Mi Hamba Blog

Same Soul, Many Bodies by Brian L. Weiss, M.D. 

Man’s search to find meaning and purpose in life is a quest that has repeated itself generation after generation, for as long as we’ve been human.  Dr. Weiss does an exceptional job of shedding light on why we’re here.

The premise of the book is to open up our awareness that we are here, living a human existence, to expand our souls - a spiritual growing process so to speak.  We do this through lessons - each of which we must learn in order to move onto the next lesson in life.   If we don’t learn the lesson in one lifetime, we’ll be coming back to repeat the ‘class’, and will continue to do so until we graduate.

We choose to be born and we choose our families.  We know what lesson we’re going to work on and therefore choose the family that will best help us learn that lesson.  However, knowing the purpose ahead of time doesn’t mean it’s all mapped out for us.  We have free will.  It’s the choices we make during our lives that will either move us closer to mastering the lesson, or further away, guaranteeing us a repeat of the strife, struggle and heartache from poor choices.

Some of the lessons we learn are:

 ○ Empathy
 ○ Compassion
 ○ Patience and Understanding
 ○ Nonviolence
 ○ Relationships
 ○ Love

Dr. Weiss suggests that by knowing our lesson, we’re better able to develop a clearer understanding of our life (this life) and how to navigate it more easily with peace of mind and clarity.  The answers are already within us - if we just open our hearts and listen.  Throughout the book, the author gives real life examples of how his patients have consented to hypnosis for past-life regression in order to understand their lesson and overcome the self-imposed blocks that hold them back from living their lives.

Whether you believe in past lives, future lives, or one life, there’s a message here that transcends every belief system - be present in the life you’re living and be open to becoming a better person.

This book ties nicely into  Ainslie MacLeod’s book, The Instruction: Living the Life Your Soul Intended, where the author explores your Soul Age and Soul Type.

Zig Ziglar knows how to make it to the top.  More importantly, he can show you how to do the same, regardless of your age, social background, ethnic origin, religion, or your past mistakes.  Zig Ziglar shares his success factors and principles as a sought-after motivational speaker.

Goals are the foundation of all achievements.  This particularly applies to financial freedom as you need to set quantifiable targets with deadlines in order to reach the finish line.  Learn how to set your goals for success.

Understand that adversity will always be a part of your life.  You can choose to allow it to help you learn and grow, or let it stop you from living the life that you want.  It takes courage and the belief that anything placed in your path can be overcome.  You can!  You just need to believe it.  Here are some steps to take when you find yourself confronting adversity:

Acknowledge the adversity.  Sweeping adversity of any kind under the carpet just means you’ll be dealing with a bigger mess in the future.  Acknowledge it’s something you have to deal with now.  

Take responsibility.  This one change in mindset will naturally put your subconscious mind into solution mode.  If you’re open to solutions, you’re not brooding about the problem.  

Brainstorm.  Make a list of everything you can think of that you can do to overcome the adversity.  Write down anything that comes to mind, however silly it may seem.  By taking a solution approach, you’re telling your subconscious mind that you are open to possibilities that you haven’t considered.  Please note - this exercise isn’t meant for you to come up with the definitive solution.  It’s an exercise in mindset shifting.

Take Action.  Take any one item from your list and act on it now.  If that means making a phone call for more information, do it.  It may also mean asking someone else for help.  Whatever it is, taking action sends a message to your subconscious mind that says you’re in solution mode and ready to overcome this adversity.

Listen to your intuition.  Your subconscious mind knows you’re serious about finding a solution that moves you past this adversity.  It will go to work on possibilities that you may not have readily thought of.  Be open to your intuitive nudges - that unscheduled stop on the way home from work, that phone call to an associate you haven’t talked to in some time, buying that new book a friend just told you about.  These are messages pointing you in the right direction.

Trust and believe.  This is the hardest part for many people.  You would think it’s coded in our DNA to worry over things and create stress in our lives.  We know it to be a learned behavior - this means it can be unlearned, or rather swapped with trust and belief.  Trust that your answers will come and be open to receiving them.  Believe that all that is happening in your life, good and not so good, is there to serve you.  That means that all is well, all is as it should be.

Give thanks.  When times are particularly rough for us, it’s hardest to express gratitude for the blessings in our lives.  Often, it’s because we’re focusing on all the negative things.  Turn your focus to what you genuinely feel grateful for - your family, a warm house, food on the table, your friends, your pets - you get the picture.  Gratitude is a powerful force that when practiced daily, from the heart, has the power to bring miracles into your life.
 

All the adversity we experience is here to help us learn and grow, and most importantly, to become the person who we want to be, doing the things we love to do, having the things and experiences as a result of who we’ve become.  This is the path in life for every one of us.  Awareness of the meaning of adversity opens up the tool box of solutions to overcome them.  You’re humbled when you break through the barrier of adversity because you see the simplicity of the lesson learned and what a gift it has been to have experienced it.

The most common type of adversity, is the one you experience when you’re on the wrong path. This happens when your choices, your actions and your behaviors are different from what would better serve you to get what you want. 

^{Brian had made it a habit to put away 10% of his income away until he had a nest egg equal to 6 months living expenses.  This is a sound principle his father had taught him. However, when a great deal came up on a boat he wanted to buy, he dipped into his reserve fund and purchased it.  He and his wife had great jobs and life was good.  He told himself he could build up the fund at a later time.  As time went on, the cost to run and maintain the boat became greater and greater and he started charging on his credit cards. This was his first message to make changes.  Then he lost his job when his company downsized.  This was his second message to make changes.  As his stress grew, he charged even more on his credit cards.  Eventually, his debt was unmanageable, their savings were gone, and his relationship with his wife was suffering.  He wasn’t paying attention to the feedback in his life.}

Brian woke up to the message that his choices, actions and behaviors were not getting him closer to the financial independence and stability he wanted.  He made some changes and started paying attention to his feedback.  Now he has a new job - better pay, better work, better hours.  He managed to keep his home and improve his relationship with his wife.  Brian attributes this turn around in his life to becoming aware of the messages he receives - the feedback - and taking right action for different results.  The boat?  Well, he sold that, put the proceeds in his reserve account, and set a goal to buy a sail boat in the next 10 years - one that both he and his wife will enjoy and fits in their financial plan.

You too can learn to read the messages in your adversity to make course corrections on your path.  Everything you want is yours for the taking - if you do things the right way.

Next time you’ll learn the steps to overcome the adversity in your life.

“Remember, success is not measured by heights attained but by obstacles overcome. We’re going to pass through many obstacles in our lives: good days, bad days. But the successful person will overcome those obstacles and constantly move forward.”

 

~ Bruce Jenner - Olympian, Speaker and Entrepreneur

We all have obstacles and adversity in our lives to overcome.  How we deal with that adversity, how we navigate the obstacles in our life will determine how successful, happy and abundant our lives are.  We have a choice before us…

• learn how to move past the adversity and obstacles in our lives and become a better person for it;

 OR

• ignore the adversity and obstacles and watch as the number and power of the adversity increases.

Adversity and obstacles ignored means that the message they are delivering is being ignored as well.  The messages will keep coming stronger and with greater intensity until the message is heard and adjustments to your life are made. 

Which is your choice?

To learn more about Bruce Jenner’s philosphy on overcoming obstacles in our path, read about it in his book,

Finding the Champion Within: A Step-by-Step Plan for Reaching Your Full Potential

Have you been thinking “My life is a mess!”?  If so, you’re probably so overwhelmed with all the garbage that’s entering your life, wondering when it’s going to stop, that you can’t see any way out. 

Take comfort…the path to a happier, more balanced, less stressful, abundant life is yours for the taking.  You just need to be aware of what to do.

What’s Really Going On?

Understanding what adversity means actually helps you deal with it better.  Have you ever heard people say, “If I just knew what was going to happen (keeping your job vs. being let go), I could deal with it much better.”  You may not know the outcome of a situation, and not knowing is certainly the cause of much unnecessary stress, but understanding the reason or cause of a situation WILL open the door to your answers. 

Adversity comes into our lives as feedback that you’re on the wrong path - your decisions, your choices, your actions, your behaviors.

Knowing this, it’s then fairly simple to take a different approach…what’s the message here? Take some time to think about the adversity in your life right now.  What message is it bringing you?  Is there some different action you could take?

Next time, we’ll explore how you can use this knowledge to your advantage.

 The Alchemist by Paul Coelho 

Paul Coelho once said that following your dream is like learning a foreign language; you will make mistakes but you will get there in the end.  The Alchemist explores this theme…

Everyone loves a story that sweeps them away to another time and place, following the life of someone else, following their dreams, living adventures and learning life’s lessons.  Isn’t it so much easier to hear of others’ trials and tribulations in the pursuit of their dreams than it is for us to follow our own?  Why are we so drawn to these stories?  It’s because the hero that lies inside of these characters is kin to the hero inside each and every one of us!

^{“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”}

The book takes us along as Santiago pursues his Personal Legend - that’s his Purpose in Life - which we all have.  Along this journey Santiago (and the reader) learns many lessons about life, your spiritual connection, following intuition and how to truly be happy.  Here are some of the treasure trove of nuggets you’ll find in this book:

 ○ We have to be prepared for change
 ○ Understand your purpose in life
 ○ Take chances despite your fear
 ○ It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary
 ○ You’re never too old to follow your dreams
 ○ There’s nothing to hold you back except yourself
 ○ You must always know what you want
 ○ Every blessing ignored becomes a curse
 ○ You cannot go back - all you can do is find the best possible way to move forward
 ○ You’ve got to find your treasure so that everything you’ve learned along the way can make sense
 ○ The closer you get to your dream, the more you are tested for persistence and courage with obstacles
 ○ Life is generous to those who pursue their purpose in life
 ○ Love transforms and improves the soul of the world

This is such a gem of a book, one I’m sure I’ll be reading many times over the years.  Pick up your own copy and you’ll find your own messages and treasure-filled nuggets of wisdom and insight.  Your message may be different than mine, but one thing I know for sure;  there is a message in this book for you and with open mind and heart, you will find some answers within the pages of this timeless masterpiece.

^{“Carefully watch your THOUGHTS,}

   ^{for they become your WORDS.}

^{Manage and watch your WORDS,}

   ^{for they will become your ACTIONS.}

^{Consider and judge your ACTIONS,}

   ^{for they have become your HABITS.}

^{Acknowledge and watch your HABITS,}

   ^{for they shall become your VALUES.}

^{Understand and embrace your VALUES,}

   ^{for they become YOUR DESTINY.”}

 

   

     ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Your thoughts are generated based on your beliefs.  What do you believe - about yourself, your abilities, your potential, your circle of influence?  Explore the core of your being by exploring and evaluating what you believe.  Change your beliefs if they don’t serve you and watch your life change!

Check out Ray Dodd’s book, BeliefWorks: The Art of Living Your Dreams

Here’s what Ray had to say recently about beliefs:

We live in turbulent times, especially with the current economic crisis. Is it possible to feel at peace, grateful and abundant  in this unsettled environment? If you want to understand how your beliefs influence your life, then this is an important question.

 

First of all, do you truly believe deep down that you deserve happiness, well-being, and all the abundance that life has to offer, or is this just an intellectual agreement undermined by how you behave and feel when life tests you?

 

There is often a disconnect between what you have in mind and what you believe. For example, if you are nervous how easy is it to tell your self to relax and think positive thoughts? The mind is often overpowered by the pervasiveness of what you believe. What you believe is what you project into the world. Your beliefs deeply impact your actions, your thoughts, and your words. And thus real change occurs when you identify and change what you believe.
 

It amazing to me how our seemingly ‘chance’ encounters take us down a road, show us a path to follow, or remind us of what’s important to us as individuals, and to our greater communities - locally and world-wide.  When you look back over what has happened, you can see how synchronistic it all is…

Just this past week, my life was touched by one of our readers.   It’s because of that I wanted to share with you all how she’s giving for love, and loving to give.

Kim is in the midst of training for her first endurance event on June 27th, 2009, Rock ‘n Roll Seattle Half Marathon.  Here’s what she has to say…

Rather than just training on my own I decided to join my sister in being a part of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training.

 

At first I was just doing this to get healthy, connect with my sister and in the process raise funds for a good cause.  It was at my first Saturday morning training session that I was able to witness what a beautiful thing I was a part of.  My heart just swelled with an abundance of love and compassion when our Honorary Teammate, Skip Sand, came up and addressed all of the runners/walkers.  He shared his story of being diagnosed in July of 2004 with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and was told it was not curable but treatable. In November of 2006 he and his daughter participated in the UW Medical Center Seattle Marathon, and he crossed the finishing line in 8:49:37! He cannot attempt another marathon due to knee problems, but he and his wife still support by helping out at water stops and cheering on the sidelines. His humble gratitude for the work Team In Training members do and for the life he has is a reflection of what life is all about: the joy of being here in the now.

 

My goal is to raise (at least) $1,800 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by June 1st, 2009, as well as to finish the race with my sister and teammates. 75% of every dollar I raise will be spent directly on mission-related activities, such as research for a cure and provide financial assistance to families in our country struggling with the financial burden of treatment.

Did you get goose bumps when you read this?  I know I did!  We were still moved as we went on over to Kim’s fundraising site at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnrseatl09/kdrever and pledged our donation. 

If you’re feeling good about helping out and feel moved to contribute (even $1.00 helps), Kim provided us a breakdown of how your dollars change lives….

Patient & Community Service (26.7%): such as family support groups, free seminars and conferences and direct patient financial aid
Research (26.7%) (society funded research has directly contributed to many breakthrough cancer treatments)
Fund Raising (17.6%)
Public Health Education (15.3%)
Management & General (9.5%)
Professional Education (3.2%)

Donations are tax deductible, many companies provide matching funds, and just think about how good it will feel to know that you’ve helped so many people!  You can donate here.

Have a great run Kim!

You can’t turn on the TV these days without seeing and hearing about how bad the economy is.  Believe it or not, this actually perpetuates the cycle - stress, fear and anxiety over money creates lack of money - more stress, fear and anxiety over money creates more - and so on, and so on.  Will you ever break the cycle and create wealth and abundance in your life? 

Yes…

Firstly, turn off the TV.  You’re not going to miss anything because someone will tell you about the really important news.  You know this is true.

Secondly, watch what Byron Katie has to say on the subject…

If you’re unfamiliar with Byron Katie’s work, she pioneered “The Work”, described in her landmark book, 

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life