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Current Issue |
One of a Kind News Table of Contents
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 1. Welcome Notes A warm welcome to three new subscribers this week! I am honored that you are here. If you would like to review past issues of One of a Kind News, click on Archives List. Many thanks to those of you who share One of a Kind News with others. To me that is the highest of compliments. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 2. My Not Enough Syndrome Last week I introduced you to the "Not Enough Syndrome". At the end of the article I left you with a question, "How does the 'Not Enough Syndrome' show up in your life and the lives of those you love?" (To review that article, just click here). The Not Enough Syndrome showed up in my life as an addiction to books and education. I didn't know it was an addiction. I justified my actions by telling myself I was investing in my education. My underlying fears were that I wasn't smart enough, didn't know enough, wasn't good enough. I remember thinking with each new book or course of education, "Maybe this will give me the answers I need." I was driven. I couldn't walk by a bookstore without going in and buying books. I went to universities for 10 years and attended every workshop and seminar that I could manage. As I finished one degree, I would go for another. And, even though I learned a lot, it was never enough. This addiction cost me enormous amounts of money, energy, time, and peace of mind. Finally one day, not so long ago, I woke up to my addiction. I looked at the over 1,000 books that I owned and thought about all I had given up in my quest to become enough. In my journaling conversation with God, I wrote, "I am 56 years old and still do not feel like I'm enough. When am I ever going to be enough?" I wish I could tell you specifically what happened next, but I don't' know. In that moment, I experienced a huge shift within. All of a sudden I knew that I was enough. I knew that if I never learned another thing in my whole life, I would know enough. A sense of freedom unsurpassed by anything I had ever experienced engulfed me. The drive was simply gone! I'm still in awe of that transformation. I still love to learn, and now I'm at choice rather than driven by fear. Since that time, I have put approximately 500 of my books out to the universe for others to use. I have only purchased two new books. I now read only as I want to. I even read novels, which I couldn't allow myself to do for years ñ I had to be learning something. Another interesting thing happened, when I let go of acquiring knowledge, wisdom showed up. Were you able to identify ways that the "Not Enough Syndrome" shows up for you? = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Last week I introduced Wisdom Access Questions (WAQ's). The tool I want to talk about this week is Journaling. I have journaled for at least 12 years. Every morning I curl up in my Barcalounger with a cup of coffee and my journal. I cannot imagine starting my day without journaling. For me, journaling is a spiritual practice; the time I spend is sacred time. I write until I'm empty -- this may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. I give myself whatever time it takes. Some might think taking this much time for oneself is a luxury. For me it's not a luxury, it's a necessity. It's an important part of taking good care of myself so that I can be the best person I can be. Journaling helps me to explore problems and find solutions. It allows me to gain clarity and make wiser decisions for my life. It helps me to clear my mind and get centered within my natural self. Journaling helps me to start my day off right. Wisdom Access Questions, when teamed with journaling is an awesome duo for re-connecting with your natural self. Remember, your natural self is the "Who" you were created to be. Your natural self has infinite wisdom and is your connection to God. She is the God within you. As you will recall, Wisdom Access questions are "What" questions. Any question can be turned into a "What" question. Here's an example: Perhaps you are feeling drained and you are wondering, "Why am I so drained?" "Why" questions tend to get you into analyzing. For more helpful and specific answers, change that to a WAQ like "What is draining my energy?" WAQ questions tend to lead you to solutions. Listen for the answers and write them down. During my journaling, I have conversations with God and my natural self. I ask questions and receive answers. At times I seem to be taking dictation. Often I ask God what he would like me to write about. I listen and write down whatever comes up. My articles are birthed in this way. It has been said that prayer is talking to God and meditating is listening to God. In a sense, WAQ questions are a form of prayer and listening for the answers is a form of meditation. What questions would you like answers to? I often ask questions like, "What would be the best use of my time today?" "What decision would make me feel best about myself?" "What would love do in this situation?" "What do I really want in this circumstance?" "What is stopping me from going for what I want?" "What am I afraid of?" "What is my intention?" "What is my truth?" Sit with your journal, write out your questions and capture the answers. Sometimes the answers won't show up immediately. Let your self percolate on the question and go on to something else. The answers may come when you are doing something entirely different. They will come. If you are keeping the notebook I recommended in the August 26th issue, be sure to enter the things you learn about your natural self. (You can review that article here.)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Most of our lives are about proving something, either to ourselves or to some else." "If one is out of touch with oneself; then one cannot touch others." "You can't do anything about the length of your life but you can do something about its width and depth." "If each of us acts from authenticity, we will find the courage to make the tough choices that are necessary." = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = There are many books available on journaling. If you would like to learn more about journaling, click on http://amazon.com and do a search on journaling. Julie Cameron's books are good! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Until we meet again, remember to: Count your garden by the flowers, Blessings to you and yours, Sharon = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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