I gathered some good stuff to help us grow with deeper questions. If you are seeking inner personal truths, direction for your life or just want to make sure you know what you want, here is some great info.
From Martha Beck article:
You’re about to change your life. The more honest you are, the more you’ll find yourself doing what you love, with people you love, in places you love. You’ll realize that nothing really true is ever unloving, and nothing unloving is ever really true. That wild creature, your true self, will come to meet you, then trust you, then guide you home, one day at a time. Honestly.
Her question: Am I living my deepest truth right now? Journal it out.
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From a great article by Liz Kimball, Oprah
“You know who you are, and you know what you want.” -Lao Tzu
You have ‘shoulds’ disguised as wants.
Journal her following questions to see what comes up.
I should _______________ today because _________________.
I should _______________ this month because ___________________.
I should _______________ this year because ________________________.
But when someone’s voice deadens and they tell me that they need to stay at their company 5 more years…or collaborate with the fanciest person they know because they feel like they should, I know I am having a conversation with a person whose shoulds have drowned out the voice of their own soul.
And that soul voice is the one in which I’m most rigorously interested in, because it contains directions for how you are meant to evolve.
“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have.” -Howard Thurman
Her question: Today, the genuine sounds like ______________________________.
Social Psychology researchers and developers of the Self-Concordance Model of achievement Dr. Kennon M. Sheldon and Dr. Andrew J. Elliott found not only that we are more likely to put sustained effort into self-concordant goals (goals that are aligned with who we are and that make our hearts sing) and therefore are more likely to attain them, but we also gain deeper well-being when we actually accomplish them.
Her question: What secret dream am I keeping close to my heart?
Your soul is oriented by evolution–not targets–and cares much less about the particulars of what you do and much more about fulfilling what in you is wanting to grow.
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8 questions from Deepak Chopra
Who am I?
What do I want?
What’s my purpose in this life?
What sort of contribution do I want to make?
What are my unique skills?
Who are my heroes?
What is a meaningful relationship–what do I expect from one, and what do I give?
What am I grateful for?
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Soul Questions:
What do you do or have done in your life that makes you happy?
What have you always wanted to do or try, but were afraid to?
What values do you hold most important in your life?
What are your greatest strengths and talents?
What books and movies are your drawn to? This is a good question because you can see the patterns of what you put into your life. I found a few years ago that I only wanted to watch movies that left me feeling good. Evaluate the things you are putting in & make sure they are uplifting and leave you positive.
What answers are you seeking for your life?
How would you describe yourself to someone? This question will help you see What beautiful things would you say? What things you may find hard to face about yourself.
What do you feel you attract into your life? Positive or Negative?
What makes you feel ALIVE? This is a good question because it makes you evaluate the things you do, the people you associate, the places you venture, the hobbies you have, your beliefs…what makes you feel alive?
Do you like change? Answer this one honestly. smile. smile. I have found change to be what you make it. I have moved and moved & faced change time and time again. I learned to embrace it & at times miss it. It is like anything. It is what you make it. Change helps you see new things, try new experiences, meet new people, find places within yourself that feel exhilarated by change. Seek to embrace it.
What drains your energy? What recharges your energy? Are there people, activities, job requirements, daily tasks, expectations, etc. that drain your energy? Begin to notice these things and make the necessary changes to rid your life of toxic energy & fill in the spaces with things that light you up.
Well, I don’t want to overwhelm you with so many great questions, so this is it for today. I think this is a great start. I will follow-up with more questions at a later date.
Have a beautiful day. Know you are blessed and loved. Peace to you. -H
“When you get on the joy and gratitude frequency that I write about in this book, you radiate an energy that draws things into your life. The right people serendipitously walk across your path. The answer to a troubling question miraculously appears.
“It wasn’t until I began counting my blessings that the other frequency was able to make contact, the still, small one that whispered kind truths…
“What could elicit more joy than realizing your assignment here on this big ball hurtling through space is to have fun, follow the GPS of your joy, and create the good, the holy, and the beautiful.”
“Rather than take steps to flee or change it, you have to first allow it. You have to bless it. You have to go so far as to call it good. Freedom and power come in choosing to bless with gratitude every single thing that shows up.”
“Once you come into coherence with your real self, a sacred being with no beginning and no end, you can get on with creating beauty and expanding love. You can give up the grasping and the clawing, the pointless plans to protect your linear self.
“Sh*t happens. And I would be the first to agree. However, 99.9 percent of life, even during the sh*t storm, still operates in perfect working order, continues to run as efficiently as that annoying Energizer Bunny.
That is all I am going to share. There are some great quotes, statistics, stories. There is SO much more, but I did not want to “spoil” it. This gives you a tiny glimpse of her message. Take the time and take the good.
NEW TO YOU: Growth, Challenge, Change.
BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE & OUT. Embrace and love your body. It is the most amazing thing you will ever own.
SERVE
PLAY. FIND JOY. BELIEVE in MAGIC…be young at heart
REMEMBER YOU ARE LOVE
BE A LIGHT My favorite quote ever…speaks volumes about being a light. Love it.
NATURE: Get out in nature. Nature has so many healing benefits for the mind and body. Walking out in nature helps with depression, short-term memory, better vision, reduced inflammation, Stress, improved concentration, creativity, immune boost, improved mental health & some research has even found that spending time in nature (forests, in particular) may stimulate the production of anti-cancer proteins.
MUSIC: 
PODCASTS: I LOVE podcasts!! Here are a few of my favorites from my personal picks…How She Really Does it with Koren Motekaitis (love her & the great people she talks to), Change Nation with Ariane, Dr Wayne Dyer. TedTalks are always great! Now to find some other suggestions from other sources: Medibank suggests “The Health Podcast” podcast by ABC Radio National is full of fascinating information on a range of health topics – perfect for answering those “I wonder how that works” questions, and giving you something interesting to say at dinner parties. A couple from lovelifesurf.com The Moth–If you aren’t familiar with the Moth, it’s all about the love of a good story. Some are told by famous writers, actors, other luminaries and others are told by ordinary people like you and me. I often find myself laughing out loud in the middle of the street. For me, it’s another way to study the art of storytelling and how to do that well. RealtalkradiowithNicoleAntoinette–she aims to get to the truth behind the scenes and what’s really going on with the people she interviews (athletes, writers, entrepreneurs, parents, spiritual teachers, etc.) so we can all learn something and be inspired to move towards our goals.
EXERCISE: There are so many types of exercise. Lately I have taken up urban rebounding (mini tramp) & have found there are SO many positive health benefits–who would have thought! Try different exercises and see what invigorates, gets you moving, gets you feeling good and always be willing to try different things. Variety truly is the spice that keeps you moving. Here are some reasons why exercise is so GOOD for you…If you don’t exercise, your muscles will become weak. Your heart and lungs won’t function efficiently. And your joints will be stiff and easily injured. Inactivity is as much of a health risk as smoking! Exercise helps prevent diseases, improves stamina, strengthens and tones, enhances flexibility, improves quality of life…[healthdiscovery.net]
MOVIES: Now there are a lot of good movies out there, but I am very drawn to movies that are uplifting, you can learn something and they make you feel good. Some of my favorites that may be harder to find & are a bit soul searching/feel good include: I Am done by Tom Shadyac (big time director of blockbuster hits who took a big life shift), Happy documentary, Awake in the Dream, Wayne Dyer’s movie “The Shift”…so many good things.
NATURAL REMEDIES: Eczema: aloe, Greasy hair: don’t wash too often & a weekly vinegar rinse can be helpful, Warts: a few drops of tea tree oil directly on wart to help remove it in 7-10 days, Ear wax: [my husband suffers from this] prone to build-up, you can use a drop of olive oil in each ear to keep the ear clean, Hiccups: give your tongue a good pull or breathe into a paper bag [from bodyandsoul] Headaches: Chamomile tea helps relax, Many natural healers believe that a foot baths is powerful tool against headaches.
GOOD FOR THE SOUL: Read, have real conversations, meditate, watch inspirational videos, declutter, write/journal, listen to music, laugh, walk, enjoy your favorite drink, nap time, long baths or hot shower, quality time with those your love to be around, give a hug, being honest with yourself, self-love, forgive, love, enjoy & find beauty around you, serve someone in need, pray, sit quietly, just breathe! have something green around you (plant in your office, natural view from a window, etc), be grateful for the day, appreciate loved ones, sing, dance, move your body, try something new, slow down, practice gratitude, unplug, whistle, hum, smile.
Since the month of LOVE is quickly approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to post about LOVE. Not just “Love YOU” sentiments or valentine hearts and kisses, the LOVE that begins with YOU.
IN CLOSING
PERSONALITY TEST(S): So, go to 
SELF CHECK: Give yourself a ‘self check’ Maybe every once in awhile you need to sit down & ask yourself where you have had success and failure on a personal level. Maybe you have shelved some personal goals that you need to pull out of the closet and work on. Maybe you have been hiding out from your deeper self and avoiding a more purposeful path. Maybe you are not taking care of yourself physically. Here are a few questions in various areas of your life to check in on–Maybe stick with the basics–how are you taking care of yourself (physically)? [Are you getting enough sleep? Are you exercising, taking vitamins, eating well, drinking enough water, getting outside, etc] how are you taking care of yourself emotionally? [Are you putting up personal boundaries? Are you sharing feelings? Do you feel heard? How is your self-talk, etc] how are you doing on a spiritual level? [Are you doing something to feel connected to something greater than yourself? Have you found a ritual like meditation or yoga to calm your mind? Are you taking time to restore yourself? Are you taking time in nature? Do you have a religious or spiritual practice?] how are you doing with close relationships? [Are you communicating? Do you feel any resentments or harsh feelings? Can you share your feelings whether they are good or bad? Do you feel lifted and built up by the relationships you have or do they drain you? Do you feel connected?] how are you doing with family? [Are you taking time with your kids? Do you feel like you “know” them to some degree? Do you feel present when you are with them or are you busy on your phone? Do you invest by asking questions, taking time & having special activities you do together? Have you asked them what they need from you? and then truly listen].
LEARN SOMETHING NEW: There is no greater way to get to know yourself even better than trying new things and seeing what lights you up!! Even if you just learned something new each day (a few tiny, fun facts) you will feel like you are growing to some degree. Trust me, I have done this. OR you can give yourself a bigger goal of climbing the tallest mountain in your state or maybe you just want to begin with the indoor rock climbing facility down the street. I think when you open yourself up to trying new, different, challenging, out of your comfort zone type of things, there is only one thing you will feel—growth & challenge. You will be able to look at various things and say, “I love that!” or “I don’t really care for that & I don’t need to try it again.”
LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF: This is often a hard one for all of us, but if you don’t take the time to truly try to go within and find the self love you need, you will always be missing something. Can you look in your bathroom mirror and tell yourself, “I love you.” I did a womens retreat & had small groups of women pass around a mirror and try to say that to themselves. It was overwhelming to see how many women broke down in tears ashamed they could not look in the mirror and say that to themselves. It broke my heart. I think we all have varying levels of self love and sometimes we just need to take baby steps to a higher awareness of the love we have and need within. Begin by finding something you DO love about yourself. Focus on that. Maybe begin to take a fun picture of the style you are wearing or your amazing pedicure. Maybe you love your smile or the way you make others feel. Little steps will help you focus on the little things you like & that will lead to the bigger things that will fill you up with more self love.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY: Here is a great article I came across that has some good personal questions and fun analogies about finding purpose. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-find-your-lifes-purpose-and-make-yourself-better-person.html
Life is like that, one minute you are in a secure job (going with an easy flow), the next minute you are not (you are high centered on a log in the river of life).
I have been in this same situation a few times over the past few years and it doesn’t seem to get any easier. I keep looking to the sky and saying, “What are we suppose to learn from this?” “Okay. I am Forwarding All Issues To Heaven (FAITH).” This time we have gone a step farther and have packed up our entire house incase we have to move because the money is running out! I have looked to the sky and said, “Okay, this is serious. We are REALLY packing up our house!” Living in this energy can get pretty stressful…the wondering, the constant job leads, the interviews, the numerous, “you were in the top 3 out of 200…It is between you and an internal candidate…” BUT telling our one daughter that we may have to move was the hardest point of it all. To make her teeter on her feelings of security, to wonder if she is going to have to leave the school she loves, to move away from her precious cousins…the tears did not stop & she is not one to cry. That was the greatest pain of all. It is in a moment like that you really wonder why you are going through this struggle and what you are suppose to learn from it.
Then, you have one of those moments. One of those quiet moments. I was out walking & noticed a bird flying so high up in the sky. It was a speck in the grand, blue sky. I watched as it whirled and darted through the air. Then there were two, three, five…they all circled and floated with the currents of the wind. I just watched in amazement & had an aha moment. I thought to myself, “those birds could be taken and thrown down by the current & crushed onto the ground in one gust, but they live fearlessly, knowing that they were meant to fly. They know that there is something greater at work and they have the faith that as they go with the flow of life, they will fly higher and higher. They live in the flow, the current and have no fear of falling. They fly with that higher knowing.
“We need to project ourselves into the things around us. My self is not confined to my body. It extends into all things I have made and all the things around me. Without these things, I would not be myself.” -Carl Jung 
It only makes sense to surround yourself with beautiful things that inspire creativity and growth, love and harmony. Look around you. How do you feel?
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