December 30, 2010 | 3:25 pm

Free Will and Resolutions

Posted by Misha Henckel

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Life is terrible! The economy sucks! And things are only getting worse.

I’ve been thinking about how messed up our world is and wondering just how things could have gotten this way. Or maybe they always were. But why? Why in all of creation are things here on earth so bad? And then it hit me, this is the land of FREE WILL. Here we have the right to choose for ourselves. We have the freedom to make every kind of bad choice. And it all adds up… to one colossal, global mess.

And there doesn’t seem to be a lot we can do about that.

But then I thought, even if we have a tendency to make mistakes, FREE WILL can also be used to focus on the good. And you know what they say, whatever you focus on expands.

So in contemplating my resolutions for the new calendar year, I’ve been tinkering with the idea of focusing on and embracing all the tiny little bits of good that exist, even in the midst of the mess.
Instead of lamenting the terrible economy, the political conflict, the global disasters, maybe I could embrace and enjoy my (thankfully, for now) excellent health, my beautiful kids and the precious little time I have before they go off to college, the unbelievable circle of friends and community that I have, and the truly special people that life has unexpectedly brought me.

We can spend a lifetime fighting with life, and with its unfairness and injustices. But life can also be sweet and filled with joy and beauty, and real pleasure. Those are the things that empower us to get up and deal with the very real challenges that we are duty-bound to address.

In 2011, I resolve to use my FREE WILL to seek out the beauty, the joy, the magic that is there in life and to share that with everyone I know.

Exercise your Free Will in the new year

Make a list of all that is good in your life. If you can’t think of anything, keep at it. You need to find at least 100 things, people, or qualities that are truly good. On January 1st put down the first thing, and each night after that add at least one item to the list. Take time to go over the list. Share it with your family and loved ones. Challenge them to do the same. During the day, choose to make your conversations focus on those good things and not all the challenges that surround you. At the dinner table, talk about what is wonderful in your family - that you have each other, that you get to share this time and this life together. Do the same with your friends when you see them. Remember focusing on the good creates more good. Then you can go do more good in the world.

Misha Henckel guides individuals to live their ideal lives. Follow her on Twitter @mishahenckel. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

December 16, 2010 | 8:27 am

The Power of Humility

Posted by Misha Henckel

Humility is not something we naturally seek out. It is a quality that we gain, generally against our will. We often spend our days doing our level best to avoid the kinds of circumstances that teach us humility. But humility brings many benefits. When you are truly humble, it means the hard shell of the ego has been cracked open and your essence can shine through. With your soul finally laid bare, your chances of life really working out for you are significantly greater. And there are very good reasons why.

Humility puts us in synch with the Universe, and opens up possibilities of Life working in new and perhaps easier ways. When we are humble we recognize that we are just human, that we will fail, and that we are all, eventually, in the same boat. This awareness can transform our relationships. With our hearts open, we begin to see others in a new light. And we become ready to give and receive love and kindness – that which nourishes and strengthens our inner self and our bonds with others. Humility may be exactly the tweaking we need for our lives to fall right into place.

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait for Life to humble us. We can practice humility by seeing ourselves in the eyes of our fellow human beings – whether it’s Angelina and Brad, the homeless man at the street corner, or the friend who is facing a great challenge.

Misha Henckel guides individuals to live their ideal lives. Follow her on Twitter @mishahenckel. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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December 10, 2010 | 1:09 pm

Trust

Posted by Misha Henckel

When clients start working with me, almost invariably, they come seeking a greater sense of control in their lives. The need for control is a very natural inclination for us. Control brings certainty in an uncertain world and with that comes a measure of security. Or so we hope.

Trouble is we plan and G-d so often has another design in mind.

In helping people find the deep inner sense of safety that they’re looking for, I guide them to do the opposite of that tendency to control. I teach them to surrender and to trust. Surrender to the flow of Life, and Trust that they have the capacity to match and rise above whatever Life may bring their way.

Life is always and entirely beyond our control. All we’re meant to do is accept it for what it is, recognize the flow and then show up for ourselves. Each of us has a unique role to dance in the much larger choreography of life. And that’s all we need to do. But we must do it. We must dance our dance. And we must trust that we are what it takes to live our particular life just the way it needs to be lived. Therein lies real security.

Misha Henckel guides individuals to live their ideal lives. Follow her on Twitter @mishahenckel. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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December 1, 2010 | 2:33 pm

Courage

Posted by Misha Henckel

It takes courage to keep moving forward when you don’t know exactly where you’re going, and when life’s twists and turns have left you more than a little unsure of yourself. It takes courage… And it takes a deep belief in oneself to not give up when it seems like the odds are stacked against you. The task may seem ominous, but we, humans, have the capacity to rise above, to forge ahead, to transcend. Not only can we do this, but we must! It is our very purpose - to take what life presents and to fashion from it something beautiful.

In these unusual days, it so important to remember that the impossible situation we may face is merely an opportunity that life is giving us, to find that part of ourselves where we are greater than the challenge, whatever it may be.

Happy Chanukah everyone!

Misha Henckel guides individuals to live their ideal lives. Follow her on Twitter @mishahenckel. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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