As we embrace a New Year, we tend to spend some time in reflection, or at least I hope we do…, for there are great lessons in the rear-view mirror. I experience that there is always great enthusiasm for what the New Year may offer, unfold, and share with us. It is a time to reflect and dream, release and embrace – a moment when past and present come together with the tick – tock of the clock. While 2016 was not a bad year for me, actually quite wonderful, I must admit that I am ready for it to be a part of my history. The end of the year brought important change which has me very excited for what 2017 is going to birth.

Today what I want to explore is an honest reflection into the past, taking what we see and learn from that space into the present, thus impacting our future individually and together. When I look back I am not just looking at the concrete, actually I spend very little time looking at the material aspects of my life – I know, absolutely no surprise for those who know me. What I breathe deep into and truly explore is what were those magical moments, the ones that touched my heart, the ones that brought me to my knees, and the times I spent trying to do and be what I am not. All of these moments teach, share, and grace me with an opportunity for expansion. Yesterday is already gone, tomorrow is yet to arrive, and now is all we have – however to bring forth wisdom from my past can add to this glorious present moment and all the future I am blessed to live.

I look back on twenty-sixteen with a smile, there were definitely times I wasted in worry, an energy that truly serves no purpose. It stresses the physical body and mind (http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/anxiety_and_physical_illness) on so many levels. Being anxious about paying bills does not get them paid, matter a fact it wastes energy that could be used in manifesting change. Being worried about arriving to work on time sure does not get me there faster. Concern about what others think, well wow…that sure is a negative way to spend time – who cares!! Oh I could go on and on, for I am amazed daily with how many of us spend precious energy worrying or being anxious about life. In twenty-seventeen it is my intention to take this negative energy choice and move it over to an arena that actually serves in bringing more joy, love, connection, and grace into my world.

Twenty-sixteen was also a year where I once again poured time into a job that was not in line with my life purpose, passion, or way of being. While I did genuinely show up each day with pureness of heart and the intention to serve others, my soul was not invested – thus it often drained me, stripped me of my vital life force and passionate zest for life. Most importantly it role modeled a life of “going through the motions” – yuck!! Gratefully as many of you know, I was shoved off the proverbial work cliff to either fall smack to the hard ground or lift up my wings to soar into a new choice. I selected the latter, with fear biting at my toes; I embraced the discomfort of the unknown, trusting my heart/soul to light up and guide the way. For those of you who prefer a more concrete expression – I began to take a tally of what ignites my passion, what am I really good at, what could I do that would embody my gifts and serve others. Twenty-seventeen is my year to fully embrace my purpose and keep stepping with surrendered faith towards living a life that is passionately serving, inspiring, and awakening others to their true magnificence.

Fear!! That is a powerful force which has been used throughout human existence to control and limit. Now, do not misunderstand me, fear has its place, I want you to run if someone is attacking you – there are times when fight or flight is a powerful necessary energy. Fear can also be a rudder for us to use in staying on course with our passion…for there is an edgy fear that gurgles up when we are walking an unknown path. This type of fear I have learned can actually fuel my journey and keep me stepping in the correct direction. The type of fear I am choosing to let go of is the type that tries to push me back into the herding pen with all the other sheep who are afraid to step out of the confines society and culture have set. In that pen I grow to feel like a caged lion, desperate to run, to be free, and to knock down anything in my path to get where I can breathe again. I have never been a successful sheep, following the rest of the flock just because that’s what I am supposed to do – guess that’s why it took me twenty-eight years to get my bachelors degree.

In this New Year I embrace fear with love! I welcome it as my guide post in a world that seems quite lost. I joyfully breathe deep into the sensation of fear, listening quietly for the teaching, evaluate it and then step. For most of my life I have been taught that fear is the opposite of love, recently thanks to Mastin Kipp, Wayne Dyer, and some other mentors I have begun to explore a different perspective of fear. Think about it, the first day of a new job you feel anxious, a bit fearful. Is this bad, no actually it is an excited fear that fuels you to do your best, pay extra attention and really listen. When you bought (buy) your first house, was there a touch of fear? Welcomed a new baby into the world? Fell in love? Fear is one of those incredible emotions/energy that can be utilized with awareness to live our life more passionately and fully.

Another huge energy we can explore is the power of love…whew!! However, I think the exploration of love is best served in a separate blog. In the mean time, I do invite you to ponder, does love, like fear have different roles? Can we utilize the emotional energy of love to make the “tough choices” and to dance in the “glorious decisions”?

I close this post by asking you, in twenty-seventeen where are you going to focus your emotional energy? In every moment we are graced to make a different choice, to change a pattern, to awaken to new way of being. The power and choice are yours!! The Happiest of New Years to you and yours!!