Give & Grow
7 Pillars of Women’s Empowerment and Divine Feminine Rising
Next week, I will travel to Florida for the purpose of taking over my 92-year old mom’s finances. ... Continue ReadingNext week, I will travel to Florida for the purpose of taking over my 92-year old mom’s finances. Not because she really wants me to or that she’s not capable of continuing to handle them on her own. But with the realities of Covid-19, it seems the prudent thing to do.
Sadly, while there I won’t be able to be with her face to face. She lives in a retirement center that is under quarantine, with increased restrictions being implemented as cases in Florida are on the rise. I’ll get all of her paperwork and then stay in a nearby hotel.
In truth, she could leave her home and stay at my sister’s house where would be able to be together taking precautions by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. But even with precautions there are no guarantees, and when she returns to her home she would be in quarantine for 14 days.
There are no easy answers anymore it seems. We all have to make the best decisions we can with the information we’ve been given.
But, despite the uncertainty, I am hopeful that this time of upheaval and chaos, this collective dark night of the soul, is an opening to vast possibilities we may have only imagined. One way of life may be over, but a new way of being and doing will be birthed from the turbulence. And it’s up to us to make that happen.
Women’s voices are needed now more than ever! Your voice!
The feminine naturally leads not from a place of competition, scarcity, and power over – but rather from a place of cooperation, abundance, and power with. From a place of love and compassion. But for centuries our voices have been suppressed and silenced. No more. The Divine Feminine is Rising and it’s time to speak our truth!
As Barbara Marx Hubbard said, “For the first time in thousands of years, women now have the opportunity to give birth to their authentic feminine “Self”, and to actively participate in the workings of the evolutionary process. The modern and postmodern rise of women into the role of evolutionary agents is an event of the highest significance.”
So how will you answer the call? What will you do? Where will you serve?
During the shutdown, I completed my research on Women’s Empowerment and the Divine Feminine. If you’d like to learn more, here’s a link to a short PowerPoint presentation…https://youtu.be/sygifA0i5eY
We’re all connected and the social issues that challenge us are inter-connected as well. When we come together in community to learn, grow, and serve, we strengthen our commitment and increase our impact ensuring that we effect the change we want to see in the world.
It doesn’t matter which pillar you choose to focus on…environmental sustainability, health & well-being, education, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, equality…it all matters! Choose a pillar and join with others to shift the paradigm from patriarchy and privilege to new systems that support the common good.
Regardless of our race, religion, age, or culture – we are all women. We are sisters. We are strong, courageous, and determined. And together, as Fierce Warrior Goddesses of Light, we will change the world!
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Answering the Call
Hmmm. Where to begin? Let’s begin with Covid-19 and the pause that enveloped the globe. For the first... Continue ReadingHmmm. Where to begin?
Let’s begin with Covid-19 and the pause that enveloped the globe. For the first time ever, life was put on hold for everyone on the planet so we could protect ourselves, families and friends, and the most vulnerable among us. We came together for the good of the whole because we saw ourselves at risk.
But while we were all focused on staying healthy, we continued to ignore the viruses that plague our world on an ongoing basis – the “isms”: racism, sexism, genderism, classism, ageism, etc…
What if we were to shut down our planet until we find a cure for the…
- 3 million children who die of undernourishment each year
- 12 million girls who are married before the age of 18
- 40 million victims of human trafficking
- 130 million girls who are not allowed to go to school
- 150 million people who are homeless
- 700 million people who live on less than $2/day
- 800 million people who struggle with mental health
What if??
But in a world where divisiveness has become the norm, we seem unable to figure out how to shift the conversation to issues that really matter. We don’t all agree that some things are utterly unacceptable, and that if we worked together we could make an impact.
And then, as the disease that left people “gasping for breath” begins to subside and the world starts opening up, we watch as George Floyd begs for his life with the words we’ll never forget, “I can’t breathe.”
We took to the streets with demonstrations, protests, and acts of violence in hope that the world would finally listen and insist on equality for all.
This past week, I had the opportunity to be part of an on-line conversation hosted by the SINE Network. There were eight of us participating – four black women and four white. It lasted 3 ½ hours. Antoinette Rootsdawtah led us in a conversation that explored the obstacles to white allegiance which are white privilege, fragility, liberalism, and guilt.
We listened as our black sisters spoke of the racism, injustices, and inequalities they and their ancestors have endured for centuries. And how challenging it can be to have honest conversations with white people who can’t see their own hidden biases. They weren’t blaming, they were explaining that despite being educated and employed, changing the way they dress and do their hair, still they are not accepted as equals. And at the end of the conversation, they asked for our support.
“The world will be saved by the Western woman.”
– The Dalai Lama
When the Dalai Lama said, “The world will be saved by the Western woman”, he didn’t mean that Western women are somehow superior. What he meant is that using the qualities of the feminine and the resources of the western world, we collectively have the ability to shift the social systems of privilege to new systems that support the common good. Paradigm shifts in every sector of society.
That’s where we are sisters. It’s time!
From June 20th-27th, Unity Earth will be hosting World Unity Week (worldunityweek.org). AWE Partners is honored to join with many other partners, including The SINE Network, The Shift Network, Pachamama Alliance, Humanity’s Team, and the Source of Synergy Foundation, to foster a genuine movement toward global unity.
The theme for the week is “Answering the Call”. I have been invited to host an open session where I’ll present my latest research entitled, “Peace Through Empowerment: 7 Pillars of the Divine Feminine Rising”. I would love for you to join in the conversation and see how you might “Answer the Call” to be part of the solution at this pivotal time on our planet.
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
P.S. We’ll be live on our podcast, The Broader Edge, today at 5:00 p.m. ET. You can find us in The Broader Edge Facebook group or on Enlightened World Network. Today we’ll be talking about how we turn our desires into action to create the world we really want. If you can’t be with us live be sure to check out my You Tube channel for all of the recordings.
Grow Your Soul
How are you? After approximately two months of “shelter at home” (depending on where you are in the... Continue ReadingHow are you? After approximately two months of “shelter at home” (depending on where you are in the world), I would love to know how are you really?
Are you pulling your hair out? Tired of online learning and Zoom calls? Longing to spend time with friends and colleagues? Itching for things to open up so you can get back to some sort of normalcy?
Or are you enjoying the slower pace of life? Not missing the commute or the hours spent in your car getting from one activity to the next? Relishing having an excuse to order in to support your local restaurants rather than figuring out yet again what to cook for dinner?
If you’re like me you’ve felt it all at some point. From calm and peace to anger and frustration all before breakfast.
But I think what I’ve found most revealing about myself during this slowdown is how much I value my freedom. I’m a bit of a rebel, so I really don’t like being told what I can and cannot do. It’s why I’ve chosen the path of entrepreneurship over corporate life.
However, I also recognize how important it has been for us to come together as a global community and make choices that benefit the whole rather than doing what we feel like doing at any given moment.
I’ve also found myself asking questions about who wields power, particularly in times of chaos, and can I trust them? With revelations happening constantly about our so-called “leaders” it’s challenging to know who or what to believe.
How did this whole thing happen and how do we ensure that it never happens again? Because I really don’t want to sit around, with fingers and toes crossed, hoping someone else is minding the store.
Do we continue to put our faith in those who hold the power and claim to have our best interests at heart? Or is it time for each of us to acknowledge and take back our own power? Our AWE-thentic Power?
AWE-thentic Power comes from within. It’s your birthright. Your inherent worth. It’s something that every human being on the planet has a right to embody. It’s just that most of us have forgotten.
In some cases, our AWE-thentic Power is taken from us. At other times, we give it away, perhaps unconsciously.
We give it away when we don’t stand up for ourselves. When we let others treat us poorly. When we stay quiet in the face of abuse or wrongdoing.
We give it away when we conform to fit in or follow outdated rules so we will be liked.
We give it away when we stay in toxic relationships or situations too long. Or when we let others decide our life path.
In some circumstances, life is just too overwhelming and we’re too tired or afraid to take back our power. It just seems easier to give in.
But for those of us who believe we have a choice, it’s time. Time to take back our power for ourselves and our sisters. Because when one of us rises we all rise. When one of us steps up and out we all are lifted. When one of us shines our light, the darkness recedes. And when one of us raises our vibration, the vibration of the entire planet rises.
And that’s where we are right now. At a turning point. We either keep playing small or we rise together.
We either stay asleep or we wake up to what our soul came here to do. Stepping outside our comfort zone and into our potential, our purpose, our destiny.
We didn’t just come here to enjoy the scenery – although we should do that as much as possible. We came here for a reason.
You incarnated into that beautiful body of yours so that your soul could experience its own growth and transformation. And your soul’s purpose is what makes you come alive.
Your soul is the source of your AWE-thentic Power! Get to know her!
You have the power to co-create your life and to participate in the ongoing evolution of the Universe. Your dream merges into something bigger than yourself – the greater story you are destined to live.
Here’s something to remember…you’re not given a dream unless you have the capacity to fulfill it. We’re unlimited in our capacity for impact. So what are you waiting for?
But how do I hear her, you ask? How do I know what I came here to do?
Your soul speaks to you through your intuition. So that gut feeling…listen to it! That calling that keeps nudging you…listen to it! That phrase that keeps showing up, that desire that keeps creeping in, that passion that keeps tugging at your heart strings. Listen to it!!
Women are naturals at this. Tuning into their gut. Trusting their instincts. Possessing a “knowingness” about things. Listening, feeling, being with emotions.
And this is why we need more women in leadership positions. Why we need a paradigm shift bringing the feminine into every sector of society.
Not because the masculine energy is bad. We’re all designed to have both masculine and feminine qualities and attributes. We’re just out of balance.
It’s time to move from competition to cooperation, achievement to fulfillment, doing to being. We need more love, creativity, connectedness, receptivity, wisdom, and compassion. More honesty, vulnerability, and community.
AWE-thentic Power is shared power. It’s power with – not over.
We need to support each other on the journey. We need our sisters to be strong and re-claim their voice. Let’s start affirming each other’s gifts. Encouraging each other’s potential. Supporting each other’s dreams.
Together we can achieve far more than we can imagine. Because your soul doesn’t play small. And neither does the Universe.
You are a partner in the Divine Dance. So let the dancing begin!
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
Candid Conversations that Envision a New Future
Are you afraid that life as we know it will never be the same? Or are you excited... Continue ReadingAre you afraid that life as we know it will never be the same?
Or are you excited about the opportunities we now have to take a pause, gain a Broader view, and move forward from a place of love, compassion, inspiration, and empowerment?
Maybe you’re feeling a bit of both depending on the hour or the day. Whatever you’re feeling is absolutely perfect. The key is to feel it fully.
In fact, it seems as if the whole world has been asked to slow down, listen, and really feel into what’s being asked of us individually and collectively.
We have been given an amazing opportunity to re-imagine life on our planet. To question where we are and where we’re headed. To effect the changes that until now we have only dreamt of.
We can either be drawn into the energies of uncertainty and fear, or we can transmute them for the benefit of our awakening and the rise of global consciousness.
In the depths of your soul there is a place of peace and calm, an unwavering and steady self, that knows you’ve got this. No matter what happens next or what changes may be on the horizon, the Source of all that is shines as a light in the darkness and loving shelter in the storm.
If you’re looking for a place to explore the shifts in thoughts, beliefs, and actions we are being invited to consider as we step into the Edge of evolution…I would love for you to join me and my co-hosts, Sheila Cash, Teri Angel, and Mira Rubin, for our new podcast entitled The Broader Edge…Candid Conversations that Envision a New Future.
Our mission is to empower and engage you in shaping our tomorrow because who you are and what you do matters.
You can find us every other Thursday beginning April 23rd at 5:00 p.m. ET on Facebook at Enlightened World Network. This link will take you there…https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedworldnetwork.
Don’t wait for things to change…be the change! See you on the Edge!
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
We’re in This Together!
em-pa-thy (n): the ability to understand and share the feelings of another In the past couple of years,... Continue Readingem-pa-thy (n): the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
In the past couple of years, the term empathy has become more popular, particularly as it relates to individuals who are empaths – those who feel the feelings of others.
Empathy is different from sympathy which means having feelings of pity or sorrow for someone else’s misfortune. Empathy means you get it!
What has become readily apparent to me is that what we are experiencing right now collectively on the planet is a huge uptick in empathy. For the first time ever, we can actually understand and feel what our sisters and brothers are feeling all over the globe. Can you sense the power in this??
If anyone ever doubted that we are in this together – I hope they now realize the truth of our common humanity. What impacts you, impacts me. What hurts you, hurts me. And what heals you, heals me, my family and friends, my community, country – all of us!
We are all facing perhaps the most challenging circumstances of our lives. Fears and anxieties over health and finances are rising to the surface for us to deal with. The same type of fears and anxieties that many people around the world deal with every single day of their lives.
For most of us, this will end – hopefully sooner rather than later. But we know it WILL end.
For others, this won’t be. When medicines and vaccines are available to ensure that coronavirus cannot harm us to this extent any longer, those experiencing poverty, lacking access to healthcare, or living amidst violence – will continue to experience fear and anxiety.
Will we care? Will we remember that for a short moment in time we were connected with them?
Or will we go back to our normal, busy lives where we sleepwalk through the days as if we have no other choice?
Perhaps, like me, this uninvited and paradoxical gift has proven to you that there is a better way to live. We can…
Slow down
Take a breath
Care for our Soul
Get off the treadmill
Create white space in our calendars
Spend quality time with our loved ones
Reach out to check in on someone in need
Stop shopping for things that fill our homes but not our hearts
And think about the impact this is having on not just ourselves, but on so many others whose situations are far more precarious than our own.
Have you been thinking about the changes you might like to make when things go back to normal? Or how you don’t want to go back to “normal”?
Are you wondering what you can do to help co-create a better world? Are you tired of feeling like you’re in this alone?
There’s no more time for wondering what you can do to stop the madness or sitting on the sidelines hoping things will get better. The world is waiting for you to step up and into your AWE-thentic Power to make the impact you came here to make. What are you waiting for? It’s time!
If you’re ready to begin living from a deeper, more connected space as part of a sisterhood I invite you to join us. Together we’ll own our gifts and talents, determine how and where we’re meant to serve, and support solutions that have the potential to shift things on our planet in such a way that our children and grandchildren have a chance at a better future.
If you’re ready for a “new normal” in your life and in the world, join our Facebook Group called “Business Women Giving Back”. Can’t wait to see you there!
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
Reclaim Your Voice and Speak Your Truth
Last week I had an experience that shook me, angered me, and inspired me to write this blog. ... Continue ReadingLast week I had an experience that shook me, angered me, and inspired me to write this blog. As much as I really didn’t want to share something so personal and knew it might invite criticism, I felt I had to. Because if we stay quiet nothing changes.
Spoiler Alert…This is not a blog about breast cancer or the pros and cons of mammograms. But that’s where it begins.
For a number of years, I received annual mammograms as women are encouraged to do. And I didn’t have a problem with them – despite the discomfort. In fact, I’m so grateful that for the most part in the U.S. we have access to the latest medical technology.
But as I became more knowledgeable about alternative and holistic medicine, I chose to forego mammograms and instead began using thermography. Once again, I’m not here to talk about the pros and cons and I know many of you will vehemently disagree with my decision. That’s fine.
We don’t have to agree to respect each other. But please hear me out.
So a recent thermography appointment revealed a spot on one of my breasts. There was no concern associated with it and I was told to return in a year. However, in speaking with my holistic practitioner about this he suggested exploring the option of having an ultrasound rather than a mammogram just to double check.
So I reached out to an imaging center, explained that I did not want to have a mammogram, and inquired as to whether I could have an ultrasound instead. They said yes and made the appointment.
When I arrived, the technician escorted me into a room with a mammography machine. I politely told her I was here for an ultrasound and she said she needed to ask me some questions. She then told me that their protocol is to do a mammogram first and then decide if an ultrasound is warranted. I replied that I did not want to have the mammogram. “So you’re refusing the mammogram?” she asked. “Yes,” I responded.
The technician then left to speak with the doctor. When she returned, she told me they had decided to go ahead with the ultrasound, but that they couldn’t issue a complete report without the mammogram. I was fine with that.
But something had shifted since I first arrived. No longer was there a sense of caring in her voice. Instead, a wall went up.
I was now viewed as a trouble-maker. I wasn’t playing by their rules. And they didn’t like it.
Now I can understand that they might be concerned from a liability standpoint. But I was more than happy to release them from any liability if they had requested it.
In any event, I’m taken to the ultrasound room where an equally cold female technician performs the exam barely speaking to me throughout. She then says she’ll be back, but I need to stay on the table as the doctor will want to perform the exam as well.
Now I’m starting to get a little nervous. Because anytime I’ve had an ultrasound in the past the doctor has not needed to come in and perform the exam again. So I’m starting to think something’s wrong. And if you’ve ever had a diagnostic test of any kind for what might potentially be a serious disease, you can relate to the fear in wondering if everything’s alright.
A few minutes later a male doctor walks in and introduces himself. He then proceeds to use his hand to perform a breast exam. He doesn’t ask permission. He doesn’t explain what he’s doing or why. He just helps himself while the female technician looks on. When he finishes, he proceeds to do the same ultrasound exam.
Once he’s finished, and while I’m still lying on the table, he launches into a lecture based on his 25 years of experience about why my decision to use thermography and refuse a mammogram is ill-informed. This despite the fact that he can find nothing wrong from the exam. (Thank-you, God!)
I said nothing as he spoke waiting for the nightmare to come to an end. Frankly, I’ve come to expect this type of reaction from the medical community.
But once I was in a vertical position and fully clothed the anger started to build…
What right did he have to touch my breast without asking me?
What right do they have to treat me like I’m an idiot?
Why am I not allowed to make decisions that affect MY body, My health, MY life?
And why didn’t I speak up during the exam?
Why? Because I was scared. I was afraid that something was wrong and I just wanted to know what was happening. His unprofessional and uncaring behavior was secondary to me at that moment.
And the fact that I was lying in a horizontal position, half-clothed, as he stood over me made it more difficult for me to “stand” in my power.
How often does this happen to women? We’re “put in our place” by an authority figure. We’re made to question our intelligence, convictions, and rights because we want to do things differently. And even worse, while other women stand by and watch it happen.
What will it take for each and every one of us to take back our inherent AWE-thentic Power?
To find our voice again and speak up for what we know is Our Truth?
To trust our gut, our intuition, even when nobody else agrees with us?
From the bedroom to the board room, from hospitals to universities, from Washington to London to Baghdad, it’s time!
It’s time sisters to re-claim Our Voice and begin using it to speak Our Truth while encouraging others to speak theirs. For our own evolution and the evolution of our planet.
To become heroines of our own lives and support women around the globe in becoming heroines of their own.
The feminine is rising and it’s time. Time for the feminine and masculine to come back into balance for the sake of our families, our communities, and our world. Let’s do this together!!
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
P.S. Want support to find your voice and speak your truth while making your unique impact in the world? My on-line course Impact from the Inside Out was designed for women just like you. Learn more here…https://awepartners.com/social-impact-course/
20/20 Vision
Each spring I have the windows in my home cleaned. It’s an event I look forward to because... Continue ReadingEach spring I have the windows in my home cleaned. It’s an event I look forward to because through the winter so much dirt has built up it’s hard to see out. After the cleaning my whole view is clearer, brighter and more colorful.
I find the same thing happens when I take time to step back from the world. Whether for a long while, such as the sabbatical I took last fall, or for just 20 minutes during my morning meditation. The view is still the same, but there’s more clarity, color, and life!
The beginning of a new year, or in this case a new decade, is the perfect time to step back and re-evaluate your vision.
What’s your grander vision for life on this planet? What would you change if you could wave your magic wand and make it happen? What do you want to share with the world? Where are you meant to serve?
Here’s what I’m seeing…there’s a tsunami happening, but not in the form of a natural disaster. We as a society have lost faith in religion, healthcare, corporations, government, even Hollywood. The result is a paradigm shift occurring in every facet of life and it’s REALLY uncomfortable.
No longer can we wait for our leaders to do the right thing and make intelligent, compassionate decisions. It’s up to us now and each of us is a critical player.
If we want to change the world it’s got to happen from the inside – out and bottom – up.
What do I mean? Let’s take a look at where the shifts are already occurring…
· Religion: Houses of worship are empty and yet a rising consciousness is happening around the globe led by individuals who consider themselves spiritual but not religious.
· Healthcare: Tired of an approach to health that focuses on treating the symptoms rather than getting to the root cause of the illness and the mind/body link, informed consumers are turning to alternative and holistic medicine and practitioners.
· Business: The focus on shareholder value above all else is no longer accepted by progressive companies who recognize that long term sustainability requires management to consider Profit + People + Planet = Triple Bottom Line. And consumers want to purchase from and invest in social enterprises.
· Patriarchy: The patriarchal model of “business as usual” is being overtaken by a more feminine approach that values equality over hierarchy, cooperation over control, and compassion over indifference. And women are finding their voice and speaking out against injustices that are inexcusable and have been allowed to continue for far too long.
· Philanthropy/Social Impact: The enormity of our social challenges means non-profit organizations cannot operate in silos. They must partner with other organizations addressing the issues as well as government and business to have any chance of finding and implementing lasting solutions.
· Government: Wish I could say there are changes afoot, but sadly, this doesn’t seem to be the case with our politicians. Not in the U.S. anyway.
Although it appears as if the world is in a state of absolute chaos, I don’t see it that way. What I see is an enormous amount of opportunity to co-create the better world we dream of.
When everything is falling apart and crumbling at our feet, we can either curl up in a ball and hope it gets better soon. Or we can figure out what gifts and talents we have to share and what issues and causes we’re meant to address. Then find others who have the same calling and create partnerships and collaborations the lift everyone up. AWE Partners was founded on this principle.
Yes, there are myriad problems around the globe that require attention. But there’s also a tremendous amount of good work already happening.
Thankfully, the rise of the internet is making it easier to locate solutions and identify individuals, organizations, foundations, and others who are making the world a better place each and every day. And they need and want our support.
So where do you fit into the equation? That’s what we explore in my on-line course, Impact from the Inside Out.
Here’s what some of the participants have said…
“I enjoyed sharing what I’ve discovered with the group and hearing what they’ve learned as well. The environment was fun, relaxed, and inspiring as we brainstormed ways to help each other in developing our individual goals and plans.”
“I learned a lot with respect to being more strategic about my philanthropic endeavors. I realized being generous wasn’t enough. I was being a little lazy about my research and now understand I was supporting programs and organizations that are already overfunded. I learned how to evaluate programs so I could create more impact with my donations and talents.”
“During the course, I discovered an organization whose cause I connected with and I am now working with their Marketing Director using my expertise. As I get to know their organization even better, I may consider serving on their Board of Directors. Lis was an amazing resource to help me on this journey!”
We’ll be launching the course again this fall and we’re excited to continue the adventure with our new AWE-thentic Impact Circles in 2021. Kind of like the popular “giving circles” you might have heard of – but on steroids. Why? Because as heart-centered, mission-driven, badass women we can do so much more.
Imagine linking your mission or that of your business with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)! Does it get any better??
To stay fully engaged in the social impact space we need to align ourselves with causes and organizations that are right for us. And we get to explore not only how to give, but how to shop and invest with purpose as well.
There’s “Power in the Purse” and we hold the purse strings!
So if this new decade has inspired you to become part of the solution, I hope you’ll consider joining a circle of women ready to make their AWE-thentic Impact in the world together! We need your magnificence out there!
You can find out more here… https://awepartners.com/social-impact-course/
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
Good-byes, Grief, and Growing New
This past year saw an end to one chapter and the beginning of a new for myself and... Continue ReadingThis past year saw an end to one chapter and the beginning of a new for myself and my husband. We officially became empty-nesters after dropping our sons off at college, our youngest for the first time.
This is one of those stages in life that you know is coming and do everything you can to prepare for it, and yet when it arrives it still hits you in the gut.
The days and weeks leading up to our son’s departure were filled with shared memories, hugs, laughter, and tears. However, the day we moved him in turned out to be more rushed than we had anticipated and our good-byes brief. Maybe a good thing.
And then we arrived home to a VERY quiet house. No family calendar filled with activities. No basement filled with teenage boys. No late-night chats over pizza.
Just silence. And gratitude for all the amazing times we’ve had and stories yet to be written.
For the first time in 22 years, I have plenty of time on my hands. Plenty of time for self-care and soul-care. Time for family and friends. Time to re-evaluate the direction for AWE Partners. And time to dream about the future.
But to ignore the grief would be not only potentially harmful but also inauthentic. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that there’s a piece of me that feels like it’s missing. Like it left my body and went off to college. A piece that can’t be replaced by activities, events, or other people.
And that’s ok. The grief is simply an indication of the depth of love I feel for my children and for the life we’ve lived together all these years. It has molded me and shaped me into the person I am today. It allowed me to explore the depths of my feminine side and to better understand the depths of the masculine that I have shared space with.
It also allows me to recognize my strength and the strength of all the women who have loved deeply only to release that love out into the world. We women feel the joy and the pain in the depths of our soul and incorporate it into our being adding to the richness of life.
So what next? Well, apparently, my last birthday was some kind of milestone. At this stage of life I don’t even count. I’m just so thrilled to be alive and healthy that birthdays come and go as a celebration.
But certain family members and friends (who shall remain anonymous) attempted to thwart my positive outlook on life with questions such as, “Do you feel old?”. Or discussions that centered on providing proof of just how old we are.
Not going there, girls! You do you, but the fact is given my DNA I’m likely only at the half-way point of my life. Which means I have A LOT of years ahead of me. And I plan to make the best of them.
Rather than growing old, I feel myself GROWING NEW!!
Never before have I been at a place in my life where I felt such potential for freedom. Freedom from the responsibilities of school or work. Freedom from the responsibilities of parenting. Freedom from caring what other people think or expect of me. Freedom to follow my bliss and do things that bring me joy.
Freedom to tap into the depths of my soul and listen to the voice of intuition that is guiding me forward toward a calling that my entire life has been preparing me for. My purpose, my destiny, my dharma.
Can I see it clearly? No! Is the path certain? No! Do I know how to get there? Nope!
But those aren’t the questions I’m asking in this second half of life. Instead, I ask myself…
Can I trust it? Yes! Am I ready? Yes! How can I serve?
How can I empower other women to heal their wounds, trust their journey, answer their calling, and serve from a place of love, compassion, and kindness?
Good-byes and grief are part of the journey, as is darkness. But the Universe is constantly evolving toward the light and co-creating through us as we grow ourselves new and inspire others to do the same.
We need you out there as a light-bearer and I could use some companionship. Will you join me in growing new?
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
P.S. Reach out to me if you want to explore opportunities to partner/collaborate in 2020!
The Sweet Spot Between Your Comfort Zone and Chaos Zone
Has this ever happened to you? You come up with a great idea. You dream about it, imagine... Continue ReadingHas this ever happened to you? You come up with a great idea. You dream about it, imagine what would happen if you went for it, and then decide for a variety of reasons not to take the plunge. Next thing you know, somebody else somewhere on the planet implements your idea with great success. And you’re left kicking yourself for choosing to stay in your comfort zone.
We all do it. Make decisions that feel safe, familiar, comfortable. Who needs more stress and anxiety? And why would anyone want to risk failure and being judged?
Why? Because the truth is personal growth and transformation happen when we’re living outside our comfort zone. When we’re challenging ourselves.
Sure, it’s scary. But the only way to conquer our fears – the only way to freedom – is to walk through it.
You have to experience the fear if you want to overcome it.
So I always encourage women to stop playing small and step outside their comfort zone. But what happens when you leave your comfort zone only to discover that very quickly you’ve entered the chaos zone?
Not everyone experiences this. We all know those women who seem to be able to have it all – all at the same time. And if this is working for you – then girlfriend you do you!
But this ain’t me. When I enter the chaos zone I am not good for anything. I get stressed, overwhelmed, and crabby. And I wonder how I got there yet again.
Recently, I was trying to understand if this is just my personality. I know I tend to be a bit of a control freak. I know I like order and thrive on organization. But have I always been this way?
Apparently so!
My first job was at McDonald’s. Now you might think I worked the counter, and I did at times. But I found it so stressful – particularly when I had to use the ice cream dispenser and could never get the cone to look right. So instead, I preferred to grill burgers. Honestly, I was fascinated at the process the company used to ensure that every burger came out perfectly. It should have been clear then that I thrived in an environment that provided organization, structure, and certainty.
My second job was as a waitress at Poppin’ Fresh Pies (now Bakers Square). Now as long as we weren’t too busy, and I had plenty of time to service my tables all was well. But when we got “slammed” I was a hot mess. My friend, Heidi, was the hostess and I would plead with her not to give me another table.
Fast forward to becoming a parent. When I realized that my to-do list was rarely completed in a day and that my time was not my own – the stress set in. It took me quite awhile before I could adjust to this new reality. Twenty-two years and two kids later, I think I’m finally beginning to relax now that both boys are out of the house.
But as an entrepreneur I am constantly being pushed outside my comfort zone, which has been a really good thing for me. I needed to stretch myself. I needed the challenge. I needed to remember what skills and talents I possess and the new ones I have yet to acquire.
We forget how much we have to share with the world!
However, it takes discipline for me to know my limits. Know when I’m stepping over the line and into the chaos zone where I’m just not as effective. Where I don’t thrive. And, frankly, where I’m miserable and completely miss out on the joy of life.
The key is to know and love yourself just the way you are. Your personality, your temperament, the way you want to live.
That’s your sweet spot! And it’s absolutely perfect. Radical self-care and soul-care will help you get there and stay there more often.
Find the sweet spot between your comfort zone and chaos zone and live there!
Need help knowing how much of yourself to give?
Book a FREE Impact Breakthrough Session with me here… https://SchedulewithLis.as.me/
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Are You Using Your Personal GPS?
When one of my favorite books Eat, Pray, Love came out I dreamed of being able to escape... Continue ReadingWhen one of my favorite books Eat, Pray, Love came out I dreamed of being able to escape like Elizabeth Gilbert did. But as a wife and mother it wasn’t possible. Now that my boys are both in college, I took the opportunity to embark on a month-long sabbatical in Portugal and Spain.
There’s nothing like getting away from the day to day responsibilities of life to relax, clear the mind, and ignite the spark of creativity. For one month I had no “to do list”. Instead, I found plenty of time for savoring delicious food and sipping wine (Eat). Time for some inner work, visits to spiritual sites, and co-hosting a small group retreat (Pray). And quality time with my husband of 28 years (Love).
Yet despite my attempt to disengage, the experiences I encountered kept revealing lessons and metaphors for life that were hard to ignore.
Sometimes we have to step outside our comfort zone to enjoy the grander view
For one week of the excursion I was completely on my own driving through the Duoro Valley, making my way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela to meet my husband who was completing a 200 km walk on the Camino de Santiago. (He walks…I drive…it works.)
I frequently met women traveling together and they were quick to invite me to join them for dinner, unaware that I was relishing the time to myself. And when they heard I was driving alone they were shocked as navigating through the city streets was ridiculously confusing.
And then there were the mountains. As I was leaving one winery hotel to make my way to the next, I was advised to take it VERY slowly. The roads are narrow, steep, and there are no guardrails. Add to this the fact that I was driving a stick shift that didn’t always cooperate. More than once the car stalled, and I started sliding back down the mountain.
So I was really nervous to begin the trek. But as I already had a reservation, I decided to carry on reminding myself out loud…”I am brave. I am strong. And I am an excellent driver.”
Well the road was indeed narrow and steep, so I drove slowly and carefully. And if someone wanted to pass me by, I let them.
What I wasn’t told was that the views were breathtaking when I had the courage to take my eyes off the road. And when I finally arrived at my destination a bit worse for the wear, it was like finding a hidden paradise of grape vineyards, olive trees, and a charming inn nestled between mountains. Well worth the moments of angst.
When the only light you see is behind you don’t turn back – the darkness ahead won’t last forever
On another part of the journey signs on the road indicated I was approaching a tunnel through the mountain and I should maintain my speed at 100 km/hr. As I entered the tunnel, I could see the light behind me but only darkness up ahead. Eventually, the light behind me disappeared as well. The SOS phones every 100 yards or so brought little comfort. For a full four minutes I drove on in darkness (which is a REALLY long time to be in a tunnel), until finally a shaft of light broke through and I emerged back into the sunlight surrounded by beautiful vistas.
Just listen quietly for guidance and take the next right step
Throughout the trip my GPS was my lifeline. The female voice emanating from my phone became my best friend. And I got to thinking (because when you’re alone for a week there’s a lot of time to think) that maybe I should be more aware of the guidance system accompanying me in life. What would that mean?
- Recognizing that I have an advisory board of angels, saints, teachers, and guides who want to help – all I have to do is ask
- I need to listen very carefully and eliminate distractions
- I will only receive guidance for the next right step
- It won’t always make sense to me – they might use language I don’t understand
- But if I proceed slowly – doing what I believe I’ve been guided to do – and trust – then I will receive the next right step
- Sometimes – despite the instruction – I might make a wrong turn – but don’t panic because I’ll quickly be re-directed back to the correct path
- Without fail I will always arrive at my destination if it supports my higher good
Here’s what I learned on sabbatical. It really doesn’t matter in life if you go around, over, or through the mountains. What matters is that you find your mountain and consult your personal GPS. Your destiny is waiting!!
Be bold. Be daring. Be AWE-dacious!