Stepping Into the Unknown

Having just read Pema Chodron’s book Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to succeed. What is success? Is it getting what we want—a new job, a relationship, a great health report? Is it making a lot of money? Winning an Olympic gold medal? Being elected to a position of power?

Success isn’t necessarily circumstantial, something expressed on the outside in obvious material form that others can see. The internal dialog and subsequent emotional interpretation of circumstances determine our true experience of success. For me success is different today than when I was in my 20s and 30s when I narrowly defined it around my achievements. Now I think of success in terms of being a force for good in the world. Of influencing real change. Living as an example, in small and big ways, that reach outward beyond my own identity.

After being in my own business for most of my adult life, I’ve been applying for jobs the last few weeks, and there’s one I REALLY want. Just imagining working for this company energizes and lights me up in ways I haven’t felt for years. Having spent the last three years feeling stuck in transition wondering how I wanted the next chapter of my life to unfold, when the clarity finally kicked in, I thought the rest would be easy-peasey. Not surprising though were the new anxious feelings that came up almost immediately, now tied to really wanting that end result. How amusing!

I thought the hard part was the confusion and uncertainty which left me feeling unmotivated and groundless. But this feeling of impatience that I know comes from being too attached to a particular end result, is of course a great opportunity to practice what I’ve learned over the last 30 years: how to be calm in the face of uncertainty, how to take action and let go of outcomes, how to keep the faith that life is supportive and provides endless opportunities for good things to unfold even when they may appear to be falling apart. The truth is when we label something good or bad, when some serendipitous event appears to be a windfall or a misfortune, we never really know what’s coming next or what the result of that event might be.

So today I’m setting an intention and dedicating my morning meditation to patience. This is my discipline and practice for the coming days, weeks, months ahead, as I continue to walk towards my fear of not knowing what those end results will be.

May you too find strength in the not knowing and release your grip on particular outcomes. We can only do our part and the rest is up to uncontrollable forces.

What does success look like for you?

THE MAGIC OF CREATION: Openhearted Spaces

Clarity and commitment are essential to creating a desirable life. Like any road map, without knowing where you’re going, you can’t possibly get there. Sometimes knowing what we want is unclear, but once we have clarity, a commitment to doing what it takes to get there may include taking action, being patient, or knowing when to say “no thank you” to the distractions and attractions that can lead us off our path as we move in the direction of our dreams.

In Neale Donald Walsch’s Conversations with God, God tells Mr. Walsch that the reason we struggle to create our ideal life, is that we keep changing our minds. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe says it well, "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred...Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."

So how do we get clear when we have conflicting thoughts about what we want? I have found that minimizing the noise, both internal and external, helps to clarify things for me and have developed a practice to help me get and stay clear:

1)  DAILY MEDITATION

Deep down, most of us know what is right for us. But we tend to become distracted and confused by what we “think” is the right choice. Often, we are afraid of taking risks or disappointing others by our choice to be true to ourselves.  By committing to a daily meditation practice, you will stay connected to your inner guidance, and clear a space to hear the messages of your soul. Sometimes this voice is very quiet, especially if you have been ignoring it for a long time. When you quiet the chatter in your head, you honor and make space for your inner truth to emerge. This is where true happiness is born.

2)  GET OUTSIDE AND BE WITH NATURE

When we connect to the earth and literally plant our feet in the ground, we connect energetically with the natural rhythms of life to the Source of all that is, where information travels to us. There is a universal wisdom that we are all connected to although most people do not recognize or welcome it since it is beyond our five senses. Getting outside to be in the world where all beings are truly connected clears a space for intuition and wisdom to emerge. You may even find weird “miracles” or “coincidences” occurring when you get in touch with this Universal wisdom. Sit by a body of water, in the forest, a patch of grass, a sandy beach, or on a rock somewhere, close your eyes, observe your breath, and quiet your mind as you ask for guidance. Then watch for the signs that come up each day…pay attention to the simple things that you may otherwise shrug off as coincidence—a song on the radio, a traffic sign, a billboard, an old friend calling to tell you about her weird dream. Ask what it means when these things appear. There are messages all around us when we welcome them in and are open to the magic.  

3)  GET PLENTY OF REST AND EXERCISE

I’m a grouch without a good night’s sleep and a bit of daily exercise. This needs to be part of the commitment we make to ourselves. It helps us keep our bodies in balance, open to receiving the information that is right for us. If our bodies aren’t rested and our health is an issue, it’s difficult to focus on anything beyond our immediate need for wellness. Plus, a rested, energized mind is more grateful, joyful, and centered. When we exercise, it increases the oxygen flow to the brain and oxytocin levels which help us feel emotionally strong, solid, and more clear. This is the place from which good decisions are made.

4)  JOURNAL

I have a morning practice that begins with writing down my thoughts. Sometimes they are random. Sometimes I don’t feel like writing anything at all and my mind is blank, but I do it anyway. Tracking our dreams can also be helpful. Sometimes I feel especially clear and inspired after a good night’s sleep and I need to get my ideas down before they disappear into the day’s events. By getting our thoughts out, we are better able to understand how we are feeling and release that energy so that it doesn’t block our inner guidance or interfere with our ability to take action. 

5)  PLAY TIME

They say that whenever we are doing something that makes us lose track of time, that we are doing our soul’s work, or living life on purpose. As a photographer, time falls away for me when I am shooting pictures or working in the digital darkroom. I also love to paint. One night I suggested to my boyfriend that we paint together. As we worked on the same piece side-by-side, I turned the music up and danced around the room feeling excited and energized by the spontaneity.  We had a blast! And In addition to the playtime being emotionally bonding, I woke up the next day feeling inspired and focused. Play time—whether alone or with someone you love—is a great way to get in touch with what drives you. Is there something you love to do that gives you this feeling?

6)  BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE

A great friend just reminded me that confusion is OK and that demanding answers before we have them is a form of self-abuse. Well, she didn't exactly put it that way, but this is my take-away. The point is, we need to give ourselves time and space for clarity to come. And not criticize ourselves in the process. Give yourself a break. The practice is as important as the results, and you will have answers soon enough.

7)  DECIDE AND COMMIT

Once we figure out what we want, making a commitment to ourselves - and others - helps us stay on track to succeed. If we are non-committal, fear, doubt, and worry can sabotage our decisions, which pushes our goals further out of reach and makes them impossible to achieve.

So decide and commit! If you are unsure of what you want, just making a decision to commit to a daily practice will help the clarity come.

Namaste!
Nancy

What Kind of Footprint Will You Leave Behind?

I went to see the movie RACING EXTINCTION last night at the Boulder Film Festival by the Academy Award winning filmmakers of THE COVE, and woke up feeling inspired and determined to take action today, to do SOMETHING meaningful to help save the planet. So here I am doing what I know how to do: communicate through my photographs and words.  

First of all I need to say that if you haven't already seen this film, you must. It is a thoroughly provocative documentary about the inevitable extinction of thousands of species, including our own, if we don't do something NOW. 

The trickle down effect of climate change is altering the state of our oceans which support all life on earth.  It's not just about protecting the endangered species list which is growing by record numbers. It's also about our interdependency on all forms of life and how critical it is for us to embrace this concept, and start doing something beyond our limited view of our lives as separate from all creatures.

WAKE UP PEOPLE! We're in trouble. Not only are we losing wildlife at an unprecedented rate that on aesthetic terms alone is hard to imagine, but the interconnectedness of all life is real.

According to the Smithsonian's Ocean Portal, ocean acidification, "sometimes called climate change's evil twin, is a significant and harmful consequence of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.." Levels are so high that shells from oysters and other mollusks are dissolving at an alarming rate, faster than they can grow and produce food. The carbon spike has caused ocean acidification to rise by 30% in the last 200 years alone, faster than any known change in ocean chemistry in the last 50 million years! The results are staggering including the death of 19% of the world's reefs.

According to Dr. J.E.N. "Charlie" Veron, "Coral reefs support 25% of the world's marine life. When the oceans start dying like that, the planet can't function like it used to function. That is mass extinction."

The major threat to our oceans health is CO2, however, the additional threat to marine life comes from overfishing, as well as the fishing of exotic and endangered mammals (whales and dolphins), rays and sharks for food. The horrific way in which shark fins are cut off with the remaining carcass tossed back into the ocean to drown is cruel and inhumane.

What can you do?

• BE AWARE. Report any illegal activities such as restaurants serving whale or other suspicious seafood.
• CONSIDER BECOMING VEGETARIAN. According to a 2006 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock are responsible for about 18% of human-caused greenhouse gases. Additionally, cattle and wildlife compete for grazing space. The wild mustang population has been decimated by roundups that cruelly separate mothers from their young, euthanize or worse, and sterilize the males. The FAO said, "Ranching-induced deforestation is one of the main causes of loss of some unique plant and animal species in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America as well as carbon release in the atmosphere." In comparison with grazing, intensive livestock production requires large quantities of harvested feed, which also requires substantial areas of land. If you want to know more about the impact of cattle on the environment, click here.
• BUY A HYBRID OR ELECTRIC CAR
• INSTALL SOLAR PANELS IN YOUR HOME
• RECYCLE and purchase recycled products.
• COMPOST. Initiate a program through your community's sanitation department if this is not yet available.
• CONSERVE WATER
• CONSERVE ENERGY. Turn your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer, and turn lights off when not in use.
• USE YOUR OWN GROCERY BAGS
• BOYCOTT PRODUCTS WITH PALM OIL. Palm oil plantations are replacing tropical rainforests illegally in countries like Borneo in Southeast Asia.
• USE MASS TRANSIT, carpool, walk, or ride your bike whenever possible. We are such a culture of convenience. Consciously thinking about driving alternatives, whenever possible, can help reduce the impact of carbon emissions.
• BUY ORGANIC. Not only is it healthier for you, but it also sends a message to the farming industry that using toxins in our environment to grow food is self-destructive.
• DON'T BUY IVORY, TORTOISE SHELL OR OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES PRODUCTS. It’s estimated that 30,000-35,000 African elephants are illegally killed by poachers each year and that these elephants face extinction within a decade if this illegal poaching isn’t stopped. The wildlife trade is second only to the drug trade. China is far and away the biggest market for illegal ivory followed by the state of New York and the state of California.

Please do what you can. And keep the conversation going!

Amazing Grace

I am amazed by what I see when I pay attention. There are so many moments like this when everything lines up perfectly in sync. When I choose to follow my inspiration and allow it to guide me, I am driven down a path of miracles.  If I don't pay attention, if I discount that inner voice that's urging me on, I miss opportunities to allow the light of creativity to move through me. 

I've missed many opportunities out of fear, doubt, or worry. Who knows why I listen sometimes and not others. But I am trusting and responding to that voice more and more.

This image came out of several serendipitous events. The hawk was taken a couple of years ago after moving to Colorado from Florida and meeting a guy who would impact my life in profound ways. I had never photographed birds before nor did I have the interest. But he was leading a "raptor shoot" and invited me to join him.

The landscape was taken a few weeks ago. I woke up on a Sunday to a light fog over the flatirons and a misty kind of rain. I love rainy days. Coming from the tropics to such a dry climate, weather like that always impacts my mood. I threw on my clothes, grabbed my camera gear, and jumped into the car. I knew what I wanted when I pulled out of the driveway, but I didn't know exactly where to go to get it. I headed east to the open spaces of the farmlands and rolling hills. I stopped a few times but wasn't getting what I wanted, and feeling a little discouraged, decided to head home. Just as I turned a corner, I noticed this shack with it's look of amazement sitting in a field of freshly cut hay. If you look closely you will see that the farmhouse in the background is sporting a giant American flag.

It wasn't until I got home to look at my images and started working in the digital darkroom that I felt this image come alive. It bridges the past and present together for me in such a way that speaks volumes about my need to pay closer attention to that voice that inspires and urges me out of my chair. More and more I'm finding that it's at the moment of surrender that epiphanies emerge. This is how I become more of the person I am.

But who is that really? And why does it matter? We all ask these kinds of questions - "What is the meaning of my life?" - as if there were some simple answer.

I know that I am a person with a camera and a gut feeling that sometimes succeeds at capturing the moment. I am someone who listens once in a while to her inner voice and has the courage to leave the comfort of her home to go exploring without knowing what's on the other side. And I know that I am pure energy with a need to experience and express through this physical body the urges of my soul. For now that is all I know and I am amazed that I know even that.

What amazes you?