We're All in This Together...

A few years ago, I realized that people in Los Angeles are pretty closed off and unfriendly. Avoidance is the norm, and people seem almost afraid to connect. People rarely smile at one another, much less start up conversations with random strangers. The sucky and weird thing is, you can tell people are sneaking looks at one another out of the corners of their eyes. They sum people up in an instant based on what they look like, but they don't connect. It's as if people are against one another, and not all in this together. As much as this made me sad, it kind of just seemed like the way things were, and I started assuming this was just the way it would always be. And it was...

Until Ivan came along.

Ivan is a year and a half now, and he doesn't have stranger anxiety. He loves to run up to random people and give them great big hugs. And this has really changed the way we interact with others, and the way others interact with us. Recently, at Trader Joe's, a quiet, stern young guy rang up our huge cartful of groceries. Ivan was getting super antsy, so my husband Ryan took him out of the cart and let him walk around a bit. The next thing you know, Ivan ran behind the cash register and hugged the guy's legs, looking up at him with a huge grin. The guy, who had kind of intimidated me, instantly warmed up and started laughing. He said to Ivan, "You're so cool, little dude!" and pulled some stickers out to give to him. The energy instantly shifted, and we were all smiling and laughing. He turned out not to be as stern as I'd assumed - he was probably just having a not-so-great day - and Ivan's bright, cheerful, open spontaneity totally made all of us happy.

Last week, we were at the park, and Ivan ran over to the bleachers. A man was sitting there alone, facing the sun, listening to music through a big pair of headphones. I couldn't tell if he was a Little League dad watching the game, or a homeless person, and in any event, I hoped Ivan wasn't going to disturb him. Sure enough, Ivan dashed over, lightening-quick. He patted the man on his leg to get his attention. I told Ivan to come along and leave him alone, but he didn't listen to me (selective hearing starts early). He reached his arms out and leaned in to the man (who turned out to be a Little League dad), giving him a giant hug. The man smiled, and he and Ivan chatted for a bit. When Ivan was ready to run off again, the man said to me, "You're really lucky. That is one awesome kid you've got there. He made my day." I was so moved I could have cried - but Ivan was running off somewhere else so I had to chase him. But I remembered it. 

This has happened countless times, in many places, with many people - grumpy-looking couples who instantly brighten up when Ivan decides to climb into their laps, sweet old ladies whom Ivan reaches out to embrace at the grocery store, tourists at the observatory (as in photo above -and isn't it funny, he and Ivan kind of look alike!), people at the airport, and other kids, parents, and more. We know people in our neighborhood now, and neighbors who were formerly complete strangers are friends, and we look out for one another.

I know this won't last forever - soon Ivan will grow out of this stage, which is probably good, since, sadly, we have to protect our kids from strangers with candy. But he's helping me realize that I need to stop assuming things about people, and try and be more warm and welcoming myself. No matter how cold and indifferent we act, how wrapped up we are in our digital devices, we're all looking for personal love and acceptance. We all need warmth and friendliness. We're all in this together. Change starts one person at a time, and if each of us tries to be a little friendlier, maybe, eventually, the world will become a happier, more peaceful place. It's worth a try, at least.

Who knows, you just might make someone's day.

Get Him Off Your Mind in 28 Days: My New Digital Program Available NOW through DailyOM.com!

I'm thrilled to announce my new digital program, currently the top selling course on DailyOM.com!

Have you, like so many other women, fallen into the treacherous trap of obsessing over a guy?

Asking yourself the same questions, over and over again, day after day, from morning til night:

Where is he right now?
Why hasn't he contacted me?
What's happening in his life?
Is he with someone else?
Is he thinking about me?
What does he think of me?
Will he ever call or text me again?

Spending all your time fixating on reasons why he's not as into you as you're into him…

Beating yourself up for what you said, the way you acted, and everything you did to make it all go wrong…

Endlessly speculating on what "she" has that you don't…

Driving yourself crazy envisioning all the possible reasons why he just dropped off the face of the earth…

Dreading that he could have been "the one" and you blew it…

If so, you're not alone.

In my work as an Intuitive Consultant, I've counseled thousands of clients. And the issue that rises above all the rest - money, career, health, etc - is the epidemic of women who just can't get certain men off their minds. Women from all walks of life, all ages, all ethnic backgrounds, plain and gorgeous, rich and poor, have asked the same questions, in countless appointments, time and again: "What is he thinking?" "Is he thinking about me?" "Why hasn't he called or texted in ages?" "What did I do to push him away?" And of course, "Will he ever reach out to me again?"

This course isn't about the mistakes you may (or may not) have made, why he isn't interested in you, or what you possibly could have done that delivered you to this point.

It's about breaking the spell he has over you, moving on with your life, and getting him off your mind ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Get Him Off Your Mind is a comprehensive 28-day digital program that gives you all the tools you need to break the spell, end the cycle, reclaim your life and GET HIM OFF YOUR MIND!

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Day-by-day support to help you stay strong and focused on reaching your goal. 

Powerful energetic techniques to create life-changing shifts in your thoughts and vibration. 

Proven strategies to de-program and re-program your subconscious mind and end the cycle of mindlessly obsessing about him. 

Tools to cut the cords of attachment and separate yourself mentally, spiritually, and energetically from him. 

Steps to reclaim your personal, separate and unique identity, so you can re-discover your beautiful, powerful, divine feminine energy. 

Methods to help you clean the slate, clearing out the energetic "garbage" that's weighing you down and closing your mind off from moving on with your life. 

Strategies to open you up to the possibility of being happy on your own, and even finding a new and greater love. 

My professional analysis of hundreds of clients coming to grip with this raging epidemic, revealing the #1 reason why millions of women are going through the exact same thing as you. 

9 guided meditations with invaluable support to lead you through the healing process 

A support network in the form of a private Facebook group, exclusively for course subscribers, to share experiences, support one another, and promote healing - moderated by me with a weekly Q&A session.

Course Agenda:

Week 1: Practicalities. Working on writing, examining the issue, and mental re-programming to start shifting your thoughts away from him.
Week 2: Energy dynamics. Focusing on energetic techniques to heal your vibration and recover from the impact he's had on your mind and spirit.
Week 3: Shifting the focus. Steering your attention from him back to you.
Week 4: Mixing it all up. A final run-through, walking you through additional healing methods, a powerful cord-cutting technique, and helping you get back on track so you can focus on your future.

A One of a Kind Program!

You can search high and low, but this is the only program of its kind you'll find that addresses an ENORMOUS issue plaguing millions of women worldwide. If you're facing this problem, the solution is in your grasp. You won't find it anywhere else, and if you want your life back, you can't ignore this!
If you want to re-gain control of your thoughts and your life, and get back on track to a better, brighter, and bolder future, GET HIM OFF YOUR MIND is the resource you need to make it happen!

Don't wait another minute - sign up TODAY!

5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Criticizing and Judging Others

Very few people can honestly say they don't judge or criticize others. I can't. Can you? In fact, many of us see things in black and white (whether we are aware of it or not), righteously and firmly planted in the belief that we are right, and others are wrong...or assuming that we know what other people's motives are, but really, in essence, having no idea. When we judge people or events, we create constricting energy that boxes up our own vibration, and even holds back the progress of our collective consciousness. Think about it - do you ever really feel good when you're judging or criticizing someone else? No. It puts you in an ugly, closed-off space. And in order to thrive and grow, you need to feel good, and to be in a strong, positive vibration. When you judge someone for being an ass, you're the ass, too - because you're all caught up in criticizing and judging them. And that's not cool.

It's not always easy to switch over to non-critical thoughts, though - so here are 5 ways to suspend judgement and get into the zone of all-for-one goodness:

1. Just Knock it Off.

Easier said than done, right? But honestly, you've gotta stop at some point. Try this: the minute you start thinking negatively about someone, stop yourself mid-thought and ask yourself why you're going there, and correct the action while it's happening. Either pull yourself into the present moment and train your brain to think about and focus on something else, or, if you have the time, take a moment to write down what you think about that person;  if you're angry, get it out! And then crumple up the piece of paper, throw it out, and be done with it (until the next critical thought comes up - and when it does, and it will, do this again, and again, and again, until you finally end the cycle.).

2. Walk in Their Shoes

Don't think for a moment that you can know what ANYONE'S life is like until you walk in their shoes. You have no idea - you really, really have no idea - what their experience is. Once you can accept that, you can disconnect, unplug, and pull your vibration away from trying to figure out what you think is so wrong about that person's beliefs or actions. Maybe, at some point or another, you'll experience something that the person you're judging is experiencing. Who's to say you'll react any better than they did, or do? You can't know their journey until you take it yourself.  

3. Don't Assume ANYTHING.

Remember that to assume makes an ASS out of YOU and ME. Don't assume anything. You could be seriously wrong.

4. Create a loving heart. 

Work on opening yourself up to being a lover, not a hater. Start by recognizing the people and animals you love easily, and allow your love to grow. Smile more. Imagine the asshole honking at you in traffic is your son or grandson, and send him love. Recognize that the telemarketer is just doing her job, and send her love. Each morning, commit to having a loving heart, and to create a loving world. It won't work overnight, but in time, you will cultivate a loving vibration that is much higher spiritually than criticism or judgement.

5. Know that it's not about you.

A huge reason why we're so critical and judgmental is that we act from our egos, taking life ever-so-personally. But no matter who you feel critical of - parents, children, friends, co-workers, bad doctors or dentists - pull yourself out of the interaction and truly realize that it's not about you. People will act the way they're going to act, regardless of whether you're there or not. And you can't change that.

It takes a ton of effort to turn off criticism and judgement in a world that embraces it so wholeheartedly (just turn on the TV or pick up a tabloid), but once you begin to practice suspending these thoughts and vibrations, you'll realize that you actually feel better, and that it's a lighter way of being. I'm trying to adjust my thoughts and beliefs, and I feel happier when I'm more understanding about people and less huffy-puffy, in a tizzy, or mad at them for whatever they're doing that I perceive is uncool. When you're truly un-judgemental, your energy flows, and your vibration lightens up. Change starts with one person, and you, too, can be an influencer in this new thought movement, making a difference that contributes to elevating the vibration of our entire planetary consciousness. I'd say that's worth trying for.

Is there a person or situation that gets you all judge-y and critical? I want to hear your experiences, and see if these techniques will help - so please leave a comment below. 

Psychic Protection and Coping Techniques for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People: Live Online Workshop

Date: Sunday, April 28

Time: 11am-1pm PST

Place: Online!

Are you sick and tired of being empathic? Are you extra-sensitive to the vibration of certain people and places? Do your emotions swing all over the place for no apparent reason, or do you ever start to feel overwhelmed, drained, run-down, weirded out, or bombarded by energies in different places or spaces?

If so, this is the class for you. We'll work on specific protectional shielding, strengthening, and clearing tips and techniques that will help you get grounded, centered, and back to your own vibration.

In this two-hour workshop, you'll learn:

• An easy method for discerning just what it is you're picking up empathically 

• 3 Uber-powerful energy exercises to strengthen your vibration and bullet-proof your aura

• An ancient rite that will protect and clear any space you're occupying 

• Why the simple "shield" technique doesn't always do the trick

• How to ground a room so your energy isn't compromised 

• How to stop energetic leakage

• A life-boosting energetic clearing exercise that will help you strengthen and re-claim your energy 

• Simple, yet incredibly effective techniques to cleanse, clear, and re-claim your vibration on an as-need basis

Don't let overactive empathy run your life for you - take charge of your vibration and learn to work with it!

Date: Sunday, April 28, 2013

Time: 11am-1pm PST

Place: Online!

Price: $40

CLICK HERE to sign up!

How to Find Your Purpose

A lot of people ask me what their purpose is. And in most cases, it always has to do with work.

"What am I here to do...work-wise?" 
"What is my passion...with work?" 
"How can I find my purpose...and earn money doing it?"

Work is a huge deal, and takes up a giant chunk of our life. Before I started doing the work I do now, I was riddled with angst about finding my purpose work-wise, because I hated being so unfulfilled. We have so many possibilities open to us these days, so many choices regarding what we can do for work, that it seems silly to waste a life toiling away at a job that just doesn't feel right.

But in searching for your purpose, it might ease the pressure to know that your overall reason for existing is much bigger than work. You can in fact go into every aspect of your life and every one of your relationships to find a part of your purpose - and you will definitely find answers.

And that's a great way to get around to finding your purpose work-wise. You do have the answer within you - you just have to tease it out.

Give yourself a good hour to do this. Just meditate to quiet your mind (I have a great free meditation here) and then start writing answers related to the following:

1. Your purpose in each year of your life, or each "era," like childhood, your teenage years, early adulthood, etc.
2. The key people in your life, in the past and now. What was or is your purpose with these people?
3. Classrooms you've been in at school, clubs you were a part of, groups you participated in. What was or is your purpose as a part of the group? Why were you there? What did you bring to the table?
4. What do you think people think you're good at? Bad at?
5. Jobs you've had. What was your overall purpose?
6. What do you really love to do?
7. What do you think you're the BEST at?
8. What do you most easily see yourself doing?

And that will most likely lead you to your purpose.

One thing that's so important to know is that your purpose related to work doesn't have to be the same thing throughout your whole entire life. You can change your mind, change your purpose, shift and grow. You can be a teacher for 20 years, and then decide to be an artist. You can be a lawyer, and then become a surfer, and then a healer. You can be an administrative assistant, a writer, and a filmmaker. You can be a farmer, and then be a doctor. Don't get stuck in "all-or-nothing" thinking - that only holds you back. You can be lots of things. And one day, you just might discover the greatest secret of all - your purpose is simply being yourself.