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This is the print-friendly version of the August 2006 Newsletter -
Online Issue # 13
August 2006 Newsletter
Online Issue # 13
In this Issue:
See also, the print-friendly version of this newsletter (all the articles are on one web page).
Look for the next issue in December.
The Front Page
Expanding Possibilities
When I think about the word “expanding” the first word that comes to my mind is the word “waistlines,” not the word “possibilities.” Maybe some of you associate the words “universe” or “consciousness” with the word expanding. Or “sprawl,” “spandex,” “responsibilities,” “mortgages,”....
It turned out for me that waistlines and possibilities aren't as unrelated as they might at first seem. In early March my friend Karla discovered a city recreation and community center not far from our homes. It's a lovely newer facility with a suspended walking track above the gym and an exercise room with various machines and weights. After she told me all about it, I tagged along on her next visit. We were oriented to the machines and started visiting twice a week. I won't say we started working out because that sort of implies we knew what we were doing. It took us several visits, a few good laughs and some experimenting before we started to get the hang of it. As I eased into a new exercise routine, I grew to like it: the cushioned walking track, the elliptical, the recumbent bike, the weight machines and eventually even the treadmill. I really enjoyed the immediate numerical feedback: heart rate, distance, time, calories; these enabled me to create a few goals for myself.
By the end of May I reached a goal of 30 minutes each on the elliptical and the treadmill, plus I was enjoying it! Although I've been a regular walker for decades, I'd never allowed myself to work up a sweat and experience the pleasure of being in my body, ever stronger, grounded and more confident.
I have a lot of confidence in my life, some of it comes naturally and some I've really had to work to develop. But feeling confidence in my body is new to me. Because the life of the mind, heart and soul is so absorbing for me, I hadn't realized that this dimension of my life was so underdeveloped.
Growing up when I did, before the days of women's athletic programs, and being a fat kid, I channeled my interests and attention away from the body. I didn't know what I was missing until I became a regular at the rec center. I'm now showing up three days a week instead of two.
It turns out that my waistline and my possibilities are intimately connected, at least inversely proportional: as my waistline decreases, my sense of possibilities increases. I feel better: healthier, stronger, clearer. I have more energy and I sleep more sweetly. I'm committed to my health in a new way and I like all that I'm learning. But it doesn't stop there.
I'm noticing a thread of new ideas and possibilities that I've never really considered before. And I'm noticing these things in other people's lives too. I've experienced this “spill over” phenomenon before and probably could have expected it, but I'm delightfully surprised. At 53 years old, my body is opening my life to possibilities that I would have ignored or rejected less than a year ago. That is the real treasure I've found. Losing a few pounds is great and I'd like to continue that trend, but I want to grab hold of this new energy of YES and see where it takes me. I suspect there are more old patterns ready to be let go of, so that my resources of time, space and energy are available for new possibilities. Rather than same-old same-old—which I often love and choose, which feels so comfortable, safe and familiar—my body and soul want to live more of the adventure I dreamed of as an adolescent when I read Jack London's books and I loved dogs.
We can never know in advance where even our smallest explorations will lead us. If they go anywhere, they always take us on at least two journeys: the outer one we think we are taking and the inner one that eventually reveals itself to us. And joy of joys, both expand our world of possibilities. Both teach us how to say YES.
With gratitude,
Laurie Mattila
NOTE: The Profile Page in this issue offers you an opportunity to explore your Expanding Possibilities. You'll find it immediately following the Good Books section.
Good Books
Ask and It Is Given
Learning to Manifest Your Desires
by Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Teachings of Abraham)
Hay House, 2004
paperback, $14.95
The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent
Living the Art of Allowing
by Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Teachings of Abraham)
Hay House, 2006
hardcover, $24.95
These are two of the most unusual books I've chosen to feature in this newsletter. Since they contain overlapping teaching material, I'm reviewing them together and mentioning their distinguishing features.
In workshops, books, videos, audios and CDs, Esther and Jerry Hicks present The Teachings of Abraham, a group of nonphysical teachers, channeled by Esther. Abraham is also referred to as a Collective Consciousness (think Inspiring Loving Voice of Wisdom focusing on your joy and well-being). Both books contain an "Introduction to Abraham" which describes how these unusual dialogs originated and what happened next. The introduction might actually be better appreciated after you've read the book; otherwise, the whole thing could come across as downright weird.
That aside, I consider both books extremely useful and powerful resources for instructing readers how to incrementally improve their feelings in order to align with and attract their desires. Both books work extensively with an Emotional Guidance Scale consisting of 22 feeling levels ranging from:
- Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/Love/Appreciation
- Passion
- Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
all the way to
- Jealousy
- Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
- Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness
Part II of Ask and It Is Given, introduces 22 processes for readers to work with to improve their vibrational point of attraction. When the vibrational feelings of our thoughts match the vibrational feelings of our desires, we allow our own Well-Being rather than resist it.
I especially liked working with Process #1 The Rampage of Appreciation (focusing on the many things you clearly appreciate in the here and now), Process #5 The Prosperity Game (on day 1 you pretend to deposit $1000 into an imaginary checking account and spend it all; on each following day you deposit double the previous day's amount and imagine spending all of that too, expanding your imagination day by day as the amount needing to be spent increases substantially), Process #13 Which Thought Feels Better? (entertaining a variety of possible thoughts to determine which ones feel worse, the same or better), Process #15 The Wallet Process (carrying a $100 bill and spending it mentally on many things to gain the vibrational advantage of spending several thousand dollars rather than actually spending $100 once).
In The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent many of the above 22 processes are presented and applied again. Having read the first book, this second book felt redundant and a little disappointing. It uses a format that quickly becomes boring, due to the inclusion of too many examples. However, it ends with a fascinating 60-page section Abraham Live: Questions and Answers, a transcript of an actual Art of Allowing workshop. This enables readers to both observe the process and feel the shift in vibrational frequencies of each guest. One thing missing from The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent is the very helpful glossary in Ask and It Is Given.
If you've ever tried to change a recurring negative thought that you know undermines your ability to feel good, these techniques will be a welcome tool. You won't get left with that awkward feeling that you're simply manipulating words you don't even believe are true for you. Instead, you'll experience a noticeable shift as you change your thoughts and your feelings improve: moving you from a place of resisting your well-being to a place of allowing it to manifest.
"Remember, you live in a Vibrational Universe, and all things are managed by the Law of Attraction. And you get what you think about, whether you want it or not, because whenever you achieve vibrational harmony with something because you are giving it your attention, the vibrational essence of it will, in some way, begin to show up in your life experience."
-Abraham
Abraham-Hicks Audio CDs :
Ask and It Is Given—Part I: The Law of Attraction
Ask and It Is Given—Part II: The Process
Hay House, 2005
4-CD sets, $23.95
The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent—Part I: Living the Art of Allowing
The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent—Part II: Finding the Path to Joy through Energy Balance
Hay House, 2006
4-CD sets, $23.95
Also Available :
The Teachings of Abraham: Well-Being Cards
Hay House, 2004
$15.95
A boxed deck of 60 two-sided cards presenting the words of Abraham with "Hay House art."
The Renaissance Soul
Life Design for People with TOO Many Passions to Pick Just One
by Margaret Lobenstine
Broadway, 2006
hardcover, $19.95
This book was first brought to my attention earlier this year by a client who recommended it highly.
The author, a renaissance soul herself, has a career and life-coaching business working with other renaissance souls to help them design their lives, not just their careers. The book has a great Introduction to get you started: Lobenstine's definition of a Renaissance Soul, brief sketches of clients she has worked with, a list of Five Signs That You Might Be a Renaissance Soul, Women and Men throughout History who shared this personality trait, a description of The Renaissance Soul Approach, 5 Career Options [Variations] for the Renaissance Soul, and a 20-item quiz Are You a Renaissance Soul? And if you are, you'll value a book that genuinely understands and validates your "natural way of operating," while guiding you toward new possibilities and the opportunity to design a life that fits. Lobenstine has created an interesting, inspiring, practical guide with resources to move readers out of stuck places.
"Renaissance Souls love nothing better than to take on a new problem or situation and then dig into it...until we master the challenge we've set for ourselves. And then, with fresh enthusiasm, we move on to another passion. We are lucky people who, if left to our own devices, are never bored for long.... Let me reassure you right now: your desire to follow many (and frequently changing interests) is one of the best things about you."
-Margaret Lobenstine
Profile Page:
Expanding [Your] Possibilities
I'll offer a few ideas for you to think about, write about, talk about, wonder about—on your own or with a friendly companion who is not threatened by you becoming a happier, healthier, wealthier person.
Expanding & Contracting
What seems to be expanding in my life?
Do any things seem to be contracting?
Are there possibilities I know I would like to be exploring?
What about things I know need letting go of?
How have I attempted to re-create aspects of my life in the past?
Did any things work especially well for me?
What am I open to trying now?
What do I definitely need more of? ...less of?
Who do I need more of? ...less of?
What am I willing to do to make these adjustments?
Am I willing to experiment with a few things?
(You might want to read the article To Begin—Experiment in the April 2006 newsletter.)
Am I willing to be surprised?
How can I be more supportive of myself? ...more generous? ...compassionate?
Do I need to allow myself something?
What can I do today?
How can I look forward to tomorrow?
Affirmation
Thank you for giving me this new day to be alive.
I open my heart to receive perfect gifts of
healing, love, compassion and gratitude.
I surrender my fears to live this day with grace
and ease.
Tonight, I'll release this day in trust and gratitude.
Supportive Companions
If you're interested, check out the new “Intentional Living—Meaningful Work” monthly group that begins in September and meets through May. Basic details are found on the Upcoming Calendar page of this newsletter. You may contact me for more information by calling my office at 651-644-7766 and leaving a message or by sending an e-mail to me at LaurieMattila@aol.com
Laurie Mattila
© August 2006
Upcoming Calendar:
Discovery Writing: Creating A FutureSM
For NEW Students:
Discovery Writing: Creating A Future
This six-session class uses process writing as a way to explore what you truly desire; it is also a path to follow in creating your future.
Fall Schedule 2006
Wednesday evenings ( 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. )
September 20 October 4, 18 November 1, 15, 29
Saturday mornings ( 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. )
September 23 October 7, 21 November 4, 18 December 2
Winter Schedule 2007
Saturday mornings ( 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. )
January 13, 27 February 10, 24 March 10, 24
Monday evenings ( 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. )
January 29 February 12, 26 March 12, 26 April 9
View the online flyer to learn more about Discovery Writing: Creating A Future
For FORMER Students:
2006 Discovery Writing Weekend Retreat for Women—Celebrating 10 Years
The 10th annual Discovery Writing fall retreat is scheduled for the weekend of October 13-15 at StoneyWoods Retreat Center. In August, invitations will be mailed to all of the women who have taken Discovery Writing classes. Please pencil the dates on your calendar now, if you hope to join us for this special weekend retreat and celebration.
Intentional Living—Meaningful Work SM
For FORMER Students and ALL Interested Individuals:
A New 9-Month Group
First came the class
“Intentional Living—Meaningful Work,” next came the group—inspired by the class—that will meet monthly from September through May. If you have already taken the class, or you find yourself intrigued by the topic and you’re interested in the opportunity to participate in a small group, please contact me for more information.
We’ll meet on the second Wednesday evening of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at my office in St. Paul, MN.
Invitations will be sent to all former students who are on my mailing list, but the group welcomes all individuals who are interested in the topic.
Payment will be $100 per quarter, payable in any month of the quarter, for a total of three payments.
Registration is required prior to the first meeting.
Limit of 8 students.
Meeting dates (by quarter) include:
September 13, October 11, November 8
December 13, January 10, February 14
March 14, April 11, May 9
About the Newsletter
This newsletter is created several times a year for my clients
and students, and anyone else interested in listening to and trusting
their own deep knowing. It is designed to support your process of
discovery and growth, and to bring you up-to-date about my practice.
It offers encouragement, guidance and resources for you.
You will find new issues posted on my website in the months of
April, August and December. I hope you add my website to your favorite
places and check back when the next issues are scheduled.
Subscribe Here:
Feel free to share this newsletter and my website with others who
might be interested. Please copy the newsletter in its entirety,
crediting me as the author and including copyright information and
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