Author: Susan Hanshaw

Living Your Purpose: Getting Beyond the “But…”

/ Susan Hanshaw / 2 Comments

www.sanctuaryforchange.com

I am convinced that the only things standing in the way of all of us living as a joyful expression of our life’s purpose are the limiting beliefs that we ourselves create that act like barrier walls that keep us from reaching for our heart’s desires. As I mentioned in yesterday’s article, Learning to Trust Your Heart, I have witnessed many individuals move from feeling clueless about their purpose to recognizing some strong clues simply by being shown how and where to look. The next step then becomes a process of giving yourself the permission and dedication to tear down the walls that are standing in your way. Following are some of the most common obstacles along with some tips on how to overcome them.

“I can’t see how I can support myself financially.” I don’t mean to downplay what is a real concern for many people. Instead I invite you to look differently at supporting yourself through your passions than if you’ve been earning a paycheck for working a full-time job. Make a list of all the different ways you can generate income by doing what you love to do. Your financial support does not have to come from one single source. Your financial livelihood can be made up of many roles or services that you provide, all employing your passions. Maybe one particular role can’t generate enough money for you, but adding others into the mix might just bring in what you need.

“I don’t have the credentials.” Yes, I know, some fields do require licenses or certifications. But this does not apply for everything. Sometimes real-life experience is just as valuable, if not more, than formal credentials. If you are someone holding yourself back because you think you don’t have the right credentials, ask yourself if that is really true or if you are just using that as a convenient excuse to keep you from sticking your neck out.

“My life is too busy. I just don’t have the time to focus on my purpose.” Hogwash! If something is truly important to you, you can find a way to build it into your life. Make it a top priority and schedule your leisure time around it. Everyone who cares about you will understand. Even the smallest amount of time that you are able to commit provides you the opportunity to take steps forward. Remember that transition is not an overnight job. It’s an unfolding of baby steps.

“People will think I’m crazy to give up what I have.” This one hung over my head for the longest time. And I was delightfully surprised at how much support I got from those I didn’t expect who applauded my desire and guts to leave a secure path for the pursuit of a deeper happiness and sense of purpose.

“I can’t afford to reduce my income. I have bills to pay and my savings account is for my retirement.” I’ve been there, too. Why is it that most of us think nothing about taking a big wad of savings to invest in a house, a stock or mutual fund portfolio, yet won’t consider making an investment in our own lives? Yes, backing away from a secure career is a risk, yet look at the potential rewards. Think of it like any financial investment. It’s not to be made with short-term mentality. Over time you have the potential to be making as much or many times more than your current job.

If you have any “but…’s” that are not covered on this list, I invite you to email me for a perspective of how you can break through your obstacle.

Thanks for visiting. I wish you joy and courage on your journey to living your purpose.

Best,
Susan Hanshaw
susan@sanctuaryforchange.com

Learning to Trust Your Heart

/ Susan Hanshaw / 3 Comments

www.sanctuaryforchange.com

I’ve heard it said that we come to teach what we need to learn. This theory proved true for me the other night when I sat in front of a group of people who came to my class, Discovering Your Passions and Purpose. I learned a lot from this engaging group. Some of it was new and some just a reminder. But the biggest lesson was how similarly we all seem to go to battle with our hearts and our fears.

When I teach this class, I always begin by inviting each person to share what brought them to the class and where they are in their journey. Invariably, the majority of the participants will share that they know that what they are currently doing is not their calling, yet they don’t have a clue as to what is. Then the fun begins. Through the group discussion and exercises, nearly everyone will come to some revelation about what it is that they feel called to do. Yet these revelations are usually wrapped in a thick layer of insecurities and doubts, making these revelations feel a million miles away from realistic. I’m learning that my job now is to facilitate the process of breaking through those layers so that you can give your heart the opportunity to thrive. One of the most important steps in this process is learning to trust yourself. Here are a few ideas for you to consider for building that trust to say yes to what your heart wants to do:

  • Give your heart and your desires credibility. If your natural tendency is to believe that your desires are aimed to take you on a reckless path, try replacing that belief with one that says that your heart knows better than your mind about the direction that will provide you with the most joy and life fulfillment.
  • Think of your heart as a guiding compass rather than a will you must fight to protect yourself. Recognize that taking direction from your heart is the key to your happiness.  Consider your happiness as a better gauge for your personal success than your bank account.
  • The world needs the balance of all our gifts and talents. Being an artist or entertainer is just as important a role as being a doctor or teacher. Learn to see the value in what you are passionate about and the unique gifts you have been given.

Thanks for visiting.  I’m wishing you happiness in your heart.  Let me know if I can support you in any way.

Susan Hanshaw
susan@sanctuaryforchange.com

    Interview: Inspiration for Happiness

    / Susan Hanshaw / 3 Comments

    www.sanctuaryforchange.com

    shortmeditationcover.jpgsusangregg.jpg

    I am delighted to share my space here today with Dr. Susan Gregg, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Short Meditations. I had the honor of asking Susan some questions about the path to happiness and inner peace. I found her answers very inspiring and wanted to share them with you:

    SH: I understand that you were schooled in the ancient Toltec tradition with don Miguel Ruiz and Sister Sarita. What is it about the Toltec teachings that resonate so deeply with you?

    SG: Ever since I was a young girl I have been fascinated by the idea of freedom and the essence of the Toltec tradition is experiencing personal freedom.

    SH: The choice to feel happy is something you focus on in your teaching. Do you find happiness a more organic choice living in Hawaii than one might find living in the mainland states? What is it about Hawaii that calls you?

    SG: I believe we can be happy no matter what is happening around us – we can be in the midst of tremendous change and still be happy. So I can be happy in the middle of an airport when I have been traveling for 28 hours, as is the case when I go to Europe once a year to work in Lithuania.

    I love Hawaii. I love the people, the feel of the land, the smell of the air and the climate. It is easy to say of course I am happy – I live in paradise. I live in the country surrounded by luscious greenery. But the essence of what I teach people is how to be happy no matter what. I have seen people who are miserable in Hawaii. I love Hawaii so of course I live in a place that is most suited to me and reflects inner self.

    Happiness is always just a thought away – so I invite people to think that thought. I used to have a coffee mug that said blossom where you are planted – I blossom here and wherever you are you can blossom and grow too.


    SH:     A question was posed by one of my readers recently asking for some advice on how one can stay focused on positive thoughts despite the pull of the outside world. What would your advice be?


    SG:     Life is emotionally neutral. Life is and then we tell ourselves a story. I suggest people let go of the idea of positive and negative. When I watch the news I see events – some people make choices based on judgment and fear. If I perceive them as bad or judge them, it is like trying to put out a fire by throwing gasoline on it. So when I watch the news I send those people love.

    I find it much easier to change my perspective than to stop having negative thoughts. If I say don’t think about a red fire truck you immediately think about one. I frequently ask myself, “How can I see this through the eyes of love?” and “What would love do?” Seeing through the eyes of love allows me to see the love in everything.


    SH:     How did the decision to produce Idiot’s Guide to Short Meditations come to you?


    SG:     My literary agent contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in writing it. I love meditation and always do guided meditations for my groups so it seemed like a wonderful fit. I really enjoyed writing it and have gotten wonderful feedback from readers.


    SH:     What would your advice be for someone who wants to start a meditation practice, but doesn’t know how to begin or feels intimidated?


    SG:     The easiest way to start meditating is by simply focusing your attention on your breath. Whenever your mind wanders just gently bring it back to feeling your breath. I also suggest people set aside time each day to meditate – even if it is only a few minutes. Spiritual practices take practice and with practice meditation becomes easier and very rewarding.


    SH:     What would you tell them to expect in their early days of practice?


    SG:     They will have lots of thoughts and that’s okay. Just like going to a gym – if you go regularly and work out, eventually your body will get in shape. Allow meditation to be easy and allow whatever happens be okay. My mantra about meditation and life for that matter is allow it all to be easy and effortless and savor every moment. Savor learning how to meditate, you can only be new to meditation when you are new to it – so savor being new to the process.


    SH:     You have been a teacher of human potential for many years. How would you describe the evolution of human consciousness that you’ve experienced over the years?


    SG:     Life just keeps getting better and better. Once we connect with our spirit magic and miracles become a part of every day life. And I have watched people make it so much harder than it needs to be. I did for a long time until I realized I could enjoy it all.


    SH:     Is there any other specific message you’d like to leave with our readers here?


    SG:     Give yourself the gift of happiness. Be willing to let go of your limiting beliefs and allow yourself to feel the love that always surrounds you. We never experience life. What we actually experience is our personal story about life – change the story and your experience changes. Once you realize you are making up the story may as well make it a good one!

    SG: Thanks so much for having me. Aloha from paradise.

    I’d encourage you to check out Susan’s book. Follow the link to her site to obtain a personally autographed copy.

    Thanks for visiting. Here’s to choosing happiness!

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@susanhanshaw.com

    Do You Tolerate Fraud in Your Outer Persona?

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    In yesterday’s article, Are You Doing What You Came Here to Do?, I shared the benefits of living in alignment with your true self. Today I want to follow that up with some tips on how you can begin to get in deeper touch with who you really are and what you are here to do. Today’s focus is on discerning the difference between the self that you share with the outer world and the voice that flows inside of you.

    The key to knowing your true self is first in believing that there is a divine life that is you. It’s recognizing that who you really are is more than the role you play in your family or community, your job, your interests and the thoughts that run through your mind. Those things are all a part of the tapestry that makes up your physical self, yet they are really only the human legs for your divine self. Think of them like the machine and environment for your divine self to thrive and grow. With that idea as your framework, here are some practical tips for getting in touch and living in greater alignment with the soul of who you really are.

    Many of us begin this journey with an outer persona that we show the world and an inner self that we keep hidden. Sometimes we put so much focus on our outer persona that we are totally detached from the essence of who we are and what is calling our heart. You can begin to get in touch with who you really are by paying attention to where you feel out of alignment in your outer world. For example:

    • Does your work feed your soul or are you just in it for the paycheck? If your work doesn’t feed you, what would you love to do if money was not part of the equation? Don’t edit or judge the dreams that you have. Consider them as significant and credible clues to who you are and what you are here to do.
    • Give yourself quiet time to listen to your inner voice. Whenever you find yourself alone, reject the tendency to busy yourself. When you’re driving alone in your car, turn off the music and pay attention to what is going on inside of you. When you’re in a waiting room, don’t distract yourself with a magazine or newspaper. Just close your eyes and turn within. Don’t get hung up worrying about what other people are going to think. Get to know your inner voice. What does it dream about? What ideas might it have about you that you may be too afraid to share with anyone else? Give this voice and its instincts credibility and strive to follow it.
    • Consider your life experiences and ask yourself during what events did you feel most alive. Do you have a nagging desire that raises its head every once in awhile that you just keep pushing down because you tell yourself that you’ll never have the guts to go for it? Is there a common theme in what makes you feel alive and those desires that just don’t go away? If so, this is a major clue calling your attention to what you are here to do.
    • Surround yourself with people with whom you can show up authentically. Sometimes we hold on to relationships simply for the sake of history. The relationship may feel like a drain or no longer a fit, yet we don’t want to hurt that person so we continue on even when it doesn’t feel good. Yet any relationship that doesn’t give you the freedom or support to express what is in your heart limits your ability to live in fuller alignment with who you really are.
    • Begin to identify with yourself as your divine self and not your bodily self. Even if you are still fuzzy about who you really are, think about that concept throughout the day. Seek to start each day off with this thought. Don’t take your divine self too seriously, though. Have fun with the idea.

    Thanks for visiting. Stay tuned for more of this theme as it unfolds this week. Please feel free to email me if I can answer any questions.

    My best to you,

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com

    Meditation as Your Channel for Guidance

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    I remember my first introduction to meditation. It was in a college philosophy class in 1980. Our instructor had us lying flat on the floor for what seemed like an incredibly long time. I got absolutely nothing out of it except a lowered self esteem and a leeriness for all things “out there”. I walked out of that class scarred with the idea that I was just one of those people who couldn’t get the hang of meditation. Little did I know what incredible influence it would have on my life two decades later.

    For me, the biggest obstacle around meditation was getting to the point where I actually believed there was wisdom that was accessible to me. I had to learn to trust that the voice I heard or felt was credible. I had to learn to stop rationalizing the voice as something my mind had made up and just surrender to what was coming to me. I now think of meditation as a practice I treat like my physical workout. It’s necessary routine maintenance for my spirit. It keeps me tuned into who I really am and what I am here to do. It’s my sounding board and my channel for guidance.

    I wanted to share with you some understandings I’ve come to over the years which have enabled me to embrace a meditation practice which once felt strange and foreign. If you happen to be someone who experiences a similar challenge, you might make some breakthroughs by considering these beliefs:

    1. The essence of you is not your body. Your body is simply the vessel that holds the energy of your light and enables it to do its work here on earth.
    2. Each one of us is connected through the divine source from which we were created. The only thing that separates you from divine wisdom is your mind. Again, by letting go of the idea that you are a separate body, you gain the insight that you are a part of universal energy which you can tap into at any time.
    3. Your life has significance in this universe. You’re not running around this planet like an unassigned free agent. There is divine guidance available to support you in your purpose here. You simply need to ask for the guidance and expect that it will come to you.
    4. You are a child of God. There is something that God wants to accomplish through you. The understanding of this mission can be received by tuning in to your connection to God in the silence of your meditations.
    5. Your heart is your bodily center of your spirit. Trust what comes to you from your heart more than your analytical mind.

    I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about meditation. Stay tuned also for my special guest, Dr. Susan Gregg, who will appear in an interview here on Thursday, July 12th. Susan is the author of Complete Idiot’s Guide to Meditations. Check it out.

    Thank you for visiting. Wishing you a journey of wonder and joy.

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com
    www.sanctuaryforchange.com

    Joy: It’s Your Human Right

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    I’ve come to believe that one of the biggest challenges we must overcome is our ability to believe deep down that we deserve a life full of joy. We need to believe that a sense of purpose and passion is our human right. We need to give ourselves permission to create lives that set our hearts on fire. Somewhere along the line many of us bought into the belief that we should expect our life to be simply average.

    In my work I frequently see a chronic symptom of disconnect between our hearts and the lives we create. We’ve been conditioned to be driven by money, not love; and security, not passion.  Consequently, many of us have buried our truest yearnings so deeply that we can no longer feel them.

    Regardless of where you are on the joy scale, each day brings a new opportunity for its expression. What better way to start your day than by consciously asking what would bring you great joy and then focusing on that in some way? If there are some steps you need to take to receive that joy, then make a commitment to make even the tiniest of step. If you’re not in tune with what will bring you joy, then trust that this understanding will come to you through focusing on it.

    Remember that joy is not a selfish act. Consider it instead your human responsibility, one which honors creation by claiming the abundance of joy and love that is available to each and every one of us.  What are you serving by being a martyr to mediocrity?  Wouldn’t it be better to be a model for joy?

    Thank you for visiting.  May your mind be a magnet for abundance.

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com

    Tips for Maintaining Positive Energy

    / Susan Hanshaw / 2 Comments

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    In my article, Creative Energy in Motion, I talk about the significant power of positive thoughts in helping you to manifest whatever it is that you desire. I received an excellent question about this idea which reminded me of just how powerful this principle is. It is such an important component in the manifestation process that I wanted to devote more space to it here. The question—

    “How do I maintain a constant positive thought process without letting the outside world interfere with my inner being?”

    Positive thinking really can become a habit if you work on it. It just takes practice. There are many things you can do to practice:

    1. Begin every day with some kind of practice that reminds you that you are a creative being with a creative process that takes place in your mind. Make a habit several times throughout the day to remind yourself by bringing this idea to your awareness.
    2. Be aware of your thoughts and the control that you have over them. If you catch yourself thinking negatively, stop the thought and replace it with a positive one.
    3. Approach your world from a place of gratitude. Focus as much as possible on all the things you have to be grateful about. It’s impossible to experience a negative thought while you are dwelling in gratitude.
    4. Develop a strong faith in the good of the Universe. Expect that all your needs will be met and that you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
    5. Think of your mind as a sacred place and protect it. Don’t allow yourself to participate in negative energy. Claim your power to change or remove yourself from negative environments.
    6. Look for beauty in everything you encounter.
    7. Think of your experience of life like starring in a movie that takes place in your mind. If you want to experience happiness, think happy thoughts. If you want to be miserable, fill your mind with negative thoughts.

    Remember that you don’t have to put up with the negative thoughts that may seem to naturally dart through your mind. They may continue to show up uninvited, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them in the door to visit.

    Thank you for visiting. Here’s to an amazing journey!

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com
    www.sanctuaryforchange.com

    Note: If you are reading this from a feed and the video does not come through, click here to be redirected to my blog site.

    Dare to Break Your Human Mold

    / Susan Hanshaw / 2 Comments

    A Course in Miracles talks about time as being simply a resource for us in learning to remember who and what we really are and our connection to all of life. This is another example of a lesson that I can grasp intellectually, yet until it makes its way to my heart, I truly don’t get it. Even if I think I do.

    I have been focusing a lot in recent days about trying to live in greater alignment with who I am and what I think I am here to do. Yet when I awaken each morning my thoughts immediately jump to my physical presence. Is my automated coffee maker finished brewing? Is Dean up? What’s the weather like? What time is my first appointment? What am I going to wear? When will I fit my run in? As someone whose focus is on spiritual awakening, this frustrates me. What is it going to take for me to physically and mentally embrace the essence that I feel in my heart? I’m done with feeling like I spend so much of my time living my spiritual life from the outside like it were some fantasy baseball game. I want to play the real game from the inside.

    I know. You might respond to my frustrations by telling me to just relax and allow myself to be human. But I’m sorry. I want more than that. I want to fully walk my own talk as well as the words of wisdom of all the others who have enlightened me.

    The good news is that I believe I have the where-with-all to do this. I look back on other times in my life where I’ve made great change by putting my mind to it. When I was 20, I woke up one day tired of being a fat young woman and I completely changed my eating habits. At 30, I stopped being a closet smoker the day I moved into a new apartment. When I was 35, I got a glimpse of how strong I really am when my husband walked out on me. At 45, I got the courage to say good-bye to a 20-year career that no longer fed me. Now, six weeks short of my 48th birthday, I feel ready to take on a new step. And I ask, why should this be any different? Does living as a true expression of your spiritual light have to be an impossible dream?

    So on this luscious June day I share with you that I have begun to dare myself to approach my life differently. I set the intention to remind myself constantly of who I really am and to think and act on that accordingly. I do this with the hopeful expectation that this is how habits are created. Haven’t we been taught that practice makes perfect?

    I invite you also to join with me and create your own intention to live more fully from your spiritual light. In numbers we can begin to break the mold and return to our natural state of being.

    Thank you for visiting.

    In light,
    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com

    Creative Energy in Motion

    / Susan Hanshaw / 6 Comments

    I don’t know about you, but I am patience challenged. When I want to manifest something, I want it to happen overnight. Yet I’ve learned that you cannot manifest something that has not been first cultivated in your mind. The Law of Attraction isn’t like rubbing a magic lantern and walking away, waiting for a wish to be granted. It’s about building something from the inside out. It’s about using your mind to diagram what it is that you wish to create, then supporting its form through the thoughts and words you express about it.

    Your thoughts are the building blocks for what you experience in life. Whatever you create first begins as an idea in your mind. As you think more and more about your idea, it begins to build momentum. Once your idea becomes stronger, you begin talking about it. The energy of your spoken words lights a fire under the building momentum. Soon there is tremendous energy behind it. Your idea is now whirling in motion with such forceful energy that it begins to attract whatever is needed to complete its vision. This is creative energy in motion. You keep the creative energy whirling as you stay aligned with your vision through your thoughts, words, and actions. This energy will continue to attract whatever is in alignment with it.

    Think of your thoughts and words as being like atoms that produce energy. Different kinds of thoughts are expressed as different vibrations of energy. Perhaps you’ve felt the difference in energy between a “yes” and a “no” answer. Thoughts of prosperity and health vibrate at a different level than those of lack or negativity. Think of prosperous and healthy thoughts as nourishing vitamins for the growth of your creation. Think of thoughts of lack or other types of negativity as stunting the growth of your creation. With every thought and every word you express, you either bring your intention closer or push it further away. This makes it very important to be conscious of your thoughts as well as the words that you send out to the universe.

    So whenever you are thinking or talking about a desire you have, ask yourself if you are bringing it closer or pushing it away. It’s not that hard. It just requires that you pay attention. But isn’t it worth it?

    Thank you for visiting. Please email me if I can answer any questions you have.

    Here’s to an amazing journey!

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com

    cultivating the power of your words

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    Many of us are waking up to the idea that whatever manifests in your life is a result of your thoughts.  This awareness brings with it the importance of monitoring your thoughts.  Most of us were not taught to associate thoughts or words as having energy, yet their fueling power is enormous.  We are now a society that recognizes that our bodies are a result of what we eat.  We have also come to appreciate that our environment is a product of what we dump into it.  Following these two awakenings is the idea that your experiences are a result of your thoughts.

    Consider also the power of your words.  They are thoughts you have charged into motion through verbal energy.  Just like carbon atoms can turn a piece of fresh bread into burnt toast, negative words can handicap your greatest intent.  And with enough volume, negative thinking can be crippling.

    You must be conscious of the power that your words have in the creation process.  Think of your words as either nutritious fuel or poisonous gas and mind yourself accordingly.  This requires a commitment to honor your truth with the words you choose.  It requires that you take great care with your words, whether you are speaking to yourself, your partner, or a stranger at a party.

    Sometimes out of fear of how we will be received, we may protect ourselves and our true desires by tossing words out into the Universe that don’t at all support the direction we wish to move towards.  Without being conscious about the power of your words, you can dump a puddle of poisonous gas on your most cherished dream.

    If you truly believed in the power of your thoughts and words, would you be willing to extend some energy in monitoring them?  Are you willing to begin now?

    Thanks for visiting.  I’m wishing you an amazing journey.

    Susan Hanshaw
    susan@sanctuaryforchange.com