Blog Archives - Page 23 of 35

Friday Focus – 6/30/17 {Intuitive Journeying}

Lately, I’ve been feeling into what feels right in the day to day. I have my focus and my peripheral vision wide open so that I can receive all that is available to me in this moment, intuitively feeling into this journey we call life.

And what does it mean to intuitively journey? It means you are feeling into what you, let me repeat, what YOU, the deeper you wants to experience along this journey. Sometimes it may be the grind, other times it may mean to spend more time with family and friends, and sometimes it means exploring parts of you that wants to experience something.

I have felt the creative part of me want to expand and explore like never before. As I dive deep into it (writing included), I am creating space for this experience along the journey we call life. Rather than listening to the shoulds, buts, or ifs, I am intentionally creating a deeper awareness for what wants to –be– and –experience-.

Lately, this has shown up as writing and physically doing things with my hands such as taking up ceramics. (Yes, ceramics and I am SO excited to get my hands on clay!)

There are a few other projects brewing but I am keeping it sacred for now.

With that said, what does intuitive journeying mean for you? Where in your life can you expand and grow? What do you need more of in your life to feel, not good, but GREAT?

All good things to consider during this long holiday weekend ?

Be safe and namaste.

Susan

Seattle and Bellevue Senior Portrait Photographer

Littleness: What Value Do You Put Upon Yourself?

“The lesson may seem hard at first, but you will learn to love it when you realize that it is true and is but a tribute to your power. You who have sought and found littleness, remember this: Every decision you make stems from what you think you are, and represents the value that you put upon yourself.”

~A Course In Miracles

Often times action becomes patterned. What you chose to eat for breakfast, how you react to a certain friend or boss, how you treat yourself and your relationship to money, and really, how you treat yourself and all of your relationships.

At first, it stems from an initial set of decision points until it becomes a behavior. Can you take a moment and look at where in your life this may be true? Remember, no judgement, just awareness.

The most important question to ask yourself is – “Why?”.

When you look at your Why’s behind all of these actions and behaviors, you will see the truth of whether or not you play in the field of Littleness or Greatness.

I am here to remind you today how GREAT you truly are. How playing small doesn’t serve anyone and certainly not you. How playing GREAT is your natural tendency and birthright. How playing GREAT helps elevate the world and everyone who is here.

So pause for a moment today and watch your Why’s and notice where each decision stems from. Remember to play in Greatness.

Namaste.

Creating For The Sake Of It

When was the last time you felt inspired to create something? Do you remember what inspired you? Was it a piece of art? An idea while out on a hike? Or perhaps you saw someone else’s creation and thought, hey, I can do that too!

Lately I have been deeply inspired to simply create. Not for any desired outcome but to simply tap into what I feel drawn to and give it a shot! And what has been even more inspiring is the sense of ease that comes along with detachment. It has been absolutely beautiful to laugh, experiment, and learn along the way!

My next new creative hobby will be jumping into the world of ceramics & pottery. I can’t wait to get my hands on clay and see what happens ?

Ok, so what if you haven’t felt inspired in a while? Or, how do you get out of your own way so that creating can become fun again? I’ve listed a few simple hacks that have never failed me and thought I would share them here.

Go on vacation
- Yes, it’s as simple as that. Sometimes you need to take your mind OFF of the usual 5 repeated thoughts to leave space for new ones, and vacations can often help. When you’re in a new environment you become hyper aware and sensitive to what is going on NOW and that could mean trying new foods you’ve never had before, walking down a beautiful street, or meeting new people, all of which can help spark new ideas.
Do something new
- This is similar to the first one but try something new! Whether it’s simply trying out the new Ethiopian restaurant that just opened up in your neighborhood, checking out bootcamp if you’re only used to Pilates, or attending a new meetup in a completely different genre, trying something new can switch up the senses and jolt the system.
Create or try a new recipe
- I find cooking to be a way to meditate. Whether you’re avid cook or not, try a recipe that is a little more complicated or a cuisine you haven’t ventured into yet. Oftentimes this will get you exposed to new ingredients or methods of cooking and can serve as the mental break you need to feel refreshed again. Plus, it feels good to serve other people after you created something delicious!
Be unattached to the outcome
- This is probably the most important. Don’t worry about the outcome! Whether you find out cooking isn’t your thing, or watercolor isn’t what you thought it would be, that’s ok! The beauty is in the journey, the laughs along the way, the moments when you felt a rush of inspiration or new ideas, and even better? the people you meet along the way. When you become unattached to the outcome you open yourself up to other possibilities, and if you give yourself a bit of grace those new outcomes can blow your mind.

Hopefully this inspires you to other new ideas on how to get creative. I’ve been feeling even more creative since returning from New York and wanted to share my own bit of inspiration with you all.

Here’s to switching it up and new summer hobbies!

Namaste.

New York

Oh New York, how do I describe you?

I just returned from an intensive diving deep into the world of change work, NLP, unconscious mind training, neuroscience, embodied cognition, and so much more. Having experienced this work firsthand, months prior, undoubtedly allowed me to take these new findings to a whole other level. A level to where I have seen its effectiveness and how my current practice and frameworks are not only compatible, but strengthened with this new information.

Despite having around 3 hours of sleep a night (I blame it on the broken service door on our floor at the hotel. Every time room service needed to access the room, the door would slam shut and rattle all the other doors on our floor! But I digress…?) my energy levels have never been higher! The pure energy one feels when you know you are making an incredible difference in peoples lives is exhilarating.

Thank you to all my teachers, students, colleagues, friends, and to every single person (stranger or not) I met in New York – THANK YOU! Your kindness is mindblowingly heart warming and I can’t wait to be back.

With much love,

Susan

Soul Session on FIRE

Last evening I had a Soul Session that was on fire.

I listened to what was weighing heavily on the heart and other life difficulties. We discussed a multitude of possibilities, but above all else we got to the core of what it means to be living NOW. To be at peace and knowing we are held; we are loved; we are perfectly where we need to be; we are perfect.

That said, what I really wanted to write about was the awe and gratitude that never ceases to amaze me.

Last evening was conducted over the phone, and what amazes me is how I am always matched with the right client and the right client always finds me. The growth we both feel can be none other than God at work. The Universe really does match people for a soul union and lasting relationship!

The kindness, bravery, and vulnerability it takes to be open and willing to face the truth is deeply respected and honored in sacred space.

I am always honored and humbled at each connection I make. My only wish is for a growing and expansive heart opening so that a bit more peace, love, and wisdom can enter the lives to all I connect with.

Thank you to all whom I have connected with and will continue to connect with. Your humility, grace, and inner wisdom is absolutely beautiful and I am honored to be witness to your life journey.

Forever yours,

Susan

A Student Of Life. Always

What do you love learning? In what ways do you learn best? Workshops? Online? YouTube? 1:1?

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with learning. When I was a little kid I would go to the library and eat up all the books ranging from nature, science, travel, culture, and of course all the fiction I can handle (SVH or Goosebumps anyone?!)

To this day, I listen to podcasts any moment I am not singularly focused on something. As I get ready in the morning, while I’m cooking or cleaning, and definitely when I am commuting. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain new perspectives and learn something new! And it doesn’t stop there, I watch online seminars, consume large amount of literature, and sign up for workshops.

I am a student of life. Always. Because I believe we are evolving every minute of every day and discovery & growth is at our fingertips if we’re open and willing to learn.

Tomorrow, I head to New York for an intensive on coaching the unconscious mind. I am in love with it already. We will be learning everything from re-wiring old programs, neutralizing triggers, rapid change techniques for working with emotions, and more. ?

I can’t wait to share what I learn ?.

Namaste,

Susan.

Gluten free baking from America's Test Kitchen!

Friday Focus – 6/16/17 {A Growing Why: Time}

It all started with cookies.

Earlier this week I had baked some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies for the neighbors as a thank you for watching the house while I was out of town. As I sat in their dining room we started to reminisce the days when we first met in 2005. Could it really have been that long ago? But it seems like yesterday?!

What started the whole “time” conversation was when I saw their youngest daughter studying in the living room. I could barely recognize this sweet girl! The girl that used to ride her tricycle all around the neighborhood making friends with every kid on the block. This girl was now about to enter into her senior year of HIGH SCHOOL.

As we started to count the years of our friendship we quite possibly could have heard a pin drop as we sat in silence at the realization that TWELVE YEARS has passed – already.

12 years…. doce anos.

Moments like this always make me realize how precious time is. How precious each moment is.

Time has become a growing Why for me over the past year and this particular encounter nailed it home for me.

Some of the questions I frequently ask myself include:

How am I living each day?
Will I remember this 20 years from now? (especially asked during moments of stress)
Where can I deploy more gratitude?
Are the things I’m doing today aligned with my Why(s)?

I find it peculiar how as humans we are constantly in a rush to be somewhere or do something, yet we hardly ever stop to ask why? If all of who we are is an accumulation of the years leading up to it, wouldn’t we want to routinely check in and ensure our “Why(s)” is still a guiding light?

So I’m curious, what’s your driving Why(s) and why? What inspires you to be the best version of yourself? ?

With much love,

Susan

Trusting Where You Are

Can you trust you are exactly where you need to be?

When you look back weeks, months, even (especially) years, can you see why things might have happened the way it has?

Can you trust you’ve been led to this place for more growth, wisdom, expanded heart, and love?

And through any present day resistance can you see where this might be leading you?

Can you sense a deeper part of you that might understand where this is going?

Can you have faith in knowing you are one step closer to where you want to be?

Can you feel, or blindly trust, or even desire you are being held ever so gently?

Have you felt love, however small or big in whatever fashion or from, from someone, something, or within YOU throughout your life journey?

If you answered yes to any of the above, can you trust you are exactly where you need to be?

With love.

When You Find Your People

Yesterday I knew I was in for a treat.

Do you have one of those friends that you likely knew in a past life? One of those friends where as you exchange words, thoughts, and feelings you both just get it? One of those friends you know you can run to and pour your heart out knowing there is no judgement?

Well, that dear friend happened to be in town for a business trip and I got to squeeze in dinner before she flew back to San Francisco.

And during this time (and even now) my heart was filled. So full from our heart felt conversations. Almost makes you realize this is what life should really be about. Growth, connection, and love.

It’s how you feel after coming back from vacation. Relaxed and knowing the world is good. YOU are good.

The beautiful part is that we didn’t do anything particularly special. We met for burgers, went for a walk along the water, chatted about life, and hugged it out before she hopped into a Lyft.

It’s in these seemingly mundane moments where all the magic happens.

When you can be comfortable being in and being seen in moments like this, that’s when you know there’s something special. To be real, raw, and wide open is the real beauty of finding your people. ?

So how do you find these people? Your people?!

I can only speak from my own experience but I’ve noticed three things in particular when it comes to finding the people that light you up and vice versa:

Do what you love and interests YOU
- This has always worked without fail. I have met the most incredible people when attending workshops, at yoga, moon circles, meetups, and while I don’t crossfit as much as I used to, some of the my closest and dearest friends have come from this amazing community. Because I loved every moment of where and what I was spending my time in it was only natural this would increase my chances of meeting like minded/interested people. With that being said, SHINE. Do not hide your true colors and be yourself. After all, the goal is to find your people, right? 🙂
Be patient
- When I look back at some of my closest friends one thing I notice is that it took time. Sure there are some friends whom you meet and it’s an instant attraction and soul connection, but even then in order to make it a lasting friendship it requires repetition and depth. People need a familiar face and time to know both you and they are safe and that they can open up to you as well.
Have faith
- The last thing you want is to feel stressed or down about this. This lowers your energy and detracts from what you truly want to feel which is light, open, and love. Have faith that things are unfolding the way it is meant to unfold and surrender this desire to God. Knowing you are doing your best and having faith is one of the best alchemies out there.

As I write this I can’t help but feel so much gratitude for the people in my life and for the love in my heart I feel for them…

With that said, here’s to the people in our lives that allow us to be who we truly are.

In gratitude,

Susan

Tim Ferriss: Why you should define your fears instead of your goals

“Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.”

~ Jerzy Gregorek

“The hard choices — what we most fear doing, asking, saying — these are very often exactly what we most need to do. And the biggest challenges and problems we face will never be solved with comfortable conversations, whether it’s in your own head or with other people.

So I encourage you to ask yourselves: Where in your lives right now might defining your fears be more important than defining your goals? Keeping in mind all the while, the words of Seneca: “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.””

~Tim Ferriss from his most recent Ted Talk, April 2017

Sharing a bit of goodness that I enjoyed listening to while sick in bed. ?

Namaste.