January 31, 2012

Welcome to our new newsletter format!  We are so excited to offer this to you and hope you find value in the content.

What is going on with me? If you know me you know I much prefer asking what is going on with you… and, oh well, here goes….

What I am recognizing is the depth of everything AND the lightning speed in which things are happening. The reality of this is it’s the last day of the first month, Jan.31, 2012.

I noticed I have a strong connection to the “last” of everything and… what I want to have happen, experience, say, touch, smell, see, contribute, and create must happen today.

Every time I take on more than my paradigm has experienced before, every time I say yes to something I have always said no to, every time I allow my dreams to move into action, every time I am clear on what is next, what I want, what matters and I take action on that, my world changes – drastically in some ways; like a whisper in others.

2011 was mostly drastic in the change, in the challenge, in the obstacles, in the stress. I ended 2011 with a commitment to create ease, to achieve great reward and satisfaction, to redefine success to create balance and have my growth be a little less hard on my life. I know I needed 2011 to be the way it was so I could choose something different.

This year I am choosing the whisper. Cool, huh?

I am choosing 2012 to be abundant, intentional, of service through my gifts. I am in recognition of that there is no fear in the present moment and to practice being present.

2012 is including laughter, connection and lots of horse time! I am already embracing the whisper.

Back to grazing, as the horses demonstrate so well. Back to grazing……. How delightful…….!

In partnership with U!

Andi

When trying something new – apply the Rule of 3′s.

The Rule of 3′s says:

Do not expect perfection on the first try.

Any idea worth testing is worth testing three times.

• The first time will help the team members develop a shared mental model of the idea.
• The second attempt is to allow the team to perform together.
• The third attempt will demonstrate the reliability of the idea.

Thomas Leahy (thank you, Tom!)

FEAR is considered a four letter word… We are encouraged throughout our lives to begin to ignore and suppress our fears.  No matter what occurs, we keep going.  If we’re afraid we’re encouraged to “face our fears”, “conquer our fear before it conquers us”, and “get back on that horse”, etc., etc., etc…

What if fear was something that served us?  What if fear had a purpose?  What if all those people who have been saying all those things against fear were wrong? In a very bold way, with all of my life experiences and time with horses, I’m going to go against the tide and say fear IS good!  Fear is our friend and learning to listen to fear when it speaks is a gift to our well being!

Here’s the thing, fear serves our highest good.  In a simple statement, based on the work of author Karla McClaren, Fear is simply about protecting our well being.  It speaks to us when there is a possible threat and we might need to move to a position of safety.  Pretty simple and important, I’d say. 

So where did we go wrong? Somewhere along the way during the last century, we began to deem fear as our enemy.  It got in the way of grand adventures, it told us not go too fast, not to ride the bull, not to jump off of a cliff.  It did its job protecting our well being, saying to us to evaluate the situation we’re in because we might be in danger.  Fear had no way to know we were actually choosing the risk!

I propose that there is opportunity in becoming friends with our fear.  Simply learning to listen, acknowledge, re-evaluate and then make a choice when fear speaks.  It’s amazing how much softer fear speaks when it is acknowledged and listened to.  So why not begin to listen, and then choose based on all the information, including fear?  By doing it this way we take control of our emotions and can be proactive in our choices instead of allowing our emotions to have the control and force us into reaction…

From “The Horse’s Mouth” . . . By Cathy Huddleston

Want to know more?  Contact us for a customized exploration of Fear in a safe and supportive, education based format that creates EMPOWERMENT around fear!

760-942-3539- office

951-595-9312- direct

Cathy@challenge-u.com