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.
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.
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.
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.
I think about what is going on in the world ‘outside’ of me. It seems very surreal out there. I grew up in a more peaceful world, or so it seemed. I have learned that the world ‘inside’ of me is the most important place for me to live, move and have my being-ness. It is also the best way I can contribute to the outer world. By remaining in peace and in my joy as much as possible, which can sometimes be challenging, I am making a difference. We are energy. What we give out, we get back. I refuse to live in fear, motivated by what the ‘outer world’ dictates. One by one, as we collectively take our power back, this world will shift. As you live from the ‘inside out’ from a place of peace and love, your personal world will shift, as well as your perspective on the world you live in.
I love my life. I am grateful for the joys and challenges that have made me who I am today. Although I have always wanted to help ‘fix’ things for certain people in my life, I now realize that is their responsibility. We each have our own path to travel, yet we can show up for others with loving support. My best contribution to the world is by being a living example of love, peace, joy, integrity, courage, really just by being my best ‘me.’ As we each hold a space of love for ourselves, each other and our world, we can be the change we want to see in the world. Think back to when you were very young. Remember the simple joy of just being you, the innocence, and wonder with which you viewed life.
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. Minister, Civil Rights Activist (1929-1968);
British Street Artist Banksy
Hope carries a vibration of optimism for the expectation and outcome of change. It is obvious that our world is quickly changing before our eyes. Even though there has been ongoing devastation around the world that has presented untold challenges, there is also a feeling of hope that people carry in their hearts. As world events continue to bring waves of change, we as a world community are coming together, to assist our fellow man as never before. There are no borders where love and compassionate support are concerned. We are all the child, the mother, the father, sister, brother and family member who feel compassion. We hold on to hope when others are in pain or suffering. Everyone wants to be happy, safe, healthy, abundant and whole. We all want for the same basics in life, and in that way we are no different. It is in that same-ness that we forge a bond of hope for our brothers and sisters around the world. It is that bond of hope that can bring the end of separation and allow change to carry us and our planet to new heights of awareness and peace.
Hope is a beautiful thing. Carry it close to your heart in the expectation of the magnificent changes that can and will occur from a place of love. Hope is energy. You are energy alive, border-less and free. Emily Dickinson wrote in a poem that “Hope is the thing with feathers/ That perches in the soul.”
I am honored to be featured in Life By Me this week. I would like to thank my wonderful friend Chris Cade for recommending me to Life By Me. Chris is featured on their site as a writer, speaker and empowerer. I am listed as writer, joyful experiencer and courage advocate. In fact I like the sound of courage advocate so much I think I will call myself “The Courage Advocate.”
Life By Me posts only one question “What is most meaningful to you?” Every day there is an original answer from all people such as Gary Zukov, Michael Beckwith, Judith Orloff, Dean Ornish, Leigh Taylor Young, Seth Godin, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and many others. It is a wonderful space to get lost in…a real gem.
Click the link below to read my answer to the question “What is most meaningful to you?”
Through the power of your personal magnetism you are able to affect other people by being a living example. Have you ever been around someone who attracts people like moths to a flame? They seem to have an ability to magnetize people into their sphere of influence. They are almost irresistible because they have fascinating powers to create, persuade and attract anything they want into their lives.
Are you aware you have the capability for the same magnetism? You and I are magnetic by nature. This magnetic force can bring the unformed into form by the use of thoughts, feelings and actions. It is so exciting to know that we have the power to create, and that this power lives in each one of us. Our thoughts are ALL powerful. Feelings create movement and when combined with action can build momentum.
Think about falling in love. You can’t stop thinking about the person. You feel the love for them filling you. By taking action with a willing participant who shares your feelings, you move into a relationship. Movement and momentum carry the relationship forward. The cares of the world seem to drop away when you are with this person. Music sounds better, food tastes better, life is good. I can go on, but you get the picture. Your energetic field is vibrating at a higher frequency because you are happy. Happy = Fast. Unhappy = Slow.
Now think about a time when you were angry, hurt or fearful. The world seemed darker, less friendly, like your mood. Happy people irritated you, because you could not feel happy in those moments. You replayed the scene of your unhappiness, anger or fear over and over in your head like a movie. You may have even temporarily isolated yourself or become depressed over the situation. Your energetic field was vibrating at a lower frequency.
Which feels better? Of course, love always feels better than anger and the family of fear. You are a magnet who has the opportunity to react or respond to every situation. When you come from a place of love, you take the higher road. By making a conscious choice to respond from a place of love and kindness in every situation possible, this creates momentum which will magnetize good things into your life. Your potential is infinite. Your outer world reflects your inner world. The law of cause and effect.
So just as the person who attracts people like moths to a flame, you can create the life you dream of. Love, health, wealth, joy or any of the great qualities of life are in abundance, ready and willing to be magnetized to you. Choosing thoughts and feelings of a higher vibration can be challenging, but with persistence and vigilance it can be done. Over time your outer life will reflect your powers of magnetism, where you have ‘consciously’ become the master of your creations.
In order to grow we must obtain what is necessary for our growth. Non-Judgment is an important part of self growth. Self-judgment, judgment of others and the world, is learned from a very early age. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to grow up being taught to love yourself unconditionally, with no judgment of self or others? We grow up clothing our thoughts in the form of words. Many of these words are of judgment, blame, criticism, or just plain gossip. We are a product of our environment. There are times where it can be easier to judge others, than to take a hard look at our own life. It’s the simple way out. Judging other people doesn’t require intense self-examination. Have you found that judging has made you happier, healthier or a better person? No, of course not!
By choosing to grow and expand, there comes a time when we carefully and wisely select our thoughts, feeling, words and actions. The old saying “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” is very good advice. Growth is obtained when we exchange the old habits for new ones. One of the best habits you can develop is non-judgment of self and others. Since thought is energetic and creative, why not choose a stance of non-judgment that will serve to empower you.
It is difficult to develop trust with people when they know you are judging them. By choosing to be non-judgmental, you develop a safe comfortable environment for all in a respectful manner that empowers versus belittles. In judging, we only belittle ourselves, which serves us not at all. I find great value in people who are not constantly judging everything in sight. Breaking old worn out habits can be a challenge. We must rise to the challenge with the courage of our convictions and take the higher road. How about observing and listening. If a judgmental thought comes up, let it go. Don’t even judge your observations. By practicing, you gain skill and become competent at non-judgmental behavior. You have diffused any chaos by non-engagement, where in the past it may have been another story that needed healing. Be mindful. Your happiness depends on it.
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