While I was on Maui for my 9 day “me” fest I realized that so many of us are constantly on the hook preventing us from experiencing who we truly are and finding that alignment that is so essential to balance and freedom to express yourself.
When was the last time you turned your phone off with the intention of taking a break just for you? The practice of taking yourself off the hook is essential to finding balance and reconnecting with you. The big news is that there is more hooking you than your phone or checking your Blackberry every other minute.

There are hooks that take you out of the present, fog your clarity, and even steel your power away. These hooks can be self-imposed or thrown out there by others for you to bite (hook, line and sinker). Take a minute. You know “who” and “what” hooks you don’t you? Can you see the faces and hear the words? It can be guilt, expectations, honoring the needs of others before your own, the success carrot at the end of your career stick, fear and even a yet to be fulfilled dream.

Do you seek balance? True balance can only be found when your actions and life practice are aligned with your true self. Hooks can be more than tempting. They can have power over you, especially when they are self-imposed by your ego. Notice when you literally feel pulled to do something against your will. The pull can be physically (let’s hope not), psychically, emotionally or energetically. Notice that the pull of a hook will send your mind into over time evaluating, second guessing, worrying and pleasing. A pull from your true self will feel calming, sure, and leave little mind activity. Resistance is a sign that a hook is present. If you are resisting something, ask yourself if the resistance is the hook or if what you are resisting is the hook. For example, you could be in an unsatisfying relationship. Ask yourself if you are you resisting commitment to a person that is aligned with your true self or are you resisting the truth that the person is not really for you?

When you feel hooked, stop and take yourself off. Detach and regroup. Let your energy drop down to your heart and check in with “you” to see what your truth is and then let your actions follow. A good little test is that “If it’s not a YES than it’s a NO”. If what’s pulling you is not a total YES then chances are it’s coming from a hook. There are times when we do things that are not a total YES. See if you can shift these actions to a conscious choice vs. a reaction to remain aligned and in balance.

Do take your phone off the hook as well, exercise because it feels good not to lose weight, or pursue a project just because your passionate about it. And, YES turn off your phone, Blackberry and computer. As you do, feel yourself being taken off the hook to enjoy the peace you deserve.

Here’s Five Steps to Let Yourself Off the Hook:

1. Acknowledge or notice that you are hooked. Regardless of where the hook is coming from or whose at fault (an argument, disagreement, or something or someone getting to you is a sign of a hook!). The important step is admitting you are hooked - this immediately gives the hook less power.

2. Ask yourself what or whom you are hooked by? What set you off? Take responsibility and in turn take your power back by realizing regardless of the situation, you allowed yourself to be hooked. Pinpoint and put words to the hook.

3. Explore what the hook is hooking into within you. Just like a hook that catches the fish, the hook has to have something to hook into - the fishing hook has no power unless the fish bites! If someone says something that makes you feel guilty, you are likely embodying guilt or carrying guilt from some past experience. Otherwise, there would be nothing for the guilt provoking person or communication to hook into. For example, I was raised Catholic and guilt was a cornerstone for communication in our family. I made the choice many years ago not to “do” guilt and then I married a Jewish man! Because we have guilt (and much more) in common, guilt is still a tempting hook in my life but I choose not to bite anymore.

4. Create clarity. Observe the hook, what it’s hooked into, and find your clarity and final position on the situation, topic or person. Powerfully state and/or write down your bottom line and communicate it. This will bring you back into alignment with your truth, calm you down and allow you to move on or beyond the hook.

5. Trust and stand in your power. Maintain your alignment by supporting yourself. If someone reacts or things don’t work out exactly how you would like, trust that your alignment and power is much more important and will attract new people and experiences into your life that are more aligned with who you are.

For help unhooking, leave a post here with the situation and otherwise enjoy your new found freedom from hooks! For more articles, insights and tools to live true, I invite you to sign up for my FREE membership.

I’m back on the mainland with a rough re-entry on a red eye arriving just in time for my husband’s birthday. Was I ever in Maui on my own for 9 days? Which brings me to my biggest insight. True freedom has very little if anything to do with being alone. With that said, the gift of time alone is that you get to see exactly what is keeping you from experiencing absolute freedom. Anything other than feeling free is an illusion created by your ego and resistance of the choices you’ve made and the life you’re living. Easier said than done? Perhaps a life long journey or not? I’m diving in now.

Before I give you a list of my insights I want to share a few more Maui experiences. I went to Hana to visit Lynette, my son’s Nanny when we lived on the Island. If you haven’t been there it is a trip - literally. Everything looks different, resonates at a different level and takes you to another realm while still being planted on earth. We drove up to her house (Directions, take the lower road, look for the 20 mile an hour sign, a blue roof and we’re right there no numbers or bread crumbs to follow). We drove up to what looked like a boarded up house. Lynette was no where to be found, only my voice on her answering machine blaring through out wide open house. We walked to the back to find Bubs, the lovely elderly woman Lynette is care taking. There she was staring off to Hana Bay, one of the most beautiful views I’ve seen on Maui in a long time. We eventually found Lynette and also met Babes (87) Bubs (89) sister. Both of these women are icons in the Hana Maui culture having played significant roles in the community. It is custom to care for the elders (Kupuna) so the entire community thanks Lynette daily for coming to care for Bubs and fixing up the house that was once ready to be condemned. These two sisters warmed my heart and coming in and out of “being here” they had a wonderful giggling sense of humor. My favorite moment was coming into the bedroom (where the only bathroom was) and hearing Bubs say to Babes, “I thought you were going to get up?” and Babes saying, “Me too but then I looked and I was still lying down.” We were able to leave them for a bit and visit the incredible Red Sand Beach (and so topless, shhhhhh) and Venus Pools - gloriously beautiful and I saw some dragonflies the size of helicopters hovering over the fields.

The next day was a total contrast. I spent the entire day at the Ritz Carlton Spa with an amazing Lomi Lomi Massage (gift from my amazing client) and 3 of everything else - saunas, jacuzzis, cups of herbal tea, nuts and a walk and a swim. The decadence for a Mom of taking my time during all of it especially showering was perfect. I even read an article called “Momcation” in body and soul written by a woman who went to Kuai. On my walk I found myself processing/completing the last six years of my life. As I walked I allowed all the memories to come together in one place in my heart from the hotel we stayed at before marriage, our first condo we bought on Kapalua Bay, the clinic where we found out we were pregnant (another story/miracle in itself), the home we built on Plantation Estates, the condo we have now. What a day.

Now the Insights…the biggest luxury of that time was to allow myself to explore and listen to all the great things that are sent to me. My favorites were: Scott Blum who founded Daily Om and wrote Waiting for Autum and Gay Hendricks author of the Big Leap (I’ve ordered this book). They can both be found at InsidePersonalGrowth.com. I also caught an Interview with Mary Hall a well known EMT person (moves stuck emotions for increased vibration). She is teaching an abundance group coaching program that I am participating in June.There was more but here goes my insights into freedom:

1. You are always free. It’s a matter of what’s blocking you from experiencing that freedom. The number one blocks are stuck emotions and fear resulting in “you holding yourself back”. In blunt terms you create your own constraints or even feeling trapped. Mantra: I am Free, I choose Freedom now.

2. The path to Freedom is to take responsibility for “What Is” (see last post) and choosing Freedom. You have a choice. You can use your power to let go of what’s stopping you or to let yourself be stopped at any moment. Fear is not who you are. Your ego uses fear to keep you safe. When you give in to fear, you rob yourself of your own freedom.

3. Family is a source of love. My relationship with freedom stopped when I got married and had my son. I realized I didn’t know what to be excited about anymore. My heart longed for love and so I created my family and now I have so much love. I healed that disconnect and now I am loved and free to be me. I am excited about letting go of all that once was. It opens up what is to be next.

4. Dreams can entrap you. If you become attached to anything even a dream it can restrict your freedom to be present and create in the moment. I let go of all of my past dreams on this trip. I’m open to receiving the new ones or more than I can dream of, I am open. Open is free. Attached is not. When you are open you have freedom to create. When you’re attached there’s no space for anything new to show up.

5. True freedom is letting go, letting go, letting go and letting go again. Liberation is full expression in the moment and trusting what’s next.

Now my practice begins. Choose freedom. Open up. Create and receive. Join me?

When you’re single you dream of being in paradise with a lover or a myriad of romantic interludes. Is it marriage and children that shifts your dream to being in paradise all alone? Now that I am here experiencing the decadence of only myself to please, I’m not so sure what to do with myself!

Maui began to call earlier this year (ok, just as I typed this the phone rang and no one was there…or was it Maui…). I tried to plan this trip in March and then again in April but both fell through for what seemed to be good reasons. As always the stars and planets aligned bringing me here as Jupiter, the great guru planet, has moved into Aquarius (read more). I know that I wanted and needed this trip to rejuvenate and reconnect but I can’t help but feel there is another more profound reason that I was called to Maui at exactly this time.

I cried on the plane all the way here as the decompression began and I looked at the picture of my son on my laptop feeling a deep sense of detachment, it was a bit unsettling but soon passed as I finally arrived safely in my condo. I clicked on the T.V. to unwind only to watch a commercial for anti-depression and anxiety tapes - thank goodness I had Maui instead.

On my first day walking down the hill to the beach I felt a hazy “surrealness” hover over me as I heard the following words come out of my mouth (out loud) “I want to do this as often as possible for the rest of my life”. I heard the words and thought, “Could I mean this, what about my husband and son?” And I realized what I meant was that I want to feel this “free” as often as possible for the rest of my life — the famous aha moment light bulb went off and set the context for the rest of my journey.

That night I saw my client who was leaving for Europe in two days. She was ecstatic as she set this intention with me in November of last year. She created the opportunity to leave work (previously inconceivable) for three weeks freeing herself to experience her dream of traveling after working full time and raising two boys for over twenty years. Yes, freedom…that night we chatted and giggled over wine and pupus and exchanged conversation with interesting characters always to be found at the Lahaina Grill bar.

The next day I walked with a friend for over two hours as we followed the new trail system in Kapalua. As another working Mom, she was enjoying her freedom happily as her shifts were cut back giving her the opportunity to reconnect with her self again. On our walk we decided we’d take a trip to visit Lynette (my Nanny on island mentioned in my book) who moved to Hana reclaiming her connection with her own heart in the heart of Maui.

That night I had drinks and pupus with another client (when in rome!!) on the Lanai of Merriman’s overlooking Kapalua Bay and the Island of Molokai. The setting alone brought such joy to my heart as Kapalua is heaven on earth to me. Our conversation swept us away and the session began. As she shared the details of her recent broken heart with me, I heard the words “What if” blare in my ears. I shared with her that she’d been limiting her desire for true love to “What if” scenarios. She stopped as if frozen with the look of a deer in headlights and I could almost hear her brilliant mind beeping “this does not compute”.

Then an opening occurred. She was able to see “What if” rather than be at the effect of it. She was free. I invited her to shift to “What is.” Her whole body melted and life began to pour back into her. Years of complex “What if” scenarios flashed before her. By acknowledging “What if” and seeing it separate from her, she had the freedom to claim “What is”, gain clarity, and create true love from her heart instead of her head. (Read the article in my the Guide to Thrive email if this hits a button for you or feels like a sledge hammer). Her ego had tricked her into believing that “What if” gave her unlimited potential but she realized that all it truly gave her is one limiting experience of love after another. Claiming “What is” brought her to the truth of her heart’s desire in the present and her true power to manifest her desires. She rocked my world as well. What if (see how easy it is) I have been living in a “What if” delusional reality? What if I Brad Pitt met me instead of Angelina, what if, what if what if?

“I want to do this as much as possible for the rest of my life” continued to expand with the realization that I can teach workshops on Maui and in spas all over the world. Someone has to do it, why not me?! My trip continued with having my nails done, strolling to the Honolua store for a cafe mocha and swimming in my favorite bay, Napili Bay. I experienced a classic beach day, reading, napping, watching surfers and gazing at a book by the Dahli Lama (about freeing yourself from suffering) next to a bottle of Hawaiian Tropics - I had to laugh. On a walk through the lava fields with crashing waves, I got a vision of the natives bathing in the very same pools that had formed in this sacred spot.

I still have give more days in paradise…I do miss my two boys…if I could beam you over I would…up at 5:30 am and off to Hana…more to come…With warm aloha! Cindy

Share your desire for freedom with me and others below.

The stars must have aligned in a new way for me last week as the universe delivered my first live interview on the news and a news story. Here’s the link to the news story that I will update once I get a copy of both segments.

Empowering Women Interview from last Sunday (click on the link and scroll down the videos on the right).

The other news story will air Monday, May 11th at 10:00 pm and possibly on the morning show the next day. It’s on sleep deprivation as I share my own challenges with sleep and my nervous system disorder as well as how Life Cultivation can help people clear stress and sleep better as well. Eric Collins (the amazing brother of my friend Leanne see below) also took footage in my office and walking on the beach so it should be a fun one with probably a little “too much information” about me.

I will never forget this week, these opportunities and the deep letting go that created the heart of my experience. Even the day of the live interview was about letting go and just being there. Prior to going on I shared the Green Room with a group from Project Concern International. There was Shawn (a co-worker of my friend Uli, another coincidence) a woman from Saks 5th Avenue and two young models. They has all this time chit-chatting and then at the last minute they got called and one of the models could not find her purse. She flipped out so I calmly got up and went to a bag, pulled it out, and gave it to her. Off she went. Then it came time for my interview. They came to get me and we walked out to the set. I realized I had extra time so I asked if I could go get my notes. I went back to the Green Room and it was locked. I knew then my only job was to be present so I went back on set and sat quietly. Courtney came out and sat with me then got up to grab her notes. She sat down and we were on. She was caught off guard and her microphone was not on. She recovered (of course) and afterward she thanked me for being so calm - who’d a thought? But then again that’s my job if life now. It’s no longer about me - I am just a space for being and for people to expand, grow, breakdown or whatever they need to do. It was perfect and divine timing and I am crystal clear that from this point forward, it is about me being of service to others in every way. Let’s not forget that what the segment was about was the Divine Feminine — Shakti Rising and my book
Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly.

You always hear that letting go is powerful but how do you do it? How can you let go without your ego going wild yelling, “You can’t be carefree, you can’t stop obsessing about what you want, all hell will break loose if you don’t manage every detail of your life.” Well now I’ve experienced first hand how letting go gives way to joy and joy gives way to synchronicity and that you just don’t have to work as hard as we’ve become accustomed to.

How did this all happen? Here’s the skinny on how all of this came to be. Many months ago, while walking on the beach in Del Mar, I reconnected with a beautiful woman I know named Leanne Collins. We must have passed each other on the beach five or more times in the course of a few months - it became very obvious we were suppose to connect.

We did indeed connect on many levels and through mutual support and admiration for one another, Leanne introduced me to her amazing brother Eric Collins with Fox Channel 6 and in turn Courtney Dwyer also a reporter and anchor with the station.

In the midst of a week where I was completely overwhelmed with full time mommyhood and a travelling husband and grandparents — I chose to completely let go of all expectations and just enjoy the chaos and of course the time with my son.

Is it an accident that in the next few days of letting go not one but two T.V. interview opportunities showed up? I know without a doubt it was the deep level of letting go I chose and the joy I experienced in doing so that opened up these opportunities.

I will be making letting go part of my daily life - it feels so amazing!! Second best to the day I vowed never to wear panty hose again!! I am free…want to join me? Share your stories of letting go with us.

Lisa Nichols, everyone’s favorite woman in “The Secret” is extraordinary. I met her this past weekend at her Speak & Write to Make Millions Seminar. I would normally use the word amazing to describe someone that I’ve met as I often do in my California girl sorta way but with Lisa Nichols your vocabulary database begins to search and search unable to find words that describe her. She is the funniest woman, most heart warming soul and by far the most inspiring person I have ever met. There truly is no one like Lisa Nichols. (Join her community, I did! She has a great book coming out too called No Matter What!).

I try to write quick entries here in my blog but my life is always a trail of connections and coincidences. Remember the last post with the story about Harv Eker (Secrets of the Millionaire Mind Man) who bought my house in Maui and sent me to his Train the Trainer Program where I sang “I will survive in front of 200 People while wearing a big black afro)? Well the first night at the Harv Eker Train the Trainer Seminar, the elevator doors opened and I met Ronda Wada (who I now love and adore and call Rondawada). We became fast friends and soul sisters on the same path as Transformational coaches. Last week Ronda sent me a link to the Lisa Nichols seminar on How to Speak and Write to Make Millions. I usually hem and haw and haw and hem about EVERYTHING that involves a commitment especially of time and money but I immediately signed up (hmmm I thought as I noticed it was either odd or meant to be). So could it be that I manifested Harv Eker to manifest Ronda to manifest Lisa Nichols? And was my choice of wig and costume like a dream board drawing Lisa to me? She jokes about her hair all the time saying it’s her this is me, deal with it hair style.

It’s no surprise but the seminar also became a chain of coincidences. Half way through the first day, they introduce Lisa Nichol’s business coach Suzy Carter. I look at this woman and say, “I know her”. Well due to my nervous system debris-ridden brain I could not remember which Suzy from my past she was and I picked the wrong one saying, “I heard you built a successful jewelry business”. She said, “No but I like jewelry!”. Shoot I hate that! Anyway, I sucked it up and approached her later asking. “Ok, how do we know each other?” Turns out it was from Landmark Education (the Forum) Self Expression and Leadership course. I loved this course and no joke, my business today is what I created in that course with Suzy as my class mate. Suzy is off the charts successful (Hello, coaching Lisa Nichols!!) and she wrote her first book out of what she created in the course we shared as well. I guess while Suzy was making millions, I was on vacation in Maui! Not anymore, time for me to get to it now! There are no bonds like the bonds you create with people at Landmark Education - you drink the kool-aid together and the rest is a joy fest with bonds that last forever.

At lunch the first day a woman sat across from me and immediately I liked her as she shared a story about missing the first half of the Lisa Nichols seminar because somehow she ended up in the John Gray (men are from mars dude) seminar waiting for Lisa Nichols to come on. This was meant to be for her because that morning we accidentally headed into the John Gray room and were immediately steered away. Turns out Deb and I become fast friends. Come to find out, she has been on Oprah, is off the charts successful and more than anything just a lot of fun and another extraordinary woman. And it continued on from there making one soulful connection after another.

I’ve been searching for someone that I could emulate. Someone that would give me a path to follow as I continue to reach more people with Life Cultivation, the practice I teach and format I use for my coaching and workshops. Lisa Nichols is that person. She shared that T.V. networks have told her she’s the next Oprah and she responds, “I can’t do that. But what I can do is be me.” That alone brings tears to my eyes because it’s the foundation of what I believe and teach - true and lasting fulfillment comes from being you, your true self, the unsensored, untouched real you. When I teach my workshops or work with my clients there is a framework but mostly there is an organic flow and transformation that occurs. Lisa Nichols uses the word organic to describe herself and is the master of this style. The team and organization she has built is extraordinary as well and she puts her own touch on everything from little giveaways to handwritten thank you notes to all the participants. I am so grateful to have found her and just in time as Lisa Nichols is about to become off the charts famous.

So, I also brought one of my willing clients with me. In addition to being my client, I’ve adopted Sasha as my Yugoslavian soul sister (She is 1/2 Serbian and I am 1/4 Croatian and 1/4 Slovenian). It’s a long story but when you share this hertiage you immediately bond. It makes you a kick ass, bottom line, no nonsense and at times intimidating and irritating kind of woman. Put it this way, I’m a recovering Catholic and Croation - it’s an intense culture what can I say. Anyway, Sasha is new to this transformational stuff and NO ONE can cut to the chase or cut your heart open and hand it to you (in a good way!) like Lisa Nichols. After repeatedly being brought to tears, Sasha kept saying “Son of a Nutcracker she did it again.” Even I, the old dog knowing all the old transformational tricks, had an amazing breakthrough and shed a bucketfull of tears. I have to say it was just what the doctor ordered and probably just what my sweet, understanding husband and son ordered as well. Sasha also ended up mapping out her whole book idea with a timeline in the middle of the night when she couldn’t sleep. After the seminar was over, she showed it to Lisa Nichols. Lisa said to Sasha, “Girl I don’t know whether to hug you or be angry at you! Why didn’t you show me that in class? This is what a trainer lives for! You actually used what I taught you!” Sasha was a bit upset and regretful about not sharing her book idea, map and timeline to Lisa earlier. I told Sasha, “Don’t second guess it, it’s always perfect. Never second guess yourself or events especially in this type of environment”. Sure enough and long story short Sasha went out later after we completed the seminar and Lisa showed up at the restaurant with a group of 20 or 30 people. Lisa made Sasha present her book to the whole group and they loved it! Sasha realized quickly what I meant by perfect and she’s now on her way to writing her book with the support of the Queen of Transformation, the Secret and who knows what next - the extraordinary Lisa Nichols.

Me? I’m manifesting getting to know Lisa in her upcoming Mega Masters program and soaking up as much of her magic as possible and enjoying what comes next. I gave her a copy of my book, Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly so we’ll see and I’m pretty sure she’s a Butterfly.

Find out if you’re a Chameleon Butterfly or Dragonfly now with our quick and easy online quiz.

The theme of my life over the last month has been extreme expansion beyond my fears and toward my dreams. Yes as enticing as it sounds it’s not recommended for the meek or tentative soul - the phrase “be careful what you wish for” is extremely apropros. In the month of September what I experienced looked like everything but expansion as I processed and let go of major sh*#. I came face to face with my ego and past wounds that simply had no place in my life anymore.

So what spurred this extreme inner growth spurt for a person who has done enough personal growth for 10 lifetimes? It’s hard to pinpoint exactly one thing as I am known to left no stone unturned when it comes to self cultivation yet this year, I stepped it up and put myself out there by clearly and publicly stated (on boundlessliving with bob doyle from the secret) my deepest desire which is to become a best-selling author and to be on Oprah (me and millions of people right?).

Beyond this I began studying resistance and it’s impact in keeping you from attracting and manifesting what you want. On major way to eliminate or lessen resistance is to take 100% responsibility for everything in your life. If you don’t own your sh&% than, guess what? It will own you and your life will become a reflection of your sh&%. So, I took a hard and honest look at my life and assumed 100% responsibility for everything working and everything not working.

As I look back to the very beginning of 2008 it kicked off with me chanting to live without fear with a sexy yoga instructor and finding my passion for Kundalini yoga and learning that 2008 was the year of Dharma or discovering your life purpose. Next, my shoulder injury escalated to the point where I thought I could never write again but I somehow healed it and wrote and published my first book in three months. I  have been guided to the teachers, teachings and lessons I needed to expand beyond my fears toward fulfilling my dreams.

I’ve come to learn that expansion is the process of breaking free of everything limited and limiting in your life so that you can literally hold a space big enough for a larger vision. This is why expansion can be physically painful like shedding an old skin and emotionally painful as you re-experience old pain as it bubbles up and leaves.

Once I stated my desire publicly and used the sankalpa method I learned from the sexy yoga instructor (which is to meditate on one single goal) a chain of events began to fall into place. Yet I also look back to before this and other events were also in motion. So as I talk about in my book Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly there is a loose destiny blueprint waiting for us to bring it into being. Remember when we had to sell our home in Maui? When I realized it was time to sell our home, I decided to turn lemons into lemonaid and create the perfect buyer. T. Harv Eker the author of Secrets of a Millionaire Mind bought the home and as part of the sale, he gifted me a Train the Trainer course which I attended two weeks ago (Scroll to the photo below). This course is to teach you how to lead large seminars and make millions so you can buy homes in Maui for cash like he did!

Then more events and coincidences began to arise as friends or ours in Maui built a home for people involved in the success of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Our friend gave them my book and now she’s reading it. My yoga instructor here in Del Mar knows Jack Canfield and many other transformational leaders. On boundless living I was referred to Steve Harrison who is behind most of the latest best selling book campaigns. It goes on and on. So here I sit on the fringe, one or two steps away from many great success stories. And it’s these next steps that require me to move way beyond my comfort zone and everything I’ve been in the past. It requires me to still be me but the expanded super-sized version.

Expansion went into full force in September when my husband began traveling to Maui to remodel some condos we purchased. So this little project of his (hint:forgiveness is part of expansion) put him in paradise doing what he loves and me at home in Del Mar sending my son off to Kindergarten as a single Mom with a growing business, new book and many other projects on my plate. And the first week of school I got a note something like this, “Aaron had a good day today (finally) he didn’t have any emotional outbursts or lay on the floor during circle time”. So at a time when I wanted to throw myself 100% toward expanding my career, I expanded my potential as a mother instead putting all work aside for two weeks (hint: you can’t expand unless your personal life is working). I learned many things I needed to change in order for my little one to thrive. The biggest lesson was to give him space so he could expand. He was entering big boy school but was stuck in a toddler paradigm. So instead of tightening the reigns with discipline the answer was to expand my view of him, give him more responsibility and allow him to learn his own lessons and grow (phew just typing that one makes me sweat!).

And so expansion continued. I had my first public book signing and first speaking engagement in October and went to the Train the Trainer course gifted to me by T. Harv Eker. In the course we learned how to command a large audience, design our own training courses and break through inhibitions by singing to an audience of 100+ people. You have to get that I’ve always said singing in public would be my greatest fear and to sing well would be the biggest miracle I could ever create. I always believed I have an awful voice and have never sang out loud in front of anyone let alone an audience. My best friend Laurel made me a CD of disco music (my favorite, I know I’m a geek) so I had to choose from YMCA, Disco Inferno and others - I settled on I Will Survive. The lyrics alone caused a breakthrough while I practiced in the safety of my hotel room. Then it was time, I put on my wild spandex outfit and when it was my turn, something clicked (or snapped:) and I let it rip! People actually thought I sang well - they practically had to get the hook and pull me off stage, it was amazing (hint: expand by doing things you dread, they may turn into things you love). And I met some of the most amazing people ever at this course whom I hope to know and grow with forever. Thanks T. Harv!! (Click the photo to view or enlarge)

So prior to leaving for Train the Trainer I hired a coach to move me beyond my money fears (hint: you can not expand with a limited relationship with money). The last session (about expansion of course) was on the same day as a psychic reading my best friend Laurel bought me for my birthday. Prior to this day Laurel had given me the psychic’s number at least three times and I lost it (hmmmm, divine timing perhaps?). So of course the reading was about…you guessed it…expansion. I’m going to cut to the chase, without knowing anything about me, he saw me being published by Hay House and on Oprah. So what does a girl do with that kind of info? Why do I risk setting my self up by sharing something so big in public with the chance of failure looming? The reason I’m sharing it is that if this does all occur how cool will it be that it was in my blog and shared with you? And I just love this stuff! It’s what happens when you put yourself out there.

On Monday, I was digging through old emails and up popped a request for stories about miracles for a book Louise Hay is writing. So I submitted mine. And here I sit with all of the pieces floating out there waiting to be manifested into the physical. I’ve broken through “I will survive” and now am in the gap cultivating my greatest desires. What’s the next step? Expansion is a combination of being in action and allowing the expansion to occur naturally. It’s that delicate zone of cultivation where you’re stepping outside of limits but not fighting against them. More on expanding your capacity to love and receive money and to transform your life through extreme self love.

© Bring U to Life, Inc. For more articles like this and guidance to thrive in every aspect of your life from home, work, love, body, soul and money visit www.bringUtolife.com or click here to join our free membership and receive a free e-book or you may also contact me at cindy@bringUtolife.com to explore coaching and or to learn more about the practice of Life Cultivation.

The number 8 represents luck, prosperity and infinite potential. Chinese culture considers 8 to be the most auspicious (prosperous) number there is. 88 is considered double joy so 888 must be triple joy or even ecstasy!

I’ve decided to embrace 8-8-08 as my lucky day and claim my triple joy! You can do the same it’s your lucky day too! I’ve created my lucky day list below and you can do the same by following these simple steps 1) Intention 2) Action and 3) Wishes. Ask yourself what you want to create then state your intention and craft a visualization to go with it. Then, create a list of actions that you can take on 8-8-08 day knowing you will receive an extra boost of luck. And finally make a list of wishes. It’s your lucky day so be careful what you wish for!

Here’s my 8-8-08 lucky day list (what’s yours?)

Intention:

I am a best-selling author with a constant and abundant stream of wealth flowing into my life. I am grateful for my clients and community and enjoy the new and ongoing relationships that occur every day and the lasting fulfillment that we all create and experience. My mind, body and spirit are balanced and optimized leaving me feeling more conscious, creative, and energetic than ever before. My friends and family prosper with vibrant health and abundance. My son flourishes in school with learning, friends, and exploration. My husband continues to follow his passion and experiences abundant inner and outer rewards. We all enjoy our life together and grow closer experiencing more love every day. I am grateful for my home in Del Mar and Maui and thoroughly enjoy designing and building both dream homes. My homes are a place of peace, creativity and retreat for myself, my family and others that visit. I love life and all the joy that it brings.

Action:

1. Launch a teleseminar series that is fun and enlightening.
2. Make an investment in my son’s college fund and my retirement account.
3. Send proposals to top magazines and potential strategic partners.
4. Share my big business ideas with others who can contribute to their success.
5. Formalize the outline of my next book.
6. Send love to everyone I know and am yet to know.
7. Do something special with my son and husband.
8. Take a walk on the beach in gratitude for the abundance I already have in my life (That’s 8 actions making 8888!)

Wishes:

1. Oprah does receive my book and loves it!
2. The reviewers receive my book and love it!
3. Top magazines love my book and write about it!
4. Ongoing connection to my guides and source resulting in prolific and purposeful creation!
5. My clients and community experience luck, breakthroughs, abundance and joy!
6. Constant abundance flows into my life and out to others making a difference in the world!
7. Global fear, aggression and retraction pass opening up love, peace and abundance for all!
8. Ongoing luck and triple joy for myself and others from this day forward! (That’s 8 wishes making 88888!

Post your luck list below by clicking “Leave a Comment” Good Luck! (It now has a whole new meaning)

I believe it’s my purpose to support you in expressing your true self in every aspect of your life ultimately guiding you beyond intermittent happiness to lasting fulfillment. If this philosophy resonates with you, join our community, continue to follow my monthly e-guide Your Guide to Thrive, participate in upcoming workshops and telecourses or contact me to explore how one on one coaching may support you (cindy@bringUtolife.com or 858 692-8538). Feel free to invite your friends to join our community as well. As we all become fully expressed and fulfilled, the more balanced and fulfilled the world will be.

I carried Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth with me throughout my decadent journey to Croatia and Italy without cracking it open once. Prior to that I lost it and had to buy another copy. Prior to that it sat by my bedside untouched for at least two months. It is safe to say that I was instinctively avoiding the book or that my ego cleverly kept it at bay. But alas, after a rocky reentry back to the states including the loss of our luggage and a day in New York without clean clothes then a gosh-awful virus which knocked me on my you know what — I had nothing else to do but read A New Earth.

I think it was the contrast of watching an entire season of Sex and the City on the plane ride home from my trip and finally reading A New Earth that revealed the truth about the ego first hand. Rather than a little devil on one shoulder and a little angel on the other, two distinct versions of me emerged after reading Eckhart’s book (I love calling him Eckhart). One me was ready to drop everything and move to New York to have lunch with the Sex and the City girls (never wearing the same outfit twice of course) and the other me was in physical and mental agony as I was confronted by my ego and so called pain body (thanks Eckhart now I know why I’d been resisting this book!).

The more I read I began to see two parallel Universes reveal before me. One that produces the absolute meaningless like Beverly Hills Chihuahua and the other that produces the deep and meaningful like A New Earth. How can two so distinctly different versions of life co-exist and how can two so fully developed and diametrically opposed versions of me co-exist? And more importantly which is real? Is one better than the other? Where do I go from here? Which me was asking these questions? (This ego thing can get a bit freaky…)

As I continued to read and eventually finish A New Earth I began to see many similarities between Eckhart’s insights and Life Cultivation, the practice I teach. Isn’t there a saying that goes something like “We teach what we need to learn most?” The single most important take away from this book is that the ego does exist within all of us, will run a muck on our lives if we let it, keep us from ever being happy - AND - above all else DO NOT take a position or even think that there is anything wrong with it. I know this seems like asking a lot (talk about a leap of faith) especially when you begin to see the costs of the ego in charge. If you make the ego wrong, it will fight back with vengeance. Just reading the book made mine go wild. In the book Eckhart talks about just letting it be and feeling your pain. That is the key, just let your ego go about it’s business and observe it. See it and even feel it separate from you and allow it to reveal where your life is run by your ego and where it is not. THEN, the key is to practice Life Cultivation and cultivate what Eckhart calls consciousness and I call “U”, your unique source of creative energy.

Life Cultivation is the practice that will lead you to happiness now and ultimately lasting fulfillment - becoming enlightened in this life Jivanmukta if you’ve read my recent article in Your Guide to Thrive 5. Life Cultivation clears what deadens or traps your U (internal energy or consciousness) and cultivates or expands what enlivens or expands your U. The focus is on first connecting with U (your internal energy or consciousness) and then creating your life from there or expressing yourself and bringing your U to life.

The other term I use for U which is more aligned with Eckhart’s philosophy is your True Self. Your True Self is that part of you that is connected to or one with consciousness yet is totally unique. Lasting Fulfillment comes from the joy of expressing U or your True Self in this life and experiencing your True Self in every aspect of your life from home, work, love, body and soul. In A New Earth Eckhart talks about your internal purpose as becoming or being consciousness and your external purpose as what you determine it to be. Life Cultivation is about realizing both your internal and external purpose by discovering and expressing your True Self. My book, Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly is a guide to to doing just that and thus a guide to lasting fulfillment.

So then what about the part of you (or me) that wants to lunch with friends, shop, be beautiful, rich, travel the world, find love, have your materials desires met? Is that the ego? Is that wrong? Here’s where a fine line comes in. The art of cultivation. The art of distinguishing your true desire from your fear based need. True desire is a form of expression and leads to fulfillment and fear based need is the ego and leads to a vicious cycle of never having enough or perpetual unhappiness. I believe that as women one of our purposes is to receive pleasure. To allow ourselves to be adorned and adored (which may explain our future generation’s obsession with the Princess - hopefully!) The more you get beyond your ego and fears and cultivate U or your True Self the more you can simply express and manifest your true desires by what you create and allow the Universe to deliver.

The place where The Secret, A New Earth and Life Cultivation collide is within you. By cultivating abundance, gratitude, joy, and passion within, you expand your U, chi, hara, consciousness, energy, vibration and begin to seamlessly co-create with the Universe. You become a magnet attracting to you what is a match or expression or your True Self. You will experience lasting fulfillment as your life becomes a mirror of your True Self. You can begin to see that positive thinking and realizing the ego is helpful but not enough - the key is Life Cultivation, expressing your True Self or bringing U to life.

I believe it’s my purpose to support all women in becoming fully expressed and deeply fulfilled. If this philosophy resonates with you, join our community, continue to follow my monthly e-guide Your Guide to Thrive, participate in upcoming workshops and telecourses or contact me to explore how one on one coaching may support you (cindy@bringUtolife.com or 858 692-8538). Feel free to invite your friends to join our community as well. The more women (and men too!) that become fully expressed and fulfilled, the more balanced and fulfilled the world will be.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I’m back on Maui and now truly here after not one but two yoga classes. After finishing one class, a rather handsome Australian asked me if I was staying for the second one. I was going to pass but then he mentioned it was Kundalini yoga. It was a sign that I was exactly where I needed to be and the moment I’d been longing for after a rather rocky “re-entry” to paradise.

My first few days back on Maui felt like I was the manager of a rock star as I connected my son with all of his friends who couldn’t wait to see him. Knowing what I know, even though that wasn’t the vacation “I” had in mind, it was exactly what I needed to do to reconnect with my son after being a bit absentee while writing my book over the last few months. I swam, got pushed in the pool, played monster tag, waded through tide pools and just played full out. Not feeling rested at all but desperately wanting to, we moved from the Napili Kai to the Westin with water slides galore. My son went nuts and my husband disappeared. Hmmmmm….funny how that happens!

With the launch of my book and other work tugging on me as well, I decided to give in to my son’s tugging and continue to live in his world trusting that at some point my moment would come. Just when I was enjoying the water world adventure with my little one - smash - our heads collided and I got a big, fat, bloody lip. I fumbled around with napkins and a bartender-made icepack in a plastic baggy and soon realized I needed medical attention.

Making my way back to the hotel room with my son was like hashing through the jungle as I fielded requests for everything from water toys, shaved ice, to potato chips. Even after looking at my lip and saying, “Oh Mommy that looks bad” he just didn’t get that it needed to be all about Mommy for the moment. I thought, “What in the bloody world (no pun intended) is going on? I’m suppose to be loving life back in Maui where I began and now finished writing my first book. Yet there I was fumbling through paradise with a vacation warrior injury. Long story short, I got the attention I needed (a tetanus shot, antibiotics and thank goodness no stitches). As I walked back from the Doctor’s Office in the Hyatt, I took in the view and incredible Maui breeze and realized I finally had a moment to myself. Not exactly how I intended but so be it!

The next day I was on pool duty again but at least I managed to squeeze in a yoga class before the changing of the guard. I proceeded to spend six hours in the pool this time keeping my distance from my son’s head. At hour 5 1/2, I felt like I totally had this pool-slide thing wired so I tried to do a running start on the super slide and tweaked my thumb and wrist. In excruciating pain, I did the walk of shame back to the bartender for another ice pack pretending like and wishing I was someone else.

But ahhhhhhhhhhh. Now I’m here, I’m really here. And this is the perfect time and perfect place to introduce my first book to you, Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly. There are so many insights to share about my experience of writing this book, it would be impossible to capture it here but I did my best to do so in the epilogue of the book. All I will say for now is that the book was Divinely inspired and guided as the content poured through me. My job was to offset life’s obstacles and show up every day with my intention on finishing the book by the end of spring.

O.K. just one insight, if you want to fulfill your greatest desires, you can’t wait for the “right” circumstances. When I look back all the circumstances were wrong which made it one of the most challenging experiences of my life. However, if you choose a single focus and stick to it not matter what, you can do anything. Sankalpa, one aspect of yoga nidra, is a powerful method to doing just that. Remember my sexy yoga instructor Rod Strykker? That’s where I learned about yoga nidra and the power of sankalpa. I believe my resolve or sankalpa played a key role in helping me to manifest my greatest desire of writing a book and in just a few months. Read my article on Sankalpa for more.

Choosing a date and sticking to is also a key to manifesting your desires. I picked May 15th, the day of the San Diego Women’s Symposium held at the Del Mar Race Track conference center just down the street from my home. The event was incredible and I met women that inspired me beyond what I could ever have expected. Many of the women joined my workshop, bought a copy of Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly and became new members - thank you ladies - you are amazing!

Back to this moment. Ahhhhhhhhh. My book was actually finished two weeks ago and I wanted to share it with you then but a series of issues began to arise keeping me from doing so. Now as I sit here, I realize that I am still being Divinely guided. I was guided to this moment as the perfect moment to release my greatest accomplishment into the Universe and to you. I believe that Chameleon Butterfly Dragonly was given to me so that I could give it to you. The book is a mystical yet practical guide to discovering your true self and connecting to the power of the Divine feminine within yourself and the Universe. If you long to find balance and lasting fulfillment, Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly is the book for you. The content of the book is pure Divine feminine wisdom with many dimensions. Ironically, as I wrote about the Chameleon Butterfly and Dragonfly they began to turn obstacles into miracles as I wrote the book and dramatically altered my life for the better.

Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly will take you to exactly who, what and where you were intended to be - your true self and your destiny. Enjoy your journey to you now and always! Cindy

Have you felt the urge to purge lately? If you have, there may be a reason and if you haven’t you may want to tap into the energy that is out there and get rid of your “old stuff” once and for all. Clearing is one of the most powerful aspects of creating what you want. Clearing out any impurities from your mind, body and spirit will make way for you true self to express itself simply and naturally.

I’ve been on a mission to clear everything from my body to my closets. I thought my genius of finding the Yin Yang balance between organization and clutter did the trick for sure (see my post on Yin Yang: Ancient Chinese Secret). Then I received the most recent energy alert from Karen Bishop, and realized that the Urge to Purge is in the air.

Whether it’s old habits or self defeating thoughts that you’ve been carrying around since child hood - there’s no better time than now to get rid of what you no longer need. I’ve also jumped on projects that have been sort of tapping me on the shoulder saying, “What about me? do you have time for me?”. Like investing the money we’ve been saving for my son’s college fund and optimizing my diet and work out routine.

The energy out there is optimum to support you right now. If you’re feeling it, I suggest you take advantage and make a list of everything you no longer need from items, to behaviors, to unproductive thoughts and beliefs. And, make a list of everything that you’ve been putting off but really want to do and start to do it now. It’s a great time to put new habits in place and build a support structure for yourself. Setting yourself up now for the influx of positive energy that is coming will serve you well.

If you want to take advantage of this but don’t know where to start, send me an email or post your situation here. Clear the way for U to show up bigger and brighter than ever!

ps- I mentioned Karen Bishop above and I want to share her Energy Alerts with you. Energy Alerts give you the heads up on what’s happening in the Universe energetically and how it’s showing up for us earth dwellers. It’s a great resource that I’ve found to be extremely helpful and insightful. Check out her most recent alert