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Are you going about your daily routine, knowing that what you are doing is “not you?”  Do you feel unfulfilled in what you do at work, knowing that you could be doing something else that feeds your soul more?  Perhaps you are right in your element, doing something you know you absolutely love, but you find yourself surrounded by negativity and energy-sucking personalities and situations, and you don’t  know how to deal with it.

If you fit any of the above categories, then you’ll definitely want to check out my interview with Jodi Chapman this week, because she provides some wonderful and applicable tips on how to live your life purpose!  We also spend some time talking about Jodi’s upcoming program that has helped so many people, called the “Coming Back to Life” program.  I am so honored to be one of the contributors to this program as well!

If you’re not familiar with Jodi, she is a bestselling author, an award-winning blogger, and an inspirational community builder. She wears her heart on her sleeve and tends to attract others into her life who do the same. She inspires tens of thousands with her loving words, and it’s her heart’s desire to continue helping others reconnect with their soul and plug back into their life.

After experiencing a spiritual awakening in October 2010, she went from being a complete skeptic to a believer in miracles and the magic that is always occurring all around us. She now lives her life with love and faith in the driver’s seat, and she hopes to leave a trail of inspiration wherever she goes. She believes that we each have the ability to hear our soul’s whisper and create our best lives.

Jodi is the author of the award-winning blog, Soul Speak, which reaches tens of thousands every week. It has been featured in over 50 magazines and websites, including Whole Living Magazine, Aspire Magazine, Tiny Buddha, and Pick the Brain.

Jodi co-authored the bestselling Soulful Journals series with her husband, Dan Teck. This 12-book series helps people connect with their inner wisdom. Topics include: gratitude, introspection, life transitions, relationships, and manifesting your ideal life. Many have reached bestselling status on Amazon.com, and over 20,000 copies have been sold thus far.

In 2012, Jodi created the Coming Back to Life Ecourse, which has helped hundreds of participants embrace their lives and plug back into the universe. Over 34 experts in the personal-growth field contributed to the course, including: Kristine Carlson, Linda Joy, and Jen Louden.

Jodi’s other projects/offerings include: online communities (Soul Shakers, Waking Up Together), ecourses (Soulful Journaling, Soulful Love), guidance (Bring Your Blog to Life, Soul Sessions), upcoming books (Coming Back to Life, Leading Me to the One, and Soul Speak), Soul Clarity Cards, and the upcoming Balancing Heaven & Earth series.

She lives in southern Oregon with her beautiful best friend/soulmate Dan. They share their lives with four fuzzy kids: a sweet Norwegian Elkhound, Xena, and three wonderful cats: Biddle, Buncom, and Elsie.

You won’t want to miss this great conversation!  Be sure to take a listen now!

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” ~Ralph Marston

It’s that time for me again…Time for renewal and refreshment.  I’ll be taking some time away from my website and blog to spend quality time with my family, so I will say goodbye for about a week or so.  After that time, I’ll be back and ready to roll again and resume writing on this site.

Until then, I wish you all my best.

Wishing you much happiness, health, and prosperity now and always,

Victor

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“Promise yourself to give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.”

Yesterday I joined a local Optimists group for their noon meeting, and I had the pleasure of joining them for lunch and talking with them about some ways to improve communication in three simple steps.  One of the reasons why I just love visiting with the optimists once in a while for their meetings is because I love what they stand for.  At the end of their meeting, they all stand and recite the “Optimists Creed.”  I absolutely love it, and I wanted to share it with you.

I think if we all can live by this creed, our world would be a better place, and we all would be a bit happier.  I know this was timely for me, because I had been struggling with being patient and keeping a positive disposition the past couple of days.  It just goes to show that sometimes things come along just when you need them most!  The second last one was screaming at me yesterday! 🙂

I hope you enjoy the “Optimists Creed” as much as I do!  Here it is:

Promise yourself…

• to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
• to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
• to make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
• to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism some true.
• to think of only the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
• to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
• to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
• to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
• to give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
• to be too large for worry, to noble for anger, to strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Do any of these stand out for you as something you can do more and make your day better?  If something really speaks to you from this creed, please let me know!  I’d love to hear about it!

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I have to admit this — I have a really hard time dealing with lots of noise and uncontrolled environments.  They not only make me feel overwhelmed, but they make me feel uncomfortable and frustrated.  I don’t know if it’s just because of the intensity of the emotions that resonate with the noise and disorder, or whether it’s my desire to have order and quiet, but it’s something that I deal with regularly, especially considering the fact that I have young children.  As a matter of fact, I once again realized this yesterday, as I was driving in the car with them, and they were enjoying themselves in the back seat of the car.  While no doubt they were having a good time, the volume level was a bit more than I would consider “comfortable.” 🙂

Do you have this same issue?  Or, is there something else that pushes you to your limit of comfort?  Is there a certain type of situation or set of circumstances that seems to put you squarely in the “overwhelmed” category?  Perhaps it’s a one-time issue, like a family illness or death or major event, where you just don’t know where to go anymore with all of your emotions.

A few months ago, a family that I know through our days in school together experienced a major family situation, which reminded me well of how one day things can be just fine, and the next day your life can be turned upside down.  The wife was driving home in inclement weather, and flipped her vehicle.  She suffered major head trauma, but miraculously, she survived and is on her way to recovering.  It’s astonishing.  It defies the odds.  Her husband, when writing about the experience on a daily basis through the Caring Bridge website, said something that reminded me of a powerful technique we all can use when we are pushed to our limits.  Now, I have to admit that his situation is so much more significant than mine when it comes to dealing with noise and disorder.  But, I think this bodes well for us, because it shows that you can use it in a variety of situations, but it is equally as effective, no matter when or where you choose to use it.

Here’s what you do: When you feel that you have taken everything you can, and you simply “can’t” anymore, all you need to do is give up what you can’t handle.  You can give it to God, or you can offer it up to the universe.  Just say, “God, I can’t take this anymore…Here you go…Carry this for me.”  Or, alternatively, you can offer it up to the universe, by saying, “Universe, it’s yours.  I can’t take anymore. I’m giving it to you to deal with.”

I think just knowing that there is something “bigger” than us that can help us through our difficult times is a relief.  Sometimes we feel that we have to deal with our problems on our own, and this simply is not true.  We are never alone in this vast universe of people and creation.

Just offer it up to someone or something else.  Put it in a “basket” and offer it up and relieve yourself of the burden you have come to carry.  Give it to God.  Give it to the universe.  They can help.

Remember, we’re not alone.  We have help!

Let me know — have you ever done this when you felt overwhelmed or that you just “couldn’t” anymore?  If so, let me know of your experiences!  I’d love to hear about them!

Photo source: www.sxc.hu/profile/vagabond9

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The following is a guest post from Chance Scoggins

Two and a half years ago, my friend Debbie began to sense it was a time for a change. Her husband had been very successful in his work, but as the economy and his industry took a downturn, it was impossible to predict the future. It felt unwise to trust that work would flow as freely as it always had, or that his position would remain secure. Debbie had never worked outside of her home, but the kids were growing up and moving out. She wanted to contribute and to be proactive. She began to dream.Continue reading

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Have you ever thought, deep down, how there must be “more to life?”  I know I have been there.  For me, it was just an inkling that there is something “out there,” beyond our reach, but we can’t see it or grab it.  Maybe you’ve wondered how you could awaken your inherent intuitive abilities, higher understanding and inner truth; perhaps you know where you want to be, but you don’t know how to get there.  I wish I would have had the opportunity to talk with someone like my guest this week on my radio show, Deborah Hill, back when I first thought about this, because she could have saved me a lot of searching!

Deborah is a transformation wizard and creator of EXPLODE! into Life, the multidimensional learning experience that takes your life to the next level.

A renowned intuitive coach and counselor, Deborah has been changing lives for over 30 years. She’s an award-winning author of 2 books and courses, and an entertaining and informative speaker and trainer. Her articles have been published throughout the world and she’s been a guest on many radio stations over the last 8 years.

Deborah has lived many lives in this lifetime. She graduated with honors from prestigious universities earning 4 degrees in science, psychology and medicine. Deborah also has over 35 years of extensive training in metaphysics, natural healing therapies, personal growth strategies, yoga, meditation, T’ai Chi, religious and spiritual practices.

Deborah has had many careers, including real estate investor and manager, nurse midwife and educator, photographer, entrepreneur, graphic artist, energetic healer, coach and trainer. She has developed and managed in-home health programs, launched corporate divisions with her graphics & marketing company, birthed babies, assisted those who were dying, served on several not-for-profit Boards, and has changed the lives of thousands through her teaching and coaching.

Now Deborah has focused all of her wisdom and experience to create a new multidimensional learning experience to help others EXPLODE! into Life.

During our talk on my radio show, Deborah and I talk about how our intuition can help us get past limiting beliefs and things that hold us back.  We talk about how we can tap into our intuition, how we can find joy and success in our lives, and get into a discussion about her EXPLODE! into Life program.

You can find out more about Deborah and the abundance of resources she has to offer at her website, which is www.theawarenessinitiative.com.

Don’t miss out on this awesome discussion!  If you missed the live interview, it’s no problem!  You can just click on the microphone below, and you can listen to the recorded interview any time!

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On Friday, Shelly and I will be celebrating ten years of marriage.  On what is known as the “longest day of the year” because of the longest duration of daylight of the year, we will always remember the special day it was.  The weather was absolutely beautiful.  The temperature was in the mid 70s with a slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky.  It was a joyous day of celebration with many friends and family.

After ten years, we do look back with some sadness over the people who celebrated with us that day who are no longer with us.  We have the memory of them permanently preserved on our wedding video, but the melancholy that ensues from seeing them grabs at our hearts and leaves us yearning for yesteryear when we could enjoy sharing wonderful times together once again as we had always done.

But, with ten years having passed since that day, much joy and celebration has happened as well.  We look back at our family and friends, many who did not have any children and were just beginning lives as families, now richly blessed with young ones who have brought such new life and energy into everyone’s lives.  Shelly and I have enjoyed welcoming two wonderful young ladies into our lives in these ten years, and our only regret is that they weren’t around to celebrate our wedding day with us!

As I reflect on these past ten years of my life, so much has changed.  Ten years ago, I was still a student in chiropractic college, looking forward to my last year of school (finally), and with my sights set on working as a doctor in a clinical setting.  If I had a conversation with “ten-years-older Victor” back then, and he could tell me what I would have waiting for me, I can say I would have been enthralled, surprised, overjoyed, and super excited for what was in store.

If I could ask “ten-years-older Victor” how I would change, he would have told me, “Victor, you will experience so much growth in these next ten years.  You will hardly recognize who you are, but you will be happy with the results.”  And with a laugh, he would follow with, “Unfortunately, the growth will not come when it comes to your hair.”

After enjoying the humor that it seems only I appreciate, I would have shifted to a perplexed state, and I would have asked “ten-years-older Victor,” “How will I have grown?”

And he would say to me, “You will grow in love.  The love you have for your wife will grow exponentially.  Your love will continue to grow, day by day.  You both will face tremendous hardships.  You will be hanging on to your life together by a thread, but through it all you will pull together, work together, and find that your love in ten years will be stronger and deeper.

You will learn a new love — a love you can’t possibly understand — when you see your daughters’ faces for the first time.  Yes, you will have two daughters, just like you’ve dreamed!  The feeling you get when you meet your girls for the first time and watch them grow into some fine young women is something you can’t know now, but you will.

You will learn self love.  You will learn to love yourself first.  You will learn a new level of self respect.

You will love God more.  You will grow spiritually and learn what a joy life provides you with each and every day.

You will love others more.  You will see others as brothers and sisters in this same wonderful world.

You will love your life more.  You will find tremendous fulfillment in helping others and connecting with people who need to hear your message.

If you’ve think you’ve faced hard times, Victor, you haven’t seen anything yet.  There are trials ahead.  You will be tested; you will be at the end of your rope.  You will question everything in your life, and you will sometimes find yourself full of self hatred.  But trust me, these hard times and tests will push you to grow into something larger, bigger, better, stronger, more compassionate, more empathic, more patient, and more loving.  It will take time.  It just takes time.”

Wow…What a ten years it’s been…But through it all, I’ve indeed learned to love more.  I’ve got a lot more to learn about love, but I like where I’m headed.

I can’t wait to hear from “ten-years-older Victor” to hear what’s in store for me this next decade.  In the meantime, I will enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family, and enjoy the love we have grown to enjoy these past ten years.

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It’s always pretty cool when you discover something new without even realizing it, and that’s exactly what happened to me last week.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and our daughters were staying with Grandma and Grandpa, so we had a rare evening with no children to look after.  The timing was right; it was a beautiful evening.  I decided to take a walk.

I took our dog, Lily, along with me.  She relishes the opportunity to take in the sights and smells anytime she gets the opportunity to come along for a walk.  I love where I live, because I live in a subdivision that gives us a sense of living in a city, with sidewalks and lots of homes around us, but also a mix of nature too.  We don’t have to look far to see trees and forests and walking paths along the river that weaves throughout our community.

Lily and I started on our walk and we made our way to a path along the river.  I just loved hearing the wind in the trees and the singing of the birds.  Every once in a while, I heard a splash come from the river, which was ripe with life and activity.  I watched as Lily took frequent stops to take inventory of whatever animal had passed through sometime in the past, before giving her a gentle tug to bring her back to me to continue our walk.

Before I knew it, I realized that I was in a deep meditative state.  I realized that right then and there, I was engrossed in the present — the here and now.  I wasn’t thinking about the future, and I wasn’t thinking about the past.  I really wasn’t thinking about anything for that matter.  I was simply enjoying the simplicity of the moment, without a thought of anything else.

Truth to be told, once I made the realization, I kind of wish I hadn’t, because then I had to make an effort to continue to “not think” of anything, and keep my thoughts on just “being.”  Nevertheless, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Like any meditation, it took me a while to transition from conscious awareness of my surroundings as I began my walk, and as I neared the end of my lengthy walk, I started to transition back from my meditative state to that conscious awareness again.  It was really cool.

As recently as two years ago, I was under the impression that meditation had to be this orchestrated and deliberate practice, where I had to take time to sit and do it.  On top of that, I didn’t even know what I was “supposed to do” when I was meditating anyway.

The reason I am sharing this with you is because I don’t want you to miss out on the wonderful benefits of meditation, especially if you love to walk, but struggle with finding time to meditate.  You can do both and benefit from both!

Give it a try!  Try the “walking meditation,” and see how it goes for you.  Just “be” and enjoy your surroundings.  Observe the nuances of nature and the small details of things you never had noticed before.  Be observant of the wildlife that surrounds you.  Start with a small focus, and then broaden your level of awareness.

I started out by focusing on the plants that I passed as I walked.  I just looked at their color and design.  I then broadened my level of awareness to the point where I tried to take in everything within my entire visual field.  I did the same thing for sound; I started by focusing on one particular sound, and then I worked to broaden my awareness to the point where I was trying to take in every single sound, from the movement of the animals in the water to the distant hum of traffic.  It was pretty cool, and best of all, it was easy too.

If you do try it out, or if you are thinking about giving it a shot, let me know about it.  I would love to hear from you!

Who would have thought?  A “walking meditation.”  How cool is that?
Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net