Each of Us a Jewel by Dean Solon

...with gratitude to Avalokitesvara, Buddha of compassion...

Rumi...ecstatic poet...lover of God and presence of love...mirror.

Rumi:

"you are the unconditioned spirit

trapped in conditions,

the sun in eclipse."

you...you...the sun in eclipse.

each of us a jewel. each of us a sacred jewel.

each of us shining in this world of world of activity and phenomena.

each of us with a gleaming, a glittering, a glowing.

each of us a gem in a sea of gems.

each of us a source of light, a beacon of hope and possibility.

each of us mysterious and surprising.

because each of us and all of us jewels, there is no reason or need to be big-headed---"hey, look at me!";---instead, there is reason to be big-hearted---if each of us a sacred jewel, then each of us may be co-creating sacred space, wherever you walk, wherever you are, and so you may be offering and sharing the light and the warmth...and the present moment sanctifying of time and space.

the inner landscape, the mind's eye,..looking out upon a view, a big view, of sky, of ocean, of mountains and valleys, of towns and cities, of people, so many of us people, all of it---all of this and all of us---streaming and stretching to distant horizons...a big view, a very big view, of sky, of space, light-miles and light-years of space, of solar system, of universe, and cosmos.

you with big eyes to see, with big ears to hear, and to listen, with big hands to touch and to hold and to let go, with big feet to stand and to walk, with big lungs to breathe, with a big heart to feel...to feel...so much to feel. with a big mind to think and to understand and to live with a possibility, a potentiality, of clarity and wisdom.

each of us a jewel.

each of us a gem glittering in a sea of gems.

Thriving in the Process of Creating a Thriving Practice

There are a multitude of people and places where you can go to get advice on building your practice. You can hire a business consultant, read a book on someone else's success story, visit www.beawealthytherapist.com for tips on how to do "pink spoon marketing," and attend networking events to glean insight into what others have learned on their journey. Looking outside yourself, you may find some real wisdom and support and concrete information to aid you in building your practice. But the process of building a thriving business begins by looking inside yourself, with reflection on what you truly wish to create. How do you want to spend your time? What interests you? What topics inspire your passion? If money were not a concern, how would you choose to structure your day and organize your professional life?

Each of us has within an internal compass we can rely upon to guide us at the crossroads we encounter - personally and professionally. By developing our ability to tune in to this inner wisdom, trust our intuition, and make choices that reflect our desires (rather than our fears), we can create a life that sustains and inspires us. When we make conscious choices for our business that reflect our values and interests, rather than reacting based on news of the latest trends, we nourish ourselves - and this, in turn, nourishes our business. Staying connected to our intuition, we can thrive in the process of creating a thriving practice.

Dialoguing with others can be instrumental in helping us discover when our inner dialogue reveals inner wisdom and when it reflects fear. Connection with others also provides a safe environment from which we can take the risks necessary to face our fears and move forward. Those of us who have chosen to devote our lives to being of service to others are often not nearly as good at accepting support as we are at providing it. However, nourishing ourselves through meaningful connection and support can sustain us - and make it more possible to keep giving without feeling depleted in the process.

During this Fall and Winter, I'll begin leading workshops on building a thriving practice, and I'll also begin facilitating a six-month group on building a thriving private practice. This is an opportunity to come together with others who wish to create more prosperity in their professional lives, to dialogue about what works and where we struggle, and to engage in a meaningful process of change. We'll be using Lynn Grodzki's 12 months to your ideal private practice workbook as a resource for the journey. I love her workbook, because she not only provides a ton of useful information but also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in the process. If you are interested in learning more about the group, please see my website at www.elizabethvenart.com, call me at 215-542-5004, or send me an email at evenart@verizon.net. I look forward to connecting!

Families and Divorce

By Jeffrey Katowitz, LMFT

      Treating couples and families in transition can be very challenging.  Struggles within marriages often lead to separation and divorce. Main topics in treatment often center around infidelity, financial pressures and co-parenting conflict.  Many parents articulate a concern regarding how the relationships with their children will change as a result of a separation and divorce. It appears that more effort is being directed towards examining the harsh realities associated with a separation and divorce. Many spouses also question the fairness of the judicial system and the process in which others determine what is in the best interest of their children. Many fear engaging in the legal system and what they could lose in terms of having access to their children.
    It can be a difficult predicament for couples, particularly those who are in a state of contention where communication is significantly compromised, and they must rely on their own intuition and instinct. They struggle with the conflict between their desire for emotional freedom and the possibility of going in a new direction in their lives versus the loss of time and experiences with their children should they separate and divorce. 
   A healthy route or beginning place for couples to start as they ponder separation and divorce is to define the process as a potential "shift" rather than a "loss." Though invariably the feelings of loss will be an emotion felt and experienced by many, the redefining of the process may aid the family as they navigate through difficult periods of separation and divorce. There are many children who desire a "shift" to occur where their parents do move in a direction of divorce. Many of these children have evolved and arrived at a place of acceptance, letting go of the fantasy of their parents staying together and look forward to a change. Many conceptualize their parents being happy unattached or with a new partner.
   As spouses navigate through difficult and challenging moments of separation and divorce, those who can successfully work together, along with their children, in making decisions and engaging in a process that is collaborative create greater possibilities for healing, forgiveness, and charting a new course – one that is filled with hope.  

Jeffrey Katowitz, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing individual, couples, family counseling, and parent coordinating. Specialties include adolescent development, separation, divorce, adoption, and blended families. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Jeffrey at 215-307-0055 or email him at jpkatowitz@verizon.net.  Read more on our blog [Insert link to: http://resiliency.blogspot.com/2010/10/families-and-divorce.html]

The 10 Million Dollar Question

By Elizabeth Venart, Founder & Director of The Resiliency Center, LLC


Learning that the Mega Millions lottery game had reached a peak payout of $191 Million Dollars in May, I bought a ticket. I infrequently play the lottery, and on the rare occasion when I do, it is usually an impulse buy after hearing about the total reaching some astronomical figure. I buy one ticket, and my rationale is, “Someone has to win, and that could be me. It only takes one ticket, so why not?” On the evening of the drawing, I played a favorite game of mine. I call it the “10 Million Dollar Question Game” – although in this case it was the $191 Million Dollar Question. It is a simple game requiring no fancy gameboards, tokens, or equipment. You can play along with me at home. J The game goes like this: “If you learned tonight that you had won $10 Million Dollars (or $191 Million), how would you begin living your life differently tomorrow? What would you be doing differently? How would you spend your time? How would your life look and feel different than it does today?” I love this game, because it really helps me clarify what it is that is most important to me in my life, and whether or not what I am currently doing is in alignment with how I ultimately envision my life. It also helps me unlock possibilities, identify any fear that may be holding me back, and see what new energies and passions I may want to manifest more fully. In my explorations last week, I was happy to see that more than 75% of my life would stay the same – as I truly love my work and relationships and find great meaning and satisfaction in how I am living. What did I change? I decided to create more open space in my schedule and surroundings, more time for creativity and travel, and more opportunities for connection and nurturing of self and others. A personal chef and trainer, weekly massage, an art studio in my home, to name a few of my own specifics. What I love about this game is that, by identifying what it is that I desire, I am closer to creating that change one step at a time. My vision for The Resiliency Center was born and developed through visualization exercises such as this. After a decade of seeing this dream more and more clearly in my mind’s eye, I took the concrete steps forward to make this vision a reality. I am so glad I did! J

I invite you to play the 10 Million Dollar Question game yourselves! With limitless money and the freedom that brings, how will you change your life? What will you create? How will you spend your time? Think BIG! Try to stay with how vast the possibilities can be – and don’t worry about whether or not there is any possibility of moving forward with any of it. Just have fun! I look forward to hearing your insights and dreams.