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.

The Ultimate Peace Party

The Peace Project has begun! And one of the highlights of my week was a Wednesday trip to Dallas to offer a special "What If Up" preview party to pave the way for our upcoming Dallas events.

The What If Up Club teams with EFT Practioners, Meditation experts, HeartMath facilitators, and NonViolent Communication teachers to test the powers within us and the impact they can have on our external environment.

For four months, the city of Dallas is collecting crime statistics to show the correlation between group intention and an increasingly peaceful city.

Who would have thought PEACE could be so much fun??!

Love and hugs to all who joined with us in the expansion of possibility. We know that great things are unfolding for us individually and as a global community. Thank you, Dallas, for allowing me to be a part of an energy that is truly making a shift on the planet.

Check out our cozy crowd! Many thanks to Donna and Bruce for opening your home to us!

Something New...at the Y-M-C-A!

Yesterday was a new beginning.

I woke up before the crack of dawn and put my leggings on. Pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Dusted off my best t-shirt, and headed to the local Y.

My husband signed us up last week for a family membership. It's all part of our effort to eat right, take care of our bodies, and spend more time together.

I'm not one that likes to work out. With the blessing of a fairly high metabolism, I've been able to gloss over that area of my life for a long time. But something is shifting now...

Motherhood has brought me a new appreciation of my body and a new will to take care of it.

But still... I haven't had much of a workout since high school.

I arrived 15 minutes early for the morning class. Step Aerobics. I wasn't sure what it meant, but it sounded like something that might be more fun than pumping weights. I nervously stretched as I waited for my instructor to enter the room. Visions of gasping for air as my muscles screamed at me filled my mind. How hard was this going to be???

Today, I celebrate "big steps." Every step is precious, yet there are those moments in life when we know we've just taken a "big step." It's just one step, and the journey lasts a lifetime. But there is something in those "big steps" that brings a bit more "Living" to Life.

In the end, I loved my class. It was just the level I needed. It was fun, social, and kept my brain so busy wondering where to step next that the workout went by in a blink.

Stay tuned to see where this big step leads...

What big steps could you celebrate today?

The Gift Economy

A group of radicals converged upon Palm Springs this month. Led by Nipun Mehta, this unlikely band of revolutionaries turned my thinking upside down. Or maybe, I should say, right side up??

They were a part of the Association for Global New Thought's annual conference, The Evolution of Revolution. Together, they brought forth an economic model that left most of us scratching our heads: The Gift Economy.

Each member of this posse had launched a business fully grounded on the concept of giving. No price tags for services. No fundraising. No asking for resources. Ever.

Their prime directive: HOW CAN I SERVE YOU?

This is more than a corporate slogan. These visionaries had launched projects like the Karma Kitchen, where you show up and your meal is a gift. No prices listed. Your chefs and servers are all volunteers. Your meal is loaded with love. Before you leave, you are given an envelope and invited to pay it forward.

Then there was Silas Hagerty, who started a film company based on a documentary he had produced. SmoothFeather Productions operates on the gift-economy model.

I left their session awestruck at their courage and faith. But more than that, I could feel the passion and joy they were experiencing in giving their gifts so purely to the world. Their stories woke up something in me.

What if, as the What If Up Club continues to grow and expand, we make a commitment to this "gift economy" concept? What if everyone who leads and participates does so purely out of a desire to expand possibilities and uplift the world? What if others join in, gifting their talents, so that there is virtually no overhead for sustaining a global organization?

I returned home from Palm Springs to find a package in my mailbox. It was from "EfferVaCious," a member of our What If Up online community out of Surrey, Canada. When she first joined our online community, I helped her "What If Up" the growth of her clothing line, and have since connected with her commitment to finding work that supports her in putting her family first.

Wrapped in beautiful tissue paper and ribbons, I found a beautiful gift... Something from her clothing line (See picture above!). It's light, comfortable, stylish, and right there over my gut, the words: passion, courage and vision. Can you imagine any better words to have there at your core?

It occurred to me, we are creating gift economies. Maybe not consciously, like Nipun and his friends, but simply as a natural expression of the consciousness of gratitude.

I took the picture above last night at our Austin What If Up Club, next to Anneliese, who tirelessly promotes our gathering at Unity of the Hills each month. She gives her gifts so I can bring mine.

There is a new economy being born. It is grounded in gratitude. It is sustained by faith. It is fueled by passion. It requires courage and vision. And it is absolutely recession proof.

What do you have to give today??

Messages in the Carpet

It is my great joy to be spending the week at the 2008 Association for Global New Thought annual conference in Palm Springs, California. It is a week filled with inspiration, learning and connections. I have been blessed by the teachings of Michael Beckwith, the vision of Barbara Marx Hubbard and the music of Rickie Byars. And we're only half way through!

This morning, I headed down to the lobby of the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort where the conference is being held. There's an interesting thing I keep noticing as I step into the elevators here:

There are messages in the carpet.

Yes, actual messages. As I headed up to my room to write this blog, I was greeted with "Always Remeber to Laugh." Yesterday, I kept getting the elevator with "Live Well, Love Much."

Every time I step in to come to my room, or step out to go into my next session, there is that message. A different one in each elevator car. Each one, bringing me a bit of wisdom as I move through my day.

I think the Universe is always sending us messages like this... some not so overt, but all of them designed to lift us up and give us hope for the day.

I wonder, as the elevator begins to crowd, if others in our micro-elevator community have noticed the wisdom upon which they stand. It would be easy to miss in the midst of a full mind and a busy day.

My hope for each of us today is that we see the messages in the carpet... literally and figuratively. that we look past the fear and lack based thoughts of the world and instead seek the wisdom that gives us something to stand on as we navigate our changing times.

Live Well. Love Much. Always Remember to Laugh.

Here's to remembering...

What If Up Party People!

Love and hugs to Miriam and her What If Upping friends in San Antonio! I got Miriam's invitation last week to be a part of her What If Up Supper Club. They've been meeting once a month for about four months, sharing dinner together, and circling up for a lively What If Up session!

I know from the discussions on our community page that groups like this are springing up everywhere. It was delightful to have an opportunity to be a part of one and to experience the incredible outpouring of love and support that I felt in this circle.

So this week, I'm sending the call out to those of you who are gathing like this with friends, co-workers, or church friends... Take a picture of your group to share with us... We'd love to know how you're using this in your life and the miracles that you are experiencing through the process!

Thank you, Miriam, for bringing The What If Up Club to San Antonio... It was the ultimate Saturday night celebration!

Teachable Moments

These are the things they don't warn you about when you sign up to be a parent.

One of them is "potty training."

Last week, we found ourselves on the road with a toddler who wants to use the potty.

I couldn't resist capturing this moment, in the parking lot near downtown Ft. Worth on a Sunday afternoon. She gave us the sign, so we pulled out the potty from our loaded up car, and cheered her on as she did her business.

Sure, it wasn't the ideal place. It wasn't the ideal time. But the opportunity was there to help Jenna learn something new. How could we say no?

I'm hanging on to this picture as a reminder that my life lessons may not always come at a convenient time or a convenient place. But I should seize them and appreciate them all the same. Clapping and cheering in the realization that I can master the moment - whenever I am blessed with the opportunity.

Carpe diaper.

Twenty Years - But Who's Counting?

I did it. I went to my 20th High School Reunion last weekend.

I was a little nervous heading to the Homecoming Football game on Friday night before the festivities began. After all, I had heard others talk about their reunions, and usually their stories were filled with unflattering descriptions of how people had changed.

So you can imagine my relief when I finally connected with my old friends and classmates. It was true. We had changed. We are so much cooler now than we ever were in high school.

Twenty years ago, we were heading out into the world with our big dreams. Now, we are the people who are out there in this great big world, doing what we love, and leading the way for a new generation.

Constant Improvement is the nature of the Universe. If ever you doubt, go to your high school reunion and really talk with people. You'll be dazzled.

Not only that, but we looked good, too! Pictured above: The officers for the 1988 Martin High School Sundancers Drill Team Squad. Still kicking after all these years!)

Fun at the Zoo!

Here in Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Ike, we found ourselves last week enjoying our first taste of fall weather. It was the perfect opportunity for Jenna's first trip to the zoo.

The Fort Worth zoo is a spectacular place. Lush and open, surrounded by babies and animals, Jenna was in paradise. We let her lead us where she wanted to go. To the monkeys. Then the elephants. There are the baby giraffes! And look, ducks and flamingos!

Every time she would get to the next viewing area, she would take it in for a moment, then turn to us and say, "More, please!"

A few minutes taking in the penguins... "More, please!" Then we checked out the snake house. "More, please!" All afternoon. Until closing time. Her energy was boundless.

I can relate. It seems like the more I step into the possibilities and opportunities that surround me, the more excited I get for what's coming next. Our nature is to expand... to learn... and to grow. Sometimes we get lost thinking that we would be happy if only we had that next "thing." When in actuality, the next thing is really only going to have us start salivating for the next "thing." And the next "thing." And the next...

That's why it's so important to feel joy now. Our desires will lead us on our journey. They are delightful. The lions and tigers and bears of our lives are really magnificent to behold.

In the end, we didn't take Jenna to the zoo so she could "achieve" a lion viewing. We went to the zoo for the fun of being together. The rest was just icing on the cake.

What if we pursued our hearts' desires not for the end result, but just for the joy of being together as one big human family?

Birthing Peace

I should have known it would be an extraordinary day. It began with an extraordinary call.

Our 8am (CST) What If Wake Up call began like every other. Three chimes and a deep breath. Then a few minutes focusing on our word for today: Peaceful.

As we concluded the call, something magical happened. As we began sharing our "What If Ups" for a Peaceful day, one caller shared something extraordinary. She was feeling the early signs of labor and told us she thought her baby would be arriving today. She wanted to bring this precious new life into the world consciously - immersed in the awareness of Peace and the shared energy of our group.

What if, in the midst of her labor, her heart could be filled with peace knowing that everything was unfolding perfectly?

What if this new precious life could greet the world wrapped in the peaceful joy of all of us on that call? Or all of us who read this blog? Or maybe just, all of us??

And what if we could all use this baby's birth as a reminder that we can know peace even in the midst of the labor pains of our own creations?

Welcome to the world, baby Quinn. May your journey be always lit with joy, love, and peace...

Thanks, Honey!

I was working late last night on an email blast that was supposed to be scheduled last Thursday... but my service was down, and the file that I worked on was no longer on my laptop, and I'm on the road and...

Stop it.

I started telling my husband the details of my toil last night as an apology for why I wasn't able to spend a quiet evening snuggled up next to him. About 30 seconds into my "story," he stopped me.

"Is this really something you want to put out there?"

He's been reading the new book Money and the Law of Attraction by Jerry and Esther Hicks.

I had to smile. Oh, how compelling our stories can be! I soooo wanted to tell mine!

And he was right. Did it feel good to tell this story? No. (Well, maybe just a little, but that's not from the perspective of my highest self.) Did I want to create more delays and hassles in my life? No. (And this one is really a "no!") Did he really need to know the details of my challenge? Was this serving him in any way? No again.

I had to get up and give him a hug. What if we created a relationship where we loved each other enough to put up the red flag when those downward conversation spirals kick in and ask, "Do you really want to say this?"

And what if we knew that we had absolute permission to tune out if the answer comes back as a "yes"? It gives "love" a whole new slant.

Special thanks to our friend Garnita who turned us onto this Bob Newhart skit that has become the basis of our newfound support of each other...

The What If Up Club Hits the Virtual Airwaves!

The word is officially out. The What If Up Club was featured in its first media interview this morning thanks to the talents and passions of fellow what if uppers Melissa Wells and Kay Orrell and their radio program, Spiral Journey. To top it off, the interview aired on the C0-Creator Network, operated by even more What If Uppers... The club is growing and growing!

There is an incredible momentum building around this "What If Up" idea. I've got to remember from time to time to make sure my jaw isn't wide open as opportunities come flooding in. Who would have thought being "spiritual" could be (in the words of my friend Joe Vitale) such a "rollicking good time."

If you've been wanting to learn more about the club, here's the perfect opportunity. Tune in and listen for yourself! Enjoy!

LISTEN to the Interview:

Spiral Journey's Interview with Mindy <-- link to Co-Creator Network .mp3 playback

Many thanks to Melissa and Kay for a delightful interview!

I Left My Old Paradigm in San Francisco...

If anybody out there has started a "Brendon Burchard Fan Club," I hope you'll count me IN! I first met Brendon as one of the keynote speakers at his College Success Summit, and I was impressed with him then. After attending his Partnership Seminar, I am convinced that I am bearing witness to the birth of a major star in the world of philanthropy, motivation, and self-empowerment.

Brendon has reminded me once again of the seemingly obvious importance of the relationships in my life - business and otherwise. In the busy-ness of business, too often I forget to say "thank you." Brendon has reminded me of the joy of "surprise and delight." So I bring this, along with a wealth of information home with me...

What if I did something out of the blue this week to surprise and delight my husband for the rock of support that he is in my life?

What if I did something to surprise and delight my friends and family?

What if I did something to surprise and delight my teams and my co-workers?

And what if I could have this be more than an inspired moment... What if I could make this a permanent part of my lifestyle so that I could more fully express the gratitude that lives in my heart?

It's a brand new world. Any suggestions???

P.S. Pictured above... Happy hour with Brendon, myself, and Judd Schwartz, whom you might remember as the organizer of the Austin World Wellness Weekend. Talk about great company!

To Every Thing, Learn, Learn, Learn!

I'm heading out tomorrow, leavin' on a jet plane bound for San Francisco. I'll be joining my pal Brendon Burchard for three days of intensive brainstorming on the power of strategic partnerships.

Of course, those of us in the What If Up Club already have a good sense of how powerful it can be to come together as a group. In fact, I would credit the group dynamic for amplifying the energy of our intentions and accelerating the expansion of possibility.

So, while I'm off to learn some new things from Brendon, I hold in my heart deep gratitude for the community that gathers here every day to imagine the possibilities... for ourselves and for each other.

I'm so glad I got you, Babe...

Attract Wealth through What If Upping!

You may have heard that Joe Vitale (www.mrfire.com) attended our last What If Up session in Wimberley. Well, Joe was so impressed that he invited me to be a part of his upcoming "Attract Wealth Seminar" with Mark Ryan in Austin this January.

So for those of you wanting to hone your What If Upping powers to your financial world, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity. I hope you can join me there!

The Other Miracle

Here's a "behind the scenes" miracle from Friday night's What If Up Gathering.

As you may know, our gatherings in Wimberley are usually scheduled for the first Friday of the month. We pulled our September gathering up a week since I will be in San Fran next Friday. I made sure to let EVERYONE know about the change... except... the Community Center where we meet.

When we arrived Friday evening, we were greeted by Timm, the facilities director. "I can't let you in," he said. "You aren't reserved for tonight."

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" we laughed, thinking he was playing with us.

"No, I'm serious, " he responded.

That's when the light went off. I had never rescheduled our meeting room. Yikes!

I asked Tim if anyone was using our usual room (they weren't) and if we could switch our times (we could). The real miracle was that Timm was not supposed to even be at the Community Center at 6:30 on a Friday night.

The "ONLY" reason he was there was because someone left some flowers behind and wanted to pick them up for a wedding the next day. He had been called out to open the doors for them on an emergency basis. The fact that he was there when we arrived to me is evidence of the power of intention and the positive unfolding of all good things.

My lesson for the week? Don't worry so much about the details. The Universe has got your back...

The WOW Factor

I have to say it. Friday night's "What If Up" session in Wimberley was over the top.

It was fun beyond what I can express. Ideas poured forth like water from a firehose. We were laughing and crying and connecting in a way that made every hair on my arms stand up and do the happy dance.

What was so exceptional about our gathering?

In my opinion, it was the CONSCIOUSNESS of those who were gathered.

With every session it seems, the process gets a bit easier. Our brains are getting rewired to generate possibility. We were in the flow. Even the outrageous ideas seem to whisper to us, "You could do that!"

If you missed it, not to worry. The next Austin gathering is just a couple of weeks away. Make it a priority. We are reshaping reality together. What would you like to create?

Happy Labor-free Day!
Mindy

"I've experienced the What If Up club twice now and it is off the charts fun, high energy, and beyond creative. I got upgrades to my desires that amazed and delighted me, and led to fablulous real world results. And Mindy is contagiously exciting and happy. The whole package is a great priceless gift. It's a rollicking good time." - Joe Vitale, author of The Attractor Factor http://www.mrfire.com/

More, Please...

Jenna and I stood outside the smoothie stand on our layover at the airport. I had just given her a sip of my strawberry banana delight, and she wanted more.

She is 17 months old. When she looks at me with those big brown eyes, I want to give her everything. Especially when she innocently asks, "More, Mommy?"

I took this as a teachable moment.

"More please," I said, then gave her a sip.

"More, Mommy?" she asked, wanted another taste.

"More PLEASE," I said, giving her another sip.

"More peas," she responded. She had learned to say "Please."

Of course, this got me thinking about why we say "Please." What does it really mean? I suspect the etymology goes back to a time when people would ask for something "if it pleases you."

For example, "I would like a sip of your smoothie, if it pleases you...."
"I would like you to take out the trash, if it pleases you..."
"I would like fries with that, if it pleases you..."

What if we only took actions that pleased us? What if we took action, not out of obligation or guilt, but with a sense of joy, knowing that it is PLEASING to give and to share and to contribute?

Try it out today... please?

Manifesting through the Ears...

Our word today for the morning "What If Wake Up Call" was OPEN.

My husband Shawn and I traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas this past weekend to have a bit of fun. We stayed in a beautiful hotel that had only been open for less than a week. It was glorious, but all the new paint and carpet activated some allergies in me.

With a bit of congestion, the flight home was a little rough on my ears.

Luckily, our word today was OPEN. Just as we set the intention for opening and allowing all good things this day, I could feel my ears pop. Literally, they opened up and I was able to hear with increased clarity.

Maybe that's how the spiritual journey works. We get a bit clogged from time to time by the reality that we see in front of us. But when we stop for a moment and get intentional about who we are in the world, things just seem to pop. Everything is the same, but our clarity is intensified and we are able to perceive "what is" at a new level.

May wonderful new awarenesses "pop" into your world today...

Ride on the Peace Train

Ideas are flowing faster than I can keep up with them! Here's a favorite from yesterday... let me know what you think...

You may have heard that The What If Up Club is working with the Dallas Peace Project as part of the sustainability model for their 4 month peace study. You may also know that the plan is to celebrate the results of this study in the spring with a huge peace rally at the Dallas Cotton Bowl.

There are lots of us here in the Austin area supporting this vision of Peace in Dallas. It occurred to me yesterday, wouldn't it be fun if all of us from Austin got together to be a part of the Dallas celebration? What if we all met down at the Amtrak station and rode a "Peace Train" into Dallas? What if each car was filled with inspiring speakers, music, drumming, meditation and more? Wouldn't that be a GREAT What If Up project?

Obviously, it's more than I can do on my own... so I'm sending it out to the Club. Want to take a ride on the Peace Train?