Keeping the Spark Alive

My connection to life has much to do with keeping my inner fire lit. The more "awake" I am the more connected I am to Source, to my soul and to others. I have learned over time that different activities that I do stoke this inner fire.

I am a learner. I love being taught new things that I can apply to the skills I use in my life. I love going deeper in my skills and knowledge and learning new ways to apply them. This learning brings newness to what becomes familiar and old. It also brings challenge so that I stretch.

Other benefits that I had not anticipated is that it brings new people into my life and my community expands. It also opens doors to possibilities I had not anticipated. Life gets richer and richer each time I step into the role of a learner.

I am good at doing. It comes naturally to me, so to balance that I seek things that give me opportunities to expand and grow. Learning sometimes means struggling a bit or even failing, but I always gain tremendous lessons from these moments.

Recently I signed up to be a student of one of the world's leaders in online cooking school programs. I am enrolled in their Professional Plant Based Program. I have been a vegetarian and vegan for over 20 years. I have used my passion around this and my belief in honoring the body temple to my work. Many of my offerings, such as SOUL Food and VegVitality incorporate this passion.

Taking this course will keep my fire alive! It will add to my current skill base, expand my community as I work with others in my class, introduce me to many Chefs that I have admired, and offer me possible teaching opportunities down the road as a graduate of the program.

This is just one example of what I do to stoke that fire within me. Challenging myself helps me be very present in this beautiful life. It encourages me to bring my best to each day and it keeps me in the energetic flow of my passions and my skills.

What are you doing to keep your spark alive?

Blessings, Lisa

Have You Forgotten?

Don't get so busy in life, so distracted with tasks, so drawn into story or drama that you lose sight of what you love. Have you forgotten just how good it feels to do something you just love? To go somewhere that feeds your soul? To be with someone who celebrates the time you have together?

Remember when you were completely wrapped up in the desire to follow your passions. You would wake with inspiration to bring to it. You would lose track of time while doing it. You would share with others every aspect of it. You loved the energies that ran through you when you were involved with your passion. Of course, sometimes life dictates that we put our passion aside for other responsibilities, other's needs such as our children, or any other important requirement of our time.

Sometimes we forget to return to our passion. Slowly the time and space that it held in our life is replaced with other commitments. Sometimes it is a choice we make, believing we have more important things to do, or that we don't have enough time to give to it, or that it is not a priority. We have slowly forgotten just how good following our passion was for us.

We have bought into a story, often created by others to justify why they have forgotten to follow their passions! This story holds judgement. This story stops us in our tracks. This story keeps us from experiencing the bliss and joy that passion brings!

The Universe gives us things to become excited over! It teases and tantalizes our senses with delight, with wonder, with awakening energies of passion. Our soul waits on these moments. It knows the energy will expand into so many other areas of our life. It relies on these energies for creativity, for healing, for refueling and more. It is within these energies that we find inspiration. Our vision is filled with possibilities. Our options are more fluid. Our gifts grow and long to be shared. Our confidence and awareness reaches out.

We do not have to let go of our dreams, we do not have to put down our passions to still be productive in this life. If anything, making the time and honoring these aspects of who we are will make us even more productive. Or, at the least, possibly better at what we are doing! It is in the energies of these passions that our life feels satisfying, beautiful and abundant. It is these energies that we find ways to share with others. It is in these energies that our soul is given the opportunity to be more and more present in our actions and our thoughts. What have you forgotten?

Blessings, Lisa

Transitions of Self

Within the garden we learn that the death of last year's harvest often adds richness and makes room for this year's new growth. So it is the same with our Self. Sometimes a part of us needs to die to allow for another part to come alive! It does not mean that it will be painless or comfortable, even though we may understand it is necessary.

Learning to be aware of the messages from your body, mind and soul can help you in preparation. Often times there will be an unsettling of energies, a dip in emotions, a hunger in the soul or a confusion of our plans that tips us off that a change is brewing. We go through these shifts throughout our lifetime. Some may have been more obvious. The angst of adolescence is a perfect example. But also, for anyone who has given birth, there is that nesting and preparatory period before the birth where we purge and organize and make room for the soon to be child.

We can look back to previous relationships as well for clues to how we receive our messages. The changes that happen on the surface are good indicators that there is much shifting within us; usually in our heart and soul. Feelings of being restricted, trapped, unhappy are sometimes flags of an ending. But also make note of feelings of longing for expansion, looking to the future and more can mean that this part of the relationship is ready to relinquish to a new and more expansive part of either that relationship or another.

When we let go of a part of our Self and open up to a new evolution we can feel some fear or exhilaration. Both can be normal and do not need to rule our day. We only need to be aware that they are there on the surface and that they are indicators that a change is about to occur. Similar to a flashing road sign. No need to slam on the brakes or put the pedal to the metal...just be aware. Maybe go a bit slower. Stay present and in tune with your surroundings; both physical and spiritual.

This is a natural process of life. Transitions exist everywhere that vitality exists! It is within the transition that the transformation happens. Life awakens and energies that no longer serve or are tired out can fall away. Focus can sharpen as we look to the new. Gratitude and understanding is present as we let go. We learn more and more about our Truth as we embrace the grace to be present with the transitional cycles of our Self.

Blessings, Lisa

Plug In Your Soul

Your soul thrives in connections. Think about the last time you were with a group of people who inspired you, challenged you and supported your expansion and growth. How brightly was your soul shining? Remember the last time you had your breath taken away by the beauty of nature. How full was your soul? Think back to a time when you felt love, deep compassion, grab a hold of your heart love that flowed through your veins and filled your heart. Remember how present your soul was?

This is how you experience your soul in our life. It steps up when you are plugged in and fully present. Each of those situations I shared above would have you fully aware, very present and awake. Your soul would be as well!

It loves connection because you then bring your attention to your words, your actions and your dreams. You are invested. You are ready to grow. You are willing to release. You are fully in your truth and open to the possibilities of life.

There is little room for ego when soul is present. The essence of you becomes filled with love, peace, grace, truth, wonder and more. Soul soaks up these energies. It uses these vibrations to propel us onto the next rung of the ladder, the next dream to manifest, and the next moment to embrace. You become more and more of who you are!

Knowing this about your soul allows you to take a step back and assess your life. Are you taking good measures to feed your soul? Are you in good company? Are you doing things that you are passionate about? Are you creating space to pause and reflect? Honoring your soul takes commitment and conscious awareness. It requires you to show up and be present. It means you keep your eye open for the beauty in life.

How will you nurture your soul today? What will you plug it into?

Blessings, Lisa