My parent’s and brother’s home burned down in March – here’s a photograph of their new home. They lost much, but much was salvaged. My dad mailed me a thick envelope of papers of mine he’d saved – a Christmas story I’d written at age 6; a history paper from junior high (with a picture of Snoopy on it!), report cards, and letters I’d written from camp (thinly disguised cries for rescue!). I did not know he’d kept those – it was touching that he’d filed those for 50 years. So that is one blessing that came out of the ashes. Other blessings – their new home has things they want like a screened porch and a front door like my mom had in her childhood home. They’ll be moving in soon, hopefully before Christmas. It’s been a long journey of red tape and decsions! Their good health and help from their children and church has been a blessing.

I’m celebrating 10 years as a coach for the rest of this year. See below how you can celebrate with me.

Peace, Joy,

Now, What Am I Going to Do?

This is what a relative said as she was going through a divorce, had no job, few possessions, and the bad economy to make it just a little more precarious. How many of you are asking that question about finances, your home, real estate, savings, job, relationship? I am. How do we all get out of the mess?

Together. We work together. I was telling you about my parent’s and brother’s home – they sure didn’t build it themselves – it was a team. So how do we get out of our silos and help each other? Here are some ideas.

* I sent out a call for help to colleagues and friends to hang in there with me to increase business this quarter and help me keep up my energy and spirits-yes, the one who writes so optimistically every month. Nice to have a team!
* On Facebook and Twitter I promote people I know, and they promote me.
* I’ve traded, which is great, but it doesn’t pay the bills.
* I heard of a neighborhood that got together and pooled their money to buy and share the equipment they all needed to maintain their woodsy yards – mower, clipper, chipper, trimmer, etc.
* People are giving away a LOT of valuable information on the internet. I am listening to one of dozens on growing my business.
* Find a need that matches your passion and fill it. There is so much opportunity in this market – keep open. Partner with your customers.

What ideas do you have for Now, What Are We Going to Do? Please add a comment.

We are deep into autumn here in the U.S. and the energy has softened and cooled from the brilliant summer days.   This reduction in energy and light affects us.  While the West does not pay much attention to the change, the Chinese, for example, recognize the seasons and their influence on the earth and our bodies.  Nature displays the change very clearly – it brings forth vegetables and fruits – the result of the sunshine, nutrients and water building all spring and summer.  The end of a project.  Leaves go to work one last day to produce food for the tree; they give a last brilliant signature color, then let go.  The end of a project.  The animals that hibernate or travel south begin to shut down or shove off.  The end of a project. As the light changes, so do we.   Our bodies start to pull in, its energy shifts to our core away from the extremities as we prepare for less heat and light.  The end of a project, or many projects.  The bright, fast energy of summer is giving way to the softer, slower light of autumn. There is a pause, even a sadness in the air as we say goodbye to the sun.  And it is good.  The rest is good. It is time to gather the vegetables and fruits and clear out the vines that produced it.

I’ve been reading and loving a book called “Peace Pilgrim”.  It’s
about a remarkable woman who chose to act on her compelling mission
- to walk and spread the message of peace in America.  “I shall
remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the ways of peace…”
She counted the miles until she reached 25,000, but kept walking
for nearly three decades. Her message: “This is the way of peace -
Overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with
love”.

I am developing my own story of peace that integrates all I know of
coaching, love, spirituality, relationships, and living.  I have
been reluctant to write about it thinking, “What do I know of
peace?  I’ve been angry, depressed, helpless, lost…”  Then I
changed it around.  “What do I know of peace?  I’ve been angry,
depressed, helpless, lost.”  So, in the same spirit as Emerging
Brilliance has always been, I am using an inquiry around the four
cornerstones of  peace – love, purpose, presence and choice- to
inspire, challenge, and center my readers who long for a meaningful
life and to make meaningful contributions that the world craves.

Love - Purpose - Presence - Choice

Inner Peace En-Lightens the World

As each of you finds your own inner peace in this world of
transition and change, you lighten and enlighten yourself and the
world with your presence and actions.  The deeper your connection
with inner peace, the greater is the light you bring to those
around you.  Inner peace has four cornerstones- purpose, presence,
love and choice.

Peace Pilgrim says  “It is because most people have not found their
purpose and function that they experience painful disharmony
within, and thus the body of humanity is headed for chaos”  Without
knowing your purpose (what you are designed to best be and do) and
choosing if and to what degree you’ll follow it, inner peace is
elusive.  Your mind and soul are in a tug of war for your attention
and energy.

Presence is being here now.  It is being aware of your breath and
body and what’s around you now.  It is being fully absorbed in
whatever it is you’re doing – a project, writing an article,
walking, washing.  Peace is not in the past or future.  It is
experienced in the present moment.

Love is a very large topic and includes love of self, others, and
if it’s in your belief system, love of God (or your name for God).
I have found with me and many clients, deepening love of self is a
core place to start.   Most of us are filled with judgments,
regrets, and fears, leaving no room for self love, which leaves no
room for peace.

Choice is what takes inner peace on the road and expresses it in
reality.  Choice sets us into action, impact and results. You can
choose your thoughts, responses, feelings and actions.  As you
choose consistent with your inner peace, your life becomes
fulfilling and you experience more synchronicity, ease and flow.
And as you step onto the path of action, your results and impact
teach you about your state of inner peace.  Choices are not wrong
or right.  They just work better or not.

With the cornerstone of choice you are bringing your light to the
world.  I’ve wanted to perfect inner peace before I began coaching
it and communicating about it, but I finally see that each choice
takes me into the world, produces an impact and result, and allows
me to deepen my inner peace.  And so around it goes – and that is
perfect.

“When you have found inner peace you have no more feeling of need
to become – you are content to be, which includes following your
divine guidance.  However, you keep on growing, but harmoniously.”
Peace Pilgrim

Action

Look at your world with both eyes open and find peace.  Look for
and find what inspires peace in you.  Look for peace in others’
actions, faces, art, and work.  Look for peace under the ashes of a
fire or the actions of terror – see what you find or don’t find.
Look for peace in what feels uncomfortable.  Just be curious about
peace in and around you. You can journal, write poetry, photograph.

What peace do you find out there?  Please leave me a comment – Thank you!

Peace,

Discover America, it’s 3,000 Smiles Wide

This summer marks the 25th anniversary of my bicycle trip across the United States – from Florence, Oregon to Washington, DC, and to Boston, Mass.  I’m writing to remember and see what I can learn and share from the journey.

In 1970 I’m 14 years old growing up in beautiful Iowa. One of my favorite activities is to get on my bike and ride out of Coralville (all of about 8 blocks). I roll through gentle rolling farmland and feel the earth through my tires; breathe the soft, hazy blue sky; and drink in the wild wildflower colors spicing up acres of green. Or I’d ride to Nancy M’s or Deb D’s house.

One day, I see a billboard advertisement at the local recreation center for Amtrak passenger trains. I attempted to re-create it here! Something in it speaks to me and a seed is planted. I want to discover if the United States really is 3,000 smiles wide. I don’t even think of it as a bike trip. And I don’t do anything about it but I have that feeling in my belly that I want to and I will do this. The Law of Attraction, sometimes known as the “Be Careful What You Ask For” Law begins to work.

I LIVE Here???

I grow up, go to college, meet and marry Mike, and move to San Diego with him. And I still don’t remember this dream. I ride my bicycle all around San Diego, La Jolla, and along the coast by Torrey Pines State Park. I finish at UC San Diego. Soon we move to Pebble Beach and I ride through the amazing seascapes framed with cypress, rocks, and seals. I cover Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur on cold, grey winter days and fresh, early summer mornings. I play recordings of piano concerts while I ride alongside crashing foamy white waves, turquoise water, stately pelicans, sandpipers, piles of lichen-crusted rocks, and fleshy ice-plant. I’m at home on my bike – by moving and being in nature. I’ve begun to discover America.

While my work life as a tech support manager and software engineer is quite stressful and miserable (it’s not at all on purpose for me), and my marriage is a bit clumsy and unsatisfying (we are 22 with no clue, and thousands of miles from our families), my bike and camera keep me grounded and sane.   Things take a turn for the worse in ‘82, and I soon find myself taking refuge on my wheels.

“Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening.

Love like you’ve never been hurt and live like it’s heaven on Earth.”

– Mark Twain

Dance Like Nobody's Watching

Sing like no one’s listening.
Listen like the speaker is divine.
Work like you’ve never been burned or burned out.
Do relationships and conversations completely -whole, nothing left
out, all is said, and any mess is cleaned up.
Play like a child.
Paint like everybody loves your work!
Feel your grief to the depth of your soul.

Laugh from the depth of your soul.
Live like a child – from moment to moment – emotionally present to every shift and new discovery.
Learn something new every day.
Work like you don’t need the money.
Wear your favorite colors.
Whatever it is, don’t wait until the special occasion to use it or
say it.  Right now is a special occasion.
Take this opportunity to be yourself.  Do it again now.  And now…

Sleep like it’s the best vacation you could ever give yourself.  It
is.
Treat your body like you’ll never be able to replace any parts.
Make up with someone.  Forgive someone.  Set down the burden of
resentment or guilt.
Live like you just fully recovered from a life-threatening illness.

Thank 10 people for their contribution to you.
Walk in nature like you belong with her.  You are made of her.

Action

Take action on whatever of these resonate with you.  And choose one
that doesn’t. Live fully without the stops for a few moments or a
few days, and notice what happens in you and around you.  Thank you.

Leave a comment – what in this list are you taking on and why?

A Leg UP

I just finished watching  Michael J. Fox  special on optimism.  He visited a country between India and China called Bhutan.  They measure their Gross National Happiness instead of their Gross National Product.  Wikipedia says, “While conventional development models stress economic growth as the ultimate objective, the concept of GNH claims to be based on the premise that true development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other. The four pillars of GNH are the promotion of sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural environment, and establishment of good governance.”

What if we measured our GPH- Gross Personal Happiness. What would your GPH be based on?   Productivity?  Integrity?  Laughter?  Connections?  Income?  Balance?   How are you doing with it?  Leave a comment and let us know.

The anniversary of the moon landing reminded me of the anniversary of a life-changing journey I created.  Twenty five years ago this summer I was riding my bicycle solo across the United States.  I was in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks on 7/24/84 sharing two lane roads with gigantic motor homes – worse than the east coast traffic!

One of my big aha’s this week as I remembered this bike trip with a coach, is that I had a plan for the trip.  It was simple.  Every day I got up and pedaled at least 60 miles down a very clear path – the road – unless it was dangerously hot or pouring down rain.  The road took me east every day.  Not north, south or west.  East towards Boston and the Atlantic Ocean.  As long as I followed the road, and kept safety precautions, I would get to Boston, to Deborah D.s house – my best friend from high school.  Now, the problem with me in my business is that I keep changing plans.  I change marketing plans, I change my goals, I change niches. I doubt my vision.  I worry about money.  I take exits off the road to visit giant balls of string and two headed snakes.  I wander north and south and wonder why I’m no closer to Boston.

The road and my goal focused all of my energies. It kept me true and on task.  Sure, I never saw the two headed snake, but I reached Boston, I accomplished my goal.

Action

Take stock of your plan. What is it to honor it?  What are your two-headed snake detours?  What are three changes you’ll make to your plan or how you honor it?  I invite you to respond in the comments.  Thank you for the courage to invent yourself everyday into your greatness.

Do what you love.  Be who you are.

Consistently.

Laugh when you forget.

Honor your soul before you honor the cage of beliefs  that keep you predictable, safe, and fitting in with your tribes.

Your soul won’t steer you wrong.  If the word soul is too spiritual, honor your personal heart wisdom.

Do what you love.  Be who you are.  Consistently.

Why am I saying this?  Most of my life, and I imagine yours, has been spent sacrificing soul for safety, money, and fear.

I have a free teleseminar today, “Insider Truths to Unleash Your Success”, at 6Pm Pacific for more on this topic.

Brilliant Gorgeous Talented Fabulous

Marianne Williamson spoke here in the San Francisco bay area this week.  She talked about asking the big questions in politics.  What are the radical questions, the ones a child might ask. Like why do 16,000 children die of hunger every day?  She got me looking at where I play small, hide my brilliance, and avoid the big questions.  What beliefs do I hold that allow me to  tolerate that death rate?  (someone else can take care of it; I’m too small). What is really hurting in my clients? (fear, despair, anger, doubt; needing to re-invent themselves as their “employer” rather than the corporation) Will I go there and address that pain for as long as it takes to heal and give its gifts? (I have done so.  I need to be vulnerable and strong, just like my clients). What’s small about my business and how I play the game? (When I’m one-one with clients I am willing to stand on the brink with them as they step into their unknown.  I don’t yet hold raw and vulnerable conversations with my audiences.  Now’s the time to step out and do that.) I choose out of this conversation to hold bigger conversations.  I will ask bigger questions of myself and my work and my clients and audiences, and stand for bigger answers and responses.  If not me, then who?  If not you, in your area of purpose and passion, then who?

Action
As I ask you these questions, I ask them of me as well.  What’s the next bigger arena that will call forth your greatness and use your purpose?  What’s your payoff for avoiding it?  What’s the price you and the world pay?  What story stops you? What is the first step for {!firstname}?  Take it this week.  If that step has you freeze, find a way to unfreeze.  Break it down into smaller steps, find colleagues, get a coach.

Thank you for your courage, purpose, passion, and your fears, concerns.  It’s all good.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’  Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.  We were born to manifest the glory that is within us.  And as we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” —Marianne Williamson