Get a Running Start on Creating A Powerful Vision By Year’s End

Run!

It’s been a while since I have shared any vision exercises with you. Where has the time gone? Not to worry. As we  move into the final 90 days of the year, there’s still time to explore a dozen new ways to create a powerful vision before the crystal ball drops in Times Square. Get your running shoes and clear a little space on your calendar.

Let’s take it nice and easy and warm up with a vision and creativity exercise:

This week, make five dollar-bill sized pieces of paper. On each piece of paper, write the words Possibility, Hope and Inspiration. As you go about your week, pay cash for something 4 times. Each time you pay cash, hand one of your dollar-bill sized pieces of paper to the cashier.

This exercise  accomplish two things. First, you’ll create “flow”. You’ll have a ‘money’ experience in an increasingly ‘plastic’ world.  Secondly, you’ll expand and inspire someone’s thinking, if only for a moment. Watch them as they read your message. If they ask, “Do you want this back?”, tell them to keep it and to pass it on to someone the next time they pay with cash. You’ll be igniting someone’s vision with each of the 4 pieces of paper you share.

Here’s an important part of the exercise: Save the last Possibility, Hope and Inspiration paper for yourself, and keep it in your wallet for 30 days. As you likely know, 30 days creates a habit. In this case, you’ll establish a habit of possibility, hope and inspiration.

As always, I’d love to hear about your experiences and if you like what you read, pass the link to this blog post on to the people in your life.

Make it a great week.

~ Tess

Copyright 2011

Destiny Rising, LLC

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International Peace Day Piece

IPD (International Peace Day)

Possibility, Hope, Inspiration….. Three simple nouns that set change in motion. The link below takes you to a video created by HeartMath.

The video’s message is powerful, and perhaps it’ll spark your imagination. Watch it once today, as it’s International Peace Day, and then and watch it again tomorrow. Isn’t that also International Peace Day? I certainly hope that we don’t focus on Peace and its power only  .27% of the year (That percentage? One day of the year).

PEACE

As always, I invite you to share your thoughts.

~ Tess

Copyright 2o11

Destiny Rising, LLC

Living Life In Syncopated Rhythm

syn·co·pate

To place (the accents) on beats that are normally unaccented.

New parents want to do everything “right”. In the first few weeks and months of parenthood, there’s little sleep and the routine becomes feed, burp, change, repeat. I’m discovering that being a ‘dual career’ adult with a traditional worklife and an entrepreneurial venture has elements of new parenthood to it. I am trying to do everything “right”, and keep the guilt about what I’m not doing at the right time to a minimum. Nothing feels natural yet about how I the balance my time. I’m enjoying my new 3/4 time position (traditional work schedule). With the other 1/4 of the time, I’m traveling, teaching, tending, friending, and building the business I’ve started.  I often ask myself “Am I doing this right?”

I’ve been trying to put a finger on how I find the beauty, lesson and music in the newness of it all. You see, I’m not really feeling DIScomfort. Things just feel out of step.  This isn’t wrong. It’s just different. Yesterday, it dawned on me that I’m fitting everything into my schedule, just at odd times, rather than obvious times.

This discovery was music to my ears and it calmed me down and made me think about the unique qualities of syncopated rhythm in music.  One of the most common forms of playing off the beat in music is called syncopation. Syncopation  is when a normally weak beat is emphasised, giving the impression that it’s ‘out of rhythm’. You may recall, from music class, that there are downbeats and upbeats.  If you tap your foot to a 4/4 beat and count the space between the major beats , “1-and, 2-and, 3-and, 4-and”, you find the upbeats. Your foot goes down on the downbeats and up on the upbeats. Downbeats are normally emphasized in a song. In syncopation, you emphasize the upbeats instead by playing those notes a little bit harder, or louder, than the others.

Reconnecting with this concept helped me breathe a sigh of relief.  You see, I’m just living in the upbeat, or living in the “and”.  There’s vitality in the upbeat. I’m working “and” building a business. I’m working in Chicago “and” working downstate.  I’m living my life with my own timing, a bit like Jazz or Ragtime. In fact, my life’s rhythm’s kinda catchy. It’s not as if I don’t know how to keep a beat. I’m just riffing out here, living the downbeats and the upbeats. No wonder I’m breathless. You’re probably living in the “and” as well. If you are working toward future goals or building a new life, you’ve got a case of the “ands”.

On to the show…. I’ve included a YouTube link that I think you’ll enjoy. I’d love it if you’d respond to/comment on this post with a link to something that exemplifies the rhythm of your life. It will be a concert, of sorts. I always enjoy listening to the soundtrack of someone’s life. It helps me understand the frequency of their vision, their challenges and the rhythm of their life.

I present to you the music that represents my life right now: Maple Leaf Rag.

As always, I welcome your comments and wish you well.

~ Tess

Copyright 2011

Destiny Rising, LLC

A Tale of Two Cities – Life in Transition

Crossing Over

Right now, I’ve got a foot in two cities. This wasn’t in my plan, but life consistently serves up surprises. I realize tonight, as a fresh coat of paint is drying on the house and it’s new carpet’s eve that I’m wrapping up my life in yet  another city. I’ve been living in a moderately sized Midwestern city for the past four years. Four years ago, I also had a foot in two cities, and that transition went smoothly.  The amazing thing isn’t that I’m moving on to a new adventure  four years later. That’s a part of the rhythm of my life. What’s amazing to me is how much life you can live in four years and how the world changes in 1460 days. In four years (~1460 days), someone starts and finishes high school or college. In four years, a newborn is ready for pre-school. In four years, a new grad can grow into a management position and have a little wisdom to offer.  In four years, the window of opportunity to have a family can close. In four years, the size of your family can grow or grow smaller. In four years, you can gain insight and wisdom on topics you’d not encountered a few years earlier. In four years, what you want out of life can take some dramatic turns. In four years, you can become keenly aware that life is passing quickly and you’d best get to living your dreams.

After leaving Chicago eleven years ago to live in Kentucky, Indiana and Central Illinois, I am preparing to move back to my hometown, Chicago. This has been quite a year. The first eight months of this year (~240 days) have been a a whirlwind. In January, I boldly embarked on an adventure. With one patient husband, a pocketful of savings and a vision of a big bright future, I spent the 1st half of the year building a work-life balance that can withstand an entrepreneurial adventure launched during a recession. It’s a wee bit like graduating from college all over again.

I have learned that moving forward is all about looking forward. A quote I recently heard goes something like “There’s a reason that the rear view mirror in your car is only 4″ x 8″. You’re supposed to give your attention to what’s in front of you.” I remember from the StarTrek series that Damnit Jim never looked at what was behind the Enterprise. The entire cast was focused on what was before them. So, as we move into September, my fall lineup includes selling a house, finding a new neighborhood and moving into publishing mode.

My Tale of Two Cities is nearly complete, and it’s bittersweet. When I reflect on this passage, I will do so with the John Hancock building in the background and the sound of an el-train swishing by. I can almost feel the pulse of the future as I write about it…

As always, I welcome your comments and hope that your life’s adventure is unfolding in positive ways that  you never imagined.

Make it a great week.

~ Tess

Copyright 20ll

Destiny Rising, LLC