When I asked you “what is one thing that makes you feel awakened?” in the Introductory Module, you all had a very specific moment you described. It’s real. You ARE already living it.

How you feel in that moment is a great tool - a compass so to speak to guide you OUT of your stuck place and TOWARD the life where you would feel more of that specific feeling (being awakened) and less of the unpleasant, stuck feelings you wish to move away from.

You know exactly how you want to feel and experience life - that moment you described contains that information - it’s your map, your ‘secret code.’

I am NOT at all saying that any of us can stay CONSTANTLY in that feeling of joy, freedom and bliss, but what we all are able to do is develop a practice in which we become more and more aware of those moments, and then be able to maximize them (be fully present and engaged in them) and begin to create more of them.

The practice I offer here is a result of several years of pretty involved and focused work (just ask my husband about it.. :)

I spent years working with therapists and coaches on whatever the ‘issue of the year, month, day or the moment’ was. The reality was, I was in a repeating cycle, stuck in emotional pain which manifested itself on all the other areas of my life.

At my turning point, I decided to address my ‘core issue,’ which was fear of not being enough.

Fear of being rejected, not worthy of love. Fear that I don’t matter.

I read self-help books, took on-line courses, spent hours in prayer and meditation, asked everyone I knew to send me their prayers, watched TED talks, and hired life-coaches.

All this work came together one night, when I got on my knees. Instead of praying for a miracle ‘from above’, I laid a few poster boards on the ground. I got a box of markers (courtesy of my three school children) and over the course of several days and late evenings, I drew, sketched, outlined, doodled and colored my life’s journey. I also cried, giggled, sighed and exhaled in relief.

The picture that emerged revealed a few things to me:

First, life is inevitably a roller coaster with ups and downs, scary drops, screams, laughter and feeling of exhilaration, helplessness, and yes, out of control. Not my thing. I preferred a pretty carousel on which I could sit pretty, be comfortable and smile for the pictures. And also be stuck with the looping music that can drive you mad - or numb you into sleep.

Second, I noticed that there were FIVE steps which, spread over the span of 20 years, brought me to my turning point.

When I took those five steps and applied them to any of my ‘micro’ situations, my ‘issue of the moment’ (like launching a new brand, starting a TV show, working through the struggles with my husband, developing healthy habits, etc...) they also ‘proved’ do deliver positive results.

I started to practice these steps, not only to manage painful situations, or achieve success in my work, but also to feel more awakened in my ordinary every-day-kind of life (where we spend MOST of our time anyway.) I became calmer, healthier, more joyful and more confident. I also became a better communicator and a better listener. This improved drastically my marriage and my business relationships. It deepened my relationship with God. I was no longer afraid.

I’m excited to teach this practice to you and help you use it, modify it or develop your own - inspired by what you learn in this course.

So, here are the Five Steps.

A previous participant in this course, created this acronym: BEING you...
1. Be Connected
2. External Shift
3. Internal Shift
4. Now and Here - Commit and Practice
5. Give Back and Pay Forward

And here is the picture of my roller coaster ride:
(You’ll notice that what I call ‘inner voice’ - the whisper in my soul where God speaks to me - would lift me up every time, and the ‘fear and VOJ’ - voice of judgment that told me I wasn’t enough, that I didn’t really matter - would always bring me down. What happened after my last turning point is that I identified the VOJ and made a shift away from it, so it no longer has the power over me.)

Now, after the shift, I am able to keep expanding, growing and contributing to all of the areas of life: self-care and well being/ health, my family and relationships, finances, work and career, and fulfilling my purpose of bringing love and light to the world around me.

Because I have shifted away from the one thing that kept me stuck - that kept bringing me down, I am able to allow the Inner Voice to guide me and keep lifting me up.

When I think of how I want to live, what my 'perfect day' looks like, all of these areas are well balanced, and I feel relaxed, fulfilled and filled with life energy and love.

Now, mark this lesson "complete" and let's look at the place YOU want to be after your turning point.