Before you dismiss the experience of someone in prison as the polar opposite of your own...here is a quiz.
Are You In Your Own Prison?
• Do you identify yourself by what you do?
• How about what you did before the Financial Meltdown?
• Do the clothes you wear or the food you eat or the cars you drive define who you are?
• (Come on now...be honest. Imagine if cleaning the sink and taking out the garbage were things you dreamed about.)
• Does regret, resentment or hopelessness limit you?
Did you answer yes to more than one question? If so you have the opportunity to get out of your own prison. Maybe, just maybe there is something you can learn from an inmate. You are not alone.
A Taste of What Inmates Taught Me.
The quote, "There by the Grace of God go I" now makes sense...
• A person living in prison is not one smidgeon less divine than anyone else.
• You can overcome your past.
• Listen. Deeply. Everyone has great wisdom to share.
• Every minute each of us have the freedom to choose "our own attitude."
• You can cook everything from burritos to cake with Ramen noodles in a trash bag and boiling water.
See For Yourself.
Here are three videos from the University of Santa Monica's "Freedom to Choose Prison Project."
USM Service Project: Part 1
USM Service Project: Part 2
USM Service Project: Part 3
The videos convey the majesty, dignity and divinity of the human Spirit that is essence of Spiritual Psychology programs far better than any words I could write.
The film version of the videos is a finalist at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
I recently worked with a part of our population that is underserved in the "Freedom to Choose Prison Project for women inmates."
My prayer is that we can break the cycle within these broken families. We need to knock down that revolving door at prison. Kids with parents in prison often end up in prison themselves.
Stay tuned for more of my lessons learned in prison next week!
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to www.elidavidson.com today.
***
Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized executive coach and motivational speaker. Her book, "Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped", (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards.
Eli is a reinvention catalyst, who can transform your professional and personal life from Funky to Fabulous with her ten, trademarked Turnaround Techniques that create rapid and remarkable results.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
How To Love A Nut Job
Do you have a person in your life that is (as my mother would graciously call them), "An Irritant?"
I do.
Friends and neighbors have given her names like Whack Job, which just goes to show you how kind Mom is. I could run down the laundry list of interesting ways she showers me with attention, but let's cut to the chase...an officer of the court has advised me to get a restraining order.
So what do you do?
Here are some of my intentions. Wish me luck. Please join me if you have a challenging person in your orbit.
Drop the Hot Coal
"Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - The Buddha
This is an easier quote to read than to do. I am working on doing it anyway. Wish me luck!
Fab 15: Who is the person that is bugging you? Take 15 minutes to send them the love and compassion that you would want for yourself.
What You Focus On Grows
Every single minute you and I have a choice. You can only focus on one thing at a time. What will your response be? I am challenging myself to make choices that are less about wounding or more about wonderful. Gratitude has always been a lifesaver for me. Have you tried it lately?
Fab 15: Take 15 minutes a focus all your attention of what you are grateful for.
Mirror, Mirror
I see this rage being vented at me as a reflection of the yet unhealed anger I have within myself. Even though I am uncomfortable admitting it, I wouldn't have attracted this sort of experience unless it reflected something inside of me. I can use this situation for learning and healing. I can choose to embrace all of me and forgive my Inner Bully.
Fab 15: Take 15 minutes and forgive yourself. Embrace all of your humanity. Embrace that other person with loving and compassion.
Service Is As Simple As A Hug
What would our world be like if we could live like that animated character? What kind of changes could be ignite? I can't say that I will honestly walk up to this woman and give her a hug...except in my heart.
Fab 15: Take 15 seconds and hug a person you are having a challenge with in your mind. Take 5 minutes and hug 5 people. (You'll be amazed at how long a minute is... and how much better you'll feel.)
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.
***
Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized executive coach and motivational speaker. Her book, "Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped", (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards. Eli is a reinvention catalyst, who can transform your professional and personal life from Funky to Fabulous with her ten, trademarked Turnaround Techniques that create rapid and remarkable results.
I do.
Friends and neighbors have given her names like Whack Job, which just goes to show you how kind Mom is. I could run down the laundry list of interesting ways she showers me with attention, but let's cut to the chase...an officer of the court has advised me to get a restraining order.
So what do you do?
Here are some of my intentions. Wish me luck. Please join me if you have a challenging person in your orbit.
Drop the Hot Coal
"Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - The Buddha
This is an easier quote to read than to do. I am working on doing it anyway. Wish me luck!
Fab 15: Who is the person that is bugging you? Take 15 minutes to send them the love and compassion that you would want for yourself.
What You Focus On Grows
Every single minute you and I have a choice. You can only focus on one thing at a time. What will your response be? I am challenging myself to make choices that are less about wounding or more about wonderful. Gratitude has always been a lifesaver for me. Have you tried it lately?
Fab 15: Take 15 minutes a focus all your attention of what you are grateful for.
Mirror, Mirror
I see this rage being vented at me as a reflection of the yet unhealed anger I have within myself. Even though I am uncomfortable admitting it, I wouldn't have attracted this sort of experience unless it reflected something inside of me. I can use this situation for learning and healing. I can choose to embrace all of me and forgive my Inner Bully.
Fab 15: Take 15 minutes and forgive yourself. Embrace all of your humanity. Embrace that other person with loving and compassion.
Service Is As Simple As A Hug
What would our world be like if we could live like that animated character? What kind of changes could be ignite? I can't say that I will honestly walk up to this woman and give her a hug...except in my heart.
Fab 15: Take 15 seconds and hug a person you are having a challenge with in your mind. Take 5 minutes and hug 5 people. (You'll be amazed at how long a minute is... and how much better you'll feel.)
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.
***
Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized executive coach and motivational speaker. Her book, "Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped", (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards. Eli is a reinvention catalyst, who can transform your professional and personal life from Funky to Fabulous with her ten, trademarked Turnaround Techniques that create rapid and remarkable results.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Life Lessons From Fast Food Part 2
Simple Questions Can SUPERSIZE The Quality of Your Life.
Asking a few key questions can dramatically impact your experience. Ask, ask, ask!
1. Ask......Yourself.
Take 15 minutes and review your week. This can be the most productive 15 minutes on your agenda.
Ask yourself, "What worked...and what didn't?" Whip out that trusty calendar of yours and look at your activities and interactions. Does your jaw get tight when you see "meeting with JD"? Do you feel a knot in your stomach when you remember the unclear communication with your brother? You are the world expert in You-ness, so you are the person that is best equipped to give yourself the best feedback. Taking time to look at your week gives you clear guidance of what worked and what didn't. By reviewing your week you will become familiar with your own "instant feedback cues". Practicing this technique you will become more familiar with your cues. Soon, you will be able to use these "instant decision makers" as a traffic light for your decisions.
2. Ask...Another
Take 15 minutes and ask for support. It takes a village to change a habit or to create a dream. You have so much more support than you know. If there is someone in your life that has what you want, that person is the best place to start. (A friend with a happy marriage will give you better romantic advise than a single friend....I found that out the hard way). Ask if you can chat with them weekly and get their advice.
3. Ask...Your Infinite Wisdom
Take 15 minutes and ask for the support and guidance of your Spirit... Then....listen! Inviting the infinite wisdom of The Great Good inside you is probably the smartest question you can ever ask. I have found that Spirit is the best partner around. Maybe finding the handsome, sensitive man of your dreams and fitting into your size 8 jeans seems 50% impossible to you, but for Spirit it is no biggie.
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.
Asking a few key questions can dramatically impact your experience. Ask, ask, ask!
1. Ask......Yourself.
Take 15 minutes and review your week. This can be the most productive 15 minutes on your agenda.
Ask yourself, "What worked...and what didn't?" Whip out that trusty calendar of yours and look at your activities and interactions. Does your jaw get tight when you see "meeting with JD"? Do you feel a knot in your stomach when you remember the unclear communication with your brother? You are the world expert in You-ness, so you are the person that is best equipped to give yourself the best feedback. Taking time to look at your week gives you clear guidance of what worked and what didn't. By reviewing your week you will become familiar with your own "instant feedback cues". Practicing this technique you will become more familiar with your cues. Soon, you will be able to use these "instant decision makers" as a traffic light for your decisions.
2. Ask...Another
Take 15 minutes and ask for support. It takes a village to change a habit or to create a dream. You have so much more support than you know. If there is someone in your life that has what you want, that person is the best place to start. (A friend with a happy marriage will give you better romantic advise than a single friend....I found that out the hard way). Ask if you can chat with them weekly and get their advice.
3. Ask...Your Infinite Wisdom
Take 15 minutes and ask for the support and guidance of your Spirit... Then....listen! Inviting the infinite wisdom of The Great Good inside you is probably the smartest question you can ever ask. I have found that Spirit is the best partner around. Maybe finding the handsome, sensitive man of your dreams and fitting into your size 8 jeans seems 50% impossible to you, but for Spirit it is no biggie.
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Life Lessons From Fast Food
There's not much good food in prison. I am still digesting that life changing experience.
So, I have an admission to make.
I just polished off every molecule of a McDonald's Big 'N Tasty Meal. (That's a #6 for you Mickey D's wannabes.) Ahhh, I loved each bite of that burger and salty, soggy fry. Every mouthful was so refreshing after my time eating microwaved chicken potpie while working in a prison. As I sat in my car waiting for my Big 'N Tasty, it dawned on me that life is like the "drive thru" line at McDonald's. You get what you order. Often, people settle for what shows up in their life rather than going for the Big Gulp that is the life of their dreams. Particularly in our current economic environment many of us are afraid to ask for what we want.
The First Step: Ask.
The Universe is asking, "Can I Supersize that for you?" What is your answer? The first step in having what you want in your life is asking for it. It sounds so simple and dorky. Yet, it is true. Recently, a client doubled her income. When a new customer asked her normal rate, a ridiculously large number popped out of her mouth. She told me later of her surprise at this new found boldness. Even in this economy, she asked for what she wanted and got it. Her deeper process began as he opened to an inner place of worthiness which she needed to embrace in order to actually receive greater abundance. Her request for more money got her both more money and a new awareness of the innate goodness that is her authentic nature.
Simple Questions Can SUPERSIZE The Quality of Your Life.
Asking a few key questions can dramatically impact your experience. Ask, ask, ask!
Next week I will discuss those important questions everyone should ask themselves!!
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.
So, I have an admission to make.
I just polished off every molecule of a McDonald's Big 'N Tasty Meal. (That's a #6 for you Mickey D's wannabes.) Ahhh, I loved each bite of that burger and salty, soggy fry. Every mouthful was so refreshing after my time eating microwaved chicken potpie while working in a prison. As I sat in my car waiting for my Big 'N Tasty, it dawned on me that life is like the "drive thru" line at McDonald's. You get what you order. Often, people settle for what shows up in their life rather than going for the Big Gulp that is the life of their dreams. Particularly in our current economic environment many of us are afraid to ask for what we want.
The First Step: Ask.
The Universe is asking, "Can I Supersize that for you?" What is your answer? The first step in having what you want in your life is asking for it. It sounds so simple and dorky. Yet, it is true. Recently, a client doubled her income. When a new customer asked her normal rate, a ridiculously large number popped out of her mouth. She told me later of her surprise at this new found boldness. Even in this economy, she asked for what she wanted and got it. Her deeper process began as he opened to an inner place of worthiness which she needed to embrace in order to actually receive greater abundance. Her request for more money got her both more money and a new awareness of the innate goodness that is her authentic nature.
Simple Questions Can SUPERSIZE The Quality of Your Life.
Asking a few key questions can dramatically impact your experience. Ask, ask, ask!
Next week I will discuss those important questions everyone should ask themselves!!
Are you ready to get out of the way and let your dreams have a say? Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.
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