We are constantly bombarded by news and lately, much of it has been disturbing.

We hear news of people all over the world acting out on their worst instincts. There’s news about the coming election that has many afraid for our country and its relationships with countries around the world. And, of course, there’s been plenty of news about violence and tragedy right in our own back yards.

It’s been so overwhelming, that it’s created an atmosphere of fear and even hopelessness for many of us, and I was struck by just how close to home all this bad news is when I attended my water aerobics class recently.

Our beloved teacher was late to class and when she finally arrived and told us that she had been pulled over by a policeman for speeding on her way to teach our class, she burst into tears.

You see, she is a person of color and although she was quick to say that the policeman was a perfect gentleman and had followed all the rules, she also shared that she was afraid for her life.

The fact that a fear that serious was part of this scenario is horrible and, unfortunately, it speaks to the reality of what’s happening in our world right now.

I’ve heard so many friends and clients talk recently about experiencing anxiety, stress, or a sense of stuckness; about feeling drained, uninspired, or just plain numb. I can’t help but notice the connection between what’s happening “out there” and what’s happening “in here” – in our minds, bodies, and souls.

Of course, I’m not saying that we all don’t feel these things regardless of what’s happening in the world. But right now, it’s intensified – so, how do we cope?

When it seems as though the positive energy of life has been sucked away, it’s important to think about exactly what that positive energy was.

Often, it’s joy.

In truth, we need to be able to find joy in the midst of our concern for others, our fear for the future and our own day-to-day worries. We need to realize that focusing on joy can bring us the balance, strength and clarity we need to evaluate what is causing us discomfort. We especially need to understand that when “out there” is chaotic and even crazy, that’s the time we need focus on joy even more.

But what is joy exactly? Is joy the same thing as happiness? And how do we find (and keep) joy in our lives – especially right now?

We’ll be talking a lot about joy over the next few weeks and I hope you’ll join this important conversation.

Bringing joy into our lives is essential for our wellbeing. Spend a day with me exploring joy at my Accelerate Your Joy workshop on Saturday, Oct 1st. Right now, you can even bring a friend for free – find out more and register here.

I am so pleased to share my new website with you – and it wasn’t easy to get here!  In fact, creating a new website was a very different experience from what I imagined. I thought it would just be taking what was there and tweaking a few things, but it turned into a complete re-think of what I wanted to offer to you.

I kept coming back to the fact that Getting to the YOU without the GOO! is more than just a catchy, fun phrase to make a point. It is what we are all going for whether we’re in a small stuck place or a big one, and whether our Goo is related to work or relationships or anything else.

So, with this new website, I’m finding more ways to include you in the how of Getting to the YOU without the GOO! I know that we all get stuck sometimes and the stuff that gets us stuck is often quite hard to unglue. I believe that ungluing is the name of the game.

Most often, it doesn’t take very long to get to the heart of the matter and to free the YOU! – and there are so many ways to get to that true expression of who you are. That is the part I love – helping you find the route to expressing your true nature in the way YOU want to express it.

So take a minute and explore the website and find out more – and if you especially want to hear more about GOO and getting out of it, click here.

Also, help me support you better by sharing the challenge you most want to tackle right now and how you like to receive support by filling out my super short survey. Your input is invaluable to me and you’ll be helping me create programs that are perfect for you!

Let me know what you think and let’s be in touch,

Liz

Liz’s Chocolate Chip Pancakes

December 2013

The other day I was making banana chocolate chip pancakes (see recipe below).

I have begun making them quite frequently as they have become a favorite. The consistency of the batter is a bit different. The liquefied bananas make them a bit harder to flip and they take a bit longer to cook.

I noticed that when I was feeling confident about the flip it worked seamlessly, and when I had a doubt, the pancake inevitably folded or fell on another. In short, it was a mess—sometimes I could fix it and sometimes it just turned into a ball of cooked goo. From a taste perspective, all was perfectly wonderful but … not as I had planned.

So I did an experiment. Prior to each flip, I chose to be confident or concerned. Each time I chose to be confident the flip was perfect. Each time I allowed doubt into the equation there was something that wasn’t quite right. It became a game with fascinating conclusions.

Let’s think about the things we do in our lives that are affected by a similar thought process. How often do we begin a task—simple or complex—with a preconceived notion of doubt or concern? How often do we begin a task or performance or project with total surety? What would happen if we left the worry out? Whether we believed it or not, we proceeded with utter and complete confidence? What if we fully acted as if we felt completely sure of ourselves? Would the complex become simple?

I believe we can choose. Start with something simple like flipping a pancake or locking your bike. Basically, start with anything that you are not sure you can do with ease. Begin as simply as possible and do your own experiment. I know when I try to lock my bike at times I struggle with pulling the cord through etc. etc. Next time I will approach it with complete confidence and see what happens.

There are so many ways to live our lives with more ease, reduce stress, feel happier, and be healthier. Let’s start with confidence and pancakes.

Let’s build the muscle and see what happens. I would love to hear your adventures. Please post. Share with me at info@yourinspiredchoices.com or on Facebook.

With confidence,

Liz

Recipe: Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

2 cups unbleached white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup unrefined sugar (can use less)
1 tsp of baking powder
1 cup of milk (amount to preferred consistency)
1 egg (optional)
3 ripe bananas – Place bananas in blender or Vitamix with a small amount of water and blend to a fluid but not watery consistency
1 tablespoon of oil – if desired
1 or 2 pat(s) of butter for the pan or griddle

Mix ingredients in the order listed.*

Pour some batter into a one-cup measuring cup and add mini chocolate chips. You must add chips based on the amount of chocolate you prefer in the pancakes.

*It is not advisable to add the chocolate chips to the entire mixture. This recipe makes enough to save and use again within the next couple of days. If saving is not desired to reduce proportions.

Let the butter melt in the pan- when bubbling- mix the batter with chips and spoon out to create the pancakes. Heat till bubbles appear and flip with confidence.

Happy eating!

Breathing has become a metaphor for moving forward in life; for releasing old patterns; for redirecting our attention; for becoming mindful; for increasing our health; for taking a moment before responding. This very important primal function is now a code word for increased well-being. The simple act of taking a breath keeps us alive- it is the spring from which we metaphorically drink. We have learned that the kind of breath we take can make a difference in the level of stress we hold; how energized we feel; how aptly we are able to be in the present moment and how we navigate various life situations.

We often want to participate in activities that increase our physical and mental health. We often find ourselves in the catch 22 of resistance vs. what we know would enhance our lives. Who knew it could be so simple to enhance something we already do and reap the benefit of cleansing our system while allowing gifts from within to arise.

Transformational Breathwork is one form of assisted and independent breathing that teaches us how to clear our systems of unwanted stress and toxins. While we are doing this breathing trapped emotion is allowed release, simply through the breath. Sometimes insights arise; feelings of well-being; clarity about what needs attention next; or simply a richness of energy that one hasn’t felt before, or in a very long time.

Often there is a desire to do something with what has arisen. I know I have felt a variety of ways during and after a transformational breath session. Sometimes the breath has done all the work. Sometimes I have had a desire to explore the thoughts or feelings that have emerged to integrate this next layer of consciousness in a more concrete way into my everyday life.  Doing so has expanded my experience of the breath.

The workshop I am offering with Lauren Chelec Cafritz on January 28 called “Breath and Insight” is the beautiful blend of these two forms- Transformational Breathwork and Inspired Choices Coaching. Bringing conscious and inspired choice to the way we live our lives allows us to choose our internal environment.  Breath and choice eventually bring us to joy and freedom.