I have come to trust...

I have come to trust not that events will always unfold exactly as I
want, but that I will be fine either way.  The challenges we face in
life are always lessons that serve our soul's growth. - Marianne
Williamson-

This quote spoke to me directly.   A journal Prompt that I love to do
but I tend to forget about is one where you pick a line from the quote and fill in the blanks..repeat the same line a number of times and keep filling in the blanks.  with this quote, i choose the line "I have come to _____________

For those that are intimidated or feel
new to writing in a journal - I would suggest 20 times.  For those
that journal regularly I would say set a number for yourself - I set
mine for 25 - more because I was pressed for time.   I would say that
you can use this exercise with any quote that resonates with you or
even a personal prayer that you use.  Pick one line that stands out
and repeat it continuously until you are done. The key is not to stop.

Below is an example of what I am describing...

I have come to trust that I am on a path of self-discovery
I have come to trust that laughing is the best remedy to any situation
I have come to trust my intuition on a daily basis
I have come to trust in walking the road less traveled
I have come to trust in the power of visualization
I have come to trust that support is there when I need it
I have come to trust that if I fall you will be there to catch me
and not laugh
I have come to trust that my path is not your path but our paths
together however different gets us to the same goal
I have come to trust that I can only do so much in a day
I have come to trust that my deepest desires is the soul's way of
talking of reminding me that of something that I have long forgotten
I have come to trust that my memory will never falter when I need it the most
I have come to trust that my mistakes are stepping stones to getting
things right
I have come to trust that once a parent always a parent
I have come to trust in hope
I have come to trust in the power of light
I have come to trust in myself
I have come to trust in a higher power
I have come to trust in the synchronicities of life
I have come to trust in the power of love
I have come to trust that my deepest fears is just another way of
stopping me from reaching my goals
I have come to trust that the right song gets played at the right time
I have come to trust that there are no coincidences in life
I have come to trust that things happen for a reason -
I have come to trust that we may never know the reason
I have come to trust that too is okay
I have come to trust trust itself!

Getting unstuck...

http://www.themindfulword.org/2014/getting-unstuck/

A writing piece of mine that recently got published.

Leadership

It is rare to come across good leadership these days.  Some may take this as a generalized statement but all I can say to that is this statement is based  on my personal observations and experiences with engaging with leaders throughout my career and personal life. A leader can make or break an organization, family, program. Leadership takes courage and humility.  A leader must remebember that absolute power can corrupt absolutely- and always do an internal check with where you are at with regard to power

At some point in our lives we will be given an opportunity to play a leadership role.  It may not be a president of a company, but it will be an opportunity for you to display the skills that make you shine.  It could be training skills, it could be a teaching skill, it could be a supervisor, it could be a mentor...whatever it may be- we are making a difference in shaping someones life...and i hope that if you are in any of these positions- you realize the impact you give.  Therefore it is important to keep a journal as a check-in to make sure you are on the right track.

When you do find that good leader, he/she makes an imprint in your heart that you can never forget.  A true leader is able to look at the darkest problem and still give it light.  A true leader can bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and still be a able to find some commonality between them.  Engagement is key and the manner in which a leader is able to make each person feel important says something about that leader.  A true leader introduces you to  new things which may seem strange n the beginning because it is not familiar, but when you try it, you are grateful for that experience. A true leader leads with compassion- for it is only by being able to understand and be compassionate that you are able to create change and shape policy. A true lead is intuitive. A true leader always bear gifts...never expecting anything in return-

A true leader is insightful and always looking to better themselves. And last but not least never stop learning...  

What does leadership mean to you? How can you be a better leader? What is it that  your leader needs to do more of? And last but not least if you can't find good leadership, How can you look inside yourself for that guidance. We all have it...we just don't use it. Ask yourself that question? What do i need? Why do i not allow myself to shine?  Look for words of inspiration to get you to move, look to your support system to stand tall, and then you will see a leader that is born in you.

Happy journaling!

March...

March is a month of celebration of all sorts.   First and foremost, it is the month in which I was born and that’s a celebration in itself.   But we begin the 2^nd of March celebrating Dr. Seuss – and his contribution to the literary world of children.  Dr. Seuss is most famous for his Green Eggs and Ham, and Cat in The Hat series.  Beneath all the rhyming, quotes, there is wisdom, there is a push for children to dream bigger , to use their voices, and last but not least there is an imagination that is fostered that only leaves us to feel warm and fuzzy inside.   As adults, it again reminds us of the simple yet profound values of life. 

March is also Women’s History Month – more specifically International Women’s Day on March 8, 2014.  Celebrating women in all their roles and achievements during this month is important.  For one we acknowledge the various women in our lives – our friends, our mothers, our aunts, our sisters, our daughters, nieces, grandmothers and the list goes on.  From the womb we came, and have stood tall and strong.  We have broken records, traditions that limited our thinking, dared to dream big when our mothers and grandmothers would not dare dream, but more than that we have survived. We have heard stories and we have seen the actual stories – so many of us are the actual story – and our stories are tales of survival. Every time we use our voice to express our needs, to stand up for a cause, to soothe someone in pain, to create a space, sing our our hearts we are making a mark in history of that of survival.   Everyday we make choices through our actions, words, and vision for our daughters, sons, nieces, nephews and be an example to live in a violent free world and a world that is equal.  And this month we celebrate the woman in all its totality.   We acknowledge the worth of that woman and use this month to celebrate our victories, our losses, our loves, our fears, our beauty, our determination, our wisdom and our courage.  Below is a link to a beautiful slideshow from Reuters celebrating International Women’s Month.

 http://updates.thomsonreuters.com/international-womens-day/

March is also Social Work Month.   We celebrate and acknowledge the Social Work profession. Social workers work in all different sectors – from schools, to hospitals, to professors, to child welfare, to private practice, to activists to researchers.   We are the voices of the weak, we are the voices of  those who need advocacy, but more than that we stand for the basic principle that all individuals need to be treated with respect, dignity and a right to self-determination.  We carry that message in any sector that we work – whether we are an administrator or a psychotherapist or a hospice worker or child welfare advocate.   It is these principles that guide us and give voices to the ones that often don’t have one..   So to all Social Workers – a happy Social Worker’s Month to you…May your work be acknowledged and may you dare to dream things that are bigger than yourself.  

Last but not least – March signifies the arrival of spring.  Spring brings with it hope. The winter may have been dreary, cold- winter is also a time to go inward, introspect and contemplation. And when spring comes, it reminds us of renewal, rebirth, and revelation. It makes us believe in the miracle of life as we witness natures' beauty bloom all around .  Happy March!