TAKE ACTION and SURRENDER

By Leslie Brice | Published April 4, 2012

When I hear the word surrender, I have a vision of someone carrying a white flag cresting a hill or peeking around a corner in hopes of not being shot. It has always conjured up feelings of despair and failure for me.  In fact, I have always thought of it as quite a passive act as in simply giving up.  However, on the contrary, I have learned that surrender is actually a very powerful action word.

iStock_000018186985XSmallOur ego conditions us to believe that we are always right and the more control we have the better everything will be. We fight to be in control and stay in control.  When the resulting outcome is not to our liking, we don’t veer off our path but rather push harder and harder, expecting different results with the same actions.  This is the definition of insanity.  When something is not working, we must make a change.  Plan B can be to change our plan OR to surrender.

Surrendering is not easy and is definitely a culture shock to our ego. In surrendering, we are giving ourselves permission to let go of the circumstance at hand and the need to control every little aspect of our lives.  For many of us, this is no small feat.   It is important to understand that surrendering is not giving in or giving up.  It is removing all resistance with the elimination of pushing against the flow. It is accepting what is and allowing what is to come.

Trusting is essential to successfully surrender. We must trust that God and the Universe are working for the highest good of all.  As humans, we typically only see the current circumstance.  It is hard for us to see the whole picture.  Since our egos are strong, we believe that when things are not going our way, things are going awry, when  in fact, it is going as designed because it is allowing an opportunity for us, or someone else, to experience the exact situation that is needed in order to learn a particular lesson and to grow.  We need to understand this on a deep level, look for the opportunity it is presenting and, most of all, trust in it.

If you are currently struggling with anything or are observing roadblocks and resistance at every corner, I invite you to set an intention of resolution through letting go and surrendering. Write your intention down, solidifying its importance and your commitment to it.  Include in your intention how you are choosing to let go in order to get out of your own way and let God.  Ask that you may receive the lesson and the opportunity for growth, trust the direction you are being led and intuitively know which path to follow.

All the answers are inside.  Take action, surrender, connect and trust.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE

By Leslie Brice | Published February 3, 2012

iStock_000017147227XSmallHave you ever noticed that sometimes you feel out of sorts, unhappy or even resentful but really have no idea why? Maybe you realize you are blessed with a loving family, a good job, and wonderful friends but still feel unsettled or have a case of the blahs.  These feelings of discord are signs that something in your life is out of balance.

Intrinsically, we are all a lot more than just what meets the eye. There are many aspects of our lives that need our attention in order to feel complete so we can be at the top of our game and feel at peace.  When off balance for a period of time, we start to feel the effects manifesting as resentment, depression, anger, anxiety, etc.

In order to decipher the cause of our imbalances, we need to know ourselves from the inside out. For instance, I have discovered I require an adequate amount of time to myself.  My mind is always going a million miles per minute, and I require time to process and organize my thoughts and feelings in order to feel at peace.  When my physical schedule keeps me running from activity to activity, I start to become anxious or down unless I make sure to carve out some time for me, even if it requires me to decline some invitations, get up earlier or stay up later.  I have realized that this is one way I truly connect to my center and gain clarity.  Whether I am meditating, sitting in a quiet room or soaking in a bubble bath, I cherish and need my alone time to regroup and recharge.

Everyone is unique, but specific areas that may be calling out for attention are time for fun, organization, sleep, creativity, studying, hobbies, self care and beauty, working out, social activities with friends and/or family, accomplishing projects, travel, volunteering, deeply connecting with another, speaking your truth, etc.

The next time you find yourself in a mood or feeling off kilter or uneasy, stop and ask yourself what you are currently requiring that is not being fulfilled. The answer is within and will definitely speak to you if you take the time to listen, trust, and then follow through.  The awakening to this understanding can be very enlightening and even life changing, but you must  follow through.

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Woman to Woman

By Leslie Brice | Published January 20, 2012

I read an article today about relationships between women. It spoke of women’s jealousy and competition with each other as well as our common bond.  This made me start to think how much time is wasted from young girls, on, with petty jealousy and the accompanying trials and tribulations when, instead, we could love, share and bond together.  Negative feelings, such as jealousy, comes from the perspective of lack and not being connected to our source, God.  In reality, there is only abundance for each and every one of us if we would get out of our own way, trust and allow it to happen.

As an adult woman, I cherish the friendships and bonds I have with other women. Some of these span from when I was in grade school, high school and college, yet others range from my young-mom years to people I have met just in last year.  Each relationship serves a different need or purpose and all play a integral role into the woman I am today.  Some friends bring out the silly in me and make me laugh.  Others are my mentors who touch my spiritual side, help me grow and are my confidants to my soul.  Still others are there to keep me company and walk down life’s path hand in hand experiencing each other’s lives, maybe with a little shopping and dining in the mix. ?

There is something very special about relationships between women. It takes a woman to truly understand another, no matter how close we are to our male counterpart, be it a father, brother, son, spouse or friend.  It takes a woman to truly understand and be able to “feel” our feelings, from disappointments and hurts to fulfillment and celebrations, from our fears of lack and inability to self confidence and celebration of stepping into the shining stars we truly are, and from sheer frustration and exhaustion from being a mom, wife and woman to hope, strength and pride in being a mom, wife and woman.

Woman to WomanI believe we are on this earth to help each other with the life lessons that present themselves. Why struggle alone or for longer than needed when there is always someone who has been in our situation, or current life lesson, and has graduated with a passing grade?  Through the course of our lives, we take on the roles of students as well as teachers.  We never know where our next opportunity to connect with another amazing individual will lie, but in order to experience these beautiful connections, we need to be open to receive them.

To increase your ability to receive, forgive, let go and be thankful. Forgive yourself and others for what has happened in the past.  You cannot change the past; you can only change this moment on.  Let go of expectations and be willing to ride the wave and go with the flow; you never know what beautiful place it will take you, even if you weren’t planning that particular trip.  Most importantly, shift your perspective, and be thankful every moment for everything that IS going right and for all the wonderment and beauty your life and this world has to offer.

So, go ahead and reach out for the hands of the women in your life as well as of those you have yet to meet. We’re just a phone call, email or tap on the shoulder away.

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PROCRASTINATION

By Leslie Brice | Published January 11, 2012

With every New Year that flies by, there is talk about how to make this year better than the last. In order for this year to be better, it is important to set the foundation by being organized and having all your ducks in a row.  This consists of evaluating the foundations and physical surroundings of both your personal and business arenas. Many people procrastinate on tiding up their current circumstances because it is not as enjoyable as creating new, which is why they are still in need of attention.

There is a definite correlation between being organized with what we have, tangible and otherwise, and being open to receive new opportunities and prosperity. When we are organized in all facets of our lives, it equates to shouting from the top of a mountain, “I am ready, bring it on!” In addition, taking an inventory of our personal belongings usually leads to finding items we have not used, no longer like, don’t fit or just aren’t appropriate for where we are in our life, opening up the opportunity to donate.  Gifting these items benefits those in need who cannot afford it and leaves a space, or a vacuum, in our personal space that allows room for us to receive the new things we need and desire.

iStock_000018511872XSmallSo why is it that there always seems to be at least one lingering project needing our attention? We procrastinate.  Since I am guilty of this, I totally understand why we tend to procrastinate, especially on the more mundane things.  First of all, many of these tasks are large, making them appear overwhelming, and secondly, they are often things we don’t like to do in the first place.  The problem with procrastination is that the more we do it, the more we’ll do it.  The longer the task(s) go uncompleted, the more insurmountable they appear in our mind’s eye and the larger they grow in physical space, creating a snowball effect similar to that of an avalanche.  In addition, there are only so many hours in a day, and these hours need to be split up between work, family, self, health, fun, sleep etc.   If you are anything like me, I cherish time with family, my “me” time, fun, and definitely sleep, so I tend to put these ahead of things that I don’t enjoy as much.

Since freedom and free time are two of my top values, working in very small increments of time, i.e. 15-minute-blocks, is a great way to face the procrastination monster. This tricks me into working on the project on a regular basis because I know 15 minutes is not a big chunk out of my day.  It astounds me how much better I feel after this short 15 minutes, because I have a sense of accomplishment that I did not have before.  Even though 15 minutes is unarguably not a very large amount of time, it is amazing what you can get done when you are focused and in the frame of mind of accomplishing versus procrastinating.   The other benefits are consistency and pride.  When we see that we are making progress on a daily basis, it feels good, thus giving us more energy and drive to continue the process.

What are you going to do for 15 minutes today?

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A NEW YEAR – A NEW ME

By Leslie Brice | Published January 2, 2012

As I sit here on New Year’s morning reading posts from family and friends on Facebook while sipping my coffee, I can’t help but reflect on the past years’ pivotal New Year’s Eves and New Year’s Days. Some of these memories bring smiles to my face, while others tears.

iStock_000018380362XSmallFor whatever reason, New Year’s Eve has always been a day that has had importance to me. When I was younger, I think it was more of just a wanting to party and have fun.  As I got a little older and fell in love, it was very important to be with my boyfriend and then spouse to say goodbye to the present year and to welcome the new year with much love and combined dreams, high hopes and anticipation of what was to come.   As children came into the picture, it only intensified my deep connection to my family and loved ones and the excitement of the future.  Throughout all the traditional food and age-appropriate libations and activities, whether it be dancing the night away with champagne toasts with adults or banging of pots and pans with the kids, it was always the being with those I love, family and friends, together and the kiss at the stroke of midnight that was magical to me.

The past few years, more than I really care to admit, have been different for me. I must admit, I had another yearly setback and unfortunately allowed myself to feel sorry for myself last night for being alone and not with my family and those I still love. I am now divorced without someone to share my life and hug me, kiss me at that pivotal minute or connect soul to soul with me through the window of our eyes and believe in us for the upcoming year.  My kids are now grown and doing their own thing with their friends as I did years ago.  All my friends and family members are married, all of which I have allowed to make me feel like an outsider on what used to be one of my favorite two days of the year.  So, where does this leave me, or those like me?

It is time for a change. I cannot change the past or others in the present, no matter how much I wish I could, so I am going to have to change myself in the present.  I need to show myself the love that I want from others.  It is time to make myself a priority.  It is time to love myself as much as I love those I hold dear.  Does this sound selfish?  It is not!

I have learned that self love is the first love. We are all a magnificent gift from heaven and are here to live our lives to the fullest and experience what we choose.  Living with regret or feeling sorry for yourself is NOT living, much less living to the fullest.  I get great pleasure in connecting, supporting, helping laughing with and loving those around me, but we cannot give away what we do not have.

Therefore, my desire and intention for the magnificent new year of 2012 is to honor myself for the miracle I am, love myself by putting myself first and further discovering the real me, my likes, dislikes, and capabilities, connect with my passions, those things that make me come alive and feel energized, experience new desires, take risks, take care of myself by choosing a health lifestyle while still leaving room for authentic, organic indulgence, listening to my body and being gentle with it, when needed, letting go and healing of all parts of myself that hold onto past hurts and disappointments and forgiving myself and others, listening to and making time for ALL parts of me, intellectual, spiritual and feminine, and HAVING FUN and SAYING YES TO LIFE! In doing this, not only will I be the person I am meant to be for me, I will be the person I am meant to be for everyone.

There is room enough for all of us on this excursion.  Let’s make it the year of our dreams.  All aboard!

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