Forgiveness and Self-Love

I have been working in Building 7 now in You University.  The focus at this point is on Forgiveness.  The work I am doing at this point has been so profound for me I just really feel compelled to share.  Here is what I wrote in the discussion forum: 

Well, I have only written the positive things I learned from my dad so far and I am brought to tears.  Tears of joy and relief and love and forgiveness!  What an amazing, powerful tool!!  I am excited to get going and write about the positives I have learned from everyone on my original "Resentments" list.  I see so clearly the healing in this exercise for my spirit.  I see that there is positive learning I can attribute to every person I have ever met in my life.  I feel as if I have knocked a one-ton chip off my shoulders!! 

How can I ever say thank you enough for this program?  I have spent so many years working towards finding this kind of emotional freedom - this acceptance of who I am and from where I've come.  I can't imagine what could possibly be next on this journey!! 

I can't believe just how giddy I am right now!  I am actually enjoying this process as I write more and more positive things about all the people and institutions I listed on my Resentments list.  Seriously, I find myself grinning from ear to ear and on the verge of giggling as I complete each one.  I would never have thought this exercise would bring me such peace and joy!  I love it!!  Wow, the power of forgiveness, especially forgiveness of MYSELF is a heady and spiritual experience for me.  

I truly am blown away with this program and the changes I am experiencing in myself.  If you want to learn more, please email me @ ginabendel.lifecoach@gmail.com and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

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My New Set of Eyes

I had such an enjoyable Friday night with family, but it could have been less so if I still had the mindset I had before starting my journey with You University!

Before I started working with Maia, I had such a toxic internal dialogue going on when it came to certain family members. Whenever there was going to be a family gathering, I would literally feel sick in my gut and in turmoil emotionally. It would take so much out of me that I would be exhausted. Typically, things would turn out just fine, but there was so much history that I had not learned to deal with and I would experience such greif, shame, and anger for things in my family's past, I couldn't see anything positive about having to get together with these people! In fact, it would take several days after such a gathering for me to "pull myself back together again" because it was so draining.

Since starting my life coaching with Maia and You U, I have learned how to process these negative emotions using Love Letters and the Find the Gift tool. I now take responsibility for my feelings and internal dialogue. Instead of dreading seeing these family members, I can now look forward to visiting with them, opening myself up to learning more about who they are and what makes them tick. It's actually very freeing because I know I have the choice to do this. I could simply avoid them, but what I really want is to develop relations with them coming from my new perspective.

Needless to say, it is with a "new set of eyes" that I met up with some of these family members last night. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. The things that seemed to be so problematic for me before just were not an issue. I am so grateful for learning what I have and applying the 3 Magic Secrets in my life. I just love this journey through You U and all that is happening for me because of it!

You, too, can:

• Expand your love and your acceptance of who you are
• Discover the REAL you
• Learn to forgive yourself and others
• Learn to let go of shame & guilt

Learn more about You University Here

What is Heaven?

From my recent journal entry on All About Life Coaching Dot Com   I was asked to write about my thoughts on "Heaven".   If you would like to hear the song I refer to, click here.

When I think of "heaven" it reminds me of a song by Mercy Me that I sing joyfully and which chokes me up every time.

"I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by Your side.
I can only imagine what my eyes will see when Your face is before me.
I can only imagine...I can only imagine.

(chorus): Surrounded by Your Glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your Presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Hallelujah -
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine... I can only imagine...

I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son.
I can only imagine when all I will do,
Is forever, forever worship you...
I can only imagine. (repeat chorus)"

Such a powerful song!

When I envision my heaven, I feel no pain, no stress, no worry, no hunger, no thirst for anything ~ I will feel only pure, unconditional LOVE, peace and joy. I imagine feeling as if I have come home, finally, and can rest in eternal bliss and warmth and light.

I see myself surrounded by all the souls I've known throughout the life I've just experienced and throughout eternity. I envision perfect beauty ~ God's creation, not man-made. Awe-inspiring, breathtaking beauty, more beautiful and magnificent than anything I've seen here on earth.

I believe that my experience will be unique to me ~ the Utopia that only I could ever create. I will SEE more clearly like I've never seen and always wanted to, KNOW more fully like I've never known and always wanted to, FEEL more deeply like I've never felt and always wanted to and LOVE more intensely like I've never loved but always wanted to.

This will be a place especially created for me, from my own eternal deep desires and creativity within. A precious gift given by my Creator. Too perfect, too beautiful, too delicious for words.

Finding Serenity... How Can I Quiet My Mind?

From my All About Life Coaching journal written on Friday, 3/11/11:

So truth be told, I was the happiest, most alive person I encountered today!  

This morning started out with a little task I promised myself I would do right away to 'clear the mental junk'. I took a notepad and jotted down every single thing that just popped into my mind. Ugh, simply amazing how much this head of mine holds in terms of random thoughts at any one time ~ no wonder I struggle with quieting it so that I can gain any focus or clarity!  Lol

Anyway, I had mentioned that I was struggling with this recently and feeling like it has been a monumental task to feel 'serene'. My coach Maia suggested I give the above a try and record what I experienced by doing so.

What I experienced after about 10 minutes of this exercise was the mental capacity to think clearly! I felt peaceful and self assured. How easy is that? Loved it and will be doing more of it for sure. I had been in the habit of writing lists which certainly helped in the process of getting my mind decluttered, but this was even better. By the time I got on to our group call this morning, I felt re-energized and ready to absorb more!

The call, of course, was fabulous ~ empowering, enlightening and affirming as usual. On our call today I learned that I need to trust my intuition more and just jump in when my gut tells me to rather than simply wait for 'my turn'.

The rest of my day, so far, has been filled with household to-do's which I didn't feel the need to procrastinate any longer. Felt productive and accomplished and joyous to have the energy and mindfulness to get things done. Now I am enjoying some time to journal and listening to my husband and son chatting away while they cook a spaghetti dinner for us. I feel very happy, very alive in the present. Gotta love it!

Zest For Life

I love to spend time with my 21 month old granddaughter Audrey. She is filled with joy and exudes happiness, excitement and love of life. It is quite contagious and I honestly wish that I could spend more time with her because of the way she makes everyone around her feel.

She is no different, really, than all little people that age. Just spend time really observing these little ones who can remind us of all that is right and good in this world! Oh to have that enthusiasm and zest for the simplest things!

Just watching her react to the world around her is priceless. Recently we had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Audrey and I think the smile I wore was stuck like glue the entire time we were with her! It's funny actually, my cheeks were really tender the whole next day!

Audrey is at the age where she copies literally everything she sees and hears. She was looking out the picture window and saw a group of people standing outside talking. She was so animated as she pretended she was actually a participant in that group. She carried on a full-fledged conversation complete with nods of the head, laughter when she noticed they were laughing, hand gestures - the whole gambut. It was so sweet and hilarious to watch!