Women in the LEAD

The Journey from Awakening to Leadership

We live in a time of great promise.  We have opportunities available to us today that no generation has had.  Life is changing, growing and moving fast.  Today, words such as interconnectedness, synchronicity and resonance are becoming part of our common language.  The world of technology has introduced speed and efficiency that we haven't seen before in the history of the world.  All of the modern developments of the world can serve to help us to live our lives at our highest level of potential.

In order for us to awaken to this vast potential that we hold, we must first be fully aware of what our current gifts and contributions are and to take an inventory of our greatest assets and attributes. I believe that each of us hold unique gifts that are needed in the world today. Our personal awareness of these gifts is essential for our awakening.

Some important questions to ponder are:

• What is your greatest contribution on earth at this time?
• What can you do to become more alive, more awake, and more responsible in your life?
• What change are you committed to - where are you willing to raise the bar?

It is essential for us to take an inventory and to answer the above questions before moving on to awakened leadership. Awakened leadership involves letting go of playing small, utilizing life's crises as gifts and messages for growth.  We need to understand that change and mystery are part of growth and exploration, and that making conscious choices is essential to creating an awakened life. 

• Where are you currently living as an awakened leader in your life?
• How do you express this leadership?
• Where is there room for greater growth and development?
• What kind contribution do you want to make in this world in your lifetime?

Maureen Simon

The Summer Solstice--A Reflection On Light And Dark

Summer has begun in the Celtic calender as we move from the dark to the light  in our celebration of the Summer Solstice. For many, historically in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales people have celebrated the power of the sun as it reaches it's height  on the longest day of the year. Much gratitude and appreciation was expressed in celebration as people acknowledged the power of the sun to ripen fruit and grain and to provide light and nurturance

At Stonehenge, the very well known and loved stone circle in England , the first rays of the sun touch the Hele stone and marks, this week has marked the time when we acknowledge and hold gratitude for our strength, health and fertility that our life holds.

For me, the Summer Solstice has been a time of reflection on the light and dark in my life. In the Celtic tradition it is a commonly agreed belief in the dark we  find the light and in the light we find the dark. To be whole and complete we must experience both. There has always been a great reverence for both.

A few questions to ponder:

• Where in your life are you experiencing darkness? How is it serving you and your growth? What are the lessons to gain?
• How can you now welcome the light in your life? For what do you now hold deep gratitude and appreciation for?

Maureen Simon

The Law Of Least Effort

Today I was reading a favorite quote of mine from Deepak Chopra's "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success".  The quote goes as follows:  "The Law Of Least Effort: --Nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease...with carefreeness, harmony and love.  And when we harness the forces of harmony, joy and love, we create success and good fortune with effortless ease. "

I must admit things have been moving along at a swift pace these days in my life.  I often stop to evaluate whether or not I am harnessing the forces of harmony, joy and love as aspire to live with effortless ease.  For a good part of my life, I've held the belief that I "must work hard" to achieve great things.  These days, I am relying more on how things feel, on signs and divinations and on a strong sense of inner knowing and intuition that has been a lifetime friend actively guiding me.  I guess the real art to living with effortless ease lies in whether or not we are willing to hold clear intentions, to live with right will and right action and then to let go and trust.  There comes a point where we must trust and have faith that we have done our best.  I have said good bye to struggle, and my life has become richer and more deeply meaningful.

Maureen Simon

Inner Listening Combined With Right Action Equals Amazing Results

Some of the world's greatest masters of manifestation have taught us invaluable lessons about how to create the lives and visions that we hold most dear to our hearts.  Napolean Hill, the great teacher of universal laws of success, interviewed the top achievers in his day.  In the early 1920's, he discovered what constitutes enduring riches for some of the world's most amazingly successful people.  He came up with 12 basic concepts that these people (Carnegie, Edison, Ford, etc.) have built into their models of success manifestation and achievement. He believes that the following must all be prevalent in one's life to truly live a rich, successful life:

• Positive Mental Attitude
• Sound Physical Health
• Harmony In Relations
• Freedom From Fear
• Hope Of Future Achievement
• Capacity For Applied Faith
• Willingness To Share One's Blessings With Others
• Engaging In A Labor Of Love
• Having An Open Mind On All Subjects Towards All People
• Complete Self Discipline
• Wisdom With Which To Understand PeopleFinancial Security

As I have read these principles time and time again over many years, I have come to realize that these universal laws can guide us to the live the life we truly desire.  Similarly, when I combine Napolean Hill's key themes to enduring riches with the current work of Esther and Jerry Hicks, I see a road map that provides a pathway for amazing and positive manifestation.  In Esther and Jerry Hicks' most recent book, "Ask And It Is Given", Esther Hicks describes how it is important to lightly use action to create change, but not to rely on action alone.  They describe a technique entitled "The Emotional Journey" which encourages us to:

1. Find the thoughts that we need to release in order to release any fear that we may be holding.
2. Replace these thoughts with enlightened, positive expectations and beliefs and a pure sense of knowing that the situation that's holding us back will now "turn around".
3. Take an emotional journey from what's holding us back or from a fear we may be experiencing right now to a sense of trust, confidence and knowing that this undesired situation will now change.  This formula provides invaluable information on how deep inner listening combined with right action can result in powerful success.

A suggestion: Take a situation in your life and use the above wisdom to evaluate where you need to make change. 

• What areas do you need to strengthen?
• What is your commitment to this change?
• What will your life look and feel like when you have achieved your desired result?

Personally, when I combine the work of Napolean Hill with the work of Esther and Jerry Hicks, I find an immediate pathway to releasing thoughts that hold me back and a clear set of universal laws (Hill) that teach me that any situation can change when we learn to feel good about who we are in the present moment and when we allow the right values and universal laws to prevail in our lives.

Maureen Simon

You Have No Problems Though You Think You Have

"You Have no problems though you think you have"---The Course of Miracles

I recently read this quote and it touched me deeply. It reminded me of how much both my perception and thoughts effect every moment of my life. I have always felt guided and protected and have attempted to learn from both my past experiences and from the moment that I am currently in but have to admit, that like most of us, I experience days where challenges arise. I am learning to ride with the challenges like surfers ride the great waves. I was on the beach recently watching  the surfers "catch the waves". For many of us, meeting the waves with such intimacy would be a crisis or a great challenge. For the surfer it is an opportunity and a test of endurance and grace. I am moved by the way they  align themselves to smoothly  reach the shore as they blissfully enjoy the ride.

I believe that the perspective of the surfer one that we may want to invite into our lives on a regular basis as we look at our problems and challenges . I have been asking myself daily--what are the opportunities that I can learn from and build on from the great waves in my life and how can I ride the waves and live life with grace?

Maureen Simon

 

Are Women Adverse To Risk?

The key to living a fulfilling life is to understand that our greatest opportunities require us to move to a new level of uncertainty or risk...

Life is filled with many opportunities and possibilities.  How is it that one woman is comfortable leading a Fortune 100 corporation while another lacks confidence to move beyond simple day-to-day activities?  What does it take for us to move beyond fear and to arrive at our greatest unfufilled potential?  I'm sure many would comment that socialization, belief systems, our environment and relationships are key factors in determining who moves forward beyond our personal walls of fear and inadequacy.  We all have moments of weakness.  How do we move beyond these moments to achieve success and a more meaningful life?  I have a belief that we are all capable of achieving most of what our hearts desire.   In order to reach this level of assuredness, we must:

- Clearly identify what it is that we intend or plan to create.

- Evaluate our commitment to this creation and begin to understand how fear may be pushing us away from achieving this desire.  Identify any thoughts that may be holding you back.  Now think the next small positive thought that will bring you closer to being comfortable in achieving the desired outcome.

- Place time and attention on attracting our desired outcome (we get what we think about...whether we want it or not).  Make time each day to feel what it would be like if we had already achieved what we desire.  This level of thinking invites the desired creation closer to our world.

- Make a specific request from whatever greater power than ourselves that we wish to honor or acknowledge.

Once we have set the ground work in place, it is helpful to start to notice how we feel about our request.  Is it truly a priority?  Do we hold fear around receiving it?  What are the emotional indicators that we now need to pay attention to in order to truly attract this desired outcome? 

Many studies have shown that women are more cautious and risk averse than me.  Maybe this has to do with the role that we have played historically in  the world.  We have been the caretakers, the nurturers, the listeners... and often the peace makers.  We have often played a receptive role.  However, today it is essential that women call forth their voice and speak out about what they know to be true and value.  It is also essential that we learn to manifest all that we are capable of manifesting as the world needs our strength, clarity and wisdom - even if it requires us learning how to take major risks.

Maureen Simon

Living A Life Full Of Wonder

Growing up as a child, I was encouraged to notice and respect nature and to look for wonder throughout my world.  My parents are from Ireland and I now realize, after traveling the world, that the Irish have never left the land and have a natural sense of wonder.  The people hold a great reverence for the seen and the unseen.  As much time has passed, I have had an opportunity to notice to this day that when I allow wonder, play and creativity to unfold in my day, that I experience richness and great joy.

Life, when we take it too seriously, can be challenging .  I have come to realize  that in the smallest corners and moments there is lightness, joy and peace to be found.  Nature has taught me has taught me a great deal about the importance of wonder.

Maureen Simon

Do women truly understand the essential role that they hold in the world today?

"Ideas and products and messages and behaviors
spread just like viruses do". 
-- Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point

I believe that there has not been a time in modern history on a cross-cultural and global basis where men and women have stood side by side, providing leadership that equally respects and acknowledges both masculine and feminine attributes.  I believe that that time has now come.  It is now time for us to create a more equitable, harmonious and more successful business, political and community environments as we integrate the feminine and masculine traits.  Women have an opportunity to now step forward and to chose to make greater leadership contributions across these arenas by leveraging the innate feminine attributes that they have for so long set aside in order to adapt to the masculine culture that defines our world today.

So what will it take for a major awakening in women to occur?  How will women realize that when the strong feminine gifts that we hold are integrated in to the decisions of the world that healing of wars, corrupt businesses and our planet will follow?  Malcolm Gladwell in his brilliant book, "The Tipping Point", speaks about ideas, products, and messages spreading like viruses.  It is now time for women to understand and own the essential role that their feminine attributes contribute such as relationship building, web thinking, inclusive communication, to name a few.  These attributes must be honored and valued by ourselves before a tipping point in awareness or the collective conscience can occur.

As a woman, do you understand the unique and precious values and gifts that your feminine attributes can play in the world?  Where can you contribute your wisdom, knowledge and care to make a difference in the world?  We must understand and value the gifts of the feminine in order for there to be a tipping point that travels across the world and proudly claims - that women hold an essential role in the world today.

Maureen Simon