Writings from Richard
Dear Friends,
Welcome to this very special New Year--2012!
I'm feeling a renewed faith in truth, light and love. This marks the beginning of a new era, one professed by the Mayans long ago with the end of their calendar. While there has been much contemplation of this time period and what it means, I feel that if your passion is in alignment with your purpose and the greatest common good (love), and you are open to receiving grace, then your dreams may become reality. Thank goodness! We are magically moving and evolving as human beings with unlimited potential into our next level of bliss and joy that comes through fulfilling our unique purpose. Hooray!
It's true that suffering has the ability to wake us up. Many of us have suffered individually and transformed, and the world has been rocked and jarred with the same opportunity to heal through obstacles and loss to awaken collectively. In this way, our suffering has served us well and connected us through our hearts with humanity. Coming to the end of my grief, it felt as if I had been under water, deep under the sea at the ocean floor, and I was swimming as fast as I could to the light above. It was truly exhilarating to break through and back into life!
In the tradition of the "Don't Sweat" wisdom...
Joy is an equal portal into consciousness that comes from being present, awake and fully alive. One of the simplest ways to access joy, naturally, is through our actions of loving kindness and thoughtfulness toward others. As we harmonize with planet, we are more in tuned to Mother Earth, which in turn is a joy of its own. Practicing a good life, taking responsibility for your own happiness and accessing inner wisdom while being gentler and kinder with yourself and others, facilitates a greater capacity to love. Mother Teresa said: "We can all do small things with great love." Whether you are serving your family, friends or community, if your attention is on love, then you can do no wrong. The greatest benefit is that you will yield the maximum amount of joy from your actions.
The questions I am asking on this New Year are: What is my passion? What do I love to do? What ignites my inner child that screams: "I want to play today!" As I answer these questions, my purpose is revealed and powered with passion. There is nothing more fulfilling than remembering why you came to this earth. There is nothing else to do but open and align with your purpose and surrender and trust; in the right time you will receive guidance, and the universe will magically provide you with a vehicle of authentic expression.
As I find myself in alignment with purpose, I am reining my energy inward, and I'm excited for this New Year! My prayer is the same: "Divine Love, play me as an instrument in your finely tuned orchestra of life. I am here to serve in truth, light and love."
The great highlight of 2011, for me, was the birth of my second grandson, Kayson Anthony, as he arrived on August 25th. Being a grandmother far exceeds my expectations; I get all the joy and none of the burden! Woo hoot! However, my daughter, Jasmine, with good timing, will be the first recipient of my latest book as she now has lots of small stuff to sweat, among the not so small responsibilities of two children under the age of two that include sleep deprivation and lots diapers to change.
On an uber-positive note: I finished "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms," and I'm so honored and proud to be delivering this book to you this spring! While I was writing, I went through a process of feeling a deep responsibility to reveal a companion friend-book to women who labor (with love) while raising their families. It's a daunting task to be a great Mom, today, and I know that this book is going to inspire the hearts of many women to help them experience more joy and less stress while parenting. Please mark your calendar for April 2012: Every one has a Mom, and every Mom needs a friend! I would be so grateful to have your support as you consider this book an option for your Mother's day gifts.
In addition, I've been asked to be the keynote speaker for several conferences this year. I'm looking forward to a partnership with the American Heart Association as they have asked me to be their keynote speaker at the "Women Go Red" fundraiser this spring as I launch "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms." Click here for more information on this amazing event.
This event holds personal meaning for me as our dear friend, Leo, survived a massive heart attack a few months ago. The immediate quality medical care and attention he received saved his life. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and I'm "Going Red" to help an organization that has been the leading advocate for higher standards of heart health and care. Thank you A.H.A. for allowing me to Go Red for you! Also, Tom Zuba, who does extraordinary work in grief support, is holding two transformational conferences, "ReNew Life: Transforming the way we do grief" (click here to find out more: ReNEW Life) in 2012. I'm thrilled to continue to spread the message of "Heartbroken Open" to these audiences in Chicago and Scottsdale this coming year.
I'm in deep gratitude for your continued support in helping me find those Don't Sweat fans on face book http://www.facebook.com/dontsweatsmall. It's really been a wonderful place to connect, and I've met many amazing people through my Kristine Carlson pages! One of my goals in continuing Richard's legacy is to show how current his wisdom remains, and a presence in social media really helps. Thank you for "liking" our page on face book where you will receive daily affirmations from the tradition of the "Don't Sweat" wisdom. There will also be two very special "Don't Sweat" daily meditation Applications for your smart phone coming soon.
Blessings to you and yours as you bliss out in 2012!
Treasure the gifts of Life and Love and Live with an open heart,
Kris
Copyright © Carlson, LLC - Not to be duplicated or reproduced in any manner.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff column,
Making the Holidays Even More Magical
By Richard Carlson
hope your holidays are off to a great start! I send all of you my very best wishes during this wonderful time of year.
To me, there have always been two factors that can turn a good holiday season into one you’ll remember forever, one that is truly special. And those two things are 1) An emphasis on gratitude and appreciation, and 2) An emphasis on generosity; and the generosity does not have to involve money.
Let’s take a quick look at gratitude and appreciation. The holidays are a great time to take stock in what is right with your life. This means really taking the time to think about all of your many blessings, what works in your life, the people you love and admire, the magic and mystery of life itself. Don’t do this routinely, but really turn it into a genuine exercise. Take the time to write down on a sheet of paper all that you have to be grateful for. Be specific and be complete. Look at your list several times a day. You’ll be truly amazed at how long the list is and how meaningful it is to reflect upon it. It’s a time to take your attention off of what’s not working, off of your complaints and gripes and all that you don’t love about your life. Your focus on the positive aspects of life will elevate your spirits and make you happy. You’ll naturally engage in actions that support your love of life. One of my favorite quotes is “Happiness doesn’t depend on how much you have to enjoy, but how much you enjoy what you have.” When this is your focus, the lights will be brighter, the cards you receive more special, the friendships and relationships more loving, the music more lovely and, even the cookies will taste better!
Appreciation is similar, except that it involves specific actions. Take the time to express your appreciation to all of those people in your life that make it special. Write cards and letters, make phone calls and meet with people. Make it a point to make others feel good about themselves. Tell them specifically what it is you love and admire about them. This will make their holiday season all the better and yours too! Telling someone how much they are appreciated is one of the greatest gifts you can offer anyone on this planet. It really makes a difference in their lives. What a holiday gift to share!
Generosity is the other factor to focus on during the holidays. This can take the form of giving to those in need, if that is possible for you and is your desire. Or it can take the form of simply being extra nice to people. Smile more often. Be more forgiving, even to those who have not been kind to you in the past. Let go of old grievances. Be generous with your “thank you’s” Be a courteous driver and let others in a crowded lane when no one else will.
Something to consider that’s really special this time of year is to adopt a child through the mail! There are many great organizations around the country where, for a few dollars a month, you can make a world of difference in a child’s life. And, what’s more, you’ll get to know your child and you’ll have a new friend. Every month when you write your small check or whenever you communicate with your child through the mail, you’ll feel a special sort of joy! Our family has enjoyed “adopting” several children through Children’s Inc, out of Richmond, VA and it has been a rich and rewarding experience beyond our wildest expectations. I highly recommend you give them, or one of the other great organizations a call. Also, this is a tremendous gift to give to someone else—give them a sponsorship for a year! There are so many ways to be generous—with your money, your time, your love, and especially your presence---simply being yourself in a loving and caring mood. When you focus on gratitude, appreciation and generosity during the holidays, everything will seem different, more special than ever before! I wish you love during this special time of year. Happy Holidays!
Copyright © Carlson, LLC
Not to be duplicated
or reproduced in any manner.
