The Tale of the Runaway Mouth

Please note that this tale of the runaway mouth is told in first person — from the perspective of said mouth. Any similarity to any person living or deceased is purely coincidental. 

Busy. Busy. Busy. Gotta go. Gotta go. In overdrive my runaway mouth bursts into the day. So intent on sharing my thoughts, I do not stop to connect the dots of my words with the dots of my thoughts. I do not even think to dig deep to discover the roots of said thoughts and words. As my mouth runs away, I am not even aware how my words wound another. 

Now, believe me, I am not a bad person. In those moments when my judgments and assumptions get the best of me, I am an unaware. I find myself saying things that make no sense or are more than a tad judgmental. I miss cues. I just don’t listen to what another person says or even how I reply. 

This could have gone on forever — my runaway mouth syndrome. I’d like to believe that I am a runaway mouth in recovery. One day, after an effusively self righteous spewing, I took a breath. And, in that gap filled silence, a voice resounded deep within. “What. Were. You. Thinking?” I wasn’t expecting it, so I was taken about. Trapped mindfully in that moment, I answered the question. 

Doing what I did best, I ran to answer it. And, you know what? I did not like what I found. For, the answer was simply, “I was not thinking.”  And, those four words changed my life. I cannot tell you that I am 100% reformed, but I do have my moments of mindful clarity where I navigate my judgments and assumptions and respond with compassion.

The funny thing is that once I opened to listening to my assumptions and judgments, they came bubbling out at the most inopportune times. They highlighted the not so accurate parts of my reality. Humbled, I knew that I had a choice — to fumble through life unaware or to be mindfully impeccable.

Well, you can probably guess my choice. I chose to be impeccable as I listen to understand. I quietly formulate my thoughts after another speaks. While I am aware of my internal monologue’s propensity to sabotage my conversations, I speak from my heart.

So, that is my story of my runaway mouth’s journey to recovery. Do you have a story? How do you slow the racing and share  from your heart?

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Life Coach through Intuitive Connection, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations. 

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Beep. Beep. Beep: The Serenade of Change

Beep. Beep. Beep. A reminder that the construction of  multifamily housing is happening behind my home. As what remained of the wooded area began to leaf out, I could forget about the new construction and the destruction of green space and wildlife habitat. Everything was okay because “out of sight, out of mind,” right?” Not really.

How many times do we convince our self that what was happening in our life was just fine even though it was not? How many times have we ignored the signs that something is not quite right? Although everything may appear okay, we cannot ignore what is wrong. Beep. Beep. Beep. 

No longer able to live within the leafy greens of denial, we cannot afford to be stuck in the discouragement that this change is not working for us. No, it is time to take a step back and look from a different angle. Instead of bemoaning the change we do not like, we reframe to the positive.

We do not deepen the illusion of all is well. When we hear the beep, beep, beep, we embrace whatever aspect of change calls to us. For we realize that while change is inevitable, our response to it facilitates an easier transition. The reframe is a courageous act that calms fears. 

For we say to our self, “change is inevitable, but I have the skills and the fortitude to ride that thermal into transformation. Those winds may be gusty and my flight rocky, but I have the power, the courage to ride the winds of change into the best possible me.” With this acceptance, we are ready to explore change not as a scary proposition but as a window into a new way of being. 

What is next? We set our intent to recognize and act upon each opportunity that draws us further into change and away from the worn parts of our life that aren’t working. As we let go, we grieve over and over again until the toxic residue of old flushes from our life. Then we see clearly what can be.

Maybe, just maybe, we spend time enjoying that wooded area with teeming life. We enjoy the slimmed down woods as a reflection of who we are and who we are becoming. Perhaps we find opportunities to invite more greening into our life. After all, spring is a time of renewal, isn’t it? 

Beep. Beep. Beep. Change is inevitable, but we do not need to stay stuck in a place of a world transforming without us. No, we can find our own transformation by owning who we are and  embracing the powerful reminder of those three little beeps. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Life Coach through Intuitive Connection, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

A Tale of Fear and Courage

Fear an unsettling feeling that something is not quite right. When unchecked, it blossoms into a full on somatic experience that paralyzes us; has us dashing hope. We triple deadbolt the door of our soul and hide in the closet of our heart. If we ignore it, fear will go away, right? No. It becomes overwhelming when ignored.

Overwhelmed, we hear Fear’s voice whispering, “Why try if you are doomed to failure?” Those words extinguish the light of hope. In fear’s darkness, all we can see are the shadow portents of doom racing across our soul. Fear eclipses everything until who we are is not who we are meant to be.

So, how do we slip from the grasp of fear? How can we navigate around what threatens to paralyze us? How do we break free of what ensnares us? How do we take a step back from Fear and launch our self into possibility?

Those are tall questions with even taller answers. For while we may never be able to totally break free of fear, we can learn to name it, befriend it, and live courageously with it. Courage is the key that unlocks our paralysis and allows us to really live. 

Courage doesn’t runaway. It doesn’t get stuck in the vacuum of hopelessness. Courage takes a deep breath, anchors in the moment, slowly turns to face Fear, and looks it in the eye. With gentle confidence, Courage whispers, “You may scare me, but I will not let you paralyze me into inaction.” 

Courage loves Fear for it recognizes that Fear is a lost and lonely child adrift in the land of illusions. The illusions wrap around our dreams making them seem not only impossible, but also ridiculed and vilified. Courage cuddles this lost child close to its bosom. Calming Fear, Courage chants, “It’s okay, you’re okay. Together we will navigate the illusion to truth.”

Courage showers Fear with unconditional love and compassion. For Courage recognizes that without Fear, it would be powerless. Courage would be asleep to the world filled with casted shadows of doubt. Courage knows that it is an echo of itself in the absence of fear. Courage is action in response to fear. Courage is gratitude of each scary opportunity for growth. 

So, maybe the question is not, “How do we slip from the grasp of fear?” but “How can we love our fears enough to act with courage?” Each time we answer that question with compassion and lovingkindness we propel us into an incredible lightness of being. Nothing can stop us when Courage loves our fears and acts upon that love.

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Life Coach through Intuitive Connection, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

The Compassion of Presence

I see you    I hear you

I feel you 

What happens when we enter each day with intent to be present? We wake up committed to see what how the day unfolds, hear the nuances whispering in each moment, and feel the joys and sorrows around us. If we can do so without attachment, judgment, or defense, our world would be a little less violent and a whole lot more compassionate.

Those three verbs — to see, to hear, to feel — propel us into committed engagement. It is not that the world are people in it behave differently; rather, we experience the world as it is. No matter what we discover, we find a way to respond lovingly instead of reacting from fears. 

With intent, we notice when we get mired by life’s challenges — those little and big ways we get stuck in the minutia that threatens to overwhelm us. With this stance of presence we have a better chance of avoiding reactions. We share our truth. In doing so, the world becomes a better place. 

To commit to see, to hear, and to feel is to live in a stance of presence. How do we create a habit of presence? By: 

1. Setting intent to be aware in each moment
2. Anchoring mindfully into the moment
3. Noticing how reactions are being triggered 
4. Being immersed in silence where you listen to your thoughts
5. Choosing words and actions that reflect your intent

These five steps into a stance of presence are anything but simple. Each draws us farther away from reactions and closer to living a life of response. But, we cannot hope to transform in a day. Our journey from fear-filled reactions to compassionate response is a life long endeavor.

It takes practice to enter the day committed to really seeing, hearing, and feeling the world around us. It takes practice to live from intent in order to minimize your reactions. It takes practice to move through the spiral of empathy to compassion without a hitch. 

To engage others in this way is to be empathetic. And, sometimes that causes pain to our self. But, these five steps help us recognize when we get mired in the suffering of another and give us the strength to respond to our self and others with compassion. Remember, we really are in this together. Unless, we care first for our self, we have nothing left over for anyone else. We are unable to see for cloudy eyes, hear for stuffy ears, and feel for frostbit fingertips. 

My commitment to see you, hear you, and feel you begins with a commitment to taking care of me — to stand as a witness in my own life so that I can stand as witness in yours. Join me in taking that long look at the real and  making changing in our self so that world is a better place for all. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Life Coach through Intuitive Connection, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

The Journey of the Spirit Spark

At the conception of our spirit, the Creator carved off a piece of Itself and blew the piece into our soul. The spark ignited our hopes and dreams. Brightly lit by the spirit spark, we chose our life lessons, conspired with others to meet our challenges, and committed to living our soul purpose.

“What could go wrong?” we thought as we prepared for this life. Even the trauma of entering this world was not enough to dim our hope and dreams. We were ready to successfully take on our chosen challenges. We had the knowledge! We had the skills! We would meet our challenges, learn our lessons, and come through this life more connected spirit spark to Creator.

But, life happened. As we grew into this existence and experienced the wonder on this side of the veil, little by little we forgot who we were. We became students at times overwhelmed by the lessons we had chosen. Our vessel began to crack. Hairline fractures began to appear. In the weight of being we were no longer perfect beings of light. 

Or, was that a challenge ridden illusion? Are we defined by our imperfections? Although each of us has imperfections, they are not negatives — they are gifts to light the way of our soul purpose. They help us remember who we are not. When we meet the challenge inherent in each imperfection, our spirit spark grows brighter.

So, what are these imperfections? They are grown in the soil fertilized by our judgments, assumptions, and biases. Our imperfections trigger fear-filled reactions and create barriers to compassionate response. Our imperfections are as unique to us as our soul purpose. 

Let’s return to the rhythm of our soul purpose. With each successful challenge met and lesson learned, our spirit spark burns brighter, hotter. It singes away part of the illusion of who we are not. We clearly see the path we walk — and the challenges, pebble and boulder, strewn about. We become awake to our soul purpose and we navigate through each marvelous challenge.

We know with certainty that to navigate each challenge, to learn each lesson is to draw further down our path of soul purpose. And, when we finally walk across the threshold between here and there, we will celebrate that the life we lived as an honest reflection our truest self. 

  

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Life Coach through Intuitive Connection, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available through www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

Website / LinkedIn Profile / Facebook / 

Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019