Give & Grow
Restoring the Sacred
For the Sovereign Feminine…Her Medicine is her Presence; Her Beauty is her Offering; Her Wisdom is her Gift. She... Continue ReadingIn ancient days and past lives the Temple was a place of worship. Where Goddesses and Priestesses were honored, respected, and revered. Where community gathered to pray, engage in ceremony and rituals, and offer sacrifices to the Divine.
Over time, the Temple changed as patriarchy and hierarchy implemented rules and protocols for belonging. A separation occurred. A heaviness descended. A darkness emerged.
It is now OUR TIME to Restore the Temple and Restore the Sacred. And women will lead the way forward.
In Sacred Circle together…
We Realize –
Our Individual and Collective Sovereignty
We Release –
Letting Go and Surrendering
Getting Naked and Vulnerable
Acknowledging our Wounds as Sacred
Allowing to fall away old beliefs, identities, and things that no longer serve
We Remember –
Our Connection to Mother Earth, the Cosmos, Source, Sisterhood
Our Inherent Worth and Dignity as Daughters of the Divine
Our Voice that speaks Our Truth
Our Authenticity and Pure Essence
Our Life Force and Goddess Energy
We Rise Renewed –
Transformed and Abundantly Free
Evolving and Ascending into our Feminine Genius
Tapping into our Intuition and Deepest Heart’s Desire
Moving through the world in Lightness of Being with Ease, Flow, and Grace
Exploring and Sharing our Creativity
We Reimagine –
Engaging our Fierce Feminine through Inspired Action and Sacred Impact
Claiming our AWE-thentic Power and Holy AWE-dacity
Connecting with and Drawing from the Field of Infinite Possibilities
Dreaming a New World into Being
Birthing a New Creation
We Re-Unite –
In Unconditional Love
The Divine Feminine and Sacred Masculine
The Light and The Dark
Heaven and Earth
As Above So Below
The Temple is no longer a place where we need to go to be in the Presence of the Divine. We now know that the Temple is within each and every one of us. As close to us as the beating of our Heart.
Our Body is the Temple of the Spirit. Where we are invited to embrace ourselves as Healthy, Whole, and Holy.
For the Sovereign Feminine…
Her Medicine is her Presence
Her Beauty is her Offering
Her Wisdom is her Gift
She is All that is Good, True, and Beautiful.
This is the New Temple. The Temple of the Sovereign Feminine. And we are Her in all Her Radiant Splendor!
Welcome Home Sister!
Awakening of the Sovereign Feminine
Together, WE are uniting in our Feminine Power to uplift and awaken ourselves and support one another in... Continue ReadingAwakening of the Sovereign Feminine…A Circle Gathering to Restore the Sacred
We are living through a time of great challenge individually and collectively. Perhaps as a result of the chaos and confusion in the outer world, our inner world is crying out for release, remembering, renewal.
We long for a lived experience of what we sense is true within our deepest selves. An embodiment of the sacred knowing of our inherent worth and dignity.
Within our cellular memories lie the rites of passage that honor the cycles of our own journeys as unique expressions of the Divine Feminine. Although this ancient wisdom is tucked away underneath centuries of oppression of the feminine, as awakening women, we are reclaiming our Divine birthright as sovereign beings, who hold the keys to our own liberation.
As the old is crumbling, we feel an urgency for the new to be born in us and through us. But how will this be? What will it take? Where do we begin?
We begin right here, right now, together in community. We begin by gathering in Sacred Circle with our sisters as the womb of creation.
Where what is no longer useful can be witnessed, healed, and surrendered. Where what is most needed to co-create our new future can be visioned, claimed, and called forth.
Have you been searching for a non-partisan, interfaith community in which to immerse yourself in…
Body Wisdom – Heart Opening – Soul Connection
Together, we are uniting in our Feminine Power to uplift and awaken ourselves and support one another in the truth of who we are.
We’ll gather monthly to explore the following themes:
#1 – Realize our Individual & Collective Sovereignty (January 16)
#2 – Release what no longer serves (February 13)
#3 – Remember our Connection to Sister – Soul – Source (March 20)
#4 – Renewal & Regenesis (April 17)
#5 – Reimagine Sacred Impact (May 15)
#6 – Coronation of the Sovereign Feminine (June 12)
Come as often as you like. We lovingly invite you to join us in the Awakening of the Sovereign Feminine!
Be sure to register here…
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/awakening-of-the-sovereign-feminine-tickets-237886313367
Freedom & Flow
“The Freedom and Flow you’re seeking aren’t out there beyond some goal you’ve set for yourself. The Freedom... Continue ReadingWhere’s Williams??
Not that I am so self-absorbed to think any of you have asked this question over the past ten months. After all, you have plenty to keep you occupied amidst the ongoing chaos.
But for those of you in this AWE-mazing Sisterhood who have wondered, I thought it was time to share where I disappeared to and why. I wish I could say I decided to escape to a far off destination until the madness ceased. But, alas, my story is not that romantic.
My first blog post was in January of 2016, and for five years I wrote consistently at least once a month. Until I abruptly and unexpectedly stopped this past February. I say unexpectedly because this was not at all in my plan. If you have been following you know I was in the midst of sharing lots of posts, interviews, videos, and trainings focused on social impact and women’s empowerment.
So, what happened? Well, in February I was in meditation. And let me just add that I had committed in 2021 to devoting my mornings to spiritual reading, reflection, and meditation recognizing that more time spent on the “inner work” would lead to more impact on the “outer work”.
Who knew how profound this decision would be!
So, I’m sitting in meditation and I receive a download, or guidance from the higher realms. I get this a lot; however, it’s only recently that I’ve recognized it as such. Historically, I would have said it just came to me or it was a thought I had. Now I know I have always been guided and, thankfully, for much of my life have listened to the wisdom.
Anyway, the message that day was crystal clear…
“The Freedom and Flow you’re seeking aren’t out there beyond some goal you’ve set for yourself. The Freedom and Flow are available to you now. So why aren’t you choosing them?”
Boom! I immediately sensed the profundity and knew it was Truth. My Soul had been crying out for Freedom & Flow for a long time. But what did this message mean for me and my life?
It meant I needed to put AWE Partners on indefinite pause. Why? Because something about the way I was running this social enterprise was keeping me from the Freedom & Flow I deeply desired.
Although AWE Partners has been inspired from the start – and I absolutely love all it represents (Authentic Women Empowered) – it had become a burden. I was spending the bulk of my time “running the business” – trapped on a marketing treadmill that kept me from doing the things I really loved and spending time in my Zone of Genius. It happens a lot to entrepreneurs, but particularly to those running on-line businesses where you’re constantly trying to get your message out there in a world that grows noisier by the day.
When the message came through it was clear to me. I had to take a break, re-evaluate, and determine my next course of action. So I did. I looked at my calendar, figured out what commitments I needed to follow through on, and stopped any future planning. Within a couple of weeks, I was completely done.
Now here’s where it gets interesting and surprised the heck out of me. I didn’t miss it! Not one iota! I didn’t miss any of it!
To say I was shocked is an understatement. How could I not miss the thing I had devoted six years of my life to? How could I not miss being absorbed in my purpose? How could I not miss the most fulfilling calling in my life other than motherhood?
How? I don’t know. I just didn’t miss it. In fact, not only did I not miss it – I LOVED IT! I loved it so much I thought I might never go back. I might not ever work again. Why would I when this is so freeing??
AWE Partners 1.0 was complete. Perhaps there would be an AWE Partners 2.0 or maybe not. I didn’t know.
I was so happy to JUST BE!!
But here was the even bigger revelation. I didn’t need AWE Partners to be content or fulfilled. I didn’t need to say I was a Founder and CEO to feel good about myself. If someone asked me what I was doing I had no problem saying…”NOTHING”!!
Why is this such a revelation? Because my entire life had been spent on the path we’re supposed to be on. You know, the one that’s supposed to make us fulfilled and content.
Study hard, get good grades, go to college, get a good job, make money, get married, buy a house, have children, keep your children off drugs and out of jail, get them into a good college, start a business, volunteer, save the world……
Sound familiar to anyone?
The Freedom & Flow I was seeking required me to step off the path and into the wilderness – the great unknown – where there was no pre-determined path.
But there was something else that shocked me. By learning to “Just Be” I discovered that I WAS ENOUGH!
In my book, The Gutsy Guide to Giving, I wrote about how etched on my inner glass ceiling were the words, “You’re Not Good Enough”. And now, my inner glass ceiling had been shattered! I knew without a doubt that I was good enough, and I didn’t need to do anything to make that so. I could truly “Just Be” and that was enough.
For about six months I floated in a river of just being, enjoying every moment of it, until something started niggling at me very gently, asking me to consider what my Soul might want to do next.
Stay tuned and until then…
Be Bold. Be Daring. Be AWE-dacious!
P.S. Have you been longing for a non-partisan, interfaith Community in which to immerse yourself in Body Wisdom – Heart Opening – Soul Connection? Together, WE are uniting in our Feminine Power to uplift and awaken ourselves and support one another in the TRUTH of who we are. We Lovingly Invite you to Join us in the Awakening of the Sovereign Feminine!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/awakening-of-the-sovereign-feminine-tickets-237886313367
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!
Is Self-Care the same as Self-Love?
As women, we hear a lot about the need for self-care. I often encourage women to engage in... Continue ReadingAs women, we hear a lot about the need for self-care. I often encourage women to engage in “radical self-care” because, after all, it’s not selfish to take care of you! And there’s no need to feel guilty.
We can all benefit from doing things that may feel a bit indulgent – like getting a massage or pedicure, taking a bath or a nap, enjoying a girls’ night out or a weekend away.
It’s so important to do things that make us feel good, help us relax, and re-charge our batteries. Self-care can help us re-enter the world grounded and with a greater sense of purpose.
But is self-care the same as self-love?
No! Self-love goes much deeper. It gets to the core of how we feel about ourselves.
Ask yourself this:
Do I love me? I mean REALLY love me?
Do I love who I am? Who I’m becoming?
Do I love my life? Am I doing the things that bring me joy?
Do I know not only how to give love, but how to receive it?
Am I aware that I’m worthy and deserving of love?
So I encourage you to begin thinking about this: What would it mean to know and love yourself better? What changes might that inspire in your life?
When we truly love ourselves, we want to go deeper. We want to ignite our passions. We want to listen to the yearnings of our heart and discover our destiny…our calling.
Achievement and success no longer do it for us. Our souls demand a deeper meaning and fulfillment.
Ultimately, we want to know what our souls came here to do. But how do we do that? How do we know?
Your Calling is Calling Out…Are You Listening?
I’m convinced now that we don’t have to look for our calling. Our calling is calling out to us. And has been our entire lives.
At the prompting of a spiritual advisor, I have been asking myself these questions, and I encourage you to do the same:
- Who am I?
- What do I love?
- How can I serve?
And I’m surprised to discover that the answers don’t come easily! So I started to think back to my childhood, which is something you can try too to get more insight into your calling:
- What activities did I love to do?
- What did I most look forward to?
- What did I love to play or make pretend with my friends?
There Is a Grand Plan for All of Us…
When I was little, we used to pretend we were moms, teachers, doctors and nurses, secretaries (shows my age), and actresses.
As an undergraduate student, I studied business. In grad school, it was finance, entrepreneurship, and management of non-profit organizations…all things I loved then and now.
So now as I look back, I realize that all those things I loved growing up have found their way into my life as an adult.
I’m a “mom.” I “teach” women how to be effective in the social impact space and the need to “heal” their wounds so they can be more fully who they came here to be. I’m an “entrepreneur” and I “speak” on webinars and podcasts.
It’s as if there was a grand plan all along. As if my life has been calling me to this. Imagine that!
Life is loving you into the magnificent being you are and always have been.
How does it feel to know you’re loved that much?
Isn’t it time for a little self-love? Sending you big hugs!!
Be Bold. Be Daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
P.S. Love yourself into my new Facebook Group called Business Women Giving Back and discover how you can Grow Your Business and Grow Your Impact! https://www.facebook.com/groups/businesswomengivingback
Bring It! The Yang and Yin Approach to Business
I’ve spent most of my life in the left side of my brain. 🧠 My natural tendencies favor... Continue ReadingI’ve spent most of my life in the left side of my brain. 🧠
My natural tendencies favor anything analytical and logical. And growing up I didn’t think I possessed an ounce of creativity. Maybe you can relate.
So going to business school made perfect sense. I majored in finance in both undergrad and graduate school. I worked at a bank. Numbers were my friend.
As I gained more experience, I realized that I also love anything to do with strategy. I LOVE setting goals in both my business and personal life and then figuring out the path to achieve them. It’s a gratifying process for me.
The first half of my life has been characterized by the pursuit of knowledge, common sense, and frugality. All traits that lend themselves well to entrepreneurship.
The years I spent as a stay at home mom challenged my innate abilities.
As much as I tried to maintain order, my children had different plans.
And motherhood naturally encouraged me to explore my more feminine traits – those of nurturing, caring, and compassion.
It was like re-discovering a piece of myself that I didn’t remember existed. And it’s always a good thing to come to know yourself more fully.
However, there were still things that were not in my wheelhouse. I remember going across the street to my friend Mo’s (who is very creative) to pick up my kids. The kitchen floor was covered in artistic paraphernalia and Mo informed me that the kids were doing collage work. “Really”, I responded, “that’s a thing?”
Do it the way you’ve always done it? No way! 🙅♀️
So when I launched AWE Partners, my wise friend Bridget said to me, “You’re going to want to go back and do things like you used to. Don’t!”
What she meant was that I would likely go straight back to running my business from my head exclusively. And although that might garner some level of success, it would no longer be representative of who I was fully.
I was a different person than I was when I worked in the business world. There I fit in by displaying my more masculine traits.
Now to be successful and fulfilled, I need to bring my whole self to the business. The masculine and the feminine. My head and my heart.
In some ways this has been easy. Like when I write, I find it very easy to share things from the depths of my soul. Or when I work with my clients or have conversations with partners and colleagues, being authentic happens naturally for me.
But when I’m making strategic decisions, my tendency is to go back into my head and figure out what makes sense.
Here’s the problem when you’re creating a business…
The problem is that when you’re “creating” a business the answers don’t always emerge from your head. Very often they come from a deeper place within.
And it’s rare that the answers are clearly laid out for you in a straight line that’s easy to follow. More often, if you’re listening, they come as an intuitive sense or gut feel about what to do next.
In truth, what you “hear” may not make sense at all. It may, in fact, be uncommon sense that’s filled with uncertainty.
It may sound risky and force you to step outside – sometimes way outside – your comfort zone.
And it feels a lot like trust and surrender, two words you are unlikely to encounter in business school.
Try a new, holistic approach to business.
But this, my friends, is the new approach to business. A more holistic approach that allows you to incorporate both your masculine and feminine sides. Your yang and yin.☯️
An approach that encourages you to focus on both profit and purpose in your business.
Because we don’t want to start a business or go to work and leave a portion of ourselves out of the equation. We’ve been doing that for too long and if you look around you can see it’s not working.
It’s time for a paradigm shift – a new approach to business. One that blends the best of our masculine and feminine traits. One that allows us to show up, take our place, and share fully with the world all of who we are and what we represent.
Because that’s what the world needs right now. It needs you, in all your magnificence, sharing all your gifts and talents, and helping solve our problems. Are you up to the challenge?
Be Bold. Be Daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
Abundance…or a Scarcity Mindset? The Choice is Yours.
I grew up with a scarcity mindset. Like many of you reading this right now, I grew up... Continue ReadingI grew up with a scarcity mindset.
Like many of you reading this right now, I grew up in a scarcity mentality. It’s not surprising and I don’t blame anyone. But it’s something I’ve needed to spend a little time unpacking in order to live more fully.
My father’s parents came over from Poland as young adults in the early 1900’s. They married, settled on the south side of Chicago, and had eight children together. Dziadek was a carpenter and Babcia took care of the home and family. They struggled to make ends meet.
My mother grew up in a small town in Central Illinois and her parents divorced when she was just five years old. Her mother eventually re-married the president of the local bank. You could say she had a comfortable life comparatively, but wouldn’t be considered wealthy by today’s standards.
My parents and grandparents lived through World War II and the Great Depression – experiences which had a profound effect on how they lived their lives. As a result, I was raised in a home where we watched every penny.
Dad was a salesman whose income fluctuated each month. Mom was a nurse anesthetist turned stay-at-home mom. When my dad died of cancer while my siblings and I were still in school, finances became even more strained. As a result of life circumstances and studying finance in college, I adopted frugal financial practices which have served me well.
Being a Financially Smart Woman is Never a Bad Thing, BUT…
I attended a public college in my home state because it was the least expensive way for me to get my education. (I only applied to one school, which is virtually unheard of now.) Right out of college, I took a job with a large firm and began contributing to my 401-K plan as soon as I could.
Eventually I earned my MBA by attending classes at night while working for a company who paid 75% of the tuition. I lived within my means, bought clothes on sale, drove used cars, and did essentially whatever I could to build a solid financial foundation so I could feel secure.
Being financially smart is definitely not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a VERY GOOD thing. It’s very important, particularly for us as women, to be financially literate and to take control of our financial destiny. So, I can’t stress enough how much I highly encourage this!
What I hate to see is women being frugal because they’re afraid.
Maybe you can relate to some of these financial mindsets:
- I’m afraid there’s not enough to go around and if I don’t get mine now, I might miss out.
- I worry about being frivolous because I have to pay off my debt/save for my kid’s tuition/finance a major purchase/etc.
- If someone else is successful and makes a lot of money, then maybe I won’t (because I’m not good enough/smart enough/etc.)
- The financial world is spinning out of control and the powers that be are holding the strings of us, their puppets.
- We really have no say in what happens anyway, so the best thing to do is hunker down, protect any wealth we have, hold onto it tightly…and pray that we don’t have to endure another financial collapse.
If you’re nodding your head in agreement, who could blame you? Just a few minutes spent watching the nightly news, and it’s completely understandable why you would feel that way. Not just of what could happen financially, but in every aspect of our lives. Why? Because the purpose of the news is to make us feel afraid!
Banish the Scarcity Mindset Forever
But that’s not the world I choose to live in anymore. I’m done feeling afraid. And I’m done living a life of scarcity.
Because scarcity doesn’t just impact your pocketbook. A scarcity mentality seeps into every aspect of your being if you allow it.
It impacts your self-care. How hard you work, how much you give, how overwhelmed you feel. Is it too indulgent for you to take a bath or a nap? Can you treat yourself to a massage or having your nails done? Can you buy those sparkly new shoes that make you feel spectacular?
It impacts how you show up in the world. Do you celebrate the unique gifts and talents you’ve been given and share them with the world fully? Or do you hold back because you think maybe what you have to offer isn’t really that special after all? Who are you to shine your light?
The Impacts of a Scarcity Mentality are Everywhere
It means we hesitate to invest in ourselves and our businesses, robbing the world of what it needs to continue on the path of evolution, of which you (yes, you) are a critical part!
It impacts how much we’re willing to share. Because if the world is a scary place and there’s not enough to go around, then we better hold on tight to what we’ve got and only give from the leftovers.
And it impacts what you believe about God, Source, the Universe, or whatever term you use to refer to the Creator of all that is. If your God is a strict disciplinarian that doles out gifts based on who is deserving of them, then maybe you don’t make the cut. Maybe you’re not worthy.
STOP Believing in the Myth of Scarcity
Scarcity is a lie! I eventually figured that out and I hope you will as well.
Look around you…We live on an ABUNDANT planet. There are countless stars in the sky and grains of sand on the beaches. There are oceans and rivers, mountains and plains, flowers and trees. And every imaginable creature on land and in the seas. All created from an abundant Source.
Look around you… Look at the people on this planet. Every color, shape, and size. Every race, creed, and religion. All magnificent beings in their own right. All with unique gifts and talents to express if only given the opportunity. Look at your family and friends with whom you share this journey. Look – really look – at who they are as unique beings.
Abundance is YOUR Birthright.
And look at you! Just look at you. Look in the mirror. You’re beautiful! Look at how your body responds to messages from your brain and how your heart beats and lungs breathe without effort. Just look at your eyes and your smile! Look at you in that favorite outfit and bright lipstick.
If you’ve been living with a scarcity mentality, it’s time for a change NOW. Abundance is our birthright. It’s the natural state of being and one we have the choice to embrace or reject.
You are enough! There is enough! In fact, there’s more than enough!
Don’t believe the lies. Deep within, your heart knows the truth. Trust it and live life abundantly!
Be Bold. Be Daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
P.S. Have you been living with a scarcity mentality? Are you ready to embrace ABUNDANCE? Here’s what I suggest:
Add a reminder on your phone that says, “Abundance is Everywhere!”. Set it to chime at the same time each day. When it does stop what you’re doing, look around, and take it all in. Say a quiet (or loud) thank-you for the gifts that surround you, then go about your day firmly rooted in gratitude.
Learn How to Make Peace with the Darkness
Life is a mystery. Some days we’re on top of a mountain and others we’re making our way through... Continue ReadingLife is a mystery.
Some days we’re on top of a mountain and others we’re making our way through the valley.
This past month I was able to take an amazing vacation with my family, sail on a racing catamaran with Olympic medalists, and participate in a weekend retreat in the mountains.
And then there was yesterday. When things just kept happening that I couldn’t anticipate or plan for. And all I could do was be in the moment. Can you relate?
7:00 a.m. – Wake up. Get my son off to school. Have some quiet time over breakfast.
8:00 a.m. – Plan to meditate. Phone rings. It’s my mom. She has something she wants to share and it’s good to catch up. Yet, despite our mutual love and caring for each other I realize that we are becoming further and further apart politically. Hmmm…should I care? Nah!
9:00 a.m. – Catch up on e-mails.
10:00 a.m. – Receive a text from a friend saying both of our high school campuses are on lock-down. Spend the next hour texting back and forth with others trying to determine what’s going on and praying it’s not real. Finally learn it was a false alarm. This is the world we live in.
11:00 a.m. – Go for a bike ride.
11:30 a.m. – Receive a text from another friend. She says she just passed by my house on the way home from a funeral. A very close friend of hers and her husband’s died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism. He was our age.
12:00 p.m. – Have lunch while on a virtual call with my Synergy group…amazing women from around the world who support and encourage each other in stepping into our truth and sharing our gifts and talents in the world.
1:30 p.m. – Finish writing my signature talk on when I discovered my calling to empower women and how I guide them to make their AWE-thentic Impact.
3:00 p.m. – Lay down on the couch.
3:30 p.m. – Take a call from a man who my husband has mentored since he was in high school. He’s African-American, partially disabled from an accident, and out of work. He shared with me that he’d like to move out of his mom’s place where he’s been living since he lost his job. But the only places he can afford are in neighborhoods that are more violent than where he currently lives. So he asks, “Should I leave one bad place for another that is worse?”
4:00 p.m. – Realize I forgot to purchase fresh chicken for the crock-pot dish I was planning to make for dinner, so I decide to chance it and use the frozen chicken from the freezer. Livin’ life on the edge!
5:00 p.m. – My son arrives home to announce that the event for Best Buddies and his soccer team that he planned for the following day fell through. It was partially his fault but also a result of mis-communication amongst other leaders. He’s heart-broken and embarrassed. He then sits down at the table – close to tears – and tells me he’s so stressed out from everything. School, college applications, activities. There’s no time to just chill out.
6:00 p.m. – Have dinner with my husband and son.
7:00 p.m. – Go for a full moon walk with my husband.
8:00 p.m. – Listen to the news channels debate the upcoming Kavanaugh hearings. Ugghh!!
9:00 p.m. – Read something positive to shift the energy.
10:00 p.m. – Contemplate the day I just had.
This is not a typical day for me. Or at least it hasn’t been. I’m usually much more rigid with my schedule. Carving out plenty of time for my business and leaving the personal for off-hours.
But I’m trying to learn how to be more in the “flow” of life. Watching events unfold and being present to them. Trying to understand what they have to teach me.
Yesterday it was this…
Joy
Peace
Division
Fear
Freedom
Grief
Inspiration
Creativity
Rest
Frustration
Concern
Gratitude
Awe
Disbelief
Inspiration
Contemplation
A day filled with light and dark – interwoven together seamlessly.
So how do we stay in the light when the darkness seems so close and keeps trying to overtake us?
Radical self-care and soul-care. Recognizing that we’re not the savior of the world. Not everything is ours to do or fix. We can listen, we can support, we can love.
And we can find the way to make our AWE-thentic Impact. That place where we are called to serve, bringing our unique gifts and talents and sharing our magnificence. And trusting others from our giving tribe to do their part as well.
What’s the other option? Overwhelm. Burn-out. Fatigue.
Giving up or giving in to what we can’t comprehend, control, or change.
That’s not what the world needs right now. The world needs you to be you. In all your magnificence. In whatever way that happens for you.
You don’t need to prove anything. You don’t need to change anything. You don’t need to fix anything.
Just love yourself fully. Love others as best you can. And trust that the Universe is evolving in exactly the way it should and you are part of that evolution.
Just be you!