Living Your Intention

Well here I am back again! I wasn't sure when the day would come when I would desire to repost. I am here as I had an experience last night that reminded me of my mission to spread love and kindness and I wanted to put it out in a concrete way. To solidify my commitment and energize its power.

My last post was on February 5, 2011. The fact that I did not want to or was not called to continue my blog is ok. As it is ok if you started something and fell short of your goal. We can all drop the self-criticism and loud cries of failure and recommit to whatever we are intending for our lives in this very moment.

I was walking in NYC with a friend last night and I just happened to mention one of  my past posts called Takin It To the Street. Before I could share with him what it was about, a poor black man came up to us and  asked for money for him and his family as he could not find work. I immediately offered him one of the bushels of bananas I had purchased moments before. Afterwards, I turned to my friend and for a moment I was shocked that he was standing next to me. I thought about it and realized that I had shared an intimate connection with this stranger and I was so present in the moment that it was just me and him. Seeing the Divinity in all  is part of my definition of love and I was so grateful to be able to practice it. I didn't need to check in on my intention for giving away the bananas as my deeply positive feelings let me know the purity of the gesture. (See Takin It To the Street to get clear on your true intention for doing nice things for others.)

When we make a commitment to ourselves or reaffirm who we want to be in the world, the Universe will give us opportunities to own our vision of our best selves. Or give us the free will to reject that vision and allow us to stay stuck in the pain of separation until we are ready to do otherwise. I felt so grateful to have received an immediate opportunity to put my desire to be a force of love and kindness out into the world. Yes, it may have been a very small outward gesture yet was a giant inward leap towards embodying my true nature and purpose. Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly we are given exactly what we ask for or desperately need in any given moment. I vow to expect this Universal support and to be grateful for any form it arrives to me in.

Are you actively living who you truly are or just making plans to be that person someday when the rest of your life is in order or your to do lists are all checked off? It was recently suggested to me that I am carrying extra "weight" because I am always "waiting" to move forward with my life until all of my criteria are met (including losing weight!). Mmmmm... taking action as a weight loss method. Genuis!!! Guess what? It is already working for me:)

Glad to be posting today. I will stay in today and go where I am led. May you allow yourself to be led to a better place than you could design, plan or map out.

With love and gratitude,
Amber

Wonders of Witnessing Acts of Kindness

I always feel a smile come across my lips or a warm feeling that prompts me to touch my heart when I am lucky enough to be in the vicinity of an exchange of heartfelt generosity. What I am thrilled to find out is how exponentially powerful witnessing acts of kindness are.

A study performed at Harvard University and the University of California at San Diego showed that a single act of kindness can extend as far as three degrees of separation and also spreads laterally to affect a greater number of people than were originally present.

The people watching a loving exchange are affected and their positive experience prompts them to pay that kindness and generosity forward and beyond. As the giver you are in essence helping others who were not originally involved and this creates a cascade of kindness.

The commitment to embody the love we truly are has astounding affects on all we touch and all they touch. It takes only a handful of individuals to open their hearts and really make a difference. Ok you have all the scientific evidence you need (from Harvard no less), now go start a cascade of kindness.

I'd love to hear your experience of witnessing an act of kindness and its affect on you right afterwards and throughout your day.

With love and light,
Amber

Embrace the Joy of Gift Giving

I know that the holiday season is in full swing (and is over for many) yet it’s still worth checking in on how you’re feeling. Do you feel stressed, inadequate as you may not get “it” right this year and anxious about the impending credit card bills? If so, then take a breath and honestly answer this question for yourself:

Am I willing to try something new this year that has the potential to leave me feeling more loving and connected to those in my life?

I am not suggesting that you abandon all gift giving or even radically change what you are doing. What I am suggesting is that you bring a different intention into any gift you give this holiday and throughout the upcoming year. Make your top priority be: How can my gifts be heart-centered and really demonstrate the love and care I feel for the receiver? Desire for the person to feel loved, understood and fully seen the minute they rip off the paper or open the envelope. Adding a special note stating the intention behind your gift is a wonderful way to enhance the experience for the receiver.

I am a big proponent of seeing is believing. Try it out for yourself. Experiment. Give the gift you have already purchased or planned to give and the one that is drenched in love and fully heart- centered and see which one the gift recipient is still talking about throughout the coming year.

Two gifts I gave that really speak to the soul of the person were:

1. On many occasions a dear friend (aged 55) shared about her painful and abusive alcohol infused upbringing. One time she confided that it deeply saddened her that no one ever read her a bedtime story. I immediately got excited about the thought of providing that experience for her.

I excitedly planned a trip to my local bookstore and purchased a beautiful hardcover book filled with traditional children’s stories. I borrowed a tape recorder from a friend and read a few stories into the recorder. (My voice was far from melodious yet the great thing about homemade gifts is that the thought is really what counts. Imperfections are like your personal heart signature.) I then wrapped the book and the tape so that she could either hear a bedtime story read to her by a dear friend or gift herself with one directly from the book.

My friend was not fully able to receive the heartfelt nature and deep sentiment of the gift. I was fine with that as I know it touched a tender place in her. I knew that my heart was in the right place and trusted that hers was as well.

This was not a gift for any specific occasion. The occasion was that my heart said seize this opportunity to shower someone in love. Remember there does not need to be a calendar holiday to show someone you love them. It is even more special to give someone a meaningful gift because they mean something to you. The surprise of it adds to its deep sentiment.

2. My sister spent many hours a month tending to the kitties at an animal rescue facility. I knew that being of loving service to these furry beings while they awaited loving homes meant the world to her. So I decided to make a donation there in her name.

This was not a very unique gift as many make donations in people’s names all the time. No matter this gift said I value what is important to you and I support your involvement in it. This gift said what is important to you is important to me.

These types of gifts that feel so inspired are such a joy to think up, plan and give. It’s as if you are receiving the gift before the other person does.

A small effort on your part could move mountains in the life of another. What a great reward for performing such a pleasure act.

I enjoy creating loving and personalized gifts for people. Feel free to reach out to me for some suggestions.

Wishing you a holiday season that wraps you with abundance and love,
Amber