Happy Friday! Cheryl here.
This past week I started reading a book by Brian Vaszily called The 9 Intense Experiences ~ An Action Plan to Change Your Life Forever. In the spirit of Spreading Shine, I want to share it with you.
First off, what are intense experiences?
Intense Experiences are those experiences that engerize and/or change you- mind, body, heart, and spirit. Brian says that we all have intense experiences but most of the time we are focused on our ruts that we miss the opportunities to be present to an intense experience. Therefore, Brian has identified two types of intense experiences. Those from our childhood when we were full of curiosity and learning. I would say mostly good. And then those that are based around tragic experiences- mostly in our adult lives.
Secondly, to get us started, what are you putting into your being?
Just like if you feed your body donuts and soda instead of healthy foods, you need to feed your being. Brian talks about how we adults find ourselves on "Muddy Slopes" or with "Muddy Slope Syndrome". It's about how we allow so much negativity in our lives through the shows we choose to watch, the news we choose to read, watch and listen as well as how we interact with others. Conversations where we validate each others feelings of not having enough time, feeling worn out and just down right frustrated with the routine of our lives or someone in our life.
The conversation of not having enough time resonated with me. We tell each other: There just isn't enough time in the day. I'm so busy. I just can't get it all done. Now stop and think about this for a minute. This is the kind of Law of Attraction we don't want. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Choose your boxes wisely so you may enjoy your egg hunts, right? That's what we've been discussing lately.
Now that ground work has been sprinkled infront of you (and this is just a tiny bit of how explains it all), let's dive into knocking off what Brian calls the "rust and crust" That's the boring, grown up, curmudgeoness we have let build up in our minds, bodies, hearts and spirits! Let's reclaim those wonderful intense experiences so that we can be ready to Spread Shine.
The first Intense Experience is to Journey Back to Neverland. This is where we restore our sense of wonder and spark, our creativity and energy. There are seven exercises for the Journey Back to Neverland. I'm going to give you the first once since there's been so much already and then I'll add the other 6 in the comment section. Are you ready?
The first thing you do in your Journey Back to Neverland is: Bust a move. That's right, shake your booty! The boys and I danced on Tuesday night (okay, it was mostly me and JB) in the living room and it felt great! I danced alone in the kitchen on Thursday morning while I made breakfast. Started the day off right.
Busting a Move is easy so today I challenge you to put on your dancing shoes (or just take off your shoes), pick an upbeat song and shake your booty for one song (and then add another one, or five) and then report back to the comment section and tell us how much fun you had. Shake it alone, with friends, with your spouse or your offspring- makes no difference as long as you shake it! Shake it in the living room, in the kitchen or the bathroom. Go ahead, have fun and bust a move!
Shining off until tomorrow... tomorrow? Are we going to be on Saturday? Claudia? Claudia?
There has been a package of seeds sitting on the floor of my car for two weeks. They fell out of a bag on a recent trip to Lowe's and, for whatever reason, I haven't stopped to pick them up.
Never mind plant them, water them, and nurture them.
No big deal, right?
The seeds were only $0.89 and, therefore, easy for me to dismiss. Instead, I say to myself "Next time. I'm in a rush right now."
Unplanted seeds are not demanding. They don't wilt when they are not watered and they don't require sunlight. Instead, I think "Not today, my hands are already full."
Also, the consequence of not tending to packaged seeds is no where near as severe as not tending to a gallon of milk left in the trunk of my car, so, instead, I justify by saying "Not to worry, I'll get to it later."
But, what if?
What if unplanted seeds were like the uncultivated talents of our children, our staff members, or even ourselves? Would we treat them differently?
Maybe not. Innate talents, after all, cost even less than my $0.89 package of seeds. They are free.
Uncultivated talents aren't demanding either. Why should they be? They don't know their potential.
The immediate consequences of not tending to the talents of our children, our employees, and ourselves is no more life threatening than leaving seeds in the car - and it's certainly less stinky than a demanding gallon of milk.
But the contrast between a botanical garden and the unopened package of seeds, face down in the trunk of my car, is stark. One walk through the lush grounds of garden and the unfortunate impact of being preoccupied and inattentive is clear. Seeds that are nurtured grow into gardens that are colorful and fragrant. They attract beautiful wild life and inspire us to take photographs and share picnics.
But unopened seeds can do none of that. Unopened seeds, left alone and not nurtured, are just that - seeds left alone, never able to realize their truest beauty.
When seeds become talents and parents or bosses become gardeners, suddenly the idea of leaving unopened seeds in the trunk of my car seems down right irresponsible.
Shining off until tomorrow...
Just about the time that our blog post is being published on Friday morning, my friend Judy will be pulling up to her friend's house wearing pajamas, a rhinestone tierra, and a pink feathered boa.
She, of course, will be on her way to the Royal Wedding - the Royal Wedding as televised on CNN.
It seems her good friend, Sabra Hook, is hosting a morning tea and has invited all of her royal friends to join in on the fun.
Queen Sabra of The House Shine understands that to create the best and most unforgettable memories we must be fully present.
Not practical.
There is nothing practical about hosting a party at 4:00 a.m. on a work day. And, there is nothing practical about waking up hours beforehand, in order to bake fresh scones and brew Earl Grey tea. I suppose it is mildly practical to request that attendants wear robes (bathrobes) and (Cinderella) slippers, but a dress code of tiaras and crowns means that even guests must chose fun over function.
Being present, and not practical, is exactly what Princess Judy and her royal court of friends will remember most about Friday morning's event.
How about you? Will you Be Present and get in on the fun or will you be practical and miss out? Tell us.
Shining off until tomorrow...