Shera R. Sever: Igniting the Spark™

You may have heard this true story from several years ago:

THE SITUATION
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. 

About 4 minutes later : The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes :
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent – without exception – forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

After one hour :
He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

How many things are you missing this holiday season, as you rush through your days to get it all done?  Just like nature in her stillness of the approaching solstice, take some time to slow down and appreciate the beauty and miracle of the moment.

Happy Holidays!

What a wonderful time of year for giving and receiving, sharing love and reNEWal!

If you survived the last 3-6 months with your sense of humor still intact, take a moment now to CONGRATULATE yourself for your amazing navigation and accepting “what is” skills.

A friend recently shared this wonderful reminder with me:

LIFE is an endless transition. Go with the flow, change the flow, surrender to the flow,

be the flow, create the flow… the essence of the flow is: Transition

When we look at nature (biomimicry) we see how true this is.

It’s been quite a time of transition and reorganization for so many!

Most everyone with whom I speak has commented on the “intensity ” of the times with many of us undergoing, slow, yet massive changes in our homes, careers, businesses, and relationships. I believe we are all undergoing a collective re-organization.

What has changed for you this past year?

How are you reorganizing your life/business?

Any new approaches/attitudes you’d like to share?

The on-going theme for me  is SIMPLIFY. I didn’t realize how complicated simplification could be. It takes tremendous courage and trust to get out of our own way, surrender, and let go! As all manifestors know, the clarity of our intentions along with committed action/discipline is what creates “so-called” miracles.

Now is a wonderful time to move from hoping to knowing/feeling what it is we are creating in these times.

“Everything comes to us that belongs to us when we create the capacity to receive it.” -Rabindranath Tagore

Clarity, love, acceptance, and gratitude are wonderful gifts to give and receive. In this holiday season, I am wishing us all more ease, beauty, moments of peace and rest, more compassion and understanding as we continue to navigate and reinvent our lives, businesses, and relationships.

Change cleanses the soul. Enjoy the ride and be kind to your fellow travelers.

Wishing you warm and happy holidays!

I’ve been a member of  publisher Dave Riflan’s  Self Growth Community for over a year now. He/we just published  a new e-book:

“How to Survive & Thrive During the Economic Crisis”

I contributed to several sections including “How Do You Keep a Positive Mindset”

A few of my tips:

Turn off the news-or choose Good News for a Change at All-Top

Focus on what you want (rather than what you don’t want).

Take time everyday to tap into your inner wisdom with meditation, yoga, or some other form of body/mind/spirit discipline.

Laugh and Smile more- it’s the second best thing you can do with your lips!

Learn a new skill (or language)!

Do more with less-it cultivates creativity

Practice the Attitude of Gratitude- write down 20 people/things/places you are grateful for- DAILY!

“How to Survive & Thrive During the Economic Crisis”

Download now It’s our gift to you!

Are you feeling tired with the constant gloomy news in the media? I hope by now, you have turned off your TV!

It’s a constricted lens that complains about all the things we don’t have or all the problems in our life.  But as my reader, you’re bigger than that- right?!

The Gratitude Scan

I’ve re-instated The Gratitude Scan into my morning daily practice by starting each day expressing thanks for all the abundance in my life.  Right now can you think of at least 3-5 things you are thankful for? How about 10? or even 20?

Starting tomorrow morning before you get up, release anxiety, stress and noise in your mind by expressing gratitude before you engage in any other activity! I find writing down all that I am grateful for to be a very powerful practice.

Excellence is a habit!

If you keep it up daily, you’ll start to notice a sense of peace, joy, and renewed confidence.  As a result better, clearer decisions,  more resilience, and a peacful “knowing”  are at your fingertips.  And most of all, you will attract more blessings, synchronicity, and  opportunities to you. And now, let’s take this a step further.

Practicing an Attitude of Gratitude in the Workplace

1. At a future meeting, ask everyone in the room to share something they are thankful for about their job:

• this could be as simple as a window in their office
• an ergonomic workstation
• a manager who really cares
• a supportive co-worker
• or the learning experience associated with a current project they are working on.

2. Let your co-workers, boss, and employees know how much you appreciate them. A simple note, e-mail, or dark chocolate(!?) at least once a week can uplift everyone’s spirit and add to the sense of collaboration in the workplace.

3. How can you let your clients know how much you appreciate them?

• Send a one or two line weekly motivational tip or favorite quote
• Offer a free resource reminding your clients that you are on their team to support their continued success.
• Call them on the phone
• Host a gratitude luncheon for your clients.
• Remember: Good things come to those who collaborate!

As the season of Thanksgiving is approaching let’s  make a special effort to have an Attitude of Gratitude. Engage yourself in activities and environments that reinforce your JOY!. It’s your birthright!