I have long been both a ‘go-getter’ and ‘go-giver’; one who is seemingly always on the move and also in service to others, sometimes to my own detriment. I have used my God-given gifts to support myself and my family and offer positively life changing ideas to others so that they can transform their lives. When I look at my life from an outsider’s perspective, I can think ”Wow, that woman is busy and accomplished and  look how far she has progressed in the past 25-30 years, from a co-dependent people pleaser to someone who lives out loud and speaks her mind, even if her knees tremble.” All of that may be so AND YET, I often discount those things, even when I Google my name and see it in black and white. Humility kicks in; as well as the ‘agnoxious’ (a combination of aggravating and obnoxious) voice that screeches, snarls and snarks “If you were all that, you’d be farther along in all areas of your life and you would have the experiences you desire…..” ad nauseum

Last week, I had the awesome opportunity to be in the presence of Lisa Nichols; a woman who embodies living life to the fullest, as she says, to save her own life following escaping an abusive marriage with her sanity intact. She was launched into the spotlight with the movie The Secret and her powerful contributions to the Chicken Soup For The Soul Series. She came in to our area to speak and I jumped on board to help promote it, since I knew how inspired and timely her message would be for so many, including me. I was invited to be part of the pre-presentation VIP event during which we were encouraged to dialogue with Lisa and others in the room about our work in the world and what we wanted to experience.

I had asked about moving through blocks that seem to keep me stuck in the social work  mindset that tells me money doesn’t matter and I’ll get by,  as much as I desire to be successful on all levels with my writing and speaking.  I commented that I had sent numerous query letters to Oprah to write for her magazine or to be on her show and have not yet heard from them, among other professional goals into which I pour myself . She looked me in the eye and asked if I really wanted the answer. She told me to stop focusing on the destination and the inner critic chatter that tells me I’m not enough, since I’m not ‘there yet’ and instead, focus on being of service and what needs to happen, will unfold in perfect timing. Less pursuing, more attracting.  There is no ‘there’ to get to. No done point. A work in progress is what I am. It might not surprise you to know that the waterworks began with her words. The woman sitting next to me grabbed my hand and held it, in comfort. I felt grounded by the touch of someone who likely had a sense of what I might be feeling. As I listened to the stories that others in the room shared, I grokked that they knew too. Lisa reminded me that the time I spent in the former mode, could have been invested in helping even more people. Feeling quite humbled by that statement. As the evening progressed, I found myself feeling an even stronger kinship with this woman whose work has touched people world wide. It’s nice to be on the same transformational team.

www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DqolUC13bwMc  The Climb-Miley Cyrus