Empowerment is food for the thirsty soul. The essence of power flowing through our cells, nourishing body, mind and spirit.  Don’t you feel unstoppable when you think, feel and act empowered? I know I do. It feels good and you want to stay in that high vibration of energy.  Imagine living in a world where we are empowered 24/7 with all life as our cheerleader. Wow, who would not want to live in this In-Power-Momentum that propels us forward?  Well, we don’t live in that world, YET!  But while we are here, the more inner strength and courage we can use to propel us forward into our expanded self, the more Joy-full and creative we will be.  Momentum builds a platform for you to share your message on.

Unshakable resolve comes to mind, which ties into courage. Sometimes we just need to dive into the deep end of the pool holding tight to our dreams. Sure, you may get bounced around by challenges. I am going through a few myself right now. But if I cling to the shallow steps of the pool afraid to go farther, that is exactly where I will stay, at the shallow end of the pool.  I want to play with the big kids who aren’t afraid of the deep end.  One thing I have learned from experience is that challenges make you stronger, more empowered.

In January, I got to play with some of the big kids at Motivation Marathon. Now, these kids have been having fun in the deep end longer that I have, and a couple of times I felt like running back to the shallow end! It can seem daunting to follow them, but I must!  This event and all the speakers encouraged me to take the steps to propel myself forward into my dreams. My challenge is thinking it has to be done tomorrow.  I have so much to learn, and I trust in myself to know that I will be courageously successful in my own authentic way.  We all can, so jump into the pool wherever you like and when you are too comfortable, go farther until eventually you find yourself having fun and enjoying life in the deep end of the pool.

I feel very honored and grateful to have been one of the 47 speakers for Motivation Marathon. For those of you who missed this event visit www.motivationmarathon.com and register for your Free E-Book and while you are there listen to Gary Kobat’s one hour presentation along with the video of Dr. Michael Beckwith & Gary Kobat.  Click on Listen to Free Highlights of the speakers with more speakers to come…all FREE!  I promise, you will want to dive into the deep end of the pool when you hear these speakers!

Debra Oakland

Happy New Year from Living in Courage!

“The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” -Thucydides

I wanted to share a bit of my year in 2011 with you, and to tell you that I am very excited to walk into 2012 with the gifts and lessons of 2011 under my belt. Here goes!

Wonderful lessons occurred in many areas of my life, and truth be told, some frustration and challenges.  These are things that are important for personal growth and change, so I remind myself that living from the inside out, as well as living in courage is my best way forward. I am learning to be more patient and embrace stillness, to commune with nature daily, to embrace my writing heart to pen, and to always enjoy the chapters of my life.  I have an amazing husband, family and friends that I am ever grateful for.  Better said, I am grateful for all that is here and all that is yet to come. My personal freedom is of utmost importance to me, and that freedom means living my best life from a place of love, wisdom and joy.  I am grateful for you and your support of Living in Courage.  I wish you a very Happy New Year in 2012!

Wouldn’t it be great to see everyone living the dream of freedom? Free will gives us the power of choice, and I like to think that true freedom lives within, as do all the great qualities of love.  When we make the choice to live from the inside out versus the outside in, our lives can transform.  We each have to find our own place in a complex world, but what a wonderful world we have to play and create in! Freedom from the ties that bind, whether physically, mentally or spiritually is a task worth pursuing with gusto. The importance of your personal freedom will determine your course of action. I can’t tell you what that course is, only you know what is right for you. I feel freedom is our birthright, and one that goes beyond our limited thinking feeling reality.  We can feel limited when we think our freedom is in jeopardy.  There are many forms of freedom. What does freedom mean to you? We can bring a sharper focus and more clarity to our sense of freedom when we understand that we are solely responsible for our life by the choices we make and the actions we take.

The voice of freedom is knocking.  We can all make a difference in 2012 by making  choices that reflect love, wisdom and joy.  We have a collective choice to change or not to change, to grow and expand, or to contact, which restricts life, and who wants that?  Freedom of choice is a gift to be treasured, so in conclusion, be a good person, be harmless to yourself and others. Respect the freedom of everyone, no matter the cultural differences. We are more alike than different. After all, if we expect to engage and enjoy our freedom by living from the inside out, that takes responsibility. In that way we can each be responsible for our own inner freedom.  The one that really matters!

Let Freedom Ring in 2012 and Beyond!
Debra Oakland

Vision, creativity and passion carry us to places we did not know we could go.  Believing in oneself and evolving into a state of knowing is a long path to travel, with many bridges to cross. Knowingness is an ever evolving process within ourselves.  How do we learn to believe in ourselves so much, that we dispel fear and doubt? This is a question I ask myself often.  Intellectually,  I know it is found through opening many doors. Spiritually, I know it is from connecting to the heart.  I want to believe I am capable of excelling at my passion, but a lifetime of voices, lessons, schooling and all manner of dictates have told me otherwise, at least for the most part.  It is up to me to have a vision, to know that I am capable of achieving my desired outcome.  The most important part is knowing that I am the only one that stands in my way.

Neale Donald Walsch said “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”  I like my comfort zone, thank you very much, but as the years roll by I know that what creates growth is change, and that means leaving your comfort zone from time to time. Often we are like children, holding on to our ‘blankey” with a thumb in our mouth, trailing our blanket of comfort behind.  Part of growing into an adult means leaving the blanket behind, if we want to evolve.  To grow into spiritual adulthood, it is wise to leave fear and doubt behind, which can allow us the clarity to see our vision for the future we wish to create.

What is your personal vision?  What is your vision for the Collective?  When following your heart and envisioning the future, is it for the highest and greatest good not only for yourself, but for everyone?  A very big responsibility sits on our shoulders if we hold the vision of living from a place of love, wisdom and power.  By connecting to the heart in a profound way, the obstacles that clouded our vision begin to clear.  Our connection to source grows stronger, we grow stronger, allowing knowing-ness to be an essential guide.  There seems to be a sense of dis-rest in so many people, no matter who they are, or their station in life.  Until we each learn to hold the vision of love for ourselves and our fellow man, there will be dark clouds in the way. Sri Aurobindo said “ In order to see, you have to stop being in the middle of the picture.”  Getting out of our own way is not always easy, but well worth the repeated effort.

Spend as much time as possible in-visioning the life you want to live. Examine what is truly important for that vision to succeed.  What is the motivation behind the vision and how do you see it unfolding?  Your vision is powerful and when you use it wisely and with love, it will bless you in all areas of your life.

Debra Oakland

We are energy.  Let’s talk about this briefly.  Our thought is energetic and holds within it – power.  We as creators have the power to direct this energy.  Cause and effect would be how things manifest outwardly in our lives, and is a direct result of how we manage that energy.  The cause is our focused thought, or the recurring habits of our thinking, feeling and acting, which create effects or outcomes in our lives.

Thought is a by product of thinking.  Healthy, happy creative and constructive thoughts impact all areas of our lives in a positive way, whereas worrisome and fearful thoughts impact our lives in a negative way.  Simple math really!  As we vibrate to this positive or negative energy, it is important to know that our multi-body system is taking orders from headquarters!  We birth our thoughts through feelings as they take root and are nurtured into reality.

Energy is alive waiting to be directed in any way you choose.  Consciously creating brings much more satisfactory results than unconsciously creating. Again, you do the math!

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

By being flexible, expansion and growth become our companions on this journey in an ever changing world. Learning to sway like a branch in the breeze is a skill.  We can resist change, but it will occur regardless. Bruce Lee said “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” When times are unfavorable many people break down from fear and non-flexibility. I find when I have challenges in my life, most of the time it is because I am being inflexible. Ahhh, the need to be right. Gets us every time!

There are many changes going on in the world requiring us to be more flexible now than ever. With the internet and all the new technologies, we are able to connect on many different levels. The world stage is changing, challenging many old worn out beliefs and lifestyles. A much needed shift is occurring and flexibility is key to our happiness. People who are able to adapt to change are better equipped mentally and emotionally. Being resilient in times of challenge insures inner and outer flexibility, leading to a more joyful life.

When I talk about flexibility, I am not talking about being weak or passive, just open to adapting in a way that will serve you and your life.  Just as keeping our bodies flexible is important to our health and well-being, keeping our minds flexible is essential to our mental health and well-being. By making conscious choices, being clear about our intentions, living our passion and being open to the change needed for a perfect outcome at the right time and place, we are expanding, never contracting.  Have the courage to become a living example of flexibility and others will follow. Remember a bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn.

Debra Oakland

In this article, I am exploring the partnership of Inspiration and Motivation at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA where I live.  I sat happily with my Kean coffee looking at the artists booths all around me that are filled with diverse art by very talented people. Festival of Arts has been home to the Pageant of the Masters since 1932 and attracts more than 250,000 people annually.  The festival has a reputation for fine art, and is recognized worldwide.  These 140 juried artists have to be very inspired and motivated to get into the festival, and to stay in the show from year to year.  Each year approximately 25 new artists are added to the art show.

The first delightful artist I spoke with was Betty Haight of Cunningham/Haight.  I asked Betty what motivated/inspired her and she told me, “Other people loving our art is what motivates me.  Another factor is selling art.  Our motto is “Art without commerce is a hobby.” There is a story tag on the back of each painting, and the wood frames are from scrap wood from old cottages.  Betty is passionate and enthusiastic about her work, and it was a pleasure to visit her booth…I hope you will too!

I fell in love with Karin Worden’s beautiful jewelry. There is a gorgeous necklace in Karin’s booth that keeps pulling me back and enticing me!  Her work is exquisite. It is obvious that Karin puts her heart and soul into her work, so I asked her what inspires/motivates her in regard to her craft. “I’m inspired by the life I see in natural forms. The gestures and textures speak to me. I also love my craft of goldsmithing. So I get inspired by something in nature, or even sometimes a picture of nature, and then I mix that in my studio with the fun and adventure of what the materials can do. I choose gemstones for their colors and then play with textures and techniques in silver and gold. I love the process of bringing an idea to life. A fleeting picture in my mind evolves into something tangible that can last just about forever. I’m also inspired and moved by the responses my pieces get from others. When someone falls in love with a piece and buys it, it begins a new life with them. Often, I’ll see a piece on someone two years later and it will look different – it has become part of the wearer and transformed in ways I could not have effected.”

Wandering around the festival grounds I met Bill Agee who was a commercial photographer for 30 years, and now teaches photography at Saddleback College.  Bill’s art is abstract/expressionism in acrylic on canvas.  As far as motivation, Bill said “Art makes me happy, I enjoy it.  I work independently and have made my hobby my profession.” I viewed Bill’s photography from around the world on his website and it is stunning.

Next I spoke to Anne England who is a longtime Laguna resident and artist.  Anne is a print-maker, who says “Art motivates art, and art motivates me.  Art comes from my heart and soul, it speaks to me.” Anne spends part of the year teaching and creating new works on paper in Italy.  I met Anne after one of her return trips from Italy and found her a joy to interact with.

While talking to Anne, I met Geraldine who directed me to her husband Gar Cropser, a gifted and passionate landscape photographer. Gar’s answer to being inspired and motivated was, “The love of the outdoors gives me a feeling of peace, awe and wonder that I want to share with others.  My goal is to be able to capture, experience and share my work with the world.” Gar’s photography of Zion and Yosemite (two of my favorite places) were very moving because he captures light beautifully.

I thank each artist for taking the time to speak with me, and may you each be blessed with a prosperous festival season.

Debra Oakland

What motivates us as humans? I was pondering this subject thinking about various things that motivate, such as courage, inspiration, encouragement, and all the great qualities of life. There are many forms of motivation, for example fear is one. It does not take much to scare people into action. When fear is the motivating factor, the results will be different than those motivated by love, yet it may be an important stepping stone to acting from a place of love.

I have been motivated by many things in my life, but it always comes back to the basics. Living an authentic life doing what my heart leads me to do. By trusting that motivation comes from life all around me and from inside my soul, I am able to determine my best path. Like everyone I have made decisions out of fear. Many of those decisions were not the best, but they taught me what I do want. That is the power of contrast, which is essential for growth and expansion.

What and who motivates you? Does it last, or are you motivated in the moment and quickly lose momentum? Think about what fires up your soul. Inspired passion for excellence is a key factor in motivation. Passion, creativity, inspiration and productivity keep us alive and vital. This video on the life of bamboo motivated me to remember to plant the seeds, water them, encourage them and be patient for the growth that can explode from being nurtured.

Pablo Casals the famous Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor said “Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that never was before and never will be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know who you are?  You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.”

The children are our future, and what we teach them matters. By reminding children of who and what they are, we are teaching them to live from the inside out as the marvelous beings they each are. Sometimes we forget our uniqueness and the power in that individuality. Let’s all remind young children who they are, so they can pass it on for future generations who want to live in a marvelous world.

Debra Oakland

CHALLENGE
“Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”

Recently “Life By Me” described me as a writer, joyful experiencer and courage advocate.  I will take that and run with it!  In the article I wrote for them I said “We’re incredibly powerful beings, and yet, as Sting sings, “how fragile we are.” There’s a bridge between being broken and living in power. We get to choose which side of the bridge to be on and who we’ll assist to the other side. It takes courage to believe in ourselves, to be our true authentic selves, never apologizing for who we are. If we can create a spiritual space inside ourselves, a place where we can overcome life’s biggest challenges, we’ll truly live in courage. By navigating the bumps in the road wisely, joy becomes a very good travel partner.”  I truly believe this.  We are fragile, powerful, courageous beings experiencing and expressing ourselves in a multitude of ways.

Courage comes in many forms.  I like to think of the everyday hero, like you and me. By making wise choices throughout the day, being the best ‘you’ is courageous, because you are making a conscious choice for good. Sometimes challenges are put in our pathway, not to discourage us, but to call up the qualities of courage that are required, to find the opportunity in the challenge.  How you handle these challenges, and the choices you make determine how smooth or rough the experience will be. It takes courage to be harmless to yourself and others, to ask the question “Is the choice I am making in this moment for the highest and greatest good for myself and for all?” Life expresses out from us according to what is going on inside.  Every cell of our body emanates what we are thinking, feeling and acting upon.  You may be able to hide things from other people, but never from yourself.  We all need ‘purpose and direction.’ Being true to yourself should be the first order of business, and that my friend takes great courage. You can grow and be strengthened by challenges.  It is a choice, which can create a grand bridge to your joy.

In one of my quotes I say “Courage is required, down to the very fiber of our existence. Use your will, desire and persistence to develop the qualities you need to materialize your dreams, whether they be mental, physical, or spiritual.”  You are more powerful than you realize.  We all are.  Step up to yourself, for yourself.  Find your point of power and connect to it like your life depends upon it, and make courage your constant travel partner.

Debra Oakland