Caring Too Much?

I actually heard someone say the other day that they care too much. Is that even possible? All one needs to do is watch the news one day to see how uncaring some of our society has become. There are students beating students into comas, gunmen wiping out innocent moviegoers, or worse. It has been proven that how children treat animals and peers as they are growing up is a good indicator of how they will treat people as adults. If a child is not taught compassion and kindness they may become the adult who is incapable of feeling or expressing emotions or empathy for others in their lives, whether it be family, friends or community.

So how do we fix things, if we even can fix them. And if we believe we can, does that make us guilty of caring too much? I cannot go through this lifetime turning blind eyes to misbehavior, lack of respect, outright meanness or violence. I step up, I speak up, I try to teach and inform and sometimes I am accepted, but often not.

I started with my own children, rippled out with role modeling within my community and have joined forces with others as we begin the process of balance the rights and wrongs, correcting the unfairness and attempting the create a change in people’s beliefs and behaviors.

They say actions speak louder than words. Do you dare to match your actions with your thoughts about right and wrong. Do your actions match the level of what you believe represents how much you care? If not, why? What is stopping you? Tough questions, I know, but if you don’t ask yourself them…who will?

Living our truth means sometimes doing what feels uncomfortable. Sometimes it means taking a risk. And sometimes it means doing exactly what everyone else would like to do, but aren’t. It comes down to trust, choice and courage. It is not always the most popular stand to take. It is not always the easiest. But it can be the right thing, the most caring thing to do.

Blessings ~ Lisa Meade

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Just Do It!

As we get older and move forward on our path we learn many things. Life’s lessons hold new meaning and sometimes greater consequences for us as well. Take for example, how quickly time goes by. It seems to me last summer was only a blink ago, not an entire year! Acknowledging how quickly the days slip by, I often reflect on my plans and my motivations. What am I doing with my time? Is it put to its best use? Am I doing all I can to be of service to others and to Spirit? Am I living with intention and consciously? Are my actions aligning with my words and thoughts? If not how can I make it happen? I have learned over time that to have things happen in my life, I have to make them happen! Basically I have to do to see the results, even at times, in the face of doubt. I have to be willing to try new ways. I must be willing to stretch. I need to sometimes shift my perspective and see things from another point of view.

I have learned there are times when I will get stuck. I have had to learn when to be patient and when to push on. Trial and error has become my friend. Exploring all possibilities brings juiciness to my day. When frustration enters the picture, I challenge it with focus. When I fail, I fail beautifully. Really, sometimes it is not so graciously, but I have learned to make the most of my failures!

There is a phrase, “Just Do It!” that I have often had to adopt and apply to my personal journey. That is not to say I don’t weigh options, I give thought to the plan, and sometimes I seek others input. But when it comes down to the bottom line…sometimes I just have to do it. What is the worst that will happen? I might mess up, make a fool of myself, have to start over or lose out on something. But I also could succeed, radiate and ripple outward, get a strong start and gain a big life lesson.

There is a good deal of talk out there. People saying that they want to do this or that, but they don’t put their words into being. They just talk. I got tired of hearing myself talk. Now, I enjoy watching myself move. Moving onward. Doing it!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Saving with Service

If you are one who feels blessed to live on and be in relationship with this great planet, then you also believe it is an honor to be of service, to offer support and to bring aid to the earth and all its beings. We have our own needs that we try to meet daily. We have the needs of others who rely on us that we support. And we have a commitment to bring our talents, gifts and energies to the greater good of this earth and Her beings. When we build connections with others who hold this service in their heart, we are moved to find how widespread it is. Contrary to what some may say, there is an optimism that binds us as we strive to give back, to ripple out and to bring our best self to the equation.

There is a want to be of service in many. For some of us, this service is a call of Spirit. For others an ongoing commitment to a lineage they have had modeled for them. And for some there is such a life purpose in the call that it is as if it is encoded within them, passed on from the ancestors. Thank goodness for all!

Service has many faces. However you want, need or wish it to look…is great! Just offering it with good intentions, with an open heart and acts of compassion is what gives it the power. Imagine the many faces of service you can have… a favor to a friend in need, a donation to a charitable cause, a day of service in a community clean up, recycling, eating vegetarian, using environmentally friendly products, reducing your waste to landfills, praying for the earth and more.

Take notice of the attempts of others. Applaud their efforts or at the least, thank them. Show appreciation to companies that are in alignment with this role of service by utilizing their products and services. Taking note like this fosters the growth of this energy! It encourages and keeps it alive!

Acknowledge how even the smallest of actions provide the energy for change. Praise all efforts when you can. Assist those who are making attempts and need your support. Continue to be creative in your ways of service and honor. Celebrate the impact that is achieved by all. Encourage those around you and teach those who do not know better. Every effort is worthy and the Earth will be changed.

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world."-- Mohandas Gandhi

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Personalize Affirmation Power

If you were to walk through my home you may or may not notice the personalized affirmations I have positioned quite intentionally about. It all started when I took charge of my health and made a big personal campaign to honor my body temple. It meant changing my perspective on my self image, my self-worth and my relationship with food and exercise. My intentions were great, fabulous and well-rounded, even realistic. But my commitment was notorious for waning and losing steam. I knew I needed motivation. I had family and friends behind me. I had great resources at my fingertips. But what I needed the most was excuse busters for those quiet creeper moments. You know, those late night snack attacks, those skip the exercise today because you have a dentist appointment this afternoon excuses, those why bother, you only lost one pound last week monsters and those just a small bite, no one will know lies. So to fend off these thieves and robbers of my intentions I beat them to their punch. I posted inside cabinets, on the treadmill, on my bathroom mirror, on the scale, in the fridge and on the dashboard of the car…just to name a few spots. I personally created affirmations that spoke directly to me. I scripted in my head the one liners and excuses, the bargains and empty promises I made to myself and then came up with the perfect come back for each of them.

Sometimes I would use famous lines from some of my favorite philosophers or authors. At other times I would quote myself directly, as though I were speaking to a beloved friend. Often I would poke fun at myself, as humor worked wonderfully for me. It worked. It worked really well! On a roll and to continue to outsmart myself and to cause traction on the slippery slope I could sometimes find myself on, I kept at it. I would switch them up, replace them, decorated them to make them more prominent. Whatever it took, I did it. I decided I was worth it. I was so worth it I dropped over 100 pounds and changed how I honor my body for the rest of my life. It took a good amount of hard work, a lot of honesty, and patience with my self, but a bit of tough love too. Nothing will ever be the same! The blessings are present daily.

So, what are your struggles and what are your intentions? When you are ready to take them on…think about ways to support yourself. Other people’s affirmations are great. But if you are like me, having a more personalized version, one that really pokes me, or takes the air out of my arrogant balloon, or stares me in the eye and won’t back off….those work best! It takes hard work, determination and self- compassion. But it also takes no ifs, ands or buts and no excuses, lies or self-deprecating thoughts. Step up and be your own self-empowering guru. You know what to say! The script is already written in your head.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade