Articles Posted:

- Your Song

- Seasoning the Cast Iron Pan

- The Law of Growth

- Time

Seasoning the Cast Iron Pan

by Vicki Christensen

I had a dream the other night about seasoning a cast-iron pan.  I’m not sure what may have prompted this dream, but I find that my dreams are filled with interesting tidbits when I look into them further (and I thank Margaret McGill for her incredible dream interpretation class, as well). 

 

Anyone who has ever owned a cast-iron pan knows that the key to its marvelous non-stick surface is in the seasoning of the pan.  The more seasoning that is done initially, the stronger the “seasoning bond.”  If done correctly, the pan will last a lifetime.  If food begins to stick over time, the pan needs to be properly re-cleaned and re-seasoned once again.

 

When I look at this process I cannot help but think about our country’s economic situation and its affect on us as individuals, women and entrepreneurs. 

 

How “seasoned” are we feminine entrepreneurs? 

Are all the world events “sticking” to our surfaces? 

Are we in need of re-seasoning to form a stronger bond?

I think so.

 

For years now, I have heard that it is the time for the feminine to emerge.  Yet, in our current situation, I cannot find them.  Where are they?  Who is leading them?  What are they doing?  Are they at home?  Are they in fear?  Are they cocooned waiting for something to happen?  Waiting for someone to tell them what to do next, when and how? 

 

Our thoughts about the economy are like food stuck to a poorly-seasoned pan.  Unless, we re-season the pan and emerge victorious in our thoughts and actions, we will have more of the same. 

 

Perhaps now is not the time for the feminine to hibernate. 

 

Perhaps now is the time for them to join together in groups, circles and lead by example, supporting one another, allowing their skills to be seen and used by others.  Let’s build a model community together.

 

I know that I could use some support right now.  How about you? 

 

I just re-seasoned my pan.  What shape is your pan in?

 

TIME
by Vicki Christensen

This article has to do with TIME.  Mostly…not having enough TIME.  The rumblings I hear from friends and family indicate to me that the majority of people seem to have an overload on their plates and not nearly enough TIME.  School is out and many yearn to be *off* for the summer.  People are vacationing, having swim parties, camping…..trying to squeeze in everything possible before school begins once again. 

 

Of course, I had to look up TIME in the dictionary and there were countless definitions, but what I really found interesting was when I looked at the noted synonyms for TIME. 

Here are a few:

 

“age, beat, book, break, chance, chronology, clock, continuum, cycle, date, day, decade, duration, during, epoch, era, eternity, future, hour, instant, interim, interval, measure, millennium, minute, moment, month, nonce, opportunity, pace, past, period, phase, present, rate, rhythm, schedule, season, second, shift, shot, span, speed, spell, stint, stretch, tempo, term, tour, week, year”

 

It’s funny, isn’t it?  The majority of them have to do with movement or action. 

 

So, TIME = ACTION.  Right?

 

When we’re at work, we pack in as much work as we possibly can, so we can have a day (TIME) off (FREE time).  And, when we have FREE time, we pack in as much as we possibly can to fully enjoy our time off. 

 

So, why do I feel like TIME = TIRED?

 

“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” – Will Rogers

 

So I have to ponder:  

 

 

• What’s wrong with this picture? 
• Why does every minute need to be taken up with *some-thing*?
• Does everything on our agenda have dire consequences?
• Who is creating these deadlines?
• Is movement and ACTION our only barometer or source of satisfaction and fulfillment?
• At what point are we running on fumes, just to get through another day?
• Who is driving this “gotta-do-more” bus, anyway?
• Where does replenishment, sustenance and self-care come in?
• Can we sustain this pace?  Do we want to?
• Is anyone out there ready to challenge these beliefs along with me?

 

So, should it be TIME = CHAOS? 

 

One of the things I cover in my workshops (The Brighter Side of Marketing) is the use of TIME.  Because the majority of us have so many messes in our lives, we are not available to fully rest, relax and enjoy those things that really matter to us.  We cannot be fully present.  Instead, we behave somewhat robotically in nature, trying to fulfill this illusionary task list of what constitutes “enough-done-in-a- day” and then repeating this pattern day after day.

 

“Events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves, they find their own order in the continuous thread of revelation.”  – Eudora Welty

 

What if I told you:  TIME = FREEDOM

 

Sounds good, doesn’t it?  When you look at TIME from a different perspective, old beliefs can be challenged and new habits formed.  I will show you a new 3-day system of time management that is used by many successful entrepreneurs and provides the flexibility to increase your time off work and increase your productivity, revenue and focus.  I’ve known about this system for many years and it wasn’t until recently that I got serious about making some changes in my life and really give this system a true test. 

 

“They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”  – Andy Warhol

 

The results of this test have been nothing short of astonishing for me.  I have accomplished more than I could have dreamed of, cleaned up lingering *messes* in my life, and have removed the “gotta-do-more” task list from the *foreground*.  Now I’ve FREED up TIME to devote to those things that really matter to me.  In fact, I have a new acronym for time:

 

T  = the
I   = inside
M = moment
E  = extraordinaire

 

By freeing up more TIME for myself, I have found more opportunities to be still, to meditate, to reflect, to listen, and to learn more about how my life operates from the eyes of the observer. To be in true balance, stillness is required. In terms of a 50/50 relationship with TIME, I would say I was doing a rather poor job of being in balance.

 

Conclusion:  TIME = BALANCE

 

From the DailyOm Horoscope sent Sunday, July 6, the topic was Doing Less, Accomplishing More:

 

“You may react nervously to pressure today.  Since your myriad of responsibilities are likely making you feel high-strung and anxious, you may feel overwhelmed by your day’s agenda or by the demands put upon you by others.  You may feel compelled to address each of your obligations and could feel disappointed in yourself if you do not meet your expectations.  But consider that your obligations are likely not equally important.  You can ease your troubled mind by determining which of your duties are time-sensitive and which are less vital. 

You may find that you are less tense and more focused on your tasks when you concentrate on the quality of your activities rather than quantity……As you fulfill your obligations, remembering that most of what you do can be put on hold without dire consequences can help you address your many duties without becoming overwhelmed. 

Often, we assign top priority to everything on our to-do lists without considering how that pressure will affect out work and our moods.  You’ll do more yet feel less stressed when you accept that certain tasks can be put off until tomorrow if necessary and that the number of tasks you accomplish each day has little to do with your worth as an individual.  When you keep this in mind, you can more effectively prioritize your days and contentedly deal with unexpected shifts in your schedule.  When you successfully prioritize today, you won’t be paralyzed by personal or professional pressure.”

 

This reading brought forward a great clarity for me.  I now feel that I have created a synergy to take my life and business to an entirely different level by managing TIME in a different way.  By applying a new perception to TIME and how I use it, I am able to accomplish more, have more time off and increase my focus on what is truly important to me.  I have learned to observe TIME.

 

Are you ready to make a change in your life?

 

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”  – Annie Dilliard

 

“There is never enough time to do everything, but there is  always enough time to do the most important thing.” – Brian Tracy

 

Why am I doing this?  In my business I meet women every day who are extremely talented, savvy and unsatisfied with where they are in life.  Their TIME distractions are keeping them from taking their businesses to the next level, from living their fullest potential and achieving their goals and dreams.  One of my favorite things to do is business coaching, which allows me the gift of seeing women achieve what I KNOW IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM.  My mission for In The Flow Marketing is to offer quality programs and unparalleled opportunities to support and promote women – all at prices they cannot find elsewhere. 

 

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”  – Benjamin Franklin

 

I am acutely aware that *so* many women under-estimate and under-value themselves – and this is no time to play small.  If not now, when?  I want to help women integrate all the new-found information gained during the workshop.  Integration is the key to success. I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and see the results for yourself.

 

“Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.” –   Captain Jean-Luc Picard: played by Patrick Stewart, from the film "Star Trek: Generations"

 

I have enormous passion for women entrepreneurs.  That is why I create networking opportunities, programs of learning and mentoring opportunities.  I hope you take advantage of them and meet other women determined to make a difference.

 

“Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of love.”   - Rumi

 

If what I have shared in this newsletter resonates with you, please let me hear from you.  You are not alone and you are not stuck.  Together, we can break the barriers of FEAR and TIME and rise to new levels – personally and professionally. 

 

“Lost, yesterday, somewhere between Sunrise and Sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.” – Horace Mann

 

In closing, I’d like to quote something from Shirley Catanzaro’s, which I found so poignant:

 

“As we allow ourselves to observe and look at a given situation we become more objective… When we are the observer, we step back and ask, ‘What is truly going on here?’  Our intention in monitoring the situation is to assist…in finding alternative ways of looking…and allowing our minds to see another point of view.

 

…Taking a step back from the energy of the drama assists one to truly ask, ‘What choices do I have in this matter?’  Making a choice is so much more rewarding than allowing life to make the choice for us.  Please take a chance on yourself.  You may say ‘yes’ but sometimes the choices do not pan out the way we would wish; however, know that you took a step in YOUR right direction.  Each time you do so, you become clearer on what your truth and desires are.  Observe your feelings when a choice you make does not seem to pan out.  Do you beat yourself up; do you give up?  May I suggest at these times to understand that - how you relate to yourself in these situations - creates a pattern within you that either beats you up or gives you space to make more observed choices.

 

…In the process of observing yourself, would there be anything you would change?  What feelings did you experience as an observer?  Were you quieter within?  Did you run away from you?”

 

Thank you, Shirley, for your wisdom and teachings.  (www.theawakeningprocess.com)

 

"Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives." - Anthony Robbins

Services     Marketing Tidbits     Contact Us     Top

 

Articles

 

Occasionally, I write articles for publication and/or fun and other times I come across a *gem* that is so profound I absolutely must share it. 


This is a beautiful sharing excerpted from Shirley Catanzaro’s newsletter (with permission):

 

Your Song

 

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose.   When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then, they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.

When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child's song to him or her.  Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the child's song.  When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come together and sing.  At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song. 

Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person's bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life.

Within the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child.  If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them.  Then, they sing their song to them.  The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity.

* * * * *

My friends, when you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.  A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it.  Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself.  They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not.  When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it does not.  In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well.  You may feel a little warbled at the moment, but so have all the great singers.  Just keep singing and you'll find your way home. 

- Shirley Catanzaro, www.theawakeningprocess.com

* * * * * * * * *

I absolutely must share this reading with you. It ties in completely with my philosophy of marketing, implementing change and planting SEEDS (10-SEED Garden Program I teach).  Some things need no paraphrasing at all.  I am uncertain who the exact author is, but I reference the sender at the bottom.

 

The Law of Growth

 

"Miracles happen, not in opposition to Nature, but in opposition to what we 'know' of nature." - St. Augustine

The Law of Growth states that success depends on individuals using and not opposing the Universal Law of Growth. The more we accept and trust the natural growth tendencies for ideas, thoughts or feelings, the faster they will grow. However, the less we accept their natural
conception and either try to force or speed their growth, or resist and distrust their natural ability to appear and grow, the more the growth will neutralize or disintegrate.

 

Have you ever tried to force an outcome and no matter how hard you tried, it never materialized? Perhaps you can relate to some of these examples of defying the Law of Growth:  

 

·         Denying a gut instinct to make a desired business decision and then later realizing it would have been a good one.

·         Allowing self-limiting beliefs to keep you from living your passion.

 

·         Setting sales goals that were unrealistic because the elements needed to make them happen were not in place.

 

·         Not hiring someone that was right for the job because they wanted more money than you thought you could afford.

 

·         Not giving instant feedback when someone diverted a project from the path required for growth. Letting criticism from family, friends, or co-workers distract your focus and attention from your vision.

 

·          Doubting your inner knowing when you have been listening to its needs.

 

·         Attempting to preempt yourself by rushing the release of a good product idea with subtle flaws, thus causing it to fail.

 

·         Pushing people to perform outside their expertise and thus causing projects
to flounder.

 

·         Seeing evidence of disheartened individuals because of negative circumstances that have been avoided for too long.

 

·         Insisting on doing everything yourself without accepting help, thus never seeing your ideas become a reality.

 

These are just some examples of how individuals deny themselves the benefits from the Law of Growth. The Law of Growth is not new. It has just been well hidden from the business vernacular. The early writings of Brooks Phillips, Einstein, and then later Thomas Troward, reference the Law of Growth in their work. The Law of Growth is often used synonymously with the Natural Law.

 

Thus, it is often discussed in the context of science, psychology and spirituality. However, we see evidence every day of its relevance to the life of individuals. When individuals disregard the challenge of limited resources, negativity from others and their own fears and doubts, they achieve and experience amazing results.

The Law of Growth is the single most powerful principle for personal success. The fact is that by understanding and utilizing the Law of Growth, the opportunities, answers and next steps always naturally appear.

The key principle of growth is that we do not put the expansive vitality into the seeds of ideas and opportunities. They already exist in the seeds. They are already in what you are currently doing.

The only question left is whether you are aligning your resources and energy around nurturing their natural growth. They will only expand in their natural way if you water, prune and give light to the seeds.

• When a seed reaches for the sun and a rock is in the way, it simply goes around it.
• When water meets and obstacle, it simply goes around it. As moss grows and it comes to a tree, it simple goes around it.

The Law of Growth, simply put, is about using the path of least resistance.

Rules for engaging the Law of Growth include:

 

·         Remove negative thoughts and doubts.

 

·         Ignore unconstructive criticism.
Search for those things that bring quiet, peace and pleasure when you
visualize the intended outcomes you desire.

 

·         Do not live through the success of others, create your own.

 

·         You must become individualized from family generational values that limit your beliefs in order to be emotionally balanced and focused on your passion.

 

·         Entrepreneurial thoughts only need recognition to be used as you wish for them to be
used in your businesses.

 

·         The Law of Growth is not limited to people with money. It is the means for gaining financial outcomes.

 

·         You have to keep your priorities straight.

 

·         You have to want to authentically grow and to find your passion; more than you want the rewards and outcomes from growth.

 

·         Be open to change and learning as new opportunities will continually present themselves.

The Law of Growth is the Universal Law, which is one of the simplest to comprehend. It simply exists to ensure that something always grows, that creation is constant and determined by the kind and quality of seed, which is planted. In the case of Universal truth this seed is determined by the energy projected. Through its immutable, unwavering and predictable operation, you can become conscious and purposeful in what you project or plant which will determine what you will receive or harvest in each area of your life.

- Enlightenment Chapel, Inc., enlightenmentchapel@yahoo.com

 

Services     Marketing Tidbits     Contact Us     Top