 'rut' is the first step OUT of that problem! A downward slide started way before it showed up in your life as a 'rut' or 'rough patch', so the answer is NOT going to be in "why am I in a rut"...the answer can be found in the question, "What was going on for me just before I got into the rut?"

My bet is this...whatever the answer is, will show up as something that you're doing, saying, feeling or otherwise experiencing that is NOT genuine to your true self. It is something that you've said, thought or done, or something that someone else has said or done, that is taking you out of the flow that is "your nature", and causing a bit of a detour.

The key to 'rut-removal' is getting to the bottom of what that pesky little issue is, acknowledging it for what it is, and doing what you need to do with it. Sometimes its something that you need to put down. Sometimes its something that you need to hang on to and learn from. Sometimes its a new habit or thought process that you need to adopt, for your own personal evolution. And sometimes its something that you need to look at, and say, "seriously? all this over THAT?!?", then drop it.

Although each of those scenarios are a bit different, and there are a hundred more options for how to handle the 'issue' at hand, the key to getting out of a slump, is to realize that whatever it is that is out of balance, probably happened before your 'slump' began...so you may have to look back a little ways.

So often, we 'get over' a slump, then jump right back into the same old habits, thought patterns, perspectives and vocabulary...only to have to face the exact same issue again a little bit down the road.

Just something to kick around :-D

So if you find yourself 'stuck' on something, or struggling with something, take a minute and go back to just before that particular 'thing' became an issue, and go from there.

As always, I would love to hear your feedback, and would love to hear what happens for you as you practice your rut-removal process! Please feel free to drop me a note, a text or a call...

Until Next Time,
Jill
www.TheNaturalBodyWorks.com
720-325-9886

September 11th - I remember it differently...

I was on my way to work that morning, headed in to my job as an Environmental Program Coordinator for the City of Thornton, when I heard on the radio that an airplane had hit a high-rise building in New York. An accidental collision was the speculation at the time, because it had not occurred to anyone, that something like this could possibly be deliberate. Then the second plane hit, reports of at least 2 other planes being hijacked, and an order for the immediate grounding of ALL in-air flights was issued.
Dear God...this was not an accidental collision.
That perspective is probably the one that millions of people shared on that day....but within about an hour and a half, everything shifted for me, and I don't really recall that day as a terrorist attack, or the horrific event that will forever be ingrained in the US History books.
For me, the events of September 11th, (while yes, horrible, frightening, and heartbreaking), remain powerful - not because of the devistation, but because of the beautiful, inspiring and magnificent display of love, heroism, determination and strength that were released in such an 'explosive' way.
In that one moment in time - (which was truly hours long), people were given, and MANY took the opportunity to truly shine as human beings.
Todd Beamer, and the other folks on United Flight 93...there were approximately 20 people on board that flight, who stood up in the face of terror, and used a food cart to break down the door of the cockpit on that plane, overtake the 2 hijackers, and divert that plane from going into a US Government Building, to bring it down into an empty, unpopulated, open field in Pennsylvania.  The list of adjectives to describe the character of those people is endless, profound, and really leaves me speechless. THAT is the kind of thing I remember about September 11th. THAT is the kind of thing that literally brings tear to my eyes. The strength of character, level of commitment, and I don't even know how to describe the strength, integrity, and wherewithall it would have taken to perform such a task....truly blows my mind., touches my heart, and inspires me on a level that does not even HAVE words.
The gentleman who's name I never knew, who was on the janitorial staff in Tower 1...who helped guide an entire FLOOR of people down the stairway from the 12th floor. He took command of that floor, and guided everyone toward the stairway...many of them to safety. I heard his story on one of the shows that aired on the 5 year Anniversary of the event, and at that time, he was still living in New York, no longer working because of his injuries, but he visited the Tower 1 site every day. He said that he prayed every day at that site for those who died in that building, and prayed for peace for those who survived. This man had no emergency training to rely on. He had no 'practice drills' to refer to. He simply had his love of people to motivate him to guide others to safety. And that love of people, outweighed his fear for his own life. THAT'S what I remember about September 11th.
I remember how close this event brought everybody. Not just people in America, but people all over the world. Some people stayed (or went back) home from work when they heard what had happened. Many people went in search of their religious or spiritual beliefs and understanding.  Families hugged more. People prayed and meditated more. People truly reached out to each other from a place of love and compassion, in an attempt to comfort one another.
There were Priests who came in from all over the country, to pray over those people who were being pulled from the destruction. There were people...just plain people...untrained, non-emergency personnel who came in from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY to help in any and every way possible - with search and rescue, bringing in water and food, medical supplies and toiletries...people coming in from everywhere - bringing anything they could, just to help out.
September 11th brough about a world-wide outpouring of love and compassion, strength and courage, selflessness and sacrifice. THAT'S what I remember about September 11th.

It is with those wonderful memories that I sit in rememberance today of that event. The love. The strength. The courage. The bravery, love and compassion that surrounds and lives within us ALL to reach out to others in need. The inspiration to be better, to do better, to think better and to KNOW better. The joy of being alive, and being able to laugh with, love with and LIVE with the people in this world. That's what September 11th means to me.

In love, peace and compassion....I sign off for today.

Peace 'n Pieces

We're all searching for it. Peace. Not pieces of peace, we can find that sprinkled throughout our days and our lives. But Peace...lasting, calming, ever-present Peace. Here's what I've recently come to learn, thanks to a magnificent book writen by Joe Dispenza (e-mail or text me if you'd like the book title!):

If we're looking for peace, we aren't going to find it. Here's me:

When I have my own apartment, I'll have peace
When I graduate college, I'll have peace
When I get that GREAT job I want, I'll have peace
When I lose weight, I'll have peace
When I am debt-free, I'll have peace
When my son is happy - TRULY happy, I'll have peace
When I am out of this toxic, abusive marriage, I'll have peace
When I have my Lexus 350, I'll have peace
When I have a ridiculous amount of money, I'll have peace
When I get that raise, I'll have peace
When I lose weight, I'll have peace (didn't work last time, but THIS time...yes, this time, I'll have peace)
When I move to Colorado, I'll have peace
When I am re-united with the love of my life, and we live happily ever after, I'll have peace
When I get the basement cleaned out, I'll have peace
When I own my own business, I'll have peace
(shall I stop now? Do you get my point?, because there are plenty more examples if need be...)
I'll trust that you 'get' my message, and that is okay to move on to my point!
Feel free to substitute the words happiness or joy, (or any other word that feels more accurate to you) in the place of peace. That was just the word that showed up for me.
Anyway, we spend our lives...yes our LIVES in search of that emotion...or feeling of peace, happiness, joy...we spend our LIVES searching for it. Waiting for it to happen, show up, appear - whatever.

It ain't gonna. Peace isn't found. Peace, joy, happiness...all those wonderful qualities are not found anywhere. They are merely the ABSENCE of all the other garbage. Peace is our natural state. The way we are supposed to be...designed to live. But at some point(s) in our lives, we learn struggle, drama, judgement, anger, frustration, 'failure', inadequacy, jealousy, not-okay-ness, etc. When we learn those things, we learn coping mechanisms to help us 'get through' those difficulties. Once we've gotten through them, whatever they may be, we hang on to the fact that we experienced that challenge, so we are suddenly 'armed' for when it happens again. No peace in being armed.

My point is NOT to have you say, "screw it! I'll never find peace, so I may as well just throw in the towel!" - my point IS...get quiet, let go of the stuff you think is 'wrong' with you, or wrong in your life, and let Peace be.  Let Peace BE. If you let it be, it will. Once you truly are and have Peace, all those other 'things' fall into place.  It may feel hard to believe right now, but that's only because the other garbage is clouding your view of that peaceful place, and you have to squint or struggle to see it.  Peace is waiting for YOU...you needn't wait for it. All you need to do is clear away the junk that has accumulated over the years, and let Peace be.

Here's another point...we, particularly Americans, spend so much time, money and energy distracting ourselves, that we don't really allow ourselves to sit quietly long enough to BE Peaceful. There are phones, iPods, iPads, computers, stereos, video games, movies, books, plans, programs, events, activities...new and bigger "things" (homes, cars, TVs, etc), Facebook, Twitter....all these distractions that keep us from being quiet. Often times, I believe, its because it is in that "quiet" time, where we tend to suffer the most - hurt the most, cry the most...whatever the 'negative' emotion or experience is - happens most often and most profoundly when we are what we believe to be as "quiet".  But I suppose that whole self-aviodance concept is probably a 'whole other blog' so to speak. 

So in the space of quiet, REAL, honest quiet...that's where Peace, Joy and Happiness are. Just waiting for you to show up. Make that time for yourself, every day - and for as much of the day as possible, to be in Peace. And in that, Peace be with you.

As always, I would love to hear your feedback, and would love to hear what happens for you in that place of Peace. Please feel free to drop me a note, a text or a call...

Until Next Time,
Jill
www.TheNaturalBodyWorks.com
720-325-9886

Life Changing Experience...

Life Changing Experience....

We've all heard of those, right? "The day _______ happened." Now, we can fill in that blank with a bazillion examples of this statement, but for the sake of time and typing, we'll just go with the ones that pop into my head first.

DUI. Win the lottery. Hit rock bottom. Read an inspiring book. Met an inspiring person. Read a powerful, inspiring, empowering blog (tee hee). Fell in love. Fell out of love. Narrowly avoided a horrific incident/accident. Ran head-first into a horrific incident/accident. See, the list can go on and on, and I'm SURE that you have a million examples in your life, if you had time to sit down and list them. How many times have you heard someone say, "That experience changed my life!"? Too many, as far as I'm concerned. Here's why...
There is NO SUCH THING as a life changing experience! No such thing. Not to invalidate the impact of any of those possibilities (both listed and un-listed) above, but an experience cannot change ones life.
If one experience could change someone's life, then it would have to happen to everyone who experienced that experience, right? If winning the lottery was a "life changing experience", then everyone who won the lottery would have a "changed life", right? I don't know about you, but I hear WAY more stories about people who win all that money, then throw it all away, and end up just as 'broke' or sometimes even worse off than they were before they won!
I also know people who have gotten a DUI, for example. Scared them to pieces, so they never got behind the wheel intoxicated again! EVER! Also know people who have taken a different path, post DUI. I know 2 separate, unrelated people who had a CLOSE brush with lung cancer. One quit smoking on the spot, the other is still going strong at a pack and a half a day. The one who quit, said, "that was a life changing experience for me!"  Can't be. If the experience was 'life changing' then everyone who had that experience would have a 'changed life' right?
Therefore, it was not the experience itself that changed anyone's life. (OH...here she comes with the punchline...)
There is no such thing as a 'life changing experience"...there is only the experience of changing YOUR MIND, thereby changing your life. Your MIND changes your life..not an experience.
I had a very dear friend of mine make a similar comment to me, when we were talking about a trip I was getting ready to take, to Italy. He said, "A trip to Italy!? What a life changing experience!"  Now, I have had a fear of flying since I was a teenager, so for most of my life, flying to Europe has been simply out of the question. It took a "Mind Changing" experience, in order for me to get to Italy...it wasn't going to Italy that changed my life.  Do you see where I'm going with this? I had to change my MIND about flying, before I was going to be able to do it for 9 hours, in order to get to Europe.
Here's the good news - you can change your MIND about any THING, at any TIME, for any REASON. You don't need to wait for an experience: bad thing to happen, good thing to happen, meet the right person, meet the wrong person, the 1st of the month, or even the ever popular, "Monday"....you can change your mind, and change your life right this very minute! Right NOW!
Give yourself a minute to think of one thing. One thing in your life that you'd like to have different. You might only have ONE thing, or you might have 95 things...doesn't matter. Just pick one. 
Now take a minute and get to the bottom of what you believe about that one thing.
Change that...change what you believe about that one thing, and you will change that experience in your life. You have got to change your mind, before you can change your life. That is the absolute truth.
Go ahead...write to me all your examples of 'otherwise'. Tell me the list of examples that you have, that PROVE that there is such a thing as a 'life changing experience'. Bring it on. Know why? Because the idea for this blog hit me over 2 months ago, and I've been kicking it around, chewing on it, trying to dis-prove it to myself, searching for the 'holes' in this theory. Every time and every thing I tried, failed the test.
That's because the fact is, if you want to change your life...all you have to do is change your mind. Don't sit around waiting for that 'life changing experience', cuz it ain't coming!...make it happen for yourself.
The funny thing is, that since I've been trying so hard to disprove this idea, I have seen amazing things happen in MY OWN life, as I changed my mind, in order to try to punch a hole in this theory!

Its the truth. It just is. Something (the thought process) had to change as a result of that 'life changing experience' in order for there to actually BE a change. No need for you to wait for an experience...because you have the knowledge, that you can change your mind, and that will lead to a change in your life. You can do it, and you can do it right now. Right this minute.

As always, please drop me a note, or a text, or an e-mail...I'd love to answer any questions you have, or even help you form that mind-change! You can absolutely do it.

Until next time,
Jill

www.thenaturalbodyworks.com
720-938-5455

Magic Carpet Ride.....

Here's what I know to be true. WHO we are is not determined by what we have in our lives. Whether that be a Mercedes or a diagnosis of depression, neither good things/circumstances/conditions nor bad, determine 'who' we are. NOR do those things/circumstances/conditions determine what is POSSIBLE for us.

Again, this is not just something that I "believe to be true", it is something I KNOW to be true, and have seen in my own life, and the lives of others time and time again,
That being said, I invite you to join me on a magic carpet ride of sorts...come with me, even if just for a couple of moments, on a journey of magic and wonder. Not limited by 'if only I could..." or "If only I was....", "If only I had..." - no, this journey is completely void of any limitations AT ALL! Nothing can possibly hold you back!
On this journey, you get to wander into the farthest reaches of your imagination...and even beyond!! I'll fly the carpet, so you don't even have to worry about THAT! Just jump on with me, and see where we'll go!
Remember to let go of all your ideas of limitation and your yeahbuts ('yeah, but...'), just leave them behind, because there's no room for them where we're going!  Let's GO!!
So....wadda you say? You up for an adventure today??
Take as much time as you can spare...take a deep breath, close your eyes and hop on that magic carpet, and lets see where it takes us!
There's NOWHERE we can't go, NOTHING we can't do, and NOT A SINGLE THING we cannot accomplish! Absolutely NO limitations!
In taking this ride, we are allowing your dreams to become a reality, and your wildest imagination to actually come to life. On this ride, please take note of how you feel, what you see, smell and experience- and how everything around you feels - but most important is how YOU feel. What does it feel like to live limit-free, and where do you go??
Only in that free-thinking, free-living and free-being state, can we truly experience and BE WHO we are - and ONLY in that space can we truly see what is possible!!!
If you're up for it, try to write down what happens on this journey. Where did we go? What did we talk about? Who, if anyone, did we see, meet, find or speak with?
Please feel free to send me a copy of what you write. I always LOVE it when I get notes, emails and messages from you all!
Tell me all about what you experienced on our magic carpet ride! And...let me know any time you'd like to take another ride...I'll keep my schedule open :-D
Until Next Time,
Jill

www.naturalbodyworks.org