Looking Back and Letting Go...

LIVE...As I look back at different experiences in my life, I have come to realize that I have allowed the ignorance of others to affect how I see myself. I gave people the power to define me. I thought "they" some how had a better understanding of me, more knowledge of who I was, or better insight than I could have of myself. The reality is... I had a deeper knowledge of myself than I was willing to give myself credit. The only thing I "lacked" was the vocabulary to match the experiences.

LOVE...Some may think, I am writing this post out of anger or resentment. When quite the contrary is true, I am writing this out of a place of peace. At this stage of my life, I see how the lack of knowledge or understanding of a simple concept affects the person you are. I am also writing from a place of letting go...Letting go of the previous messages...The previous power I gave others...because now I have the knowledge that neither they or I had at the time.

LEAP...Take a couple of minutes and look for one of those little messages...You know the one that really does not fit you...BUT...it sticks with you anyway. Then look at the person who gave you the message...Did the statement they made match the knowledge they had at the time?...Now look at yourself...Did you have the knowledge or vocabulary to refute what they had to say at the time?

Now it is your choice...Hang on to the message...OR...Let it go.

Until next time...Live, Love and Leap!

Jodi

Upcoming Event...

I am taking a break from my usual format to share an upcoming event with you. A wonderful friend of mine sent me the following information. Now, I am passing this opportunity on to you.

You many not be aware of it, but a very powerful force is at work in your life. It's called the Law of Attraction and right now it is attracting people, customers, relationships into your life and business, the problem is, not all of them are good! In this series, expert Law of Attraction coach and practitioner Michael Losier teaches us how to apply the Law of Attraction to our advantage. Through interactive sessions and writing exercises, you will learn: There's a science to the Law of Attraction and Michael Losier provides you with the simple 3-step formula to make it work for you!

Law of Attraction Expert Michael Losier.
Applying Law of Attraction to Your LIFE!

Unity Church of Portland
4525 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR

Saturday, May 30th, 2009
1:30pm - 2:00pm Meet and greet the author
2:00pm - 5:00pm Training Seminar(worksheets provided)
Information and tickets: www.lawofattractionNorthwest.com

Live, Love and Leap,
Jodi

Life Changing Moments...

Live...The last few days I have been asked some really good questions...One of them was "What brings you joy?"...The other question was about life changing moments...So how do these two questions fit together?

When I was asked about life changing moments...I thought about when I was almost 16, we had a school dance in January. The weather got bad and my friend and I decided to call our parents and get permission to stay the night where we were. They agreed. The following morning we got into the car, my friend, my date and I. The road seemed fine until we were getting ready to exit. The car spun out of control and we hit a pole with a concrete base about half the size of the car. I was in the back seat, sitting in the middle. When the car hit the pole from the rear...the glass from the rear window blew through the car and I had glass in my hair and my clothes. We were all quite lucky...even though I had a concussion and whip lash. It took about a year and a half for the pain in my neck to subside.

BUT...My biggest memory of the accident...my friend's mom looked at both of us and said, "Thank God! You hit it backwards! If you would have been going forward Jodi would have died." As it turns out, if we would have hit the pole from the front I would have been ejected from the car.

I simply cannot imagine my life stopping at 16.

Love...So having experienced a potentially life threatening car accident...What is MY joy? My joy comes from helping. I love to help people, animals and the land in which we live. It is the smallest act of love I can provide to others that bring me the greatest joy. One of these small acts of love is this blog...I write it to give others the opportunity stop, think and "leap" into new directions. It is one of my loves I share with others.

Leap...Having lived through the car accident, I have learned "leaps" look different at different times in our lives. So my question to you is...What "leap" do you need to take for this week? Do you want to stop and show the love you have for someone else? Do you want to take a minute and show love to yourself? What about showing love to the land that we live? What would it take to make a "leap" in this direction? Or animals...what "leap" could you make this week that would provide love to an animal...domestic or wild?

What ever you choose, it is YOURS to give!

Until next time...Live, Love and Leap!

Jodi

Positive Place Cards

LIVE…LOVE… It is amazing how alive we feel when we know we are loved by others. Most people I know have created holiday traditions. Traditions vary from saying a prayer to going around the room and expressing your gratitude for events in the past.

LEAP… For this holiday season, I challenge you to try something new. This year take blank “Thank You” cards or oversized place cards; place each guest’s name on a card. Then have each guest write one statement about the person named on the card. There are two rules; the statement needs to be specific and reflect positive qualities about the person named.

The activity is easier if you set it up for guests to be able to complete before dinner with one person attending the cards. The attendant is in charge of taking out the current writer’s card so the person writing does not find out what others have said.

Once everyone has written a statement on each guest’s card, place the cards at the table to be opened before or after dinner. At dinner, have each guest open and read through the statements made on their cards. Once the guest has read the card they simply say thank you to all of the guests.

Hint: It is ok to give your guests starters like, “I am so thankful you…, I love your…., I appreciate the way you……” The starters give guests the ability to generate ideas, if needed.

I hope you have a bountiful holiday season, filled with love and appreciation!

Live, Love and Leap

So why would you name a blog "Live, Love and Leap?"


Live...It is really quite simple. Some people need movies like The Bucket List or songs like Tim McGraw's, Live Like You Were Dying, to motivate them to live each day to the fullest. Eckhart Tolle has sold millions of books focusing on the concept of living in the "Now." There is one simple truth, "The past is a moment that is already gone, the future does not exist yet, and now is all we really have." The "now" we experience today is a building block for tomorrow. Nevertheless, "now" is a moment we will lose, if we choose to do nothing with it. So I encourage you to LIVE in the moment, embrace "now" and appreciate all that you have.


Love...I strongly believe in loving all of those around us. There are multiple types and definitions of love. When I am talking about love, I am also including acts of kindness. Simple gestures of love one person can provide to another. The smallest and most valuable acts of kindness can truly be moments people will remember for a lifetime. When you treat others with love and kindness you create blessings for both yourself and the other person.


Leap...Lao-tzu wrote, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." I believe in taking small steps. I believe that each step we take builds on other steps. Each step brings us closer to the realizing our aspirations and the lives we want. Nevertheless, there are times when a single step feels more like a leap. I remember the first time I went rappelling. Wow...what an experience!!! If you have ever been rappelling, you know that the largest fear that people experience is the initial step. The first step feels like a leap when in all reality you are only taking one small step. Once that first step is over, your adrenaline kicks in and the fear turns into pleasure. Essentially even the smallest step can be the biggest leap...embrace it, lean into it and go with it. You will be all the better for it.

So Live, Love and Leap!

For more information about the services that Jodi provides please go to www.mountainspringsprofessional.com