It seems appropriate to end the year of 2011 with Gratitude.  Of all the 144 Qualities of Love, gratitude is one of my personal favorites.  There have been endless words written about this quality, personal moments of sacred silence in gratitude, outward expressions of thankfulness in every imaginable way.  No matter what your belief system may be, there is one thing we all share, express and experience in our own way, and that is grate-fullness. It is hard to ignore one of life’s greatest qualities!

Reflecting back on 2011, it is important to remind ourselves to be grateful for all that is here and all that is yet to come. We are now closing 2011 and moving into 2012.  The coming year has been written about, predicted, discussed and dissected more than any year I can ever remember. All forms of media have jumped on the bandwagon, and we have the film industry for even more exposure, though usually fear based. People in every walk of life have formed their own opinions about what the outcome could be. Yes, we are in the midst of great change.  The world as we can see is changing daily.  In my humble opinion, this is a truly amazing time to be alive, to witness such individual and collective transformation calls for Gratitude with a capital “G.”

The very foundation of our inner truths are being tested. Subtle and not so subtle shifts are occurring for each of us, and we can trust that the process is in perfect order.  We also have a choice to lovingly embrace the momentum of change, or we can resist it out of fear. It is our responsibility to direct our power for good, not only for ourselves, but for the collective aspects of all life.  What difference did you and I make in 2011?  What difference will we make in 2012 and beyond?  How grateful are we for all that is here now, and for all that is yet to come into our lives?  What appears in our life now and in the future is a direct result of the choices we have made and continue to make.  What we do matters because there is a ripple effect that goes out into the world.  We forget how powerful we are.  As each of us aligns to the unity of love and peace in all the varied aspects of ourselves and our world, we connect to our source of infinite power. In this alignment we become open to unlimited possibilities.  That is the approach I will take as I walk into 2012, and I trust you will as well.  It’s the only way to expand and who wants to contract? That’s just a waste of our precious time and energy!

Our experiences can define us, for good or not so good. Yes, there are challenges in life, but what do we take away from them and carry with us?  By living in courage we move forward growing ever strengthened. This life is our dance. and gratitude makes an excellent companion.  By being grateful we feel richer in the appreciation for the small things, that way when the big things show up, life is that much better.  Find all that you are grateful for and hold that feeling of thank-fullness in your heart.  I am grateful for you, and I send you blessings for the beautiful flow of 2011 into the grand expansiveness of 2012.

Happy Holidays from Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

How receptive are you? How receptive am I?  A tricky question we don’t ask ourselves often enough. The quality of taking in and receiving is being receptive to all life has to offer us. We often say no to life without even realizing it.  Mother Nature never says no to life, she is life.  We are the energetic force of life, living breathing receptors that have the ability to receive great abundance. When I speak of abundance, I am speaking of the flow of good into all areas of our lives.  By remaining in harmony we become receptive, allowing our greater good to come to us.

I don’t know about you, but I have found that by my own efforts alone, I dilute my power to fully live the life I desire and dream of. When I make powerful conscious choices to set up my future, I am then able to hand the details over to my perfected self, my higher self who knows exactly how to bring to me what I want and at exactly the right time.  My job is to stay out of the way by remaining harmonious and receptive to my good.  There are seen and unseen forces in the Universe that can go to work for us in ways we can’t imagine. I can tell you that when I use these Universal Laws and Principles, they work.  Test it out for yourself, take a little test drive.  If we want change, we have to be open and receptive!

We need to become receptive listeners who are open and responsive to what comes our way.  That is part of harmony.  When we are stressed, in a hurry or shut down to listening, it is hard to feel and hear the messages the heart is sending us in its infinite love, wisdom and power.  We have been trained to behave in a certain way since birth to survive in the world as we know it.  It’s not easy to re-train yourself to remain harmonious in a world full of chaos, but there is another world out there waiting for those who do.

Be receptive to the beauty of life. There has always been human suffering simply because of the choices people make. When we are unreceptive to love and its family, only sadness, regret and fear can occupy that space.  By making the choice to live in and from the heart, you remain open and receptive to your highest and greatest good. We must take a stand if we want change, because we are the change-makers and each decision we make matters. Receptivity is a superpower, and so are you!

“Not only do your thoughts and words and actions affect others in an obvious way, but they also have an impact far beyond any that you might have intended. And, to complete the concept of the Golden Rule, what you send out will come back to you, so the actions you take or the words you speak or the thoughts you conceive should be ones that you feel comfortable returning to you, for they inevitably will.” ~Lessons from the Source by Jack Armstrong

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

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

Will Smith is my courage cheerleader.  Watch this 10 minute video and I believe he may become yours as well.

Will says that “Your words and thoughts have power.”  I wholeheartedly agree.  He says he wants the world to be a better place because he was here.  He has done that.  He also says “If you are not making someone else’s life better, then you are wasting your time.  Your life will become better by making other lives better.” Wise words from a very wise soul who speaks with conviction and honesty.  This is a great video to watch if you feel you need some encouragement to overcome life’s biggest challenges.

This is a list of topics he covers in these interviews:

Shares his wisdom on life

Greatness exists in all of us

There is no shortcut to success

Lay one brick at a time

Focus on making a difference

Represent an idea

You have to believe in your plan

Nothing is realistic

Our thoughts are physical in the Universe

Attack you fears

Be willing to die for the truth

Protect your dream

I wanted to introduce you to Kimberly Schneider, The Manifestation Maven, who I had the pleasure of meeting recently. Kimberly is the creator of The Cornucopia Method of Manifestation™, a powerful and proven 5-step process that has helped thousands of people all over North America create more of what they want and less of what they don’t in their lives. I love Kimberly’s comfortable manner, while relaying very valuable information.

A former trial attorney and psychotherapist, Kimberly especially likes working with live audiences. She specializes in “5-minute life makeovers” because a few minutes are often all she needs to identify limiting beliefs and communicate them in a compassionate yet direct, lively and compelling manner.

Kimberly facilitates www.ManifestationMastermind.com, a teleseminar coaching program, and works with select high-level business coaching clients in her Alchemy of Business, VIP Map a Business in a Day and Day of Transformation coaching programs.

A poet, dancer, world traveler, spiritual adventurer and business alchemist, she lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, two kids and two cats. Kimberly has two extraordinary children, one of whom has special needs.

Visit Kimberly at:

http://kimberlyschneider.com/

www.facebook.com/kimberlyvschneider

www.twitter.com/kvschneider

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”  Marcel Proust

Who would want to visit a garden that is full of waist high weeds, colorless and uncultivated?  I would not, simply because it is lifeless, neglected and kind of sad.  Even if you planted a beautiful seed,  it has no water, or care. There is nothing to nourish this beautiful plant to take root.

Now imagine a colorful garden full of beautiful flowers, or food growing in abundance.  The area has been prepared, seeded and the little plants raise their courageous heads to the sun, in anticipation of growth and change.  You can compare these two scenarios to the mental bodies of the human race.  Each person is different, according to what has been planted in the garden of their consciousness.  The mental body is a magnetic field, and through the power of your attention, draws into itself whatever it is being fed.  What are you feeding yours?  Garbage such as anger, judgment, blame, jealousy or even hate?  Or, are you feeding it peace, joy, abundance, love, and a sense of knowing that you get to choose?  The healthy plant that is loved and cared for carries a pattern of perfection within itself, just as you do.  Are you willing to hold that pattern in your mind in a receiving way until it can be externalized?  Have the courage to cultivate, feed and water this pattern of perfection that wants to expand and express itself in, through and around you.

When you get an idea, it is the responsibility of the mental body to hold this idea clearly – long enough for your feelings to breathe it into life.  How does this happen?  By breathing  love, enthusiasm and expectation into the idea.  It is like a rhythm that accompanies this pattern of perfection you wish to manifest into form.   How do we fail or fall short of this?  As I mentioned earlier, our mental bodies are meant to be a clear, magnetic field.  It is cultivated and ready for planting.  When we put accumulated concepts, mass consciousness of fear, doubt, failure, doom and gloom into this beautiful garden of our mental body, there is no space for the good stuff to grow.

The mental body receives through the power of your attention, as well as through the activities of the senses. So imagine your attention connects with something, good, bad or otherwise.  Now your mental body forms a picture of it in your mind, and through the senses, whatever you have placed your attention on, enters the mental body and adds to what is already there.  In many cases, there is an accumulation of discordant garbage.  If we keep storing the same old garbage, there will be no room for the beautiful life we all want to live.  Start by pulling some weeds out of the garden of your consciousness.  Maybe your garden is beautiful and yields great and wonderful life experiences.  Now and then, you may find a few new weeds, or a couple of really big ones that need removing.  Go on in, and pull them out.  Then move on, without resistance, just knowing that all gardens need weeding, and constant tending to stay beautiful.  Just like you.

Here are some very wise rules to live by that will help your garden grow.

Watch your thoughts; they lead to attitudes.
Watch your attitudes; they lead to words.
Watch your words; they lead to actions.
Watch your actions; they lead to habits.
Watch your habits; they form your character.
Watch your character; it determines your destiny.

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