Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Imagine your future self, ie, you 10 years from now. If he/she were to send you a tweet or text message, 1) what would it say and 2) how would that transform your life or change something you’re doing, thinking, believing or saying today?

1) what would it say:
Open soul. Heart hearing. Joy reveling. A human laughing all the way to heaven.
Eternally expanding, breaking open, reconstructing and transforming into MORE.
Be without limits or restrictions.
Give permission to all expressions and out-breaths.
Never forget. Keep remembering.  Love is you.

And then I would tweet myself the invitation:

2) how would that transform your life or change something you’re doing, thinking, believing or saying today?
It would remind me that I am always on the divine journey, eternally expanding into greater depths of "me".

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” is a great line from Emerson. If there’s no enthusiasm in what you do, it won’t be remarkable and certainly won’t connect with people on an emotional basis. But, if you put that magic energy into all of your work, you can create something that touches people on a deeper level. How can you bring MORE enthusiasm into your work? What do you have to think or believe about your work to be totally excited about it? Answer it now.

My enthusiasm blares when I am living for me.
Others can connect with me and are inspired when I am living for me.
I am more joyous and content when I am living for me.
Enthusiasm flows freely when you live out your passions.
This glows and others get to experience it's radiance.
Be eager and excited.
Live for you.

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know I. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I once received a fortune cookie that read: “Speak less of your plans, you’ll get more done.” What’s one project that you’ve been sitting on and thinking about but haven’t made progress on? What’s stopping you? What would happen if you actually went for it and did it?

My art and crafty projects.

Pure procrastination.  I crowd my schedule with other things that stray me away from the art and to be honest here, I LOVE CREATING, so I can sometimes take on too many projects.  I need to remind myself that I am a one-woman-show and take on little pieces.

I would be able to fill my online shop and create pieces that others might enjoy, but most importantly...it would be such a release of artistic expression bringing me a sense of F R E E D O M !

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

Greatness appeals to the future. If I can be firm enough to-day to do right, and scorn eyes, I must have done so much right before as to defend me now. Be it how it will, do right now. Always scorn appearances, and you always may. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trusting intuition and making decisions based on it is the most important activity of the creative artist and entrepreneur. If you are facing (and fearing) a difficult life decision, ask yourself these three questions:

1) “What are the costs of inaction?” I find it can be helpful to fight fear with fear. Fears of acting are easily and immediately articulated by our “lizard brains” (thanks Seth) e.g. what if I fail? what if I look stupid? If you systematically and clearly list the main costs of inaction, they will generally overshadow your immediate fears.

2) “What kind of person do I want to be?” I’ve found this question to be extremely useful. I admire people who act bravely and decisively. I know the only way to join their ranks is to face decisions that scare me. By seeing my actions as a path to becoming something I admire, I am more likely to act and make the tough calls.

3) “In the event of failure, could I generate an alterative positive outcome?” Imagine yourself failing to an extreme. What could you learn or do in that situation to make it a positive experience? We are generally so committed to the results we seek at the outset of a task or project that we forget about all the incredible value and experience that comes from engaging the world proactively, learning, and improving our circumstances as we go along.

My partner often describes this in one simple, yet very visual sentence: "It would be like putting a butterfly in a jar". I must live out tese dreams!  I find it helpful to see fear as a call for it's opposite: Love. Fear needs love too. A gentle mama hand and kind words that whisper, "It’s okay, you're just not sure of the outcome" and confidently asks while gazing into your soul, "don't you remember who you really are?" I like to see fear as an indicator to do all things fully aligned in love and in return I am always being guided to more of it.

Brave, yes...yet sensitive to any intuitive guidance. Even if it comes in the form of fear. Fear is an emotion; it has a purpose and a message. Its message could be is that something you are currently doing isn't quite a match to what you want. I do not want to desensitize this guidance by overriding it with more fear. I can see fear as a sign to look deeper into something, find the love in it first, and then approach it when I am united in heart.

Always remain open to the gifts of any situation or experience.  See the many possibilites in each impossibility.  Remember Impossible is really I'm-possible.

Abide in the simple and noble regions of thy life, obey thy heart. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Write down your top three dreams. Now write down what’s holding you back from them.

Build a mystery school of expressive and kinesthetic learning for creative souls as healers, teachers and aspiring masters of the Divine Self.  The mystery is really "you".  A beautiful and magical mystery you are!

What's holding me back?
Well, nothing really.  It's like pregnancy.  The stages of coming into being.  Wonderous things have an incubation period.  I am living the early stages right now.  Happily expecting a beautiful bundle of joy. 

A beautiful space for this very experiential learning. Somewhere surrounded by nature, color, and reminders of Spirit.  A space to play, garden, connect, create, share and commune.

What's holding me back?
I am a believer in dreams coming true and divine timing.  I am patient with an intuitive wise knowing that all will arrive according to it's time.  I used to be one of the persons that needed the dream to arrive in order to experience it, but in my growth I now understand that the creation process is the glorious journey!

Create products, eCOURSEs, organize PLAYshops and reTREATS that will speak to your soul and bring out your spirit!

What's holding me back?
Nothing!  So working on this now!  Living the dream is birthing it!

The dream becomes- when you live in its energetic existence. Keep being the dream and experience its essence OFTEN!

Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you. ~Marsha Norman

A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson

My favorite quote of all time is Alan Kay: ‘In order to predict the future, you have to invent it.  I am all about inventing the future. Decide what you want the future to be and make it happen. Because you can. Write about your future now.

I can see my future...some of it is here already now, happening, leaving trails for me to continue.

There is luscious and lovely living.

Joy and contentment.

Play is work and work is play.

Sustainable, thriving beautifully.

Love, ohhhh love.

Art making just for the sake of expressing.

Laughter.

Soulful connections.

My environment, clothing and spaces represent my love for life.

Fun travel and adventures to places I love.

Facilitating ReTREATs, PLAYshops and eCOURSEs.

Meeting my favorite people and having a meal under a lovely tree.

Wellbeing.

Heart centered family.

Fascinating discoveries of SELF.

Lots of magical items throughout my house.

Overflowing income.

Abundance reigns.

I meet all these things...now. Ready to receive with arms open and a smile on my face. Hello Dream Life. Nice to finally meet you! Get ready! Its gonna be great!

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name;—— the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new.- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can you remember a moment in your life when you had life in yourself and it was wholly strange and new? Can you remember the moment when you stopped walking a path of someone else, and started cutting your own?

Write about that moment. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, let the miracle play out in your mind’s eye and write about that moment in your future.

At first I thought I was doing it for my own reasons and at the time I thought it was really what I wanted. I made decisions based on these things. I made life changes really believing I was doing it for me. I thought it made me someone, somebody, “right” and better than. If I did it this way, I was “a great person”. Following others, groups, communities and trying to find myself in countless beliefs that didn’t belong to me. What a confusing journey to be trotting along and bumping around collecting way too much nonsense.

Setting myself free…
I realized I never really went with my own inner guidance. Never really living for me. Always altering my decisions, choices, likes, dislikes, opinions, favorites based on the opinions of others. My goodness, why did I go along with this for so long? Although, I do have to appreciate the variety I’ve exposed myself to, I no longer have to ignore my little voice and I can live “my life” the way “I WANT TO!”  The way I am constantly being guided to do because it works so well for me and makes me so very happy, pleased, completely content and appreciative. I allow myself to be set free. This is my lovely life experience in this beautiful and wonderful world.

What I believe to be true…
I believe when you are living your life in absolute joy, fully content and awed with your wondrous wise self you know who you are,

YOU know that you are living for YOU,

YOU know that nothing else matters, but YOUr happiness,

YOU feel strong in YOUr choices and love YOUr journey.

YOU are not bothered one bit…ONE BIT of the ideas, opinions, beliefs, behaviors of others, because YOU are secure in yourself and

YOU need not feel the urge to change the beliefs of others to match yours.

YOU find YOUr happiness in the variety. The differences help us shape our most joyous life ever.

YOU were meant to live YOUR life for YOU.

From me to you…(my little lovelies)
l give to you all—love in the color of golden light and shimmering pink stars to fill your heart. A shiney mirror that reflects the real “YOU” the deeper-inner-wise YOU. The one that knows what to do at all times. The one that will never, ever leave YOU. The YOU that only offers an endless supply of unconditional love. I give you a gentle and friendly hand to hold while we–together remove all the false or limiting beliefs that may have accumulated over time and a pair of glowing magical shears to cut the ties that bind you from living fully for YOU. Let’s plant new seeds, let’s plant YOUr own, let’s plant the seeds of your soul. Inhale yourself. Love yourself for being “YOU”. Set YOUrself free. This is your birthright.

Love to you all from the deepest part of my heart,
Melissa

P.S. You Rock.

2009©

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness, you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot. Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.

A creative and abundant source of income.

Realize I am, in ways already living that and I can just sit back and relax...it's coming in BIG ways!

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.

For every desire there is an infinite number of ways to fulfill it. I like the softness of the word "intention" instead of the force and weightiness of the word "goal". "Goal" almost feels like something you have to struggle to achieve. Besides, isn't it the journey not the destination?

"Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
~Alice Kingsley (Alice in Wonderland)

Many desires calling forth daily. Many paths to follow. Many ways of expressing those desires. So many different levels, openings, doors, trails and ways of fulfilling the dream(s). But we were born to eternally expand and create, so is there ever an end when one reaches a goal? Water finds its ways through the smallest of cracks and continues to flow. I think following the path(s) should be a fluid movement willing to flow whatever you feel guided to achieve, complete, change, revise, do over, drop and even fail...only to fine tune our journey even more. Welcome possibilities, forever fine-tune and free flow.

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, if we follow the truth, it will bring us out safe at last. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think of a time when you didn’t think you were capable of doing something, but then surprised yourself. How will you surprise yourself this week?

16 hours of natural drugless childbirth.

Leaving an abusive marriage and dealing with the divorce process...alone without any money and no idea where to even begin.

Relocating to a different part of the state, giving up my job and leaving behind poverty and a whole life of struggle. This may sound weird, but this was all I knew at the time so stepping out of that was pretty scary.

Healing the old and moving beyond anything I've ever expected.

Putting myself out there on this website and writing about my human(ness).

This week, I will surprise myself by creating the things that have been living in my heart and sleeping in my soul for sooo long.  They are ready to be birthed, natural and painfree.  Ssshhhh...it's a surprise.

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.