Visioning® Step Five: The Inner Critic

The reason that there are 10 steps in the Visioning® process is because our feelings are also a process. Not seeing the cycle leads us to the false belief that whatever we are feeling now will last forever. We want the good emotions to last and the bad to stop. The fact that we hang our societal hat on the HAPPY FOREVER peg is obvious when we watch television commercials. The internal advocate of this false advertising is known as The Inner Critic.

Corporate America dumps huge dollars annually on advertising. If advertising didn’t work – big business wouldn’t be paying the big bucks. Business owners count on you to sit through the commercials so that their message will be recalled the next time you make a shopping decision. Our Inner Critic works the same way.

Other names for the Critic are Monkey Mind or ego. In the Visioning® process, the Inner Critic comes at Step Five, the crucial step where all of the collage pieces are laid out but not glued down. Objectively listening to the Critic’s messages and gives us a chance to answer back.

Unfortunately, once out of the workshop environment, where you are supported in your Visioning® process, you forget to be objective to the critical voice – and then POW, your Vision has spontaneously combusted. The critic’s fear based, controlling messages create a slow leak of energy that siphons the juice out of your inspired dream.

This is why Visioning® manifestation seems so far away. When we first begin the Vision, we are in our large, expansive intuitive minds. That is what our collage is based on: the unlimited potential. But when chaos descends on our Vision like Zeus’s thunderbolt from the heavens then what’s a mortal to do?

Stop and feel the thunder.

If you don’t feel the chaotic thunder, then the sun can’t come out. It will stay in hiding for days until the thunderbolts of doubt are seen, felt, accepted and released. Once I told my friend Amy that I felt sad, but I hated having that feeling. She reminded me that when I’m happy, I don’t judge that feeling, so why is sad different? The difference is the powerful advertising from our Inner Critic.

Luckily, I am revisiting a collage created on the theme “Standing in My Own Space in This World” – that I also call Toilet Man because he reminds me to flush when the critic starts yapping. I used to think that this collage meant to stand up for myself only externally. But the most important place to stand up for ourselves is internally, so we can protect the dream that lives in our heart.

When you hear the Inner Critic, you’ll want to notice what it’s saying, but not take its words personally. This means learning not to identify with this internal voice. I use the dominant hand, non-dominant hand technique outlined in Visioning, Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams by Dr. Lucia Capacchione. This method allows me to hear the voice of the Inner Critic and feel where its energy lives in my body. In regards to creating a Visioning® collage, the critical voice may use phrases such as: “I’m sure, pictures from a magazine?” “This is a waste of time, you need to _____.”

The Inner Critic is really on our side, trying to take care of us by keeping us on the SAFE path – even if it’s not what our heart desires. In fact, the chaotic rumble of the Inner Critic gets louder as we move closer to our dream. Other ways that the critical voice often manifests is bodily pain such as headaches, fatigue, and depression. These body signals tell us that there are feelings that need to be expressed. In fact, Dr. Capacchione states that addictive behaviors are our way of muffling the voice of the Inner Critic.

Journaling the Inner Critic and talking back via an empowered, yet often disowned energy called The Inner Brat teaches me that these energies are separate from WHO I AM. As I work with these energies it becomes easier to notice and then turn off the critical voice. Ways I use to bring myself into balance after I’ve wrestled with the Inner Critic are The Jimmy Kimmel show, reading Dave Barry, daily affirmations from Abraham-Hicks.com and spending time each day doing what I LOVE.

You also have your ways of dispelling the Inner Critic. Please share them in the Comments section at the end of this Blog and let’s get a dialogue happening.

The world is in need of big dreams and the Visionaries brave enough to face the internal blocks that keep us from our calling. This means you.

May your journey to your dreams be filled with laughter,

Dorothy

To order Lucia’s book visioningcoach.org

To start a Visioning Group or have a Vision party in your home, contact me at dsegovia1@yahoo.com

Finally, hoorah for the Cafe Violette in Capitola, for standing up to its sloppy customers with snappy signage:

“Newsflash: Cafe Violette has trash cans – yes it’s true. So use them or suffer the wrath of the owner – you won’t like her when she’s mad. Use them or suffer the consequences.”

After my fabulous food, I asked about these consequences to see if I could get away with leaving my plate on the table: turns out that any offenders will be assigned to the midnight clean up shift. Yikes!

For a delicious, decadent meal that won’t dent your wallet – stop in at the Cafe Violette at 104 Stockton Avenue in Capitola Village. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and feature locally made Marianne’s and Polar Bear ice cream.

Goodnight Kiss

Janet Fisher
Goodnight Kiss Music

Dear Janet,

I was blessed to participate in the March 31st Annual Songwriters Showcase at Britannia Arms in Aptos. The hand of the Big Songwriter in the sky was definitely present as songwriter after fabulous songwriter went up to the mic.

I am proud to say that I was one of them.

When I read your eloquent letter to the songwriters, I found what I came for because your letter reads like a benediction.

If I start my story in the middle it reads something like this:

In 1993 I wrote my 2nd song and decided to become the next Joan Baez. It took 10 years but I made it to the 4-hour gig slot – playing 90% originals at a place called The Network in San Luis Obispo. With an hour to go, I was eating a sandwich on the stage steps thinking,

“Gee, down to the schlock songs and only two tables here. I guess I’ll have to…”

But then a more powerful thought took over.

“Like hell you are. This table is just sitting down and you may know you have been here for 3 hours but they do not. So get back up on that stage and play balls out…”

except with swear words.

After the gig, the man from the table asked about the CD I was selling. He bought one and gave me a folded bill. He said that it was for me, not the CD Project. Turns out he gave me a 100 dollar tip.

I meant to tell you a different story. About how I gave up songwriting because I thought I wasn’t successful and I was so tired of lugging equipment and how I always wanted to go back to school anyway and I did graduate from Antioch and I learned to give speeches and co-edit a magazine.

But what meant the most about that time was finding my way back to the songs.

After Tuesday’s showcase, I read my excellent feedback from one judge that was along the lines of “Write about love you lost – you can do that can’t you?” On the drive home I heard the song fire off in my head.

I’m going back to Britannia Arms on April 14 to play my new song.

It’s hard to say what inspired me the most: your letter, the supportive atmosphere, the judge’s comments or Eric, the sound engineer from MARS Studios who told me that I was ‘never going to give up’ – except with swear words.

You know I’m kidding about the swear words.

In any case, THANK YOU.

Please say hello to Patys Restaurant. I miss Toluca Lake sometimes. It’s where I first picked up the guitar.

May you and Goodnight Kiss Music be joyfully prosperous,

Dorothy

The Songwriter Showcase at Britannia Arms is every Tuesday between now and April 30. The show starts at 7pm. Arrive early to enjoy great ale and yummy food.

I’m playing again for a slot in the finals: April 14 at 7:30pm
SO COME ON DOWN!

Visit MARS Studios for the annual Showcase details, to tour the studio, or wave hello to Eric Bates, the sound engineer who is now famous because of this blog.

To read Janet’s Song Critique Checklist or sign up for the newsletter click Goodnight Kiss Music

Download The Odyssey, Antioch University Santa Barbara’s literary magazine that I co-edited with Rita Traner-McDermott.

Finally, if you are in SLO County this weekend – check out singer/songwriter/guitarist Amanda West – she playing at different venues throughout the county Friday, Saturday and Sunday – then she’s in Monterey. If you can’t see her in person – listen to her music! Be sure to tell her Dot says hello!

Prosperity is FUN!

I just joined a prosperity circle at Inner Light Ministries based on Maria Nemeth’s book, The Energy of Money. Any unexpected income over the 9 week class and we tithe 10 percent to Inner Light. Today I got a 50.00 tax stimulus when I went to my mailbox. So exciting! I’m happily tithing my $5 for a cool $45 in my pocket.

At Monday’s meeting, I donated a total $6.00. The day after last week’s class I received a $10 gift card. My first thought about opening the mail that day was “Dang! I wish I picked up my mail before the class stared! I could have saved a bundle.’

Hey, a buck is a buck. I didn’t used to feel this way about money. In fact, I’ve spent most of my days in a serious lack attack. That means instead of being focused on what I have and appreciating it – I’ve been bummed that I didn’t have more.

More what? Well, my current Wish List includes:

a digital camera, a scanner, a bed from Monterey Mattress Company, a covered laundry basket, music stand for my electric guitar, studio recording time, money for a marketing consultant, a tailor for a skirt and pants that I need to try on first – in case they don’t fit – which means I’ll save another bundle, my own house, furniture for the house, a gardener for the house, a new car for the carport…..

While I say YES to all of the above, on my walk home I decided to say YES to myself. That means that on my walk home I mentally spent my $45 a million different times.

Turns out this is exactly what Esther and Jerry Hicks talk about in the Money and Law of Attraction book/CD combo. Getting into the feeling space of mentally spending the money actually opens up the prosperity flow. The reason is because while we are mentally shopping in our heads we create a positive vibration that attracts more money (and love, health, joy) like a magnet.

Problems with money occur when I forget that the point is to be focused on what makes me feel good rather than spending the money. Actually, I had more fun mentally deciding which bank account to stash the $45 than spending it. Even though I was walking past Trader Joes!!!!

I am learning how to save. And the collage that is speaks to me now was created in 2005. The bottom sentence in particular stands out.

“With compulsive borrowing, treat the self-esteem deficit and the debt will take care of itself.”

One of the homework questions in The Energy of Money was “What is the first time you lost money?” I don’t remember that but I do remember my first debt. It was at a swap meet and my older brothers and sister were there selling stuff. I had some albums to sell and unfortunately went window shopping. I came back to borrow a couple bucks from my brother Joe who gleefully announced that it was still morning and that I was already in the hole.

What did I buy? A purse! A little green plastic purse and I’ve been debting (and buying purses) ever since. Take a moment to find the Dooney and Bourke handbag in the collage below.

So, while I am so looking forward to paying cash for my Vision of A Purse that I’ll find at some groovy recycled shop OR EVEN paying full price at some swank shop in New York – I’ll have FUN thinking about what I’m going to put IN THE BAG (and what I’ll be wearing, and who I’m in New York with and where we are going for dinner and my fabulous career that affords such a lifestyle and the fabulous man who….) which makes the actual bag literally just a fun feeling target.

I’m not saying that spending money is not okay but I have learned that I have often spent money as a way to feel good: when feeling good takes mental energy, not money energy.

So, the moral of this story is when you feel scared about money, then find a way to mentally feel good about money or think about something else.

May all of your mental trips leave you feeling healthy and happy.

Love Dot

PS: Speaking of shopping – there are limited “Mulukuku CD Project” compilation benefit CDs left. This is a benefit CD I produced with proceeds going to the Maria Luisa Women’s Center and Medical Clinic.
Click here www.writeinside.com/pages/mulukukcd to listen to song clips of the 17 FAB musicians who contributed.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

One of my favorite activities is drinking wine while watching exercise DVDs. It’s a very powerful and energizing way to do nothing. Actually, I’m just listening to the DVD because I can’t figure out how to have a small DVD window at the same time that I type.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and celebrations are in order especially since its Dad’s birthday. The only problem is that Dad died in 1994. So, how do I let my body take the ‘I miss Dad’ hit and still feel good?

This is where the wine comes in.

Sundays when I lived in Pasadena, I’d drive down the 10 freeway to Dad’s place. After I played my latest songs on my guitar, Dad and I would pop a tall Bud, read the paper, watch tennis on TV and grunt answers to each others questions. Once a couple of bath-robed old ladies nearly came to blows over a Cadillac parked sideways across three of four parking spaces. Dad had to settle things down. He ignored the argument as long as he possibly could, but kept looking over his bifocals, then through the Venetian blinds all while glancing wistfully at the television.

“Awww, nuts,” he mumbled as he crushed out his smoke and donned his navy blue beaked cap. Gleefully, I kneeled on the chair and peeked as he walked into the melee. Being the assistant manager of the senior complex, he took charge and pulled out the small notebook that he kept in his shirt pocket. He took notes as each of the ladies took her turn. I tried to figure out which one was the Cadillac driver, but apparently it was neither. Both were just arguing about the best way to punish the driver.

(I actually have no idea if the last two sentences are true – but wouldn’t it be hilarious if it was?)

I miss those Dad days. And I’d like to someday learn how to not be sad on Dad’s birthday, but it’s not today. This blog, I’m leaving you with one of my favorite Dad stories that I wrote for a creative writing class. I can hear Tracy York, the SHAPE your abs instructor calling out “pony to the left.” This I’ve got to see.

Happy Birthday, Dad. Yes, I am still writing.

Love,
Dorothy

Creative Non-Fiction piece for Antioch Santa Barbara:

No Dad.

I am where we are supposed to meet, but no Dad. I try not to take it personally, but it is hot. In an effort not to cry, I get pissed instead. We are supposed to meet at the Main Gate of Santa Anita Race Track. In two hours, I’ve learned how to use the betting machine, met a cool guy, and drank one warm beer. At home I call to find out what happened. “I was there at the Main Gate,” he said. “Which Main Gate?” I holler over the phone. He doesn’t like to wear his hearing aid. “The Main Gate at the front entrance.” “Okay, let’s try it again next Saturday. How’s jury duty?” “Jewelry? What jewelry?” “Never mind, see you next week at the Main Gate.” “Don’t forget to bring your camera” he yells and hangs up.

Now it’s the next Saturday. No Dad. I am where we are supposed to meet, but no Dad. I race to the infield gates then back to the Main Gates. I’m early but I still can’t find him. Finally, in desperation, I ask an attendant where the Main Gate is. He looks at me like I’m crazy but this time I am determined to find my father. I think about how smart Dad is. I think about how much he loves kindness and music and art but that it is our secret because I am the only one who visits. When I was younger, I’d blame Mom for this because she used to call him a liar. Okay, one for sure lie that I know about was the time he said that he was going to night school and instead went to the bar for an entire semester. But still, that has nothing to do with this Main Gate.

I ask the attendant “is there a gate for people who take the city bus?” He points to a mere break in the fence, so narrow that a child, much less a grown man, could never squeeze through, even if he wanted to. There is a small chain link across the opening and I notice the rickety wire gate. As I rush forward, I become 12 years old and jam my nose through one of the wire links. There, sitting on top of a picnic table smoking, is my father. In spite of the heat, he is wearing his gray polyester blend slacks from the Blair catalog, his straw hat. His coat is folded neatly over his arm. He looks up and butts out his Lucky Strike. Smiling, he walks through the gate to me.

(PS: Dad was bummed that he didn’t get chosen for jury duty. It was a murder trial and Dad said that he told them, “They should hang ‘em, if he’s the one who did it, that’s what they should do.”)

To read my article called Bus People, visit: www.writeinside.com/writings

Dot

Visioning® Manifestation

The first Monday after moving to Santa Cruz was gorgeous. Sunny, bright, it was shorts weather. I wanted to jump up and go to the beach. I told my new housemate my plans and she replied, “That sounds good. If it were me I wouldn’t be able to relax until my stuff was put away…” I decided to follow her suggestion and went back to my stack of boxes (I unpacked my purse collection the night before) and started in. At lunch I told my other housemate that I was going to drive to Trader Joes. But she gave me walking directions that included an “opening in the brick wall.” Walking through a brick wall? I had to do it.

Often times working with a Visioning collage feels like we are aiming our desires through the brick wall of impossibility. But the Visioning® process is often about manifesting a feeling, rather than a particular object or situation. Once the collage is finished, the process of being with the images and trusting the process is the key.

For instance, I knew that once I set up my home in Santa Cruz I was going to end up in the same basic relationship I am always in: me, myself and I. So it was important that I remembered my focus phrase “My Santa Cruz County life is joyfully peaceful.” This is my ultimate heart’s desire. It’s not asking for a specific situation – other than being in Santa Cruz County – but that I live in joyful peace.

I’m learning that my daily walk of joyful peace fluctuates. That’s why I use the dominant hand, non-dominant hand technique, to invoke peace into my day regardless of what the day brings. (See my January blog for an example). I used to believe peace meant passive. But my first three days in Santa Cruz were anything but.

Day 1: After realizing that I passed the intersection where I was to turn left in the direction of the brick wall, I asked for help. I saw two women walking toward me, so I crossed the street and asked directions. Turns out they were also going to Trader Joes. And one of the women is in the midst of creating a new vision for her life with her husband. (I’m doing a Visioning® collage series for them starting this Saturday.) Through them I’ve already met an inspiring group of Visionaries.

Day 2: I walk back through the wall to get more chow from T.J.’s. On the way back home, I see a familiar face out of the corner of my eye. It’s Laura, my friend who I was in a band with years before in San Luis Obispo County. We stop and chat. She works at the Alternative School where I am hoping to teach. We exchange numbers and she tells me that I will love Capitola. I tell her that I already do.

Day 3: On the way back from a walk on the beach, a dog comes up to me, ball in mouth and I chat with the owner and his friend. I tell them I just moved and we hang out for a while talking. Turns out they are musician/songwriters and yes, they will let me know when they get together to play music. One of them even agrees to talk about a workshop for him and his wife in exchange for an original painting. (I had wanted to do a Visioning® workshop for a couple for some time as well as have an original painting created for my new place.)

This may seem like magic but it’s not. It’s enthusiasm.
Visioning® is tossing several irons in the fire. Toss when the feeling is right and something lovely will ignite. But you don’t get the situation unless you are willing to make the first toss: this includes asking for help. Dreams do ignite – especially when walking through brick walls.

May you and yours walk towards your dream,

Dorothy

To find out how you can host your own Visioning® party, visit http://www.writeinside.com/
To see a Vision collage of a dream home (and the house itself) visit http://www.visioningcoach.org/ and click on Lucia’s Story.

Visioning: A Journey, not a Goal.

Last month I left you with my vision ducks quacking over the holidays.
This month, I’m celebrating because, well, it happened! I’m moving to Santa Cruz in 2 days. So if I’m so stoked on moving into my groovy house share on the Capitola/Santa Cruz border, then why feel so even? A truer description is: slightly even, splashed with dots of excitement.

At first feel, I decided that the Critic was afoot and I was going to bop that cute little Shadow Self clean into the next county. Then I realized that I was counting on my Santa Cruz move to save me. While I rationally knew that moving to Santa Cruz meant that one GIANT goal has been reached, the saving part means that I told myself “when I move to Santa Cruz I will be happy.” But thoughts like that mean that I’m not happy now. Saving means the proverbial honeymoon.

Basically, I made the same mistake that many collaging visionaries make. I believed that a vision manifestation was the end, the prize, the brass ring. Not so. All skilled visionaries know that a vision collage is a journey.

Here’s what happened.

I planned a few days to drive up to Santa Cruz and check out some housemate situations and had the scoop on a couple of studio apartments. But, by the time I left for my trip, I was certain that I was going to rent a particular room. I could feel it. The decision felt light. And that’s exactly what happened. We agreed it was a great fit, but that we each needed to sleep on it. The next morning, while I knew to sign the lease, something was bugging me. So I grabbed a pen and scribbled out some concerns.

“I’m sharing a place, I don’t have my own bathroom, I’m 47 I should have my own place, at least my own bathroom, why do I want to share a place? Why do I want to share a bathroom? I’m 47, shouldn’t I……”

After 3 pages of the above judgment mind drivel, something was still bugging me. So I did the next step of the Visioning process: let one of the collage images “speak.” I also call this Talking to The Hand.

Talking to the Hand means that I can write to each collage image to find out what that aspect of me wants to say. The process is known as Creative Journaling and it’s a right brain technique. It gives us the chance for our heart to speak. Basically, I interview the collage image with a series of questions. I decided to interview Niversity because that was the first image that caught my attention.

I use my Dominant Hand to ask the questions (DH) and my non-dominant hand to answer (NDH). Here is part of the result. (You are being spared 2 more pages of DH drivel.)

DH: Dear Niversity: Who are you?
NDH: I am your next step.
DH: How do you feel?
NDH: Confident and happy.
DH: Why?
NDH: Because you said yes to the next step.
DH: Which is…
NDH: Moving to Santa Cruz to be in this house.
DH: I feel afraid of sharing and changing and being more open and loving and compassionate. What do you know about this?
NDH: That this, the next step, is a step, you can chose again and again.
DH: Niversity, what are you here to teach me?
NDH: That there is nothing serious going on here. This is simply the next step…….
DH: Tell me a poem
NDH: Break the boundary connections to your past story.
Nothing is the same every moment is different.
Leave everything you know and follow me – the next step.
It is okay to be afraid but don’t let it stand in your way.

(I really love how Niversity uses James Taylor’s “Secret of Life” lyrics in the last line of the poem. The actual J.T. line is “feel afraid.” The “nothing serious going on here” refers to a quote by Esther Hicks in “The Secret behind the Secret” DVD by Esther and Jerry Hicks. )

So, using the conversation as my guidance, I realize that I am one wise woman. I’m wise because I understand that once you get your vision, enter ‘wanting more.’ That’s because we are ever expanding beings. I’ve been dreaming of Capitola since June: but it’s January. That’s 7 vision filled months of having even larger dreams. So I’m STILL on my way to my 2 bedroom house, this is just a fabulous stopover. It’s also evidence that I am living my dream.

Every visionary knows to celebrate the steps along the way because a great vision is never done. Even when I do end up in my house with the wooden floors and 2 private bathrooms, I’ll still want more. Want more means expansion and growth. And that’s good. (Sometimes owning stuff for stuff’s sake leads us to want more space.)

So a vision collage really represents steps that celebrate our life journey. And, guess what? It’s supposed to feel good!

So repeat after me: “A vision is a journey. A vision is a journey.”

Joyously, I remember an earlier desire: to live in a community of vibrant, creative women. New digs in a Santa Cruz/Capitola house share with a graphic designer and a holistic massage practitioner. Yes, I’m living my dream. I’m always living my dream.

I’ve showed you mine, now you show me yours. Use the comments section and please, dream big.

May you and yours always be visionaries,

Dorothy

To find out how you can have a Visioning party in your home visit www.writeinside.com

To purchase the book “Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams”
by Lucia Capacchione, visit www.visioningcoach.org and www.luciac.com

Breathing Through the Holidays

Last month I left you with a Vision collage of my Santa Cruz life. Once the collage is made, the next phase is working with each of the images. This is done in a variety of ways. One way is to reflect on a collage image.

I use these methods daily as my spiritual practice: that is, I stop to quiet myself and listen to my Self. Collage images are our internal images glued down on paper. Right brain exercises refocus my energy if I’m overwhelmed by my To Do list. Taking several breaks throughout the day also reminds me that I am a human being, not a human doer. As I move through my tasks, I typically get more head focused. Right brain processes move us back into our bodies, or the present. The body is also the place that stores our emotional history. This premise is the crux of this work.

For example, I made a decision to spend the month of December at my mother’s home. Though I have been looking forward to spending time with family, as December grew closer I felt myself growing anxious. For many of us, regardless of age or worldly accomplishments, when we enter the familial home we are suddenly wearing our childhood play clothes. If we have not processed childhood incidents through healing modalities, then the role we played in childhood is instantly activated. Emotional memory is stored in our body, literally. That is, our child self can be activated simply by being around the people and environment of our childhood. As adults our job is to be AWARE of our internal hurts - which is also known as the Inner Child* - and to heal or release this pain. If the pain energy feels overwhelming, then we can ask for help.

Gratefully my collage has an image that will help me manage my energy over the holidays. The first step after completing any Visioning® Board is to look at it 3 times a day for at least 15 minutes per session. This keeps the feeling of the image in our minds eye. Visioning® is about manifesting the feeling of what you want, although specific intentions will manifest as well.



One of the collage images is a photo of two swans. This symbolizes a park near my mother’s house where I often walk. It is important to note that when I was grabbing images that reflect the topic of the collage, “My Santa Cruz life is joyfully peaceful,” the process was extremely fast. I didn’t realize until the collage was finished that I can ground myself during the holidays by specifically walking at this park. Walking is my preferred method of exercise and this also reminds me to stick to my routine. One good surprise of following this image is that I was given tickets to a Christmas play from someone at the park.

Moving our emotions through physical activity is important because it grounds emotional energy. The image also tells me that during the holidays walking is a way to channel any reactionary feelings activated by visiting family. During the often stressful holidays – this is good to remember. Feeling edgy by a brother-in-law? Instead of telling him to jump in the lake, walk around the lake instead. Want to yell at your sister for forgetting that you are a vegetarian - again? Run to the restroom and do a little jig. Look in the mirror. Hug yourself. Tell yourself how fabulous you look. Breathe.

This holiday use your breath to soothe the hurt that statements by your brother in-law activated. These hurts are activated because they need our tenderness. They need the breath of life to be brought fully into the light and released. Fortunately, the holidays are the time when we can resolve our painful past. I say fortunately because being human, we need pain to show us what feelings need to be transformed. Reactionary pain is our reminder to transform the past into our joyful present. So this holiday, use your breath to move through reactionary feelings and give yourself and your family the gift of your loving presence.

Happy Holidays and many blessings to you and yours,

Dorothy

*For a terrific book regarding Inner Child and Inner Family work read
Recovery of Your Inner Child by Lucia Capacchione: http://www.luciac.com/