Inspiring Connection

Core Values

2011-12-27T16:50:00.002-05:00

As I was reviewing materials from a major HeartMath (www.HeartMath.org) program, the segment on core values jumped out at me. Heartmath has created constructive ways to deal with stress, and part of it is based on our focus in life.

The essence of this segment helped me to realize that when I am not in,or coming from, my core values, I am stressed. Pretty simple, right?

And when I am stressed I have a tendency to ignore my core values. What a cycle.

There is the confusion. What is the solution?

Time to use a little discipline and look for a core value in everything I do. It seems that much of the things I do can have a positive core value behind them if I start with that Intention.

Start with an intention of authentic connection, of service, of spiritual growth, and each task and activity will have a gift within.

Poem

2011-03-31T08:07:00.002-04:00

Though this has nothing to do with business, I just wanted to share it. I wrote it a long time ago, and when I found it among so many thoughts, it seemed like something I have to put out there.

Speed of Beauty
In the spontaneous search for an ear to speak into
your lips fluttered across my cheek,
their softness lifting heartbeats
above the speed of beauty.
My own lips tingle with
the dream of
abandon;
slowly, deliberately placing them
in the sun-dappled path
of your own
to meet in the meadow of tenderness.
-Larry Watson

Frustration- What is it?

2011-03-15T09:34:00.002-04:00

In Linda Galindo's book, "The 85% Solution", there is a paragraph that talks about frustration. In it's simplest form, it is the emotional response to unmet expectations. An excellent Buddhist lesson is embedded in that statement.

The Buddhist lesson about attachment has everything to do with frustration. The Buddhist view is that wanting is the source of suffering. This is because wanting is the result of being attached to an outcome. If we are not attached to the outcome actually occurring, then there is no suffering. The desired outcome might happen, or it might not. If we are attached to one or the other, then our suffering will be the result of how much we are attached to what did not happen.

Can you look at all of your disappointments and see that this is true?

You might be thinking that some of these expectations are perfectly normal and everyone is entitled to them. Is that true? Who has decided? Where did you learn that?

These expectations are the source of our frustration. If you enter into a situation without any expectations, then frustration is not a possibility.

Is this practical?

Aren't there some things that we should expect? If someone Says they are going to do something, shouldn't we expect them to follow through and deliver? Yes and no.

You can expect them to do it, but if you are attached to that expectation, then your frustration is proportional to your attachment to that expectation. On the other hand, if I expect that to occur, but I am not attached to it, then my frustration is negligible. I am prepared for all contingencies, knowing that I am responsible for myself and for the work that I entrust to others.

Wait a minute; I am responsible for what I entrust to others? Ultimately, yes. You might be feeling resistant to this idea, so hear me out.

If I take responsibility for all aspects, then I can let go of the unmet expectations. Responsibility does not mean automatic recriminations. I just accept that this was my responsibility, that I delegated this activity, and I accept if it doesn't work out the way I wanted it to, and I learn. My options for future activities at this point are wide and varied.

Frustration = unmet expectations. All of which are directly proportional to the attachment we have to those expectations.

Set expectations. Set them high. And accept the responsibility without judgment of good or bad. Decide if it was skillful or unskillful, and what you can do to support better results.

If you want to learn more about this, read Linda's book. An eDrivenBookClub for this book will be starting in about 4 weeks.

Comments- please! Subscribe now.

Peace
Larry

Judgment- what is it?

2011-01-19T08:54:00.002-05:00

During our burning bowl ceremony on New Year's Eve, I was inspired to release judgment.

Trust me, I was totally realistic about it; this would be an ongoing process. Seven times 70. More like seven times 700.

Today I was wondering if judgment is a feeling, an emotion. I like to honor my feelings so that I can let them dissipate and dissolve. So I wonder if judgment falls under the same category.

Or is it a thought that can be questioned, using The Work of Byron Katie. Is it a thought that brings up feelings like guilt and anger; or praise and adoration?

Or is it a belief that I have appropriated from those around me through my life?

What do you think?

Book Study Prosperity

2010-12-09T11:05:00.000-05:00

Prosperity in Book Study

When considering adding a book study to your church programming, sometimes cost can be a consideration. How do we find funding for the program? Below are a couple ideas that might get you started.

-Offer enrollment on a "Materials Fee" basis. There is a hard copy of the guide that they receive. This fee can range from $10 to $25, keeping it in a very reasonable range. The added bonus is that the investment will create an increased commitment to attending the program.

-Allow the group leaders to take love offerings at each meeting.

-Add this as one of your free classes for those who tithe, as Rev. Chris Michaels suggested in the most recent Enlightened Leaders presentation.

Funding does not need to be an obstacle. We are creative beings, and the law of circulation is always at work.

Peace,
Larry
www.InspiringConnection.com

The Worst & Best

2010-11-24T10:30:00.001-05:00

During a road trip, when stress can magnify things, I noticed myself finding judgment of others and feeling justified to point this out. The next day I realized I was pointing at parts of myself.

It's funny how quick I (we?) can be when it comes to finding judgment of negative traits in others. And knowing that those are traits that I can find in myself, I have the opportunity to feel compassion for everyone who demonstrates those traits.

And what about the positive traits that I admire in others? Those are present in me as well, and associating with people who demonstrate those traits will help me to see them in myself, and nurture and cultivate them.

My goal is to seek out those people who I want to add to my circle of influence, and actually take the time to discover their power and attitude.

First and foremost, I must recognize that I am worthy to ask them for a snippet their wisdom.

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Peace
Larry

A New World

2010-11-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

In answering a LinkedIn question: "And it is as if the world is collectively holding its breath, waiting for something. What do you suppose it could be?"

My response was:

From what I've read, and my own intuition, is that this era is an opportunity for spiritual evolution that is available and powerfully present. The potential is cannot be denied. Our power to choose is not inevitable.

As the leading edge of thought and spiritual consciousness expands, this potential can create the momentum to be a global transformation into a new paradigm that relegates materialism in the back seat as a mere playground for our spiritual and social evolution in a physical world.

And if we choose to let this opportunity pass us by, the consequences could be conflict and power struggles.

Our role is to be the change we wish to see in the world, living and acting from a role as contributors to the wellspring of conscious living.

As each of us turns toward a conscious spirituality, if only by tiny degrees or increments, we turn the world into its potential of a shift that is hard to imagine.

Peace,
Larry
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www.inspiringconnection.com

Be Willing

2010-11-16T13:05:00.002-05:00

When I am looking at my potential, and affirming the future results and outcomes that give me joy, I am often intimidated by the responsibility of being in the perfect mindset to make it all happen. The concepts of the Law of Attraction are so powerful, and nailing all the steps and processes sometimes appears daunting.

Getting it right, I realized, is not the biggest step. Having the right affirmation or the right attitude and emotion are not absolutes to 'successful' manifestation.

The other day I was saying some affirmations, and my ability to believe these affirmations was less than 100%. And the credibility of my own affirmation is pretty important as I learned from Terry McBride.

Then I remembered the leading words of Collin Tipping's "Radical Forgiveness" worksheet affirmations: "I am willing. . . "

I realize this opens me up to the potential without requiring me to know the how. It opens up all the potential that I can see or that I cannot see from my limited perspective.

It opens up my potential to the power of the Universe to create with me my higher good, even if I can't see it yet.

It is not mine to nail down the how and when. I am willing, and the Universe steps in with grace and all the potential that is available in this universe. It's time to trust and put my faith in the Universe's constant love for me that supports me 100% all the time.

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Peace,
Larry
www.InspirngConnection.com

Make it Easy

2010-11-05T11:00:00.001-04:00

Make it Easy
When a minister is considering a new program, there is the major consideration of human capital to be considered. Volunteers are not unlimited, so it makes sense to give them all the tools and training to make it easy.

When approaching a congregant or staff person with the opportunity to bring a book study into your spiritual community, it is important to let that person know exactly how much support they will have. At New Thought Unity, we scheduled a board training in our annual retreat so that nominees would know that they weren't going in blind.

The same is true for small group book studies. Let them know that you have an entire system already prepared for them to plug into your church and your calendar. And the documents are customizable, giving everyone freedom to adjust to your particular needs.

Comments and followers welcome

Peace
Larry

Gratitude Is Giving

2010-10-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

While watching a Deepak Chopra movie last night ("The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success) I barely caught this little tidbit about giving and receiving.

The law of circulation is a principle of this universe, in both the physical and metaphysical realms. What we give comes aback to us. When we hold back, so does the universe.

He said, "Gratitude is a form of giving."

That was the tiny piece that hit me. Our gratitude creates the process of circulation that brings more of what we are grateful for.

Gratitude is an energy that adds to our abundance and keeps the circle turning, adding more to what we already are blessed with.

No wonder it feels so good.

Acceptance

2010-10-12T15:18:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had one of those nights where you can't get to sleep? Just wired to the max, mind racing, body not interested in sitting still?

That's where I was last night, a very unusual occasion for me. I usually drop pretty easily after 11.

But last night I felt like I could have gotten up and run a 6K, which would be a major miracle in my current state. I have no idea where this energy was coming from, but I certainly wasn't going to disparage it. I was grateful to experience a heightened level of energy.

But I wasn't getting to sleep in this state. What to do?

Accept.

I had the advantage of feeling gratitude for this remarkable state of energy, so it was a little easier to move to acceptance in this situation. I decided to stop worrying about sleeping, and...

Accept.

I accept this gift of hyperactivity.

And the release of resistance was palpable. I could feel it's release like a 100 pound weight being lifted from my body. The restriction of my chest was suddenly soft and gentle.

Acceptance. Better than NyQuil.

Comment with your experience, I want to hear...
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Peace
Larry

Compassion (cont.)

2010-10-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

What is left? What is our intention when we are expressing compassion?

Perhaps it is knowing that they are whole and perfect just where they are. Recognizing their divinity while they are in the midst of struggle might seem ineffective and inadequate in the face of their plight. When have you tried it? Try it today and let me know how its working for you.

Maybe it's honoring their journey as it takes this path that can feel so painful and appear so unfair. Maybe it's honoring the choices and all the situations and events and people that have brought them to this perfectly imperfect moment.

Maybe it's holding with them their potential that is more than this situation. Maybe it is recognizing the power that they possess to re-create their life in a beautiful way that is totally unique to them.

Compassion isn't about me.

It's about them.

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Peace
Larry
www.inspiringconnection.com

Compassion

2010-10-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

Spiritual Partnership book study based on Gary Zukav's book has multiple references to compassion. As I've discussed this in a couple of circles, compassion is an often used word that is not clear. It's meaning is a bit illusive.

When we are having compassion for someone;
-It's not feeling what the other person is feeling. That would be sympathy. We can never know what they are feeling. Besides, how does that help them? Does it serve them to jump in with them when they fall down a well?
-It's not feeling sorry for them. That requires a perspective of superiority. it also implies that there is something wrong with them.
-It's not identifying with them and telling them, "Yeah, that happened to me..."
-It's not giving advice and trying to fix them or their situation. They're not broken. They never were.
-It's not taking sides.

What is left? What is our intention when we are feeling compassion?

Continued tomorrow....
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JOY
Larry

Unlimited Parts

2010-10-06T14:47:00.002-04:00

How often do I look at what I do and criticize? Not enough. Less than them. Comparisons, judgments, perfectionism, etc. Who knows what's going to show up? Am I even aware of these parts?

These parts are all about the physical world. This is a world of limitations.

There are parts of our world that are unlimited. There are parts of me that are unlimited. Parts of you that are unlimited.

I have a choice to look at those unlimited parts and choose them as my motivation and intention. I have a choice to see the potential in myself and accept it as my inheritance to express in any moment.

From that unlimited potential, the limited parts lose their power. I have re-set my intention to one of possibilities.

See it often.

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Peace
Larry

Switchbacks

2010-10-05T10:47:00.003-04:00

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz talks about the zigzag path that we all take to our goal. Like a sailboat on the sea, it rarely is going directly in a straight line to the destination. It requires many corrections.

Last night I had a dream of climbing a mountain and then seeing a trail map after the fact that showed our path. It wasn't a straight line.

It was a combination of directions, rarely in a direct line with the goal of the pinnacle, numerous switchbacks. Such a great metaphor, and one that I prefer to the sailboat heading across the sea.

Climbing a mountain is hard, and it can wear us out, become dangerous, if we try to take it on without consideration of our limitations or the obstacles. But paying attention to the really steep parts, we can continue to make progress up the mountain by taking a path across the mountain.

It can look like we're not moving toward our destination, our goal. It looks like I am going the other way, and that the goal is slipping out of sight.

When we are patient and constantly moving with the intention of reaching the top, anything is possible.

This is really useful to me so that I can be gentle with myself when progress seems elusive, when the path doesn't seem to be going to the top. I can be more patient knowing that progress isn't only made in the direction of the goal, but in the intention and persistence. Keep moving the feet, keep my eye on the prize.

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Peace
Larry

Fail Early, Fail Often

2010-09-30T10:51:00.002-04:00

As I read "Making Things Happen" by Scott Belsky, I found out that Seth Godin, a prolific author who creates many products, attributes his success to the fact that he "ships". He doesn't wait around to see if an idea is perfect or not, he executes the idea and ships it out to see the results.

The fact is, he fails much more often than he succeeds.

I'm reminded in this lesson of many of us who have a fear of success. There are many things around the fear of success that are intangible.

Could that fear really be fear of failure?

In order to find success, we must risk the possibility of failure. A baseball player fails 70% of the time. A great basketball player misses 50% of his/her three pointers. Seth Godin claims that his failures far outweigh his successes.

What if we approached success with the full knowledge that failure is imminent? What if we looked at failure as inevitable, even desirable. Knowing the percentages, we will encounter success only with a good dose of failure mixed in.

And we can let go of our attachment to our perfection so that failure loses its emotional charge as a bad thing. If failure is actually a badge of honor and a positive attribute that opens the door to success, will we be more likely to embrace opportunities that might result in failure?

It is this change of perspective that will free me from paralysis by analysis. It is the new paradigm of "failure is my friend" that will create the opportunities for my full potential of success.

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Peace,
Larry

How To Win Friends

2010-09-20T10:22:00.002-04:00

I'm working on a live online program using the classic "How To Win Friends And Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. Tim Burgess requested this program to conduct for his clients. This book was written in 1936 and is as relevant today.

Today I am assembling the first two weeks of guides for the actual group discussions. This is always very exciting for me, because it is the time that I intuitively bring together the most insightful quotes from the book, and my intense questions that will be the springboard for the participants to discover their unique wisdom.

As is usually the case, I have more material than is appropriate for the time allotted for each call.

This is an powerful book which I wish I had read when I was 20 years old. I can only imagine the difference it would have made in my life! It is already making a difference in my ability to accomplish things in my life.

Because we can do a little when we work alone, but great things are possible when we work together...

I got a rock 2.0

2010-09-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

After playing with rocks for an afternoon, I was truly content. I had fun. Rocks to me are treasures. I keep stacks of them in my yard, 3 and 4 feet high. I feel wealthy when I have piles of rocks.

I'm guessing that not everyone feels that way about rocks. As a matter of fact, I've heard some people curse them, as they seem to multiply in their yard, only to reach out for an ankle or a mower blade.

Perhaps this is the epitome of looking for the good in things. A rock is meaningless until a human gives it beauty or usefulness or distain.

This is a great opportunity to look at how I see the other rocks in my life. Do I look for the beauty and fun in all the aspects of my life? Is the detritus of my life mentally rejected and discarded as ugly and useless? Or can I find the beuaty of things and situations in a new context?

My rocks only acquire beauty and wealth in the presence of the context that I create for them. I can also accept the negative or positive context that someone else is only too happy to hand me.

My choice....

Peace
Larry

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I got a rock....

2010-09-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

"I got a rock," I said as I got in the car. In my hand was a rock with a hole in it that was at my feet as I finished the stone arch.

I often use that line from Peanuts' "The Great Pumpkin" cartoon wherein Charlie Brown gets a rock at every house when they are Trick-or-treating. He sounds so disappointed, but I love rocks. I can spend hours in a creek playing with rocks, looking at rocks, collecting rocks, skipping rocks.

Today was just such a day. Exploring a tiny little state park in Northern Kentucky that wad gifted by a couple who had enjoyed the beautiful serenity of this patch of peace, I found myself at the shore of the Licking River about 50 miles from its joining the Ohio River.

The dearth of rainfall left many rocks exposed, including a lot of thin large rocks that are ideal for so many fun activities, as mentioned above. So I got a rock to stand on edge, stacked rocks into an arch a la Andy Goldsworthy http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/10013111.html, and as much fun as I can have with a pile of rocks.

The arch was the first one that I had built, ever, and I was so excited to see it still standing after removing all the supporting stones. The arch defied gravity, weight, and assumptions about its construction.

Though Andy always records his work on "film", I was sans digital imagers. On the way to the park we had driven through a downpour, so I left the cell phone in the car.

One of Andy's hallmark is that some of his work is intentionally temporary, which emphasizes the process rather than the product. So leaving the arch and the large standing rocks in the center of the river bed would ensure that their tenacious balance would be quickly eroded by rising waters. The only witness to my creative energy and process would be a few neurons in our brains that would capture a fading image of stone constructs.

Then again, perhaps the image will become more vivid and fantastic with time. My choice....

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See the next blog for the metaphysical meaning....

Feel the Pain

2010-08-16T09:28:00.003-04:00

"Forgiveness will never fail to free you."

-- Jerrold Mundis

"How do we forgive when we’re angry and hurt?

As a first step, we can be willing to truly feel our anger and hurt. Honouring our feelings by being fully present with them helps to release the feelings themselves."
-HigherAwareness.com

This first step is absolutely critical for forgiveness. Just as important, it allows us to reduce the emotional or drama charge that a memory, person, place, or thought might have for you.

Thoughts trigger our feelings, based on the meanings that we have given to the events surrounding the thought. Without a thought, we have no feelings.

When we have negative feelings around a thought, I usually repress that feeling and stuff the thought away with the feeling still intact. The next time I pull it out, the feelings grow until I stuff it away again.

As the quote above elucidates, we must first honor, recognize, and feel the feelings that we associate with a thought in order for that feeling to dissolve and transform. When we give our feelings this time and attention, they tend to transform into joy. Really. No, really.

But first, we have to separate the feeling from the thought. We must set the thought aside, after naming the feelings that we have around that thought, and allow ourselves to sit with the feeling sans thought.

Easier said than done.

Give it a try. Let go of the thought, and sit with the feeling for a minute.

Next time that thought shows up, it will have less charge hanging on to it. Rinse and repeat.

Please share your thoughts and feelings around this idea.

Larry
www.inspiringconnection.com
www.reflect-connect.com

Crisis - or not?

2010-08-04T17:35:00.001-04:00

I was reading an article about crisis that cited this definition:
crisis: a decisive or critical moment.

I don't know about you, but crisis always possessed a negative impact in my mind.

It never occurred to me that it would mean a point of decision, or a tipping point.

When I think of the word crisis, I imagine several exclaimation points behind it.

Crisis!!!!

For me it indicated that things are on the verge of absolute disaster, that the balance of the universe was a-kilter, that the peace and calm had been shattered and only bad things could come from this.

But "a decisive or critical moment" might mean that it is a point of opportunity. It might mean that things are coming to a fork in the road,where we are responsible for a choice that will determine the future.

And such points of decision could be in the face of pure joy and peace, couldn't it? Well, no, I can't think of an instance, but if crisis is not about a judgment of the situation, then a fork in the road can show up in any number of forms, people, moods, feelings, thoughts.... Including fun ones.

Does that mean that all chaos presents an opportunity for a decisive moment? What if I looked at all chaotic and challenging moments as a crisis of decision and choice, a critical point to jump on one side of a fence or the other?

Intimidating for me. I'm not big on decisions. I have found that I have a big part of the 7 in the Enneagram that doesn't like to choose because then I would no longer have all the other choices available to me.

Looks like this is a great opportunity to make a decision about what I think a crisis actually is. It's a positive thing, right? I'll keep telling myself that, act on that premise, and see how my life changes with that realization.

What about you? What did the word "crisis" mean to you? What will you do with that now?

Peace & Joy
Larry
www.reflect-connect.com
www.inspiringconnection.com

Book Club Introduction

2010-07-29T08:53:00.005-04:00

Last night I conducted the Introduction session for the next Book Club series that starts this Wednesday at 8 PM EST.

It is really exciting to know that I am going to be able to connect with so many people without the inconvenience of travel and locations. From the comfort of our homes, we will be connecting on a very real level and discovering our own voice.

My mission is to give people the vehicle to discover their unique wisdom and connect with others on a deep level. My goal is to do that for 500,000 people in 5 years.

The Introduction went very well, we had a great group of people. I'd love it if you were to join us for the series.

It is fascinating and empowering for me to watch myself take on different roles as a leader. As a leader of a new company, I realize how much of my unique perspective is coming through in all aspects of the program. As a leader in the meetings, I realize how important it is for me to lead by example and help people feel comfortable and safe.

And as a leader of myself, I have the opportunity to watch how I am being, and to always choose "authentic" as my modality.

This is where I am meant to be, and I accept the opportunities that the universe keeps throwing at me. There is a constant flow of this abundance, if I choose to turn in that direction and continue to make it all happen and roll to me.

What does it feel like when you step into your leadership?

I'd love to receive your comments!

Competitive Advantage

2010-07-20T14:22:00.002-04:00

A video series of "Webisodes" are being broadcast beginning this week featuring Peg Stookey, with me as her guest.
Go here http://bit.ly/aevycY to view the video.

This is the first of 4 weekly Webisodes that discuss the book "Creating Competitive Advantage" by Jaynie L. Smith.

I hope you'll join us in discovering this book that will change your company language and your whole strategic processes.

Click on http://bit.ly/aevycY to view the Webisode

Come back and share your comments with me!

Peace
Larry

New Opportunities

2010-07-19T16:31:00.006-04:00

I'll be rolling out a new service in the next week, and I would like to relate a conversation that I had this morning with a Training/Development company about the new system.

A powerful Virtual Book Club system has been created and will debut this week that will allow very easy and comfortable access to Book Clubs very soon. This system will connect a number of people on one technology platform so that this group can connect as a whole, and also break out into smaller groups for more in depth discussions.

My passion is about the small group experience using books for the information bank, and how it allows us to discover our own unique wisdom. By being about to verbalize our ideas, we are able to discover our power.

Bob Sutton of ProThink Solutions asked to meet with me this morning to talk about my system and its potential application with his own programs. As we talked about his mission and how he has presented it currently, we saw that my system would give him a powerful process for offering his wealth of knowledge to the general public, as well as in the corporate sector.

We saw many advantages to the Virtual Book Club system for his program.
-Flexible group sizes
-Customized time frames; weekly, biweekly, monthly
-Subscription based for ease of registration
-Hands-on moderation of groups for optimized client experience
-Measurable results for clients

I'm looking forward to working with Bob to develop a program that can provide the benefits of his wealth of knowledge to a new client base.

Peace & JOY
Larry

P.S. Please post comments, questions, feedback...

Ease Up

2010-07-15T10:11:00.001-04:00

As I am working on a book club program for The Happiness Project, I read a single page in the middle of the book entitled "Cut People Slack." As I thought about this, I realized how many layers there are to the idea.

It's complicated
Gretchen Rubin helps us to see that people's lives are far more complicated than they appear from our personal perspective. How many times have I known someone for a while, only to find out that their journey has been a tumultuous or tortured one at times? In the process, they reveal their vulnerability, usually in an offhand, cavalier way that seems to disregard any possible obstacle to the very best in their life. And perhaps I do the same thing, myself.

Their situation is not based on my history.
I think back to how I've approached people as I meet them and begin to learn about them, and I see that I compartmentalize them to fit into all the boxes that I have created for my life. Each tidbit of information, opinion, and feelings are compared to, and matched with, ones that I have experienced. I now have a "reference" point of my own history with which to view what they say or do.

With this set of reference points, I could sidestep the onerous task of admitting that I don't know everything. Yet, in truth, I cannot know their experience, because it is not my experience. Sometimes it's not even close. This ignorance seems to make me uncomfortable, but once it has become clear, I can accept and admire. Or not.

They are constantly changing.
One of the most recent revelations about the people I meet is that this is who they are - now. Then, this is who they are - now. It is constantly changing.

I can only offer this freedom once I have discovered it for myself. When I can see that I am not the same person that I was a year ago, and I can say that this is OK, then I can open my mind to that fact that the person in front of me is in transition. Always.

If I let go of what I had come to know about them up to this moment, I give them the freedom to discover more about themselves. It is through honoring this transition, their transformation, that they are affirmed to continue their journey.

"Forbearance is a form of generosity."
Gretchen uses this sentence to cut people slack who might be in a challenging circumstance that requires otherwise rude or rash behavior. We have no idea why someone is driving erratically, or reaches a flash point for seemingly innocuous events. Their circumstance may be something that we would react to with equal behavior.

But generosity isn't just about identifying with the reaction, or the cause of the reaction. They are doing their best. Just like you and I are. They may have less skills at this, they may have different reference points from which to handle circumstances. Generosity allows for these extremes. Generosity says that I don't have to understand.

Peace
My last thought: peace. Is it really important to know anything, to rationalize anything, to excuse anything? If I want peace, I can let go of all judgment and righteousness. Maybe it's not mine to own. Maybe it's not mine to grade. I can witness. Maybe my simple gift is to witness and be there, to hold for them the OK-ness of who they are in that moment. To cut them some slack when they can't. And I know tomorrow is another day for them. Today, I begin again.

It starts with me. Ease up on yourself, Larry.

Much Love
Larry Watson
InspiringConnection.com

I'd love your comments!!

Giving or Sacrifice

2010-07-14T10:04:00.000-04:00

Does it feel better to say I sacrificed something, or does it feel better to say that I gave something? That's a very important question for me to ask myself.

Martyrdom in this life is frequently an attitude of sacrificing for the sake of a reward. Delayed gratification. When done among my neighbors, it is about expecting that someone notices and gives me a pat on the back, a little leeway, a leg up. When done from a spiritual perspective, maybe I expect some special reward, an extra gold star.

Spirit loves me no matter what, unconditionally, and holds me in grace. What more can I expect? Reward implies that there could possibly be limitations in God's presence.

What if there is no delay? What if the service is the reward? What if we are getting more reward from the act than what we are giving up or sacrificing?

In the recent release "Well Being", it has been researched and discovered that people feel better about their lives when they spend money on others instead of themselves. (Shopping therapy isn't as effective as giving.) People who volunteer feel much better.

"There is nothing BUT self-interest. The only thing that changes is the definition of Self."

Self can be the bottom of Maslow's pyramid. Self can be our highest good. Self can be the God-centered part of us that is only too happy to be realized through service. Self can begin to encompass our fellow man, and the planet.

At that level of Self-interest, it might not feel like a sacrifice. Maybe it feels like love expressing. What is the other word for Love?

Being Empty

2010-07-08T11:20:00.004-04:00

At the conclusion of a Heart Circle, we have a moment to say something about our experience. I said, "I feel empty."

At the time, it was very hard for me to know what I meant by that. The words seemed so inadequate compared to the experience. In the years since, I have gotten a better grip on the logic, if not the actual experience.

We can go into a room that is completed devoid of furniture, and we can see the space that is in the room. You can measure it, if you like. You can see it, you can walk around and dance and reach to the ceiling.

When the room is crowded with furniture, or even people, it seems like we have no freedom to move around, to dance, to flow freely. There's no space.

Is that true?

Did the space go away? Was it replaced? Or is the space "occupied?"

I would say it is the latter. The space is there whether it is occupied or not. The space is always there. When we remove the furniture, the space is still there.

The metaphysical, emotional, and spiritual potential within our lives is always present. It is the "space" of our lives. I frequently will go out and buy some "furniture" to occupy my space; goals, plans, schedules, history, pain, judgments, identity.

As I place it in my "room," I become accustomed to it and think it is a fixture. I forget about the space that underlies it. I begin to believe that it is more important than the space.

I begin to believe it is permanent.

Emptying the room seems pretty dramatic. Just throw it all out in the hall, in the basement, for the garbage truck. A lofty goal.

What if I just remember the space? What if I remember the immutable forces of this life that do not rely on the furniture to support, or to decorate, to create a "mood?"

What if I can remember the space of love, peace, potential that underlies all the furniture that I have drug into the room?

What if I can dance in the space, regardless of history or identity?

Help me to remember...

A Gratitude Smile

2010-06-29T10:25:00.003-04:00

I don't know why I did it. I was fine at the moment, but I wanted more.

I smiled. Not a big grin, just a little smile.

An amazing thing happened. I felt gratitude. Wherever my eyes landed, I felt a sense of appreciation for whatever was in front of me, wherever I turned.

That seemed a little too easy. As the day went on, I would try it in the middle of my MonkeyMind gymnastics, and it worked again. And again.

Such a simple little trick to find in my possession. It feels like a trigger, a button that switches on a whole matrix of gratitude signals with one action. A smile.

Time to make it a habit. What about you? Let me know if it works for you. I'm curious if it's universal, or am I an aberration?

Peace
Larry

Thoughts are only half the picture

2010-05-26T08:16:00.003-04:00

I've been paying more attention to the thoughts that I have and with "whom" I'm having them. What is my imaginary conversation about? What do I need that I am trying to get from the mental conversation?

What if we could take a minute to experience the stuff behind our thoughts, right there in the time that we are chewing on it...

Michael Beckwith points out that we can Talk to ourselves instead of talking to the world. But it's not just the talking that can change. It's the feelings that come with them.

Young children have no trouble being angry with you in one minute, and then sharing their toys with you the next. That's because they live and experience the feelings in that moment. After experiencing those feelings to their full extent, they can let go and release the event that caused them.

There is no resentment ("feel again") because the event no longer has a charge, and there is nothing to feel again.

My goal is to look at my mental conversations as signposts to feel. To step into the feeling of that conversation and see what are the feelings that I bring with it that are waiting to be honored. To express compassion for those feelings of frustration, anger, guilt, as well as the feelings of kindness, love, and joy.

When I stop the mental conversations for a minute, it will be hard to let go of that cast of characters and my judgments of them long enough to look within at my own stuff. I've gotten used to dissociating from myself by looking out there for distraction. And it's a good change.

Dreams

2010-05-20T08:55:00.003-04:00

I know so little about dreams. There are so many books and authorities on dreams that I have not looked at, but maybe I don't need to.

There are books to tell you how to dream, the meaning of each and every symbol/object/person in your dreams, how to have lucid dreams, what dreams do for your health.... I'm actually afraid to look at this because I might mess it up. lol.

But one of my belief systems tells me that dreams are here for my well-being. I dream for my health. I dream to try to figure things out, or to bring to the surface the elements of my life that are ready to be "processed".

Even the unpleasant or violent dreams have some role to play. I'm not sure what or how. Maybe that's when I should be reading a book. One day...

But last night I surrendered anxiety to dreaming. I just said, "OK, I am in conflict on this subject, and I let it go to the angels of dreams to sort it out and put my mind at ease." I have to admit, I felt a bit silly at this invocation. I have never done that before. What was I doing? Where did I get this idea? Was it a psychological ploy? Was it prayer? Was it voodoo?

It worked. It seemed to work. I awoke without the anxiety, without the angst of wanting to figure it out, at peace. At relative peace.

Will this work for you? Haven't a clue. I don't even know if it will work for me again. I'm writing it down so that I'll at least remember it next time. Maybe I'll make a list during the day to hand over to the dream angels.

Bring me to my natural state of peace and serenity. Aaaahhhh.....

What Is Empathy?

2010-05-04T12:50:00.003-04:00

At some point, I began to realize that I have a tough time watching gut-wrenching movies or listening to dramatic stories without being flooded with emotions. I thought being sympathetic in this way was a good path to connect with people.

What I've learned since then is that there is a huge difference between sympathy and empathy. While listening to someone's story, trying to identify with the other person's pain is a matter of sympathy. I would put myself in their shoes and see what feelings I would have in that situation. Apparently I was good at finding those feelings and emotions.

Or perhaps we look into our own history to find a similar story, or one that produced similar feelings. My mistake was in assuming that I knew what feelings the other person had actually experienced. Inevitably, by relating what happened to me and how I felt, I sound like I am engaging in brinkmanship so I can feel superior in the depth of my emotions and feelings.

Empathy is about observing and honoring. Listening isn't about how much I can identify with your feelings or story. It's about respecting your feelings and story. It's about honoring your story and feelings.

It's imperative for me to be neutral while you are relating your story in order for me to respect and honor who you are. Because you are not me. I am not you. Neither of us can know the other's experience.

Honoring and respecting each other is the essence of empathy.

Venn of the jungle

2010-04-21T13:43:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I get a little overwhelmed with all the groups and web pages that I can "belong" to, and I wonder how I can possibly figure out what is most relevant to me. Yes, I can drill down into the niche and find a micro-culture with a focus that is right in line with my thinking.

But I'm more than that. I hope WE're more than that.

The first problem is that we are constantly growing. Either that or you're dieing. And if we're growing, that narrow box is not going to hold us for long.

The second challenge I find is that I am more than that one niche or box, and I have other interests. Yet each focus is stand-alone and myopic.

What if there was a way to incorporate the concept of a venn diagram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venn_diagram) as a visual and functional way to integrate the different aspects of my life.

I have no idea how this would work. I see a similar process with the adwords that determine the placement of Google and Facebook ads that feed from the trough of profile or search keywords. Yet, those processes actually narrow the field, eliminating the personal interests that are not within the smallest box.

What if the Venn program would give us the mix of people and activities that have similar overlaps to my own?

I suppose this is what Match.com or Harmony.com is doing. That has a common purpose for the participants.

What if it was used in other ways? Can you imagine ways that it could be used? (Yes, I am asking You!)

Well, this could be an amazing piece of social media, if someone were to run with it. Just send me my royalty check every week.

2010-03-26T09:37:00.001-04:00

I am embracing my practice of Enthusiasm for today from our Spiritual Liberation book study that says "Enthusiasm enables us to choose to go with the flow of life...with full confidence that each circumstance is intended to accelerate our evolution." Really. Even that guy last night who was... Or when so and so said.... Really? So, like, what happens to my victim-story? I just let that go? Really?! (Haha)

Reasons to join a Reflect&Connect Book Series

2010-03-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

As we prepare for the launch of our web site for Reflect & Connect (Reflect-Connect.com), I was thinking about how this whole concept of Small Group Book Series might seem a little foreign to some people.

I could talk about how it happens, what goes on, the structure, the books; but that's not the most important part of it. The best part is what you experience.

You see, reading a book is a wonderful way to gather information. The wisest people in the world have written books that can change our lives. They have encapsulated and explained abstract concepts in order to make them accessible to our minds. They give us examples so that we can relate to them.

In the process of reading these books, we could become transformed. But that's not what usually happens.

For a lot of people, myself included, I can read a book; intellectualize a book; understand a book; even be able to regurgitate it upon demand. Yet, how much it changes my actual behavior is not equal to the plethora information that I retained.

Our ability to benefit from information is proportional to the emotional content and connection that we experience.

An emotionally invested speaker who speaks to an audience with enthusiasm and excitement will benefit her audience, whereas a speaker who talks by rote or from a script will rarely leave any beneficial motivation in the hearts and minds of her audience.

The same is true for you. "Verbalizing crystallizes ideas." When you have the opportunity to speak your truth, your wisdom comes forth and the ideas that were like mere maple seeds before will now germinate and grow and become solid wood that you can build a life upon.

And every time someone in your group speaks their own wisdom, you can shift your own thoughts to a new perspective that expands your own ways of thinking. Each time someone speaks, we break down the walls of our own paradigms. And each expression of wisdom and truth is a new seed for you to build upon.

Being a vibrant part of a small group book series will give you the potential to experience your own enthusiasm and your unlimited wisdom. Priceless.

Personality Is A Tool 2

2010-03-10T11:33:00.001-05:00

"We can change our personality, but not our basic self. Personality is a tool, and outlet, a focal point of the self that we use in dealing with the world."

Our Real Self is always within, and so much more than we can even conceive of ourselves to be.

Over time, we have chosen our personality as a way to express ourselves, and way too often, to protect ourselves. Most of us, if not all, have found ways to be safe in what seemed like dangerous situations, and they were effective. We wouldn't have developed those habits if they were not effective in some situation.

But that personality trait is not necessarily useful any more, and it may not express our Real Self. Especially if we have used it to protect our Real Self from a perceived danger.

But what if we can choose right now to use our personality as the expression, the outlet, of our Real Self? What if I look at who I really am, the full potential and talents and powers that are within me, as the incentive and model for developing my personality? What if I am no longer a slave to the habits and attitudes that I learned somewhere else? What if personality is a tool for expressing the best within me?

The personality is merely a tool for expressing my authentic self.

Personality Is A Tool

2010-03-08T13:06:00.003-05:00

"Most of us are better, wiser, stronger, mor competent right now than we realize. Creating a better self-image does not create new abilities, talents, powers; it releases and utilizes them. -Maxwell Maltz

Creating a better self-image isn't a process of plastering an image over what we are at the core, our Real Self. Creating a better self image is about being willing to see that we are more than our own mind has led us to believe.

We can look at ourselves from the view of where we were and allow ourselves to be fooled into believing this is all that is possible. We can assume that this is the best we can do, unless we recieve additional knowledge and wisdom from outside of ourselves. Or that something or someone can suddenly make us greater.

But all of that is useless without the true potentiality of those gifts existing within us right now. All the power and talent that we could ever possess is the potential that already exists within us. And self-image can be subservient to that potential, if we choose, or it can be our despot.

By creating a better self-image in our minds, we create the conduit for those talents and powers to be released.

Seems like a "chicken and egg" paradox.

But once we see our potential as much greater than we could ever fully empower, then our self-image will naturally expand to reflect that potential..

Should-Do List

2010-03-03T11:25:00.002-05:00

While listening to "Good to Great", the subject of To-Do lists came up. Then the idea of a Stop-Doing list was proposed, a list of the things a company would Not do because it was not moving toward its core objective and core values.

I realized that I was having a similar challenge with my To-Do list.

As I am working, I suddenly remember something that is on my To-Do list, or it's something I want to add to my list, and I then think about it, ruminate over it, obsess about it, and get totally distracted from the task at hand. And so begins the chase.

But the rest of my To-Do list is not a Should-Do list. As a matter of fact, as long as my current task is serving my core values, objectives, and purpose, I know I can let go of the Should-Do list and feel good about where I am.

And that is the key to peace of mind and focus. Am I working on something that is progress to my purpose and core values? If not, it will create stress. If it is, I can rest in the knowledge that I am right where I need to be. A simple formula. Let's see how it works.

Yes, this blog is part of my purpose and core values. I feel good.

I'm on a Mission!

2010-01-28T20:16:00.002-05:00

I’m on a mission!

I’m sure you say that all the time. At least, when you’re not figuring out how that next project/budget is going to get done.

I realized a long time ago that my mission is to do my part to make small group ministry a regular part of Unity churches. I know how much of a difference it made when I joined my first book Homestudy at New Thought Unity of Cincinnati. When those seven weeks were completed, I felt that I belonged. Since that day I have always conducted small groups and created book study programs. For more about these, click Here.

My mission has turned into my ministry:
Make it easy and accessible for every church to provide small group book studies.

I just finished reading Tribes by Seth Godin (I highly recommend), and he speaks of making the tribe more connected, tighter, stronger, before making it bigger. Actually, I think “passionate” is how “big” comes about. And people become passionate when they speak their own wisdom. Another author emphasizes, “Verbalization crystalizes ideas.” As enlightening as a talk or lesson can be, congregants don’t get the opportunity on Sundays to discover their own wisdom by speaking.

Tip of the day:
Make it Special.
In my last newsletter tip (Click here) I had talked about the events leading up to the beginning of the small group book study. Each step in the process creates more awareness and excitement about the program, making the “tribe” invested. They don’t want to be left out if the flow of information is relatively constant.

This is never more apparent than during registration for the three weeks prior to the start of the program.

For our first week of registration we had a special announcement from the platform that was a an invitation, an explaination, and a story with which they could connect. The reaction was fantastic: more than half of the openings were filled by the end of that Sunday.

This kind of focus is the best way to ensure that people are empowered and interested in the program. Continuing and building this intense focus will create the momentum for your successful small group book study.

The best way to have successful small group book studies at your church is to let the congregation know that, for these seven weeks, THIS is what the church is about.

A leader not only has a vision; a leader communicates that vision.

Feel free to reply to this email, check out my blog, my web site, or just give me a call. Let me know how I can serve you.

Peace & JOY
Larry Watson

My Illusion

2010-01-23T10:19:00.003-05:00

How do you wake up in the morning? It's an interesting observation to see exactly what kind of mood in which I awake. I haven't figured out the determining factors that contribute to my mood; my level of joy or misery, my optimism or pessimism, my level of acceptance or judgment, or my ability to love and feel loved.

But when I can recognize a lousy mood, I have a choice to change that mood. It's a whole lot easier to wallow in it and allow it to control my activities, not to mention my attitude and joy. But it takes consciousness to recognize it and realize that I have a choice.

When I practice my inner cheerleader, I can tell you, I feel kinda silly. I say, "Do you really think that's going to make a difference?" "I sound like that guy in that comedy sketch..." So be it.

Because it works! I simply say the words of what I AM BEING today, and the transformation begins. "I'm having a fabulous day today." It sounds pretty weak at first. With repetition it gains power and momentum. I add other statements of love, success, worthiness, and suddenly I am BOUNCING out of bed! Let me at it!

Cheesy. New Age-y. Silly.

Doesn't matter. It works. Works for me. Everyone's entitled to their illusions.

Peace & JOY
Larry

Small Group Intensives in Corporate Culture Shift

2010-01-05T20:11:00.003-05:00

Working with Inspiring Connection would be a powerful tool for you to create a truly comprehensive culture shift at all levels of the company in addition to a company's prime movers that a consultant leads and.

All too frequently, attempts at culture shift falls to the wayside when there is resistance from the employees who were not initially engaged in the discussion and training. If they are not invested, they are less likely to act. This could result in minimal impact on the client company in the long run, and the culture shift is sometimes abandoned. Inspiring Connection can engage all levels of a company to empower and embrace the program, resulting in;

90% reduction in the time required for company wide buy-in: Typical company culture shift takes 3 years from the time of the consultant training through “trickle down” methods. Inspiring Connection creates corporate inteligence in 2 months.
80% to 95% cost savings over traditional training and development methods (for mid-level and front line staff) by focusing the training on level C executives, and using Small Group Intensives for the balance of the company.
Develop peer respect and inter-departmental trust – team building through common purpose and wisdom sharing.
100% accuracy of information dissemination (nothing is lost in the translation from top down): By using the original training material for all participants, the burden of accurate information is released from the executive level.
100% active participation and engagement for all relevant employees in concepts and practices: hands-on implementation of the materials and real-time feedback engage all employees.
Create a common knowledge base for all employees: common language gets everyone on the same page, with the least amount of effort.

I am very passionate about the programs that I create and the impact they have on a community. I believe in the power and wisdom that people find in speaking their own wisdom, and the connection and respect they develop hearing their colleagues.

Larry Watson

www.InspiringConnection.com

Send email here for newsletter subscription.

Self-judgment

2009-12-22T21:15:00.003-05:00

As I go through my day, I have become aware of the times that I am judging myself. When I become aware, I can choose not to, and in that choice I can feel my body soften and release the tension of trying to live up to that internal Judge.

That physical representation is so palpable in that moment of release! That is the difference of unconscious judgment and the release of that need. And in that moment ego also jumps back into the conversation.

Ego says I should always be in self-judgment for my own sake. Ego says that if I don't constantly evaluate and grade myself, I will become lazy and apathetic. In that state of apathy, my life will fall apart, dissolve into rot and ruin! Whoo, what an imagination.

So I can see the benefit of self-judgment, the benefit of motivation. Yet, I know there are other motivations. Ego tells me that those motivations aren't as effective. Ego is so sure about this. I turn to those concepts of motivation anyway and examine them for their worth and truth.

Considering the toll that judgment takes on me, I think it must be a "push" type of motivation. Push motivations are "pushing" against a resistance. What if there were a "pull" type of motivation that enticed me to the behavior that I thought was best for my highest good? What if it was more of a carrot? What if it made me salivate like cheese cake does?

So one sure thing that might have that effect on me is the goals that feed my core values.

My old perception of those goals were as distant objects and remote experiences. They didn't have a life in the present moment; inanimate objects of fantasy, reserved for "when".

If I bring those goals and core values into the present moment as the motivation for what I am working on in the present moment, joy takes over. I am no longer in conflict with my sense of worth, and I am highly motivated to follow through, leap forward, collecting in my mental arms all the elements that will make up the whole of that goal. Each task is grounded in the reality of the goal, that enticing completeness that represents my being, whole and perfect.

What is the meaning of this?

2009-12-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

As I go through a day, things continue to unfold the way they do. Some of the events are results of my intentions, some seem to be happenstance. Whether I think I contributed to the event or not, there is a meaning that I assign to that event.

If I am more concerned with the control that I have had over the event, I will probably assign a lot of judgment to it. If I feel that I "performed" well and accomplished my intention, I will judge it as good, and assign a meaning of good to myself and the results. If I didn't perform well, then the meaning could well be negative, maybe even adversarial to myself.

If am more concerned with others' participation in an event, I might assign it a meaning of kindness or animosity. This is particularly true if I decide that the person's meaning was wrong or bad, and I then use that meaning to color every interaction subsequent to that decision. I have given something a meaning that may or may not have been an intention.

And even when it is an intention of the other, "good" or "bad", the meaning I give it is purely in my head. What if I were to assign a different meaning to it that relieves me of putting my personal sense of value at stake? What if I choose the meaning that any particular event will have in my life?

When we are young, events happen in our life that can seem traumatic, or dramatic, and at that point we might create a meaning around that event that becomes a rule for living. The meaning that we assigned to that event might be accurate, but by making a rule around that event for similar future events we are trapped into behaviors that are myopic and dabilitating.

In a similar way, I fall into the same trap with each event in my day if I were to assign meanings to events that become bigger than the event. And the egoic mind loves to find meaning and significance in every thing that happens in our lives.

So where can I go from here? Awareness. That is my gift in the discovery. I can now be aware of the meaning that I am assigning to my day, my hour, my minute, and reconsider that meaning in the light of what my intention is for my life.

Unless my life were lived by default, I can consciously find a higher significance - or none at all - in the thread of my day that weaves the fabric of my life.

Tips for Small Group Success

2009-12-17T11:50:00.003-05:00

Compared to last year, New Thought Unity of Cincinnati has doubled the number of groups in its Book Homestudy using Michael Beckwith's book, Spiritual Liberation. There are several reasons for this increased outreach. One of the most important elements is the number of "touches" that the church-goers receive.

Lead from the platform: The minister must be a cheerleader in this process, announcing the Homestudy at least two months prior to the start of the program. This year we incorporated video clips of Michael into the Sunday service announcements so that there is a visual and dynamic element to engage people.
Printed materials: the weekly Messenger includes a Sign Up sheet that describes all the teams required to produce the program. The volunteer merely needs to check off the area of interest and fill in their name and number, drop the sheet into a prayer box, or hand it to a staff member.
Repetition Repetition Repetition: Some of the most interested people may not have attended the "kickoff Sunday", so repeating the message for at least 3 weeks will usually canvas the more active members of your congregation.
Seven to 10 "touches": Marketing gurus will tell you that it takes 7 to 10 contacts with a client before they take action. This is an important fact to keep in mind, because there may be plenty of people who want to volunteer. We only need to "touch" them enough and at the right time.

I hope these tips are useful to you for creating powerful Small Group Ministry in your church. More tips will be included in future newsletters.

If you would like to opt-in to receive my newsletter, send me a note with your email address.
Peace & Joy
Larry

Self Discipline

2009-12-16T21:43:00.002-05:00

What do you think of when you hear "self-discipline?" For me, it usually brought up a lot of guilt for the times when I didn't practice it. Matt Morris talks about it in The Unemployed Millionaire as a phrase that left him feeling less-than. But maybe it doesn't have to be so.

I've decided that self-discipline is actually self love. Self discipline is required for accomplishing goals that feed us. We have certain goals that we look to because we think they will make us feel really good. We might feel good about ourselves, or what the goals do for others in our life, but there is a great feeling associated with achieving goals.

As we envision those goals, there is a drive to attain the goals that is based on our concept of prosperity. That prosperity is not necessarily money, but a richness of life, a richness of quality of life.

In attaining our goals, we gift ourselves with what is in our higher good. We experience the power of the universe at our fingertips, knowing the universe is only too happy to oblige us with the things that make us happy.

If we gifted someone in our lives with the attainment of their goals, wouldn't that be a sign of love? It is a clear sign of honoring and respecting that person by helping them become all that they are capable of.

So what happens when we gift ourselves with the very same goals? When we follow through on a plan, we are not only ensuring that our self love is expressed in the accomplishment of a goal, but that the love for Self is being expressed in every step of the way. That is the expression of love that is our opportunity to experience. The process is a constant self love that is waiting to be appreciated.

So now I try to look at all opportunities, commitments, even to-do lists of tasks as ways that I can show my self that I am worthy and loved. It becomes a loop of energy and love that is only present when I am aware of how I am expressing through the actions of my day.

The Signpost of Fear

2009-12-09T19:38:00.002-05:00

Steve Sherwood gave me a great lesson in dealing with fear. He said that fear is a trail, footprints in the sand, showing me the way to my greatness. As I was reading Mackey MacNeil's excellent blog today, the challenge of fear jumped out at me and helped me recall Steve's lesson.

But I also felt a revelation to pay attention to fear as a signpost to what will help me achieve my greatness. Not just a signpost, but a welcome signpost that will become my best friend. From where I am now, that seems somewhat remote to my mindset, but I know I have already moved a little bit in that direction.

The challenges for me are two:

Can I discern the difference between fear of my greatness and my intuition of a less wholesome situation?
Will I be able to trump my ego's reaction to cut and run?

From my safe position of this moment that tells me I can be the observer in any situation it is not so hard to predict a rational and self-fulfilling sequence of events. From right here I can see that I would be able to recognize the opportunity of fear and turn around to my authentic self and move from that spot. But does that happen in that event?

This is where spiritual self-discipline comes in.
What do I want? How bad do I want it?
I was recently introduced to the phrase Spiritual Self-Discipline, and realized that it was something that I had not excelled at. I was pretty good at putting myself between a rock and a soft place. The soft place seems to win a lot.

As I examine this idea of fear being a signpost, a very welcome signpost that can show me the door to my authentic self, I can entrain my brain to be more aware of that fear, and to automatically turn to my authentic self for my next word or action.

Such was the case today. Having been sent a letter from an attorney's office on behalf of someone who seemed unwilling to explain a simple situation to me in their own words, I decided to bring my authentic self to the table and open a dialogue in the hopes of enticing his authentic self. Knowing I have no control over him, I decided to express my understanding of the situation and let him discover his own interpretation. Whether it is the one I would choose is out of my control.

Having turned to the fear as an opportunity to reach out and speak from my authentic self, I am much more at peace. It's a start.

Struggle and strife

2009-12-08T19:46:00.004-05:00

Can you be grateful for struggle?

"Our race is designed to skate on the razorblade edge between order and chaos. Too much static order and we're bored. Too much flirting with chaos and we feel endangered. We all want to feel safe and loved. Yet by definition the human condition entails conflict.

"Note well that without exception anyone who has achieved anything in life has had to struggle to do it. Coming up against resistance gives us a chance to learn who we are and what we are here to do."
-Dr. Fred Alan Wolf ("Dr. Quantum" in The Secret)

This one can be a tough one to embrace! Struggle is for my own good??!!! Whoa, not anything like what I learned through the years. "A life of ease is the place for me!"

But I guess I've never lived looking for ease, always choosing the challenges that have a greater reward. Maybe not a financial reward, but the process. As an artist, that was always true; the joy and satisfaction of creating artistic work seemed to be enough.

And now I am even more excited about my new work as a Small Group Book Study designer because I know that my work and insight will bring forth the wisdom and insight of all the people that I touch with my programs.

In the meantime, I'm keeping Dr. Quantum's words in my head today as I have my van towed to the shop for repair - 15 minutes after I sold it. Maybe I can dream bigger.

Retention savings 25%?

2009-12-03T13:38:00.003-05:00

While discussing my competitive advantages with a breakout group in Legacy Connection this morning, I mentioned that satisfied employees have a higher retention rate. Good employees will stay if they feel they are contributing to the company, and being involved/engaged in the process of company culture shift empowers each employee to feel they are contributing. Increased sense of self worth leads to greater satisfaction and higher retention.

One member informed me that the average length of employment with a company is 3 years. The loss of one person from a company costs the company between one and two years of the position's salary.When job satisfaction increases that retention rate to 4 years, a company is able to save the cost of replacing each of those people, saving the company up to 33% of attrition costs!

When job satisfaction and empowerment increases that retention rate to 5 years, the savings climbs to 66%.

A big challenge for companies is keeping their best employees in the face of demoralizing layoffs and payroll cuts. Giving ALL the employees a say in the company with Inspiring Connection book study programs can pay huge dividends.

New Year - New Day

2009-11-29T22:34:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow starts a new week and a new day, after the last few days of holiday relaxation. Part of my work this week was developing a business plan for first quarter 2010. It's exciting to look at the possibilities and then begin to imagine the ways that those results can be manifest with a more detailed plan.

This is a result of looking at things from the end. By looking at the desired results we can move into the entire spectrum of opportunities and ways to express.

The Source of Limiting Thoughts

2009-11-20T08:26:00.004-05:00

I was thinking about Michael Beckwith's movie, Spiritual Liberation, in particular his thoughts about ego and essence, and how they show up. The gist of his talk was that the egoic mind is what holds us back, and essence is what expands our life in all ways; in how we relate to each other, in our sense of personal abilities, our capacity for prosperity and healing, etc.

So it seems to me to come down to a test of limitations. A litmus test that can tell me when my thoughts come from egoic mind and when they come from my authentic self, my essence. And usually we can feel it in our body as well.

The concept that "when I am in limiting thoughts I might be in ego" could be used as an indicator, a barometer of the source of my consciousness. If I am in limiting thought, then I am in the egoic mind. When I am feeling free and unlimited thought, I am coming from my authentic self, my essence.

What are some of the limiting thoughts that I experience? They could have some of these emotions involved:

Fear
Inadequacy
unlovable
Insecure
Guilt

Just by becoming aware of the types of emotions that show up in my body and mind, I can have the opportunity to redirect, to ignore, to move back to my authentic essence as my source of unlimited thoughts.

Therein lies the challenge when immersed in a "reasonable" world.

Corporate Small Group Book Study

2009-11-06T19:11:00.003-05:00

I'd like to share with you the advantages of, and the process of implementing a small group culture shift from my company, Inspiring Connection. This applies to authors of corporate improvement books, trainers, developers, and the companies they serve.

Working with Inspiring Connection would be a powerful tool for your company to create a truly comprehensive culture shift at all levels of the company in addition to a company's prime movers that consultants lead and train in company strategy.

Programs created by Inspiring Connection address the entire company when integrating new information and corporate culture by including all employees in small group discussions that are not curriculum based. This augments the original training for top executives conducted by the consultant.

All too frequently, attempts at culture shift falls to the wayside when there is resistance from the employees who were not initially engaged in the discussion and training. If they are not invested, they are less likely to act. This could result in minimal impact on the client company in the long run, and the culture shift is sometimes abandoned. Inspiring Connection can engage all levels of a company to empower and embrace the program, resulting in;

90% reduction in the time required for company wide buy in
80% to 95% cost savings over traditional training and development methods (for mid-level and front line staff)
Develop peer respect and inter-departmental trust
100% accuracy of information dissemination (nothing is lost in the translation from top down)
100% active participation and engagement for all relevant employees in concepts and practices
Create a common knowledge base for all employees

I am happy to work with companies and consultants to customize a program for their needs. The initial contact would include:

An evaluation of the company's goals and implementation needs
A description of how I would address their needs
Exploration of how best to customize the program as necessary

After a contract is agreed to, a licensing agreement and contract is signed.
Materials and manual are delivered in digital format.
Continued consulting to assist with implementation (up to 2 hours) will be included.
Exit evaluation surveys for participants will be compiled and reported to the company.

This will assist any consultant by compressing the timeline of impact.

I am very passionate about the programs that I create and the impact they have on a community. I believe in the power and wisdom that people find in speaking, and the connection and respect they develop hearing their colleagues.

He's Baa-aack

2009-11-06T18:59:00.003-05:00

It's amazing how long since I made an entry! October 7. Wow.

Most of October was spent in preparation for my trip to Florida and the South East Unity Regional Conference. I felt very successful at the conference with the contacts that I was able to make and the clients that I met. In addition, the conference coordinator asked if I would like to conduct a workshop at next year's conference in Naples, FL. I'm very excited at the prospect. Looking forward to it.

I also spent a few days on the beach at Siesta Key, FL. Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, there is also speculation about it being an energy vortex. I felt a sense of that upon my arrival, just standing on the beach as the sun was going down. I found myself a bit overwhelmed by it, and seeking a vibrational harmony with this energy. My intention was to allow the energy to set the tone for my energy.

I felt like I had assimilated "island time" rather quickly, and my goal was to sit in the sun, sit in the water, float on the ocean all day. Enjoy the sunset each night. Repeat as necessary. Next year it will be a full 10 days, and I am already looking forward to it.

But more importantly, I bring that attitude home with me, and I look for opportunities to observe and appreciate this world and this life that I lead. With just a look in my memory banks, I feel that calm energy that flows from the sea and the sun, a breeze softening every moment.

A Fall respite

2009-10-07T21:29:00.002-04:00

Today I met with Dan at Sonrise to talk about how Small Group Ministry works - and doesn't. It was so much fun to work with someone who is excited about it, too. I found myself repeatedly getting passionate about a result or a process or a book, and realizing that I might stop and breath for a minute.

After the meeting, I had lunch at a family owned Mexican Restaurant, which was VERy good. It was some personal affirmations that finally got me to turn into the parking lot, and I was able to ignore those old thoughts of unworthiness.

Upon arriving at home, I was ready to start right into work, but I realized that I needed to take a lesson from my own book (see below). So I let my dog Rudy out, sat on the porch swing, and soaked in the sunshine. The clouds. The blue sky. The trees turning. The air getting crisp. The mind resting, for just a moment. Practicing presence, releasing thoughts, softening feelings with observation.

Work was much easier to address after that.

60 Minutes a Day

2009-10-06T22:54:00.003-04:00

There were adults and children gleefully running across the field , and the banner snuck up behind them, screaming "PLAY 60 Minutes A Day!" This was a TV PSA from the NFL whose purpose was to get the kids off the couch and out with some exercise for a little bit. (Back in My Day, we played outside for hours, till darkness wrapped its cloak closer and closer, damp with evening dew).

But it occurred to me that this could be a very apt admonishment for adults. After all, the aim is for the demographic to live longer and healthier, isn't it? Who needs more of that than the adults in this world?

How much do you play?

Back at the beginning of the industrial revolution, with technology creating time saving and effortless accessories to free up so much free time, there was speculation that it would be a challenge to find enough things to do that would entertain us for hours each day.

How much do you play?

What if you committed to playing an hour a day? What would you do in that time? Computer time doesn't usually count, it's just a video game. Not the same.

Music. Toys. Sports. Hobbies. Creative outlets. Interactive board games.

Whatever disconnects you from the race and the chase. Whatever frees your mind from the schedule and the to-do list. Whatever gets you out of the past or future and into the present moment. The only place that you truly are.

PLAY 60 Minutes a Day. Can you imagine???

2009-09-27T09:23:00.003-04:00

I woke on a Sunday with my mind in a whirlwind, jumping from task to task, admonishments heavy in their trail, a certain dread at all the commitments and deadlines that I had lined up.

I began to see it as my life, as the substance of my day. And it begged the question: Am I living my life, or is my life living me? And in that moment, I knew that it was only a shift of thought and perspective that would allow me to be a participant instead of a tool in the unfolding of each day.

I found a renewed sense of commitment to being present and observing; observing my life, as well as observing my immersion in it. To fully participate in the little things that make up my day. Maybe most importantly, I will find the vision of joy that will lead me to my greatest moments.

What is my vision of my life? What is it that I want to create? When I observe and cherish that vision, I act in concert with that vision, and I act in concert with the Universe that is happy as hell to give it to me.

On Sundays I sometimes grab Wayne Muller's Sabbath, and open it randomly. I read an essay to get me into the mood of the day. And today the essay was "Beginner's Mind". To accept that I don't know what will happen, to accept that I don't know how to get there. And to let go of what has come before and start fresh. To begin the week embracing the unknown.

Perhaps the mist is removed from where I am right now, just a bit. Perhaps I am not my work. Perhaps I am open to each and every soul that comes into my life today. Perhaps my vision is focused less on what is mine to do, and more focused on where I am right now. For a little while.

2009-09-24T23:39:00.002-04:00

What a great night of Kirtan chanting tonight! I am feeling energized, vibrating with power. Tonight was led by Dave Stringer and Mike Cohen and Joni Allen and our own Karen Johns! There were two amazing percussionists as well, and I loved the energy they added to the chanting. Totally awesome.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtan for more info about the origin of Kirtans.

The energy in the room with dozens of people was exhilerating. It's really futile to describe it, it is something that needs to be experienced to understand it.

The result as I'm driving home was not only a high energy level in my body and mind, but a strong sense of potential. I felt myself having greater empowerment and ability to make things happen in my life. It seemed as if some parts of a wall had been knocked down and I was free to move about the cabin. I could stretch my arms out in freedom and strength, I could feel my legs metaphorically stepping out in great strides up the mountain. I could feel my lungs take deep sharp breaths, building a rhythm of energy that would drive those legs.

As I'm feeling this energy, I'm also thinking that I want to nourish this feeling, this knowing that could propel me forward into my future with great energy and confidence.

To some, this might sound New Age woowoo. That's OK. I'm not really talking to them. I know that's becoming a smaller minority. The majority of you get it.

Space & Mystery: paths to the Zen

2009-09-03T22:52:00.002-04:00

In A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle gives us some tools for moving into our present moment, into Presence. One of the tools is the contemplation of space. This is actually the contemplation of nothing, the unnameable. As soon as we start putting labels on things we move out of the present and into comparison with thought and time.

As I was finishing my Tai Chi form, I rested and looked at the moon through the leaves and branches of the red bud tree next to my patio, and I felt a moment of mystery, the mystery of the tree itself.

The other day I was walking along and began to contemplate the mystery of gravity, the way we are drawn physically to this ball of rock and water. I thought about the fact that I am being pulled toward this mass, the wonder and awe at the balance of our universe. It amazed me that the gravitational pull comes from all the atoms in the Earth; the ones close to the surface in the soil, the crust of the planet, the magma center. The gravity that I feel is determined by the entire planet, and creates this balance of me walking on the surface. This gravity of every atom of this planet is holding me down by the attraction it has on every atom of my body.

That wonder and awe at the mystery of this principle that has created our physical universe is the space that I can fall into, the entry to Presence.

As I looked at the tree, and the moon glowing through its branches, I dwelt on the mystery of the tree, its growth, the fractals that produce wood and leaves, the amazing evolution of this species. I felt the world slip away and become massively present, all at once.

When he had asked where he would find the Zen, the Buddhist student was told by the teacher to listen for the small stream in the distance, and through the effort of listening to what underlies the sounds that are present, the student was able to step out of his thoughts and into the moment. As he was struck by the awe of Presence, he said, "Yes, now I hear it," the teacher said, "Enter the Zen from here."

Support

2009-08-17T11:46:00.008-04:00

On Sunday, Rev. Doris' talk focused on how much more effective change can occur when we have support. She pointed out a scientific study on brain function that reported increased integration of new thoughts as "normal" after affirmation and support from outside sources, i.e. our friends, family, and colleagues. That alone is a great motivation to pay attention to the circle of influence that I travel in. If I want to evolve and continue to focus on my essence as the source of my actions, I will be best served by finding people who support me.

One of the great support networks that I have is my small groups. I even have a small group of entrepreneurs to which I subscribe who are great at affirming my goals, celebrating my accomplishments, and supporting my dreams with resources and ideas. This makes it much easier to strengthen my conviction of the potential of prosperity, even the inevitable nature of prosperity as a principle of the universe.

I was born worthy.

I am grateful to find that I can do a lot more and reach a lot more people with my programs and the gifts I have to offer if I find partners and team mates who will benefit from working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. And I lose nothing. So developing relationships is key for me.

Drop me a line, let me know how I can help you.

One of the things I've learned from my Legacy Connection group:
"ALONE WE ARE LIMITED, TOGETHER WE ARE BOUNDLESS!"

I am grateful to find that I can do a lot more and reach a lot more people with my programs and the gifts I have to offer if I find partners and team mates who will benefit from working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. And I lose nothing. So developing relationships is key for me.

Drop me a line, let me know how I can help you.

But we all need support. In my Finding Freedom small group, I received very valuable feedback and affirmation when Kim said that I have created several vehicles of accountability for myself, I've joined groups or hired assistants who make an accountability network. I agree that the accountability is very important to my success, it is the support that I find in these groups that may have the most impact on my evolution.

What are your support systems? Can you reach out and find more? Can you form a small group of common purpose that will assist you in your growth and power?

Peace
Larry.

Look What I Created

2009-07-28T09:36:00.003-04:00

I was very disappointed last night, and left the event frustrated and feeling dejected. I was blaming everyone and everything for the way the evening had gone. But this morning I was able to see that it shouldn't be a surprise! "Look what I created!" (from a process of Radical Forgiveness that seems so appropriate in this situation.)
I realize that I had gone into the evening lacking confidence, lacking interest, lacking a willingness to contribute. And the universe responded.
Today I have the opportunity to accept my responsibility and know that a different approach, attitude, preparation will have a different result. I can create the situation again, or create something different.
And no matter what shows up, it's not a reflection on me.

New Kiln load

2009-07-25T21:08:00.005-04:00

I unloaded the kiln on Thursday, and it was a very good batch of pots. The colors are very vivid and full of energy. On the left you can see one of the large jars that I finished.
The formal shapes begged for some loose poured glazing, and I couldn't be more happy with the results. The Computer chips are in slots in the sides. The jar is close to 2 feet tall.
In the background you can see Edan, my apprentice, working on a large pot. He has learned to throw large forms, and he has learned VERY quickly. This is one student who will surpass me in ability. I love having his energy around, it helps me to be more creative and energetic.

These are some pieces that I am creating for a client in California (San Diego). The piece on the left is my creation, the pewter piece on the right is the item that I am replicating. The glaze on my piece still needs some work, but The shape is coming along. The "beaker" on the right is a replication of a 16th century Italian measuring beaker that has stamps impressed on it as an official certification of it's accruacy. My replications of the replication are in porcelain, and they are used for floral arrangements. There are 5 different sizes for the company events. What fun!

Sabbath

2009-06-21T19:10:00.003-04:00

Today was a Sabbath day for me, a time to stop the clock, allow no-time to dominate, to live in a field of non-judgment where productivity is a non-issue. This, my friends, is a serious challenge. For me. What about you?

As the evening settles in and the sun gently falls to it's nightly rest, I look at the precious minutes left and wonder what I will do with them. What was my goal in this day of non-doing? Perhaps the goal was experiencing my self without demands. Experiencing myself without pushing the envelope, without any benchmarks of accomplishment. What an unfamiliar paradigm.

Even in non-doing, I realize I had set up expectations of accomplishment. I was going to: read some inspirational material, write some revelations, meditate, exercise, and solve all of my issues. Ha.

So now I look back on the day and realize that some was done and some was not. Where is the value in each?

Done: Prayer, meditation, writing, exercise.
What was not done: yes. exactly.

The exercise of not-doing is in non-judgment, in acceptance of self and circumstances and inertia. Sitting in inertia (the property of an object to remain at rest or to remain in motion) is rife with self-judgment fro me. The visual for me is of a marble that has come to a stop, and a million ideas swatting at the marble to get it moving in a direction.

That's an interesting turn of phrase: direction. So is that the source of discomfort? Lack of direction? Hmmm. . . .

Above all, I am learning from the experience through awareness. And this day of rest has revived me, leaving me restless and eager to DO. Tomorrow is another day.

Larry
PS I welcome any comments. . . .

Another Layer

2009-06-19T22:02:00.002-04:00

This morning I was exploring in my head all the implications of being vs. doing. It seemed triggered by a recent comment from a friend; "You are the sum of your choices." But I started thinking about those choices and how they were the precursors to certain actions that can alter the course of our lives. And where we end up is a result of those choices.

But are we the result of those actions and choices? Is who we are based on what we do?

I would say that traditional thought would give "YES" as the absolute answer to that question. And traditional thought evaluated our character and our essence by what we do, what our actions created.

Yet, I am struck by the thought that our essence, our being, is not at all reliant on the actions that we undertake. From a being perspective, is any action even required?

Case in point; children. As young children, did we have any evaluation of self or others based on actions and choices? Considering that a young child forgives within minutes, I would say that the answer is no. There was no consideration of the results of our doing, the doing was the complete reward and goal. Our value was not in the least associated with what we did.

That is the purest example of our essence and our being. We only add judgement to our actions as we learn them from those we admire. And then that judgement shifts from being to doing.

Another way to look at it: What remains when all the doing is stripped away? What if all of the choices and results are erased from our chalkboard of life? What if we have absolutely nothing to show for all that we have done? What remains is the being that is timeless and unquestionably priceless.

The fact is, in my mind, that I am not the sum of all of my choices. Rather, my life is the sum of all of my choices; I am always complete and priceless, without lifting a finger.

Another case of mental vertigo, when the basis of life is shifted to an unfamiliar paradigm. But with that shift is an incredible gift of freedom from past judgments, and even freedom from time. Try it.

Please comment.
Peace
Larry

Criticism

2009-06-17T21:38:00.002-04:00

After a generous evening of musical instruction from a kind, generous, and incredibly talented friend, I was discouraged. I realized that this friend had intended to help me, but my goal was to show that I was a good musician on my own. He gave me a wake up call that I was not a musician of his caliber, and that my desire to be included was a bit ambitious at this point in my learning curve.

The fact is, I had not aspired to that level of performance until I had begun to play with other musicians in public. This was quite the stretch for me, way out of my comfort zone. But I pushed myself, set aside my fears, and jumped in with both feet.

I was stroking my ego with the positive response, and feeding my joy with the simple pleasure of creating music with the synergy of other live musicians. What a blast!

I can feel the correction to my ego after last evening, and I know that this is a small bump in the road. I am determined to see where I can go with the musical talent that I have been given. I have decided to let my own light shine. Let the chips fall where they may. And I will focus on the joy that I derive from the experience.

Larry

Focus

2009-06-17T21:32:00.002-04:00

“ ...what I focus on in life is what I get. And if I concentrate on how bad I am or how wrong I am or how inadequate I am, if I concentrate on what I can’t do and how there’s not enough time in which to do it, isn’t that what I get every time? And when I think about how powerful I am, and when I think about what I have left to contribute, and when I think about the difference I can make on this planet, then that’s what I get. You see, I recognize that it’s not what happens to you; it’s what you do about it.”

-- W. Mitchell

Focus is apparently one of my challenges in life, and one that I am practicing much more than ever. Right now, a large part of my focus intention is to remain on task when I am working, or even doing something for fun. It seems that I had a fear of not being involved in everything, so my old tendency was to try to do it all, while accomplishing nothing. But now I create a focus in the morning and I am much more successful with the positive outcomes.

The quote above empowers me to go further and include the focus of abundance and joy and service in my life. Sometimes I tell myself that I am stuck with this bad mood, and other times I can tell myself to STOP and replace the old thoughts (they are just thoughts) with new thoughts that are much more fun and easy.

It's ironic that I haven't mastered this practice, that reminders like the quote above are always useful and helpful for me to change my life.

Non-Judgement

2009-06-03T09:07:00.002-04:00

Each morning, I set an intention for the day. Sometimes I remember it, I put it on my To-Do map, but just setting the intention can make a difference, even when it never shows up in my mind the rest of the day. Joy, success, peace; simple intentions that I was recently told is a Buddhist practice for "Keeping in Mind" or "Mindfulness".

This morning my intention came to me early: non-judgment. And I realized that, as an intention, it is a negative statement. Non-judgment means I am trying to stop something, I am creating resistance to something in my mind or my life. When I resist, I give it more power.

And where did the judgment come from, anyway? It was a habit that was developed in my youth as a constant motivator. There was judgment for my grades and scholastic achievement and non-achievement; there was judgment in athletic endeavors; everything was graded. As we learn in The Four Agreements, after a while, we take over the judgment ourselves, and we become the Great Judge of everything we do.

I can see now judgment was used as a motivator to push me along to accomplish greater things. Would that it had worked that way. And now? I continue to judge myself because I fear that there will be no motivation to accomplish anything if I stop judging. The fear of judging myself is seen by my old self as a motivator for doing my To-Do list.

What happens when Judgment is no longer my motivator? What is the worse case scenario? I can see that a lot of activites would be shunned because they did not fulfill my purpose to become the best-version-of-myself. Conversely, if activities were fulfilling my core values, I would feel a sense of joy. If an activity did not fulfill my core values, it would not feel rewarding.

And what happens without judgment? What happens when I fall short? I can choose again. That's all. Just choose again, and turn back to those things that are leading me to my higher good.

A challenging idea, because now I have to have faith in my ability to discern what is contributing to my highest good. To have faith in the ability to see and hear and know what is giving me passion in my life. To have faith that I can live my life well without the fear of judgment.

This is a journey into uncharted territory. We sail at dawn.

Back in the Saddle

2009-05-31T22:18:00.002-04:00

Back in the Saddle

2009-05-31T21:32:00.003-04:00

He's BAAA-aack!
Finally! I am back to blogging on my Pottery web site again, though I have had to make a change to this blog site to do so, due to some technical changes. It always seems like updating things should make it easier, but instead it seems to provide new obstacles. Oh well, maybe it's the universe telling me this is the better way.

I attended the Summerfair Art fair at Old Coney in Cincinnati today. It was so different to see the the fair from my perspective since I haven't exhibited at a fair since 2007. I could feel the desparation that the artists were feeling, hoping to get a sale, trying to do the right things, look busy, use the right phrases. It was demoralizing to see all these amazingly gifted people practically begging to sell their exceptional artwork. That was me. And I was SOOO happy not to be one of them today.

On Friday I fired a commission for an event planner in California, and tomorrow I will unload the kiln and see how it turned out. I am happy with the results so far, as is the client. I'll ship it off this week.
Yesterday I dropped off some work to Robin Wood Flowers, and she has ordered more to keep up her stock. I was lucky to have some work on hand when she ran out. Good plan.

I have a new apprentice, Edan, starting on Thursday of this week. I am really excited about working wtih him, he has actually graduated from U. of MinnesOta, and is pursuing a career in pottery. I can't wait to get him started.

The other aspect of this is that I will now be working in the studio on a regular basis, Thursdays and Fridays. I had shut down the studio from February through April, and now I'll see what it feels like to put it back into use. This could be very energizing. I'll see how the body holds up to the work.

The bulk of my time is deveoping my new company that creates the materials for Small Group Book Studies, primarily for churches and non-profits. I have found that I have gift for asking questions. That is, in my mind, the best attribute of a teacher.

"Judge a man not by the answers he gives, but by the questions he asks." -Voltaire

Commission

2009-05-26T14:19:00.002-04:00

Today I wanted to share with you the "measuring beakers" that I am producing for my commission in California. These are the reproductions, as well as the origininals. I have made 125 of these in various sizes and I am ready to glaze and fire them.

2009-05-23T14:48:00.003-04:00

Byron Katie is the writer of the book Loving What Is, and last night I was able to discover the full meaning of that phrase. As I went to my steposon's high school graduation, so many things happened that I could have judged, or I would have judged in my old state of mind. Instead I just accepted them as they were. I had wonderful conversations that I could never have imagined because I allowed them to happen without looking for a way to control them.

As people behaved the way they were, I was able to accept and honor who they were, and release the judgment of whether that behavior was appropriate for the moment. It was totally appropriate in their mind, and they were right. As I released non-acceptance, the world started to look much more beautiful. As I took down my walls of judgment, the reality of the world began to glitter with magic and joy.

By the end of the evening, I went home enveloped in a cloud of magic, walking with "diamonds on the souls of my shoes". The magic continued to vibrate into the evening as I sat on the porch, listening to the frogs and crickets, sluggish fireflies making their spring debut. The only thing that is perfect is the present.

Blue Ocean Strategy

2009-05-13T21:57:00.002-04:00

I've been reading Blue Ocean Strategy, and I am amazed at the paradigm shift that it embodies.

A week ago I was talking to a marketing expert, Marjorie, and as I described the marketplace that I am working in, she asked who my competition was. I said, one person in California, and she can't work on this full time. Marjorie said, "It sounds like you found a Blue Ocean."

So I went on Amazon and bought the book, Blue Ocean Strategy, and I am totally pumped with the authors' complete analysis and process driven exploration of the "Uncontested Marketplace" phenomenon. The epitome of a Blue Ocean is the one that Cirque de Soleil created with their totally unprecedented entertainment.

As I read this, I am realizing the opportunity to create a Small Group Book Study -slash- MasterMind group that can allow the members to help each other to put into practice all the processes described in the book. Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders alike would love to have this process in their arsenal, and at such an opportune time in the economy. This is the ideal time to start a business, or launch a new initiative. And to use this process would definitely improve the profit margin, and odds of success.

I will be pitching it to a couple networking groups, like LSS and Legacy Connections.

If you are interested, please comment/send an email. This will take place in central Cincinnati.
If you have read Blue Ocean Strategy, I would love to hear your comments. Tell me.

2009-04-23T10:16:00.003-04:00

In your approach during your typical day, how much of your life is determined by your role? How much is a result of your true nature and essence?

How often do I start the day, from the moment I wake up, thinking about my business or other roles in which I function? I noticed that this morning, how focused I was on my to-do list, and trying to figure out how I was going to fulfill my role as a writer of Small Group Homestudies. And how am I going to market this wonderful product? When would I have time to do both?

I took a moment to really step back, look at who I am in this moment, nurture that part of me before stepping into my work day. There are several results from this self-focus.

I come at my work with integrity
I have greater access to my wisdom
I am much kinder to myself
I am more focused, having given myself support
I am much more present to my clients and business partners
I am authentic

I can see that this will take practice, because part of my job is to anticipate others' needs, and to figure out how to address those needs and desires. The old tendency was to try to be the chameleon and be all things to all people. Now I can settle into my own skin and be who I am in all that I do, so that I can attract the perfect customer to me who wants exactly what I have to offer. I can offer it with passion, and that shows.

I'm not just selling a product. I'm selling a gift. I keep my eye on that gift as an extension of myself, not the other way around.
Click the comment button, I'd appreciate your thoughts.
One Love
Larry

Now and then

2009-04-13T23:44:00.002-04:00

As I strive to step into this moment, I open the field of Quantum physics. As I compress my need to know and define what is here, I open my mind to all possibilities. In quantum physics, the field of possibilities is infinite. At all times, the field is wide open, with no obstacles, no limitations. Until. Until the field collapses to one singularity of existence. And the only thing which collapses that field of possiblities to one inevitability is my belief. I decide what the choice will be when I decide what the choice will be. How many times is it my highest good?

Acceptance for Michael J. Fox

2009-04-10T15:51:00.003-04:00

I was watching Micahael J. Fox, diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991, in a recent interview, fielding the usual questions about "how do you go on, how do you keep going the way you do?" As anyone who has been through a rough patch knows, you just do. Or you don't.

But Michael said something that encourages me in my latest endeavor to practice acceptance. He said that when he got the diagnosis, he realized that it is what it is. He said it isn't good or bad, it just is. And once he was able to accept that as what is, it opened the doors to all sorts of possibilities.

It opened the doors to all sorts of possibilities. As we learned in Gary Simmons' book The I of the Storm, the field of possibilities that exist as a principle of quantum mechanics is always available to us until we choose one belief. If Michael had decided that he was ineffective as a human being, or a father, or a force in the world, then the infinite field of possibilities would have collapsed to one possibility. Then all the doors that he sees now would have been closed, holding under lock and key the amazing array of treasures awaiting him .

When we accept what is, what comes to us, what we are, then the doors are flung open for infinite possibilities. Our treasures await us.

Update

2009-04-04T21:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday and today, I've been working on talking points for a radio interview on WAIF for the program Life is Meant to Be Good. I don't know when we'll record or when it will air, but I'll keep you up to date. I'm really excited about having a chance to talk about my Homestudy programs, and I really appreciate George Whitton for having me on.

I am now promoting and using my Homestudy program for Steve Sherwood's book, Finding Freedom: The Five Choices That Will Change Your Life. There are several groups that are already forming around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. There is room for more people, when you are ready to participate. Just send me an email (click here) . or call me at 859 635-5599. This is a fantastic opportunity to discover what the book can transform in your life.

A regional coordinator for Unity churches is interested in promoting my Homestudy The I of the Storm on a regional level and a national level. She is interested in taking it to the national conference this year to introduce it as a powerful peacemaking tool for communities.

A national cancer support non-profit has expressed an interest in purchasing a Homestudy for Jeremy Geffen's book The Journey Through Cancer. I think this will be a perfect book to introduce their clients to the philosophy of the organization because it reflects their mission so clearly. It would be such a privilege to serve and help cancer survivors find their power through the journey. For those who haven't been through the journey, that might sound a bit strange, but there are the "ironic gifts" of cancer that are undeniable.

I started out on a walk with my dog, Rudy, down the road. My plan was to drive up to a kite festival when our walk was over, but my plans were deligthfully changed when I ran into a couple of neighbors who I so rarely get to chat with. So we discussed the world, family, the choice of happiness in our lives, and just really got a chance to connect. By the time I returned to my house, it was too late for the festival, and I figured I had come out ahead.

Sometimes when we lose our plan, a better plan can show up. But if we are attached to that first plan, everything else seems like an obstacle instead of a gift.

This is the gift of my out of town trips in the last couple of months, a gift of unattachment to what I expect. A new way to roll.
Take a minute to write a comment, I want to hear from you!
One Love
Larry

Boggle

2009-03-19T22:27:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I presented a three day workshop on pottery and sculpture to a diverse group of 10 artists in Connecticut, at Wesleyan Potters. It was truly amazing experience to be of service and to offer up everything I knew. The realization was that, if I can be my authentic self, I can connect totally with all of these people, and I can receive everything they have to offer.

It was a liberating weekend, for some reason. I think that, in combination with the recent trip to Hawaii, it was a totally disorienting month that required me to really let go of control; control of the time, of where I am, what conditions that I will be living and working in, location on the planet.

It felt like a boggle game where the dice were completely shook up and when everything settled, there is a whole new set of possibilities. And the realization that there will always be a whole new set of possibiities every time the game is shook up opens up a new acceptance of uncertainty.

A change of perspective

2009-03-19T22:14:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was experiencing some vertigo, which was a bit of a surprise. But when my friend Bill brought up the idea of balance (or lack thereof) as a possible cause of the sense of vertigo, and when I took that into account, the vertigo suddenly released its grip on me. Cured by awareness.

What had happened is that someone had given me a new way of looking at things, a hidden part of myself that I was totally unaware of, that seemed to go completely against my type. But I didn't know that part of me was possible because I didn't know how much of my personality was determined by a way of being that did not honor myself. So the vertigo was about finding myself being pulled by a new way of being that was in seeming conflict and imbalance to my old way of being.

What I found was that my old way of being is to "Be Nice", to help others at the expense of myself. The reward (imagined, probably not real) was that people would like me. Maybe, maybe not. But would they really want to be around someone who sacrificed self for the sake of approval?

A new perspective at the top of the mountain, a dissying height. I can get used to that.

Your comments?

Slow Down Challenge

2009-03-19T22:12:00.001-04:00

This afternoon, I decided to slow down a little. I realized that I seemed to always be rushing from one activity to another. Even going from work to a gorgeous walk. Sometimes I am so grateful when my dog Rudy takes a detour, and I have to stop and wait. That's when I notice what is around me. Or stopping as I get out of the car and the stars are painting the sky.

Just fixing dinner, to slow down as I went to the spice rack, to walk to the cabinet a little gentler, to sit down in the chair and notice my body folding and bending. It continued into the evening. What I noticed was how I moved into the moment when I slowed down. I can't slow down without becoming aware of the present.

And everything seemed smoother, more graceful, more natural. It seemed to calm me down, to find a little peace in the conscious activity of day to day, just by slowing down a little.

So my challenge to you, the Watson Challenge, is to slow down everything you do. Just for one day. Not a lot, not slow motion, just a little slower. Just enough to become present. Let me know how it goes.

In the moment

2009-03-04T23:16:00.005-05:00

After two weeks travelling to Hawaii, one of the most important lessons for me was to see how my joy and happiness depended on how much I was in the moment. Being present was the highest and most powerful criteria for my state of happiness, no matter the situation or environment I was in.

One night I was in an old hotel that was a panoply of businesses occupying the myriad of rooms facing on to the central courtyard below, a crescent moon shining down for our main spotlight, and a candle for ancillary lighting. The music was subtle, tunes arbitrarily chosen from chord progressions to support rapping. I was playing hand drums, which takes my total concentration. With that concentration, there is nothing that can intrude. Focus on the present.

Lying on the beach with very few people willing to brave the cool elements, the sun and beautiful Pacific ocean dominated the environment, and began to fill my mind with serenity and joy. But it wasn't the environment, it was my own mind that allowed for the beauty around to fill me up, to feel the energy of the island. In the moment, I was able to experience my bliss.

Attending Unity of Hawaii, I was able to release my experiences prior and to enjoy the experience of this service, to experience the warmth of the people around me, to appreciate the gifts of the spiritual guides present. I danced down the aisle to offer my gifts; I appreciated each person who approached and asked questions, only in the moment.

Perched on a mountainside above Moanoa valley, nestled among lob lobby pines, I was listening acutely to the winds and looking at the waining twilight, clouds spinning off into the west. In the moment that would never be again.

Flying into Cincinnati, the terrain was being occluded by impending dark, noticing the highway's curve and whine, the slower pace of blacktop tributaries leading to my quiet abode, a home by any other name. . .

Looking into each face, stranger or old friend, there is only this moment. Pain is of the past. Frustration is of expectations. This moment includes neither.

Finding Freedom Homestudy is Ready!

2009-02-13T15:27:00.003-05:00

The full package of materials, guides, and administrative tools for the Finding Freedom Homestudy is complete and ready for immediate shipment.

This is a ten session series.
Based on Steve Sherwood's Finding Freedom: Five Choices That Will Change Your Life.
Inspirational and transformational information and exercises
Complete guides make this a self-directed program
The magic of the small group (5 to 8 people) is perfect for this book and program

This program allows people to find out what their greatest strengths are, and how to let go of the emotional strings that have been holding them back. Steve Sherwood says of this Homestudy program

"I want everyone to know how important the Homestudy program is to understanding the book. I wrote Finding Freedom because there isn't time in a seminar to cover all the important topics. Only with extended study and the group environment of the Homestudy program will people get what they really need out of this book."

This Inspiring Connection Homestudy is an excellent program for church groups that are interested in giving their member more tools for understanding of their true essence, who they really are.

This Homestudy works well in a corporate setting, as well, by investing employee and/or management time into personal development that will pay with increased dedication and satisfaction. People connect at a more core level, developing greater trust and support for each other. Corporate culture and morale is vastly improved as intensive personal growth contributes to company efficiency.

Designed in 10 segments, this program can be implemented in its original time frame of 10 months, or shortened for your convenience to 10 or 20 weeks.

I am very excited about this program. The first groups of Finding Freedom have found it to be very key to their ability to continue their personal development over the long haul, which would otherwise fall back and return to their old ways of being. Many great attributes are being explored and embraced, and old habits are released.

Please comment and call me if you would like to know anything more about the program.
Peace
Larry

Black out

2009-02-11T22:46:00.004-05:00

Coming through the door, near-darkness allowed 19 years in the same house to lead me through the rooms with a modicum of confidence. I knew where the flashlight was, whose beam seemed flashingly bright and brilliant, glaring on the walls as it bounced down the hall with my searching hand. Candles were lit, and I found I could function. I found a snack, settled into my chair to finish a book by the glow of 4 candles, and found such peace in the darkness, and in the simple light.

Driving home from yoga, I was plunged into darkness; even traffic lights were mute. I looked into the Valley of WalMart, and saw darkness. Over the horizon, I could see the glow of an electrified Meijers. I knew I would have a partial, if not complete, darkness surrounding my home. That Miejers parking lot flare would light the sky at home from a mile and a half away. Incessantly. But the glow was dull without the WalMart glare, and I was enjoying the soft night sky as I emerged from my car.

The silence of a blackout is precious, and like a blanket on the solitude. Even with company, a blackout has a weight, or maybe lightness, to it that is not familiar, that holds a certain ominence of impending nothingness. Even in company, the quiet demands more self awareness and familiarity with the uncertainty of self. No distractions. Well, less.

I pull out my Sony Walkman, and begin to play along on my instruments. Through the 3rd or 4th song, I hear a noise. A noise?! There shouldn't be a noise. It is the noise of wind. The heat is on, blowing through the air ducts, which means the electricity is back on. Fortunately, I had left no lights on in the house. The darkness prevailed, save the 4 candles alight in the living room. I run to a light switch to see that I am "saved", -and promptly turn it off. The candle light is much more pleasant. I resolve to purchase a lot of candles so that I will take advantage of this simple pleasure more often. Even with the TV on, the candles lend a glow that is soft and serene.

As I head down the hallway to prepare for bed, I can't help turning back to the computer to share these observations. My recent work in clay has been about how computers and computer chips have infiltrated our lives, creating dependence on a communication artery, one that could be called an artery of data that borders on emotion. Unfortunately, the written word is only 34 percent of our communication. Another 20 percent is our inflection and verbal nuance. The balance, almost 50 percent, is manifest in our visual cues. The last two factors are not present in this post.

So what are you getting out of it??
I hope you will comment.
Larry

The Power of People

2009-02-03T20:47:00.003-05:00

Hello!
I was reading through an email that I received about how our resolutions go in January:

Contrary to popular belief, gym memberships spike in February, NOT January. Diet centers and programs spike in February and all other self-help and personal growth programs have a steep increase in February.

Why is that? Didn't we make our resolutions in January? YES WE DID - but we tried to succeed ALONE!

You may be an exception to the rule... but the truth is, most of us do best when we're surrounded with support in reaching our goals and objectives. This is why it is KEY for you to have peers that 'get' you and understand what you are about.

The point of this is to have some people who support us in our goals and our dreams. When we find the poeple who believe in what we want, we can move forward with much more ease and grace. When we get energized by support, we can activate the law of attraction and bring into our experience the tools and resources that will allow us to serve our clients best. Other professionals come into view who can create a co-creative synergy that benefits everyone in the process.

But the important thing is to share our enthusiasm with someone who will in turn become enthused about your goals, as well as become enthused about their own goals and dreams. It is working so well for me! I am constantly amazed at how many people are contributing to my success, when I let them.

Larry Watson

PS Please add your comments, I'd love to hear from you!

Small Group Book Study made Easy

2009-01-27T21:50:00.006-05:00

While I was talking to a colleague today, it became apparent that she wasn't clear on what my services provide to a client who buys a Small Group Book Study. I am proud of the intellectual content of my products and programs, which are the backbone of what I do. But I also realize that a client wants to be able to implement the program with ease.

We give you as much material as we can to make it easy, efficient, and successful to implement a Book Study. There are schedules and timelines, team descriptions, guides for the facilitators and hosts, and other documents that help you organize and motivate your teams.

I understand how hard it is to locate the people to put the program into action, so I want to make it easy on them, and give all the information that they need so they don't have to re-invent the wheel.

If you wonder what that looks like, please give me a call and ask me about the details.

For me, writing the questions that engage your participants is the most exciting part, but the nuts and bolts are what you need for a successful program.

Peace
Larry

Resistance

2009-01-25T23:00:00.002-05:00

As I go through my day, I feel the tension that comes with "problems" and worries. This tension is largely a result of the resistance that I create. I am resisting the reality, the conditions that exist, or could exist. If I take a moment to notice, to become aware, I can then "turn off" that resistance, and suddenly I feel my body soften and release it's negative vibration. I can feel the release of resistance, the release of dis-ease. So amazing that it can result from a simple decision.

2009-01-16T15:25:00.006-05:00

The I of The Storm

2009-01-13T20:56:00.003-05:00

Hello!
For those that may be interested, New Thought Unity Center in Cincinnati is conducting one of my HomeStudy Small Group Book Studies. This will be taking place from Feb. 15 through April 4, but you must commit and register between Jan. 25 and Feb. 8 if you would like to participate. The book that we will be using is The I of The Storm, (Amazon reviews) which is an amazing book that helps us look at conflict as an opportunity for peace and growth. You can see more at Meetup.com (search for "Unity"), where you can join. After joining, you will be the first to know of the groups that will be forming all over the Greater Cincinnati area. Or just reply to me and I can help you! Please join up.
Thanks!!
Larry

I am not that

2009-01-13T20:40:00.002-05:00

It seems like the past three days have been challenging in a number of ways, most noticeable the way that I have perceived myself or the ways others have seemed to perceive me. Certain situations seemed to go really well, where I felt that others has understood me. Other situations seemed to have put into question all the great things that I have learned about myself.

The challenging situations were ones that questioned my judgment, or my ability to reason in familiar and desirable places. In an interview I felt my ability for discourse to slip through my hands like water, desperately trying to provide the insight that I felt so adept with only hours before.
And in a discussion, it felt like I had become the butt of every joke.

Those were my perceptions. I have no real idea what was happening because I was reacting and reading into the situation much more than was actually happening. But as I sat in meditation just now, as I tried to relax into my true nature, I suddenly saw that I was looking at appearances, and taking them so seriously. I was mistaking my appearances, my own distorted perceptions, for who I really am, the core value of myself as a soul, as a spiritual being. And I was suddenly able to look at all the perceptions of myself, my own perceptions as well as perceptions any one else may have had, I was suddenly clear that I am not that. I realized that I was not those perceptions, I was not those judgments (both self-imposed and perceived of others), I was not any of those situations.

Suddenly I was able to step into The I of the Storm and relax, accept, and move on.

2009-01-03T22:58:00.005-05:00

While I was walking my dog and myself, I noticed that I was wanting to train my dog more, to keep more control of his wanderings. When I noticed this little development, I tried to accept it as an expression of what I criticized in myself. And then I realized that my controlling behavior was about the fact that I didn't not seem to be controlling my own behavior, that I was not fulfilling my expectations of myself. I looked at how my day had gone, and realized that I had not remained focused on the tasks that I had set for myself! What an unpleasant awareness. But Change only begins with awareness and acceptance.

So I took a few minutes to recognize my judgement of myself, and to accept the way I had lived my day. Once again, I created a new starting point.

What was interesting was how much I followed through on my commitments to myself tonight. I had set out to accomplish some simple tasks, and I stayed on them and finished them. A great lesson I received from Life Success Seminars, "The quality of my life depends on the commitments I make and keep." Including the commitments that I make to myself.

A new starting point.
Peace
Larry

Acceptance

2008-12-30T20:52:00.002-05:00

I've had a lot of education around the concept of acceptance, lately. As I was telling a friend Saturday, When I accept what is, I create a new starting point.

This is true for just about anything in my life. It can be aspects of myself that I don't like. It can be other people. It can be what happened to me the other day. It can be my financial, physical, emoitional situation at this time. It can be how I want something, or expect something, that doesn't exist yet.

Acceptance takes the air out of it. When I am thinking about how much I don't want this, or I need to change it, it has more power. It has power over me. If I give my energy in the form of resistance, it will become stronger and more irritating, frustrating, or painful. When I accept what is, I am no longer resisting, and so it loses it's power.

Because it isn't "it" anyway. It is here, it is part of me. When I resist "it", I am trying to objectify it, trying to separate myself from it. But "it" is right here. So when I accept "it", I am accepting myself.

When I accept myself, I am liberated to accept you.
Sweet.
Larry

Stars in the Bahamas

2008-12-24T22:14:00.004-05:00

Walking from the car to the house after a beautiful Christmas Eve celebration, I was fortunate enough to look up from the ground-focus to notice the stars. A clear night, after the relentless rain of the day had been swept away with a cool front, allowed the stars to shine; at least a few. Though my home seems very rural, nearby light sources have reduced the number of magical stars in my night sky. When they are revealed, it is a joy to see.

It reminds me of my delicious trip to the Bahamas on a barefoot cruise aboard a 54 foot sloop, the week after Christmas. Sounds very glamorous, but the boat was spartan, and the skipper had warned everyone that it was like camping in a boat. Not an inaccurate description. I was happy as a pig in mud.

The first night after leaving Miami was spent anchored off an uninhabited key with not a single light source in sight. I brought out the star chart I had purchased at home, with the lattitude and seasonal adjustments, that would allow us to find every constellation in the northern hemisphere. We gathered on the front deck with chart and flashlight. As twilight turned to darkenss, the stars emerged. Then more stars emerged. A flood of stars filled the sky, the sea of stars was so thick that there was no distinction possible that would allow a constellation to be determined or detected. The star chart was useless, the stars would not relinquish their mythological sky-writing to our eyes. We were left with a Bahama breeze, a blanket of stars, and good company. Guess that would have to do.

Peace on Earth
Larry

2008-12-23T21:08:00.005-05:00

Work on the book program for Steve Sherwood's book Finding Freedom; The Five Choices That Will Change Your Life is going very well, and is on track to be completed by the end of the month/year. I am ready for purchase and implemented by a client with a national reputation. Even more exciting is the actual work of designing these programs. I can work into the night without getting tired. That's a passion.

I realized how much passion I have for my work, and how easily I can get drawn into it. One of my resistances to that is that I am concerned that I would forget self in that passion, in the work. As that thought came to me, I also realized that it is as much about balance as it is about forgetting Self. One of my ways of being has been to find ways to divert my attention, to relax with distractions. Many times, these behaviors were resorted to out of fear that there would be no time for Self. But if I look at my life with an intention of balance, then I won't resist, I won't react out of fear, and I will have greater control over the time that I am working. If I plan for balance and the activities that create balance, I will be free to focus fully on the task at hand; success. Taking control with intention to create balance in my life will reduce the feeling of loss of control.

But maybe the first step is the acceptance that I don't have control. Accept that I am riding a current. A very strong and powerful current when I am in tune with it.
Larry

P.S. I'd love to hear your comments, please add your thoughts!

2008-12-22T13:34:00.002-05:00

Hello!
It's been a while since my last post because I had a real tough time logging on. Now I'm back at it!
I've been thinking about a few subjects lately, one of which is Unconditional Love. I had been thinking all week about that subject and Santa claus as the emitome of that concept. Then yesterday our minister, Rev. Doris Hoskins, devoted our Sunday lesson to that very subject. Go figure.

I'll be back with more later!
Peace on earth
Larry

2008-12-08T20:58:00.002-05:00

In reading The I of the Storm by Gary Simmons, I was able to absorb his conception of the harmony of being and doing. In my own vernacular, they feed each other. And there is choice in each of them. We decide what we are going to be; that from which we act out our lives. And we decide our actions.

The interesting thing about acting out our actions is the choice of acting from a consciousness of who we are at the core of our being, or acting out from fear based on past experience. All fear is based on our past experiences and the meanings we give them.

So as I was reading this, I just stopped and focused on being from the state of spirit, from a state of "not-doing" as Lao Tzu says. Yes, it seemed a little like meditation, bordering on sleeping, but there was an intensity of awareness that seemed to drive inward. When it was shattered by the phone ringing, that sudden withdrawal from a state of simple consciousness created a contrast to it that allowed a clear view of what it felt like at its deepest.

I am repeatedly affirmed by the number of occassions where it is acknowledged that the best connection that occurs among people is in a small size of 6-8 people. That seems to be the number that allows for a connection and authenticity for all the members. At that size, they foster a level of safety that encourages even the quietest member to speak up. Yet they are not so large that people get lost in the dynamics, and small enough that the dominant personality doesn't take the power of the room.

That's why the Small Group Book Study works so well for understanding the material and exploring the wisdom of the collective.

Peace & Love,
Larry Watson

Time and Snow

2008-12-06T11:37:00.002-05:00

A very light dusting of snow on the roads turned into "black ice" that was so slick that the wind started to turn my car sideways. Four trucks slid off the highway - going uphill. You'd think that after the first one was visible, the others would have slowed down. Huh.

I finally turned around, halfway to my destination, deriding myself for my lack of fortitude, reasoning that the roads would be clearer in a couple hours anyway, but it just wasn't worth it. I felt repsonsible to the people who I was meeting, but at what expense?

So what's the point I'm making? How many times was judgement a part of my thought process? Judgement, guilt, projecting onto other people what I think their motivations were. Concern for how others would judge me.

I am so grateful for the awareness of this judgement, so that there is the possibility of releasing it. I have moved from Unconscious Incompetence, to Conscious Incompetence. I'm still incompetent in the complete release of these thoughts, evidenced by the tightness in my solar plexus, but now I have the opportunity.

"Time runs from present to past." To be continued.

2008-12-03T23:24:00.003-05:00

Welcome!
I am happy to begin my blog today for Inspiring Connection, and to welcome you to my world. My intention here is to share my insights and the way my mind takes in this world from a spiritual perspective in a physical world; and sometimes a physical perspective in a spiritual world. I would love any comments that you have.
I found myself, on the 40 minute drive home from a fabulous evening of music playing, dreading the idea of another 50 or 60 minute (with good taffic) drive in the morning for a networking meeting that I would love to attend if I could teleport. But the prospect of that morning "commute" seemed to drag me down. As I approached my sanctuary, I decided it wasn't worth it. I could change my mind in the morning, but the point is that I am paying attention to what my feelings are when I consider a prospective action.
As I came in the door, I realized that it is also my choice as to what my attitude is about that prospective action. Why do I dread it? What bothers me about it? Why do I pay attention to that? How does it serve me?

It had been weeks since I was able to join my friends in the Glendale Guitar Guild (G3). I found myself able to sink into the moment and swim in the music, feel the synchronicity that is live music. Through most of my life, I was convinced I had little musical ability, focusing on my visual artistry instead. But in the past few years, I released the bounds of convention and judgement so that I could "play". Just enjoy what I do, whether it is of a professional polish or not. Creative outlets are one of my core values, and I decided that as long as these guys accept me into their magic, I will participate. And I let the music wash over me, drawing me in, holding my focus, in the moment.
Larry