Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Rise Up
I wrote this “Rise Up” piece in a journal several years ago. I reread it whenever I get too caught up in trying to get everything right in my life: to be the right parent, the right partner, the right friend, the right version of a human being. The quote reminds me that in the end there is no particular place I have to be, either in terms of external accomplishment or personal development. Yes, I can choose to continue learning and growing, to serve others, find right livelihood and give full expression to the truth of who I am. But that choice is most powerfully made when it starts with the realization that right here, right now, who I am is already sufficient. Right here, right now, this little piece of star stuff who knows herself by the name of Beverly Sastri is exactly as she is meant to be, including her faults, failings, and fears.
In a little while the rest of the day will unfold as it always does in Beverly-land: with some combination of daily routine, unexpected disruption and satisfying accomplishment. Thoughts will occur that inspire and uplift, other thoughts will bring sadness and uncertainty. The day will offer endless opportunities to be more of what I want to be: more open, more successful, more selfless, more self aware. And as always, the day will end with a personal tally that includes both successes and failures.
That’s the way life has been for the past 53 years, and I have a sneaking suspicion that life will continue to go on this way for many years to come. So I wake up each morning and choose to once again engage with the day. I choose to once again play this precious and crazy game called being human. And when I am very lucky, I also remember that this little piece of star stuff called Beverly Sastri already represents an infinitely small yet infinitely significant aspect of all that is. My place in the universe is already certain, and that core-felt truth gives me the freedom to rise up and greet the day with confidence, optimism, and a renewed sense of purpose. Life gets that much lighter, and so do I.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Living Like You Mean It, Lesson 3: Tips on Tracking Your Truth
Tracking and acting on the messages you receive from your core truth is one of the most profound and helpful things you can do each day. In addition to sending instinctive feelings of “green light/true” and “red light/not true”, your core truth also uses what I call “pop up thoughts” to get its messages across. Pop up thoughts are your core truth’s version of instant messaging.
A pop up thought is just that: a thought that seems to randomly “pop up” out of nowhere into your conscious mind. Have you ever been working at your desk and all of a sudden a thought pops into your head to call a particular person or check on a project deliverable? You weren’t even thinking about that client or project at the time, yet the thought spontaneously arises to make the call. When this happens, do you usually act on the thought or do you dismiss it because it isn’t related to what you were working on?
Start to notice and act on your pop up thoughts. You may be astonished at how many you receive each day and how satisfying the results can be when you act on them in the moment.
For example, a colleague of mine was working furiously on a deadline to write a commissioned article when she noticed an old brochure that had been floating around on her desk for over a year. The brochure was from a presentation she had given at her alma mater; Pam had always intended to get back in touch with the group but had never quite gotten around to it.
As soon as her eyes fell on the brochure Pam had a sudden strong impulse to stop what she was doing, call the university and ask whether they might be interested in hiring her to give another lecture or workshop. The woman who answered said, “That’s so weird; we just had a meeting this morning where we were discussing the need to bring in someone to speak on your topic!” Needless to say, Pam got the gig.
Exercise: Start to notice your pop up thoughts and act on them whenever possible.
Post your comments: What was it like to notice your pop up thoughts? What happened when you acted on them?
In my next post you’ll discover how to let the events of your life work for you, so you don’t have to work so hard!
A pop up thought is just that: a thought that seems to randomly “pop up” out of nowhere into your conscious mind. Have you ever been working at your desk and all of a sudden a thought pops into your head to call a particular person or check on a project deliverable? You weren’t even thinking about that client or project at the time, yet the thought spontaneously arises to make the call. When this happens, do you usually act on the thought or do you dismiss it because it isn’t related to what you were working on?
Start to notice and act on your pop up thoughts. You may be astonished at how many you receive each day and how satisfying the results can be when you act on them in the moment.
For example, a colleague of mine was working furiously on a deadline to write a commissioned article when she noticed an old brochure that had been floating around on her desk for over a year. The brochure was from a presentation she had given at her alma mater; Pam had always intended to get back in touch with the group but had never quite gotten around to it.
As soon as her eyes fell on the brochure Pam had a sudden strong impulse to stop what she was doing, call the university and ask whether they might be interested in hiring her to give another lecture or workshop. The woman who answered said, “That’s so weird; we just had a meeting this morning where we were discussing the need to bring in someone to speak on your topic!” Needless to say, Pam got the gig.
Exercise: Start to notice your pop up thoughts and act on them whenever possible.
Post your comments: What was it like to notice your pop up thoughts? What happened when you acted on them?
In my next post you’ll discover how to let the events of your life work for you, so you don’t have to work so hard!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Living Like You Mean It, Lesson 2: Acting on Your Core Truth
While getting in touch with your core truth is fairly easy, acting on that truth can be a challenge. The difficulty arises because the input you get from your core truth is not always in agreement with what your thinking mind has to say.
We’ve all been taught to rely on our thinking minds as our primary guidance system in life. Wrong! That role belongs exclusively to your core truth. Your thinking mind plays an equally critical but secondary role: once your core truth points out the best direction to move in, your thinking mind becomes a powerful propulsion system that helps you reach your destination.
It takes a bit of practice to create the proper relationship between your core truth and thinking mind. Like learning how to swim, it’s easiest if you immerse yourself slowly and gradually develop a familiarity with the new environment. Start by looking for safe opportunities to act on your core truth. As you begin to enjoy the benefits of these actions, your trust and confidence in using your core truth will grow.
Immerse yourself slowly: look for safe opportunities to practice acting on your truth.
Example 1: Red light feelings of “not true” usually happen when you gossip about others; can you stop yourself before you start? What "green light" conversation could you have instead?
Example 2: Be honest with yourself about your true feelings, motivation and behaviors. Do you really not have enough time to exercise, or are you just procrastinating? If it’s the latter, act on your truth and go to the gym.
Example 3: When you sulk and your spouse asks, “What’s wrong?” instead of saying, “Nothing” can you find a way to gently share what’s bothering you instead?
BTW, speaking your truth does NOT mean you bludgeon other people over the head with it! Speak with courtesy and be respectful of the other person’s feelings. Knowing what’s true for you doesn’t mean you are right and everyone else is wrong!
Post Your Comments: How easy or difficult was it to act on your truth? If it was difficult, why? What happened when you acted on your truth?
In my next post I’ll share some additional ways to notice and track the messages you receive from your Core Truth.
We’ve all been taught to rely on our thinking minds as our primary guidance system in life. Wrong! That role belongs exclusively to your core truth. Your thinking mind plays an equally critical but secondary role: once your core truth points out the best direction to move in, your thinking mind becomes a powerful propulsion system that helps you reach your destination.
It takes a bit of practice to create the proper relationship between your core truth and thinking mind. Like learning how to swim, it’s easiest if you immerse yourself slowly and gradually develop a familiarity with the new environment. Start by looking for safe opportunities to act on your core truth. As you begin to enjoy the benefits of these actions, your trust and confidence in using your core truth will grow.
Immerse yourself slowly: look for safe opportunities to practice acting on your truth.
Example 1: Red light feelings of “not true” usually happen when you gossip about others; can you stop yourself before you start? What "green light" conversation could you have instead?
Example 2: Be honest with yourself about your true feelings, motivation and behaviors. Do you really not have enough time to exercise, or are you just procrastinating? If it’s the latter, act on your truth and go to the gym.
Example 3: When you sulk and your spouse asks, “What’s wrong?” instead of saying, “Nothing” can you find a way to gently share what’s bothering you instead?
BTW, speaking your truth does NOT mean you bludgeon other people over the head with it! Speak with courtesy and be respectful of the other person’s feelings. Knowing what’s true for you doesn’t mean you are right and everyone else is wrong!
Post Your Comments: How easy or difficult was it to act on your truth? If it was difficult, why? What happened when you acted on your truth?
In my next post I’ll share some additional ways to notice and track the messages you receive from your Core Truth.
Monday, June 1, 2009
New Interactive Bloginar Series: Discover the simple truth for standout success. It happens when you live like you mean it!
In my previous post I had promised to give you a lived experience of how life becomes richer and more satisfying when you “LIVE like YOU MEAN it.” Well, it’s time to rock! This is the first of a series of posts designed to show you how to live like you mean it and create new levels of resilience, effectiveness and opportunity.
Each post will introduce a new concept and offer a suggestion as to how you can practice it. You can then use the Comments section to report back in and tell me what happened. Together we will create an ongoing dialogue that will help you deepen and refine each skill so it is constantly supporting you in your life. As more people participate we will all benefit from sharing our unique experiences, challenges and lessons.
Lesson 1: Your Core Truth is Your Solid Ground
You live like you mean it when you live your truth with clarity, commitment and conviction. Your core truth is your solid ground: the truth of who you are, what you value, and what you are passionate about creating in the world can never be taken from you.
In order to live your truth you have to find it first. Happily, I can guarantee that you’ve already had many experiences of hearing from your truth. For example, I’ll bet there were courses in high school or college that were particularly attractive to you: science, the arts, or engineering. And if I asked what sports or hobbies you enjoy you’d be able to tell me pretty quickly. You don’t even have to think too hard before answering: you “just know” what kind of people, experiences and places you prefer. That’s your core truth guiding you!
Your core truth is always sending you messages and guidance. The trick is learning how to first recognize and then act on those messages when they arrive. This week’s exercise is designed to help you recognize what it feels like when your core truth sends “true” and “not true” signals. Click on the following link to begin (it takes about 5 minutes to complete):
Live Like You Mean It: Get in Touch With Your Core Truth
Post Your Comments: Where do you get “true” (or green light) signals in your life? Where do you get “not true” (red light) signals?
For the next week, just practice noticing when you receive a “true” or “not true” signal and let me know how you're doing. For example, I always get a “not true” (red light) feeling whenever I’m about to share a piece of gossip. One part of me is dying to share it, and another is quietly shaking it's head and saying, "Don't go there, girlfriend." You may meet someone and instantly feel at ease with them (a true/green light signal) or instead feel very uncomfortable around them (a not true/red light signal).
In my next post we’ll start to practice living more actively in alignment with that truth.
Each post will introduce a new concept and offer a suggestion as to how you can practice it. You can then use the Comments section to report back in and tell me what happened. Together we will create an ongoing dialogue that will help you deepen and refine each skill so it is constantly supporting you in your life. As more people participate we will all benefit from sharing our unique experiences, challenges and lessons.
Lesson 1: Your Core Truth is Your Solid Ground
You live like you mean it when you live your truth with clarity, commitment and conviction. Your core truth is your solid ground: the truth of who you are, what you value, and what you are passionate about creating in the world can never be taken from you.
In order to live your truth you have to find it first. Happily, I can guarantee that you’ve already had many experiences of hearing from your truth. For example, I’ll bet there were courses in high school or college that were particularly attractive to you: science, the arts, or engineering. And if I asked what sports or hobbies you enjoy you’d be able to tell me pretty quickly. You don’t even have to think too hard before answering: you “just know” what kind of people, experiences and places you prefer. That’s your core truth guiding you!
Your core truth is always sending you messages and guidance. The trick is learning how to first recognize and then act on those messages when they arrive. This week’s exercise is designed to help you recognize what it feels like when your core truth sends “true” and “not true” signals. Click on the following link to begin (it takes about 5 minutes to complete):
Live Like You Mean It: Get in Touch With Your Core Truth
Post Your Comments: Where do you get “true” (or green light) signals in your life? Where do you get “not true” (red light) signals?
For the next week, just practice noticing when you receive a “true” or “not true” signal and let me know how you're doing. For example, I always get a “not true” (red light) feeling whenever I’m about to share a piece of gossip. One part of me is dying to share it, and another is quietly shaking it's head and saying, "Don't go there, girlfriend." You may meet someone and instantly feel at ease with them (a true/green light signal) or instead feel very uncomfortable around them (a not true/red light signal).
In my next post we’ll start to practice living more actively in alignment with that truth.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism and I agree: It's GREAT to live like you mean it!
I had a rather surreal experience earlier this week: just as I was finishing my morning coffee I received a call from an Associated Press reporter who wanted to know what I thought about Wisconsin’s announcement of their new tourism slogan: live like you mean it!
After recovering from my surprise, both at the news and at the fact that a reporter was even calling to ask my opinion, I said I assumed Wisconsin had good reason to adopt the phrase and told him I wished the state success in their campaign. (Unfortunately, the only comment the reporter chose to print was my attempt to deflect his many pointed questions about whether I planned to take legal action.)
As soon as we hung up I googled Wisconsin tourism to see what the buzz was all about. Their newly-launched logo features the silhouette of a person joyously cart wheeling across the top of the word “Wisconsin”: http://www.jsonline.com/business/41243942.html Tourism Secretary Kelli Trumble said that “ ‘Live like you mean it’ speaks to the fact that if you can imagine it, you can do it in Wisconsin.”
“Not bad,” I thought. In my workshops I love to read a quote by Goethe:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
The definition I use for my workshops and training is slightly different: you live like you mean it when you live your truth with clarity, commitment and conviction. For starters, do you even know what your truth is? I’m not talking about all the opinions and judgments you have, or the beliefs you acquired as you grew up. I’m asking if you understand at a gut level the truth of who you are and what you came here (into this life) to do.
And if you are fortunate enough to know the truth of who you are and what you are meant to create, are you willing to actually live that truth out there in the world? Are you ready to do what it takes to walk toward a vision that your heart cries out for you to create? And if not, what is stopping you?
In upcoming blogs we’re going to have an opportunity to look more deeply into what it takes to live like you mean it. I will use a blog to introduce a concept and offer a suggestion as to how you can practice or experience it. You can then use the Comments section in each blog to report back in and tell me what happened, and we can begin a dialogue that will help you deepen and refine each skill so it is constantly supporting you in your life.
Stay tuned. And I agree with you, Wisconsin: it’s great to live like you mean it!
After recovering from my surprise, both at the news and at the fact that a reporter was even calling to ask my opinion, I said I assumed Wisconsin had good reason to adopt the phrase and told him I wished the state success in their campaign. (Unfortunately, the only comment the reporter chose to print was my attempt to deflect his many pointed questions about whether I planned to take legal action.)
As soon as we hung up I googled Wisconsin tourism to see what the buzz was all about. Their newly-launched logo features the silhouette of a person joyously cart wheeling across the top of the word “Wisconsin”: http://www.jsonline.com/business/41243942.html Tourism Secretary Kelli Trumble said that “ ‘Live like you mean it’ speaks to the fact that if you can imagine it, you can do it in Wisconsin.”
“Not bad,” I thought. In my workshops I love to read a quote by Goethe:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
The definition I use for my workshops and training is slightly different: you live like you mean it when you live your truth with clarity, commitment and conviction. For starters, do you even know what your truth is? I’m not talking about all the opinions and judgments you have, or the beliefs you acquired as you grew up. I’m asking if you understand at a gut level the truth of who you are and what you came here (into this life) to do.
And if you are fortunate enough to know the truth of who you are and what you are meant to create, are you willing to actually live that truth out there in the world? Are you ready to do what it takes to walk toward a vision that your heart cries out for you to create? And if not, what is stopping you?
In upcoming blogs we’re going to have an opportunity to look more deeply into what it takes to live like you mean it. I will use a blog to introduce a concept and offer a suggestion as to how you can practice or experience it. You can then use the Comments section in each blog to report back in and tell me what happened, and we can begin a dialogue that will help you deepen and refine each skill so it is constantly supporting you in your life.
Stay tuned. And I agree with you, Wisconsin: it’s great to live like you mean it!
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Positive Psychology Movement: Happiness isn’t just for bliss ninnies anymore.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been a serial optimist: no matter what happened to me or others I would always look on the bright side. Got dumped by your boyfriend? Then someone better is bound to show up. Made a fool of yourself at school? Chin up and be patient: you won’t even remember this a year from now.
Unfortunately, I learned pretty quickly that not everyone appreciates an optimist’s perspective. In fact, many people find it positively annoying. So I hid my glass-half-full opinions and became a closet optimist.
You can imagine how delighted I’ve been to watch the burgeoning Happiness movement erupt over the last several years. Best-selling books on happiness, college courses on happiness, happiness clubs. People are acting as if they’ve discovered a new form of penicillin. Doctors, psychologists and social scientists are documenting not only the physical, psychological and social effects of a positive attitude; they are also discovering more far reaching effects on everything from quality of education to economics. So much credence has been given to the power of positive psychology that one can now get a Master’s degree in it at an Ivy League school (University of Pennsylvania). To which I say, “It’s about time!”
A WORD OF CAUTION
I do, however, want to offer a caution now that serial optimism has been legitimized: do not seek to create a state of happiness or a positive outlook in order to get something more out of life. If you try to use positive thinking as a tool to acquire material success or inner peace, you are missing the point. You are still stuck in striving to get somewhere, which implies that your current state of being is undesirable. That belief will continue to cause you more suffering no matter what you acquire. Happiness or a positive outlook is not meant to be a means to an end; it is an end in and of itself.
Another important point: do not think of happiness or a positive outlook as a skill you need to learn. Happiness or contentment is an innate state of being that already exists within you, ready to be accessed whenever you so choose. Instead of using your thinking mind to try and “train” yourself to be happy, use meditation or other mindfulness practices to bring your attention to the calm waters that are always present at the core of your being.
What practices will help you return to the calm waters within? Here are some possibilities:
Yoga
Holding a pet
Meditation
Participating in a silent retreat
Getting a gentle massage
Qigong or Tai Chi
Journeying (a Shamanic practice)
Walking or sitting quietly in nature
Practicing mindfulness (being completely aware of the present moment) while hiking, sitting quietly, or
Reading inspired texts (e.g., by Eckhart Tolle, Jane Roberts, Byron Katie)
Unfortunately, I learned pretty quickly that not everyone appreciates an optimist’s perspective. In fact, many people find it positively annoying. So I hid my glass-half-full opinions and became a closet optimist.
You can imagine how delighted I’ve been to watch the burgeoning Happiness movement erupt over the last several years. Best-selling books on happiness, college courses on happiness, happiness clubs. People are acting as if they’ve discovered a new form of penicillin. Doctors, psychologists and social scientists are documenting not only the physical, psychological and social effects of a positive attitude; they are also discovering more far reaching effects on everything from quality of education to economics. So much credence has been given to the power of positive psychology that one can now get a Master’s degree in it at an Ivy League school (University of Pennsylvania). To which I say, “It’s about time!”
A WORD OF CAUTION
I do, however, want to offer a caution now that serial optimism has been legitimized: do not seek to create a state of happiness or a positive outlook in order to get something more out of life. If you try to use positive thinking as a tool to acquire material success or inner peace, you are missing the point. You are still stuck in striving to get somewhere, which implies that your current state of being is undesirable. That belief will continue to cause you more suffering no matter what you acquire. Happiness or a positive outlook is not meant to be a means to an end; it is an end in and of itself.
Another important point: do not think of happiness or a positive outlook as a skill you need to learn. Happiness or contentment is an innate state of being that already exists within you, ready to be accessed whenever you so choose. Instead of using your thinking mind to try and “train” yourself to be happy, use meditation or other mindfulness practices to bring your attention to the calm waters that are always present at the core of your being.
What practices will help you return to the calm waters within? Here are some possibilities:
Yoga
Holding a pet
Meditation
Participating in a silent retreat
Getting a gentle massage
Qigong or Tai Chi
Journeying (a Shamanic practice)
Walking or sitting quietly in nature
Practicing mindfulness (being completely aware of the present moment) while hiking, sitting quietly, or
Reading inspired texts (e.g., by Eckhart Tolle, Jane Roberts, Byron Katie)
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