Inspire Encourage Support

So I’m having a bit of an off day today. I plugged into my iPod to the classical music section. I scroll down a few albums to the Sounds of Nature tracks. First song is the theme from the movie, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Excellent selection to change my mood!

My mood? Oh, it’s just one of indifference, one of almost flat lining, where all is calm and nothing urgent is abounding. That’s a good thing, right? Well, it depends – on a lot!

It’s good to be calm and cool and collected. You’re at peace with the world and your surroundings.

Yet, on the other hand, you are not excited or ecstatic or elated with the world and your surroundings.

Which way is best? Only you can decide.

For me, it’s a bit unnerving that I’m not emotionally pumped and psyched; after all, I had quite an enlightening moment yesterday while meditating. And then last evening I picked up a book received for attending a workshop last week, reading how one simple prayer with four simple requests can yield huge results. I woke in the middle of the night reciting those simple words. Power of Suggestion. Power of Prayer.

The enlightenment: Help the lost find their inner happiness.

The book: The Prayer of Jabez, by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.

I believe the quiet I feel today is letting all I’ve learned in the past 24 hours sink in, mewling around while it all makes sense as I figure out what to do… well, until it is shown to me what I should do.

The next book I’m working on, The Acceptance Factor, may play an important part to the inner happiness piece; it is only when we find that special place of peace where we can find our true happiness and be fully content. Accepting ourselves and others in one key to inner happiness; I slated the book to be completed this June, but it keeps taking a turn into deeper waters as I contemplate and meditate. Oh my!

But it’s all good.

Blogging is a way of sharing information and processes to resolve a problem someone may have; however, I believe it is helpful to share the inner process of how we reach decisions in going out into the world of entrepreneurship and letting our clients – perfect and not-so-perfect – learn how we (or maybe it’s just I) drill down to the nitty-gritty and do what we do best – helping them to be their best.

I know, there are a few ideas within this post; committing a felony of writing, perhaps. But for today, it is how my brain is working; and if you accept me, you may also accept the way that I write.

Remember, acceptance is a key to your inner happiness!

What else brings you to your happy place? Please do share below. I promise to reply.

Dream On!
PeggyLee

“I stretched as high as I could to reach him and lifted him into my arms. Then we climbed that long ladder up to the clouds together.” Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez, p. 52

Want To Reprint this article? You may do so as long as you leave it intact and include this author information: 
Peggy Lee Hanson, personal transition guide and mentor, is expert at compassionately helping those suffering loss of any proportion, especially through unemployment. Using proven strategies and support, she teaches how to move quickly and easily through current or impending life-changing moments so that you can have the life you are meant -- and deserve -- to live. 
PeggyLee is a Speaker, Best-selling author on Amazon.com, Certified Dream Coach® & Group Leader®, Trained True Purpose Coach®, and CEO and Founder of MyDreamArchitect.com, a subsidiary of Personal Transition Guidance, LLC. Also, Peggy Lee is co-facilitator and co-owner of the Coaches Circle Mastermind groups and is a regular columnist for the online community of DreamUniversity.com. She is a member of the International Coach Federation and Toastmasters International.
Follow her at PeggyLeeHanson on Twitter and Facebook. You may also subscribe to her blog and newsletter.

In these United States, it’s the beginning of a long weekend of celebration: summer is here; and it’s a time when we honor and give thanks to the men and women who served our country by joining the military forces.

My brother was in the Air Force; his youngest son, the Marines. My sister retired last year as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Army Reserves.  Our great grandfather, Julius, served in the Civil War, injured when a mule wagon ran over him. Our grandfather on the other side of the family served in WWI. My father-in-law served during WWII. My husband's brother fought in Viet Nam; his son is serving in the National Guard and has received as many awards as a soldier can get; and yet another nephew has completed his stint in the regular Army.

All these soldiers who wanted to serve their fellow man, their country, the world in which they live. They saw something that was bigger than them and desired to be a part of it. Being a soldier is a calling, much like a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or clergy.

What are you called to do? How are you rallying around the flag (your definition)? What will you do to serve the world (or a small piece of it)? When will you begin?

Dream On!
PeggyLee

“Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance.”
~ J. Donald Walters

Want To Reprint this article? You may do so as long as you leave it intact and include this author information: 
Peggy Lee Hanson, personal transition guide and mentor, is expert at compassionately helping those suffering loss of any proportion, especially through unemployment. Using proven strategies and support, she teaches how to move quickly and easily through current or impending life-changing moments so that you can have the life you are meant -- and deserve -- to live. 
PeggyLee is a Speaker, Best-selling author on Amazon.com, Certified Dream Coach® & Group Leader®, Trained True Purpose Coach®, and CEO and Founder of MyDreamArchitect.com, a subsidiary of Personal Transition Guidance, LLC. Also, Peggy Lee is co-facilitator and co-owner of the Coaches Circle Mastermind groups and is a regular columnist for the online community of DreamUniversity.com. She is a member of the International Coach Federation and Toastmasters International.
Follow her at PeggyLeeHanson on Twitter and Facebook. You may also subscribe to her blog and newsletter.

I recently asked my readers the following question: Does awareness heighten consciousness or does consciousness heighten awareness?

The discussion brought up the chicken or the egg query of which comes first. So, I decided to explore this puzzling conundrum further.  While researching the definitions of each word, awareness and consciousness, I found that although similar in meaning, the latter is more of a state of being; and the former, awareness, is the result of consciousness – in my opinion.

Consciousness is the internal engine that sparks awareness, the external comprehension thereof.  In other words, when consciousness is at the heightened state we tend to be more aware, whether it is our surroundings, self, or others.

But if we are not aware or keen on our surroundings in the first place, how can we then reach a state of consciousness?  ( I must admit here that I’m sounding a bit like Eckart Tolle!)

Therefore it is my humble opinion that consciousness comes from the internal that arouses our awareness, bringing it to the external of our world.

What do you think?

Dream On!
PeggyLee

"The realm of consciousness is much vaster than thought can grasp. When you no longer believe everything you think, you step out of thought and see clearly that the thinker is not who you are." ~Eckhart Tolle

Want To Reprint this article? You may do so as long as you leave it intact and include this author information: 
Peggy Lee Hanson, personal transition guide and mentor, is expert at compassionately helping those suffering loss of any proportion, especially through unemployment. Using proven strategies and support, she teaches how to move quickly and easily through current or impending life-changing moments so that you can have the life you are meant -- and deserve -- to live. 
PeggyLee is a Speaker, Best-selling author on Amazon.com, Certified Dream Coach® & Group Leader®, Trained True Purpose Coach®, and CEO and Founder of MyDreamArchitect.com, a subsidiary of Personal Transition Guidance, LLC. Also, Peggy Lee is co-facilitator and co-owner of the Coaches Circle Mastermind groups and is a regular columnist for the online community of DreamUniversity.com. She is a member of the International Coach Federation and Toastmasters International.
Follow her at PeggyLeeHanson on Twitter and Facebook. You may also subscribe to her blog and newsletter.

I’ve lived over half a century. During those years many life challenges have appeared. Some dealt with work, some with family, and others with different facets of my life.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been upbeat and happy – most of the time. When I wasn’t, it seemed I was living at the other end of the spectrum where it was very dark and cold. But back to the positive.

How large of an affirmative nugget do you need to pull you out of your dread?

Here are a few examples that occurred in my life to help you grasp the concept.

1. When I didn’t get awarded the position as a union employee that I thought I deserved, I filed a grievance. The situation became grossly nasty between the union leaders and my manager. Even though I felt I was wronged, I could see that I would not win the case. So, I began to think of all the positive things, such as I’m still working, and soon the momentum of optimism returned.
2. When I knew layoffs were coming due to the merger with Delta (I worked for Northwest Airlines), I also knew that I had to prepare myself that I could be one of them. So, I began to think of all the positive things if I were to be laid off or let go, such as being able to now do what I want and love to do. If I stayed with the airline, I’d be happy; if I was one of the many to go, I’d still be happy.
3. When finances were tough, especially with neither me nor my husband working, finding the tiny golden nugget of positivity made it possible to keep going. The golden nugget has simply been our love for each other, or the kids; it’s been thoughts, such as “situation temporary”; and the nuggets have also consisted of I’m alive and well; I have my health: I have my two hands and my brain; we’ll be fine; I’ll be fine.

I recently presented a speech entitled, “Thrown into a Vision,” where I talked about how we can be thrust into an unwanted situation. Yet, out of that negative and challenging time, new awareness can happen; a vision of what our life can be like; all we have to do is hold that golden nugget of positivity in our hands and focus on it whenever the doldrums and sadness begins to overtake and overwhelm us. Even the tiniest nugget works.

How big is your golden nugget? How will you use it from now on? Will you share this nugget of inspiration with others?

Dream On!
PeggyLee

“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.” ~ John C. Maxwell

Want To Reprint this article? You may do so as long as you leave it intact and include this author information: 
Peggy Lee Hanson, personal transition guide and mentor, is expert at compassionately helping those suffering loss of any proportion, especially through unemployment. Using proven strategies and support, she teaches how to move quickly and easily through current or impending life-changing moments so that you can have the life you are meant -- and deserve -- to live. 
PeggyLee is a Speaker, Best-selling author on Amazon.com, Certified Dream Coach® & Group Leader®, Trained True Purpose Coach®, and CEO and Founder of MyDreamArchitect.com, a subsidiary of Personal Transition Guidance, LLC. Also, Peggy Lee is co-facilitator and co-owner of the Coaches Circle Mastermind groups and is a regular columnist for the online community of DreamUniversity.com. She is a member of the International Coach Federation and Toastmasters International.
Follow her at PeggyLeeHanson on Twitter and Facebook. You may also subscribe to her blog and newsletter.