Settling In for the Holidays...

This is my favorite time of the year. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's seems like an accelerated journey in giving thanks, receiving abundantly, and starting anew. This year, I'm feeling the call to snuggle in, spend time with friends and family, and focus on the completion of the What If Up book.

That brings lots of changes for me, including the decision to send out my newsletter monthly instead of weekly until the book is complete. We also have some What If Uppers stepping in to lead our morning Wake Up calls while I take this brief hiatus in December.

Christmas can be a challenging time for people. It can bring economic stress, over-commitment, and often depression as we remember those who will not be with us this holiday season. But what if you could make this season the most meaningful Christmas ever?

What if we took on the holidays with the spirit of Thanksgiving lingering in our hearts? What if we decided not to keep score in the gift exchange arena, and instead just enjoyed the giving and receiving of love that inevitably happens this time of year?

What if it didn't take a snow day for us to hunker down and nurture ourselves for an afternoon?

What if you included ourselves on our Christmas list and gave ourselves the gift of balance and peace and compassion?

Regardless of your faith or your holiday traditions, what if we truly made this season a time of peace and joy?

I'll be chatting taking a break from the newsletter for a few weeks, but will be checking with you frequently online. Share your holiday challenges and triumphs and let's ring in the new year refreshed and recharged. The possibilities are unlimited.

Be In the Book!

Hi friends,

I'm cranking out the last half of the What If Up book and I need your help!

The two chapters I am working on right now involve using the "What If Up" concept individually and as a group.

What are some ways YOU have been using "What If Up"? Please be specific... If I use your story in the book, I'll send you an autographed first edition copy when it's complete!

Examples of Personal Use:
How have you used "What If Up" to change your perspective on a complaint?
How have you used "What If Up" to respond to "bad news"?
How have you used "What If Up" to inspire new projects?
How have you used it to improve your health? Relationships? Career? Finances? Other???
Any other ideas for how you can use "What If Up" in your personal life?

Examples of Group use:
How has the "What If Up" group process impacted your life?
What specific examples can you share about changes in your life that have resulted from a "What If Up" group interaction?

Thank you for your help! I am cutting back on all my live events for the next month to really focus on the book. That means I'll be online more and more looking for inspiring examples and sharing ways you can contribute...

What if we had a huge book release party with all of you who share stories that get used in the book? Looking forward to hearing from you!

(Note: please contact me through The What If UP Club at http://whatifup.ning.com/forum/topics/how-do-you-what-if-up)

The Circle Expands...

This was a big weekend for The What If Up Club... As part of the Dallas Peace Project, we introduced the What If Up concept to Dallas this week, culminating in our first ever group leader certification. Dallas, you are in good hands! What an amazing team we are attracting!

At the same time, miracles are happening in San Francisco. I received a call during the training from What If Up veteran Melissa Wells asking for a review of "the rules" so she could lead some What If Up processes at the HUB event she was attending.

The seeds are being planted around the world. Our online community is close to topping 300 members, with representatives from 24 different countries.

The time is right. The players are convening. The message is evolving. And the circle of love, hope, and vision continues to expand.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am clearly not the only one. Join us and let's create a world of peace and abundance for all of humanity. What if?

Butterfly Wings

One of the challenges of being a "What If Upper" is that possibilities are everywhere... tempting me, sometimes distracting me, causing me to wonder if the path I am on is the best and highest.

I felt a bit scattered at times in the past few months. There is so much I want to do, and so many avenues through which I could do it. I was beginning to get down on myself for my lack of focus and discipline.

Then a butterfly flew past me. In the midst of a meditative walk, a beautiful monarch butterfly fluttered across my path. This is migration season here in Texas, and the butterflies are abundant. I watched this dazzling creature in flight and noticed that it's path was somewhat sporadic. It bobbed and dipped with the wind, straying left and right.

And yet, this beautiful winged creature was on a migration that lead it from a great distance so that it would cross my path on that lovely autumn day. Her travelling style may not be the fastest or the most direct, but there was no doubt, she was making progress, travelling along a path carved by the unseen forces of nature.

I am much more focused now. I've reprioritized and simplified my life. And I've lightened up on the self-judgment for the fluttering that brought me here. There is no "right" or "wrong" on the spiritual journey. Just movement. And it's all beautiful.

Jenna and I dressed up as butterflies for Halloween this year. My husband Shawn was the very busy butterfly catcher.

There's a time to focus and a time to flutter. Do both with love and grace and you're guaranteed to end up exactly where you want to be.