Hey Pinksters,
Happy Mojo Monday. Joy here today. I unearthed something most incredible from an old journal today. An artifact from an existence that feels like lifetimes ago, when actually less than a year has passed. On October 6, 2008, I sat in a coffee shop during my lunch break at work and wrote the following in my journal:
I am so extraordinarily grateful to the universe and to myself for having granted this year to devote entirely to my spirituality, creativity, and coaching practice – as well as the means for frequent travel, art classes, etc. I have been able to sleep until fully rested each day, meditate in the quiet of my home and nature for an hour a day, paint, cook, shop, explore, walk with my dog, read, write, visit San Francisco, hang out in coffee shops, visit campus early in the mornings to view the rising mist filtering the golden sun, observe, appreciate, be slow, still, patient, and present.
I feel no obligation to be anywhere but where my heart wishes to be. I immerse myself fully into my coaching training with ample time to focus on the coursework and give 100% of myself to it. On colder days I spend time in front of the fire and in my office engaged in the work of my heart, whatever it may be that day. More and more, my office is beginning to resemble me and become an extension of my soul filled with art, smells and objects that bring peace and comfort to me and all who enter.
I spend weeks and weekends at retreats at Esalen and Spirit Rock and am meeting others who have helped me expand my reach. I am learning from Buddhist gurus, have heard many dharma talks in the area. Penny (my dog) is cared for and loved while I am away and is my best friend and companion on my days spent at or near home.
I am healthy as always – only healthier because I have time to shop for and prepare fresh, organic, delicious food. I visit my sister in DC more frequently and watch my nephew grow. I spend weeks in Florida with my mom. I accompany Matt (partner) on conferences in exciting places that I’ve always wanted to visit and some that I didn’t even realize I needed to see. I am more in touch with this glorious planet than I ever have been and view everything with the awe and amazement that I intended to experience when I choose to incarnate.
I am increasingly excited about coaching and cannot wait to share the wealth of wisdom I have amassed this year with my clients – as well as to learn from them. I spend ample moments in quiet reflection and gratitude and reception of messages from the universe. I become the conduit of wisdom I know I was meant to be and employ my gift of writing to convey these messages. I make an easy and abundant living from this work, made all the more possible by the year I was given to become my biggest and most receptive self, not obliged to anyone or anything for my living.
I am so thankful and filled with joy and excitement for what is to come this year is merely the beginning of an extraordinary, extraordinary and beautiful existence driven by intention and openness and miracles that I will strive to recognize and acknowledge every single day.
At the time, it was a stretch
Now, though it was written in the present tense, was this remotely the life I was living a year ago? Hells no. Had I chronicled my days back then, my journal would have looked more like the following:
Get up at 6 am. Walk to work through gorgeous scenery I’d give anything to spend more time in, but can’t, so don’t bother paying attention. Spend day in airless office feeling empty, purposeless, bored, stressed, and guilty about pets left at home. Always watch clock: be prompt, don’t take too long for lunch, leave at 5 on the nose. Surf internet and eat lots of candy. Walk home. Once a week run out to painting/meditation/other class that is meager attempt at enrichment. More pet abandonment guilt. Over-borrow on vacation time to visit family and entertain friends. More guilt. Resent boyfriend for “talking me into” buying house we could only afford with my salary. Pine for weekends. Resent pets/boyfriend/house obligations for not allowing for more adventure when the weekends did arrive. Kick self for spending weekend “getting life in order” instead of fleeing to wine country or Big Sur. Spend Sunday evening dreading Monday …
And so forth. You get the picture. My life now? Let’s just say that I am doing and experiencing, oh, 85% of the first scenario. I don’t remember the last time I resented someone, felt constrained or obligated, and had anything but joy and appreciation for the work I do. Sure, some endeavors have not yet been realized – like the exotic travel and jewelry-making classes. However, that’s not due to deprivation or a lack of means or possibility … it’s actually because there is so much other amazing stuff filling my days that I’ve had to park those few items on the bucket list for now. I wake up (slightly!) later, for reasons that make me WANT to throw off the covers. I meditate for almost an hour most days, which in itself has been completely transformative. I spend time with my pooch. I walk. I write. I coach. I cook. I field trip to San Fran all the time (AND get to spend days in the breathtaking landscape of OP headquarters in Marin – there are all sorts of little bonuses like this). I take in the astounding miracles of nature all around me. I make my own hours. I connect. I’m inspired. I’m meeting phenomenal people who are proving to me that I can – and will – do whatever I want. I am inspired not only by Buddhists but manymanymany other gurus whom I didn’t even realize existed a year ago. Mine is an “extraordinary, extraordinary and beautiful existence driven by intention and openness and miracles.”
Surely you jest …
Really? Could it be that easy? Does life really align itself around intentions made real by writing them into existence? There’s only one way to find out, I suppose. So, Pinkies, my Mojo Monday invitation to you is to simply – very, very simply – do this:
- Grab a notebook and pen.
- Sit in a place that inspires you (incidentally, I wrote the above in a coffee shop in which I hoped to spend lots more time during my year of freedom … when it came down to it, though, my preference was to spend lots more time in my lovely house on the hill – one that, despite the Pleap [pink leap of faith] I took last spring extricating myself from the soul-deadening job, we can still miraculously afford).
- Write the story of your dream life as if it’s already happening. Too overwhelming? Write out your ideal day. What time would you get up? How would you spend the morning? What does the sun look like coming through the window as you sip your … actually, what are you sipping? With whom will you spend your days? What does your heart call you to do?
- Now put it away. You don’t have to believe it will happen, be hopeful, cheerful, or expectant (goodness knows I wasn’t). All you have to do is be clear.
If you feel inspired, please share it with us, Pinkies.
Waiting for you on this side of the miracle,
Joy
Tags: appreciation, dream, dream life, ideal life, inspiration, intentions, journaling, miracles, motivation, vision, writing, writing your vision
Hey Lissa, I completely concur with you and I too am living the magical how-am-I-doing-this-life you depict in the first journal entry because of meditation.Of course the life is mine and different, but when I became a regular meditator my ho-hum life made a dramatic turn and now I live walking on clouds among wonderful, loving people and beauty all around me. Ok, I live in Ojai, Ca, and it is beautiful, but I didn’t see it anymore after 20 years living here, until I went within to find my true soul and inner guidance. Now I follow rather than lead. This has led me to people and places I never knew bwfore. I was led back to practicing psychology and this was such a surprise! I am a clinical psychologist but now I am practicing as a humanist transpersonal psychologist guiding others to go within for their answers.I also promote journaling as another primary form of guidance! We need no gurus when we go within to spiritually connect with all that is.
I am so glad you found me on twitter today so that I could find your blog and website. WE’ve got to meet! My dissertation in 1986 was on a primigravida(woman having her first pregnancy) beliefs about her upcoming pregnancy and delivery and her experience of it. It was fascinating and I may turn it into a book.You have further inspired me!
Keep up the great info and presentation you are putting on the web. You are stunning, as is your team!!! Thank you all. Namaste, Kim
Thank you dear Kim! The above post was written by Owning Pink’s editor, Joy Mazzola- and Joy- your vision blows me away! How life changes when we set our intentions. Thank you Kim from sharing your story and welcome to Owning Pink!
I spent yesterday with an amazing group of practitioners- the workshop was called Intention, Imagination & Mediation for Co-Creation. We did an exercise like that about writing out our vision. So I had to smile when Joy posted this today. Here’s what I wrote just yesterday about the future I have yet to co-create (but it’s well on its way!)
After quitting her job as a full time OB/GYN 3 years ago, Lissa Rankin thought she would never work in health care again. An artist and writer, she planned to live a creative life, unrelated to medicine. The Universe had other plans. After launching Owning Pink, Lissa began attracting those who needed healing and those who provided healing services, two groups that often overlapped. By opening her website to the energy of others, inviting them to spread their words of wisdom, their healing services, and their personal stories, and by touring The Woman Inside Project, Lissa built a bridge between two worlds. In this time when issues surrounding health care polarize people, Lissa’s message is glue, trying to bring together fragmented groups, empowering them to step into their power for the good of the whole.
Her new book, What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, may seem, at first blush, like just another vagina book, but it’s worth a second glance. Buried beneath the humor, the medical expertise, and the sometimes shocking stories lies a deeper message- that we are all enough, just the way they are. All we need to do to tap into this deeper wisdom is get out of our own way.
She shares this message of empowerment through Owning Pink, but Lissa resists those who call her the Gyno-Guru. Instead, she invites others to seek the guru within. Her message spread organically at first, but after her book tour that included appearances on Oprah, Ellen Degeneres, and The Today Show, Pinkies everywhere are listening. Her newly-opened retreat center has become Owning Pink central, where those who are trying to get their mojo back can unite with healing practitioners for workshops and retreats. For those who can’t make it to the retreat center, Pink Me Up sessions can connect you to the healer who offers just what you need, whether it is an energy healer, an intuitive, a psychotherapist, an integrative health physician, a baby spirit coach, a life coach, or a living foods expert. By Owning Pink, you will tap into what you need to be whole.
She is currently at work on her new book- a memoir called Signs From the Universe.
I created my mojo journal yesterday!! I have come to the conclusion that my dream would be to open up and accept people in. Also, for me to climb out of the many boxes I live in!! This weeks Mojo Goal is for me to Reconnect with old friends…
Heather, I think that’s fabulous. Let us know how things go. We love to hear how Pinkies transform their own lives to find more mojo, more love, and more joy.
Joy,
Thanks for the amazing posting today. I am going to try it. I think about how I would like my day in day out life to be all the time but I never write it down like it is actually happening in the present tense. I love the way you concluded with gratitude for all that you have and looking forward to more blessings in the future. I think that is key to this exercise.
As always, you have shared your wisdom and joy here. I am greatful and thanking the Universe for bringing you into my life!
Love and Pinkie Peace,
~Michele~
Thanks for the message back Lissa and thank you Joy! I guess I just went right for the juicy journaling parts and skipped the part with your name.
I didn’t realize it before Lissa, but I saw you on Oprah, talking about vaginas! You used a poker or stick and a diagram as I recall. What an honor to be sitting next to Oprah and to be chosen to present on her show. Congratulations to you. It tells you how important your personal message is; it is your service to humanity.
I am honored and thrilled to be a Pinkie. I will help as I can to get the word out. My thinking cap is on.
Namaste,
Kim
Kim, Not sure if you misunderstood my vision (lots of that stuff- including Oprah- hasn’t quite happened yet) or whether you’re incredibly sweet and affirming what is not yet but will surely be! Either way, thank you for being here, helping us hold this sacred space, and gracing us with your lovely presence.
Namaste back atcha, sister!
Lissa
Kimberly, welcome to the Posse! So glad this resonated with you. Isn’t it amazing to suddenly wake up to all that is perfect in your world?
Liss, I’m adoring your vision and feel so privileged to witness you getting closer to it day by day … you’ve already proven that there’s nothing that’s impossible. That alone has inspired me and changed my life more than you can imagine. I look forward to watching all this come true as well.
Yay Heather yay! Take that mojo journal to the oceanside or a mountain top or light a candle on your desk and thank the universe for what it’s about to give you.
Likewise, Michele. Thank you so much. You’re right — gratitude is a HUUUGE part of it. That was most definitely a “fake it til you make it” portion of the exercise with me. I was low, bitter, depressed. Writing this in a spirit of gratitude definitely ignited the spark for an instant or two … kind of like flicking a lighter a couple of times before the flame starts burning.
Magic, miracles and gratitude to all of you!! xoxo Joy
Dear Lissa-
You will never know if I was sharing your vision completely or was conpletely wrong cuz I’ll never tell and ruin a great comment.
hey- in real life it’s all an illusion anyway so who can tell, really!
Joy
Loved your post. Loved your vision. Agree with you that writing/articulating your desires is the first step to making them become real. It certainly wrks that way in my own life. Thanks for the inspiration.
~Dana
Kim- Love it. Thanks for keeping mystery alive!
And Dana, lovely to see you here. You continue to be such a lovely source of inspiration and wisdom for us all. xoxo
Joy,
I did it girl. I sat in an inspiring place (my living room in the chair that I meditate and pray in every morning) and wrote my story. I sealed it in an envelope and plan to open it on September 28, 2011. My heart is happy. I truely feel like my vision has already manifested. Just gotta wait for this little thing we call time to reveal it to me in the physical world.
Gotta say your momma knew what she was doin’ when she named you Joy. You are the Goddess of Joy and you have a gift for spreading it around.
Love N Pinkie Peace
~Michele~
Joy – thank you for a wonderful and Joy-ful exercise. I wrote mine in list form (it flowed more easily that way). It started slow, but as I kept writing it was just pouring out of me. I have re-read it a few times because it feels like a prayer. Already I feel lighter – and happier.
I truly believe this works. Years ago I wrote a very long, very specific list of what I wanted in a partner – I really worked on that list and thought about what was important. Then I put it away – 6 months later I started dating the man who is now my husband. He IS the list! wild.
I am grateful to be reminded of that list, and for the invitation to create a vision of my ideal life. Many thanks – and hugs!
erin
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[...] Some of us also decided it would be fun to the MojoMonday exercise from Owning Pink [...]