The only thing we have to fear...

I find that when my clients are most confused about their direction in life and think they can’t figure out what they should do next, the biggest problem is fear. Aren’t we all at least a little bit afraid right now? So many changes going on in the world, in our lives. Time feels like it is speeding up. ” Yikes, how will I be able to make it? How can I do what I really want to do and still make a living? WHAT do I really want to do anyway?”

If you resonate with any of this, what are you doing to help yourself? Lots of people will have answers for you — but are they YOUR answers? What do you think the real problem is? Remember President Roosevelt during World War II, which was a pretty scary time for a few years, even though most of you weren’t born yet. He said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” How true is that! What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Do you even recognize in what way you are afraid? There is guidance for all of us. Why are we afraid to listen? You could say “spiritual guidance” — or not. I don’t like particularly the word “spiritual” because it can associate to vagueness, ungroundedness, or is just a catch-all like the “spiritual but not religious” category on the dating sites. What does that mean to you, really? Maybe there is no right word– but there is a force and a connection in you that will lead you home, to a solid “yes, that’s it!” For me, it is best accessed by first sitting in silence and following my breath, not my thoughts. Just to give a little break in the endless thoughtstream so I’m more open. Then I may ask a question.

I doubt anyone has the total answer for anyone else today. We all must find out how to get to guidance and truth ourselves, whether it is asking Jesus, talking to the Goddess, being in Nature, journaling, sitting in silence, or being with a supportive friend who does NOT give us advice. It is wonderful if we can support each other to find our own answers. What works for you?
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Edible Reno-Tahoe new magazine

In spite of all the bad news in the world, so many people are dedicated to doing really good work. One wonderful effort right here in Reno is the new free magazine
"Edible Reno-Tahoe." You can pick it up at Whole Foods. It is published by Amanda Burden, who used to be the editor of Reno Magazine. This "Edible" is part of a whole community of "Edibles", a family of 62 magazines throughout the United States and Canada, promoting the local food movement. This is a significant effort to support our region by building and supporting a vibrant, local healthy food scene. Beyond its usefulness, however, this magazine just feels good to handle! The graphics, printing and paper used all have a positive vibe. I sat down and read most of it so easily....even the ads look nice! On the spot, it led to my renewing my commitment to buying organic vegetables and meats. If you can't find it at Whole Foods because they are out of copies, call 775-746-3299 to see where else it is distributed.

Abundance in "interesting" times

There is a Chinese curse, I believe: "May you live in interesting times!" We do indeed live in interesting times. I had an opportunity to study what is interesting about being short of money last week. A check had not arrived and, as I don't use credit cards anymore, I had to figure out how to get through the week without my usual cushions -- like Starbucks lattes and convenience meals while I'm out. I decided to give McDonald's a try, as it is near me and seniors can have coffee for under a dollar. I take Decaf, and they will even make a fresh pot. It was delicious. The young counter people were sweet. I sat at a table and did my writing, as I would at Starbucks; and I have to say it was actually more peaceful than the big S.

I love to do my writing and studying at a cafe, but I am a bit of a snob, so I thought once a week at McD was enough, even though it had worked for me (What I really enjoy is tea at the Ritz in San Francisco!). For my next study session, I went to Whole Foods and ordered just a plain coffee, which was wonderful. There were so many free samples around the store that I was well fed as well, with garlic bread, sample cheesecake and Tahoe Creamery icecream. I love Whole Foods; it is a great place to be and impresses me always with a true sense of abundance. Being around all that, I found I didn't even feel deprived not being able to stock up a cart with all their goodies.

If you are at all like me, much of our sense of lack comes from our stuck mindset.
The week went by, I was fine, I had plenty to eat -- I just made different choices.
Some of those choices are going to be new, more economical additions to my daily routines--not with a sense of deprivation, but rather a new freedom.

By the way, I even got treated by the barista at the Whole Foods coffee bar to a sample of their Dark Chocolate Mocha Blend with soy and decaf....oh MY GOODNESS! The best ever!

Indigenous Grandmothers' Council

This photo I took of the modern shaman Aumrak at a Mayan fire ceremony in Tikal, Guatemala a few years ago at a big festival there. All over the world, there are common links in the indigenous teachings, so inspiring for us to consider today. I just saw the recent documentary about the 13 indigenous grandmothers who came together through a prophecy from all over the world to help heal humanity and the planet. It is a marvelous movie, please see the trailer. www.forthenext7generations.com. Several of the grandmothers had knowledge through dreams of visions that this Council would happen. One of them was told my her mother when she was very small that she would be part of this! Each grandmother is very active now doing projects and they all meet and visit each other's countnries. Particularly moving was their meeting with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. He was so delighted with them and said their work was very important.

The teachings of the Native Americans I have always felt are key to the preservation of our planet and our own survival, with their emphasis on connecting with Nature, taking care of the environment and our own spiritual health in relation to our "Mother Earth."

There are many Native American people in the Reno area who are willing to include and teach ceremonial ways to non-native peoples. I am grateful.

My Classes at "The Studio"

I am teaching classes in Reno in a lovely space called The Studio. It is near Vassar on Virginia, right above The Spy Shop. I teach "Yoga/Movement/Stretch" on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm. This is especially for people who won't take a regular yoga class, either because it doesn't appeal to them or they don't think they can do it. I've studied different styles of yoga for many years, but ultimately, as I have an extensive dance and theater background, I prefer to mix some of the less difficult poses (asanas) with gentle movement and meridian stretches. It feels good, you get a soothing, inspiring, flowing workout, and you don't have to be all that fit! I'm a senior, so feel free to join me at any age!

The Studio offers all kinds of yoga, including Hot Yoga and Kundalini. Check out the full schedule at www.thestudioreno.com. They offer massage as well. Aside from the yoga classes, there are other unusual offerings in addition to my classes, like Zumba, Tai Chi Sword, plus spiritual and creative seminars. I also teach a creative movement class for women called "Dancing the Goddesses Within" on Thursdays at 6:45.

The Studio is a beautiful, relaxing space, with two big studios and comfortable massage rooms -- not at all a gym atmosphere. There's an emphasis on creating community there, so you'll find fliers for all sorts of activities, alternative magazines, free tea, and a place where you can sit down and work on a big puzzle, if you're so inclined.

The Studio
1085 S. Virginia St (above the Spy Shop)
(775) 284-5545

Why Hire a Life Coach?

You've probably heard about life coaching. Being a business coach makes sense to most people -- but life coaching? Business coaches focus on your business challenges and goals. A life coach supports you to look at your life as a whole, to consider more deeply where you are at, what you would really like to do and be, your values, what stops you. Coaches are action oriented, however, not therapists. They facilitate you making the great choices you might not make if left to your own devices (or wouldn't you have made them already?) And there's the question of success vs. fulfillment I talked about in a previous blog: as a coach I will root for your fulfillment, which might also be your greatest success, but might not look like it to you from your current vantage point. Is it possible for you to be totally fulfilled and on purpose if you don't deal with your life as a whole, balancing the different aspects and not letting one area torpedo the rest? A disturbing relationship can keep you from clear focus on your career. Lack of inner clarity in any area of your life can cause stress and block success in all areas of your life, including your health and your relationships.

So why would you need to hire a coach to help you figure out all those "personal" questions? Well, what if you had somebody who would really listen to you without judgment, holding a space for you to process your thoughts and feelings about your life questions and your career? Asking the right questions. Do you have a friend or relative who does that for you? Most people don't, because an untrained person or someone involved with you personally is likely to give you advice, and give you their opinion of what you should do. Sure; sometimes that is helpful, but it is not always safe to tell your nearest and dearest what's budding in your heart. That can be scary. A coach can hold a space for you to do that, and because a session with a good coach should be a safe place to listen to yourself and speak from your heart, you can start to find the answers that will be "right on" for you. In my coaching, I listen to you with what Carlos Casteneda called "the second attention" -- beyond the words you use, to the deeper level of what you are communicating. I can highlight for you confusions or stuck places, and then we can work together on bringing illumination to all that.

After a session with a good coach, you should walk away with more confidence and clearer direction. Not all coaches are great -- but a couple I've had myself are worth their weight in gold! Even though I am not coaching with them now, the experience of their support and helpful guidance continues to work for me to this day.

ABWA Convention, and conversation

The American Business Women's Convention is coming to my town, Reno, April 9 and 10 at the Grand Sierra Hotel and Casino. It's about leadership. Great place to network and learn! I am enjoying the ABWA Express networking lunch on the 4th Wednesdays at the Atlantis. Lunch is good, it's a great group of women, managably around the same U shape table. I actually love networking, and meeting with many different kinds of groups, especially as I am new in town.

I'm finding now that I "network" everywhere! It has become easy to talk to people I don't know, and be the first to break the ice. That did not used to be me! This week, I took the test for Census work, and there were guys on either side of me, keeping to themselves. After the test, while we were waiting, I started a conversation with the guy on my right who had seemed pretty nervous, and he was glad to talk. Turned out this was the second time he took the test (you can repeat), and he had done much better. Then I talked to the other, older guy on my left, who was former military and quite a bit more closed. He loosened up a bit too, and I thought it was very interesting to meet and talk with somebody with such a different background from me. He finished that test fast! There's usually something you can find to say to someone you don't know in a situation like that. It made me feel more relaxed, and I could see them relax as well. The trick is, I guess, in striking up conversation with strangers, to be friendly but not intrusive or aggressive. Hmmmm... and if its a guy striking up a conversation with a woman, well that might be a little trickier, depending on what I sense is his intention! Comments, anyone?

Gratitude without pressure

I've been thinking about gratitute a lot, and there is so much talk about that in spiritual circles these days. I actually am immensely grateful for so much in my life, but when I get grumpy and am feeling lack instead of abundance, the idea that I "should" be grateful and that I am being "bad" because I feel grumpy, is not so helpful. Today, I found out that actually just sitting down I can contact gratitude by just sort of falling into it....it is there, part of our natural ground. This goes with the idea of basic goodness. That's a concept to which I was introduced through my Tibetan Shambhala practice, which I love because it is so positive -- it is about being in the world in a positive way. Anyhow, it is a relief to know I don't have to work up a whole bunch of energy when I don't have it in order to feel grateful ON TOP of feeling grumpy. Just relax, and bingo: Gratitude! It feels very good. A gratitude massage as an antidote to stress?