Renewed Courage through Gratitude

If you've participated in any of my journaling workshops or have been reading my posts for a while, you know that there was a time I was petrified to write. I was paralyzed by the belief that the written word had a permanence and power, with consequences that I could only see as negative. There was danger there, I was sure, even if I didn’t know what I was afraid of, and I could not gather up enough courage to face those fears.

Today I share in the joy of expressing myself in words, pictures, and even doodles, because I have embraced that power – that very same power I only new as negative, now is the key to my serenity.
Today when I put my thoughts on paper they become alive. And when I share my visions with others, they are real and, though they may frighten me, they no longer paralyze me.

Even more amazing is that by sharing those dreams with others, on these pages, in my Mastermind, or the Artist's Way Creative Cluster I facilitate, I know that I am drawing myself in the direction of those dreams. I choose to allow myself to believe that the collective support of those sharing really can manifest my dreams. That gives me courage.

So today I am revisiting a gratitude list I wrote two years ago. This was a new awareness then...born from a realization that I had never written a gratitude list before and it felt good really good to write it down.

And it feels great now to know, reviewing this list, that it is exactly what I want to share today. This attitude of gratitude is a part of me, expressed and now confirmed by my Inner Wisdom. It is imprinted on my soul, just as the words have been printed on the pages of this blog, my online journal, for two years. No matter what fears lurk in my imagination, I am armed with the courage to face them, empowered by the simplest truth in these words.

Writing them gives them life, and sharing them gives me strength.

So today I affirm, once again, that I am eternally grateful for:

-knowing that a power greater than myself does work in my life in miraculous ways.
-accepting the peace I feel when I allow myself to just “BE”.
-sharing love in my life with my family, my daughter, my partner, my friends and kind, gentle strangers.
-wondering at nature, and all her amazing gifts.
-appreciating the power of the ocean, and the healing it brings to me and those I love.
-nourishing myself and strengthening my physical being.
-using my intellect, my voice and my creative imagination as an instrument for awareness and change.
-knowing and accepting the existence of pure joy.
-appreciating the incredible women who are my teachers, mentors, and supporters, who gently push me to face my fears and remind me that anything is possible!
-allowing myself to dream BIG (after all these years) and to acknowledge that playing “small” no longer serves me or the universe.

And today I will add, I am grateful to serve and support all who are drawn to my message and my work. I am truly blessed to be inspired by my life experiences to use my gift of compassion to teach, to mentor and to encourage you to find your courage and to live your dreams.

What are you grateful for today? I encourage you to share your thoughts. Give thanks and celebrate, even the littlest of things.

In the spirit of wisdom, wellness and prosperity…
I wish for you everything you dream, and more!

Nanette

Stepping UP! Beyond Baby Steps…

It’s been 20 months since I was “released” from my job and career of 25 years, and committed to never going back to work for someone else again.

And boy, does that scare me. Still.

In fact, fear stopped me in my tracks again this month, and it took everything I have learned and know to manage that energy in a way that made it possible for me to grow through that fear rather than shrivel up, fall down and never get up again.

If you’ve read my special report, Becoming a Wise Well Woman- How to Baby Step Your Way to More Wisdom, Well-being and Wealth in Your Life, then you’ve read my admission that I am often afraid. Baby Step #7 reminds me to transform my fear into positive energy. Easier said then done, sometimes, I know!

So as I worked through my Baby Steps this month to transform my fear, this time I grew much stronger than I was before, and ready to STEP UP in a BIG WAY! And I know now that that’s how it’s supposed to be.

For a few years now, I’ve been developing my self-care practice, embracing simple rituals, and creating what has become my 12 Baby Steps. And I’ve taken lots of baby steps, forward and back, and then forward again, and some even in circles.

Now it’s time for me to STEP UP, beyond Baby Steps, onto a new level. One of my mentors, Sandy Grason, calls it “Playing BIG!”. Heather Dominick calls it “uplevelling”. Intellectually I’ve understood the concept for a while, but now, I actually see the stairway in front of me, leading to a new platform. And from that platform there is another set of steps, up and up and up.

And the steps don’t stop. They disappear into a wisp of clouds. Clearly, my potential is limitless! And so is yours.

You see, I’m “Stepping UP” and I know that I am called to take you with me when you are ready to go. At each and every step, I will turn and reach back to anyone who has been willing to do the work to get there.

Like me, when you are ready, you will know that it’s time to STEP UP!

How will you know you’re ready?

Your favorite self-care practices are fully integrated into your daily life.

You consciously choose how you live each day.

You’ve developed a network of mentors, gentle guides and compassionate friends and you use them for support!

You have gathered a box full of tools and treasures that provide inspiration and motivation, especially when you feel blocked, stuck or fearful.

You honor your voice and speak your truth boldly, without hesitation.

You can clearly “see” your vision – you can actually see yourself stepping up effortlessly.

You’ve adopted a system and committed to a process to identify and take inspired actions.

You’ve learned how to celebrate and give thanks and you are thrilled to share your success!

Simple, isn’t it?

It’s really all a part of your life’s journey. When you claim the journey as your own, amazing things will happen for you.

Certainly, mastering the baby steps is not easy. It takes time and practice and commitment to change.

And believe me, if I can do it, so can you!

In the spirit of wisdom, wellness and prosperity,

I wish you well-

Nanette