Focusing on the Opposite - Channeled Text

This is the second of a series of blog posts that are fully channeled texts from the Akashic Records (all knowledge, information, thought, and emotions in the Universe  -- a massive library of consciousness, if you will) that are meant to impart higher wisdom so that we can better ourselves and the planet.

For more information on my process, check out my previous post, Living a Greater Life, that explains how I do these channelings. 

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First, I'll provide some context so that you understand how to apply this information in your life. My spiritual journey started when I learned about the Law of Attraction, popularized by books like "The Secret" and those written by Lynn Grabhorn and Abraham Hicks.  

The concept is that your thoughts and feelings create your reality. If you're into quantum physics, neuroscience, psychology, or spirituality, then you're probably aware that your beliefs, positive emotions, and intentions are all very important for you to experience the life you want. If you're not aware, then stay tuned for future blog posts!

Well, what happens when we use our best manifestation skills to create something we didn't want? That's called WORRY, ie, laser-sharp focus on one thing over anything else, except this time it's charged with negative emotions of fear. 

Maybe you're constantly worrying about making enough money and paying the bills, or you're worrying about being hurt in a relationship, or getting scammed by a business partner. When you are constantly focused on something you don't want out of fear (either because you experienced it in the past, or you're worried you can't handle it if you experience it in the future), it's highly likely that there are some aspects of your life that you want to change, and you feel stuck, helpless.

So how can you change it? I first came upon the idea of reversing your perceptions and focusing on the opposite of what your life looks like now in a book written by Sonia Choquette, one of my all-time favorite authors on intuition. This channeling dives into on what she calls the Law of Reversal and how you can use your awareness to help you reverse what you've created in your life and focus on what you DO want.  This text uses money as the object of worry, but it can be applied to anything else.

The only edits I've made are related to spacing and paragraphs so that you may read it easier on a webpage. The capitalized words are all part of the channeled text, for emphasis. 

May this serve you. 

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Mirrored Dusk, by Jeff Badillo

The Law is Attraction says that whatever you focus your attention on is what is being created.

When you notice that you are creating things that you DO NOT WANT to experience, then by calling upon the Law of Reversal, you just focus on the OPPOSITE of what you don’t want and then that will allow the Universe to help you.

The key is that you put your security not on your ego or your partner/spouse, or your employer, or your friends or your business, but in the hands of your Higher Self and your Creator (God, Universe, Infinite Intelligence, Divine Love, Nature’s Knowing, whatever you want to call this collective consciousness that is intelligent and much greater than a single individual).

When you put your security into the hands of your Higher Self, which is your DIRECT connection to this Infinite Intelligence, you are essentially saying that you forgo your ego’s wishes to CONTROL everything or to FEEL as if it is controlling everything, and relinquish it to the realm of ALL POSSIBILITIES.

In the realm of all possibilities, the ego does not control anything. When something is controlled, it automatically means that it is LIMITED. In an unlimited state of being, NOTHING is controlled.

That means that in a world where you are a millionaire and then you lose all of that money and have nothing left to your name other than your living, breathing body -- 
and you are STILL at PEACE with yourself and your Creator -- then you have achieved a level of ONEness and spirituality that many different faiths talk about.

In the “real world”, that is, the world of your ego (which feels real, but isn’t), if that were to happen to you, you would be FREAKING OUT.

There would be no way that you would be okay with that because you are trying to control everything - you control where your money comes from, what it is spent on, who is in charge of it, who you are keeping it away from, why you are keeping it away from them, and all of these reasons come from a feeling-state that is contracted, of the ego.

When you are in a state of unlimited freedom, it DOESN’T MATTER if you are a millionaire or penniless.

If you are living, breathing, and on this planet with the AWARENESS that you are alive, then you have already won. You have already exemplified what it is like to be ONE with the Universe. This is present-moment living, and this is all that ultimately matters.

Yes, people talk about how you can use the Law of Attraction and manifestation to create wealth and money (you see all this talk of making 6-figures in a year or 7-figures in a year) but it is important to realize that NONE OF THAT MATTERS.

You can create it, sure, and exercise your Law of Attraction skills, but it ultimately doesn’t matter.

If that is your be-all and end-all, it does not mean that you are necessarily growing spiritually. It is not a guarantee -- it is more an indication that you have mastered the Law of Attraction, and have gone through the growth necessary in order to be in the state of RECEIVING.

The key is to embrace every moment, to know that the ultimate yardstick is if you were alive and breathing, no matter the financial situation, that you are grateful, full of love, and find joy.

The Law of Reversal helps you to fully be aware of when you are creating something that you don’t want.

Or if other people are in dire situations and you feel helpless, and unable to control the situation FOR THEM, then, call upon your thoughts to become the shape of what you wish for them to experience instead.

Focus on the wealth that you feel you have right now (whether it is wealth in the form of life, in relationships, in the experience of the sunshine), and be grateful. Know that your Higher Self is the one who can lead you to the state of BEING that you wish.

Once you are aligned energetically, you can actually see the sparks of inspiration and hear the messages that will come to you.

There are numerous signs and symbols all around you. It is a matter of being in the right state of BEING to notice them.

** End of Channeled Text **

Reflecting on this, I found that when I was stuck in ego-mode, worrying about money, new projects, relationships, etc, I was not able to focus my mind on what I wanted to create.

By being aware of where my attention was, and then consciously focusing on the joy of helping others, I was able to snap out of it and feel lighter.

I also had to be aware that I could reverse my situation, that it wasn't permanent. Everything could change in an instant. It was just my belief at that moment that speed, in relation to time, didn't exist. That was what would hold me back. 

Knowing about manifestation and reversing my perceptions have allowed things to happen much faster for me now. I feel like the Universe is guiding me to clients, partners, and collaborators, and the speed is incredible!  

I've had so many spiritual experiences and unbelievable synchronicities happen in my life to KNOW with certainty that anything is possible when we put our minds and hearts on it. This is an ongoing process of learning and exploring what this means for me, and I'm grateful to have these tools to help. 

How does this post resonate with your own manifestations and creations? Are you aware of aspects of your life that you want to change, and what its opposite could be? 

Living a Greater Life - Channeled Texts

This is the start of a series of blog posts that are fully channeled texts from the Akashic Records (all knowledge, information, thought, and emotions in the Universe  -- a massive library of consciousness, if you will) that are meant to impart higher wisdom so that we can better ourselves and the planet.

My Process

The process I use is the same as when I connect to the Akashic Records to know your soul's purpose -- I meditate, say a prayer to the Infinite Intelligence (God, Universe, Source, Divine Love, whatever you want to call it, however you may seek to understand it) that all information is for our highest good. Then, I use my clairaudience intuitive sense (clear hearing) to write down thoughts -- basically like dictation, word for word.

As you can see, the words are more poetic than what I might typically use, and the energy of the words themselves are very positive. They are incredibly powerful when spoken out loud.

In my own consciousness, it takes me days to perfect a paragraph. When I'm channeling, the words are beautifully crafted, stream-of-a-higher-consciousness, with no pauses for word-smithing. It boggles my own mind that such perfection and intentionality exists. 

I'm learning everyday from these channelings and I love it. :-)

The only edits I've made are related to spacing and paragraphs so that you may read it easier on a webpage. The capitalized words are all part of the channeled text, for emphasis. 

May this serve you. 

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Abstract light reminds me of the greater consciousness that exists that all of us can tap into. 

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Living a Greater Life

Living a life that is led by inner peace and inspiration is completely possible in this world.

The only thing that you have to know is that this is a CHOICE. All other avenues are merely excuses coming from the ego that is attached to living a very limited life.

What does this limited life look like?

It is probably very familiar to you because every human being comes into this world as UN-LIMITED. Yes, they might be babies and can’t speak, but their frame of mind IS of complete expansion.

Imagine just how amazing it feels to be born into this world with your whole life ahead of you.

You have unknown dreams that you can create, you have artistic pursuits that you can bring forth, you have families that you will grow and shape into confident, human beings who are compassionate and feel the calling of service in their hearts.  

This is what beautiful expanses of time and space look like -- all in front of your very eyes.

The limited life only comes about when we allow external factors to start closing in on what is possible.

It begins when our parents tell us what NOT to do, because it can endanger our physical bodies, our lives.

This is all fine because it allows for us to learn how to navigate on the Earth plane (as opposed to the spiritual realm of light and love, which is where we all come from). Thus, there is nothing “wrong” per se with having parents tell us what not to do because of certain dangers that really do exist.

For example, getting hurt if you touch a flame or something sharp, getting hurt if you were to get lost and not know who to ask for help -- all of these things exist because we are still getting used to being in the physical form, and specifically on Earth. There are plenty of ways to get hurt.

The key thing to remember as parents is HOW we go about communicating this to our children. Does it come from a place of fear or does it come from a place of love?

One can love a child, and desire that it lead a healthy and happy life at all times. This should be the ultimate vision in their minds, as opposed to the FEAR of what COULD happen if they were to get hurt. It is this vibration of fear and uncertainty that then starts creating the limited world for you, as a child.

This is all fine and it’s important to EMBRACE this because everyone deals with this conditioning when we are young. So, acknowledge that we grew up thinking that there are dangers out there and that we love the feeling of health and well-being.

This is a different feeling-state than thinking that there are dangers out there and wanting to have security because if we don’t, then we would not know what to do, or have what we were searching for.

This is the beginning of how our world becomes limited. There is nothing wrong with “limited”. But it is a different feeling than EXPANSIVEness. When we are expansive, we believe and know in our very beings that all things are possible. When we have thoughts that focus on this, we are in a state of alignment with the Divine.

When we feel contracted, limited, as if something else is controlling and holding us back, then we are not connected to the Divine. Just being aware of how we are feeling and whether or not it feels expansive or limited will help you to consciously create from a place of expansion.

Remember that you are all creators who are made from the same fabric of the Divine God. There is nothing that you are not, for God created everything. 

This is the first of many teachings that are designed to help you become aware of limiting beliefs, because they stand in the way of a life filled with purpose.

Expressing your purpose is all about taking a hard look at what limiting beliefs were stacked on starting when you were a child, what beliefs serve you or no longer serve you, and which beliefs you want to let go of.

Thank you for reading this and know that you are loved, very much so.

***

So ends the channeled text. What does this bring up for you?

I know even when I interact with little children, like my young cousins, I absentmindedly say things like "Don't do this" and "Don't do that or else you'll get hurt" -- all out of fear as opposed to pure love.

There may be a mix of the two emotions combined. I know for certain that our worry is disguised as love, and vice versa.

It is up to us to find the best motivating factors to change behavior and to notice where fear has become a motivating factor when it doesn't have to be. 

It takes conscious thought and retraining of our mind to speak from a state of pure love and well-being. Noticing our limiting beliefs and our fear-based thinking is the first step.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

My Office - where inspiration meets urban space

A new favorite spot to work - the Mulberry Street Public Library in SoHo, which is the site of a former chocolate factory.

One of the first things people ask me when I tell them that I started this social enterprise is, "Do you have an office space?" It might be because I came from the world of real estate and urban planning where co-working spaces and commercial space were common terms. Or, people think deep conversations on purpose should take place in dark, wood-paneled rooms with stuffed, leather armchairs.

As someone who worked for years in an office that had no natural light and only grey cubicle walls, I found myself craving sunlight, beautiful decor, color, historic architecture, and greenery.

Now that I could craft my own workspace as an entrepreneur, I decided to reflect on what office space I currently have and then share some tips on how to make the best of your current office situation, if it happens to be just a bit dreary and uninspired. 

I'm now blessed to be spending a lot of time in...

>> Coffeeshops - the home of the entrepreneur seeking variety and freedom. With numerous meetings and coffee chats in Manhattan now, I spend most of my time working in cafes because I don't have a set office space (other than when I work at home). Like many entrepreneurs now, I'm amassing a mental map of places throughout the city with good wi-fi, nice decor, ambiance, iced tea (because I don't drink coffee) and restrooms.

Favorites: Financier Patisserie at 35 Cedar St. in Lower Manhattan for their madeleines and French decor; Maison Kayser for their delectable almond croissants and booth seating; and, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf near City Hall for their cheerful customer service and variety of seating types. 

>> Restaurants - nothing beats deep conversations about purpose over good food. Whenever I do a purpose reading, I always ask my client to recommend their favorite quiet restaurant, one that won't rush us for our intuitive purpose reading and coaching session. Having done 41 of these purpose sessions so far, I've had the immense joy of sharing delicious meals with people while discussing purpose and sharing my lessons learned, as if we're old friends talking about the meaning of life.  

The great thing about New York City restaurants is that nobody cares what other people are talking about at the next table over.  In fact, it is highly likely that most of the conversations in a given restaurant touch upon how people are seeking better jobs, relationships, and more purpose, but who don't know what to do.  It feels both anonymous as well as touching when you notice the shared humanity in all of us, looking to be happy and be connected to something greater than us. 

This will likely change over time once I reach a point of needing office space (and I certainly rent private spaces if absolute quiet is necessary), but talking over a meal together will always be part of the initial purpose reading experience when clients discover their soul's purpose.   

Favorites: Qi, a Thai restaurant near Times Square with remarkably elegant decor and delicious food; Japonica near Union Square with an amazing bento box dinner; and, Souvlaki, a cute Greek island getaway in the Lower East Side. 

>> Art, nature,  and community spaces - how you inspire me! I grew up going to my neighborhood public library when I was a kid, so the first thing that I did was to reactivate my New York Public Library card and try out these free workspaces whenever I was in between meetings. I finally checked out the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, which is my new favorite office (can you imagine that despite growing up in NYC, I never actually went inside this iconic building??). Next time you're in the Bryant Park area, I recommend doing the audio tour to fully appreciate its architectural history and saying hello to Patience and Fortitude, the two lion statues out front. 

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One of the many beautiful rooms in the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Bryant Park in New York City. 

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The grand lobby and staircase of the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. 

Another new favorite is the beautifully renovated Mulberry Street library in SoHo (pictured at the top of the page), with brick-walled reading rooms, high ceilings and armchairs, all in a former chocolate factory.  I've also eagerly embraced the natural light and fresh air of doing work outdoors when the weather is nice. I've worked at a waterfront park on Roosevelt Island overlooking the Manhattan skyline as the sun set, and have taken a break at the High Line to revel in the seamless combination of native plants, architecture, and public art. 

Favorites: New York Public Library's Schwarzman Building at Bryant Park; Mulberry Street library in SoHo, and the city's beautiful parks. 

Here are some tips to live a transformed life in your office environment -- 

1. Set your intention to visualize your ideal environment, and then create it.  Physical spaces have energy. Take the time to notice what places inspire you. You may discover that your day-to-day may be missing some element of sunlight, colorful decor or quiet beauty that naturally makes you feel calm, creative or balanced.  Reflect on what your ideal physical place to work is.  Humans are like plants. We crave an environment that allows us to flourish, and it is up to us to determine what inputs go into creating this positive environment for each of us.

For me, it's sunlight, variety, the ability to come and go as I please, and architectural beauty. For you, it might mean that you love the smell of soil and need to have more plants nearby, or that you need to give yourself permission to take breaks outside because walking without a destination in mind actually lets you think more creatively. (All of these have come up in various intuitive purpose readings before). 

Know what you want, down to the minute detail of your ideal workspace and how you'd FEEL when you're there. Then, go out and have fun creating what you desire.

2. Rely on your intuition to guide you to beautiful or helpful resources.  I tend to rely on chance to let me pass by a neighborhood library or a cute pocket park where I can be present or take a sound meditation break (when you focus on listening to each sound, like the birds singing, the sound of people chatting, the rumbling of the subway, etc).

You know that fantastic public space pictured above? Recently, my inner voice said, "You know, you really want to check out the Schwarzman Library. You've somehow never been there and you grew up in New York City!" Other people would then mention this library to me in multiple conversations, and then the thought kept popping up repeatedly. Finally, after all these signs, I heeded the inner voice weeks later and made time to go. And of course, I loved it! I was like a kid in a candy store. 

I also rely on chance to find books that seem to "pop" out at me while I browse at a library or bookstore. My husband happened to find a book on interpreting financial statements the Warren-Buffett-way that was hidden in a stack of books about writing and publishing. He immediately picked it up because it was so out of place that it felt like a sign. He also happened to be thinking about the topic at the time!

3. Never underestimate the power of inspiring spaces. Some people just get used to working in a dreary environment and think they just don't have time to do anything about it. Do not give in to your ego's attempts to rationalize this away! 

One of my clients wanted to replace the carpeting in her office, and she was surprised at how quickly it was done after she decided to put in a request for it. I'm sure other people would have made up all sorts of excuses, saying their boss wouldn't like it, or the company wouldn't pay for it, but it never hurts to try. You might be surprised at what is already budgeted in, or what lengths a company is willing to go to retain happy employees.

Remember that what you do to your workspace can easily affect your mood. Getting rid of clutter is one way to freshen up appearances and allow for more breathing room (literally). Adding colorful photos of your family and pets can do wonders. Adding light is also essential. It could be one of those full spectrum lamps that provide natural light, or even a cute nightlight from Ikea (below) will work.

I actually put this nightlight on my desk and it made my day every time I looked at it and turned it on. Even the smallest tweaks that you do to your workspace -- with your happiness in mind -- will make a huge difference.

What are your best places to work? What kind of workspace do you crave? What changes, small or large, do you want to make (or have already made) that made a difference in your mood? Share your suggestions so that other people can benefit from your ideas!

Appreciate the journey.

People are always talking about "finding their purpose" as if it's some end destination that once they reach it, they'll be happy. 

One of the biggest lessons I learned from doing intuitive purpose readings and coaching is that purpose is an ongoing mindset, a choice that starts with you, in this very moment. It's not something external to achieve or an outcome that you seek. It's all about how you use your energy and gifts in this moment to benefit other people and the Earth. It manifests in all aspects of our lives, not just career. 

Instead, as humans (with strong egos), we tend to focus on the outcome. After we spend a lot of time crossing things off our to-do lists, we ask ourselves, Are we successful? Did we achieve the goal that we set out to achieve? Is this the best possible result of our time and effort? 

I used to be very focused on the outcome. In fact, a StrengthsFinder test told me that one of my top 5 traits was "achiever." That meant, I could set a goal and do whatever it takes to achieve it. Being from an immigrant family also reinforced this notion that we get what we put in. Hard work is supposed to pay off. 

In college, after being a little disappointed in my grades freshman year, I wanted to see if working harder would get me better grades. In my sophomore year during finals, I studied day after day for so many hours straight, sitting in one place, that I swear my knee swelled up for no apparent reason. When I got home during winter break, my family and I waited for hours at the ER. Finally at 3am, the doctors saw me and aspirated my knee.

They asked, On a scale of 1 to 10, how is your pain?

Eleven!!, I said.

That's impossible, they chuckled. Only childbirth tops the list.

Geez. Note to self, I thought. Don't study so hard.

I had to be on crutches. The doctors tested for everything from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus but couldn't figure it out. They just put me on a bunch of drugs that later ended up having to be recalled because of the damage that it did to people. And while I ultimately got the grades (achiever...ding ding ding!), was it worth it? No. 

This is an extreme example, but in my gut, I knew that my knee got messed up because of my own doing. I realized that I had achieved so much but I didn't get the kind of fulfillment I expected when I got to the top of that mountain. Who would've known that getting good grades would ultimately feel empty when it affected my health and brought on all sorts of stress to me and my family. 

So why did my knee swell up? Now, I chalk it up to stress. My body was signaling to me that I had not passed some critical soul lessons: 1) To take care of my body and 2) to detach from this notion of needing good grades for external approval, or even my own ego's approval of myself.

When we attach ourselves to the outcome, we are enslaved to external or even internal approval, constantly looking towards the future for happiness.  

...It could be an attachment to our need to be successful. (Who's definition of success are we talking about anyway?).

...It could be an attachment to our need to make money. (There are so many forms of abundance that we already have; be grateful for it and remember that money is just energy - it flows in and out.)

...It could be an attachment to our need to please other people, our parents or in-laws, or just our own high expectations. (People-pleasing is a never-ending battle; just remember that you have a choice on what you focus your attention on. Choose to focus on the fact that you're exactly where you need to be, right now). 

The best thing we can do for ourselves is to recognize the attachments that our ego has to beliefs or ideas, and to appreciate our journey.  Reflect on how far you've come and all the lessons you've learned. Share them with others so that others have an easier path.

I'll leave you with a bit of intuitive guidance from my own Akashic Records about our purpose.

 "...It is all a journey, an exploration.

The outcome is not important, but the lessons that we’ve learned and how we channel that towards creating a better future for humanity and the planet are.

There is no “success” outcome in purpose; it is just whether we are connected to it, and aligned or not in a given moment."

I've been fortunate to align my days and moments to my soul's purpose, resulting in so many moments of bliss. Not because there weren't any ups and downs, but because all of that was necessary for me to appreciate the journey and see where the nuggets of wisdom are.  

What has your journey of expressing your soul's purpose taught you?

What lessons do you feel like you want to share with others so that their path can be easier?

Drop a line in the comments and share this post with a friend!

What we can learn from Harry Potter and how it reflects real life

A few weeks ago, I started feeling compelled to watch the entire Harry Potter movie series. I had watched all eight of the movies twice before, and had read all of the books a few times, but it had been several years since I had undertaken such a movie marathon.

Each day, I kept thinking about watching the movies, but I didn't have the DVD collection and didn't feel like renting it either, so I put the thought by the wayside. It also seemed a bit frivolous given that I had just left my job and was working on building this social enterprise to help people know their soul's purpose and have the tools to express it with confidence.

The thought became more and more persistent until finally, when I was visiting my brother, I remembered that he had the series. The only problem was, it was on Blu-ray and I didn't have a Blu-ray player (or a TV at home). My brother was nice enough to lend the series and the actual player to me, and I giddily took it home to start my marathon, connecting it to my computer monitor for the full effect.

Watching Harry Potter, this time with the past several years of my spiritual journey under my belt, and with what I was doing now to empower others spiritually, seemed like a rite of passage again. It brought home a few things that I believe are really important for us to remember in this day and age, which I highlight below.

Just a few days into my movie marathon, all the attacks in Paris, Beirut and around the world happened. I had stopped watching the news a long time ago because the media can be an endless cycle of negativity and I prefer to channel my time and energies into the positive, but even without constant media coverage, I could feel the whole world gripped by such a heavy heart. Now, I hear about all the discrimination and feelings of separation that people have in response to this, and I can't help but see how as human beings, we all hold the capacity to love, fear, and hate, especially for people who have hurt us. I know that out of dark times, people's hearts open up and forge bonds that only happen under pressure, so I offer a few things to keep in mind that the Harry Potter series teaches us. 

First, that love is all powerful. It was found in Harry's parents who sacrificed themselves to protect him, making him the Boy Who Lived. It was found in Harry's friends, Hogwarts, and Professor Dumbledore who time and time again, put their own lives at risk to help Harry fight for a greater good. In the end, it was this love that consistently let him win against Voldemort, despite all perceived "odds". Even Voldemort knew this, but didn't know the extent to which love could trump power and hatred. There was one point in Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix when Voldemort possesses Harry's mind. Just like how the Patronus charm requires focusing on all your happy and most positive memories, Harry is ultimately able to fight off Voldemort because he doesn't fear him, and instead feels sorry that Voldemort has never truly experienced love and friendship. This consistent theme of love -- from both the living and those who have passed on who still live in our hearts -- is one to remember, always.

Second, the concept of Mudbloods and purebloods are reminiscent of the same divisive questions that are being asked today that have instigated so many battles. I'm sure JK Rowling based this off of real life, and the reason why watching the series again hit home even more, because our society now is no different. Voldemort's hatred of Muggles and Mudbloods stemmed from his own childhood (how he and his mother were mistreated) as well as his beliefs of what was "right" that were hidden under the guise of revenge and purification. It's amazing how people's beliefs, misguided as they can be, are the sole drivers of all the problems in today's society. A belief doesn't have to be religious in nature -- instead it is just an attachment to an idea or a framework. It is this attachment, that one belief is more right than another, which people use to justify harming another soul, that causes disconnection and separation from love. Take a look at your own beliefs and see if they are truly serving you and humanity. Does it look like love, or does it look like fear against the unknown or those who are perceived as "different" from you? 

Third, that sometimes, our mercy and forgiveness for those who have done us wrong (another way to express unconditional love), is for our highest good and for all those connected to us. One scene that demonstrates this is in the last movie when Harry and his friends save Draco from a fiery death in the Room of Requirement. He didn't have to do this, but it ultimately helped Harry in the end when Draco's mother lies about his death to Voldemort. Professor Snape, his love for Harry's mother, and his bravery throughout the entire series, is another example of how we just never know what is truly driving people, and how it always stems back to love or a desire to be loved. It is also our choices, to act out of love instead of fear or hate, that make us who we are.

There was so much more in the book series, and I'm looking forward to re-reading them again. With all the analogies that can be pulled from the series to real life, I've already gotten some comfort from remembering that even in dark times, it is love that must be nurtured, and that we have help in forms we cannot see. 

I hope this reminds you that we can find comforting lessons and messages everywhere, even in books and movies like Harry Potter. :-) When things are feeling heavy, just focus on what you are grateful for, and the happy or positive memories that you have that you hold dear.

Are there any lessons that you got from the Harry Potter series? I'd love to hear about them! Share them in the comments below. 

How Intuition helps me take the subway, and more.

Articulated Blue, Rob Sanchez.

I always say that everyone has intuitive abilities. I'm not more special than you are. I just intentionally developed my intuitive abilities, so that it comes easier to me than it did before. You can do it too. It's just exercising a muscle. 

Intuition, our inner voice, is our highest guidance; yet it will never tell us what to do. Our intuition speaks to us in very subtle ways - sometimes it's a gut feeling, a flash of genius when we least expect it. It'll just keep popping up whenever we're receptive to listening. My best ideas come in the shower or when I'm expressing myself creatively with art or music. For others, it happens when they're running or exercising, or right when they wake up in the morning when their mind hasn't yet been clouded with the day's tasks.

I remember taking a class at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on leadership. The professor talked about how top leaders, from the age-old presidents at the beginning of our nation to the greatest inventors of our time relied on intuition to get new ideas or to take bold moves that changed the course of history. At that time, I wasn't aware that you could intentionally tap into intuition. Now I do it all the time, and sometimes it's the littlest things that give us the validation of how real our intuition is.

***

For example, I tap into my intuition when I take the subway in New York City. It's the best way to get around and I take the subway all the time. Using my intuition helps me make decisions, especially when I'm running late or have to get somewhere with not much time to spare. 

One night it was late, I was tired, and I was heading into Queens from West 4th St. in Manhattan. I was going to take the F train, which operates on the local line, but was the only line to get to my destination.  When the F train pulled into the station, however, I had a very strong feeling that I should not get on.

"Why?," I asked myself. "This is the only subway to get there. I take it all the time. Shouldn't I just get on?"

"No," my intuition said, just the subtlest of thoughts impressing in my mind. "Wait for the B or D express trains across the platform."

"But I don't have time to wait -- those trains never come and they won't take me to where I need to go! And the F train is right here!" My ego was putting up some resistance.

We all have free will. I ultimately decided to listen to my intuition because I knew it always served me, even though at the moment, it might not seem obvious. I've taken the F train countless times, but this was the first time I had a strong feeling not to get on and to do something that didn't make rational sense to me. I watched as the F train pulled out of the station and settled in to wait for the B or D train. A few moments passed and a D train pulled in. 

Great! I thought to myself, and got on. Unfortunately, the minute the doors closed, I could tell it was going to be a long ride from West 4th St. to the next stop at 34th St.  It went very slowly on the tracks, stopping every so often to sit and wait in the tunnel. At this rate, I'm surely not going to catch any other F trains that might have passed. Who knew it was going to be so slow as an express train?

As people started to get restless, the train conductor went on the loudspeaker to say that the reason why it was moving so slowly was because there was an issue on the tracks on the F line. Sure enough, through the window, I saw the F train I could have gotten onto sitting and waiting at 14th St. We passed it by slowly on the express line, moving cautiously. We passed by another train sitting at 23rd St., also stuck.

It was probably a smoke condition or track fire on the local line. Apparently, if I had gotten on that F train, I would've been stuck waiting there too! But on the D train, I could actually bypass the problem. 

Thankfully, I eventually got to my destination in faster time than if I had gotten on that F train, and with another example of how listening to my intuition served me well. 

***

This is just one example, but I ask my intuition about which subway route will be faster or whether or not I should continue waiting for a train that doesn't seem to be coming. It comes in handy when I'm starting to feel panic if I'm late to a seemingly important meeting or to avoid delays that don't serve me. (I'll write about the illusion of time in another blog post). I use my intuition when I want to make decisions, from double-checking an email with my inner voice before I send it, to seeing how I should approach a new business situation.

So how do you exercise this muscle? Here are some ways, though there are so many more. 

1. Meditate. Training your mind to experience calm and peace makes it more familiar to you. It also makes it easier for you to distinguish between your intuition and other internal advice, like your ego or other people's opinions.  

2. Intend to make your intuition stronger. Make it a choice and be committed to it. Don't give up if the results aren't what you want. It takes practice and dedication. I come from a spiritual background, so I prayed for clearer intuition, and the ability to listen. You can state affirmations, like "I trust my intuition. I hear it and feel peace and calm in my heart."

3. Use your imagination. Your imagination is actually a very powerful tool of intention and creation. The more you are able to visualize images and feel the positive emotions that you associate with your creations, the more in tune you are with your inner guidance. It also helps you become more creative and ideas can come to you through your musings. 

4. Practice getting "hits" and make it fun. It's like a guessing game that we played as kids when you have cards facedown and you uncover them to make a pair -- it feels really good when you uncover the matching card! Try guessing which elevator comes first in your lobby or what song comes up on the radio. Or try thinking of a friend and seeing when he or she calls you or texts you. Oftentimes, my clients talk about how they thought of a friend and then that day, they receive a call from them out of the blue or run into them randomly on the street. There are no coincidences.

I love talking to people about intuition because when they realize that they can tap into this power, it is like seeing a bud realize for the first time that it can open its petals to be a full-fledged flower. 

We're naturally spiritual beings. We have a soul that lives on, and we're in our physical bodies because it is the best vessel for us to share our gifts and to experience our lives. Intuition is tapping into our natural connection to the Divine - a higher consciousness that connects all of us. How do I know this? Because I've had numerous spiritual experiences that have left me with a deep knowing that there is more to life than what we can see in this world. 

Have you had instances of intuitive flashes or stories that you can't explain? Did you ever listen to your intuition and realize that it served you (or didn't listen, and wish you had)? I'd love to hear your stories and read your comments!

Shifting the Mind

What happens when we notice our limiting beliefs? 

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Before I started Being My Purpose, I had a very healthy sense of what was possible. In my mind, it was very normal to work really hard, get a great job that not only pays the bills but also gives me a sense of making an impact, and work my way up the ladder.  Climbing the ladder was the typical route of expansion for me -- get more responsibility, get more staff, get a bigger budget, get a bigger salary or bonus, get a better title, and voila, more happiness.

But it didn't always work that way. Even with a better title or more recognition, I wasn't necessarily happier. That's because, I was still working within the same limiting beliefs and my soul wasn't growing. Sometimes, it felt trapped.

It took me a very long time to even notice that this didn't have to be the case. It took me years to even think that doing something different than the 9-5pm (or 9-7pm, 9-8pm) could be possible. Even though I was surrounded by entrepreneurs in my work and in my family, for some reason, I thought that having flexible hours, following my dreams, and getting paid for it was possible for OTHER people, but it wasn't in the realm of possibility for ME. 

That was a self-imposed limiting belief. Any attachment to a belief that does not serve us will keep us in a holding pattern. It took daily soul-searching to realize what these beliefs were doing to me, how they made me feel, and that I was no longer being served in the best possible way by holding on to them. 

In many ways, I felt like I had this "realm of possibility" for me that contained all the things I grew up thinking were true, or my own experience had "proved" to me that they were true:

Yes, I had to work really hard for my money because I certainly did! My whole family did. Everyone worked Mondays through Fridays and sometimes on the weekends and weeknights, because we believed we had to. I was grateful I didn't have to work more than plenty of other people, but the 4-hour work week was something out of fiction for me. Yes, everyone would have pay raises if they were lucky but it was like an asymptotic curve. It would plateau, and then never reach the line that I wanted.

So, one day, I noticed that my "realm of possibility" needed to be changed. I needed to break free of the ceiling that it held for me and allow my mind to embrace all possibilities that were beyond that ceiling. That meant, I could dictate my own hours. I could express my purpose and go all out and talk about spirituality and inner empowerment all day long. I didn't have to pretend I was someone else. I was the only one standing in my way.

A mentor once told me that it was my own responsibility to care about my life. No one else was going to do it for me. If I don't care about how I spend my time and what I prioritize, then no one else will, nor should they. Thanks to her, it kicked me into high gear. 

Anything became possible.

My mind started noticing every time I had a limiting belief, and switched it to a mantra of all possibilities. I slowly and steadily expanded my realm of possibility so that it became larger and larger. Now it embraces all possibilities, most of the time. I still have moments of limiting beliefs (we always will, because we're human, and that's the ego!), but the more we can fully know that there are infinite ways to solve anything, and then see all the amazing and unimaginably beautiful ways that they unfold, then the more we can finally embrace the fact that we are beings with unlimited inner strength.

In future posts, I'll tell you how I got to that point. But, in the meantime, consider this:

1. What are your limiting beliefs? What beliefs fall inside the self-imposed ceiling?
2. What beliefs or desires fall outside of the self-imposed ceiling right now? Just noticing it is enough to help you shift towards manifesting what you want.
3. Do you know how you even got these limiting beliefs in the first place? Did they stem from childhood? From your parents? From something difficult that you went through?

Would love to hear what you think and if you have any limiting beliefs of your own! (Don't worry, we all have them). Drop me a line in the comments :-).

Mindful Life, Mindful Schools

An important part of living our purpose is having the inner power to do so, which involves the ability to tap into a place of calm and peace that is always accessible within you. Oftentimes, our brain is literally racing with thoughts, from endless to-do lists and reliving past conversations, to worrying about how to pay the bills next month.  No wonder we're always so tired at the end of the day!

For kids, they might be worrying about an upcoming exam or how to avoid the person who keeps picking on them after school. All of these thoughts put kids on edge and trigger the "fight or flight" response in the brain that prevents them from truly focusing. Imagine if you were always in survival mode, which is what the "fight or flight" response is for. You can easily see how there is an epidemic of stress no matter what our age. 

Mindfulness meditation is one tool in the "inner empowerment toolkit" that allows us to observe our thoughts, without holding judgment, to just notice their presence. It could involve noticing our thoughts and emotions or noticing our breathing. Each inhale and exhale reminds us that at this very moment, we are alive. It puts our minds back into a normal, "rest and digest" state. 

I'm thrilled to read in a recent New York Times article, "Under Stress, Students in New York schools find Calm in Meditation" that schools are becoming more interested in using mindfulness meditation to help students feel calmer and more focused. I've taken mindfulness training and curriculum training through a nonprofit, Mindful Schools, in the past and there are numerous ways for trained educators to incorporate mindfulness into literally any activity. Just a few minutes of intentional mindfulness helps both kids and teachers feel centered, allowing them to learn or teach.

The article also mentions transcendental meditation (TM), which is something that my husband, Rob, and I started doing in March last year. TM involves repeating a mantra internally in our minds to ease us into a calm, restful and alert state. We both love doing TM, and while we are human and sometimes miss the twice-a-day recommendation, both of us have seen benefits, including a calmer mind, energy and focus. 

Between these two types of meditation (and there are so many different types that are out there), my life has become a whole lot less stressful. Things happen in our lives that aren't always to our liking. What's important is how calmly and creatively we respond (as opposed to react) to these things. 

If you meditate, what types do you find helpful? How has it impacted you? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Hello, world!

I'm thrilled to launch my website for Being My Purpose, a purpose coaching and inner empowerment social enterprise. This blog will contain the insights, aha moments, and musings that accompany the crazy ride that is starting an impactful business. 

Join me on this journey that is a mix of thrilling, nerve-wracking, and exciting because this is my first entrepreneurial venture that is 100% me. I am blessed to be guided by my Higher Self and all my friends, family and mentors who have contributed to the creation of my new way of thinking and understanding of the world. 

I'm convinced that helping others to know and express their life's purpose is a major key to addressing issues in economic development, education, healthcare, and happiness. I'd love to hear from you, your thoughts, and how you found out about us. 

All possibilities,

Julie