Simple Shifts to a New Life

Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM)

Brought to you by Mimi Doe

November, 2008

V10 #11

SIMPLE SHIFTS TO A NEW LIFE

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This newsletter is my gift to you in the hopes of empowering children and parents everywhere to live more joyful, connected lives.

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SIMPLE SHIFTS TO A NEW LIFE

- Welcome From Mimi

- Up Until Now

- As if a New Future is Already Here

- Parent's Check-in Questions: Do-Overs

- What's New

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November greetings,

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to “speak” to you through these monthly newsletters and for your many wonderful responses. In the spirit of thanks, I offer you the following with the hope that you can focus on the present and allow yourself to experience more peace, bliss, and joy than you ever thought possible. You can create the life you want to live and when you do, everyone you love is impacted by your shift.

Don’t allow the fear that’s swirling through our media and weaves in and out of ordinary conversations to be your truth. There is rich opportunity for you now. There is good to be had in the shifts going on. Give thanks for the pleasures and blessings in your life -- November is the month of thanksgiving. It’s a magic formula -- give thanks and watch your energy subtly shift to a more joyful state. Watch how unexpected synergies just seem to show up!

Have a glorious Thanksgiving. Remember to keep things simple. Your kids won’t remember the fancy table decorations or the exotic stuffing with chestnuts but they will recall the spirit of ease and happiness. You set the tone, so don’t wear yourself out but instead create a simple yet magical atmosphere of love.

Blessings and light from my heart to yours,

Mimi Doe

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UP UNTIL NOW

Focusing on the present is a tool for allowing ourselves to sink into peace, after which it's easier to look at the world around us with fresh eyes. Naturally, we get to choose what we see when we look through those eyes. To live as if each moment of every day contains the potential for a new beginning, we need to also cultivate the awareness that anything is possible.

Our responses to our lives and our children are closely related to our spiritual convictions. In this new day, what do we believe? Do we trust in a power greater than ourselves that is lovingly guiding our children and us through this time of change? How does this knowing shift our response to a son or daughter who stays out past curfew, talks back, chooses friends we'd label "losers," changes her mind every two seconds, bursts into tears, or snarls a response?

I learned a very useful phrase several years ago. It helps create possibility instead of a future determined by past experiences: Up Until Now.

These words fit into sentences that could sound like these: I've always been disappointed by my son's choices." "I'm easily frustrated by my kid's actions." "I work so hard, my life is a whirl, I don't give my daughter the time I should." “I’m so afraid of going broke with this recession nipping at my heels.”

When the substitution is made they turn into: "Up until now, my son has made some irresponsible choices." "Up until now, I've been an impatient parent." "Up until now, I haven't had time to do one-on-one activities with my daughter." “Up until now, I have been afraid of going broke.”

This is more than semantics. By inserting these three words into how we speak and think, we acknowledge the truth that we can choose a new way of seeing and living at any time. The present moment marks the transition between what has been and what can be.

Take some time to write down your new script. Up until now….

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Lean back with your eyes closed, your arms opened wide. Be there with all of life's mysteries. Welcome them into your life.
— Terry Bookman

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AS IF A NEW FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE

To expand the possibilities that lie just beyond the threshold of the present moment, try one or more of these suggestions:

- Distinguish between knowing What and knowing How. When we have a clear idea about the future we want to move into, bolstered by deeply felt desire, the ways by which that future goal takes place can surprise us. Our chief job is to identify what we can see as our greatest possible future good; the universe takes care of the rest. For example, the essence of what we want might be a home full of beauty and serenity, a place our children are comfortable hanging out in with friends. How our home gets to that point will become clear day by day as we focus on the image of that beautiful and serene home, rather than focusing on a vision of what our home lacks.

- "As if" your way into the future. If you're like many of us, perhaps your life as a person and a parent, your teen's life, or your relationship hasn't provided everything that you've longed for. Start today by acknowledging that the seed of what you most want lies within you. Act as if it's already the case, and you'll find yourself making steady progress toward living the reality.

- Consider adopting "Just for today" as your mantra. "Just for today, I'll speak only loving words to those I love." "Just for today I will notice my fear-based thoughts without acting them out." "Just for today, I'll spend more time listening to my teen." The truth is, that's enough. Take care of today, and the rest of your life will take care of itself.

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A soul that longs for something is a soul that is growing — one way or another, smaller or larger. What have your longings done to your life and its horizons — broadened them or crippled them?
— Joan Chittister

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PARENT'S CHECK-IN QUESTIONS: DO-OVERS

When in your life have you had a do-over? What did you leave behind to move into a new future?

What did you do or fail to do today that you'd go back and revise? Can you do so?

What was the atmosphere in your home growing up? Are there elements of that energy in your home today? What small step might you take today to begin to create more positive energy?

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~*~WHAT'S NEW~*~

PARENTING TEENS?

Are you the parent of teenagers? So am I and a few years ago I wrote Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul (St. Martin's Press). Unfortunately the book is going out of print. I've had the rights reverted to me so that I can reissue it with all sorts of extras including a CD with meditations for parents, etc. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, do let me know what you'd like guidance on in terms of raising spiritual teenagers.

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO THESE DAYS

Lately I've been listening to Steve Halperns OM Zone on my laptop as I work. It transports me to ease and calm. Check out this instrumental CD and I promise you will find a new serenity.

MIMI BLOGS

Click HERE to visit my Blog. You can bookmark it on Google to receive updates of new posts. Do leave comments and suggestions so we can have a virtual conversation.

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CREATE A YEAR OF DREAMS

Make ALL your dreams come true with the Dream Manifesto!

For YEARS I have been creating vision boards or treasure maps using poster boards and images of what

I would like to manifest in my life...Literally for about 24 years...

Up until now...

Now, since I'm on my computer so much of the time...I've installed this easy to use software, literally I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes, and my images are scheduled to appear with sound...that I've created...every few hours...reminding me of what I wish to focus upon...

It's crazy cool! In fact, I have had to delete most of the images I first put up as they HAVE COME TRUE. Time for new dreams!

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TREAT YOUR TEENAGERS TO STRESS FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS!

If your children are in high school, pick up a copy of my book: Don't Worry You'll Get In: 100 Tips for Stress Free College Admission. I believe that knowledge is power and have created various ways to help make the application and admissions process less stressful.

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CREATE A LIFE LIVED ON PURPOSE THIS FALL

Busy but Balanced

Begin RIGHT NOW to craft a more balanced life!

This book takes you through the year, week by week...Full of tips, tools, ideas and inspiration for crafting a family life that is calm, centered, and full of joy!

Your kids head back to school and you can dive into this weekly, inspirational guide for living a more meaningful life.

Your own new semester of sorts.

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Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM) is written and produced by Mimi Doe and Karen Adolphson. If you have any stories to share, questions or comments, please send them to: Editor@SpiritualParenting.com. We'd love to hear from you!

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Mimi Doe, Author of:
"Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul"
"Busy But Balanced"
"10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting"
"Drawing Angels Near"

http://www.SpiritualParenting.com