Happy New Year!

Shared Wisdom Guest Post – Featuring Jen Louden

I have admired Jen Louden for years. I was first introduced to her writing over a decade ago when she wrote The Woman’s Comfort Book. Jen was truly one of the pioneers in the self-care movement for women. Because of her, we began to see that it was okay to nurture ourselves, take care of ourselves, and love ourselves. We learned that it was better than okay – it was essential. We learned that if our cup was empty, we wouldn’t be able to fill anyone else’s cup up. It is such a treat to share Jen’s beautiful words with you today. She has written a powerful piece about embracing ourselves this year – each and every part. Going easy. Being okay with where we are – who we are. I am having a full-circle moment by sharing Jen’s words on Soul Speak. I know you’ll love her as much as I do.

The first breath you draw in the New Year ushers in complete forgiveness for yourself: every mean thought you ever had about your talent, your body, your potential, dissolves. You are so light, you float off the bed.

The reason you were born, the thing the world aches for and can get only from you, is written across the sunrise in orange, pink and periwinkle. You read the message with a shiver of remembrance. Oh yes.

Good start to the year, yes?

I see you showered with spunk, powered by verve, on fire with desire. Stuck and stagnant, my friend, are junk in the trunk you drop off at Goodwill. Bye bye.

Here you are, shining the love light of the present moment on lurking fear monsters. You know, the ones who keep pouring concrete around your fleet feet. This year, you’ve been given a magic jackhammer. With two bam-bams, you are free.

Magic tools are on hand again when any clutter appears. Any and all clutter that threatens to anchor you to the past gets the old heave ho with  your magic shovel (or forklift if needed). Now you have the clarity to make the changes you have so longed desired.

Speaking of desire, in 2012, healthy desire coaxes you away from perfectionism and fear, into the open field Rumi loved, where you are safe enough to name what you truly want, and brave enough to know that the exact getting of it matters little compared to the power of taking inspired action.

Then you don a crown of resilience powered by your creative sovereignty. You take action from a place of life-giving expansion that is sometimes so much fun, you’re not sure it’s legal.

This year you listen first to your own knowing and then to what They know (or what They think they know). No more looking for the magic answer outside of you. Your sacred question is “What do I know?” And you have the quiet inside to hear your answers.

Your eyes get an adjustment in the coming months so you can see your gifts not through the lens of how someone else may or may not value them but through the eyes of love – in other words, holy batgirl, you are a miracle! You always knew it but now you know it.

That project, that dream, that desire you’ve abandoned a few thousand times before? With gratitude and complete self-forgiveness you pick it up and cradle it, and ask it what it needs to come into being this year.

Cradling happens often this year as you remember the call of your own rhythms and each time you are tempted to say, “No, I can’t. I have to push myself, do more, be more, make more,” you pause, put your hand on your heart, and turn toward that which is bigger than you (nature, god, goddess, love). You breath in that otherness and remember you always, always have a choice.

Retreats are woven through this year, hours to yourself by an ocean or river, a weekend away with girlfriends to paint, dance, giggle, even perhaps a week devoted to you and your creative desire.

The force of “YES!” permeates your life as you are able to be with what is – without pushing it away or making it wrong. By saying yes to life as it is, you experience a wholeness that expands beyond you to bless everyone you know, have known, and will know.

Finally, whenever you have the need, you become a still pool of water, reflecting the sky, deep blue, cloudless. Completely at peace.

Sounds like a good year to me. You in? Please add your own vision intentions and bless us all!

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Jen Louden is a personal growth pioneer who help launch the self-care movement with her first book The Woman’s Comfort Book. She’s the author of five more books on well-being and personal wisdom that have inspired more than a million women in 9 languages. Jen has been a national columnist, radio show host, and she even sat on Oprah’s couch.  She believes self-love + world-love = wholeness for all. Visit Jen at http://JenniferLouden.com.

Thank you so much, Jen, for sharing this powerful, loving message with each of us. It’s just what I needed to hear, and I know that so many others need it, too. Thank you for all that you do to put love into the world.

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Calling All Teachers!

Jen has opened enrollment for her super popular e-course called TeachNow!

So many of us feel the calling to teach, but we aren’t sure exactly how to do it. We have a message that we want to share, but we aren’t quite sure how to step into its power. This e-course is packed with tools to help get you off to a great start (if you are a new teacher) or help you hone your skills (if you are a seasoned teacher).

BONUS: If you register before 1/28, you will receive an entire year of live calls!

This is a great time to step into your calling with someone who has been there and can help get you there, too!

(I believe so much in this program that I am an affiliate.)

P.S. – I would love for you to join me in my 21 Days Challenge: a full 3 weeks without complaining! Please click here to learn all about it and let me know that you are in!