What is an artist?

Art is not just painting a pretty picture.

It’s putting your heart into creating and expressing something.

Waking up and getting straight to “work”… sometimes forgoing the shower and forgetting to eat, because your passion supersedes basic human needs.

Feeling alive. Manifesting something from the mind into reality.

I feel we are in this human incarnation to create, to express… and everyone who creates and expresses is an artist.

What are you creating or expressing today?

This morning, I was listening to a replay of a favorite radio show of mine, Coast to Coast AM. The guest on this particular show talked about burning sage (also known as smudging) as a means to clearing energy, which I have done before, yet she gave a great tip: Before you start burning your sage stick, open a window or door in the back of your home. Start burning in the very front of your home and work your way towards the back (making sure to get the corners, and any other hidden spots, of each room). Once you finally reach the open window or door in the back, smudge it. Close the window or door and smudge it again (though I found I needed to keep the door open longer to filter out the excess smoke). 

After completing my new clearing, I felt drawn to sit for meditation and also to dedicate the upcoming session to unconditional love. I’ve always heard of dedicating a sitting to something, but never had, and usually just get in to position, settle my body, and focus on breath. I noticed that in this session, with the preceding dedication and smudging, it had a much more “alive” quality to it. Was it the fact that I had a dedication? Was it the smudging? Intuitively I felt that, no it wasn’t necessarily either of these (though they certainly may have helped), it was what I was dedicating the session to: Love.

Have you ever noticed that when you are in love, you feel so alive? So present. So grateful. So connected. I think these may be the keys (to feeling alive): Being present, being grateful, and being connected.

How can we attain this? 

What would happen if we all lived, moved, and had our BEingness in love…

Lived in a way in which every thought, action, reaction, word, and choice came from a place of love?

Would that make us more present, and grateful, and connected?

How would our world change?

The ripple effects would be insurmountable!

I will practice this today; join me?

P.S. Another great practice, especially when you are in a hurry or too much in your head:  “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

{By Friend Leo Babauta of Zen Habits; Pictured Below}

Breathe.

If you feel overwhelmed, breathe. It will calm you and release the tensions.

If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe. It will bring you back to the present.

If you are moving too fast, breathe. It will remind you to slow down, and enjoy life more.

Breathe, and enjoy each moment of this life. They’re too fleeting and few to waste.

Ever had a hard time deciding to do, or not do, something? Most often we more regret the things that we don’t do, than the things we do do. Although action may not always give us the result/outcome we initially anticipated, it always gives us a new experience, a connection, a gift, something to remember, something to grow from, something to share, and often something to be joyful for.

The universe puts desire in to you for a reason… a purpose.

Ask if you’ll regret not taking this opportunity and if so, take the chance…  Often support is needed when moving forward in a big way, so it’s really important to surround yourself with people that really want you to succeed and be your happiest self, and are not overly fearful themselves.

You’ll find the more you give things a try, the easier future actions will be, and the more you will step into who you truly are and have always been.

So, if there’s something you want to do, yet have fear around: Just do it. Life’s too short to not.

What inspires you? How do you inspire others? It’s great to ponder on this and jot it down! We feel most alive in a state of inspiration, closely related to love ~ love of life! And equally feel amazing when being an inspiration to others, often by doing what inspires us ~ BEing joyful and in a state of flow often correlates with inspiration.

When going for my dreams or taking on a new way of life, I am always inspired by something “greater” than myself… for instance: compassion for all BEings (human-kind AND animal-kind) and creating something for the community (like the WellBEing Resource).

Seeing others in states of joy is also extremely inspiring to me: When I see others going for their dreams, taking chances, overcoming their fears, and thriving…  Seeing people in their “moment” and/or element, expressing their unique genius (whatever that may be) is always beautiful & joyfully emotional for me, inspiring me to go for it and do the same.

Please let me know what inspires you and how you wish to inspire ~ I’d love to hear!