In The Zone

"Wow – what an amazing film!” My first words after seeing the powerful and visually stunning film, Avatar, in 3D. The movie was so powerful on many levels—working through physical, emotional and spiritual planes. I was totally engaged. In fact, it took me about 30 minutes to come back to my “reality”.

That feeling of engagement is when you are connected to the energy inside you—the feeling of being fully present and balanced... whether induced by a film, book, or even just a conversation with a good friend or loved one. When you are engaged you are immersed. Being in this state is often termed concentration, but it can also be considered bliss, flow, or what is commonly referred to as being “in the zone”. You do it all the time, but you probably didn’t consciously realize it.

Now you can choose to be engaged in negative or positive energy. Connecting with negative feelings will bring more negative energy, so rather than ignore negative things simply acknowledge them but refuse to play. Avoid negativity by turning your focus to those things (and people!) that are positive and nourishing. Keep your zone clear!

So let’s focus on positive zones. What types are there? If you happen to be drawing, painting, writing, or building something you might be in the Creative Zone. So what about some of the others?

·       Cleaning Zone: How many times do you get the inspiration to clean and suddenly find yourself cleaning a closet, rearranging an entire room, or scrubbing the crusted food off your stovetop? It may help you to be inspired by playing your favorite music or wearing your favorite shirt, but you are definitely engaged in the activity. Suddenly, cleaning is fun and you’re being productive at the same time. Bonus!

·       Reading Zone: You happen to pick up a book, magazine, or newspaper, and you are suddenly drawn into the story or articles. You can feel the emotions, identify with the people/characters, and almost feel the environment surrounding the events of which you are reading. The words seem to transform your current state of consciousness and you "lose yourself". This temporary escape can be fascinating and help you to take a much-needed break. Try it!

·       Spiritual Zone: Often referred to as a state of meditation or deep relaxation, you can detach from your physical and mental forms (body & mind) in order to reconnect with your soul (spirit). In this zone ideas come and go freely, and there is no judgment—it’s all good. With practice it’s quite easy to enter this zone through Deep Breathing, Yoga, Tai Chi, Rebirthing, Guided Meditation, Hypnosis, or Bodywork (including massage, Reiki, and healing touch). Being in the spiritual zone helps put your energy back into alignment, and alignment assist you with your passion and purpose.

·       Physical Zone: Have you ever been completely unmotivated to perform a certain task (i.e., mow the lawn), but once you got off your rear, started moving, and “just did it” you realized your body’s natural energy started to increase? As your blood warms your muscles you naturally begin to emit more energy and you start becoming “energized”. Pretty soon you have forgotten about everything except for mowing that lawn! It’s awesome. Exercise also induces this state of flow, especially when you add your favorite music :o) Remember: when you respond to your body, your body responds to you.

·       Musical Zone: Have you ever been swept away by tranquil classical music or instantly transported back in time by listening to a song? Then you've experience the Musical Zone. Music connects with the spiritual energy inside us and helps to create whatever feeling you need at the moment. In fact, melody and words can transform your mood and take you to a "different" place. It's very powerful.

Now there are other zones but my point is that entering into the zone—any zone—can stimulate your creativity, energize you, and refuel your tank. The most important thing is to get in the zone! Allow yourself to be immersed and feel the positive charge it can bring. And, above all else, have FUN.

Make it a great day,

The Ambassador

Goals or Intentions - What's the Difference?

At the beginning of each new year I always take time to sit down and list my goals for the upcoming year. These goals usually include a mix of career, personal, and family items - and they all contain an "amount" of some sort along with a time frame within which I want to accomplish the goal. For example, one of my goals for 2010 is to eliminate my personal inventory by 50% (reduce, reuse, recycle) by June 1st. This goal will help me follow my own advice and get organized, and by setting this goal with a specific date suddenly makes it measurable. You can do this, too! It's a great way to know what to focus on for the upcoming year.

Now, goal setting was the perfect activity for my mind, but once I had completed my "10 Goals for 2010", my spirit wanted to follow that action by creating intentions. What's the difference? I'm glad you asked. While my favorite web site, Dictionary.com, defines a goal as, "The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective," intention is defined as, "the end or object intended; purpose." The mind creates an objective; the spirit creates a purpose. Similar, yet unique in their own ways. For example, one of my intentions for 2010 is that I will create more deep and meaningful relationships with others - old friends and new ones. I then added more detail to my intention by describing the types of relationships I want to create and what the result will be from those relationships, but not so much in chronological time (like my goals), but in spiritual time (when they manifest). Plus, at the end of each intention I add, "...this or something better," reminding me that my intentions are adding to the creative momentum that my life takes which could very well lead me to even better things! So it goes.

Another important aspect of setting intentions is to make them for yourself. Whereas goals may include the cooperation and support of others to reach, intentions are "intended" to be for your own growth and development - they cause a change internally. By paying attention to your inner self you make the important personal investment in your own growth and development. Let others be free to create for themselves!

So why did I find it so important to perform both goal and intention-setting activities this year? Because I am practicing the art of the balance factor - engaging my mind, body and my spirit - allowing me to access my deepest truths and assist me in making the best (and highest) possible choices. It's a wonderful growing experience and I always learn more by trying new things!

This week, try setting goals and intentions for yourself in 2010 and make this year a time of transformation, resolution and creative manifestation. Why not? It all starts with you.

Be Well,

The Ambassador

Peace on Earth

Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth,
the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father,
brothers *(and sisters) all are we,
Let me walk with my *(family),
in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
let this be the moment now.
With every step I take,
let this be my solemn vow,

To take each moment and live each moment
in peace, eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.

Words by Jill Jackson & Sy Miller, circa 1955
* (modified by Michael, circa 2007 :o)

What It Is

Visiting Hawaii again last week helped me put a lot of things back into alignment in my life. I find that each time I am in a place of quiet and beauty with less distractions I turn down the volume on the outside of my life and turn the volume up on the inside. Helpful, indeed!

As I pondered on many aspects of my life I did a lot of writing. One of the main reasons which I love to observe, study and write about balance is because there are so many times in my life where the concept of balance is so discoverable - it shows itself to me in my daily attitudes, actions and words. So one day I decided to write more about what it means to truly be in balance (or in "alignment") with the energy or rhythm of life. Indulge me for a moment as I share with you my perspective about this particular topic from my journaling:

Everything is and always is exactly as it should be. There are no wrong moments. All that exists “behind the scenes” of our every day dramas is well and balanced at all times. What is perceived as being “out of balance” is only when you are out of alignment with the flow (of all that is). There is a constant stream of energy always flowing, you are just not always tapped into it; thus, when you experience this disconnect you’ll find it difficult to maintain balance. The discrepancy between being in the flow and being out of it creates conflict. Fear pushes us out of the stream whereas love can pull us back in.

Relationships also push you out or pull you back into the stream. You will truly be amazed when you finally understand the influence that others have on your sense of balance. Choose wisely where you direct your energies for wherever you choose to pay attention (people, places, and events), your energy goes. Those sources which can give back to you or reflect your own positive energy will serve you whereas those which drain you will not. Believing you can alter or manipulate this process is futile for it is already the course of nature; it is already in motion. Therefore, relationships in which you believe you can truly alter events by your own actions will most likely fail. If you believe you can change somebody else’s behavior, you will learn that it is not possible. You can influence others, but you cannot change them—they, like you, choose to change themselves. You can choose to be a positive influence by acting in kind, but you cannot influence anyone positively if you are not acting in the same energy. Giving is also receiving and vice-versa; we are all connected.

The gift of patience is allowance. If you are truly connected to the flow of all that is, you will allow everything and everyone to be as it is or who they are without resistance. True allowance does not have judgment—either you are in a spirit of acceptance or you are not. Choosing to accept what “is” keeps you in alignment whereas judgment pushes you out, for judgment stems from fear. Love, the opposite of fear, joins; fear divides. This doesn’t mean that you cannot help to influence people and events to bring about a more favorable outcome, but in the end you still need to learn how to accept everything as it is and everyone as they are—this is the key to maintaining internal balance. If you can maintain even keel on the inside it will be reflected on the outside of your life as well.

Happy Holidays!

The Ambassador

Life: For Give or For Get?

I've recently discovered a shift in my thinking, feeling and intuition: I'm finding myself more focused on what I am giving rather than what I am getting. Why's that, you ask? Because I've been in a pattern of creating new structures and belief systems for my life that actually work... as opposed to just accepting the way I've always lived my life--comfortably numb with routine. This has all been part of my new Business Plan for my Life.

So why have I found it so beneficial to focus on giving? Because receiving is easy. Now that's not to say that receiving is always pleasant--I may not enjoy receiving bills in my email box each month; I may not like receiving sad news of a friend's illness; but receiving is something we do by default. It's part of responding to daily events.

Giving, on the other hand, requires effort. I may be giving naturally, like when a friend asks for advice or needs a ride to the airport, but I can also choose to consciously give in specific ways without an expectation of reciprocity. When you understand the "golden rule" (that when you give to others you give to yourself), then you'll quickly realize the act of giving creates energy for "like" things to be returned to you. When you give of yourself--your time, talents, gratitude and appreciation--you will receive that from others. Maybe not in the same "time" that you think, but remember that "like attracts like". When you give you will, indeed, receive. Just wait... it works!

This week I encourage you to look at where you are giving in your life--to what, whom, and when? Then think about why? Are you giving in response to a favor or request, or are you just giving without an immediate reason?

You may find that living life for-giving brings you better balance than a life of for-getting.

Happy week!

The Ambassador

What is The Balance Factor?

The Balance Factor began with two very different life-altering conversations.

The first occurred in 1993 when my friend Doug & I stood in front of a hand-drawn picture on his wall depicting three rings: yellow, red, and blue, each intersecting one another like the rings of the Olympic symbol. I asked him what this picture meant and he replied, “Balance of mind, body, spirit. Three domains of energy each on its own, yet united in equal portions create balance.” I understood what Doug meant right away for he had articulated something I’d also observed—there’s a sense of balance in life, and this balance is found through a harmonious blending of the mind, body, and spirit. Doug’s explanation of the picture was significant in that it provided a framework to hold so many of our observations.

The second conversation was with myself, thanks to Shirley MacLaine in the The Evening Star (the follow-up film to Terms of Endearment), when her character, Aurora, states, “I have come to the conclusion there’s no such thing as a mistake; I think we all create what we need.” When I heard those words I had another light bulb moment. Until then, my focus was on the external factors bringing me insight into the meaning of my past and present, but Aurora's words triggered my focus to move inward. I suddenly realized the process of creation actually begins inside of me. My outer experience is merely a reflection of what’s happening on the inside! This inner perspective resonated with me for several days. I wondered, could I really have a hand in creating my experiences, including my mistakes? Could I truly be the creator of both my “good” and “bad” experiences?

Eventually I came to the conclusion that I was, indeed, creating my own experience by managing my response to what was happening around me. Even though my reactions were natural and rather spontaneous (part of the human animal), I could choose my responses. I had a hand in creating every thought I’d been thinking, choice I’d been making, consequence I was experiencing—every joy and every pain! But the deepest truth was that all of it was necessary. Each mistake was an opportunity in disguise—a lesson to learn more about who I really was.

I began to focus my energy on paying more attention to the idea that my mind, body and spirit each played an integral part in determining my thoughts, feelings and intuition. As my awareness of how they were all connected increased, so did creating new experiences become my new reality. It was a moment of truth when I realized that I was truly the artist of my own life – I finally felt alive, awake and empowered. Through a three step process of 1) Awareness, 2) Alignment, and 3) Activation, I've been able to use this perspective of mind, body and spirit to help assist me with every decision I make. I can now listen to all three: thoughts, feelings and intuition! And, in return, my decisions (and outcomes) are in alignment with my current state of being. This is good!

My questions to you: How do you engage your mind, body and spirit in your life? How much balance do you feel? How can a change in your awareness lead you to a more balanced perspective? Why am I asking you so many questions? Because when you ask questions, you get answers... sometimes when you least expect them!

Just remember: Ask and you shall receive.

Happy Autumn!

The Ambassador

Spiritual Time

These past couple months I've been living on a completely different clock than I have in years. Before I moved back to Bemidji at the beginning of June, I was working full time and living my life according to the Monday through Friday work week schedule and at the end of each week hoping to find time to manifest my creative projects with the little energy and attention I'd have left. I found myself slipping further and further away from my creative spark - and for someone like me, that's not a good thing. I couldn't create the time necessary to let my creative muse express itself and I started to feel stuck.

So I made a change. I moved away from the Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm life I'd created and released my need to be on chronological time... I moved into the realm of spiritual time. To better understand what is meant by spiritual time I'd like to quote one of my favorite spiritual guides and a good friend, Jennifer Hoffman, with an excerpt from her recent newsletter:

"In your material concept of time each day contains 24 hours and you have limited time to do things. You fill your day with activities and things that you must do and often feel that you do not have time to do the things you want to do. There is no time to pursue your interests and dreams because of the obligations and distractions that fill your day. As you move towards greater spiritual understanding you will also move from material time to spiritual time. In spiritual time there are no limits on your time, no waiting or need for patience.

...Many of you are learning lessons in patience and you translate this as having to wait for the right time for things to happen. Yet it is not about time, but about the manifestation process occurring in spiritual time. When you are impatient you are experiencing fear and doubt and the passage of time makes you uncomfortable because you feel that nothing is happening. Everything is happening and you can be aware of this when you remove your focus on material time from the process.

...You are obsessed with the timing of events because you feel you are not in the right time or place. Yet you are always creating your reality in the perfect way. In order to work with the Universal energy you must also work with spiritual time, which does not recognize hours, days or weeks. Its energy flows according to your focus, requests and direction. Without the limitations of time you would be aware of how effortlessly things manifest for you. Spend a portion of your day in spiritual time and you will see how quickly the Universe responds to your requests. Remove the limitations of impatience and doubt and feel the flow of the Universe rushing to meet your every need. Step into spiritual time and into the age of miracles to manifest the reality of your dreams, and they will always occur at the perfect time."

(Read more about Jennifer, her books, and subscribe to her newsletter at urielheals.com)

Living on spiritual time has allowed my creativity to run free! I have been in the creative zone for the past month manifesting my dream to sell my photography and share my inspiration from the world, and it's been amazing how fast it's taken off. I wasn't sure how it was going to all work out, but I have just allowed the process to unfold by tuning in to my intuition and listening to what moves my spirit. The results have been astounding! I've been selling my photography books, cards, and prints at local art shows, coffee houses, stores and restaurants. What inspired my spirit is now inspiring hundreds of others. This, indeed, I could not have done unless I'd taken "time" to allow this dream to manifest.

Funny - even my friend Shawn realized my new reality and ended up giving me a watchband to wear, but has no watch--just a blank metal plate. It's perfect! Now I'm truly living on Universal time :o)

Even though moving away from a Monday-Friday full time job may not be a reasonable option for you, I challenge you to follow Jennifer's advice and spend some moments in spiritual time so you can allow your spirit to inspire you and manifest your requests. This is part of the creative process and plays an integral part of the purpose you are creating as you travel down your life path. Give yourself the opportunity to tap your creative potential by exploring your horizons and releasing your limitations.

May you, too, find your inspiration from the world.

Namaste,

The Ambassador