This year, super glue holds my favorite angel together at the knees and the neck.

I can’t remember another time when I’ve kept something that has not pieced back together perfectly after breaking.  For some reason, she is special.

As I placed her on the mantle, I smiled and said:  “Let’s see if you and I can stay in one piece for a while.”

In response, Amy Grant's Christmas music sang through the speakers:

Breath of Heaven,
Hold me together.

I smiled at the angel.  I swear she smiled back.

Laughing, I sang the rest of the song for both of us.

Be forever near me,
Breath of Heaven.

As I sang, it hit me why I cherish her.

Our knees have been knocked out from under us.
We’ve both lost our head at times.
My halo is definitely crooked.
And we’re both stronger in the broken places.

The Super Glue of Heaven is a powerful thing.

She and I wish you a Holiday filled with peace, joy and faith.  And a little breath of Heaven whenever you might need it.

In Truth & With Love,

As we’ve discussed, there are lots of reasons why our subconscious minds might not want to lose weight.  For a refresher, you can click HERE or HERE to read about that.

But what do we do after we’ve worked through those things and really, really, REALLY (it takes three) want to become healthier?  If there is no dieting or grapefruit only meal plans… how do we get there?

The short answer:  Start acting in each moment as if you were already there in mind, body and spirit.

I hear you:  “Bullfeathers.  If it were that simple, we’d all be there by now.”

Sit with that concept for a minute, though.  It isn’t simple.  It is whole.

It involves developing compassion toward yourself as you are right now, faith in your body and patience for time and healing. Most importantly, it involves loving yourself here while being able to see yourself there.

It also is bigger than one blog post.  For starters, though, we'll start with...

There

Where the heck is “there” for you anyway?

In order to start acting as if there is where you are, a clear picture is in order, don’t you think?

Here’s a start on how to get one and what to do with it.

Energize, Rest and Relax.

Last week we talked about replacing things that deplete with things that energize. One obvious “miss” on the list of energizers was allowing rest and relaxation.  Rest is so important to our health, happiness and sanity that it deserves (and will get) separate conversation.

Being energized, yet rested and in a state of relaxation, is the only place future visualization can happen effectively.  Without this, the heck with the future, I’m just trying to make it through the day.

Visualize

In this relaxed state, carve out some time and ask yourself these questions:

• Why do I really, really, REALLY want to lose weight and become healthier?
• What do I see for myself when I hit this goal?
• What do I look like, what am I doing and how do I feel when I am there?

Tip:  This does not include moving away from your vision in the mirror or following the directive of a doctor, parent, spouse or peers.   Running from what you don’t like or relying on someone else's vision might get you there… but it won’t be easy or permanent.

Spend some time with your future self.  Visualize until you fall into inspiration with that vision.

Why?  If you don’t like your future self when you meet her in your mind, why in the world would you be motivated to become her? Just sayin’.

Softly Focus

Once you have that vision, soften your focus on the details of what you want.

Yes.  I said soften and not sharpen.

Why?  Because if you stay sharply focused on the future, you’ll miss your life here and now.  It takes acting with compassion, faith and love now in order to get there in physical reality.

Keeping a soft focus means visualizing your future self in detail for long enough to really feel the feelings of being there.  Then back away from the details, but keep that feeling state as you manifest your day.  Having those feelings now (pride, strength, self confidence) will inspire you to make the best choices in the moment to move in the direction of your dreams.

There won't get you happiness.  Happiness will get you there.

Trust

In the place of soft focus, trust in your body and in your vision to give you guideposts on how to maintain this feeling state.  Your body will never, ever lie to you when you really listen to the messages that it is sending in relation to that clean vision.

At first this might mean trusting and honoring your hunger, your fullness and your health.  It might mean trusting that your body won’t break if you choose to play football in the yard with the kids.  Who knows?  It's your vision to create.

Trust in your vision.  Love yourself here and stay in that feeling state.  It will take you there.

In Truth & With Love,

The whole blogging thing had intimidated me until today. In fact, the whole joy potential of this new dream career had me semi-frozen. Then I watched Susan Boyle sing “I Dreamed a Dream” for about the twentieth time. In all the viewings, not once was she visually intimidated. Not once was I dry-eyed as she sang the beautiful paradox of the last line: “Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.”

I know nothing of Susan Boyle’s life, but I daresay it has NOT killed her dream.

As I was watching Susan sing again, the FedEx guy delivered Pam Slim’s new book, “Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur.” What a beautiful synchronicity. Pam’s career is built around helping people live the dream they dreamed. Here’s what the letter tucked inside the book says:

“I have big dreams for this book. I hope it reaches a lot of people who are feeling lost, scared and frustrated in jobs that don’t fit them. I hope it helps people start a business they have always dreamed of or, in an equally good outcome, realize that they could actually be more happy in a day job.”

Pam doesn’t know that she was an inspiration throughout my decision to “escape cubicle nation” and become a coach. Susan doesn’t know she inspired me to start blogging. I suppose we’ll never know who, or even if, we will inspire others by following our dreams.

But that’s not the point.

The point is that inspiration trumps intimidation. Witnessing inspired action will melt fear and allow productive dream motion. I’m listening to Susan with Pam’s book in my lap and writing. Pure joyful inspiration is contagious. It’s also low-fat and rarely leads one to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

Just in case you don't already have this bookmarked, click here to see Susan.

Pam's book officially goes went on sale April 30^th.

I highly recommend both if you’re ready to be inspired.

What inspires you?  Please share!
Help keep the inispiration contagion going!