I just read the most inspiring blog and, on top of that, viewed a video clip that stirred my imagination, my joy and my Spirit - with a capital "S"!!!

The blog is from Anousheh Ansari, who is the first female private space explorer and space ambassador.  She’s the chairman of Prodea Systems – born in Iran, moved to the U.S. at age 14, and one of the leading entrepreneurs in the U.S./world today.  She writes about her experience in space, but with such a powerful and loving recognition that she is one of us - connected to each of us by a chain that is unbreakable.

Her blog has a link to “World Hold On”, a video by Bob Sinclair.  She received it from her brother while in space, and was so inspired that she wanted to forward it on.

I walked away feeling inspired - I hope you do too!

OK.  So, I just moved my clean silverware from the dish drainer into the silverware holder in my drawer and noticed there was dirt, gunk, etc., in the silverware holder.  How does that happen?!  I mean, only the clean silverware makes it into the drawer, right?  So where does all the dirt come from?  And, importantly, I know this isn't just my silverware holder - cuz I checked!  It happens with my mom, my sister and my best friend as well.  So, what's the deal?

Then I started thinking that this is one of those questions that falls into the category of "quirky questions and scenarios."  You know, like - where do the missing socks go?  Or, why do some people sneeze more loudly than others?  Or, does keeping a meeting room cold really keep people awake/attentive?  etc.  While the answers are often elusive, I still have fun thinking about them!

So, if you have any more of these quirky questions . . . or, if you have any fun, creative or enlightening answers . . . please share!

In a world where asking, “What do I want out of my life?”, is last on our To-Do list, the Crystallizing Your Vision workshop provides much needed time, skills and opportunities to focus your vision for the future.

Through a combination of visioning & the art of collage, the Crystallizing Your Vision workshop will help you:

• Bring forward and add clarity to your deepest desires
• Use your creativity to generate and instill energy into your vision
• Learn tools for deepening your focus even further once the workshop is complete
• And open the door for significant insights and opportunities to emerge!

When:    Saturday, October 21, 10am to 1pm
Where:  11600 Washington Place, Suite 211, LA/Culver City, 90066
Signing Up:

• Registration required
• Cost is $60 total ($50 + $10 materials fee)
• Paypal, cash and/or checks accepted
• Note: All costs are non-refundable
• Please contact Nancy Shuford at 310.210.4451 or nancy@nancyshuford.com with any questions
  

About Nancy:
Nancy Shuford has created and maintains a successful Life Coaching practice in the Los Angeles area – using many of the tools above.  Combining an 18+ year career as a Brand Strategy Director with an MA in Spiritual Psychology, Nancy is living her vision of teaching workshops, coaching private clients, conducting public speaking engagements and writing articles to inspire people to follow their dreams.

I have three big collage boards that I use in my visioning process everyday.  I love them because they absolutely energize my vision, and help me connect with my deepest desires emotionally as well as mentally.  Pretty cool.

The other day, however, as I was viewing my collages I realized there was a part of me that wasn't fully buying into the idea that what I truly desired was available to me.

At first, it was merely a shallow observation.  You know - la de la - let's get on with my life.  And then it hit me.  The depth and significance of it began to infiltrate everything.  Beneath the surface was an overwhelming hurt, sadness and grief for what I had not yet manifested in my life.  I felt very alone, as if these feelings would literally swallow me up.  I mean, at my highest level I absolutely, positively know that these things are available to me.  But this was a very old belief and feeling that threatened to overwhelm everything I knew was possible.

Quickly I realized that my feelings of anger, sadness and abandonment were aimed at God, Spirit, the Love-Intelligence that governs the planet - insert your name here.  I was both pissed and hurt beyond measure.

I know my next step is to have a conversation with God.  And, I know beautiful, loving answers will ultimately abound.  But the thought of entering into such emotionally heavy territory has created pause.  I know I will go there.  That's just who I am.  I am courageous and, in the end, always willing to enter into challenging experiences that I know will result in my highest good.  So, I have every intention of fully exploring it.  But, every night before I go to sleep, I'm also asking that all opportunities for grace and gentleness emerge.

So, I'm sending this request out into the Universe in the form of this blog.  Spirit, I'm willing to enter into this learning no matter what it looks like.  And, I ask that all opportunities for gentlessness and grace surround and protect me.  And so it is.

I am so grateful for my collages.  Every single day they are catalysts for my growth.  Some days this realization is more profound than others, but on all days I am in deep gratitude for their impact on my life.

OK, so if you read my previous blog, you'll know that my ideal scene collages have stirred up quite a few old (read: ancient) beliefs and emotions.  Essentially, fears that what I truly desire in life is not available to me.

I have had mini conversations with Spirit to chat about the issue, but still not the "big one". 

Here's the amazing part.  This "dilemma" has also sparked so much insight for me and growth opportunity that I would never have imagined.  For instance, this morning as I was getting ready, the following questions came rushing forward.  While they're not necessarily "new", they are definitely powerful.

"What if you knew WITHOUT A DOUBT that your heart’s desire were truly available to you?"

"What would you do differently today?"

• Would you relate to yourself differently in any way?
• Would you take care of yourself differently in any way?
• Would you view this time differently in any way?
• Would you shift any existing patterns?
• Would you create more space in your life in any way?

My answers – I would love myself so completely; I would walk through life in a state of joy;  I would work out and take care of my body;  I would relish my time alone – knowing that soon I would share much of it with another; and oh so many more.

I am SO grateful for this process, for the art of visioning & collage and all it brings, and for the questions that have emerged just today.  I've been pretty open with Spirit and asked for gentle guidance and openings.  Today is proof that it's working.

So, I'm going to walk through today "as if" what I wanted to manifest were already here.  And, tonight, I'm going to "have coffee with my fears" - meaning, I'm going to courageously enter into and sit with my deepest fears, knowing that they are merely an opening for higher growth.

Thank you all for your support.

Wow.  Life is really wonderful.  I've had a slow graceful morning, and I'm just taking in how truly blessed I am.   I thought I would share some of my gratitude with you, and I'd love to hear yours in return!

I'm grateful for . . .

My stunningly beautiful vision boards that depict what is manifesting in my life here & now.
The amount of love I have in my life - which is magnificently overflowing!
My inner knowing that tells me all is good no matter what it may look like on the outside.
My trust in myself and the Universe and those around me.
All of my angels and guides - in body and spirit - who lift me everyday.
Spirit's gentle way of taking care of me - even when I'm kicking & screaming!
My courage, overflowing love, vision and know-how.
My divine life as a Life Coach.
The gift of each of my clients, who teach me every day, and allow me to teach them.
My incredible family and friends.
The ability to experience the divine connection between every human being.
My ability to give and receive love, and for all those who are past, present and future who open their hearts to share our love together.

I love you all and am grateful to have you in my life.

Have a beautiful day!

Nancy

In a world where asking, “What do I want out of my life?”, is last on our To-Do list, the Crystallizing Your Vision workshop provides much needed time, skills and opportunities to focus your vision for the future.

Through a combination of visioning & the art of collage, the Crystallizing Your Vision workshop will help you:

• Bring forward and add clarity to your deepest desires
• Use your creativity to generate and instill energy into your vision
• Learn tools for deepening your focus even further once the workshop is complete
• And open the door for significant insights and opportunities to emerge!

When:    Saturday, October 21, 10am to 1pm
Where:  11600 Washington Place, Suite 211, LA/Culver City, 90066
Signing Up:

• Registration required
• Cost is $60 total ($50 + $10 materials fee)
• Paypal, cash and/or checks accepted
• Note: All costs are non-refundable
• Please contact Nancy Shuford at 310.210.4451 or nancy@nancyshuford.com with any questions
  

About Nancy:
Nancy Shuford has created and maintains a successful Life Coaching practice in the Los Angeles area – using many of the tools above.  Combining an 18+ year career as a Brand Strategy Director with an MA in Spiritual Psychology, Nancy is living her vision of teaching workshops, coaching private clients, conducting public speaking engagements and writing articles to inspire people to follow their dreams.

I just read this quote at the bottom of an e-mail.  In its simplicity and power, it touched my heart.  So, I thought I'd share.


      "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."


Amen to that!

My workshop - Crystallizing Your Vision: Getting to Greater Clarity through Visionin & Collage - is just around the corner! 

This Saturday, folks will be gathering to bring greater clarity to what they want to manifest in the world, and then collaging their hearts out to add their love, energy and positive intentions.  Now that's the power of creativity!

One of the reasons I’m so excited about conducting the workshop this weekend is that Fall has incredible energy for setting new visions of what we want from life.  It really is the perfect timing for creating change.  Also, taking purposeful time to really vision what we want – our dreams, heart’s desires, and things we are most passionate about — is ironically a practice that we seldom do.  I say ironically because, of course, the bigness of our time is usually taken up by the little things in life.  Carving out time for creating a vision of who we want to be in the world and what we want to manifest has, indeed, become a luxury.

So, I’m encouraging people to take that luxury for themselves.  The workshop will be filled with fantastic energy and I know it has the potential to be the beginning of some significant shifts.   I would LOVE to have you ALL join in.

If you can't make it, I ask for two things: 1) that you send light to the workshop and all those involved, and 2) that you take some really valuable and precious time this weekend to vision the highest possibility for your life.  While it may be a luxury, it's definitely one we shouldn't live without!

Sending you all lots of love,
Nancy

Hello all!

I still have a few spaces left for my workshop this Saturday - Crystallizing Your Vision: Getting to Greater Clarity Through Visioning & Collage.

I know it's going to be absolutely fantastic!  There’s such great energy around the beginning of Fall and the new moon, which is the perfect time for visioning what we want to create in the world and adding our energy toward manifesting it fully.

I'd love to have you join us, or pass along the info to your family, co-workers & friends.  So, check out the information below and please RSVP no later than Friday at noon.

If you have questions, please feel free to call (310.210.4451), e-mail (nancy@nancyshuford.com), or Zaadz me.

Sending you all lots of love,
Nancy





In a world where asking, “What do I want out of my life?”, is last on our To-Do list, the Crystallizing Your Vision workshop provides much needed time, skills and opportunities to focus your vision for the future.

Through a combination of visioning & the art of collage, the Crystallizing Your Vision workshop will help you:

• Bring forward and add clarity to your deepest desires
• Use your creativity to generate and instill energy into your vision
• Learn tools for deepening your focus even further once the workshop is complete
• And open the door for significant insights and opportunities to emerge!

When:    Saturday, October 21, 10am to 1pm
Where:  11600 Washington Place, Suite 211, LA/Culver City, 90066
Signing Up:

• Registration required - deadline is Fri., 10/20, 12pm PST
  
• Cost is $60 total ($50 + $10 materials fee)
• Paypal, cash and/or checks accepted
• Note: All costs are non-refundable
• Please contact Nancy Shuford at 310.210.4451 or nancy@nancyshuford.com with any questions
  

About Nancy:
Nancy Shuford has created and maintains a successful Life Coaching practice in the Los Angeles area, using many of the tools above.  Combining an 18+ year career as a Brand Strategy Director -- where she helped clients such as Apple, Infiniti and Energizer define their visions and develop a roadmap for achieving them -- with an MA in Spiritual Psychology, Nancy is living her vision of teaching workshops, coaching private clients, conducting public speaking engagements and writing articles to inspire people to follow and manifest their dreams.

I just heard a great quote from Terry Cole Whittaker, who was a guest speaker at Agape.

"People are afraid of terrorists in this world, but no one terrorizes me more than I do in my own mind."

Boy, isn't that true?!  So, here's to a day of us all being kind, gentle and loving to ourselves.  We deserve it!