Monday~Offering~a~Giveaway.......

"The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We're just quick to hit the snooze button."

This was one of many favourite quotes from my  latest Wisdom Club read : "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown

the cover says:

"Let Go of Who You Think

You're Supposed to Be

and Embrace Who You Are"

YOUR GUIDE TO A WHOLEHEARTED LIFE

I know right??!!

So we gathered to discuss this rich, informative book.

Our first gathering of the New Year...the reunion brought with it much joy in being together again. 8 of the 12 were present.

"I am enough"

These three words were the heart of this book. And on a personal note this book was a perfect fit along with my word for 2012:  Vulnerability.

"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy--the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the Darkness will we discover the infinite power of our Light." pg.6

As we fed our bodies, so we also fed our souls with Brene's wise words and naked experiences.

"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity......The heart of Compassion is really acceptance." pg 16

"When we can let go of what other people think and own our story, we gain access to our worthiness--the feeling that we are enough just as we are and that we are worthy of love and belonging. When we spend a lifetime trying to distance ourselves from the parts of our lives that don't fit who we think we're supposed to be, we stand outside of our story and hustle for our worthiness by constantly performing, perfecting pleasing and proving. Our sense of worthiness....lives inside of our story."pg 23

Oh how I know about that hustling. It brought me to my knees about 5 years ago. No more. Not to say I don't slip down that familiar path now and again. And certainly not to say some of those adjectives are harder to rid myself of then others...like proving.

I recently had a sister who was in my inner circle judge my Faith Walk. Through all the emails, cards and accusations I remained silent. That was very difficult to do. I wanted to prove myself. I still feel it. Instead I remain firmly rooted in my Faith...in my walk. I have revealed myself to her and she has forgotten...there is nothing more I can do. Sad, but true.

I  ask myself..."Is it right with my soul?"  And my Spirit answers, "Yes." And that is enough. Nothing to prove.

Just me, living my Truth with the Divine always present.

Brene also talks about finding someone who as earned the right to hear our story.

How often do we just blab it out?

To shift our perspective and treasure it for what it is-a moulding of who we are. I really liked the freedom that statement gave me. That there are things that I can keep sacred and give only to those who have earned it...like it is something precious and special. What a gift a slight shift can bring to a seeker of Truth.

"If we really want to live a joyful, connected, and meaningful life, we must talk about things that get in the way." pg 35

AMEN! Couldn't agree more

"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we thing we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."pg 50

In particular I wanted to point out the word "practice"

It's a practice--being Authentic and being authentic takes practice.

So many things that we think are just a given, that they should just show up and be there for us at our beckoning call.

Things like Love, Grace, Compassion, Faith and Authenticity.

But these all take practice...these are all A PRACTICE.

The soup gets ladled out for us.....

...but it is up to us to eat it...and how did we learn to feed ourselves? Through practice.

In her research, Brene found out that Spirituality was the corner stone to living a Wholehearted Life.

"Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing Spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives." pg 64

"Again I didn't find that any one interpretation of Spirituality has the corner on the resilience market. It's not about denominations or dogma. Practicing Spirituality is what brings healing and creates resilience. for me, spirituality is about connection with God, and I do that most often through nature, community, and music. We all have to define Spirituality in a way that inspires us." pg 74

Inspire Us

Us living Inspired

what happens when we practice that?

what happens to the world around us?

Yes I say

yes

Lets do it

Live inspired

This world offers much to be inspired by...truly it does.

This book is bursting with great insight and guidance.

I will end my quotes with one on Faith...as it is one of my most important practices...that I practice.   : )

"Faith is a place of mystery where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty." pg 90

"The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty." -Anne Lamott. pg 91

Beautiful words from a beautiful book
*a book that finds a permanent home on my shelf and one I would love to pass on to you. So if you are interested in getting a copy of Brene Browns book " The Gifts of Imperfection" leave me a comment...let me know who you want to be.

I will be announcing the winner on the next Monday Offerings.

And who do I want to be?

This girl.

This brave girl who is not afraid to walk the road less traveled. A girl who practices Eagle vision. A girl who communes with Mother, Father, Spirit, Friend. Who is one with Earth and Sky and all that lives within them.  A girl who Loves deep, Laughs big and Lives Free.

A girl who know's who she is...

the Light

the Shadows

the Everything.

A girl who is enough.

Love and Light (check back as I will be replying to your comments)