Inspiration Archives

Many of us grow up with the concept that we need to prove something. The belief begins early in our lives. Baby Boomers adopted the notion upon starting school, but children today are indoctrinated as early as toddlerhood. The need to prove worth is implied even before the child can talk clearly, and it expands as the child grows older. Therefore, the pressure on the modern teenager is incredible. No wonder the suicide rate of adolescents is so high. The need to determine a person's value is all an illusion. It saps your energy and steals your power. In truth,…

Like pursuing a career in the arts, building a small business is both incredibly rewarding and utterly terrifying. There are no next paychecks, severance packages, or safety nets for those of us who choose to go at it in the world of art or entrepreneurship. Everything is uncertain. At the end of the day, I wouldn't trade this uncertainty for anything—the lessons I've picked up coping with it have helped me become a more peaceful and adaptable person in every sphere of my life. Whether you are working on an artist commune, on Wall Street, or anywhere in between, these…

For that time in your life when you just can't seem to get a break—perhaps you've gotten stuck or have been struggling with issues around money, career, relationship, or health—and spiritual circles are telling you to think positive and raise your vibrations OR ELSE... I want to give you another, more holistic path to transformation: Alchemy. Alchemy is the transmutation of leaden human experience into spiritual gold. Even the worst stuff is USEFUL. In fact that thing that has hurt the most, that area of shame and fear and disappointment and despair... is your Key to the Kingdom. And even…

One of my favorite adults to spend time with as a child was my grandfather. I followed him downhill to the barn, across the pasture, into the garden, inside the chicken house. He talked and I listened. One of the life lessons I learned from him is that even if you live to be 110, it's brief. This is becoming truer to me as I have recently reached my 60's and remember him. What kind of footprints do I want to leave here on this Earth? Those who are critically ill or terminally ill teach us so much about life…

Have you ever wondered what keeps you from doing what you know to do to keep healthy and happy? Why don't we exercise regularly when we say we will? Why don't we eat an abundance of vegetables and fruits, even though the evidence shows it helps us tremendously? Why don't we meditate, when we know it would reduce stress, strengthen our immune systems, increase our intelligence and efficiency, and even slow down aging? In fact, only 5% of those who study meditation actually continue to practice it regularly! One day I asked a doctor friend who works with heart patients,…

My wall is adorned with several quotes, many of which are my own. "Embrace today! Release yesterday!" is my favorite. It's a simple way to remind me to enjoy this life as it is. The heart which harbors ill feelings is a heart that is hardened. It's a heart that can't experience the greatness and love that surrounds it. That's no life to live. Forgiveness seems to be one of the hardest behaviors for us to practice. We refuse to forgive those who have hurt us in fear of being weak or unintelligent. True unconditional forgiveness doesn't mean you're less…

Find what makes your heart sing and move mountains to do it and then continue to do it. Each one of us has a life calling... that passion for which we know deep down we've been uniquely made. Some of us cheat the world by not finding out what that is and not fulfilling our dreams. My mother always told me, "If you don't use the gifts you've been given, you'll lose them." Do everything you can to uncover what it is you were meant to do and then plow ahead with the courage to do it... And since it…

When you're ready to do something challenging in your life, don't go it alone. Even if you're able to accomplish whatever it is solo, do this: take names. Take the names of great teachers to help you get there, and friends to bring along for the ride. Then, when you get to where you're going - which you're much more likely to do when you take names - you'll have lots of friends to celebrate with you! I call my work Kick Butts, Take Names. The focus is on tobacco - that's the buttkicking part - but the more important…