1) Welcome!
2) My Playground
3) Check it Out
4) Giggles & Guffaws
5) Ways to Play Today!
6) Random Musings
7) Something to ponder
8) Shameless Promotional Plug

This is the second issue of Lighten Up! and I’m so happy you’ve decided to have a look. This *free* monthly newsletter is written with the intention to help you live life with more fun and joy and less stress and worry. With informative articles, humorous insights and great resources, “Lighten Up!” is guaranteed to provide you a motivational kick in the butt while giving you a giggle or two along the way. Even though the calendar says we’re in a different season now, Oregon weather hasn’t turned fall-like yet. Enjoy the warm temperatures of the last few days of September!

~Being Okay With Not Knowing~

There are times when I can make myself absolutely crazy trying to figure out what’s going to happen next in my life. It’s not that I have to know everything in advance, just certain things. The little stuff I can usually shrug off, but it’s those larger than life questions like…"What am I going to be doing ten years from now?" or "How come I’m not making more money right now?" or "What really happens to us when we die?"…that can really throw me into a dizzying spiral sometimes. If you ever feel a sense of overwhelm not knowing all the answers, you’re not alone.

It’s human nature to be inquisitive. From the moment we’re born, we’re off exploring our world and wondering just how the heck we can control it. No matter what your religion and/or spiritual philosophy may say, we are destined to ask questions and seek answers for the duration of our lives. This built-in mechanism of needing to know certainly helps us become informed and make decisions, but there is a point when HAVING to know is counter-productive to our well-being. Being inquisitive is one thing, being maniacal about needing all the answers RIGHT NOW is quite another.

In the pursuit of knowing all things now, we can become so wrapped up in “what ifs” that we forget about “what is”. If I could capture all the time and energy I’ve spent endlessly wondering about expected results, that best-selling book of mine would definitely be written by now. When we’re so focused on having immediate answers, we lose our ability and sensibility to let go and not be attached to a particular outcome. We lose our trust in that small, still voice of ours that whispers to us, “All the answers to all the questions you’ve ever wanted to know will be revealed in time.”

And that’s the thing that bugs us the most, right? Not knowing when exactly we’ll have our questions answered. In addition to trying to be in complete control of our lives, we try to control this thing called time as well. Silly humans we are. So, instead of ruminating on why we don’t have the answers we want right now and waiting for them to appear, let’s consider what we can learn while we’re living our way into the answers.

The Five Gifts of Not Knowing

1) The element of surprise
I know this one seems pretty obvious, but think about the last time you were truly delighted either by something that surprised you or something you did to surprise another. I bet a big smile just crossed your face! The truth is, even though many surprises can catch us off guard and some aren’t the most pleasant to experience, it’s the surprises in life that keep us feeling most alive. How much fun would it really be if you knew everything that was going to happen to you ahead of time? Ho-hum, what a dull existence we would lead if that were so. Still not convinced? If you were a book, would you want to know the ending as soon as you started reading the first page? I didn’t think so.

2) Imaging the possibilities
Ahhh…the art of daydreaming. What a great gift an active imagination can be! Think of the abundance that’s available to us at any given moment when we allow our thoughts to drift. Make an agreement with yourself that during this time, no negative thoughts are allowed in. (Gift #5 will give you the opportunity to do some of that) Let your thoughts run wild to those places where only excitement, joy and delight are to be found. Considering the possibilities leads to greater probability that what you want to know will appear sooner than you think.

3) The practice of surrendering
I mentioned earlier about letting go and not being attached to certain outcomes. It’s much, much easier said than done, I know. However, the more we practice releasing our expectations and trusting that what is to be will be, we open ourselves up that much more to experiencing the fullness of our lives as they are RIGHT NOW. Continue taking action towards discovering what you desire to know, but also remember to rely on those things that we cannot see. It takes a lot of trust believing in something much bigger than our selves alone. It takes courage to stand in the face of the unknown and really be okay with that. Surrender the need to have to know and allow faith to step in until the answers are revealed.

4) Focusing your attention elsewhere
Take your mind off of wondering or worrying about an unknown in your life and spend time on the other areas in your life that you know darn well you already have the answers to. Like...cleaning out that closet of yours or paying those bills or having that conversation you’ve been meaning to have, or unleashing your creativity and creating something fantastic. You know, stuff like that. No matter if it’s big stuff or small stuff. Concern yourself with something else that will get you just as fired up about as the thing you don’t know about…yet!

5) Confronting your deepest fears
Getting in touch with what really scares you can be, well…pretty scary. You might be wondering where’s the gift in taking a closer look at your fears. I’m sure you’re aware of how easily our minds can wander from those happy, warm fuzzy thoughts into a dark, nebulous space of self doubt and fear. Even though I advocate for using your imagination for positive, uplifting thoughts, I think it’s actually a good idea, even a healthy one, to spend a little time hanging out in that darker place so you can really discover, examine and deal with what scares you the most. Not knowing something has a way of taunting our deepest-held fears and making them seem much larger than they actually are. The truth is…our fears are only as big as we allow them to be.

Quite a few years ago, I came up with a personal mantra that says, “I’d rather ride a roller-coaster than a merry-go-round.” The more I thought about this statement, the more I realized this was not merely my preference for amusement park rides, but it was a reflection of how I always wanted to view and live my life. I’d rather experience the thrill of the unknown and be surprised at all the twists and turns rather than play it safe with the ho-hum predictability of the same thing day-in and day-out. I’m not suggesting you start riding roller-coasters if they scare you to death or give up your love of riding merry-go-rounds. What I am suggesting is that you take a closer look at how much your desire to know everything now gets in the way of living your life today.

Truly, one of the greatest mysteries of life is not knowing what happens next. So rather than patting yourself on the back for having all the answers, go out and celebrate what you don’t know today!

Delerium’s new c.d. “Chimera”
If you like the music of Enigma or Moby, you’ll love this c.d. Several different woman artists sing along with this melodic, but danceable music. All of the songs have a tendency to make your body sway and your heart soar.

The Form Studio - Denise Whitney
theformstudio@yahoo.com - 503.493.2197
This woman is absolutely amazing! Professional photographer Denise Whitney has created a photographic experience not to be missed. If you’ve ever harbored the desire to connect to your physical form in a more appreciative way, this is an opportunity you should consider. We can be so critical of our bodies sometimes and Denise creates a deliberate and supportive environment in which to explore how beautiful you are. She’s able to capture on film not only the beauty of form, but also the true essence of the person she’s photographing. See yourself through new eyes with a photography session by Denise.

I got an email from my sister the other day and if you haven’t already seen it, this is kind of funny, but true.

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

Tahnk godoenss I dno’t have a spleilng or tpynig porbelm! (<:

Why not…start thinking about what you’ll do to celebrate Halloween?
Dig into those old clothes of yours or go to Goodwill and design a fabulous, but cheap costume. If you come up with something pretty spectacular, but you don’t have a party to show off your glorious creation, start checking out all the venues in your area that are offering cash prizes for the best costumes. You might as well earn some money if there’s a possibility people are going to laugh at the outfit you’ve created. Dress up even if you decide to stay home and hand out goodies to the kids. Take advantage of the fact that Halloween falls on a Friday night this year so you have the whole weekend to recuperate if you decide to imbibe. Oh, and I’m not talking about having a few drinks. I’m talking about that big bowl of candy that’s next to your front door.

Having a pen and notepad handy at all times is a great way to capture your ideas so you don’t forget them. I have enough of them around my house, but I think they’re hiding from me. Wait a minute…on second thought, I think I’m hiding from them.

My boyfriend surprised me a few weeks ago with a new bike. It has some fancier features than my old one such as a few more gears and a nice, comfy seat, but what I like best is the cute, little bell that’s attached to the handlebars. Every time I ring it, I feel like a kid again. It’s so wonderful to derive pleasure from the simplest of things.

I’m such a summer-lovin' sun freak that the thought of the weather changing brings on a mild state of panic. When I finally noticed the other day the leaves were turning different colors and took a moment to admire their beauty, it became easier to breathe. Notice the beauty that surrounds you today.

Why is it that I can’t eat another bite of dinner, yet I always find a way to make room for dessert? I would be a terrible dieter.

What areas in your life can you let go of not having to know the answers right now?

How can you embrace more of the mystery in your life?

Need some support around this? Care to share what these questions stir up in you? Send me en e-mail. I welcome your thoughts and will respond to all e-mails received.

For those of you who reside in the Portland, Oregon area, you’ve still got time to register for the Get Real! workshop this weekend.

Come experience the transformational power of connecting with your most authentic self and with a community of like-minded individuals. Join us this Saturday for inspiration, connections with others and three hours of self-discovery, sharing and fun. I'd love to see you there!

Here Are The Details:

What: A Get Real! Workshop facilitated by Lisa Evans & Tayna Wylder

When: THIS Saturday, September 27th from 12 noon-3pm

Where: The Goldenheart Center for Wellness, located in the Sellwood neighborhood in Portland at 8113 SE 13th Ave.
(corner of 13th and Tacoma Street)

Fee: $49 (which includes a colorful workbook and refreshments)

Warmly,
Lisa

Playful Spirit Coaching & Consulting
P.O. Box 524
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
503.860.7711