JOYful News

Welcome! JOYful News is a newsletter intended to bring you information that is fun, inspiring, and uplifting. Each issue will contain different stories, tips, exercises, and suggestions focused on the JOYful - how to create more of it, sustain it, and connect to it more fully.

I have found it extremely valuable to make a daily practice of connecting to things that help to keep my vibration up, my focus on the positive and my energy level high, intentionally surrounding myself with that which uplifts me and feeds my soul!

You create your own kind of *magic* when you find reasons everyday to connect to that which brings you JOY!

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A Matter of Perspective
February 25, 2010

By now I would bet that most of you have heard of the blockbuster movie, Avatar, which is now reported to have broken all box office records as the highest grossing film of all time. At first I did not give much consideration to seeing the movie. But soon I noticed that almost everyone I came in contact with had seen it or had an opinion about it. Those who had already seen it gave it noteworthy reviews overall, ranging from pleasantly entertaining to downright spectacular! Many were ready to go back and see it again, too. And with the special new 3D technology never seen before, I was told it's a must see on the big screen, preferably in an IMAX theater.

Okay, maybe I'd give it more thought. Then I happened to catch the Oprah show the day James Cameron, the director and writer of Avatar, appeared as her guest. Oprah spoke enthusiastically about how she felt the movie would garner worldwide interest and, from her point of view, offered a great spiritual message as well. Now I was getting intrigued. I hadn't heard that perspective yet from those who had shared with me what they thought about the film. It's one of the reasons I don't put much stock in what the critics offer for any media reviews as I often end up disagreeing with their opinion. It's all so subjective and personal what we each really like or dislike with many variations in between. Each of us has our own unique perspective on any given subject.

If you were to interview 20 witnesses to a bank heist you would receive 20 different reports as to the many details that took place. Someone may relay that they saw two men, one tall, one short, wearing disguises and carrying guns. Still another might report that there was only one robber of medium build with no visible weapon, who walked with a slight limp. Some may say the whole thing went down in a matter of about 2 minutes while others would estimate the scenario felt like an eternity that lasted 10 minutes. There would be many different versions of the same event because each of us views life and what happens around us based on our past experiences and expectations. This one factor alone might color our perception of a particular situation or encounter.

I'll bet you've had a conversation or two where you'd swear certain things were discussed and understood, only to find out that your partner in dialogue "heard" something completely different than you did! Usually we each hear what we want to hear based on our awareness and understanding in the moment. It often boils down to where most of our attention was placed within the context of the conversation. So two people can take away completely different information from a chat they've shared because they are each in a different space and their unique perspective will reflect that.

Sometimes an encounter of this kind will occur to provide us with information and knowledge that is needed to broaden a perspective we hold, allowing us to consider another point of view. Each time something comes up in your life that pushes your buttons, it's a great time to develop some self awareness and a chance to grow your soul a little more.

Remember that people and events simply show up in your experience to act as a mirror, a reflection of something that is going on within you that you need to look at. The information you receive will give you the opportunity to understand how or why someone's behavior is affecting you so that you can make the appropriate changes if you wish to do so.

If you decide that you are ready to heal or change a pattern within yourself and you make the necessary adjustments, a shift in perspective will occur for you. And the universe will provide you with confirmation that this has indeed occurred when a similar experience shows up (it could even be the same annoying person) and your buttons can no longer be pushed. You are at peace with the situation. Hallelujah!

When something is going on in your life and you aren't particularly happy with the experience, you may want to consider this perspective. Last week during a reading with a client a message came through that we both felt had universal appeal: "You are unfolding and becoming that (more of who you came here to be). You just sometimes don't like the way the unfolding shows up or appears to be moving, or not moving, from your personal perspective!"

We discussed how our souls may guide each of us on our paths in a different direction than our human perspective would like to travel because we often believe things have to play out in a very specific way. But if we remember that our soul is connected to the Infinite Wisdom of Source and the Universe can orchestrate things on our behalf, usually in ways far better than we imagined - it can really take a load off!

I'll take my soul's perspective over my human perspective any day! Sometimes it just takes me a while to remember that it probably does know best!

A side note: I took both my human and soul perspectives to see the movie, Avatar, with my husband recently. They equally agreed that it was pretty amazing on many levels. But then again - it's just a matter of perspective!

Soul Card of the Month

Each month a card will be highlighted from my EnerJOYzer™ Soul Card deck and offered for your consideration. I ask for guidance in choosing a card to spotlight with a message that may give you something to ponder. Here's what I received:

Willing to yield; easily bent without breaking; adaptable. Those are some of the words that define flexible. Just how flexible are you?

Having the ability to be open, to adapt easily to new and different thoughts or experiences really is a good thing. My life has always flowed more smoothly when I've been more open to new ideas and a fresh perspective. I have been told I can be a bit stubborn at times. I like to think of it, however, as being charmingly persistent. I know what I want, thank you very much!

Needless to say, there have been occasions, I admit, where it took some time for me to see the light. But eventually I usually come around. I'm not sure where life would have taken me if I hadn't finally given in and decided to attend a class on learning to read energy after the teacher harassed me, mostly in a nice way, for several weeks. I'd been taking a class from her for something entirely different.

I can also remember when looking for a house to buy when we moved to San Diego. The process took about 9 months and felt like an absolute eternity! I had envisioned us living happily ever after in a lovely beach cottage not far from the ocean. We finally ended up in a beautiful 3 story condo not far from the ocean, but I had not even considered a condo. After living the past 25 years in four different single family homes, both my husband and I didn't really think there was any other choice! We've found the condo to actually be more private, peaceful and quiet than the family neighborhoods we'd lived in while raising our three sons.

Okay, so the universe had our number so to speak and we ended up being absolutely delighted when we opened up to becoming more flexible about our housing options. And I fell in love with doing intuitive readings from the very first moment I gave it a try! I can vividly remember the excitement and passion I felt as I shouted in my mind, "This is FUN! I was so born to do this!" Who knew?

In recent years I have come to embrace the quality of flexibility in my life, but I still have the option to be charmingly persistent if I want to be!

Provided with permission: Diane English, artist - www.greatcosmichappyass.com

Messages from MIC

This feature is offered with a message from my sidekick, MIC ('My Inner Consultants'). They are a special group of non-physical beings who embody a wonderfully uplifting, wise and often witty spirit.

Here is one of the messages I've received during my daily ritual of connecting with them:

Share your nuggets!

"Look at all the knowledge, wisdom and info you have been gathering for years! Take it all NOW and put it out into the world with your own unique and personal imprint. It is your story, your journey, your perspective, which only YOU can have, as each of you derives information, learns and evolves according to your individual and unique life plan."

"What are the lessons, the blessings, the experiences which had the greatest impact, provided insight, gave you invaluable life lessons, and offered you wisdom? Those are your nuggets to share!"

Thanks for the reminder, MIC, that sometimes I need to look at what I've already done, how far I've come and grown in this life rather than dwell on what I still feel I need to learn or do.

I encourage each of you, right here and now, to take a moment and honor what you've accomplished in your life so far! And don't be afraid to share your nuggets!

Quotes to Ponder

Meditation is the soul's perspective glass.
Owen Felltham

The best argument you can make is no argument at all. Every person believes his or her point of view to be valid and 'right'.
Neale Donald Walsch

The tragic or the humorous is a matter of perspective.
Arnold Beisser

So I said to the Gym instructor, "Can you teach me to do the splits?" He said "How flexible are you?" I said, "I can't make Tuesdays".
Tim Vine

So Remember...

There is great value and wisdom in the many perspectives we each hold; if we embrace the quality of being flexible, it can offer us more options to consider and even some unexpected surprises along the way; honor your accomplishments and share your nuggets with the world!

May each day bring you more JOY, unexpected and happy surprises and...
...the next step in living the life of your dreams!

In JOY,