Today's Principles:
1. Commitment is about desire and loving myself
enough to follow through on those desires.
2. The greatest good is served through my passionate
stand - my commitment - to my values.
3. Passionate Commitment = Increased Power
An Affirmation:
I honor my dreams by strongly taking a stand for
beauty, truth, light and my unique gifts, talents
and my destiny. My commitment shows to others
through my actions.
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Quote of the Day:
Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do
you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think
first about the foundations of humility. The higher
your structure is to be, the deeper must
be its foundation.
Saint Augustine
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I held the half century old book open in its center
and pressed it towards the face of a man
I had just met.
"Here. Breathe deeply." I commanded.
He took the book and inhaled. Deeply, with his eyes closed.
He exhaled as he smiled and handed me my book.
"Yes." He said.
His expression was one of pure peace and joy, just
like mine was as I wrote the poem. Just as mine
was as I watched him in this moment.
Recollecting this experience, I find myself filled
with contented
laughter.
Several years ago I never would have imagined myself
ordering a complete stranger to inhale the scent of an
old book in response to his compliments of my artistry.
After all, this interchange came immediately after
he said, "You captured the essence of old books
perfectly in that poem. Please, give me a card. I
support local artists and their work."
The joy of being seen as an artist.
The compelling call to act with heart-filled impulsivity.
To stand outside "the norm" and be grateful for
that stand.
I handed him a copy of the poem he most appreciated
and wrote my information there. I said, "I tell you what,
you can have this copy of my poem instead.... I will
write my info directly there."
It seemed like a more appropriate "calling card" for
an appreciator of my art.
What a splendid evening. Just a snippet, a microcosm
from my life - a dream fulfilled.
Let's take a moment to look into a microcosm from
your life.
Recollect a time where you followed a heart call fully
towards your dream and did something that seemed
absurd and yet filled you with pure peace,
joy and fulfillment.
If it was a long time ago or if you have never
experienced it, here are some strategies to fill
up the space between your desire and the result
you desire.
1. Respond to your heart call by creating something
directly from that call. It might mean writing a business
mission statement, it might mean taking out your old
watercolor paints, it might mean auditioning for a play.
It might mean updating your resume and
sending it to 5 companies for consideration.
The key is to respond to the call instead of allowing
it to just hang there, unheard once again as if it was
a perpetually unopened gift.
2. Initiate contact with another human being who may be
responsive to your craft. In my case, it was reading at
an Open Mic event. In that context, people may or may
not interact with my artful expression. My odds are
a lot higher in this setting than if I were to stand in
the middle of a boardroom on a table in the midst
of a financial planning meeting.
I did have to be willing to get a little uncomfortable
putting my work out -- even in a relatively friendly
context. In taking that action, I created an opening
for the responsive gentleman to actively enter
into a 60 second relationship with me.
It was through my willingness followed by action
that we now share an incredible memory.
3. Breathe Deeply as you respond to the next
heart call which is waiting for your receptive ear.
4. Repeat 1-3 for the rest of your (now more
passionate and dream filled) life.
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Integration:
The heart call of my dream wants me to...............
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Creative Inquiry and Play:
Pause and Ponder for a moment.
Take several moments throughout your day today
to simply breathe deeply and listen... breathe deeply
and listen... breathe deeply and listen.
What is your heart calling you to do in response
to your dream?
Breathe deeply and listen.
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