Women in the LEAD

The Mind: How Our Beliefs and Thoughts Inform Our Perceptions

“There is no limit on your learning because there is no limit on your mind.

The source of all our experience is the mind.  The true nature of the mind, says the Course, is limitless transcendent awareness and creative power.  However, our mistaken thoughts and beliefs, which direct the mind’s activity, have distorted and constricted it. Consequently we must change our thoughts and beliefs in order to correct our perception and to restore the mind to its full potential.”

                                          -          Accept This Gift, Selections in a Course of Miracles, Vaughan

Take a look at your thoughts.  No, I mean it.  Actually stop and notice what beliefs and thoughts fill your mind.  It really is as simple as that.  If we can comprehend and believe- that where we place our thoughts actions will follow.  That is why it is so important that we notice our thoughts.  The mind is limitless, when we change our thoughts and beliefs to thoughts of greater potential our lives also change for the better.  For it is our thoughts that inform us of our perceptions.

What thoughts are filling your mind right now?  Do these thoughts serve you to your greatest good?

Maureen Simon

WOMEN: Taking Personal Responsibility Our Own Way

I've been reading lately some sad reviews on the fact that women don't VOTE, especially young women. CNN has been running a piece today profiling a couple of hard-working women, saying that they just don't have time and it's really not going to change their lives one way or the other. I remember when I actually had this same attitude and belief --- and my life was so overwhelmed with work and family that I somehow just never made it the polls. Afterall, what good could my single vote do, especially when I was uninformed anyway? Even too busy to get informed at the time. IMAGINE THE IMPLICATIONS of such indifference, if all women took on this same attitude. If it isn't us, who is it that will take personal responsibility for our countries and our planet and the well-being for our children and families? So, extracting yourself isn't really just about you. It is about you + me + her + and her + and her. The future rests in our hands, collectively ... and perhaps individually.

CALL-TO-ACTION for WOMEN
At this time in history, there is almost a siren sounding call-to-action for WOMEN to step up and lead the way. It doesn't mean that you have to necessarily get heavily involved in partisan politics, but it does mean that you need to get informed and look at what YOU CAN DO right where you are. Each one of us has a contribution to make in our spans of influence --- what YOU CAN DO may be very different than what I can do, but together, when you add up all our individual changes in consciousness and even seemingly small actions, you have a whole lot of powerful things being done for the good of others, our nation, your nation and our planet ---- good that impacts the lives of others and maybe your own.

ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY?

ARE YOU BE WILLING TO LISTEN and LEARN FROM OTHERS?

Recently, nine Berrett-Koehler authors came together to talk about PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: It's role in creating a better world. It was then  produced to share with the world in an innovative audio/visual podcast. Why? I suppose it was in answer to the question about WHAT WE COULD DO to engage with others.

Here is an OVERVIEW:

The BK Currents Authors' Dialogue on PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is an invitation to think, question, explore ideas and get involved right where you are. First, meet each of the authors. The dialogue is then seeded with diverse perspectives from John Perkins, Angeles Arrien and Alex Pattakos. A total of nine bestselling and award-winning authors explore these key questions in an Open Forum:

What does personal responsibility mean to you?
What will it take on a social, global and personal level to institute change?
What can we all contribute using our talent, our voices, our votes and our influence?
I want to personally invite you to listen in (the dialogue plays on WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER). Our intent was not to get political --- but to over others a chance to think and question with us.

CLICK HERE to learn more and listen  (complimentary; no registration required)

As I think of how to close this off, I hear Rumi, the mystic Persian poet over 2000 years ago whispering his wisdom to all of us at a new time:

"...the world is reeling; its heart is sick
and you are one who can serve as an influence for good
...be with people. Lead the way. Be a teacher by example."
---- RUMI

With gratitude to each of you in our community...
IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD DO TOGETHER?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy, founder
Global Dialogue Center, Home of Women in the LEAD

Each Friend Represents a World in Us

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."  -Anais Nin

Women and friendship go hand in hand.  We hold dominant attributes in the area of relationship building, care and compassion, and the ability to see the whole.  I am in no way discounting men’s ability to form significant relationships and to hold long term deeply connected relationships.  But there is something deep and unique reflected in the relationships of women that I know.  Many of my close friends write or call at very perceptive times in my life. I notice that I do the same.  We tend to retain feel and hold our shared histories close to our hearts.  And each new friend comes with a world of aliveness and possibility that allows new worlds to be born.

Friendship is sacred.  Close friends in my world are made with great care.  I hold in great gratitude the special sisters in my life for all that they have given to me and for all that we have shared.

Take a moment to look at who the sisters are in your life that have made the greatest impact, who have allowed for a world of possibility to be born within you.
 

Maureen Simon

Visit Women in the Lead at the Global Dialogue Center

The Fine Line Between Acceptance of What Is and Willful Manifestation

“All Nature is but art unknown to thee,
All chance, direction which thou canst not see;
All discord harmony not understood;
All partial evil, universal good;
And, spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite,
One truth is clear,
Whatever is, is right”

- Alexander Pope

Life is a fine line between acceptance of what is and willful manifestation.  Learning to flow with what life offers, is a fine art that many people today speak of as “going with the flow.” Going with the flow is an essential lesson that can bring great ease and grace to our life. At the same time we must learn how to not accept things that do not serve our higher good.  It is in the balance of these two that some of our greatest life lessons can be learned.  Live what is most important to you by learning what you most highly value.  When we know what we most highly value we can use strong judgment which will lead us to a strong sense of knowing what to accept and not accept in our lives.

-Maureen Simon

Connecting to the Highest Good for All

“ It's an interesting thing: More injustices, more discomfort, and more unhappiness is projected at others under the name of righteousness, under the name of law abiding, under the name of law, and under the name of religion, than all other things put together.”
Jerry and Esther Hicks

If we as a planet were truly in alignment we would never harm another. If we look around the world and measure the state of the world against this divine principle we can start to the gap—the distance that we must come to achieve harmony on this planet. What do we now need to do individually to create this essential harmony? How can our laws and intentions really include the highest good of all? What is your role?

Maureen Simon

Creating Affluence in Your Life

“Affluence is the experience in which our needs are easily met and our desires spontaneously fulfilled.  We feel joy, health, happiness, and vitality in every moment of our existence. 

When we are grounded in the nature of reality and we also know that this same reality is our own nature, then we realize that we can create anything, because all of material creation has the same origin.  Nature goes to the same place create a cluster of nebulas, a galaxy of stars, a rain forest, or a human body as it goes to create a thought.”

Creating Affluence

Deepak Chopra

One of the greatest challenges that women face is our need to gain comfort with affluence and abundance.  Our dominant attributes to care and provide compassion and support sometimes get in our way and limit our own ability to receive.  For it is only when we are fully capable of receiving that we can truly give.  Affluence and abundance are our natural state of being.  Take a look at your life and decide where more abundance, life force, and affluence can benefit you.  Don’t be afraid to claim it, it is your natural birth right.

Maureen Simon

True Qualities of Leadership

Tao leaders

Are wise as the ages

Their depth cannot be sounded,

Yet we can describe their actions:

Mindful, as if crossing an icy stream;

Focused, as in the midst of danger;

Respectful, as if an honored guest;

Fluid, as melting ice;

Honest, as an uncarved block of wood;

Open, as a yielding valley;

Blending, as if earth and water.

                                                                                    -Tao, 15

Yes, wisdom, depth and deeply thought out actions that benefit the whole are central to high level leadership; as are focus, respect, honesty and a sense of oneness and compassion with the people that you are in service to.

To take on any role that places you in a position of responsibility for others growth and guidance is a commitment well worth careful thought and consideration. It is essential to look at your own personal motives as well as to fully understand the potential contribution and support that you can provide. It is also essential to be open to gaining support and guidance in the areas where you yourself need growth. Good mentors, teachers and leaders have their supports as well.

I often question how it is that many of our world’s current leaders have actually made it to the helm of our world. I often question what their true intentions are. For years I worked in the record industry. During this time I met many people of fame and influence. I always watched closely to see how they respected or did not respect those around them as for me how they treated those close to them said so much. I was also delighted to find some very prominent, well known people with great warmth and compassion and humility. When power is available to us we need to be in close check with the purity of why we are leading and who will actually benefit from our service. After all-- leadership is a vehicle to serve the greater good of all.

Maureen Simon

                                                                                                               

In the Depths of Your Life

“It is in the depths of your life that you will discover the invisible necessity that has brought you here.  When you begin to decipher this, your gift and giftedness come alive.  Your heart quickens and the urgency of living rekindles your creativity.”

John O’Donohue Anam  Cara

It is only when we fully know the reason that we are here can we live in a fully inspired way.  The road to this destination can sometimes feel long and winding.  People often speak of confusion, fear and a lack of clarity setting in.

There are all part of the journey; the journey of knowing.  They are actually some very clear indicators that can guide us along the way.  I have always learned to check in and observe how I feel in different environments.  This has been my greatest guide.  We often believe that we should ignore our feelings in order to achieve, push, drive or reach a given result.  I am no longer convinced that this is true.

Another great indicator or guide to discovering why you are actually here is to listen in silence- observing signs, patterns and repeated feelings.  Through silence much is revealed. 

There is a great joy in understanding the purpose of your life.  A lightness, a sense of knowing and a joy prevail.  Pay attention, begin to observe what feels good, listen for signs and synchronicities.  The answer is much closer that you think.

Maureen Simon

Love and Gratitude Can Change Our Lives

Right now with all that is going on in the world, we all need to refocus our attention on love and gratitude. It would change so many things.

Dr. Masaru Emoto in Japan has had some astonishing discovering about water and its hidden messages for us. Are you familiar with is work? It has spread throughout the world, making us all think and question. His work was featured in the landmark film, "What the Bleep Do We Know!".

At the Global Dialogue Center, we have an online self-learning exhibit at our Knowledge Gallery that honors Dr. Emoto's work ---- Wisdom in Water. We invite you to visit. You can see and learn how our words, music, and our actions and behavior ----and particularly love and gratitude truly impact our lives in our roles as leaders, mothers, wives and partners---and influence the lives of those all around us.

In his book, the True Power of Water: Healing and Discovering Ourselves, he writes...

"Love" and "Gratitude" Change the World. Water responded to words used to talk with children. This made me think that water might respond to information regarding mothers and fathers who pour love on their offspring. After writing various words on paper, we showed them to water."

The words Dr. Emoto selected for the experiment included words that hold a sense of love and gratitude, including: "the taste of mother's cooking," "mother's care," "wife and mother-in-law," "umbilical cord," "happy home," childbirth," "mother's milk," "child care," and "sense of security." Except for one, all of these words resulted in forming wonderful crystals. "Wife and mother-in-law" didn't form a complete crystal.  The results of exposing the water to these words showed that water responds sensitively to words which carry a sense of "love" and "gratitude." He writes in conclusion... "Water was affected by the vibration with the feeling of 'love' and 'gratitude.' This must be true with you who are water and the world you are in."

Go see the online exhibit now. In just a few minutes, you will see all he says come to life in amazing pictures that truly tell the story of the Wisdom in Water that can change our lives and our world.

With love and gratitude for all of you...

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center 
Home of Women in the Lead