I Wished!

 By Pamela Chapman

As I followed a link that would take me to Susan Murphy Milano’s website, I was lead to another devastating story of our justice system failing three children. I took a deep breath. My heart sank. There seems to be no shortage of stories of mayhem, chaos, devastation, or destruction. Whether we’re looking at domestic destruction or natural destruction the stories are endless.

This morning on my usual walk with self and God I took in the panoramic views of the mountains, the hills, the trees and the skies. Everything around me appeared serene and calm. “Is this real?” I thought. Or, is this my personal phantom or illusion? How can all that I am now seeing appear to be so right, so peaceful and so perfectly aligned with God while there is, yet, another world filled with despair, pain, and devastation? A world where children’s lives are cut short, women are devalued, misogynist beliefs and views are alive and well and, what is wrong is accepted for right.  How can the systems of this world be so broken and twisted?

I began to wish and pray for a better world.  I wished that every child on this earth be able to lay their head down at night without danger, without worry, and without fear. I wished they would experience unconditional love and complete acceptance from their parents or guardians. I wished that every woman would feel and believe she is the apple of God’s eye, His center, and His pursuit. I wished that she would know, without a doubt, without a double-take that she was loved, cherished, and revered. I wished her self-esteem was healthy and her self-confidence strong while believing and knowing she was amazingly created and her God said, “It is good.” I wished she would experience the perfect square of life: health, wealth, love and perfect self-expression. I wished that if and when something went wrong and judgment had to be sought that judgment would be fair, unbiased, and sovereign—not based upon gender, politics, or dollar. I wished the lion and the sheep would be able to lay down with one another and there would be no need for the lion to show how strong or powerful he was. I wished this world would be a harmonious force, each [wo]man finding their way, their purpose and path painlessly.

It can be really easy to dismiss my wishes as hopeful or positive thinking but I won’t give up believing, hoping, praying and wishing. I won’t give up believing, hoping, praying and wishing that the work of my fellow humanitarians, the known and the unknown, will not be in vain and one day, “every tear will be wiped away, every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

I wished, my sister and my brother that you be endowed with the strength, tenacity, and unconditional love necessary to bring about this great change.

I wished!

5 Vital Beliefs to Achieving Success in 2010

   By Pamela Chapman

We have made it through the holiday season. Welcome to 2010. I don't know about you, but I'm excited and looking forward to new beginnings. 


There are a few beliefs I'd like to share with you at the start of this New Year. 

I believe they are vital for each and every one of us to remember going forward in 2010.
Grasp some type of belief system outside yourself--a belief system that will bring hope, encouragement and inspiration. That might look like prayer, meditation, yoga or whatever spiritual practice you might use. 

I also believe you will need to remember others and more importantly be willing to assist others, collaborate. If you want good things to happen to you, make them happen for someone else. It can’t be all about you. We must stop talking about love and start demonstrating love—loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and ours. Narcissist behavior in 2010 will lead to one thing—failure.

In addition, you want to take special care of yourself by re-energizing, refocusing, and restoring. My friend and Legacy Coach Ana-Christina as well as my business coaches Maria Simone and Michael Murdock reminded me of this in 2009.  When you're stressing out and freaking out...take deep, deep breaths. Deep breathing causes you to shift, regain composure, energize and refocus on what it is you want to create and guess what? God gave you air and it’s free. Remember what every flight attendant tells you before you fly. If there is a sudden decline in altitude (attitude) and the oxygen releases, put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Don't help the child, the spouse, the boyfriend or anyone else. 

 Eat right, drink water, exercise, and get lots of rest. I know this is difficult, ladies, but it’s critical. 

We are understanding quantum physics more and more. If your energy is negative, depleted and stinky, then what you attract, manifest, and co-create will be negative, empty, and stinky too. So, don’t let the trials and challenges of life take you under.
Keep a positive mindset, turn off the news and negative folk and while asking for more be appreciative for what you have and give thanks daily. 


So here it is in five simple steps: 


#1 Ground each day, in the morning if possible.


#2 Remember this Universal Law...what comes around, goes around. You reap what you sow.  


#3 Breathe to re-energize, refocus and restore. 


#4 Take care of you FIRST. 


#5 Be positive and be grateful. 


Here’s wishing you a Happy, Prosperous and Blessed New Year. I pray "Release" for all that is good for you, and "Release" for all that has held you back and stifled your growth and your ascending to the next plateau in 2009.  


In Love, Light and Healing,
Pamela

A Day of Thanksgiving: Oh My Soul I Still Give Thanks

By Pamela Chapman


As I pondered upon what message or thought I would share for my next piece, at first I thought about continuing with my last contribution. I thought I’d share some information to help move you forward using journaling. We will still delve into that subject but since we are in the Thanksgiving season, I am inspired to go there instead.


While there may be some controversy around what Thanksgiving Day is and what it represents, I believe our history books are consistent in this. Those who settled in the Plymouth Colony were not entrepreneurs like those who settled in Jamestown. They were those who were fleeing religious persecution and seeking a place to worship as they saw fit. Many of the events and traditions surrounding Plymouth Colony have become part of American history including Thanksgiving, hence Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and express gratitude in general.


Thanksgiving ushers in the holidays and for many of us, myself included, it brings haunting memories. Many of us are grieving. I need not list what I believe that grieving might be. Unfortunately, many of us have a difficult time finding anything to give thanks for or celebrate about this time of year.


Please do not take this as me being some expert telling you what you have to do and what you should do. I have suffered much grief and much pain in my fifty plus years of living. I’ve cried enough tears for several oceans let alone rivers. I still cry. Often time, now, my tears are tears of refreshing. I cry tears that represent my “how I got over,” and my tears often represent tears of thanksgiving. However, I still cry intercessory tears.


Even as I write this piece, I cry. I cry for the woman who has lost her child due to some lost soul not seeing her baby as the precious jewel they are and will always be. I cry for the parents and siblings who don’t know where there loved ones are today and there is no closure. I even cry for the soul who is so confused, full of hate and turmoil that must harm others in order to feel fulfilled. I cry for the nation who cannot see their children and women as jewels and treasures who should be cherished and protected. I cry for the nations who believe human beings should be sold and bought like commodities. However, in spite of it all, I still give thanks.


I give thanks that today I opened my eyes and took a new breath. I give thanks because today I know that the Universe sends new mercy. I give thanks because I have a roof over my head and food in the refrigerator. I give thanks because I have an eight-six-year old mother who last year this time wasn’t expected to live. I give thanks that I have a handsome son, beautiful daughter-in-law and five incredibly beautiful grandchildren who are driving my son crazy paying him back for all the times he drove me crazy. I give thanks that in spite of what my son has come through and what I have come through we still have our wits about us, our self-confidence and our self-worth.


No, it didn’t come without some realigning, but I am thankful and we are moving on. I give thanks that in spite of all the challenges this great nation faces, I can still open my laptop this morning and freely express what my heart wants to say to you today. I give thanks to all Supreme Intelligence and all Powerful Creator who has sent me to love and to heal and to be a light amongst the lights. I give thanks that you, the amazingly and wonderfully made, are in and part of my life. I am thankful for You, your love and your complete healing.


Oh my soul, I still give thanks.




In Love & Light


Pamela Chapman, CTACC, CDVS
Self-Esteem and Life-Transition Expert, Teacher, Author