This book shines a bright light of awareness into the dark corners of your heart, mind and soul.  Yes, it asks you to look where you probably don’t want to look.  In fact, you’ve probably spent most of your life running from these parts of yourself.  And that’s exactly why Debbie Ford asks you to go there:

Because you cannot live a fulfilling, purpose-driven life while you deny and hide any part of yourself.

I know, it sucks.  But, it’s true.  And this book will guide you through the grueling process step-by-step.  I recommend that you read this book with a partner.  Let me know if you’re up for it, because I wouldn’t mind reading it again.  Wait.  I haven’t actually finished it all the way through.  Yeah, I guess I need the support of a partner.  Like I said, let me know if you’re up for this and we can read it together.

Seriously.  Have you ever noticed how when you are tired it’s so easy to be grumpy.  In fact, when you’re tired enough even the thought of happiness can be irritating.  The truth is…happy people are well-rested people.

It really is this simple.  If you want more happiness in your life, then take a look at your sleeping patterns and decide if they are working for you or not.

A few years ago I took a look at my sleeping habits and decided to make a commitment to sleep from 10pm to 6am every night – weekend and weeknight alike.  I realized that my body didn’t know the difference between a weeknight and a weekday and found that when I sleep the same hours I feel better and have more energy.

A few years down the road and I am one of the most positive and upbeat persons I know.  Yes, I have my moments – don’t we all? – and yet, I am known for my heart smile, good moods, and general all-around happiness.  I admit that there are more factors to my joy-filled life, but it really truly begins with a good night’s rest…or a good day’s rest depending on when your body sleeps the best.

Happy sleeping!

During this morning’s conversation with God I asked him why he was always so accepting of me and giving me permission to feel how I feel no matter how much I don’t like how I feel and he didn’t even have to answer me directly.  In my frustration about his acceptance – can you believe I was frustrated by being accepted?! – I was venting about it and realized that if he scolded me for where I was at and told me that I have to do x, y, or z, that then I would totally rebel against him.

It was such an eye opener and all of a sudden I had a deeper understanding why giving myself permission is so much more powerful than pressuring myself into moving forward.

You see, I tend to do that: pressure myself relentlessly.

But, whenever I’m connecting with God he doesn’t do that to me.  Instead he continually tells me, “That’s okay.”  Even when I’m like, “I feel like such a failure!” he always responds with, “That’s okay.”

And this morning I was fed up.  I asked, “How is that okay? How is it okay that I feel uninspired? Can’t you just force me to stay inspired?”

And that’s when it hit me!  It really wouldn’t work if God continually told me that I’m not okay and forced me to take action.

So, if God is smart enough to know that force doesn’t work, then why am I continually trying to force myself?

You know, it’s such a human thing to force and try.  That’s really not what I should focus on here.  It would be way more powerful for me to make a commitment to follow God’s lead, give myself permission, and embrace myself along the way.

So today as I begin my day I am willing to commit to notice whenever I’m pressuring myself, to let it go, and to give myself permission to be where I’m at.  And you know what? I feel more inspired now than I have in weeks!

What about you? Which path will you choose? Pressuring yourself into action? Or accepting yourself into it? I’d love to hear your take.  Please post your thoughts, fears, and insights.

I am one tough cookie!

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that wasn’t part of the lesson plan, but damn…I feel empowered!  And that was a part of the lesson plan.

We did these two exercises – that totally reminded me of Challenge Day by the way – and during the first one  I realized that I am super attached to “the rules” and that I am afraid of “getting it wrong.” This is what’s keeping me from taking authenticity (and my coaching practice) to the next deeper level.  But, you know what’s so cool about discovering this and sharing it with my small group? That just by sharing the truth about what’s keeping me from being more authentic is being authentic!  Did you catch that? My mind is doing cartwheels!

Anyhow, the second exercise was all about sharing what you appreciate about yourself and when it came to my turn to share I blurted out:

I appreciate about myself that I’m one tough cookie!

It’s true.  I’ve successfully made it through some life threatening challenges including going to UC Berkeley’s business school while being a single mom.  And you don’t accomplish that without being a tough cookie.

What really hit home for me is that in the past I was so tough I became hard and like Greg shared with me, a hard metal will crack upon impact.  But, a tough metal will bend, mold, and survive because it’s resilient.  In my journey of connecting with myself, creating peace in my life, and following my dreams and passions, I left Tough Cookie behind.

But, I really need her now.  I pride myself in being calm, positive, and uplifting – all great traits – and Tough Cookie is just who I need to fully show up in my life and play whole heartedly.

I’m so ready for this next step and I am super glad that I have Tough Cookie on my side because not only does it take guts to create and run your own business…it takes one Tough Cookie to parent a 16 year old girl.

1. Support You
   • I help to lighten your load
   • I walk with you through everything
   • I hold a safe space for you to process, vent, release, cry, brainstorm, and celebrate
2. Inspire You
   • I believe in you whole-heartedly
   • I see who you truly are and
   • I adore you
3. Challenge You
   • With the truth
   • To move through and take action
   • All while whole-heartedly accepting you
   • I ask you to take the next step

Isn’t that cool? I invite you to receive a 30 minute complimentary coaching session.  Just give me a call at 408.206.1662, reply to this post, or shoot me an email at Cassandra@SimplyFearless.com

Rock it out, Peeps!

Long lasting change happens in small, consistent steps taken over time.  Think of one aspect of your life you’d like to change.  What is one simple step you can take each day for the next week?

p.s. It really is this simple!

Each morning I write a Vision Paragraph.  I wrote one recently that I’d like to share with you because when I went back to read it I was like, “Wow!  I wrote that? It inspires me!”  So here ya go:

I now fully allow myself to bloom beautifully.  Oh!  Like a rose.  God told me once that I am a rose.  It is so much easier to open up, bloom, and share my beauty with the world.  I didn’t realize how much energy I was draining in keeping myself tightly wound up.  I was protected from the outside, but I was hurting myself from the inside.  Well, I wisened up and with God’s gentle, guiding hands I blossomed!  Even my beauty surprises me.  Thank you, God, for creating me beyond my wildest expectations!

You are invited to write you own Vision Paragaph and to be surprised by your beauty.

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!

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.