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The online newsletter dedicated to helping you integrate
sustainable success with spiritual connection
ENLIGHTENED GREED
by Michele Lisenbury Christensen
Maybe it's because the daffodils are blooming. Spring is poking her cute pink nose around the corner and promising warmer days and more blossoms to come. But I don't think that's the whole story. I sense there's something very personal and yet trans-personal stirring inside. I want a baby! It's TIME!
But….. a voice in my head cautions… "Don't you also want to publish a book this year? And aren't you starting a radio show? And what about your clients? And your travel plans? And your remodeling project?"
Yes. All those things are also calling to me. And I trust every one of these callings. I want them all, and it's not just my ego craving them. As my connection to intuition and Spirit's guidance has grown, I've come to see my desires – those clean, clear bells of recognition that ring "yes, that's mine," in a gentle yet strong way – as commands from the Divine. "Go do this, my child. Become that. Claim this. Nurture that. I need you to steward this project and midwife that one."
And whereas my ego sends me scurrying all over the planet with divergent, competing, and self-defeating ventures when I follow its commands, when I follow my heart's longings (read: God's purpose for me), all the orders collaborate with one another. If I can't see HOW in this moment, I'm learning to consider this as a temporary crisis of vision, not a meaningful or lasting conflict of interests.
The source of the call and the source of the support I need to answer it are one and the same. To want ALL of what the Infinite wants for us and our businesses is a tall order indeed! The more we open ourselves as channels for divine inspiration, the "greedier" we'll become… willing to have, do, and be more, and more, and more. It's a very vulnerable place to be, saying "yes" to God AGAIN, when I feel as if my plate is already full. But it's an honor. It's exciting. It's humbling and awe-inspiring.
That's why I call this willingness to want more – when guided by our hearts, not our egos – Enlightened Greed. We're becoming bigger vessels to hold the good the Universe has for us. Our personal and professional yearnings are one of the ways God gets things done in the world. You know your favorite employees are those who say, "I'm on it!" every time you have a request. Even though they're already the busiest, they find a way to expand into the new assignment. Our task is to be that willing "employee" ourselves, ready to take on the task, simply out of trust and respect. Even when we can't see how we'll fit it in, Enlightened Greed we're willing to change, grow, surrender, and work in whatever ways "the Boss" requires.
You are never given an assignment in your heart that you can't handle. Trust that the time and energy will be there. Trust that ease doesn't require a small, tidy life. Ease comes from knowing you're being well-used and not wasting your energy.
So if you, too, are plagued by a chorus of callings from within, do your best to surrender to them ALL, and notice the ways they synergize and unfold in miraculous ways.
Enlightened Greed makes for a demanding, exciting life; it's not for the faint of heart. Watch this spot for updates on all the "holy hot water" my Enlightened Greed gets me into… and let me know what kinds of adventures your Enlightened Greed leads you into!
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HEART'S DESIRE OR EGO'S GREED? The entire notion of Enlightened Greed is predicated on an assumption that one knows the difference between the green-eyed monster's ceaseless grasping and the gentle nudgings of our heart's true callings. I believe we DO know the difference, and sometimes a little guidance can help us discern the difference. To help you discern your ego's striving from your heart's desires, I've created a brief recording that guides you in filtering your ambition through several key questions. This process engages your body and your intuition as guides. Here's the link to an .mp3 version. If you'd like this visualization mailed to you on CD, e-mail Sindy with your name, address, and phone number, and we'll call you for payment info (it's too new to be in our shopping cart!). The cost is just $10, including shipping anywhere in the world. |
PRACTICES FOR CULTIVATING ENLIGHTENED GREED
The following practices have helped me and my clients enrich our visions and allow more good to flow through us. E-mail me and let me know your experiences with them.
| - | Sift out the un-enlightened greed! Watch for the difference in feeling between your ego's drives and your intuition's nudges. Ego desires feel urgent, needy, sticky, and high-pressure. Heart's desires feel like gentle yet persistent invitations. Notice how these differences show up in your body. My Ambition Sorter Audio Exercise (link above) will help. |
| - | Create an Enlightened Greed journal. Inspirational assignments can be fleeting, so create a place where you capture your ideas, inspirations, and desires. |
| - | Review your Enlightened Greed journal at least once a month, if not weekly. Notice the patterns, and articulate the "assignments"you seem to be receiving. Don't panic! You're not taking these on yet, just noticing them. |
| - | As excuses pop up for why you can't take on new projects or desires at this point, welcome them. Give space to the voices that try to protect you from overwhelm; let them vent. Just like a star employee, you need time to "react" before you can "act." |
| - | Okay! Done with your tantrum? <grin> Now weave your new project into your days, even if it's just a few minutes at a time. Build visual reminders in. Schedule time. Enlist support. Set aside money. Above all, ASK YOUR BOSS FOR SUPPORT. "You said I had to do it; you've got my back, right?" That's right! |
Until next time,
may the light within you illuminate the world around you. Blessings,
Michele Lisenbury Christensen
Success and Spirit Coach
© 2005 Michele Lisenbury Christensen. All rights reserved. Feel free to or re-publish, with the following copyright and contact information attached:
"By Michele Lisenbury Christensen, MA, PCC, Success and Spirit Coach. Please visit http://www.successandspirit.com for additional articles, interviews, and resources for creating sustainable success and spiritual connection." (Please make sure the link is live if placed in an e-mail or web page)
PRIVACY and Spam Policy: You'll never get an e-mail from a stranger as a result of this list, since I never sell, rent, or give away my subscription list. All privacy, no spam! I follow the CAN-SPAM Act of 2004. Want to see what that means? Check out a summary of the CAN-SPAM Act.
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