Trust

“Self-trust is the first secret to success." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Namaste, Dear Friends,

Today marks blog # 101. -- Thank you so much for making this soul-felt journey with me!!

As many of you know, when I first began this ‘blook’ of entries, I was consumed with a lot of fear.

I was afraid to be my Self, because I was fearful people wouldn't accept me for who I really am.

I feared revealing my imperfections might mean being rejected and that being my authentic Self would cause people to think I was weird or crazy or “too out there”...

Yet, my wonderful Maker continued to grant me the courage to push past my continued 'need to please' and to instead face my illusive fears one baby step at a time.

Since then, I have fallen many, many times, yet my Higher Power continued to pick me up and point me in the right direction.

Looking back, I never would have believed my business would be flourishing the way it is today.

I never would have imagined I’d have the genuine friends I do or the gifted ability to touch so many people in such a positive way.

I cannot even tell you how very appreciative I am!!

And, the greatest lesson I’ve learned thus far is that every good blessing begins with trust.

Trust is defined as “hope” and the “confident expectation of something.” (Webster’s)

Trust is stepping out into darkness with faith and knowing that light will appear.

Trust is knowing with certainty that you'll be taken care of...

And, as my spiritual fate would have it, trust is my current theme.

Today my Higher Power is lovingly nudging me to fully trust as I am guided to depart from this blog and to embrace a whole new phase in my business.

I’m now being pulled to create more products, write more inspirational stories, and conduct even more keynotes.

This means the Universe is guiding me to leave this wonderful space behind.

Since I've always been honest with my feelings, I’ll admit to you right now that this isn’t easy.

This blog has made me who I am today...

For the last two years, it’s been a place of transformation, a room for healing, and a haven to safely and openly reveal my inner-Self.

And, though it’s with bitter-sweet feelings that this be my final blog to you, please trust that I'm doing the right thing.

In celebration of my new found path, if you haven't done so already, please sign up for my fun, free E-Parable which includes a complimentary subscription to my Soul-Felt Intentions newsletter.

This will keep us connected.

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Thank you everyone for your continued belief in me.

I love you all dearly!

I hope to find you walking with me on this new journey, as I trust I'll see you there. ;)

A soul-felt thanks to you!

With Love & Joyous Gratitude, ~Michelle

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ETE = "Enjoy the Experience"

Choosing the Path of Discernment

“Discernment is learning to listen to and trust your natural knowing.” ~ Author, S. Ryals

Steve and I had an awesome weekend. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful... a consistent 78 degrees with a soft light breeze.

Thank you everyone for the great cards, emails and well wishes on Monday. They were gratefully received.

Riding our Goldwing through Montana and Wyoming was a wonderful way to spend my birthday this year!

Steve especially enjoyed hopping back into the saddle after working so many hours at work. -- It was uplifting to see him so happy again.

This was our second year participating in the Montana Ride for Hope. Making it an annual tradition feels “right.”

Thanks to everyone who so generously donated. -- This wonderful benefit extends itself in more ways than one... not only for the critically-ill children who are so appreciative to receive but for the riders and contributors who are also so grateful to give.

One rider in particular held a special place in my heart. I couldn’t help but notice her while Steve and I went through the end of the buffet line.

Her rider pins indicated she had been riding for hope for the last six years.

Just as this woman reached the end of the line, she leaned toward me and said, “There’s a reason you and are in line together today. There are no coincidences you know?”

“I believe that is true.” I smiled, though it’s not every day a complete stranger talks so openly to me.

As fate would have it, Steve and I were at the tail end of the line, so the only tables left were with this enlightening woman and her friends.

“I’m Sue,” she winked. “I told you there was a reason we met.”

It turns out Sue is a medical intuitive. She has been gifted with the ability to help others feel good and be healed.

“I can’t just tell people what I see,” she explained. “Because I need their permission first, but for those who don’t ask, I sometimes draw them a map in hopes they’ll find their way.”

The more Sue and I talked, the more I wanted to ask her what she may have been seeing in me, yet the timing was off....or so it seemed.

Unbeknownst to me, Sue was tossing out healing bread crumbs the entire time we ate.

She spoke about spirituality and healing and goodness and light. She talked about her own personal journey and the healing gifts she has so often shared.

The more she spoke, the more her spirit emitted such a positive vibration that I couldn’t help but be drawn to her words like a moth is pulled to a flame.

Then, just as my attention was completely hers, she started to nit pick a bit.

Quickly catching herself, she lightly tapped her mouth then extended her hand in the air.

“Don’t judge it,” she reminded herself aloud, then lovingly continued to speak.

That one act was so visually powerful that it will remain with me for life.

“Don’t judge it!"

To judge means “to decide upon critically.” *

Now, I don’t know about you, but my inner-judge tries very hard to pull out its long black robe, pound its make-believe gavel, and sit upon its superior throne.

It’s as if I’m wearing an invisible sign that reads. 'Ego in charge. Queen for the day.'

Being more consciously aware has certainly helped.... I now understand judging is nothing more than egoic.

It’s a 'mine is better than yours' mentality.

Some of my favorite Highlights magazine sections as a child were the ‘What’s wrong with this picture’ and the ‘Choose the one that doesn’t belong’ games.

I was a pro at picking out “flaws” in a flash... so much so that the habit of judging became engrained in my brain.

Judgment is an instilled reaction. It’s an incessant need to control and to change.

It’s seeing things as they are but wanting them to be another way.

Whether directed inward or outward, judgment creates an illusive dividing wall.

It’s a feeling of ‘I’m right. You’re wrong.’

‘My path is better than yours.’

There are even times we judge our inner-judge.

Ahhhh!

So, what does a person do?

How can we move through life without judging anymore?

The answer is discernment.

To discern means “to perceive by sight or some other sense; to distinguish mentally.”*

In other words, discernment is following your true inner-voice rather than the voice of your Ego.

This is not always easy, I know.

For several years of marriage, I would judge Steve harshly, criticize him cruelly and try my ‘superior’ best to change him.

My Ego couldn’t understand why he did the things he’d do.

Self-Talk would sounds like this...

Why didn’t he love me enough?

Why was he purposely trying to upset me?

Why wouldn’t he change him self for me?

In other words, why was he not becoming more like me?

Take his habit of smoking as an example...

My inner-judge use to label Steve’s habit as “bad,” because I was unable to come to terms with the fact that he was on his own path.

I erroneously believed that a soul-mate meant taking the exact same spiritual journey together, so I continuously tried to change him.

I would beg, plead, threaten and throw out so much guilt that I exhausted my self along the way.

And, the more I resisted, the more Steve persisted.

Then one day, I finally realized that no matter what I did, I’d never be able to change Steve.

He is who he is.

Judging him was getting me no where. It was like being a spinning hamster caught in a wheel.

Rather than resist who Steve was, I needed to allow him to be.

After all, who was I to know what’s best for him?

Granted, judging can be very reactive, so even to this day, every time Steve lights up, I have to consciously break the pattern of judging by choosing discernment instead.

Discernment is not agreement.

I intuitively know smoking is not for me.

Discernment means lovingly knowing the difference between my path and the path of someone else, without putting up barriers or blockades between us.

To discern is to follow what feels right... to allow the Higher Self to lead.

In other words, Steve can be Steve completely...

While, I'll choose the best path for me.

............

ETE - *Source: Webster's

Shapeshifting

“You already possess everything necessary to become great.” ~ Crow

Steve and I are riding out for our motorcycle fundraiser today. The weather is said to reach over 90 degrees.

I’m looking forward to clearing my head.

I’ve hit some murky waters this past week. -- A surge of busyness has caused me to slack on writing my book. so I’ve been playing the “skip one week and then write 15 pages” game.

I’m looking forward to things starting to settle soon.

Being up at the land last weekend was a very wild experience!

I had just built a little campfire and was sitting at the picnic table preparing for a speech when a “Bambi” flew by through the forest, as if it were running for its life.

My immediate instinct was to think something was hot on its trail.

I slowly turned my head, and, there, not even 20 yards away stood a timber wolf.

Its grey, white and black fur-covered body stopped suddenly in its tracks.

“It’s a wolf,” I quietly gasped to Steve. Then, just as quickly as I could, I bolted toward the truck.

Steve instructed Buddy to lie down and to stay. The last thing we needed was for those two dogs to tangle.

The beautiful wolf perked its ears back and cautiously maneuvered its way around the wood pile to see if there was another way through.

No such luck.

Looking despaired, it slowly circled out the same way it came in.

My heart was racing like mad.

This was a mind bending experience!

I could think about nothing else the remainder of the evening.

Wolves symbolize intuition, knowledge and instinct, as well as death, destruction and deceit.

It seems like a complete contradiction.

I began to wonder why.

A few days later, I took Buddy for a walk in the park and fell into deep meditation.

Several magpies flew overhead, reminding me of the constant shift between darkness and light.

A moment later, a flock of crows began to loudly cackle then flew upward toward the trees.

Just like the wolf, crows can be conniving in nature, and each have an uncanny ability to teach us life lessons even through trickery.

Wolves and crows have both virtues and vices, and both represent transformation.

Just like the wolf and the crow, I’ve been feeling myself moving through negative and positive energy as my spirit continues to shapeshift.

Shape is “an assumed appearance.” *

Shift means “to put aside and replace it by another.” *

(*Webster’s)

Spiritual shapeshifting is the ability to positively transform consciousness. Most importantly, it means never allowing your true Self to become stagnant.

You might say, it's purification at its best.

As one becomes more and more spiritually awakened, it's like adding water to a never-ending fish tank.

As the level of our consciousness peacefully rises, the depth of our being expands.

It's a refreshing and renewing experience!

The more we awaken, the more we rise to the top and become closer to the light.

So, why is it that things can sometimes look so dim?

Because trickery comes into play.

Every time a conscious shift occurs, the bottom of our “tank” gets disturbed.

Negative energies and fearful “crud” float to the surface of our mind, creating cloudy and murky waters for awhile.

Thankfully the wolf and the crows were keen enough to remind me of this!

How wonderful it will be when everything settles again :)

..........

ETE - Happy Birthday Uncle Junior :) - P.S. - Please be sure to sign up for the Soul-Felt Intentions e-column in the text box to the upper right.

Totally Worth It!

"Self-worth comes from one thing -- thinking you are worthy." ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

It’s been a beautiful consistent 80+ degrees, and, oh, how I’m loving July! There’s always so much to do.

Steve and I are sneaking up to the property tonight to take in a little R&R. It will be good to bond with the land once again.

Things have been crazy busy, but in a very good way.

I just finished another article for a local magazine, continue to partner with like-minded people, and am getting ready to present to a great group of entrepreneurs next week.

Yesterday was really fun as well. I presented a 90 minute keynote to a large group of bankers -many of whom traveled a great distance to attend.

The night before the big speech, I was invited to a cocktail party so I could get to know my attendees a little better.

They were all a wonderful crowd, and the more I chatted with them, the more I felt at home. -- That is, until it came time to leave...

I was saying my round of goodbyes to everyone, promising to see them in the morning, when a stern looking banker wagged his finger at me and barked,

“You better be good. We paid a lot of money to see you, so you better be worth it.”

“Okay,” I forcefully smiled as I backed my way out of the room.

As soon as I reached the hotel’s foyer, my brain began to uncoil.

My Ego snapped loudly in my ear...

What if you’re not any good? What if you’re really not worth it? What if all of your practice and rehearsal is still not enough? Then what?

I walked out to the parking lot, inhaled the mountain air and reminded my Self that how I do will be dependent on how I feel.

I put a smile on my face and rehearsed the whole car ride home.

When I walked into the house, Steve sweetly asked, “Are you ready for your big day tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’m ready,” I enthusiastically replied, though my reluctant Ego’s words still echoed in my head.

I escaped to the family room for awhile and curled up in a chair. I began to visualize my entire presentation going well from start to finish. -- It appeased me enough to sleep.

I awoke very early the next day, laid out my clothes, and began to rehearse once again.

Though I felt confident in my abilities and knew my material well, the words, “You better be worth it” lingered in my brain.-- It was as if someone were hitting a replay button again and again.

I had only a few minutes remaining before it was time to get dressed, so I set my speech aside, walked out onto the patio and began to meditate.

The cool morning breeze cleared my head and filled me with the Divine.

God, why am I questioning my Self?

My eyes began to flutter just as my answer (a question) was revealed.

Why do you seek out worthiness?

I thought about this a moment, but nothing more came to mind, and I didn’t want to be late.

Forty minutes later, I arrived at the hotel, made sure my equipment was working and greeted the event planner in the hall.

Not long after, I was being introduced. I used those precious few minutes to scan the crowd. There was no sign of the man who had challenged me the night before.

I exhaled a sigh of relief and walked to the front of the room.

“Good morning everyone,” I announced with a smile and then continued with the talk.

Just a few minutes later, the stern-looking man walked in. -- He was holding a cup of coffee and seated himself in center aisle.

As synchronicity would have it, at the same time, I began telling a story about a woman named Sara.

“Sara was in the habit of looking outside of herself to define her Self,” I remarked.

Then, as soon as my own words left my mouth, I knew they were intended for me.

It was then I realized that for whatever reason, I had been “seeking out” answers rather than allowing my internal worth to shine.

As I glanced across the room, the stern man didn’t look so stern anymore. -- In fact, he was glowing from within.

It was as if I had recognized a piece of my Self and valued its beauty once again.

Once my speech ended, the man approached me with a smile.

“Great job,” he beamed.

"Thank you for being here," I said. -- If he only had known how much I meant it.

This man was placed in my life for a reason. He was there to remind me that self-worth is not dependent on anything of the external world.

Self-worth is “the sense of one’s own worth as a person”*

Worth is defined as “good or important enough to justify.”*

Having a 'sense' of self-worth means “a mental discernment, realization or recognition.”*

(*Webster’s)

When we question whether we’re worth it or not, we’re viewing the world through Ego’s eyes and will often fall short and not amount to much.

True self-worth comes from authenticity. It cannot be measured in space or time.

So, recognize your Self and embrace your internal being.

Your internal treasure awaits!

...........

ETE - Happy Birthday tomorrow Tania!!

Mirroring Reflections

“Mirrors to our inner-self are often reflected by others.” ~ Michelle Skaletski-Boyd

This past Sunday, Steve and I took Buddy out on the canoe. It was our first venture “paddle” since last September.

As we gently floated across the crystal clear lake, a beautiful bald eagle spread its wings and soared peacefully from tree top to shore.

We watched as it gathered food and then flew peacefully back toward the clouds. Its beautiful black and white toned body glided freely toward the tree tops as our eye sight adjusted to the light.

“Look at the nest,” I loudly whispered as I carefully turned toward Steve.

He returned my smile with a nod.

We both pulled up our paddles and allowed the canoe to drift free.

The amazing eagle once again emerged from the crown of the trees and flew to a nearby branch.

My eyes fixated on its nest as a dark brown mottled head poked up from its circular twigged retreat just as its long flight feathered wings began to flap furiously in the air.

It was as if I was watching a scene from National Geographic. It was an amazing experience by far.

This baby eaglet must have been at least six weeks old; it was nearly as big as its parent.

Seeing that baby eaglet reminded me of the story about a farmer who was walking across his land just after a windy storm when he discovered an eagle’s egg lying in the grass.

The farmer gently lifted the warm egg to his hands then carefully carried it to the barn where he placed it beneath a setting hen.

A few days later, a little eaglet hatched.

It mimicked the chicks by pecking about the farmyard and rarely looking up.

One day, the little eaglet was out scrambling for feed when Father Eagle flew by.

He noticed his baby eaglet, quickly circled back and gave out a very loud screech.

“What are you doing down there?” Father Eagle called to his son. “You are not a chicken. You are an eagle. Eagles are not made to live in a barnyard. Eagles are meant to fly. The heavens are your domain. Come up here with me.”

The little eaglet was very scared. He believed he was a chicken after all.

But, Father Eagle urged him to jump up and flap his wings.

“You can fly if you try,” he insisted.

The little eaglet gave it his all, flapping his wings so hard he landed just outside of the coop.

Father Eagle continued screeching words of encouragement.

“You can do it. Jump higher,” he yelled. “Spread your wings and fly.”

The little eaglet did what father said, and by a mighty jump of faith stretched his wings and soared.

........

This story is an enlightening reminder of the many reflections in our life.

Just as the chicks low to the ground and Father Eagle high in the sky mirrored the inner-most feelings of the eaglet, people around us are powerful reflections of our self.

All this week, I was reminded of this, as individuals came forward to reflect my inner-beauty and to mirror my illusive fears.

A mirror is “a reflecting surface; something that gives a minutely faithful representation, image or idea of something else.” (Webster’s)

Author, Shakti Gawain writes, “The people in our lives who make us feel uncomfortable, who annoy us, who we feel judgmental or even combative toward, reflect parts of ourselves that we reject – usually aspects of our disowned selves - the shadow side of our personality.”

All creatures of this world are optical images of our being. -- Sometimes we see all of our fears while other times we’re reminded we can fly.

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Facing Transformation

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." ~ Maya Angelou

Just before dinner yesterday the grey sky opened wide and poured buckets of rain so hard and so fast that it sounded like the grand finale of a fireworks show.

Beautiful bolts of lightning shot across the sky as small gravel sized hail bounced rapidly off the deck just like an exploding pack of firecrackers.

What a wonderful surprise from Mother Nature!

Happy July Everyone! I hope you had a spectacular 4th!

As Steve and I lit our pack of sparklers from the back deck last night, waving them high through the air, I said a silent prayer thanking my Maker for my spiritual freedom.

To be independent means "thinking or acting for oneself; not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion or conduct; self-confident." (Webster's)

Butterflies have surrounded me this week. A true sign more transition is near.

My self-confidence continues to soar as more business opportunities unfold.

Native Americans believe God's creatures are the medicine for the soul saying the butterfly is a symbol of transformation.

How very true this is!

The last time I saw a butterfly was just a few weeks before moving to the mountains. I was back on the farm in Wisconsin staring through my upstairs window at the tiny luminiscent creature peacefully perched on our roof top with its uplifted wings to the sky.

It was then I knew it was my time to fly.

Now, a year and a half later, just like a butterfly, I've had to learn to trust transition.

Though I'm getting much better than I've ever been before, seeing so many butterflies this week has caused me to wonder... "What's around the corner?"

Hopefully all that the butterfly represents: freedom, beauty and changes for the better!

.........

ETE - Happy Birthday Kristin! :)

Knowing When to Say "When"

"It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are." - Roy Disney

It’s Summer time and the weather's scorching hot.

Between yard work and house work and business work, I have been craving meditation like mad.

Come Thursday, I could practically taste it.

My internal well was dry.

I was feeling mighty thirsty for the truth and knew the only cure would be to go deep within in order to replenish again.

I had just finished an appointment in the city when my soul began hungering stillness. It felt just like my stomach hungering food only the longing was nearer to my heart.

It had been quite some time since I had experienced that feeling. -- A spiritual emptiness for sure.

Ignoring it or searching outward would have only made it worse, so I allowed my intuition to guide me, and that it did! -- My vehicle practically steered itself through the back roads of the city.

Instincts led me to a community park that I had never seen before.

It was beautifully positioned on the banks of the Stillwater River, and the blowing cottonwoods resembled another snow in June.

What a wonderful surprise!

Just like an excited child, I skipped playfully down to the shore and was happy to discover several piles of boulders positioned perfectly in the sand.

I sat on the flattest rock I could find, kicked off my flip flops and dangled my toes in the tickling stream.

The sun was hot and the breeze was cool. Tranquility and serenity were one.

I closed my eyes and began to reflect.

I had been presented with several opportunities this week, and for the first time since starting my business I had chosen to say "no".

I was starting to second guess my Self.

Earlier in the week I had been asked to partake in a huge joint venture. My Ego was chomping at the bit. The partnership would have put me side-by-side with some big named authors, yet our messages weren’t spiritually in sync.

And, so I reluctantly declined.

That very same week I turned down an offer to speak on a topic about a message not true to my core.

Though Steve urged me to take the position because the money was good, I just couldn't pretend to be someone I was not.

I began to wonder... Was this the wrong decision?

As I peered out over the water, hundreds of seeds of cottonwood parachuted from the trees to the waves as my Higher Power’s words flowed freely through me.

You’re full stream ahead.

Yield when necessary; Comply only when you’re sure.

I began to grin.

To comply means “to act or be in accordance with wishes; to agree” (Webster’s)

Freewill can be tough. -- It's like being at an eye exam with choices right up in your face.

The Universe plays the role of your Optometrist simply trying to help you see more clearly no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

“Which do you prefer... A? or B?" -- "This one? or That one?"

Choosing should be easy, yet sometimes it is not.

This is when we need to rely on instinct to help us lead the way.

As my friend Coach Johns likes to say, “it’s okay to try things on for size (this is to yield/consider), yet it doesn't mean you need to own it."

Compliance is agreement.

When we opt to take on too much, we are blocking the good things that are meant to come our way.

I’m Michelle Skaletski-Boyd, and my personal mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of others by helping them remain connected to their Highest Self.

My focus is clear and with this I can comply.

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