Dreams Manifesting...

I am so excited to announce my upcoming class!

Vision Board Workshop

Where: Bodhi Spiritual Center
                 2746 N. Magnolia
             Chicago, IL 60614

When: Thursday, July 24 - 7:00 to 9:00 pm

This is a relaxed class sure to help you get clear on your goals, while also allowing you to tap into your creative side! Come with an open mind, leaving feeling inspired and empowered!

Learn more and register here. 

Hope to see you there!

Vision Board Class

This past Sunday I led a vision board* class with a small group of friends. If someone asked me to describe the evening in a few words I would say: awesome, vibrant, motivating, peaceful, joyful, and fulfilling. It created this wonderful sense of community in a room with only four people. One of my friends commented that it was so nice to work together in a group, but in silence. So rarely do we spend time in each other's company without talking, watching TV, looking at our cell phones or with an abundance of background noise. We had some quiet guitar music playing and talked every so often, but it was so cool to see my friends shift into a place where they could tap into thoughts that they normally may not allow themselves to spend too much time with. There was an excited, but peaceful energy in the room and by the end of the class I (and I think everyone else, too!) was so filled with joy. As the teacher in that moment, I was so happy for what my friends were able to create for themselves during our two-hour session. For whatever reason, at the end of class my natural reaction was to keep bringing my hands to prayer pose (in Sanskrit, Anjali Mudra) and thanking my friends for sharing their time with me. Anjali Mudra is a symbol of respect, gratitude and recognition of honoring the moment, which seemed quite fitting at the time. I love the following description and feel like it captures the essence of the feeling that was flowing through the room:

"This gesture signifies the potential for an intention to progress to greatest spiritual awakening. When done properly the palms are not flat against each other; the knuckles at the base of the fingers are bent a little, creating space between the palms and fingers of the two hands resembling a flower yet to open, symbolizing the opening of our hearts" (Source: Bodhi Surf School). 

In our jobs, we often think or talk about whether or not our work aligns with the company or organization mission -- and if it does, we know we're moving in the right direction. A few years ago, I realized my own "personal mission", which is to "help others live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives". You know something aligns with your mission when it makes you glow from inside out, when it challenges you in the right ways, and makes you feel whole. I can say with certainty that leading this class aligned with my personal mission. 

This has led to my next step... to create Soul Full Space Vision Board Workshops... coming soon! :)

Namaste,

* What's a vision board? Essentially, a collage of inspiring words, quotes, images and photos, which serves as a visual, creative expression of our goals and dreams. In my class we work through your values, goals and approach the process with intention. It's a fun, inspiring activity to help you manifest your dream life!

You are the Creator of your Own Reality

Yesterday I decided to re-watch The Secret. The first time I saw the film was in 2007, and to be honest, I didn't remember much of it. Some pieces may have stuck with me, but overall, it must not have been the right time for me to watch it. Do you ever feel that way? This seems to happen quite often in my life, that a quote or book I read, film I watch -- even ideas or dreams -- resurface weeks, months or years later, at just the right time (watch The Secret). 

I filled up four notebook pages of notes while watching. I'll admit, parts of the movie are a bit cheesy, but there are so many great messages delivered in the film. The underlying idea is that you have and become what you think about -- you are the creator of your own reality. I've known and believed this concept for a while now, but somehow, this time it really stuck. The idea that resonated with me most was that if you think about things that you fear and things that make you frustrated or angry, you'll get more of those things. One of the lines from the film I wrote down was, "Most people think about what they don't want and what their afraid of, and wonder why it shows up in their life over and over again." The idea is that everything that you have and you are experiencing in life right now -- including the things you complain about or are fearful of -- you've attracted.

This concept speaks to me right now as I move toward pursuing goals, but find fear standing in my way. Even with this blog, fear kept me from starting, which generated more fear and doubt, which eventually left me at a standstill. But, when I shifted into a place of pushing fear aside and moving forward anyway -- it became easier and ideas began to flow.

Watching the film also gave me the push I needed to move forward on another goal that has been clouded with fear. I set the intention to teach a vision boarding class sometime this summer, but fear and uncertainty kept me from creating a plan and setting a date. The more I thought about this fear and uncertainty, the more fearful and uncertain I became about moving forward, so I didn't. But after the film yesterday, I pulled out my own vision board and added some moving and inspiring images, words and quotes and hung it back on the wall in my office, where I'll look at it daily. I've started to draft a script for my class and I will run a practice session with some friends in a week. Then I'll set the date. Thoughts become things and if I shift to thinking positively about achieving this goal, moving past the fear will become easier and I will attract a positive outcome.

One quote that I pinned to my vision board -- which it was crazy that I unknowingly already had a quote by Joseph Campbell on my board -- was this: "Follow your bliss and the Universe will open doors for you where there once were walls."

Whether you agree with all of the concepts and ideas in The Secret or not, I think we all can benefit from the underlying messages. Open yourself up, act when you have inspired thought, focus on and visualize what you want, but be grateful for what you have. The next time anxious, fearful thoughts enter my mind, I will remember that I attract what I think about most.

Buddha print available here