Lick Your Paws, Trust the Universe

by Jenna on August 31, 2010

Last week was another wildly topsy-turvy ride for me. I started off the week worried about money, getting a cold and not being able to sleep, feeling sluggish about writing again, and generally feeling STUCK. It wasn’t pretty.

The only thing I felt a go-ahead sense on was talking to some of my favorite clients and colleagues, so that’s what I focused on doing.

I also got a call from a good friend who told me about a story she had just heard about how lions, when they are unsuccessful at hunting, give up, lie down, lick their paws and purr.

They DON’T stress about how their hunting isn’t working out, or keep trying and trying and trying without success. They take a rest, AND THEY ENJOY IT!

What was absolutely fascinating is that when I allowed myself to rest and to enjoy it, my energy, enthusiasm, and intuition came bounding back to me. And as I followed my intuition, and talked with my beloved muses, friends, clients, and colleagues, everything started clicking together in amazing ways.

New ideas and new perspectives started flowing in.

My in-laws called to say they were sending over an early Christmas check.

One of my colleagues and I came up with a brilliant opportunity for a collaboration that I’m thrilled to pieces about (if it works out I’ll be sure to let you know about it — I think it will be fabulous!).

It wouldn’t have come about if I hadn’t been rested and listening to my spirit saying, “Ask her about that program.” It also meant having the courage to speak up about something that felt a little scary — presumptuous even — to do. Delightfully, she’s been following her guidance on waiting for just the right person to show up, and there I was.

See, I’ve been receiving all this guidance lately about what I need to be focusing on (writing and hands), but I honestly haven’t been sure about HOW to do it. So I’ve been asking and asking (and asking) for help. The way I see this last week is that the Universe showed up with opportunities, and because I was paying attention, I was able to take advantage of them.

In the end what clicked into place for me was how the Universe DOES take care of us, and it can do an even better job when we do our parts — when we rest when we are supposed to rest, listen when we are supposed to listen, and speak when we are meant to speak.

And I have to say, as I look back at my crazy car accident earlier this month, what I see is this: The Universe showed me how well it is taking care of me. We are safe, we are happy, we are whole, and we are together. And the blessings just keep on coming.


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If this sparks anything for you, I’d love to have you leave me a note in the comments section below. I always love to hear from you.



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What’s Jenna Up To?

~> My sale on Life Purpose Breakthrough sessions ends tonight, August 31st at Midnight Eastern Time. Find out more here: http://www.lifepurposebreakthrough.com

~> September 3, 2010. Appearing in a special guest panel at the upcoming HSP Gathering in Petaluma, California, called “Most Important Lessons Learned on My Journey toward becoming an Empowered HSP” along with Kristine Carey and author Barrie Jaeger. Registration details.

~> September 9 through 12, 2010. Appearing in a special guest panel at Baeth Davis’ Life Purpose Summit in Phoenix, Arizona and doing life purpose hand readings. Registration details (affiliate link).



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Things have been literally topsy-turvy for me lately (there’s nothing quite like being upside-down in a car wreck to turn your world view on its head) and I know I’m being lovingly confronted by the Universe AGAIN with the reminder that no, in fact, I am not in control, as much as I might like to believe that I am. Can you relate?

My Facebook buddy, Ricky Barnes, commented on my wall today, “It’s interesting, if we pay close enough attention, more times than not things go against plans than with them. We disguise this fact by claiming what actually took place — good or bad — is what we’d intended. We grant ourselves the illusion of control but, when we’re genuinely honest, we can admit we have very little. The mistake is in craving control rather than nurturing a passion for the unexpected which is, after all, commonplace.”

His brilliance was another reminder of the wisdom I’ve been receiving all around me. My fearless branding muse, Giulietta Nardone, wrote me just the other day and said, “You’re on a journey that requires the BIG LET GO to enjoy the ride.

How perfect for someone with a Life Lesson of Trust and Surrender, eh?

So how does one relinquish control? Especially someone with YEARS of training in trying to manage the unmanageable? Seriously, you could submit my name for General Manager of the Universe and I’d probably get the job. ;-)

Control is clearly an illusion after all, and yet I find myself believing that I can, should, and have to worry, fret, or take charge in order to create the outcome I want.

And yet, really, that doesn’t leave much room for the Universe to step in, does it?

Here are a few lovely ideas I’ve been reminded of lately:

1. Ask For This or Something Better. My teacher Sonia Choquette always reminds me to wish for “This or something better,” to make space for the Universe to improve on what I’m dreaming of.

2. Have a Mantra. My favorite phrase, “Somehow this will all work out, even if I can’t see how yet,” is my best antidote for my mind’s desire to “figure it all out.” It’s so easy to get caught up in strategizing, angling, thinking through, what if-ing, and calculating, when in fact, there’s very little I can do but enjoy the ride and go with the flow of life.

This mantra helps me to remember to let go.

3. Create an “Answered Prayer Box.” One of my teachers and colleagues, Pamelah Landers, told me about her “Answered Prayer” box. In it, she puts notes about the things she’d like help creating. On top of the box is a sticky note that says, “Answered Prayers.” She says she instantly feels better when she puts a note in her box, knowing her guides and the Universe are going to work on her behalf.

Of course this reminds me 1) that we STILL aren’t in control, even when we’re wishing, and 2) of a blog post I read today about Why The Secret Hasn’t Made You a Millionaire. But it is a powerful reminder to WISH for and then RELEASE the things we are dreaming of.

4. Remember that Creative Angst is Simply Bottled Up Energy. In the midst of all this control drama, my creative angst (and Part 2 of my Life Lesson: Creativity) have been showing up in the form of confusion and uncertainty about what I’m “supposed to do next” (even though I really know it’s about writing my screenplay). (And do you notice, that’s about control and figuring it out again??)

My writing buddy and shaman Elaine La Joie reminded me that I was judging my discomfort as confusion (a mental idea) instead of simply recognizing it as 1) my Lesson, and 2) energy that doesn’t yet have an outlet.

Then I was able to remember that creative confusion, apathy and spinning in circles are just smokescreens for creative fears and that the antidote is to take action doing something creative. I got my logline finished for my screenplay, and voilà, felt so much better.

5. Get support. Can you see from all the names I’ve listed here today how much I’ve been relying on others? As Sonia says, “You cannot do it alone.” This means that we need our guides, the Universe, and each other.

This seems to be true even now more than ever before, doesn’t it?



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What’s Jenna Up To?

~> August 19, 2010 is the second session of my Embrace Your Inner Wisdom intuitive mentoring series. Learn to work with one of your greatest gifts as a creative, sensitive soul — your intuition. We postponed our second class to 8/19, so it’s really not to late to join us — the first class was recorded so you can easily catch up. Register here.

~> September 3, 2010. Appearing in a special guest panel at the upcoming HSP Gathering in Petaluma, California, called “Most Important Lessons Learned on My Journey toward becoming an Empowered HSP” along with Kristine Carey and author Barrie Jaeger. Leading a breakout session that afternoon. Registration details.

~> September 9 through 12, 2010. Appearing in a special guest panel at Baeth Davis’ Life Purpose Summit in Phoenix, Arizona and doing life purpose hand readings. Registration details (affiliate link).

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