Reading Rainbow: An example of living on purpose

When we say "Yes!", the Universe responds. 

Last Wednesday, LeVar Burton launched his Kickstarter campaign to crowd-fund his latest Reading Rainbow project.  It was a lofty goal of bringing children's books to EVERY child through our latest technological advances.  His goal was to reach $1 million in the course of the campaign (35 days).  Imagine his astonishment when his goal was reached in 11 hours.  Today it is almost at $3.5 million with 28 more days to go.  His reaction to the overwhelming response was heartwarming.  This is his passion, this is his purpose. 

LeVar is a perfect example of living his passion.  He is a great example of living on purpose.  When you find that place within you that is filled with passion, you may have found your purpose.  What really makes you happy?  What do you love to do?  When you align to the thought that your passion is your purpose, the universe can not help but respond.  As in LeVar's example, he said, "Yes!" to creating a new adventure ("I am now in uncharted territory").  The universe responded with an agreement to his "Yes!" In this instance he was overwhelmed and humbled.

"I thought I knew what the world was like. I thought my beliefs and my opinions were sufficient enough to clearly define the world in which I live. And this week, I have been so surprised. When something like this happens, it’s affirmation that, are you kidding? You’re not alone? You’re not alone! Why would you ever think that you’re alone, that you have to do this by yourself? Human beings were built to cooperate, collaborate. It’s one of the things that we do brilliantly. I had forgotten that for a minute. And I’m so happy to be reminded."

This is such a perfect example of someone saying "Yes!" to a passion, and the universe responding with, "How high?" 

Besides the wonderful example of purposeful living, LeVar gives a wonderful tribute to Maya Angelou. They worked together on the set of "Roots."

"We were about to push “go” on the campaign. I mean, literally, it was happening at the same time. And right as we were pushing play, The New York Times confirmed. It was a shock. It was like, “Oh my God.” However, I also recognized in that moment that there was a symmetry to that. The passing of a giant in the literary universe and the birth of this new way to spread the gift of literacy. I just know that she’s up there, pullin’ strings, inspiring people, orchestrating things. She’s quarterbacking from the other side." 

Butterfly in the sky

I can go twice as high

Take a look

It's in a book

A Reading Rainbow

http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/05/30/levar-burton-reading-rainbow-interview/

Living with Purpose in San Clemente

 Taking the time to search and examine.

Yesterday we had an amazing workshop with Rev. Michael Gott of the Houston Unity Center. I knew I was in the right place when Michael clarified that while seeking happiness, peace, or a new career path is all well and good but finding Purpose is really at the core of what we are here to discover.

We examined our desires, interests, gifts & talents, and values. And while I have journaled ad nauseum in privacy on these topics there is something quite different about sharing them outloud within a community. Having that compassionate, all accepting soul to bounce things off is truly empowering and challenging all at the same time. It's times like this when you experience the profound power of having a spiritual community to hold you up.

In four hours we traversed a lot of ground. There were various exercises to explore four main areas:

desires
interests
gifts & talents
values

The discipline for me comes in being absolutely genuine and self accepting in my responses. To trust and insure that my answers are unquestionably precise and absolutely devoid of self censorship and perceived judgement. Letting myself take the time to search and examine knowing that it is not self centered or self indulgent but rather the first step in giving my gifts to the world.

We start to reframe our life story. Sorrows point the way to our values. Patterns of fear and anger show us where great healing can take place. Obstacles become doors and blocks become stepping stones when we surrender to Spirit.

What a gift! Thank you Rev. Michael Gott.

Meditation, Purpose & Emerson

What is your plot of land?

This Sunday was our final week in our month on meditation. Rev. Dr. Heather Clark talked about using meditation as a tool to connect with the very essence of who we are and to ask how to manifest our good in the world. To ask "What is trying to manifest through me?"

I can't think of a more practical role for meditation.

I've always wondered if a strong life's purpose was innate in some people or was it something developed, something nutured and encouraged to grow until it then took on a life of its own. I remember watching the movie "The Secret," and when Neal Donal Walsch said that there is nothing declaring what you have to do or be, I felt a great sense relief. But while I desire freedom of choice there is a longing to have a strong sense of purpose, a strong sense of your plot of land.

I say "plot of land" because Sunday's talk from Rev. Dr. Heather made me think of Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance." Whether our true calling is predetermined or self chosen it doesn't matter as long as we know how to find it.

Because ultimately I know that no one is going to tell me what color my parachute is. Because ultimately I know that every answer in a multiple choice quiz is a compromise of who I am. Because ultiimately I know that it's even more than taking your "own counsel" ... it's tapping into who you truly are for the answers that truly matter.

I'm going to share a couple paragraphs of Emerson's "Self-Reliance"

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact, makes much impression on him, and another none. This sculpture in the memory is not without preestablished harmony. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular ray. We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope.

Answering that question of "what is my work" or "what is my purpose" is the stuff that builds lives and the satisfaction and happiness that comes when one works in harmony with their true nature and gifts. And as Rev. Dr. Heather Clark pointed to the not so subtle shift between "How do I draw abundance into my life?" as "What is it that wants to be created through me?" The second question draws you into alignment with your greatest good, your greatest expression and therefore your greatest gift.

WHAT BRILLIANCE IS TRYING TO EXPLODE THROUGH YOU?

“Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul — and you answer.”   ~Terri Guillemets


There It is...knocking at the door of your heart, tapping at the thresh hold of your mind, silently screaming from the depths of your soul, pestering you to let It in...What is this?

This thing is simply your own splendor urging to express itself through you.  It is your divine nature attempting to make its contribution to the world, and when it is blocked or disregarded, it can show up in life as discontentment, anger, depression, etc...


The beautiful artwork you see above was created by artist, poet and graphic designer, Eric Hart Samuelson.  I met Eric for the first time in 2009 when we took an extensive 2+ year long class together.  In that class of 12 students, we all spent numerous hours together learning, growing, and really getting to know each other (a life-long bond we will all forever share and cherish).  But most importantly, we began to learn and unleash things about ourselves that were  buried beneath old beliefs and shaded by the expectations of others.  During one of our class projects, I got to see, first-hand and for the first time, the brilliance that was Eric's artwork.  Not that we were competing with each other, but his project totally blew everyone out of the water!

Why am I writing about this?  As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”  We all have a brilliance that is urging to express through us.  It may be deeply hidden away within ourselves or simply waiting to surface by means of our own receptivity to it.  Eric's calling laid dormant for a while and finally surfaced while doing some inner work.  Thank goodness he listened to his divine urges or we wouldn't be experiencing his exquisite artwork.  If you hear that knocking from your soul, open the door and see what's waiting to come through you.  The world deserves to see your gift!

Please check out the rest of Eric's artwork and let him know how much you appreciate his gifts:

http://www.onemindcommunications.com/paintings

http://www.onemindcommunications.com/mixed-media

http://www.onemindcommunications.com/photography

I'm Kind of a Big Deal...

...and so are you.

It's taken me a long time to realize what a big deal I am...and what a big deal you are and you, and you, and you....

Well, a big deal we all are.

As my kids played in the pool today, my mind went on a magical journey of wonderment.

I started thinking about how blessed I was to have the two little boys that I do.  Then I started to think what a big deal they are to the world.

I don't know what they'll do in life, I just know they are a big deal.

Then I started thinking how we are ALL such a big deal to the world right now and how important it is for all of us to bring our individual gifts to the world.

It needs EACH of our gifts right now.  That's why we were born when we were, to whom we were born, and at the time in the Earth's evolution that we were born into.

Have you ever pondered this and then experience an overwhelming curiosity about how big the Universe is?  And then, dwindle down this bigness to yourself and realizing how there is no accident that you are here at this very time?

There is a precise reason.

There is a precise gift you have to help evolve our world.

Do not allow it to pass.  Do not ignore it.  WE need YOU.  YOU need ME.  I need YOU!

Allow me to experience your gift.  Allow me to reap the rewards of having your gift in the world.  Allow the Universe the gift it expected of you when it sent you here at this time.

Just grasp the greatness of who you are, cause like me, you're kind of a big deal!

Our Deepest Fear

“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, 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 are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own 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.”

----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.