Welcome to the magical world of transformation…

I’m not up for writing a new entry today, so I thought it would be neat to share with you my very first blog post ever:

Number 1

I sit at a desk. In a cube. With a glass of water and a bunch of work. And I’m bored as hell! Hence, the whole blogging excursion. How did I end up in a cube anyhow? Ok, like millions of Americans aren’t asking that question?!

The more important inquisition is: how the heck do I get out of the cube? As soon as I can find out how to get out of the car payment, credit card bills, and soon…mortgage, then I will climb out of my cube forever. For now, I decrease my productivity by blogging away my bored entrapment. Here’s to the cube culture…

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I totally just realized that I wrote my very first blog post on my sister Brenda’s birthday almost 5 years ago!  And I no longer work in a cube.

Tags: blogging

Gracie just got up from where she was sleeping so that she could curl up against my leg.  I love how consistently affectionate she is towards me.  Every time I walk into the room she runs up to me with such enthusiasm.  She always takes that extra step to be next to me.

It got me thinking.

How intentional are we with the people in our lives?

How consistently affectionate are we towards one another?

How excited do we get when someone we love enters the room?

So, today follow in Gracie’s paw prints and take that extra step to express your love and affection for those that mean most in your life.  And do it without expecting anything in return.  Do it simply to be the kind of person you want to be…

Loving

Kind

Affectionate

This is a photo I took of Gracie climbing up to give me kisses!

Tags: advice, chihuahua, dog, Family, happiness, humanity, Relationships

I have been ultra busy lately, which is good because I tend to function better and happier when I’m busy.  But, I’ve also noticed that as I move forward in developing and growing my coaching business I’ve been criticizing myself pretty harshly.  This is normal as I’m stepping into new and unknown territories for the first time.  But, it’s also not helping me.

So what do I do?

Well, one of the things I decided to do for today is to let go of one of my projects.  I’m not letting it go for good.  I’m only letting it go for today.  You see, it’s a big one for me.  And it’s so cool.  It’s an 8 week coaching program all about designing, creating, and living your simply fearless life.  Mmmm.  I love it!

And yet, I’ve also been putting a lot of pressure on myself because of it.  I say things in my head like, “You should be promoting this now.  You should have this done now.  You shouldn’t be stressing over the details.  Just put it out there already.”

Of course, all of these thoughts have stunted the creation process and caused me to feel horrible about it.  Yeah, not helping.

Today is jam packed with appointments back-to-back all the way through dinner.  So I’ve decided to give myself full permission to let it go for today.  There’s no worrying.  No pressure.  And tomorrow I get to pick it back up and continue working on it.

What this really means is that today I  give myself full permission to let go of the pressure of creating something new.  I release myself from any and all expectation surrounding this project.  Yes, it’s important.  Yes, I will finish the set-up and invite people to sign up.  But, I’m no longer willing to beat myself up in the process.

Whew!  I feel so much better.  And much more prepared to walk through my schedule today as I’m not carrying a big bag full of negative thoughts and punishment.  I am free!

And tomorrow when I focus my attention back on the 8 week program,  I will pick up the project and not the pressure!

**UPDATE**
I wrote this post before going to the gym this morning.  When I was working out at the gym I realized that I was running faster and easier.  I learned that when I let go of the mental and emotional pressure that physically I perform better and stronger.  How cool is that?!

Tags: advice, fear, perfectionism

I’m so excited to share with you that I am performing in…

A V-Day 2009 Campaign Event to End Violence Against Women and Girls

_________________________________

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING JOINS GLOBAL EFFORT

TO STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

V-Day 2009

A V-Day Benefit Production of Eve Ensler’s

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

Directed by Leslie Woods

The cast in order of appearance:

Sally Smith, Pat Cross, Christine Bagube, TJ Paganini,

Peggy Bruneau, Jean Conger, Susan Overland, Cindy Silva, December Martin,

Diane Gralewski, Vera Sloan, Lechelle Wallace, ——->Cassandra Rae<——see that’s me! Sabrina Foss,

Kaylen Jacobson, Leslie Woods, Kendra Owens, Candy Price

Change the Story of Women!

Join us as we raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls

February 13 & 14, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Venue: Center for Spiritual Living

Tickets are $25 and $50, available through: www.cslsj.org

or via telephone at 408.294.1828 x116

Proceeds Benefit Next Door Shelter & Georgia Travis Center

“Spellbinding, funny, and almost unbearably moving . . . it is both a work of art and an incisive piece of cultural history, a poem and a polemic, a performance and a balm and a benediction.”

—Variety

“Ultimately Ensler achieves something extraordinary.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Probably the most important piece of political theater of the last decade…”

-The New York Times

V‑Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. Further information about V-Day can be found at www.vday.org.

Tags: courage, humanity

Allie just sent this to me and it is fabulous!

Quote of the day:
Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

Tags: Fun & Friends

This week I’ve been in somewhat of a lull or low energy level.  It makes sense considering how much creative energy I’ve been investing in SimplyFearless.com, which by the way is soooooo beautiful and if you haven’t seen it yet then what are you waiting for?!

Today I’m pulling together the bones of a brand new coaching program titled My Simply Fearless Life and I just received a rush of energy as I decided to color all of the topics onto pieces of paper.  The plan is to play with all of the pieces until I find the structure that makes the most sense.  It’ll be kind of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  How fun is that?

So I’m off to create, color and play!

Tags: creativity, fun, solopreneur

Peter sent this to me through the 29 Day Giving Challenge network and it is also meant for you:

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: THE UNIVERSE
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

This is The Universe. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you.

P.S. And, remember…

If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFTUTD (something for Universe to do) box. I will get to it at the right time. All situations will be resolved, but in UNIVERSAL time, not yours.

Tags: humanity, Spirituality & God

Today at church the guest speaker posed 3 important questions that are worth taking some time to answer.

In your life or career…

1. Are you having fun?
2. Are you growing?
3. Are you lifting up others in the process?

I encourage you to take some time right now to answer these questions for yourself.  Think about where you spend a good chunk of your time and answer these questions in relation to that part of your life.  Maybe it’s your job or your family.  Be as honest as you can and if you don’t like any of the answers, then now is your time to change them!

Tags: church, happiness, humanity

I’m busy with family and friends today, but I wanted to share this kick-ass quote:

“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.”
~ Marcel Proust, French novelist (1871 – 1922)

Get your journey on!

Tags: advice

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A good friend of mine has a daughter who is moving away for school and I came up with this brilliant going away gift that I am so excited to share with you because it’s powerful:

I bought her one of those pocket calendars and I wrote her a letter on the first couple of weeks of January.  I told her that in her new found independence it is even more important for her to focus on the positive in her life and to let go of everything that brings her down.  And then I challenged her to use the calendar to write down one of the following every day:

1. Something she is grateful for,
2. Something she is proud of, or
3. Something she is willing to let go of.

I shared how taking just a few minutes every day to write one sentence could drastically change her life over time.  And then, I promised to take her out to dinner at a restaurant of her choice in one year’s time if she accepts the challenge and shows me her calendar full of her empowering sentences.  How cool is that?!

I have no idea if she will accept the challenge, but I’m okay either way because she has inspired a whole new daily practice option for my coaching clients!

Just last month, I shared my Daily Practice with my clients and everyone really liked it.  The thing is, the majority of them knew themselves well enough to know they won’t commit to the full practice – it takes about a half an hour – and that it would turn into something they beat themselves up with for not following through.  At the time, I stressed the importance of making the time so that they could enjoy the benefits – and I still do – yet, this is an awesome alternative!  And maybe this is a great first step for people who would like to have a Daily Empowerment Practice but are also pressed for time.

So all you fabulous and fearless people, I encourage you to go buy your own pocket calendar and take this challenge.  Although, I can’t take all of you out to dinner.  Bummer.  But, you could do this with a friend and agree to take each other out to dinner!  Be sure to drop me a line either as a comment or email {Cassandra@SimplyFearless.com} to let me know how it’s going.

Tags: Life Coaching