You are Soul Source of your abundance, supply, and prosperity – not your job, investments, spouse, or parents. What you have on the outer is determined by your consciousness-your beliefs, thoughts and feelings about yourself on any subject, and not by the economy, anything or anyone else. You can realize yourself as the infinite supply that is your birthright; you can live an abundant and fulfilling life.

Having money, things, ideal relationships and health comes from understanding how to create them by developing a manifested consciousness of yourself as Source, Soul or your higher-self. As you become a master of manifesting through deepening your relationship to yourself as Soul and Soul as You, your ability to be prosperous will not be determined by other people or outside conditions. It will directly reflect the quality of your relationship to yourself as Soul.

Building your relationship to your Soul Consciousness and learning how to manifest from that connection can be compared to playing a musical instrument. When you first learn to play a few notes, you can only play simple music, usually with some mistakes and some drop-outs in the notes of the song. As you gain more skill, the music you play becomes increasingly beautiful, more intricate, with more subtleties and aspects to it.

It is the same with manifesting. Every skill you learn and practice, from linking with your Source Connection to Soul through meditation, contemplation, practicing affirmations, reprogramming your subconscious, and aligning with Divine timing allows what you create and manifest to be even more beautiful. You more fully express the Divine excellence within you.

The most important step you can take to develop a manifesting consciousness and open to infinite supply is to deepen your contact with your Source Connection and relationship with Soul. The Divine within you is always guiding you to an abundant life through the still, small voice. Ask this Self what manifesting skill is next for you to learn and practice. Know that every single step you take to develop a manifesting consciousness builds one on the other, until you are able to create whatever you need in every moment.

See how our Your Source Connection meditation sessions are the perfect way to connect with your Source Connection and Soul Energies of health, wealth and happiness. http://yoursourceconnection.com/services/

Affirmations are positive statements that help focus our awareness on our power and ability to create what we want. They are stated in the present tense, such as “I have unlimited prosperity.” Our thoughts and feelings behind them create our reality and, as we say positive statements to ourselves, we can begin to create them as true.

Affirmations are designed to open and expand the awareness of what we can have, to align us with spirit’s wisdom and to assist us in attuning with the unlimited prosperity of the Universe. Most affirmations start with “I AM.” We use “I AM” to refer to all of who we are: our Broader Self, also called Higher Self, Spirit, Divine Self, and our Source Self (the part of us connected to the Universe), as well as the ego and personality self. As we think or say affirmations, we are calling upon the Spirit within to be present and express itself, opening the doorway to experience a new, more pleasing reality.

Saying “I AM…”
Too often, I hear people say, “I AM…” and follow it with a negative or limited statement. It is important to catch ourselves if we find we are doing this. It’s important to change what we say about ourselves and our life to reflect a more positive reality. Every time we say, “I AM…” we are evoking the Divine Self within and calling upon the power of the Universe to make it so. If we can follow the statement, “I AM…” with positive thoughts we are invoking the power of the Universe, the Positive Source within, to assist in creating this as reality.

As you say affirmations, feel the reality and power of the “I AM” within you to create the reality you want. The words themselves do not have power. Repeating them routinely over and over will not create the reality you want. You are calling upon the energy of our Source Connection when you say these affirmations. This is the power that will make these thoughts become reality.

Affirmations are best employed when we are feeling content, hopeful and optimistic since these feelings reflect our connection to Source. Imagine feeling the power, love, and wisdom of the innermost part of your being, your Source Connection as you say each affirmation. Use affirmations as a way to open the doorway to all the riches and gifts of consciousness your true, innermost Self is waiting to give you. All you need to do is ask, affirm, and be open to receive. Let go of the specific form, way, and timing of what you have asked for, and know that through the Law Of Attraction your – Source Energy will bring to you exactly what you need at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

I’ve always envied people who are able to notice the subtlest cues and “nudges” to enhance their mindfulness in their day-to-day environment. For whatever reason, I’m one of those people who often require some sort of flashing beacon to become more aware of what I’m unconsciously creating in my life. And so it was fitting that Diamond, my 1000-pound horse, literally moved his hind end almost in my face for me to receive one of those obvious signs leading to some humbling insights.

It was a spectacular, sunny, crisp, February morning on the small ranch where I keep my horses in Central Arizona. I decided to work with Diamond using an exercise referred to as “being at liberty” in the natural horse world. “Being at liberty,” as the name suggests, involves literally freeing the horse to move without any ropes, halters, etc., and respond only to the handler’s cues through body language and energy. It is quite a powerful way to experience your energy and connection with a large animal – and ultimately with your Spirit or Source. It is cited as one of the greatest acts of partnering with a horse since it requires a high degree of trust and responsiveness on both sides.

Leading Diamond into the small round pen, I thought to myself, “What will it take to get us more in synch in order to better support people in our equine facilitated learning retreats?” While standing in the center of the ring and watching Diamond circle around me at a trot, my thoughts kept drifting back to a pressing issue with a client involving a delay in a large project. As if on cue, Diamond stopped and turned into me. Shifting my focus back on Diamond, I motioned for him to come toward me. As usual, he looked at me with those gorgeous brown eyes, ears perked forward, and then stood motionless. I thought to myself, “Ok – here he goes with his early, extensive, ground tying experience, confused on what I’m asking him to do…again!”

Deciding to abandon my normal mode of motioning faster, louder, I chose to instead affirm Diamond for simply trying. I continued praising him for listening, for looking, for being. He took the smallest step toward me. Encouraged, I continued complimenting him for all his good work, partnership and trust, he moved closer. After 2 to 3 minutes of continuous praise, Diamond stood directly in front of me – our personal best for this exercise. Amazed, I reached out and began stroking his neck and cooing words of praise. He began to lower his head, an act of submission and trust.

Feeling almost euphoric, I started to think about all we had both been through together over the last 8 years – him nearly dying two of those times and all of my struggles as a new, small business owner. I could feel myself shifting from joy toward anxiety. Once again, as if on cue, Diamond promptly moved forward stepping to his right, angling his body so that his hind end was located closer to me, and then stopped.

Talk about a humbling “billboard” for “mindfulness!” It quickly dawned on me, “He doesn’t like how it feels – this sense of anxiety – and neither do I! I’m creating old experiences from my past, fearing they will occur again, or something even worse!” He turned his head inward as if to say, “You’re onto something girl.”

I thought more about my client situation, realizing it was brand new and different from previous situations occurring earlier in my business life. I began to relax a bit and Diamond did too. I began focusing on all the valuable lessons and resources gained through my previous experiences and how well they’ve prepared me for this current client situation. Stepping closer to Diamond, I said to myself, “…and I may not know what the future looks like…” Diamond’s head abruptly rose up. “And, I need to know that I’ll be okay.“ This last idea caused me to exhale and relax even more. Diamond’s eye softened and he lowered his head a tiny bit.

In that instant, it became clear to me that relaxing was imperative to my success with any client situation or desired creation for that matter, both in my personal and business life. Trusting myself, my Source, and having faith and believing all would be well or okay is really my work, or place, for attaining better balance within myself. Even I could see how it could work right now.

Over the next week, I spent a great deal of time using meditation and other tools to reconnect myself to the part of me that trusts and knows all is well. Within a week, new clients came my way, new inspirations for product innovations came my way, and my key client situation began to open up and progress in a more expansive direction – one I could not have imagined!

I was fortunate to have Diamond present me with this opportunity to avoid what I’ll call the “Horse’s Behind Syndrome.” This syndrome involves unconsciously creating your life from what my esteemed colleagues in the personal change field refer to as the “unhelpful past” – that part of our history which feeds our present day concerns and in many cases stymies our progress on business and personal goals. The thing about the “horse’s behind syndrome” is we are blind to our role in creating or perpetuating circumstances and events in our lives through our fear filled perceptions and reactions.

I’m sure you have your own ways of avoiding this syndrome. We’d love to hear them. In the mean time, here are a few tips I’ve learned from Diamond:
• Be present to your current situation. Noticing how you feel is always a good place to start.
• Affirm and accept your current situation by affirming yourself and appreciating what is. Ask yourself, “How has this served me?” Genuine appreciation focuses us on what are often overlooked, valuable resources and broadens our perspective.
• Be open to receive insights and inspirations from this new, more expansive perspective.

Try them. Diamond and I know you will find these suggestions helpful at avoiding “Horse’s Behind Syndrome.”

Join us at our spring “Being Your Own Leader” retreat in beautiful Carefree, Arizona (April 13-15). Gain valuable tools for supporting your inner leader and maintaining balance in your life. You’ll get to meet Diamond, too!

By Cheryl Bourget

The second aspect of your consciousness is your conscious mind. It is also known as the objective mind. It is the mind of your five senses, enabling you to consciously experience the physical world. Most important, it is that aspect of your mind that is able to reason. This reasoning ability sets human beings apart from the plant and mineral kingdoms and places us highest in the animal kingdom. Your conscious mind essentially grants you the freedom to consciously, rather than unconsciously, choose your outcomes.

Given its capacity to reason and discriminate, your conscious mind has an incredibly important function. It is supposed to be the guardian at the door of your subconscious mind, ensuring that only wanted and empowering messages are allowed through. It is supposed to be the sole commander of your subconscious mind as it is only through the conscious mind that you can access the subconscious. The words supposed to be have been stressed intentionally since most people have no idea about this incredible role. Instead, they experience life in a sleep -like state, allowing messages from the media, society, school, friends, family and even those they deem their adversaries to pass through to their subconscious mind unchecked, regardless of their nature.

Who is running your show then? Most people are unaware that their life is being run in strict accordance with a set of deeply ingrained subconscious programs that they did not consciously choose in the first place. To make matters worse, it is argued that most of these programs were locked in place by the age of about ten. This is because a child’s reasoning ability is limited compared to an adult. This may enable a child to absorb new information with great superiority, but it also means that a child’s subconscious mind, being more easily programed, is left wide open to unchecked negative messages.

The simplest way to consciously override these negative programs is by learning to access your higher self through Source Connection. A child’s reasoning abilities have significantly developed by early teenage years enabling the conscious choice of which messages to accept. By then, however, core programs are already in place and the subconscious mind doesn’t want to know any different, even if it has unwittingly taken error to mean truth. You can consciously reprogram your subconscious through building a relationship to your higher self and Source Perspective.

Your higher Self or Source Perspective is the third aspect of your consciousness. It is also known as the super-conscious mind, the universe, God, Goddess. It is the least understood and least accessed aspect of consciousness because it does not belong to the physical or mental realm. Its domain is the spiritual realm. It is the you that is All-Knowing and All-Powerful and One with the Universe. It is you beyond not only the physical world, but also the emotions of your mental world. Your higher self does not distinguish between good or bad, wrong or right, happy or sad – not because it is unable, but because it has no need. It is you that knows only balance. It is you that is only Pure Love. It is the eternal observer. It is absolute stillness. It Is Truth.

The Being Your Own Leader retreat is the perfect way to nourish your relationship with Source Perspective.  Be sure to join us April 13-15, 2012!

There are essentially three aspects to consciousness, specifically, the subconscious mind, the conscious mind and higher consciousness or Source Perspective. Each plays a pivotal role in creating your circumstances, so understanding how the three are inter-related is fundamental to truly harnessing the power of your mind. Being familiar with what is meant by consciousness will go a long way in enabling you to consciously “Being Your Own Leader” in creating your realty.

Consciousness is the very foundation of one of the most powerful resources you have at your disposal as a Leader – your mind. It is the most familiar and yet most mysterious aspect of your life. Without it you could not experience life.

With this blog post, we are focusing on the makeup of the Subconscious Mind. The subconscious is the incredibly powerful program that runs every aspect of your life automatically and without any need for your conscious input. Simply put, any thought, message or order that is given to the subconscious often enough and convincingly enough will, in time, be accepted as truth and consistently be carried out with exact precision irrespective of whether it benefits you or not. The most important thing you must know is that it is subjective in nature. This means that it cannot reason or distinguish between positive and negative.

When thoughts are conveyed to your subconscious mind, impressions are made in the brain cells. As soon as your subconscious accepts any idea, it proceeds to put it into effect immediately, drawing on the infinite power, energy and wisdom within you. It lines up with the Laws Of Attraction to get its way. Sometimes it seems to bring about an immediate solution to your difficulties, but at other times it may take days, weeks, or longer. This intriguing process enables us to eventually receive the communication from Source Perspective that we await.

The subconscious mind’s inability to reason is not a weakness. It is, in fact, fundamental to its power. Imagine if your subconscious had to decide whether or not your heart should pump blood around your body, whether or not to immediately send white blood cells to heal a wound, and whether or not to walk each time you consciously wanted to walk.

The subconscious mind’s subjective nature is responsible for every function you carry out automatically without conscious thought, from digesting the food you eat, to healing a broken bone, to speaking your native language, to driving your car and brushing your teeth – ultimately all your habitual actions. It is the stockroom of your memory. It never sleeps any more than your heart sleeps. Were it able to reason, your body would be unable to function and life as you know it could not exist.

Its power is also its weakness because its lack of reasoning ability means that it is equally willing to carry out negative programs as it is positive, with often devastating effect. The true potential of the subconscious mind may be limitless, but potential alone is more detrimental than useful when the programs carried out are negative. Given its inability to judge right from wrong, it cannot be held responsible for the negative programs it relentlessly carries out. Who then is responsible?

Stay tuned in to learn about the conscious mind and higher consciousness, or Source Perspective, and how they work as a team with subconscious to become responsible for change.

Let Your Source Connection support you as you communicate with your Source Perspective. We have guided meditation products and coaching services available that can assist you in achieving positive results. Our Being Your Own Leader retreat weekends on February 3 – 5 and April 13-15 can also support your goals and your focus for the new year. For more information go to www.yoursourceconnection.com.

Equine-guided learning session

The following was feedback from a participant in our November 2011 retreat:

What is the most important learning you had at BYOL?

I think the fact that Leadership is not something that is outside myself, or ‘attained.’ That being a leader doesn’t mean being a CEO – it means being in charge of my life. Living the life I want. And in order to do that, I needed to completely accept myself. I realized that I had never really done that – totally accepted myself – the good, the bad, the ugly. I thought I had and told people that I liked myself. But deep down there was (a lot of) judgment and negative comments that I fed myself. But not any more! The exercise that really created this break-through was the horse one. Being with Lark, witnessing the other participants transform and then experiencing it myself was the most powerful event. It’s something that I will carry with me forever.

What will you do as a result of that learning?

I can already feel a sense of calm that I haven’t had before. It’s a confidence that I haven’t had. Nothing too major but definitely noticeable. I feel much better about things, I trust more. And I know that because I have accepted myself, I can accept others as well. This workshop has completely changed the relationships in my life. I also know that I am more open than I ever have been to inviting a life partner into my life. In addition, I am finding that I am more patient with myself and others. I am allowing myself to do what I need to do and not necessarily what I should (or what I think I should) be doing. So I am giving myself more grace to be me. I listen to myself.

What support do you need going forward to successful build on your learning?

I think I need to remember just how important and impactful meditation is. Life gets so busy and that seems to be the first thing to go. I realized at this workshop that it’s very important – just like regular exercise, eating right and flossing!

What did you appreciate about BYOL?

The safe environment that allowed everyone to be so honest. Staying that the retreat center and being in the energy. I liked the Islands of Silence and journaling time, the labyrinth. I liked the nights off to be able to get to know other participants and share what we experienced during the day.

What do you see as the strengths of BYOL?

Firstly Tina and Cheryl. Their humor, openness and honesty about what has worked for them and how they arrived to this point in their journey. They really walk the talk. They listen and are able to meet people right where they are at. They help to synthesize thoughts so people can get clarity. Their exuberance and generosity in wanting EVERYONE to experience what it means to be their own leader, to be the best they can be. I think the small group work is great too – the listening exercise especially. It was a nice way to practice what we had just learned. And the closing exercise was also very powerful when we shared what we appreciated and what we wanted for each person.

How could we make BYOL more effective?

For me, I think the workshop was incredibly effective. There were concepts that were explained at the beginning that I went back to as we moved forward in the workshop so having that overview of Trust and the chakras was a good baseline to start with. Maybe discussing more about how to incorporate this into our real lives – discuss specific situations and help shift the way we look at it so that we are using the tools we learned here

How did BYOL help you in furthering your thinking regarding what you decided to focus on for the retreat?

Well, by accepting myself completely, with no judgment, I find myself taking better care of me. So this concept of self-care has come into play in a whole new way. This new self acceptance has lead to me allowing me to be me, my real authentic self. And to taking care of this self. A true gift.

For more information or to register now for the retreat, click HERE!

One way I connect and grow with my spiritual self is through focused awareness of my breath.  The breath is vital to your life. The Creator inhaled – exhaled you into creation on your birth day. This energy of creation continues to circulate through every cycle of inhale-exhale in all living things.

We are Creators in the breath of life and have the talent to be able to create our experiences. Whether we know it or not, our mind is constantly creating for us what we think.  If we recognize our oneness with our Source and the connectedness we have with that Spirit, we realize that we are co-creators with Source in the breath of life.

Knowing this, we realize that we create just the same as Spirit has created. Maybe it’s on a smaller scale because we are awakening consciousness to this new idea in the creation process.  Realizing that we are able to create is the first step in visualizing our own reality.

Every time we take a breath, we are creating our world around us. You must look at and appreciate your life experiences because if you don’t, you are just denying your own existence — your own creation! Knowing you are the creator and taking responsibility is a turning point in your ability to be a deliberate creator of your desired outcomes.

Every time there is a problem or challenge in life, we have an opportunity to change it. It is my experience that it can be as simple as changing your mind.

Although that seems too simplistic, it really is quite powerful. After recognizing the challenge, we have a moment, when we breathe, to change our energy and align with our Spirit’s perspective.

There is always a chance to change – to make a different choice. By taking a breath, it gives the mind a moment to refresh. This concept can be used in all areas of your life. You can create harmony and peaceful vibrations in situations in your life. There is no limit to the manifestations available. Use it for deepening meditation, expanding consciousness into your Spirit’s perspective, increasing intuition, creating harmonious environments, loving relationships and a healthy body and mind.

Take a moment right now to notice…your body has been breathing life into and through you, with no effort on your part, the whole time you have been reading this blog post.  Now that you have your attention on it you can begin to participate in its flow.

Try this one minute focusing breath and feel how quickly you can feel better, shift perspective, or receive inspiration!

Sit back and relax, close your eyes and bring all of your attention to your breath. Breathe, now start participating – inhale filling your abdomen and chest completely – hold your breath at the top for 5 counts- then exhale emptying your chest and abdomen completely – hold your breath at the bottom for 5 seconds- do this for 5 full cycles – and drop back into your regular pattern of breathing. Open your eyes and note for yourself how you feel.

You can do this exercise any time you feel stressed, low on energy, unfocused, anxious or just want to feel better overall, more grounded or receive inspiration!

2011….phew!  Does anyone else wonder what happened to the last 11 and half months?  For me, this time of year presents so many competing pressures – planning for 2012 with my business, desiring to acknowledge those who supported me in 2011 in a meaningful way, wanting to spend time with loved ones (both four- legged or two-legged) and, oh yeah…the holidays.  It would be easy to walk around and intermittently let out a solid “Ahhhhhh!” and then continue on with the next thing on my list.

Fortunately, and especially, it’s during this time period when having tools and resources to provide me with a broader, wiser, perspective becomes critical – if not sanity saving.  One such tool perfect for this time of year is a process we use at YSC called “taking stock.”  Taking stock is a reflective activity which allows you to gain a more holistic perspective on your year, learn from your accomplishments, and take accountability and action for areas in which you would like to see improvement in the New Year.  Unlike setting New Year resolutions which always, for me, seem as improbable and desirable as getting on the scale the first day after the holidays, “taking stock” offers a way to already be clear and in action before the clock strikes 12 on 2012.

See how it works for you.  Remember, a more expansive, sane, compassionate, and grace filled perspective is waiting for you just around the corner and the next deep breath!

Taking Stock:

Find a quiet, private space where you will be undisturbed for 30-45 minutes.  Try creating some ambience that feels good to you (e.g. lighting a candle, maybe burning some of your favorite incense).  Using your preferred writing tools and note your answers to the following questions.

1. Reviewing accomplishments and what worked

a) What happened this year that you feel really good about?  Be specific, listing all the accomplishments that make you feel proud. Consider a holistic view, including progress in your relationships with family, friends, colleagues, partners, bosses, peers, etc., your professional successes, your health and well-being, and any others areas in your life important to you.

b)  What did you do, by yourself or with others, supporting those results? For example, what did you do that worked well in your communication with others, the way you made decisions, how you asked for support, how you built relationships, and or how you talked to yourself?

c)  Before continuing with step 2, allow yourself time to sit with what you wrote for a couple of days, adding to the list, being present and accepting of any emotions that emerge.

2. Letting yourself off the hook

a)  Reviewing your list of accomplishments from step 1. Notice any feelings and/or physical sensations in your body that arise.  Accept whatever emotions emerge as you engage in this activity.  For some people, taking stock in accomplishments can foster emotions of regret regarding the other side of the coin – our perceptions of what we did not do well, enough of, or at all.  This side of the coin lines most of our “mental bank accounts.”

b) Putting your notes aside, move into a comfortable seated position, supporting your spine.  Closing your eyes, take a deep breath in through your nose – expanding your abdomen, hold the breath, and then exhale all the air out with a sigh.  Repeat this process, taking 5 more deep inhales and exhales into your abdomen.

c)  Direct your next exhale into the center of your heart, taking a few deep breaths in this area of your body.  Ask yourself, “What do I need to let myself off the hook for this year? “

d) When you’re ready, open your eyes and write down the ideas that came to mind.  Once again, allow any emotions to flow without judgment.

3.  Setting Direction for the New Year

a)  Write down one key thing you would like to feel better about in 2012.

b)  Ask yourself, “How would I benefit personally if this area in my life were improved?

c)   Sit quietly and ask yourself, “Am I willing to take action or make changes in this area to better my life?  Really?”  Notice your feelings and physical responses.  If the answer is a clear, “YES!” – continue on to the next step.  If not, ask yourself what you are willing to take action on.  With this clarity of commitment, amend your answer on what you would like to feel better about in 2012.

4. Stepping into your preferred New Year

a) Imagine it’s a few months from now…early in 2012, and you’re noticing this area in your life is indeed better.   What signs are you seeing indicating improvement? Who else notices these changes?  What are they saying about the changes?  What are they noticing different about you? How are you feeling?  What else are you noticing?

b)  Be specific and detailed in noting the changes.  For example, rather than “my relationship with my partner is better,” describe what’s happening that is evidence the relationship is better (e.g. We laugh more often.)  It is important to use the future perfect tense as if you’re actually experiencing the future now.

5. Taking action – making progress!

a) Revisit your list of what worked in 2011 to accomplish results. Consider what you may want to apply in 2012 to support your preferred new year.

b) What are 1-2 small action steps you can take in the next 2 weeks to move things forward?  Who is someone you can reach out to for your accountability and sharing.

6. Review and Revise

a)  This is one of the most important steps in the process! Often we get discouraged when we did not do what we set out to do in step 5. We get frustrated and want to quit. This line of thought is what derails the best set of intentions and resolutions. An alternative thought process is to focus on and list what’s better or has worked for you.  As small as the progress might be, it is still an achievement.  (e.g. I held a conversation with my friend or boss and it did not result in a perfect resolution. What worked, however, is that unlike previous discussions, I allowed her to do most of the talking and asked more questions.) Doing this allows us to maintain accountability, build momentum and learn more about what’s working.  Most of all, it keeps us focused on our goal.

b) Review your list of successes. Decide what you would like to continue and/or do more of or differently based on your review.  (e.g. I will listen even more intently during conversations and spend time before discussions challenging assumptions I may have about the other person.)

c)  Decide on 1-2 small steps you can take in the next week that will support your momentum.

d) Repeat this process as often as you like, allowing yourself to learn, revise, experiment and grow!

Lark, our equine coach

Tina and I are very excited about how our Becoming Your Own Leader retreat pilot turned out (now called Being Your Own Leader). This intensive program was a small, intimate group of nine powerful women visionaries ready to recreate their lives with deeper passion and purpose. During this three-day retreat, we supported them with accessing, building partnership and learning to trust their own Personal Source of Guidance in a practical way.

As both one of the visionaries and a facilitator, I saw many highlights to the program. One in particular that stood out for me was the impact that actively connecting into Source through guided meditation, breath, imagination and ritual had upon us all. When we dipped into Source perspective, a bigger picture revealed itself to us every time. To each of the participants, individual experiences began taking shape and revealing what was to become their work. To Tina and me, Spirit also revealed what was to be our service and how we were to lead.

Another very powerful experience was when the women connected deeply with how Source energy manifested as their Body, Mind, and Emotions. They came to realize the teamwork of the subconscious and conscious mind, as well as the role ego and personality play in creating our realities. The idea of their life being a mirror reflection of what is going on within became very clear. Old patterns unable to shift in the past now seemed open to change. Their new understanding of ego and personality created much relief and empowered them at creating change.

On Sunday, we engaged in equine guided-learning that turned out to be the most poignant segment of the retreat. Tina worked with Lark, our Equine companion, and our participants to create a conscious energy connection between both. Each guest courageously stepped up, releasing resistance and allowing themselves to become one with Lark. This freedom through Spirit enabled them to move at liberty in all directions. Each participant’s heart-opening experience left us all more expansive and heart connected. There was a lot of LOVE in the arena that day!!

At the close of our weekend, our “Leaders” had another opportunity to intimately relate as Source. Through powerful role-play, each guest was supported in listening and expressing from Source Perspective.

Below is some of the feedback we received from our guests….

Through this design experience and the delivery of the program I gained valuable insights into my own leadership talents and areas for development.”

Creating a community of women willing to be their own leader and take that leadership out to the world.

I appreciated the genuine support and the absence of judgment. I felt like I was able to focus on my own plan and what felt right for me.

The equine piece was so powerful.

I can already feel a sense of calm that I haven’t had before. It’s a confidence that I haven’t had. Nothing too major but definitely noticeable. I feel much better about things, I trust more.

You too can experience this life-changing retreat. Join us at the upcoming “Being Your Own Leader” retreat February 3-5, 2011. Nourish your leader within and create the life you envision!

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” – Wayne Dyer

As I build my life from my broader perspective, I have learned that when I judge others, it is because I am seeing the world the way I want to see it — not the way it is!  When I judge, it can affect my body physically and cause me pain. Judging others is a result of my own feelings of inferiority. Rather than experiencing and addressing the pain of my feelings, it’s easier to judge others. Phew … that’s a relief. I’ve said it out loud!!

It is true for my clients, too, and probably you! In a moment of judgment, you are experiencing the feeling of powerlessness. Most of us don’t take the time to become aware of that feeling of powerlessness. instead, we lash out to keep from feeling the pain. In my work with clients, I’ve found that when they judged, they were always trying to change another person and in turn, trying to make themselves feel more powerful.

One way I support clients at getting past judging is through Guided Meditation. This valuable tool helps them recognize, rather than act out, their feelings. To get to the heart of judging, my clients must have the determination to look within and seek clarity. They must go deep inside and connect by holding the feeling in place and then transforming it through acceptance and love.

Another effective way my clients challenge the judging urge is by putting themselves in the other person’s shoes. Perception of the other person will change once we begin seeing through their eyes. Doing this more often will build inner strength and power, some of the keys to a more joyful life.

It’s not imperative that we stop judging, however. Choosing to continue will simply create the same negative consequences in our lives. Judging does not bring joy. It brings pain and blocks us from giving the gifts we were born to give. I believe if we choose to challenge the judging, we will create positive consequences that are more nourishing, more fruitful, and more empowering and, ultimately, bringing more joy into our lives.

Note: Would you like Guided Meditation to assist you in eliminating judging from your life? Let Your Source Connection’s practitioner help you. A 60-minute one-on-one Guided Meditation session is designed and recorded specifically for you. During this session, a skilled energy practitioner will lead you into your own inner energy temple where you will meet with an aspect of yourself most beneficial to your current life query. The practitioner will support you in understanding the language of your energy/spirit as you formulate a plan of action designed to actualize its inspiration in your life.  For more information, click HERE.