“Breakthrough, the Movie,”   a Conscious documentary, asks these questions: “What if there is more to life than what people are seeing? What if people could break through the barriers that keep them in their current state of suffering into the full glory of their desires? What happens to people who wake up to the possibility of living the life they only dared to dream? How do we master this thing called life? Do we have an inner guidance system?”

What if the answers to these meaningful questions cannot be truly answered by the same mind that asks them?  What if the bodies (physical, emotional & mental) that house the eternal Spirit, that is our true identity, are by their very nature not capable of answering these questions?  What if we, as Spiritual beings having a human experience, must delve into the very core of our eternal being to discover the answers?  What if who we “think” we are, is an illusionary concept motivated primarily by unclear memories of the past and hopes and fears of a future that has not yet manifested?  What if the only way to answer the questions is to be focused in the present moment of now?  Perhaps there we could escape the mind’s delusional creation of time and become aware of our eternal Selves. Perhaps being in the eternal moment of now, we could experience the answers to the questions above, through something that is beyond and within our senses, feelings and thoughts, our CONSCIOUSNESS.

Perhaps CONSCIOUSNESS is our “inner guidance system.”  CONSCIOUSNESS is available to all who become a master of their mind and can use the mind as the servant it was meant to be. There is a crystal clarity available right now, detached, rooted in the deep stillness at the core of your being in harmony with the pulse of life itself. Our essential being is immortal, but our bodies (physical, emotional & mental) are mortal.  They will get tired, they will get old and they will die. But your CONSCIOUSNESS is something beyond body and mind, it is beyond every “thing”; it is eternal. 

The mind  keeps us in a sort of stupor.  Burdened by the past, burdened by the projections of the future, we go on living – at the minimum. We don’t live at the maximum.  Our flame remains very dim.  Once we begin to drop the illusions that our mind creates and the dust that we have collected in the past, our flame arises:  clean, clear and fully alive.  Our whole life becomes a brilliant flame of awareness.  Then there are no more questions that remain unanswered.

Love, Peace and unlimited Freedom

Rollon Parker

Okay. It has been one week. The challenge? NOT to promote others, but to promote my business. I’d love to say, easy, peasy, truly a piece of cake! I have successfully STOPPED promoting others and am now GIFTED at self-promotion! But oh, how untrue THAT would be!

This past week has been so interesting! I feel like Edison, I did not fail hundreds of times to create a light bulb, I now know hundreds of ways how NOT to create a light bulb! Monday was truly the hardest and most successful today. I was mentally whipped at the end of the day. AND, I had created more business in a few hours then in a month. FOCUSED on myself! However, it was a constant struggle! My mind/my habits kept trying to pull me in to that which I love… authentic and strategic connections… the other part of me felt like I literally had a rope around those desires and would pull, pull, pull me back to self and self promotion. Was not back in my office until Friday (out on appts.) so WHAT did I decide to do? Something I have been putting off for quite some time-reorganizing my office. I’m not SORRY I’m doing it, but is it just another way to stay away from self-promoting? I DO feel like cleaning the office out means my brain is re-organizing patterns so I can start fresh on Monday. New places for information, my materials handy, all good. And yet, I want to be straight and at least address the possibility of avoidance.

BUT! I am still up to this challenge! I have so much more sympathy now for someone quitting smoking, taking just one more puff, because I did not yet go an entire day not promoting someone. My name is Karen Hoffman and I am addicted to making connections.

Since I’m a glass half full gal, I WILL say EVERYDAY I self-promoted though so PROGRESS! I DID take several steps on my new brand/branding… calling people, setting appointments I have been putting off… Gateway to Dreams is being nurtured now. Taking/making time for it!

My yardstick this week will be the ratio… am I promoting myself/my business more or others. Hopefully the ratios will reverse (10 to 1? Hmmm…..) and I can truly step in to being comfortable with promoting my services.

What about you? Any place you are keeping yourself small?

A stray dog trotted down our country road, a white pit bull with a splotch of brown over his left eye. He ran after my truck as if he had been dumped on the roadside, hungry, tired, confused, forlorn and disoriented. The desperation in his trot was sad, he longed for a new home, a cool bowl of water and a potential place to lay his weary head.  The scenario played out in my mind and suddenly the road became fuzzy through the tears in my eyes.  Had I ever felt like a stray dog left on the corner without any explanation or warning?  Was I undesirable and unwanted, a potential case for a homeless shelter or euthanasia?

The CD sang “Hey na na na na na na more than enough….” But that was not what I was feeling in the moment as I unchained the green cattle gates to my property. A good friend had given me a new grounding technique and I was so excited to try it on the land of ahs.  I grabbed a dollar store plastic table cloth and a thick green blanket and parked myself in the open meadow near a solo pine with the chimes my sister (Santa) had given me tinkling in the breeze.

I needed peace, I longed to reconnect with the sacred center of my soul and to dispel the weepy feeling that pervaded.  The series of events that unfolded over the last several weeks had triggered a deep core issue of trust.  I had lost faith in God, in my fellow man, and most devastatingly in myself. This was not a pleasant place to visit. But I knew if I did not recover the wounded hopeless 8 year old crying inside from the train station of my soul this day that she may never allow me to hold her hand again in sacred sisterhood. I had hope of encouraging and supporting her gentle growth into womanhood. I was so grateful to be looking her in one eye, since the other was hidden behind whatever she needed to feel a false sense of safety.

I laid crucifix style on the ground and began to breath. Within seconds Lucy, my neighbor’s great white Pyrenees was laying completely on top of me as if this moment had been planned a millennium ago and she was showing up for her roll in the healing presence of a warrior of wounds – minutes before she had licked the tears away and allowed me to hug her like a child with a circus teddy bear.  Her body was thick and solid unlike the muscled football players I had dated, this was different, it was of the earth and from the earth and powerfully steady with love like a polar bear.  Pyrenees do not mimic tea cup poodles but weigh 110 pounds dry and she had just come from a dip in the lake.

She placed her forearm over the chakras I had been focusing on to ground myself.  “Reddddd” I mumbled as her huge elbow dug in, “oraaaange” I gasped, then I sputtered, “yeeellllow” as she planted with precision like a pitch fork over the head of a snake. The clincher was when she gently whacked her mongongous paw on my third eye…”Indigooooo!”  “Okay” I thought, “there is something going on here.”

She instinctively knew I needed to feel the presence of Spirit in a tangible way.  I could feel my resistance release. Lucy huddled next to me with her bold head and gentle brown eyes lying on my shoulder, the mist of her soft breath trailing in the chilly air. What an amazing bunk mate!  Ever felt the power of a grizzly bear?  The sheer essence was like giving legs and a tongue to one of the boulders at Elephant Rock State Park.  She gnawed on my gloves until I removed them to wiggle my bare fingers past a few burrs and through her shag carpeting coat. I felt hope return. Lucy didn’t care if I had core issues rising out of my sacrum. Her glistening satin white paws where like angel threads of purity and purpose, here just to teach me to trust again, trust I was loved and that all would be well.

Animals and nature are great teachers about infinite love.

OMG! Just finished the Big Reveal.. Phoenix Arises Seminars this
Weekend, and am still integrating the transformative gifts of Love
And Compassion I received. Thank you, Jaimes!! I feel like I have a new body
..I am in it! And at Peace..After years of consoling, body work, and Spiritual
Practice, the time was right for me to step forward and tell the Truth of
My experience. It was held in the most gentle, strong, powerful hands
As I released the suppressed energy I had held for so long. And to the team of
Compassionate Soldiers..that gave up their weekend,  I salute with deep
Appreciation and Gratitude! They have all walked the walk, and are
Living proof of the Inner changes and the Outer changes..they look different!
In one weekend,, release of shame, reconnection to Self, and family
Receiving Insight of the ancestral pieces and agreements,
And then transformational support into step into the Body fully
That had been violated, without any fear of my stuff bubbling
Up and being exposed..Once Energy is brought to the Light
Is it transformed and released..no more secrets!
My body feels lighter, grounded, safe, witnessed, and supported!

I call to you all..come out, come out, where ever you are,
There is safety and Truth here..the suffering will be released,
And Freedom awaits you…

Then it was as if
I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts,
The depths of their hearts,
The core of their reality,
The person that each one is   in God’s eyes.
If they could only see themselves
As    they really are.
No more war, hatred, cruelty or greed,

I suppose the big problem would be
We would fall down
And worship each other…(Thomas Morton)

I have seen the Beauty..
I live in the Beauty.
.
Beauty before me
Beauty to the Left
Beauty to the Right
Beauty behind me …(Navaho blessing)

I walk in Full Grace..
I am Restored…

Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the
depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge
can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in
God’s eyes. If only they could see themselves as they really are. If
only we could see each other that way all the time, there would be no more
war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed… I suppose the
big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other.
- Thomas Merton

I shared on a recent post that Evonne Weinhaus made that I had a breakdown/breakthrough this weekend while in Florida.

The breakdown occurred at a marketing workshop for “helping-preneurs” that was hosted by Suzanne Evans.  ( www.BeThechangeevent.com) A woman was at the microphone talking about marketing and Suzanne was calling her on not implementing her marketing, stating “you want to be invisible.”  I was shocked at my reaction.  My eyes stung.  Literally my body heard those words and those words rang out as truth for me.  The next thing I knew, as I struggled to listen, was that tears were coursing down my cheeks.  trying to not LOOK like a blubbering idiot I tried wiping the tears away, looking for a napkin or SOMETHING absorbent on the table.  I did not want to leave the room.  I wanted to LISTEN to this conversation that had obviously struck a cord deep within.  Then Donna Gamache brings me a tissue, maybe Maureen Wielansky as well.  I am now I mess.  Invisable.  Invisable.  Invisable.

Tears kept up.  On the surface tears.  Not flowing but right on the surface.  At lunch I ate it with a dear friend and coach, Barbara Luther.  Barbara has helped me with ADD (diagnosed at 55 years old).  She shared that ADD people are sensitive and that she agreed that I worked hard to be invisable.  A weight gain (I gained wight going through chemo in 1997) actually helps you become invisable because many people do not see you as you get heavy and they do not interact with you.  We had an interesting breakthrough kind of a talk and I went off on my own for awhile to explore this concept of being invisable.

That evening I was better emotionally, but holding on to all the growth opportunity around my breakdown from earlier in the day.  As we were sharing Aha’s, I put out some of mine and shared the “invisable” breakdown.  To my surprise, Suzanne Evans issued a commandment.  “Karen.  for the next 3 months, I do not want you promoting ANYONE but yourself.” I literally stopped breathing.  For those that KNOW me well at all, they KNOW the joy & pleasure I receive from making authentic & strategic connections.  I said I thought I was sorry I came if she was serious.  Serious Suzanne was.  90 days.  I tried to say I have City of Experts.  “No.” she said.  As I left the mic I was trying to process 3 months/90 days.  I could start again on May 18th.  HOW could I STOP what is breathing to me!

I thought about waking up in the morning.  My first thought, literally, is to promote someone, so I thought, well, maybe I can exercise or meditate.  Hmmm.  I was thinking about something for me!

Later that night with several women from St. Louis we were discussing my challenge/opportunity.  The response from them was heartwarming.  They agreed with Suzanne and all said they wanted to promote me as well.  WOW.  This was feeling different!  Although another friend that I love to promote said while she KNEW it was good for me, it would affect I project we are working on together.  Yes.  I got it.  Hmmm.  How could I still promote her (SHE DID NOT ASK) soooo I started thinking.  What if I stopped my “automatic”  promoting everyone as I have done most of my life and started looking at “strategic for me” promotion.

Hmmm.  This is getting interesting!  Breakdown/Breakthrough.  What about a new way of thinking?  Me first?  Writing it even feels wierd, but it’s the oxygen mask on a plane.  If I am not caring for me, how can I really care for others?  Can I help MORE people if own myself and my gifts?  If I market and grow my own business?  Of course!  So, for the next 90 days, I am not a promoter of others… I am going to learn to be a great self-promoter!

I do want to say since I love ideas, growth-this is a fascinating and hard concept!  So far I’ve only broken it one time!  To promote the call for Breakthrough this evening!

Wish me LUCK!

Breakdown to Breakthrough!

Positively with love,

Karen Hoffman-Your Business Dream Champion

We come together for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. In my previous blog, we discussed the Unrealized Energy that manifests as Karmic Agreements. In Reconnection, with our True Self, we will attract those who have similar lessons to learn, and as quickly as they enter our life, when the Energy has been Realized or Integrated, they will be released, Next! Our mind wants to hold on, to try to make it better, to fix it, to make it last longer..for the beginning is delicious, and we can honor and understand the ending. What were the gifts, what did I learn about myself? How have I expanded my capacity to Love? We can appreciate all those who show up in our world, to play the part, of teacher, friend, lover,  We experience the Source of Love, and we grow and blossom. We live in Endless Possibilities..Next….   Rumi states:

Everything you see
has its roots in the unseen world.
The forms may change but the essence
remains the same.

Every wondrous sight will vanish
every sweet word shall fade.
But do not be disheartened.
The Source they come from
is eternal, growing, branching out
bringing new life
and new joy.

Why do you weep?
That Source is within you
and this whole world
is springing up from it.

The Source is full
its waters are ever flowing.
Do not grieve; drink your fill.
Don’t think it will ever run out.
This is the endless ocean

The Enlightened Plumber

Once upon a time, there was a girl
Who loved her life..
She had everything she had asked for..
She had married, had two children,
Three grand children,
And created a New Life
That included joyful, meaningful work.
It appeared she had everything.

But inside, a tender spot,
Called out for Love..
She was really good at giving Love.
She knew how to be warm, open, and kind..
People love her, because she gives everything
To them..
She is loving, kind, fun, and excited about life.

Long ago, it wasn’t so easy..
Long ago, there was much suffering and stress,
Long ago, she felt alone and overwhelmed with life.
And those experiences had propelled her
Into action..
Why did this same old pattern keep showing up?
Why when the rest of her life was so happy,
Why was she blocked with men?
Why was she safe and happy without them?
Why did her life feel more sacred and still
Without the disruption   of a partner?
It just was, or so she thought..

But then one day..her heart opened up..
And she decided to change her mind..
How would it be for me,
If I invited  a Love to share my life?
Would my old man patterns show up again?

My mind said …don’t do it..it’s not worth it
You’ll get hurt..or you may hurt him,
Don’t do it..

In my work, I help clients clear unconscious karmic patterns.
What’s that?
Well, the teacher, always teaches,
What she needs to learn.
So I share my lesson with you.
All suffering, all limitation occurs
When the mind is caught in duality,
Separateness from the Source,
We just forget…who we are..
Giving into  the Ego (fear based information).
And the Ego responds in three ways.

Contraction…fear, worry, doubt, sorrow or even physical pain
Re-creation, which is unhealthy, unRealized  energy
That will reassemble all limitations, or incompleteness within us.

We are here on this planet
To recreate  with our Source.
The fullness and Truth of our lives.
In recreation we offer our Mind, Body, and Soul
And opportunity  to make a new choice.
And to move forward
…
All Source Energy provides a New Response,
And the old Pattern is dissolved…

Grew up in an alcoholic family,
Married an alcoholic,
Don’t want another..
Al-Non..12 years,
Seek Enlightenment, Connection, Healing
Study everything I can..
Ten years later, attract another
Alcoholic  partner.?????
Could this be…. inside of me?
Could these men…. mirror my own pain?

How can I love and heal myself?

Release duality, embrace your Divine Self
Connect with yourself on a Soul level,
Learn to love, accept, and show compassion
And love for you and others….
Bless every Soul on their journey,
Hold no judgment,
And see the  Beauty inside us all..

The Beauty was my saving Grace..
I asked to shown what Love is..
In a new language
A new way..
Connected to my Source and Strength
I released  my intention to the Universe..
And what happened was a shock!

A man appeared…
Not what my mind (ego) requested..
I love suits, and intellectual genius.
A heart, a Lions heart, showed up..
And offered me
All…. that I was afraid to ask for..
Without a word, I felt his Presence and Love
And trembled
It was so easily offered..
No struggle, just a warm smile.
A gentle bear, strong, powerful,
And loud! His laugh bellows!

He was just being him.
An open heart, open hands,
Laughing, happy, powerful,
And gentle, sweet, kind, generous,
And inclusive..
No borders, games, or teaspoons of Love,
He offers the Banquet of Life..

We are on a gentle path together,
Karmic patterns once exposed to Love,
Dissolution!
Transcendence!
Union!
Peace!
Joy!

This week I had lunch with a woman who attended the preview on December 3rd.  She shocked me when she shared her story of bringing her husband and his reaction to the movie… He said it was changing his life.  All of us, “ordinary people having extraordinary conversations” AFTER the movie trailers  were shown.  That he had never heard people be so “real.”  There was much he identified with and it inspired him.  Thank you Michal and all the Breakthrough team for the creation of a movie that will facilitate more human connections as people are sharing their breakdowns and their breakthroughs.    Positively,  Karen Hoffman-The IDEA Coach