Uncategorized Archives - Page 23 of 33

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.

Friday Focus – 6/9/17 {What Is}

There has certainly been a theme that sticks out for me this week and it is this – being ok with what is and knowing it is unfolding in perfect divine order.

The mind is a slippery one. An innocent thought about one thing leads you down 10 deep rabbit holes until you find yourself in a complex maze of what ifs and one way too many options. And then what? You’re paralyzed. Does anyone feel me on this?!

While it seems healthy and proactive to be solving, thinking, planning… whatever you want to name it, if any of this leaves you with any of the following feelings:

angst
anxiety
tension
worry
fear
generally unsettled

…then we need to hold the phones. ?

The moment any of these feelings start to creep in it’s time to inquire – what am I striving for?

I find that the moment I ask myself this question it all becomes clearer. And while sometimes it may take more time than usual, it always gets clearer.

With clarity comes peace. A knowing that in THIS moment (and the next, and the next, and yes, even the next one :)) I am always held and perfectly where I need to be. Tension would indicate otherwise. Yes?

I find that this is a much more freeing experience than needing to control every outcome…

Namaste.

A Course in Miracles – Lack

“While lack does not exist in the creation of God, it is very apparent in what you have made. It is, in fact, the essential difference between them. Lack implies that you would be better off in a state somehow different from the one you are in. […] Needs arise only when you deprive yourself. You act according to the particular order of needs you establish. This, in turn, depends on your perception of what you are.

A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need to correct. This sense of separation would never have arisen if you had not distorted your perception of truth, and had thus perceived yourself as lacking.”

Whether you are new to A Course In Miracles (ACIM) or not, I love this excerpt specifically talking about “lack”.

We are told left and right that we are not enough until one day we believe it to the point that it seems so real. Actually we end up believing there is no other reality.

Take some time to assess your thoughts, decisions, and actions… do you notice how in some way “lack” might be an influence however small or large? Can you notice how in some way things might be “better” by doing things one way or how you might “fix” something by doing things this way?

How much of a relief would it be to not be driven by lack? How much freer and spacious would YOU be?

When I first came across this text I was floored, and I mean FLOORED. It was as if a light bulb went on in my head and immediately after I felt a huge sense of relief. This was around the time I was in deep recovery from adrenal fatigue and not only was this sense of lack one of the major players of getting to the point of adrenal fatigue, it was playing a small part in my desire to be in a different state other than adrenal fatigue as well. Ironic isn’t it?

The sense of relief was immediate and lasting…. What a relief it was to know there was no need to strive so hard! What a relief it was to just BE!

So take a moment… if your mind is driving you crazy with thoughts that are fueled by tension, striving, or desire, take a moment to inquire and allow for a bit of space. Allow for the possibility that you are MORE than enough in this moment, and even the next.

Namaste.

Loving Summer Mornings

Honestly I love so many parts of the day: the growing heat of a mid-summer’s afternoon, the way the light fades to dark and you sense the coolness of the evening, making hot tea and reading in bed… but lately one of my most FAVORITE parts of the day is the morning.

Since the days are that much longer here in the Pacific Northwest, the sunrises at 5:12am (on the day of this post) and my body naturally begins to rise around 6am. That means even more time where I get to spend truly just being in silence.

I savor making my morning decaf coffee and what I call my “poppin’ collagen latte”. You can’t see it poppin’ in the picture but trust me, it’s poppin’!

But before I start sipping, while the coffee is dripping (oops didn’t mean to rhyme!) I’ll step outside and soak up a few delicious rays… hear the birds chirp… see how much the grass has grown… it’s all truly beautiful. Then as I sip, it’s time for stretching, yoga, and listening to podcasts as I get ready.

And what about breakfast? Well… I’ve written about my morning smoothie bowls but here’s a picture from Monday’s smoothie bowl deliciousness 🙂

Those added blueberries were just…. sigh. Heaven.

Mornings are so precious to me. It’s a time to check in and mentally prepare for the day (before everyone and everything clamors for your attention).

How about you?

What’s your favorite part of the day? How do you cultivate more YOU time and what does it look like for you?

Susan