I just returned yesterday from the trip to Seattle. We had three wonderful classes with great people--How to Increase Synchronicity, Getting Past Fear to Make Changes, and Intro to Passion and Life Purpose.  When I asked for a few people to share what points they got out of the classes, they said

"When you have a fear about something, try to come up with a tangible goal or first step to deal with that fear."  For example, one woman had a fear that she wouldn't be able to express her desire to write.  In this case, she decided she had to mark in her calendar one hour (or less) a week when she would sit at her computer and write, no matter what.  If she couldn't make it, then she had to reschedule that time again by writing it down in her calendar."

We all have big "fears" about becoming a bag lady or never fulfilling our potential.  Those fears--when left alone in our head to cycle over and over again-- are not empowering. What gives us what we actually want is the power to move forward--which we can only do by taking action--for example, committing to putting away a portion of our earnings in a savings account, or beginning to buy a reputable mutual fund for our retirement.  So many times we fear that we are not brilliant enough to success.  Brilliance or having a special talent are not the only requirements, or even guarantees of success.  A more reliable key to success is consistent action in the direction you want to go.

Another comment by a participant was about our exercise where I asked peple to rate the segment of their life they were happiest with right now--such as career, income, savings, physical fitness, relationships, etc.  Then I had them write down 3-4 factors which they thought contributed to the success in that area.  Next, I asked them to identify one area of life that they wanted to improve, and to list specifically, how they could use their success factors from the other area to this less-satisfactory area.  Some people got a big insight about how they can work to improve something--specifically.  

Success factors tend to be

consistent involvement

networking

keeping in touch with people

researching

moving out of your comfort zone when necessary

doing things you love to do

Thank you to all those I met in Seattle--

And big KUDOS  to the Seattle Art Museum!!  They have some stunning exhibits (I loved the seven white cars suspended from the ceiling and spiraling through a simulated crash--complete with flashing nerves of light. 

I was beside myself with joy when I viewed a case of several exquistely thin and clear, slightly greenish handblown vases and bowls by a glass blower names Julius Alexander.

In addition to the bowls and vases, there is an big  glass "hairpin" about six or seven inches long decorated with a glass ball.   As I read the description, I began to realize I was looking at pieces of perfectly intact glass from  the third century A.D.!!   The glass hairpin was a  gift from Julius Alexander to his wife.  He died before her, so she placed the glass hairpin by the side of his head in his tomb.   This exhibit is one of the best things that I have ever seen in my life--especially, knowing that this couple loved each other, and that their love is still being expressed by this hairpin 1700 years later!

One last thought from the weekend.  My friend, Gary McAvoy and I watched the DVD,  Letters from Iwo Jima.  It is always hard to watch the scenes of war, but near the end of this  movie, I was flooded by the idea that love and compassion are the only things that matter in life.  When the letters flowed down at the end, I was moved to tears.  Clint Eastwood is in those ranks of great masters in other art forms,  in being able to paint a canvas that moves us to remember and strive to express the best of humanity. Acts of kindness and expressions of love-- such as the letters from the soldiers and the centuries-old hairpin--are what make life bearable and worthwhile.