When the Universe Responds

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Christy Johnson talking about the desperate request that led to the emergence of unexpected healing abilities.

Here’s Christy!

christyjohnsonI loved languages and writing but my parents’ unwillingness to fund such studies combined with my aptitude in math and science led me to major in chemical engineering at Purdue University.  I hated chemical engineering but I persisted through the program. Despite my reluctance, I went on to receive my chemical engineering doctorate at University of Michigan in 1990, returning to IBM where I’d worked seven semesters as a co-op student. I later declined the executive fast track when it was offered.

In my final position in an analytical lab doing microscopy, the closest match to my interests and aptitude I’d found during my tenure at IBM, I felt increasingly under-challenged and underemployed over the years. My job content felt empty and meaningless and so my substantial salary felt like blood money. I knew the corporation well by then and no other position tempted me yet I could not give myself permission to quit.

In 2007, I desperately “asked the universe for a change” which caused unexpected and stunning intuitive healing abilities to surface. A couple years later, I learned about Jin Shin Jyutsu®, a healing art combining intellect and intuition. Within a year, I completed the practitioner certification requirements and quit IBM two weeks later, seven years short of retirement. Next I discovered an unexpected aptitude for reading the Akashic Records, a way of viewing your life from your soul’s point of view. I now offer clients healing world-wide with these three modalities, inviting harmony and wholeness on all levels.

I wouldn’t have consciously chosen any of this, especially considering I’d never heard of any of the pieces before they presented themselves, but I love my work, my clients, as well as my return to writing via my blog. My work reflects my authentic self and is meaningful in a way IBM never could be.

If you’re considering a second act, I suggest you view each act as a separate lifetime. My grandfather was a grocer all his life, my father a professor for his, but many people today deviate wildly from their original trajectory. What you’ve done, no matter how tangentially related to where you want to go, built a foundation of life experience supporting your evolution into who, what, and where you are today. Leave the past behind but don’t discard its substantial gifts.

Also remember, you can’t cherry-pick the positive parts of your prior act. Retaining my desirable IBM salary, benefits, and relative job security would mean continued unabated misery for me. Trust your own knowing around what does and doesn’t satisfy you and remember the dissatisfying aspects were part of the package.

Finally, if you start feeling stuck, return to “How can I serve today?” In serving, we can find ourselves and get centered. Honoring who you are is the greatest gift you can give and receive.

Where to find Christy…

Website:  http://www.intuitiveheal.com

Blog:  http://www.intuitiveheal.com/blog/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/intuitiveheal

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IntuitiveHeal

Joanne here!

Thank you for sharing your extraordinary journey, Christy. I would encourage everyone to visit Christy online for more of her amazing advice and insights.

Growing Your Life Garden

Welcome to my Second Acts series!

Today, we have Jackie Yun talking about her extraordinary shift from the corporate world to her “next big thing.”

Here’s Jackie!

jackieyun“Fantastic Journey” was the subject line on my good-bye email and indeed, it had been.  As Senior Vice President of one of our Information Technology divisions, I tackled things like turning a tech center scheduled for shut-down into a revenue generating center, beating out external consulting firms for a rewrite of one of our systems, merging organizations that weren’t on the same path into a cohesive purposeful whole.  By any corporate yardstick, these were significant and had positive impact.

So, what would be my next big thing?  I could re-live all that I had lived on a bigger scale (CIO, COO, CEO, anyone?).  But, what is the point in a “repeat” when time is precious?  And time is precious when you’re at the doorstep of retirement, even if it is early retirement as it was for me.

In my “Fantastic Journey” email, I did not write about the corporate accomplishments.  I wrote to the people who made those milestones possible and recounted the extraordinary feeling of community, the can-do attitude, the camaraderie, and the caring support.

Jackie Yun's Garden

Jackie Yun’s Garden

I realized a bountiful garden had rooted in my life (this is my hat tip to Louise L Hay: “You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens”).  I wanted to tend this garden and grow it into a vibrant, lush, uplifting ecosystem.   

My tools in the past had included the corporate mantra of “it’s not enough, do it and prove it again”.  As part of my next big thing, I’m replacing those tools with the perspective of abundance and paraphrasing William Wordsworth, hoping to “fill my life with the breathings of my heart”.

To help these seedlings of breathings, I’ve tilled the soil with yearly #threewords to live by, augmenting my usual annual goal-setting passed on from my corporate life.  These #threewords help me to “do” in a more heart-spacious way.  For 2013, I am living by these words: 

  • Awesomeness > Owning it within, appreciating it in others and in the world
  • Art > making a point to look at things differently, be creative, curate a bit of beauty into everyday life
  • Jump > be bold, enjoy the feeling of flight, and a much needed reminder to exercise

Professionally, my next big thing meant becoming an Integral Coach ®.  Here I help people tend to their life gardens with coaching and advice on Executive Leadership, Career Direction, Life Challenges.  Like gardeners who share their harvests, I blog and enjoy sharing via Twitter and LinkedIn.  As the fantastic journey continues, I’m hoping to grow into a wise-old gardener, a caretaker of the ecosystem.  As Reginald Farrer wrote back in 1909:

“I think the true gardener is a lover of his flowers, not a critic of them. I think the true gardener is the reverent servant of Nature, not her truculent, wife-beating master. I think the true gardener, the older he grows, should more and more develop a humble, grateful and uncertain spirit.”

So, tell me, what is the next big thing for you?  What are your #threewords to live by?  And as the time approaches for your next big thing, please …

#TakeThisMoment to uncover that which will nourish and make your life garden bloom! ~ Jackie Yun

Where to find Jackie…

Website:  www.jackieyun.com
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/JackieYunTweets

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/jackieyun

Joanne here!

Thank you Jackie for sharing your “Fantastic Journey.” As Integral Coach, you are well suited to the role of wise gardener and in an excellent position to help your clients grow their life gardens.

A Millennial’s Second Act

When I started the Second Acts series, I didn’t think that millennials would be part of it.  Having taught many of these children, born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, I assumed they would be in school, looking for a job or in the early years of a first career.

leannepix

But  after meeting with fellow GWIN member Leanne Ballard, I changed my mind and decided to feature her in this series.

Passionate and organized—not the usual combination of adjectives, but they certainly fit this busy mom of three who is running a local franchise.

Trained as a veterinary technician, Leanne secured employment at a small vet clinic in Mississauga where she was later promoted to office manager. While she enjoyed working with the animals, she found the job physically demanding and realized it would conflict with motherhood.

After her son was born, Leanne became a member of momstown, an organization focused on connecting neighborhood moms. She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to buy the Guelph franchise.

That was three years ago.

Since then, the local group has grown and provides over twenty local events for moms with tots aged 0-6 years old.

As momstown mama, Leanne’s schedule is jam packed, but she still manages to exude a calm and competent air. Her eyes, however, sparkle when describing the different activities and benefits of momstown.  It is not surprising that the organization has flourished under her tender loving care.

momstownguelph

A Bit of History…

Momstown began as a small mothers’ group in Burlington, Ontario. Three moms (Christi, Ann-Marie and Shannon) wanted to provide events and encouragement for all moms–working moms, expectant moms, mat leave moms and stay-at-home moms.

There are weekday, evening and weekend programs that can fit in even the most hectic of schedules. While Momstown uses the Internet to connect, the primary goal is to get moms off the computer and out of the house.

To date, there are twenty franchises across Canada.

Where to find Leanne…

Blog: http://momstown-guelph.blogspot.ca

Twitter: https://twitter.com/momstownguelph

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/momstownguelph

Make That Mental Shift

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Emelia Sam talking about the dismantling of her first act and the mental shift that enabled her to start an exciting second act.

Here’s Emelia!

emeliasamcroppedFor most of my life, I’ve fallen in line. I did the “right” things. Said the “right” things. Pursued the “right” things. I followed the script that society dutifully laid out for me. “Pick something,” it said. So, I did and I made a practical decision to become a dentist.

There was only one problem.

Two years into dental school, I found out I abhorred general dentistry. But the script was written so I followed it to the end. In an attempt to escape, I entered a residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.

There was only one problem.

It didn’t resonate with me. I found it extremely interesting. I was initially captivated by the newness, but somewhere along the line, I realized I wasn’t enjoying it in the way my colleagues were. I thought to myself, “I have a right to be happy, too, don’t I?” But, I suppressed and finished the script.

I was fortunate enough to work in private practice combined with academia for two years. There was only one problem. I was dying little by little, day by day. As Maya Angelou has said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

emeliasamspiritualityThat’s when it began. The dismantling of my life as I saw it. All of a sudden, the set seemed foreign. I didn’t understand my supporting characters. And I was more than ready, to relinquish my uncomfortable role. The unraveling of the costume I had donned years before had begun. The First Act was coming to a close.

This was scary. Terrifying really. For the first time in my life, there was no set pattern to follow, It was up to me to make my own way. To improvise. To flow.

It took some time, but I have found my way to authenticity and continue to do so. I’ve returned to my creative core I once tried to ignore. My love of writing and contemplation have made their way to the forefront. This is the work I am supposed to put out into the world. The more I do it, the more aligned I feel with my true purpose.

I encourage others to shift from practicality to purpose. I’ve been there and I can attest to the fact that once you make that mental shift, life opens up.

I respect the lessons that I’ve learned along the way. Wherever I have been has been necessary for my evolution. I haven’t rejected my past because it has shaped who I am. I lived coloring within the lines and now I’m learning to paint my own pictures.

This time, there will be no script. I’m accepting the fluidity of life and eagerly awaiting the next plot twist. Yes. The Second Act is firmly underway…and I’m loving it.

emeliabook

Where to find Emelia…

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Joanne here again!

Thank you for sharing your amazing  journey, Emelia. I look forward to our online chats and take special note of your remarkable insights and advice.

I would encourage anyone reading this post to follow Emelia online. You will be inspired!

Never, Never, Never Give Up!

The theme of my upcoming novel, Between Land and Sea, is one of reinvention. Over the next two months, I plan to devote at least one post a week to this topic. In addition to sharing my own experiences, I will also feature other successful second acts.

joannefromcindyI am honored to welcome my first guest, JoAnne Myers.

Here’s JoAnne!

My adulthood began like many young women’s do; I became a wife and mother. I loved that role, but children leave the nest. I found myself with much too much time on my hands and sank into my first passion–art.

Over the years as my family grew, I wrote poetry and short stories–never completely severing my love for writing. I always had plenty of paper and pens on hand, and collected paints and brushes, anticipating the time I would be serious enough to actually start my painting career. My children and grandchildren knew of my love for the arts, and there was no surprise when I wrote seven books and decorated my home with dozens of paintings.

croppedpoetryI now have a four-book contract with Melange Books and my true crime biography, “The Crime of the Century,” is involved in a tug-of-war with four publishing companies interested in publishing it.

My advice for others is to never give up on your dreams. Life might get in the way, but keep your love for art always at arm’s length. No matter what heartaches life threw at me, I always believed in family values and following my dreams.

Where to find JoAnne…

Website | Blog | Amazon

Joanne here again!

Always enjoy meeting other Joannes or JoAnnes, especially creative ones.

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, JoAnne. Best of luck with all your creative endeavors.

joannecroppedpix

Oprah and India Arie–Part II

oprahindiaarie

I’m so glad Oprah decided to continue the conversation with India Arie on today’s Super Soul Sunday.

At the young age of thirty-seven, the beautiful singer and songwriter has found that “sacred space of peace inside.” Glowing and radiating on screen, India openly discussed her remarkable journey of acceptance and surrender.

Losing money and losing her way in the music industry forced her to take a prolonged time-out. Only through prayer and meditation was she able to transform herself and restore emotional, spiritual and mental health.

Throughout the telecast, India and Oprah shared many wonderful insights that could easily serve as intentions or affirmations.

Let me be 100% guided by my soul.

Let me hear your voice and have the courage to follow.

You can stop at any time.

You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.

It’s not just what you say. It’s how you show up.

Healing the world starts with you.

Prayer is where I know I can go and always be heard.

When you breathe and ask for calm, it always comes.

I have risked everything to tell the truth. Just tell the truth. (Maya Angelou)

Oprah and India Arie

oprahindiaarie

Singer. Songwriter. Poet. Grammy Award Winner.

The beautiful and poised young woman who sat down with Oprah on yesterday’s Super Soul Sunday took the music world by storm at age twenty-four. She impressed all of us with her musical affirmations, among them the memorable “I learned to love unconditionally/Because I am a queen.” Later, she went on to sell over ten million albums and win four Grammys.

Along the way, India Arie faced many personal challenges.

Early in her career, she received the worst snub in Grammy history when she was nominated in seven categories and lost each one. For months on end, she was surrounded by that conversation and continued to feel the hurt and humiliation.

In 2009, she found herself at a spiritual crossroads after dealing with a broken engagement and an exhausting cross-country tour. She shocked her music label, her fans and her family when she retired and went into seclusion. Knowing that her soul was sick and that she needed a cure, India moved to an island where she slept, prayed and watched the water.

India admitted that unworthiness was once part of her calling card. Afraid of failing and succeeding, she yearned to stay in a safe place. She strongly believes that the breakdown was God’s way of giving her a breakthrough.  She finally felt secure enough to ask and answer that all-important question:

What would I do if I knew I was 100% worthy of this?

Quotable quotes from India Arie and Oprah…

Your self worth is your job.

All physical ailments start in the spirit.

Your sense of authentic power is directly proportional to how aligned you are.

The voice of the world will drown out the voice of God, if you allow it.

You are responsible for your own life. Don’t wait until the end of your life to figure that out.

Be clear about your intention and the universe will rise to meet you wherever you are.

You are it. You are the one you have been waiting for.



Oprah and Phil Jackson

oprahjackson

Holy Roller. Student of Philosophy. Truth Seeker. Zen Master. One of the greatest basketball coaches of all time. Best-selling author of Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success. Tallest guest on Super Soul Sunday.

Born in a strict religious home, Phil Jackson recalls spending most of his time in church. While his parents groomed him to become a minister, Jackson found his true calling in sports. Basketball and baseball were his doors to freedom and a college education. During his first semester at college, he received a rude spiritual awakening. Learning about Darwinism threw a monkey wrench into the mind of the good catechism student who had memorized 175 scriptures. He changed his major to philosophy, psychology and religion.

During the telecast, Jackson shared some of his experiences as player and coach in a world filled with “a lot of tall egos and money.” He has firsthand knowledge of the harsh realities that exist within the NBA. The players live in a constant state of anxiety, worried that they will be hurt or humiliated, cut or traded.

As a coach, Jackson focused on building up the mental strength of the players. He provided opportunities to explore by introducing them to yoga, Tai Chi and meditation. In the end, meditation stuck.

Three Zen Principles that have shaped Phil Jackson’s life…

Giving up control

He begins each day with a quiet mind and prefers to sit back and observe. A tactic that served him well in his dealings with Dennis Rodham, the rebel and rule bender who was well known for his aggressive plays and his antics off the basketball court.

Trust in the moment

Even in the tensest moment, Jackson is able to center himself. He advises anyone struggling with this principle to ask themselves the following question: Is what’s happening at this moment going to destroy your life?

Living in compassion

When Oprah commented that it is difficult to be compassionate about our competitors, Jackson countered with, “I’ll bring out the best in you and you bring out the best in me.”

Quotable Quotes…

Basketball is a spiritual game.

One breath | One mind

A leader has to create the space for other people to step in and be bigger.

That’s what stardom is all about: Making everyone else better.

Some of us are doing our best and don’t even know it.

The difference between religion and spirituality is doctrine.

Let it go, like a cloud passing through the sky. Breathe through it.

A Spectacular Second Act

cathymarieFor the longest time, Cathy Marie Buchanan hesitated to call herself a writer.

With her impressive credentials, BSc in Biochemistry and an MBA, Buchanan obtained positions in finance and marketing at IBM. During her academic years, however, she steered away from anything that reminded her of the less-than-stellar performance in Grade 13 English. A self-proclaimed poor speller, she avoided all essay-based courses. It wasn’t until much later that she stumbled upon evening classes in creative writing.

In spite of the late start in her forties, Buchanan wrote and launched two highly acclaimed novels: The Day the Falls Stood Still and The Painted Girls. Both books have been enthusiastically received and reviewed in Canada and the United States. The Painted Girls has been optioned for a TV series with the CW Network.

At last night’s reading (Guelph Public Library), she discussed the historical background behind the two novels and gave us insight into her writing process.

While listening, I realized why she has been described as the perfect author.

Her painstaking research takes six months to complete. Glimpses of the well-disciplined scientist are evident in the descriptive detail; she leaves very few stones unturned. After reading numerous texts and essays about Marie van Goethem, the girl behind Degas’ famed sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, Buchanan went to Paris to complete the last phase of her research. She walked the streets that Marie walked, sat in on a class of fourteen-year-old ballet students, and attended a ballet.

The actual writing of the first draft and the final rewrite each took one-and-a-half years. An improvement, she joked, over The Day the Falls Stood Still which took two-and-a-half years to rewrite.

She may have left the corporate world behind, but she still maintains her professionalism. To this day, she works Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, and disciplines herself to write before visiting Twitter and Facebook.

A spectacular second act and inspiration for all of us!