Are You Trying Too Hard?

During these last two days,  I had the privilege of working with Donna Messer and 12 amazing business women.  The purpose of the days was to become clear about our next phase or a new business idea and share networks and resources.  Donna is a walking encyclopaedia of resources.  Even though our heads hurt with the volume of information and action items it was a good experience.  This morning, one of the participants sent this note: “Awesome day… Slept like a baby, first time in months”.

For me, I have decided to create an on-line program and wanted a really cool name.  I have been noodling possibilities for a month or more and nothing gave me the goose bump results that I have been looking for.  I came up with lots for other people but couldn’t come up with my own.  I was getting frustrated and yet knew it would come. Donna said to me “You are trying too hard”.

That evening at dinner, it popped out of the conversation.  I am not going to tell you what it is until we officially launch it and I get the name registered etc.  The important key is that when I stopped trying to make it happen – it could come. 

The next morning two interest things happened.  I have a Nordic pole walking partner and we walk at 7 in the morning.  She wasn’t feeling well and cancelled the evening before. Normally this would be my excuse to sleep in.  But this time, I knew that I needed to get up and walk by myself.  I walked to the river and watched the mist, the enchanting sunrise and went into a Pure Awareness state as is my habit.  My daughter had put a number of high energy songs on my iPod and just at this time, while in the Pure Awareness state, Michael Jackson’s song “Children of the World” started playing.  It was magical.

Part of my process has been asking the question: What is the essence of what I do and how can I explain it? I got shivers and cried as Michael sang

Make the world a better place for you and for me

There is a love that cannot die

Stop existing and start living

Make a better world

I got it! The essence of my work is helping people stop existing and start living and then make the world a better place for themselves. It is only when they have made the world a better place for themselves that  they can make it a better place for others.  And each person has the power to do that but it is an inside job. So many of us, including Michael think that it is something outside of us that will make my world a better place – it’s not – it is an inside job!

I also got that if Michael had Core Dynamics Coaching – he wouldn’t have needed all the ways of numbing his pain or power.  WE are all one – Michael is just reflecting back to us how we are doing the same.  He did it in a big and dramatic way.  We are doing it in our own way, but I know in my heart of hearts that it doesn’t have to be that way for anyone. We all have the power to make our experience of our world meaningful and fulfilling. Some of us are carrying some beliefs, baggage and stories that this is not possible for them.  I don’t buy it.

After the Michael experience – which was odd on the day of the release of his movie, the first person that arrived walked in the door said “Cora … the title of my new workshop”.  (I know, I am watching too many dance reality shows but you will have to wait for the launch J) I was getting the confirmation that I needed.

This whole experience reminded me of something that Esther Hicks teaches.  She says that the energy of our questions and the energy of the answers are entirely different.  We ask our question from a place of lack or neediness.  We don’t get our answers when we are in this state. 

The answers come when we are receptive, open and calm and often when we are not looking for them. Stop trying so hard. It is important to ask our questions and change our state to receive our answers.  Because when we get our answers from knowing … nothing can stop us.

Thanks Universe for the reminder.

Cora Whittington