Feb 27

 . 

 

We were all created with individual, unique gifts and talents – and a purpose (to use these gifts and talents to serve others).

YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOESN’T SERVE THE WORLD!
 
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine (sing with our voice), we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 
 Speech by Nelson Mandela – text by Marianne Williamson
 

 

The two big questions that often arise are:
1.      “What is my gift?”
2.      “How can I learn to appreciate and use these gifts and talents God has given me?”

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Answer to Question #1 is easy:

Whatever you do with pleasure and with ease is your gift.

Sometimes we think that our gift is a certain thing because we’ve been doing it for a while and became good at it. This is the main trap: there IS a difference between something we are naturally good at (our ‘natural’ talent) and something we became good at (a ‘learned’ skill).

 

Answer to Question #2:

Putting these gifts to use regularly (even in a very small way) is important: they are the doorway to fulfilling our purpose. The only thing we need to remember is to ask ourselves how we can use this gift or talent to serve our brothers and sisters. Really… it is NOT about us!

“The artist is nothing without the gift,
but the gift is nothing without work.”
- Emile Zola (1840-1902)

 


From there, things happen easily and naturally: all you need to do is to “Keep Your Heart Open” (Purposeful Practice #2) and pay attention to what is being orchestrated in your life – the people you meet, the opportunities that come to you… In time, someone will have this type of prayer: “God, provide me now a [person] who can …” — and that will be your open door!

 

The invitation with this practice is not only to reconnect with your own gifts and talents (your voice)… but that you sing freely and loudly!
Whatever your gift is: teach, work with numbers, defend causes in a court room, gather people, clean bathrooms, bake pastries, etc.)… sing freely and loudly!

 

Ultimately, this is how we love God with all our heart, soul and mind. We respect and honour the gifts and talents (the voice) He intentionally placed in us…


May you live with the awareness of

the Presence, the Love and the Power

that God wants to use in your life – through your voice.

This will move your heart, soul and mind into ACTION!

SING FREELY AND LOUDLY!

 

 

MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF ‘YOUR’ LIFE:
This week, I am committing to Sing with my Voice. I commit to:

.

1. Connect with and be comfortable with MY voice
(If you are unclear on what your natural talent is, go back to Purposeful Practice #1 Spend Time in Nature – and ask. Then Keep your Heart Open” –Practice #2- will help you see what is being orchestrated around you and be open to the gifts)

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2. Sing with your voice FREELY and LOUDLY!
I will offer my gift regularly, in small or big ways – it doesn’t matter. I’ll do the best I can.

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3. Say YES! when an opportunity to “Sing with My Voice” louder comes my way
Be Open to what You Ask For!” –Purposeful Practice #5- and how things will come your way. Sometimes they come in surprisingly unexpected ways…  ;-)

 

 

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YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our Radio Talkshow additional support.

 

 

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.


Our next Radio Talkshow:

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883

or click here to listen in: “PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart-Coeur”
NOTE: all talkshows are recorded and available for one month!

 

 

HAVE FUN with this practice!

We love you,

Stéphanie and Doug

 

PS: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE

PPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

Feb 20
Take control of what I say and guard my lips” - Psalms of David 141:3

I pray that I speak with kindness   

Kindess is love… Love is respect… Respect is integrity…

 


The power of our words is directly affecting the results we create in our life. While it is important to speak with kindness, this is a habit that develops naturally when we are centered in love. However, you can be kind and speak with love – BUT if you do not honour your words or the commitments you make, it demonstrates lack of respect and integrity! You really just spoke a lie – ‘a lie with kindness and love’.

 

It’s one thing to say something…

it’s another thing to actually do it!

 

How many times you have someone tell you “I’ll call you”?

… and they never do. 

How many times someone throws at you the oh-so common invitation “If you ever come to XYZ city, call us – we’ll get together”?

… and then you call and they don’t seem that ‘warm’.

 

Or I’m sure you’ve heard this one before: “Let’s get together sometime”!

… and they never follow up on their suggestion.

 

Possibly you’ve experienced that a friend you’re trying to help all of a sudden simply chooses to ‘disappear’.

… they don’t call you or email you – not even to say “I’m ok, thank you for your care”.

 

Also, in your day-to-day life, how many people do you have on a ‘to-follow-up-with’ list?

… You know that unless you stay on the ball, you’ll never hear from them again!

Truly, how much time is wasted in YOUR life because of others not showing up? And in the same breath – you may be the one not showing up?!?

 

What a world we live in! No wonder why people don’t trust anyone anymore! On many occasions I’ve experienced people being blown away because I called them when I said I would. Isn’t that part of love? Isn’t that ‘normal’? It is to me! I have no time to waste energy (or saliva for that matter) to say something if I’m not genuinely prepared to do it.

Now, yes, life happens! And, in some situations, there are valid reasons for people not to be able to call or do what they had promised. Still, is there any reason why they cannot phone whenever their life is ‘back to normal’ to apologize and pick up from there?

 

Once you say something, you have to make room in your life to honour that promise. This is a basic and simple element of INTEGRITY.

 

The way you honour (or not!) what you say, do or commit to,

from a simple phone call to a meeting, to the stories you share

 and the language you use – all describes WHO YOU ARE

And, certainly, reflects your level of success in life!

 

You may have heard this expression before: “HOW YOU DO ANYTHING IS HOW YOU DO EVERYTHING”. Take a moment to check in and evaluate how you do things in life – do you show up when you say you will? Do you honour your words? Do you respect those you engage with?   

 

I’ll end up by sharing this profound quote from Mother Teresa:

 

“We cannot do great things on this Earth,

only small things with great love” (meaning INTEGRITY, I’ll add)

 

This week, pay attention to what you say, how you say it AND… if you live by the power of your word.

 

  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF ‘YOUR’ LIFE:
    This week, I am committing to pay attention to my words:
  1. I will speak with kindness, using honourable and loving words.
  2. I will honour my word: if I say something, I will do it!
    – no false commitment!
  3. I will promise less and do more.
    – no over commitment!

 

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our
Radio Talkshow for additional support.

 

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.


Our next Radio Talkshow:

Tuesday, Feb. 23rd, 2010 from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883

or click here to listen in: “PURPOSEFUL LOVE – going Heart Coeur…”

 

HAVE FUN with this practice!

We love you,

Stéphanie and Doug

 

PS: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE

PPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb 14

 

 

As I shared with those of you who receive my newsletters (if you don’t, email me your contact info and I’ll make sure to include you in our circle)…

 

many focus on LOVE on the outside… love from and to ’someone else’.

 

In a relationship or not, I invite you to take 3 minutes to listen to the Valentine message my heart shared with many this week: www.youtube.com/purposefullove 

 

Give yourself the gift of LOVE!
 

You got this right, dear, in a relationship or not… THIS Valentine will be UNIQUE and one to remember for the rest of your life (and every day of the year)!
Why? Because YOU are going to make it that way! You are going to demonstrate LOVE like you have never before!


Love is such an interesting phenomenon:  it’s beautiful, it’s healing, it’s powerful, it’s inspiring, it’s energizing, it’s tempting, it’s contagious and… it’s scary – all at the same time!

My wish for you is that you embrace it all and… LOVE!

 

HAPPY VALENTINE’S!

 

From my heart,

Stéphanie Roh

 

Feb 13

 

 

I had a good tickle this morning as I was indulging in our ‘cuddle-meditation-prayer’ morning routine with my husband. I asked Doug if he had any insights for the new Purposeful Practice. He mentioned that, since it is Valentine, we could do something about LOVE – we had a good laugh! For those of you who have been doing the Purposeful Practices with us since week 1 of this year, you know that they are ALL ABOUT LOVE!

 

Love is such a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional word: we all want Love, yearn for Love, pray for it, practice the many teachings on law of attraction for it… and yet we hear “You mean, you want me to forgive my spouse for what he/she did? Are you kidding me?” or… “You want me to forgive this guy who stole $5000 from my home?”; “You want me to be kind to ‘the ex’ who is manipulative and mean to us?”; “You want me to open my home to this person who criticized, judged and condemned me?”

 

Yes, dear, LOVE is a BIG THING!

And often, we miss not only its power, but its root too – completely! Let’s face it,

 

“When was the last time you allowed yourself to feel God’s love?”

 

You see, before meeting Doug, I was like many out there: alone (often scared) and ‘looking’. Today, despite being blessed with the presence and the Big Love of my beautiful man, I don’t underestimate the importance of God’s love in my life. I often lie in bed and let Him have his way with me… truly. He’ll touch me with His grace and guidance. He’ll comfort me. He’ll ‘poke me’ with the truth, with what I must wake up to so that I can serve deeper. I simply lie there and surrender. 

 

In this week’s practice, I’m inviting you to Keep your heart open (Practice #2) and possibly welcome yet a new layer of LOVE into your heart, into your life. After all, what a beautiful gift to give yourself on this Valentine week:

 

God loves you!

He loves you just the way you are. You don’t have to be anything, do anything or say anything! You are special to Him. He accepts you, never rejects you.

Let God love you!

Let Him fill your ‘love bank account’. Receive His love for you. Indulge in it fully. Dance with it. Let it guide you. Feel His love… Then spread it in you and around you.

 

Unless you feel love for yourself,
you cannot give love away.

 

 

  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF ‘YOUR’ LIFE:
    This week, I am committing to experience and feel LOVE deeper.
  1. To take a moment each day to sit quietly and feel how much I am loved – just the way I am. I feel the love.
  2. To be thankful for this love. I feel the love.
  3. To share the love that is in me with those around me (great opportunity to revisit Practice #3 “Give to Others What You Desire for Yourself”

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our Radio Talkshow for additional support

 

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.


Our next Radio Talkshow:

Tuesday, Feb. 16th, 2010 from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883

or click here to listen in: “PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart Coeur” 

 

 

HAVE FUN with this practice!

We love you,

Stéphanie and Doug

 

PS: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE

PPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

 

Feb 7

<>

Love is such an interesting phenomenon: it’s beautiful, it’s healing, it’s powerful, it’s inspiring, it’s energizing, it’s tempting, it’s contagious and… it’s scary – all at the same time! And the good news is that it is easier to love than to hate! Truly. Have you ever noticed how you feel when you hate… versus when you love? Have you ever noticed how tight your body is when you send meanness, anger or other negative feelings… versus how incredibly flowing and light your entire being feels when you send love?

To get a real visual of this, go in front of a mirror and say “I love you” — see what happens. Watch your face, your eyes. Do the same thing now, but say “I hate you” — see the difference?

Interesting.

And guess what? People you think about in a loving way WILL feel your love and the effect will be the same on them than when you say “I love you” to yourself in the mirror. And you got it: same result happens when you have negative or mean thoughts about/towards someone.

Interesting.

The amount of energy it takes to be resentful or angry towards a person or a situation is 10 times more the energy than to keep our heart open and work through the ‘glitches’. This is where forgiveness comes into play.

There is so much to talk about on the fascinating and powerful subject of FORGIVENESS. I will not go into too many details here – Doug and I will be sharing tips on how to transform toxic relationships into harmonious ones, during the next Radio TalkShow on Tuesday (5:30 to 6pm MTN time – see details below).

However, there is one important element about forgiveness that is often overlooked and needs a constant reminder:

the one who chooses not to forgive
is the one who ends up suffering the most.

 

This week’s purposeful practice will create massive changes in your own heart and life… as well as in the life of others:

  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF YOURLIFE:

Think about one person you have a struggling relationship with right now (your spouse, one of your children, a brother, a parent, a colleague, a business partner, a neighbour?). You have two choices about the situation: to be right and stay in the suffering of an unhealthy relationship… or to bathe yourself (as well as the parties involved) in the healing energy of forgiveness.

This week, I am committing to live with a forgiving heart. I will:

1. Ask for Forgiveness…
to those I love and know I have hurt. It is powerful to express the fact that I didn’t do what I did, or said what I said, with the intention to hurt*.
*If you have… please go to point 3 first – then come back here.

2. Forgive those who have hurt me…
I understand that forgiving doesn’t mean I agree with what happened or what was said. I am simply opening the flow of love for deeper healing and, therefore, freedom.

3. AND, most importantly… Forgive myself!
Examples:
… for not saying “YESSS!” when what I asked for shows up;
… for giving up on my dreams;
… for over-eating when I’m stressed;
… for blaming others (or the system) for my lack of success;
… for spending money on ‘stuff’ to fill the void in my heart;
… for judging others to avoid looking at my own darkness;
… for comparing myself to others;
… for spreading bad rumours about other people;
… for using sex to ‘feel loved’;
… for sabotaging my success (in health, finances and/or relationships)
… for not seeing the absolutely Divine and Perfect being that I am;
… for being distracted from my purpose;
… for being an angry, jealous, non-supportive spouse, friend, colleague or other;

and the list goes on.

Take a moment to connect with the areas that need healing in YOUR life.

**Once you have forgiven yourself, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT in the area you just brought healing to through the power of forgiveness! – If you are having trouble doing so, reach out and ask for support and guidance.
.

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our Radio Talkshow for additional support: www.blogtalkradio.com/thelovearmy

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.

Our next Radio Talkshow:
Tuesday, Feb. 9th, 2010
from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883
or click here to listen in: “PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart-Coeur”

HAVE FUN with this practice!
We love you,
Stéphanie and Doug

PS: Click here to receive last week’s Purposeful Practice
PPS: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE
PPPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

 

 

 

Jan 31

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I’m not sure what YOU are dreaming about and praying for… but I’m compelled to share with you a series of Miracles that occurred for me this week. Now, keep in mind that this chain of events was possible because I live Purposeful Practice #2 “Keep Your Heart Open” every day:

I just returned from training with Shawne Duperon on handling the media – TV in particular (www.shawneTV.com). Now, I had no clue of who Shawne Duperon was before last Tuesday, let alone any intention to work with the media and/or to be on TV. What I did know is that I have been asking, through meditations and prayers, for a platform to fulfill my mission on this planet.

God took me through a winding journey of
wanting
Love… looking for Love…

resisting
Love… to, finally, surrendering to Love

… and today, I am to pass on the gift from that journey to my sisters. I am called to help them understand and experience that the deepest Desire of their man (current or future) is to:
- Include HER in his Life Purpose!

- Make HER feel safe!
- Take care of HER!
- See HER happy & fulfilled!
- Offer HER love & security!
- Support HER in a deep Surrender to Love!
- Take HER deeper sexually, spiritually and financially!

I hear too many women around me who think they have to ‘do it all alone’. Some are in a relationship, yet do not trust their man (afraid he’s going to leave, cheat, not take care of responsibilities with kids, house, money, etc.). Others are single, independent and… exhausted! My heart yearns to be of service to them.

This week, I was led to step into a new area (the media) and to expand my ‘comfort zones’. To my surprise, by supporting a friend who put the Calgary Small Business Show together, it ended up being an answer to 3 of my prayers to serve women on a larger platform:
Prayer 1: Connection
(connect with powerful women);
Prayer 2: Attraction
(let things/people come to me naturally);
Prayer 3: Purpose
(work along with some like-hearted influential people who can help me take my life purpose further).

From here on, my only ‘duty’ is to keep my heart open to HOW things will come together (yes, back to Purposeful Practice #2). I am aware that it may come in ‘packages’ I hadn’t even considered.

God sees it all and knows exactly
WHAT we need and WHEN we need it!

I don’t have to worry about the HOW, WHAT or WHEN. I am simply conscious that there is a shift happening: the teacher(s) appeared and the feedback -even with my resistance to hear it- is unanimous: I have yet to ‘play bigger’. I say this with humility, as I understand that it is not about me… rather it is about my calling and honouring in a bigger way the gift that God placed in my heart.

Are YOU open to receive
what YOU have been asking for?

.

  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF YOUR’ LIFE:

This week, I am committing to pay attention to what I am asking for… for I WILL receive it! I commit to:

1. Revisit and clarify my dreams
(Dream BIIIIIG! and, most importantly…
…..be specific about what you are asking for!)

2. Pay attention and be open to what is coming my way
(A phone call, an invitation to a specific event, etc)

3. Open my heart to RECEIVE in surprising ways
(Say “YES!” to what you had not considered as being part of your dream - you’ll know the feeling in your heart)

.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’
RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our Radio Talkshow for additional support: www.blogtalkradio.com/thelovearmy
.

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.

Our next Radio Talkshow:
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883
or click here to listen in: “PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart-Coeur”

HAVE FUN with this practice!
We love you,
Stéphanie and Doug

PS: Click here to receive last week’s Purposeful Practice
PPS
: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE
PPPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

Jan 23

 

 

<

Are you, like me, devastated by what is happening in other parts of the world? It can be overwhelming at times to see and/or hear the tragic scenes and the violence reported by the media. Even if one doesn’t read the newspaper, listen to the radio or watch TV, they cannot miss what is going on: everybody talks about it! The earthquake here… the water problems there… the wars here… the outbreak of a disease there…

The two questions I ask myself are:

“How can I make a difference?”
and

“Where do I start?”

 

You see, what devastates me the most is not so much the events themselves… but it is to witness how easy it is for the more fortunate to distract themselves from the very wars that are going on in their own hearts, their own homes… Sure, we can travel across oceans to go ‘help’ or send all of the money in the world towards ‘x’ cause… yet

if we cannot offer and keep love in our own homes,
with our spouse and children, and with the members
of our communities, at work, at school…
ARE WE TRULY HELPING and MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

 

But of course, we are too arrogant to see this reality, so asleep in fact, that we spend our ‘waking time’ focusing on the wars else where. It is indeed easier to focus on the wars in Afghanistan, to go ‘fix’ what is wrong in the third world countries: after all, these poor people… they don’t have homes, they don’t have the convenience of drinking water without walking miles and miles, AIDS is killing many, a hurricane destroyed everything… Today, of course, the earthquake of Haiti is the main topic of the news (and many businesses). A new reason for us to forget how fragile and shaky WE are, right?

Yes, it’s easier to go ‘fix’ the problems of others out there… We are so blind! We will support a cause to help the blindness in third world countries, but we won’t see what’s going on in our own hearts. Oh, but giving of our time and money makes us feel so much better, less guilty… so it’s ok, right? It is easy to get trapped in masking some of the ‘wars’, ‘earthquakes’ and/or the ‘blindness’ that are going on right here, in our own hearts…

And I’m certainly not saying that we shouldn’t be
compassionate and lend a hand
to our brothers and sisters!

Though truth remains our reality: peace and love cannot be obtained on a global level until it is deeply part of who we are and our everyday life. People who understand that they are love… produce love and peace – around them, within them. And this is a profound way to prevent chaos in and around us – to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

 

Can you imagine what our world would be like…
if we would all start to

help each other RIGHT HERE – RIGHT
NOW?


… if we were to spend a day helping someone with a project they’ve been struggling with?
… if we were to invite a friend over for a meal because we know he/she is struggling to make ends meet?
… if we were to offer a ride to someone who doesn’t have a car?

… if we were to spend some time with someone who is ill?

… if we were to invite someone for a walk because we know that they are not very motivated to go out and get some fresh air on their own?
… if we were to offer a listening ear to a friend who just needs to talk or ‘vent’?
… if we were to help a friend find a job?

… if we were to pray for each other daily?

 

This is what this week’s practice is about. This week, in addition to the financial support you plan to offer towards good causes, I would like to invite you to offer acts of service to people around you: right in your home, at work, at the grocery store…

I would like to invite you to make a difference HERE and NOW.

.

  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF ‘YOUR’ LIFE:

This week, in addition to the time I give to ‘x’ organization and/or the financial support I plan to offer “X” cause, I am committing to make a difference HERE and NOW:

 

I will reach out and help someone in my family or community, either by:

- YOUR act(s) of service here:


!!! THERE IS A CATCH WITH THIS PRACTICE:
HINT – HINT: DO NOT forget to help YOU! (self care… gentleness… good rest… do things you love… surround yourself with loving people… etc.)


One of my mentors inspired me with the idea to invite you to share how you are going to honour this practice this week. Take a moment and share what act of service you did or are committed to do on our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/thelovearmy?ref=profile

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our Radio Talkshow for additional support: www.blogtalkradio.com/thelovearmy

 

.
WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?

Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.


Our next Radio Talkshow:

Tuesday, Jan. 26th, 2010 from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883

or click here to listen in: “PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart-Coeur
NOTE: all talkshows are recorded and available for one month!

HAVE FUN with this practice!
We love you,
Stép
hanie and Doug

.
PS:
Click here to receive last week’s Purposeful Practice

PPS: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE
PPPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

Jan 15

We all want the same…

We all want to be heard, to be seen, to be validated,
to be appreciated, to be respected, to be LOVED…

 

Wouldn’t that be an incredibly beautiful world if we were all simply offering LOVE to each other?

In the first days of this New Year, I picked up the phone and personally talked with each member of my family, as well as my closest friends. That’s easy, right? They all love me… they will all be beaming back at me a ray of love from their wide open heart, right?

I went deep into my heart and connected with those whom I love dearly, yet some ‘stuff’ happened over the past year (or longer) that created some separation or friction. I decided to open my heart deeper than ever and contacted one of them – the most ‘difficult’ one. Bob (fictive name to honor his privacy) is a friend whom I met 4 years ago. Wonderful man, I’ll admit that there was some attraction there – Bob is beautiful, smart, has a big heart… I mean, com’on!!! I was single and ‘looking’ (notice: I didn’t say single and ‘available’??)

The phone rings… my heart is pounding at 200 beats per minute… Bob answers. Of course, it was easy to get the conversation started with some wishes for the New Year. Bob and I always had a profound connection, but yet again, over a ‘little’ bump on the road, there is now a slight ‘coldness’ or disconnection between us. After all, Bob only owes me a $100K…
**Did I enjoy meeting this man? – Absolutely!
**Did I love the man? – Yes!
**Did I learn and grow through getting to know him? – Absolutely!
**Did I trust him? – Fully!

**Did I get burn? – To the 3rd degree (physically, emotionally and financially!)

**Did he make a mistake? – You better believe it…
**Do “I” make mistakes once in a while? – (do I really have to answer this one?? – just kidding!!!) Absolutely!

Soooo… where from here? You’ll ask.

 

Well, the choices are mine, aren’t they?
Either I open my heart (last week’s practice) and grow beyond the physical experience (the lost money, the lost in trust, the frustration and resentment, the greediness)… OR, I close it and be mad, furious, angry and drag Bob to court.

 

So, from here, it is not about “ME” per se. And this is where many people go “down in flames”. This is where the majority of people go into fear, anger or the famous “need to be right” mode.

I enjoyed meeting Bob. I loved Bob. I learned and grew because of Bob. I trusted Bob. … So what? He made a mistake and all of a sudden I cannot enjoy him, love him and trust him?
**Was his intent to hurt me? – No!
**Was his intent to put me in a scary place? – No!
**Was his intent to ‘screw me up’? – No!

**Did it happen? – Yes!

Soooo… where from here?

 

This is a perfect example where I had a chance to put this week’s practice into… practice – give to Bob what I desire the most for myself:

- to be heard (have I listened to his heart and his pain of letting me down?),

- to be seen (have I seen his heart?),

- to be validated (have I acknowledged his willingness to help me financially in the first place?),

- to be appreciated (have I appreciated Bob’s gifts and talents?),

- to be respected (have I respected Bob’s values?),

- to be LOVED… (do I STILL love Bob??)

 

During this phone conversation, I had ONE desire: to make sure that Bob understands that I am here for him! I mean… this man lost everything – even his home! Does he need me to pound on him, to attack him and drag him to court? … or does he need my love and support?

Now, by offering my love and support, I am not saying “what you did to me is ok and it’s just fine that I lost this big chunk of money”. I am simply offering what I would want others to do if the scenario was reversed. I can’t fix everything, but I sure can love and offer help to help him get back on his feet. So, I simply asked how I can help, I asked what he needs…

 

You see, I could have gone around and spread negative stories about his character, his business ethics or even do what many do: go online and start building cases against him that would tear apart his reputation.
How would this serve me… or him??

 

The most FREEING thing is to know that
we don’t have to ‘fix anything’: we just need to LOVE!
…meaning that we offer to others what we most need ourselves.

ISN’T THAT SUPER SIMPLE???

 


  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF ‘YOUR’ LIFE:

This week, I am committing to give to others that which I desire the most for myself

- I want to be heard, so… I will LISTEN!
I realize that my tendency is to interrupt and engage in a conversation versus just LISTEN…

- I want to be respected, so… I will RESPECT!
I commit to respect the person in front of me for his/her ideas and values.

- I want to be accepted, so… I will ACCEPT!
Even though I may not think the same way, have different opinions and ideas… I will accept someones input and feedback. This doesn’t mean I need to agree with them.

- I want to be validated, so… I will ACKNOWLEDGE!
I often see value in what others share, do or say… yet I don
t say anything. I commit to express the beauty I see!

- I want to be loved, so… I will LOVE!
I recognize that I love ‘with conditions’. I commit to expand my ability to LOVE: this means loving even when love doesn’t come back to me – ESPECIALLY when love doesn’t come back to me!!… no condition!)

- I want to be appreciated, so… I will APPRECIATE!
I commit to indulge in others flavors, ideas, gesture of help… and to cherish their individuality versus judging it.

- I want PEACE, so… I will BE peace!
I am aware that if I want PEACE, I must offer PEACE, not “fight back” (create a war)…

- I want SUPPORT, so… I will give SUPPORT!
Now that I found this support system, I will share with my friends and invite them to join in these Purposeful Practices. It will support them… and it will support me!  :-)


YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU! Use our Radio Talkshows for additional support!
.

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.


Our next Radio Talkshow:

Tuesday, Jan. 19th, 2010 from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883

or click here to listen in: PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart-Coeur
NOTE: all talkshows are recorded and available for one month!
.

HAVE FUN with this practice!
We love you,
Stéphanie and Doug


PS: Click here to receive last week’s Purposeful Practice
PPS
: Remember to keep applying all practices. The ‘weekly’ practice is not something we just do during that one week… it is a LIFESTYLE!
PPPS: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

Jan 9

.

<

Life WILL hurt at times!

As I always say: “We can go through life with a heart wide open or with a heart closed – our choice. With support or alone – our choice. Life WILL hurt at times!!!”

I choose to live with a wide open heart AND support, for it makes the hurt less painful…

.

 

Love is a ‘risky’ affair.

Love WILL offer us opportunities to heal and to grow – and for this to take place, we must be willing to take a risk to do things differently.

.

 

Taking the risk to love is huge!

The biggest risk is that the other may reject us; then of course, they may not love us back the same way we love them… or even remotely the way we would like them to (expectations).

.

 

WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU TO…

Have a person come at you angry, mean… even possibly yelling,
… yet you keep your heart open?

See one of your loved ones pass away
… yet you keep your heart open?

Have an argument with a friend, a colleague or your spouse
… yet you keep your heart open?

Have challenges with your business, receive the news you’re going to lose a great deal of money…
… yet keep your heart open?

There is no doubt that our natural, ‘automated’ response is primarily to shut down. In this ‘tight mode’, life is that much more stressful and painful.

What will be YOUR choice?

.

 

NOTE: there are situations that are extreme and abusive (physical, emotional, verbal, spiritual, sexual…). If you are experiencing any of these situations, seek proper advice. What we are talking here is everyday situations where we are all confronted with the choice of keeping our heart open – or closed.
.

 

Each one of us has the ability to heal and grow from the challenges of every situation that is presented to us. It is OUR choice, at any moment, to choose the ‘high road’, the road of love that, ultimately, leads to growth, healing and freedom.

 

Sooooo… you may ask:
.

When/how do I know if my heart is open or closed?
One constant is this: whenever your EGO tells you to do something (or not), your heart is closed. Why? Because EGO is fear. Its role is to keep you ‘in the box’. EGO does not want things to change.
Also, whenever you face a resistance to love someone or something, it is a sign that your heart has closed – again, most of the time FEAR is the big gate watcher! By being aware of this limitation of our EGO, we can choose to re-open our heart and, therefore, create a new (positive) result!
Simply AMAZING… and, this week, it’s for you to try this MAGIC – how exciting!

 

How do I change from close to open?
It starts with the AWARENESS that it is closed. From there, the WILLINGNESS to take a risk.

 

  • MAKING THIS PRACTICE A PART OF ‘YOUR’ LIFE:

This week, I am committing to keep my heart open in every moment:

1. When something ‘bugs’ me…
I will remember that whatever ‘bugs’ me in the person in front of me (or in a situation)… pertains to me! And, therefore, I will offer what “I” want to that person, or face the situation with love and grace. (*read an example here)

2. When I am afraid to love…
I will TRUST the healing power of love.


3. When I am afraid to be taken advantage of…

I will give and forgive.

4. When I find myself in a heated argument with my spouse, a colleague, a family member…
I will let go of the need to be right.

5. When someone ‘attacks’ me…
I will LOVE versus react (or hate) back.


YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
We are doing it – we are living it – and WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!
Use our Radio Talkshow for additional support: www.blogtalkradio.com/thelovearmy
.

 

WANT TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PURPOSEFUL PRACTICES?
Click here to subscribe to our Newsletter. You will then be part of our circle of friends who committed to this new ‘way of life’.


Our next Radio Talkshow

Tuesday, Jan. 12th, 2010 from 5:30 to 6pm (MTN time)
Join us on air by calling (347) 215-8883

or click here to listen in: PURPOSEFUL LOVE – Going Heart-Coeur
NOTE: all talkshows are recorded and available for one month!

HAVE FUN with this practice!
We love you,
Stéphanie and Doug

.
PS: Click here to receive last week’s Purposeful Practice
PPS
: you are welcome to leave a comment below, a question or an idea in regards to this practice:

Jan 9

<

Funny enough, with this week upcoming new practice of “keeping our heart open”… I was presented with a good platform to do just that – keep my heart open:

Doug and I arrived in Canmore, AB last night where we rented a chalet for a week to focus on Nature, Love and writing. While I have no need for internet connection other than keeping up with my commitment to send you the new practice this weekend – we were told upon check-in that internet was down. Mmmm… I felt a tension in my heart and a touch of stress in my stomach, wondering how I was going to send you the practice if we have no internet access??

As I prepared all the material off line last night, I opened my heart to this experience of not knowing if things would work out. I opened my heart to the stress I was feeling in my stomach. I opened my heart to having a prayer for a little miracle that, by tomorrow noon (Saturday), the internet would be up and running, that the week would go smoothly, with a strong connection when we need it.

Well, Im writing this note on this Saturday afternoon, parked in a comfortable armchair in front of a big window with a breathtaking view of the mountains, the fireplace is on, tea too… and Im ONLINE

… in fact, would you believe that Doug kept losing the connection – while I was happily connected, with a strong signal?   ;-)

Go figure what kind of results one can create…
when the heart is open!

Much love,
St
éphanie


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