SimplyNumbers

Working with new beginnings (part 2)

By now, you’ve probably been focusing on the resolutions you made for the new year. You may have even backtracked, but it’s okay. You simply need to be willing to keep working at it. You might also look at your resolutions as intentions. Setting an intention to make a positive change can feel dramatically different than making a resolution. But, it’s really about reminding yourself about the life you wish to live.

In order to more fully support yourself and your desired changes, you may wish to hold a ceremony which others can also take part in. The main purpose of this ceremony is to help you release the harmful or unhealthy situations, habits or relationships from your life. You could gather with some close friends and discuss the things you’re willing to let go of. Together, you can guide and support one another throughout the rest of the year, and into the future. Having a supportive group of people behind you can help you to feel connected and honored. This can then help you to have a better chance of following through and sticking to your desired changes and resolutions.

To add a sense of sacredness and specialness to your ceremony you can light candles and have a roaring fire. According to many traditions, fire represents purification and cleansing. With the fireplace, in addition to talking about your issues, you can write them down and safely burn them in the fire. When you have finished, you can say a few words of thanks to the fire, either silently or aloud. Then, you may choose to sit in silent contemplation and allow the fire to burn down.

Placing your issues into the fire represents a deep willingness on your part to do what’s necessary to let go. If letting go of a particular issue feels like a big step, and it might be, then releasing it can be powerfully freeing and healing. Being willing to let go means that you’ll consciously live your life in a way that supports your desired changes. For instance, you might decide to let go of unhealthy eating habits, and this might involve clearing out your cupboards and swapping food with a friend, or donating the foods that no longer support you.

Taking time out to prepare before your ceremony will allow you to more clearly see the emotional issues in your life with the most charge. Don't be afraid to work with these. Have compassion for yourself, and ask for support as you bring your issues to the fire. Know that the fire can clear away and transform your issues. You only need to have an open heart and be willing to let go.

Working with the fire practice can help you to explore your own life and make room for new opportunities and new learning. Your process can be dynamic, transformational and exhilarating. Although you may be learning a lot about yourself, it's not necessarily like taking a class, but about simply finding ways to allow your life to have specialness, deeper meaning and importance, which often comes through listening to your heart.

Utilizing the fire, you can open to your intuition and the true call of your heart. Have you been putting the needs of your heart aside? Now is the time to listen and act. You may find that at the end of the ceremony, you’ve come up with a completely new resolution.

Throughout the year you can find time to regularly light a candle to support the changes you wish to make within your life. Perhaps, You may wish to set aside a special time each day to sit in silence before the candle. You can use this quiet time to reflect and meditate. It can be a chance to deepen your connection to your heart. You can also journal the thoughts and ideas that come to you in silence.

Welcoming 2012 (part 1)

You’ll likely welcome the coming new year with a few resolutions, as there may be some life changes you’d like to make. However, you’ll more likely stay committed to your resolutions with a solid strategy and outside support. One of the biggest issues for most people is thinking of a goal without anticipating potential obstacles, or making a detailed plan about what will be required to reach your goal. We don't think about what we'll need to do on a day-to-day basis to stay on track and stay motivated. Steve Levinson Ph.D., author of “Following Through”, simply says, “We fail because we don't follow through!”

Fortunately, Numerology offers support for staying true to your goals. A strong Numerological theme for 2012 involves learning more about ourselves, often through opportunities and transitions, which are aligned with the needs of your heart. By paying attention to your heart, and its innate inner wisdom, you'll have the ability to reshape your life. As your heart is connected to your path in life, you may wish to look to your Life Path and begin to see where it fits (or doesn't yet) into your life now. Aligning your goals to your Life Path can give you a better chance at success!

Curiosity is also a strong theme within the year. Be open to looking at your life as a mystery. Be curious. Learn to trust your intuition. Pay attention to gut instincts and feelings. Notice the flavor of your dreams. What does life want for you? What do you feel drawn to explore? What do you feel guided toward? What has your heart been calling for?

Throughout the year, situations may arise which enable you to structure your life in ways you’ve barely imagined. Again, look to find ways to align to your Life Path! Ideally, as opportunities develop, rather than holding back, you’ll be able to accept them as a chance to step deeper into the life you desire.

In order to take full advantage of your opportunities, you may need to let go of non-supportive habits, relationships or situations. This may involve taking chances and opening new doors. Or, it could be about simply trying to embrace your intuition and heart’s wisdom in ways you haven’t before. Following your heart, and it’s intuitive wisdom, can help you to thrive.

Before you make your resolutions, you should take time to do a life review. While your resolutions can be about eliminating certain things, you may wish to evaluate your life in terms of the things you would actually like to bring in. This is not necessarily about material goods, but about listening to the needs, desire and wisdom of your heart, and trusting your intuition. What does your heart need to feel balanced and safe? What has it been yearning for? What risks feel attainable?

Making changes for 2012

The coming New Year offers an opportunity for you to not only make resolutions, but to review your past and perhaps step away from situations which no longer support you. Certain habits, people or activities may not be appropriate for your overall mental, spiritual or emotional health. It might be difficult to distance yourself from the things and people that may seem integral to your life, but if their presence is doing more harm than good, you need to be willing to let go.

Whatever you need to let go of, the process is not necessarily an easy one. However, letting go can help you to heal and build the life you really want. Letting go can create space in your life for something new to unfold. Letting go can help you to step past restrictions and constraints, which hold you back and prevent you from making desired changes.

You may wish to hold some type of observance or practice, which others can take part in as well, to help you release and let go of harmful or unhealthy situations, habits or relationships from your life. As part of a New Year celebration, you could gather and talk about the things which you’re trying to let go of. Together, you can guide and support one another. Having a group of people behind you can help you to feel supported and honored. Feeling supported can help you to have a better chance of sticking to your desired changes and resolutions.

To add a sense of sacredness and specialness to your observation you can light candles and have a roaring fire. According to many traditions, fire represents purification and cleansing. With the fireplace, in addition to talking about your issues, you can write them down and safely burn them in the fire. Placing your issues into the fire represents a willingness on your part to do what’s necessary to let go. Being willing to let go means that you’ll consciously live your life in a way that supports your desired changes. For instance, you might decide to let go of unhealthy eating habits, and this might involve clearing out your cupboards and donating the foods that no longer support you.

Numerologically, 2012 offers the opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our lives, and find greater meaning in life. Curiosity is a strong theme within the year. Be willing and open to looking at your life as a mystery. What does life want for you? What do you feel drawn to uncover?

Working with the fire practice can help you to explore your life and make room for new opportunities and new learning. This is not necessarily about going back to school, but simply finding ways to allow your life to have specialness, deeper meaning and importance, which often comes through listening to your heart. Utilizing the fire, you can open to the true call of your heart. What is it calling for? Now is the time to listen and act on it.

Throughout the year you can light a candle each night to support the changes you wish to make within your life. You may wish to set aside a special time each day to sit in silence before the candle. You can use this quiet time to reflect and meditate. It can be a chance to deepen your connection to your heart. You can also journal the thoughts and ideas that come to you in silence.

Thinking about 2012

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Numerologically, I’d like to look at 2012 from a personal perspective. On a global level, it’s true we’ve seen some very important shifts happen in recent years. The above quote has great resonance at this time, but we’re interested in evaluating how these shifts, whether local or abroad, may have stirred something deep within your heart. I believe that we need to pay attention to our hearts, in order to truly feel fully alive and be able to make changes in our lives, and the lives of the people that matter to us. If we ignore our hearts, then we deny the world the chance to truly see us. We also deny ourselves the chance to fully come alive.

What will the general dynamic or theme of the year be for you? What kind of potential does this new year bring? How might you take advantage to help yourself, your family and your community? 2012 can be a great time for self-reflection and redirecting your life. The coming year can allow you to tap into parts of yourself that you’ve denied, forgotten about, or ignored.

Paying attention to the stirrings of your heart can help you to better connect with yourself, your gifts and your dreams. Perhaps you’re drawn to find a way to step out into the world, or perhaps to teach others move forward in some way. In many ways, we’ve all felt deep inner urges to shift and change. However, some of us still feel stuck or confused.

How can we as individuals better listen to our hearts, so that we can better utilize and share our hope, energy, wisdom, compassion and caring? For many, a first step will be to find a way to ask for help. Much of the help that you need can come from setting aside regular quiet time to begin to hear what your heart has been calling for. Over time you’ll begin to be better able to respond to it’s needs. But you should know that 2012 will offer time to look within and reflect on changes you’ve been drawn toward in your life.

Some of the help that you may need will come when you’re finally able to ask for what your really want. Asking for help can require you to first recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. Without outside help, your challenges can be more daunting. With help you may be more able to make the changes you desire. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be afraid to look within and ask yourself important questions about your life.

Some question that you can ask yourself at this time are:

• Do I believe that I have the power to make the changes I desire?
• Do I embrace, and smile at, life?
• Am I willing to ask for help?
• Am I willing to offer help?
• What is my heart calling for?
• Have I been recording/analyzing my dreams (which can provide insights)?

Blame VS Accountability

All too often when we have setbacks in our lives we become defensive, blaming and self-critical. We may spend long periods of time reevaluating out decisions, and wishing that we had done something differently. We get caught up in the fantasy of “If only.”

However, blaming yourself tends to be a process that only leads to more blame, frustration and anger. Blame tends to indicate that you’re very self-critical, and believe that you have failed. Blaming yourself allows you to dwell in the past and stew in anger and resentment over what might or could have been, rather than looking for a way to get back up, or find a way to learn from your experience.

Being accountable for yourself, your experiences and the outcomes means that you want to learn more about yourself and what life has to offer. It means that your life situations have significance, importance and meaning. Accountability means that you’re willing to look within, and make changes to allow yourself to navigate through the challenges that you may face.

Being accountable instead of blaming yourself, also means that you recognize that although being organized, planning and having structure are all important, you simply can’t know everything and realize that sometimes events in life simply don’t unfold as you had thought they would.

Numerology can begin to help you to be more accountable for yourself by highlighting your strengths and weaknesses through your Core Numbers. You can then use your insights from your Core Numbers as personal guidance to help you to better weigh and evaluate decisions, and their ramifications, as they relate to your personality and your potential.

Numerology can also help you to better evaluate your plans by helping you to understand and work with your personal cycles. Each year has a different theme or dynamic attached to it. Your Personal Year Number can help to provide you with guidance around the potential opportunities and challenges that can occur during the year. If you're prepared ahead of time, you can then be ready to take advantage of the opportunities as they unfold, rather than second guessing or worrying if you are making the right choices.

Finally, having a deep sense of compassion for yourself can help you to step into, and maintain, accountability. This means that you're fully embracing the "you", that you are becoming and that you fully recognize your humanness. You're not perfect. You'll make mistakes. But, you're willing to face life with an open heart.

Beyond your reading

Tools like Numerology, Astrology, Tarot and other divination methods can provide the guidance, but you have to be willing to take the steps necessary for your own growth. Don't use them to defer making changes. If you're working with Numerology then at some point it’s important to look beyond your numbers. Whatever divination tool you are using, know that you'll eventually have to look beyond its answers. And, I always tell people that learning about yourself with Numerology is not about labeling, limiting or constraining yourself. Don’t feel boxed in by identifying your natural skills and talents that you possess.

A Numerology chart, or really any form of intuitive reading, is meant as a beginning and an opening to discovering your full potential. Only you can define you! Regardless of any natural talents that you may or may not have, you can be powerful, innovative and creative. You can make needed and desired changes in your life. And, you can break free of the constraints that hold you back. You can be your own person. Don't let what others tell you about your life to define it. Be willing to explore and create your own life.

Part of being your own person, breaking free, and not simply being a rebel, is owning your power and finding your inner strength. You can find ways to own your power, and overcome challenges, in spite of what any reading might indicate.

Life is an ongoing learning experience. It’s also important to keep in mind that we all have strengths and weaknesses. We are all unique. As you go through life, it is vitally important that you can allow yourself to continue to grow and learn about who you really are! Learning about your strengths and weaknesses is a major factor of any reading. A reading can provide you with a map, but don't feel forced to follow it, without questioning its guidance. Do not use your guidance to disempower yourself. You can best use a reading in ways that help you to be better able to understand your needs and to develop your personal strengths. Hopefully, you also be more aware of your weaknesses, and be better equipped to prevent them from getting in your way of living life on your terms.

A reading can highlight your natural abilities, mindset and uniqueness. For myself, as far back as I can remember, it seemed to me that I have always been the person to do everything a little bit differently than everyone else. I did get readings and advice as a teen, and even in my twenties, that often failed to recognize this at all. I think that I had to make my own map.  And, as I was growing up, my desire to do things my way, and the need to know more drove my friends, parents, and teachers a little crazy. I guess that what they were saying didn’t make sense.  I’m sure many of you viewing this may be easily able to relate to what I’m saying.

We all make our own maps to some extent. When I was navigating my way as a child, phrases like “this is the way it is”, “make do”, or “that’s the way it’s always been done” always bothered me. They seemed so constraining and limiting. As I was growing up, I struggled with these limiting directions and I would reluctantly do what I was asked.  Over time, I came to realize that I needed to speak up and let others hear my thoughts and ideas. I might not have felt like I was heard, but I realized that I needed to make the effort, and things would eventually change. As I’ve matured I have accepted that my ideas might not always be immediately understood, but I can still act on them, and perhaps later others will come around to my way of thinking. I've come to value my way of discernment and thinking and I’ve learned to be creative inside the restrictions or constraints that I find myself in, and perhaps later those constraints will fade away.

Look to your own discernment and internal healthy beliefs for guidance first, before seeking or relying on external guidance. Remember that your reading is a guide, and following it can get you so far. Perhaps, like myself and others who have forged their own paths, you may need to find your own way. Finding a way to live differently, and letting go of the fear of stepping out of the box can be a critical and vital step to a richer and more vibrant life. Recognize that it might be time for you to step outside of the box and grow beyond your wildest imaginations.

Also, use your constraints for growth, healing and learning. Don't worry if a reading indicates that you won't immediately meet Mr/Ms right. Don't worry if someone thinks you’re not ideal, or too quiet or too loud. Use your upset to develop deeper compassion for both yourself and others. Also, know that you can live beyond your map, and still find ways to creatively release constraints and find unique solutions to your current situation.

Find a way to tap into the inventive, provacative and creative side of your rebellious nature, so that you can bring about many of the changes that you desire, but without boxing yourself in, restricting or limiting yourself. Reach higher.

Reflecting on your life

Whether you are reading this January or not, many people at this time feel compelled to review their lives. You may feel introspective in light of any resolutions that you've made, or changes that you would like to integrate into your life now. Reviewing your life can indeed be a powerful process to undertake and you may wish to look to your Life Path to aid you in this process. It can also be powerful to work with your dreams, especially when you are pondering changes in your life. Working with dreams really involves working with symbolism and imagery from within your own psyche. However, if you haven’t worked with dreams before then the Tarot is a simple, fun and powerful tool to begin working with symbols and images.

Utilizing the card that is related to your Life Path can help you to learn more about your own personal story. The symbolism on each card is stirring, unique and powerful. Looking at the cards can be like catching a glimpse of a dream. Now, if you have Life Path 4 then your corresponding Tarot card is the Emperor card.

You can work with whatever deck you feel drawn to, but the Rider Waite deck is widely available, although a variety of decks can be easily found online. In the Rider deck the Emperor is seen as a figure sitting on a stone chair. Too me, he seems like a very powerful authority figure. What are your impressions when you see the Emperor? What strikes you about this card? What would you like to know about the Emperor?

Here are the cards and corresponding Life Path’s:

• Life Path 1 - Magician
• Life Path 2 - High Priestess
• Life Path 3 - Empress
• Life Path 4 - Emperor
• Life Path 5 - Hierophant
• Life Path 6 - Lovers
• Life Path 7 - Chariot
• Life Path 8 - Strength
• Life Path 9 - Hermit
• Life Path 11 - Justice
• Life Path 22 - Emperor

The guidance your Life Path provides can help you to find your balance in life, especially as it relates to finding avocational/vocational direction. By working with your Tarot card, you can find solutions to situations in your life which you may have been ignoring, put on the back burner or forgotten about. For instance, as an individual with a Life Path 1, you might not remember or value your artistic talents when you think about making a decision, especially one related to career changes. However, your talents do have a purpose and they may help you to widen your choices.

Grab a pen and some paper or open up your word processor and collect your answers to the questions below. You may want to imagine yourself sitting down with the character on the card and talking with him as if he was a well known friend or adviser. You may wish to close your eyes and imagine yourself entering the card and interacting with the characters there, almost as if you were experiencing the scene in a dream.

Find the time and space to feel comfortable and at ease doing this. You will want the music and television off, and have ample time to settle in and allow the answers to come to you.

Don’t force or censor your answers. Write down what comes to mind. Have compassion and be gentle with yourself. Also, allow yourself the space and time to deal with memories or emotions that come up. If a particularly troubling issue comes up, you may want to put this work aside and find someone to talk with and support you while you process your feelings.

 

Questions:

• How do you support me on my Life Path?
• How have I been ignoring you?
• How have you guided me along my Life Path?
• What talents does this card represent?
• What do I need to focus on right now?
• How can I incorporate the dignity and strength of this card into my life?

 

You can repeat this exercise at different times in your life. I’ve worked with this exercise as part of welcoming in the new year. At the start of the year I review the changes that I would like to make, and work with my card to see where I might need to focus and where I might not. It can be very moving to come back to your answers in a few months, or a year later to track your progress and your willingness to listen and act.

At first, some of your guidance that comes up might not even appear to make sense. It might be like you’re looking at a puzzle with missing pieces, wondering what it all means. Over time you may begin to notice that an event happens, or someone new enters your life, and new pieces appear to fill in the pieces of your puzzle.

Be patient and use your information from this exercise to make healthy and constructive changes in your life. Remember to take your time and don't feel like you have to answer all of the questions in one sitting. Also, remember your answers might not make sense in the moment, but over time, as life unfolds, you may begin to better understand them.

Moving beyond limitations

What limits you? What help do you need? What help do you already have? What issues hold you back?  Many issues, such as jealousy, doubt, time, or money can creep up and cause trouble for us, but all can be handled if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to overcome them.

For many of us, the thing that holds us back is a desire for instant gratification. We want it now! We’re jealous of our friends with the fancy car or important sounding job. Somehow we get stuck in a belief that we can’t have what they have. We wallow in pity. We could find a way to shift our lives and try something different, but may be unwilling to do so.

Malcom Gladwell, in his book “Outliers: The Story of Success” relates to us that in order to truly excel at any particular craft or endeavor you need dedicate time to practice and learn. Gladwell, says that the time needed to become an expert is about 10,000 hours of experience. The book talks about various people, including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, and also discusses how they were in “the right place and the right time” and were able to spend their time practicing and developing their craft. For instance, Bill Gates was able to get access, which was very hard to get at the time, to a mainframe as a teenager.

Gladwell discusses the ingredients for success, and notes that while IQ is certainly a contributor, it’s not necessarily the most important. Other things, some of which may be obvious, are important as well. Some of the contributors discussed are tenacity, culture, and time of birth. As an example of “timing”, Bill Gates was able to get critical access to a computer system that would have been impossible just a few years before, and unlike many other teens his own age, he was had the materials/equipment he needed and was able to dedicate the time to develop his computer skills.

What this means is that if you want to be great, is that on a very basic level you need to put in the time and effort. However, the process to becoming successful is more than just putting in the time. It’s also about passion and desire. It’s no use training to be a veterinarian if you are don’t like, or are afraid of animals. What are you passionate about? Share that with the world.

If you’re feeling stuck, one way to share your passion with others, and become better recognized, is by volunteering. Volunteering has many benefits, one of which is that you get to do what you love and help others at the same time! You can be a mentor to someone else and help get them started on their own path.

Letting go of a limiting belief

Being aware and mindful of your thoughts as they occur can help you to recognize your critical or limiting beliefs. When they occur, you can have profoundly help yourself by simply having compassion for yourself. Compassion can help you to begin to tame the power of these critical beliefs. Recognize that they may really only be stories that you've been telling yourself. They are not necessarily true. If you can allow yourself some compassion you can begin to work with the beliefs by first telling yourself that the might not be totally accurate or true at all.

Next, you can begin to work on positive steps that can help you to reduce or eliminate the belief. You can take a positive step by setting an intention that supports your growth and is perhaps contrary to your belief. For instance, when you have a belief that is about not being fit, you can support yourself by setting an intention to evaluate and improve your diet. Then begin to actually follow through with your intention. You don't have to take giant steps in order to succeed. Begin by making small, but meaningful, changes and you can make great progress.

When you're inner critic rears up you can defend yourself by acknowledging it, and telling yourself that you are making important changes in your life. If the critic is talking about your fitness level, then you can remind yourself that you're not a zumba or pilates instructor. And, nobody is perfect.

Finally, be willing to have moments that you will feel like giving up. Your changes may create inner turmoil or tension, but this is okay. Feel whatever comes up and work with it. Accept where you are in following your intention. Changing behaviors can take time, patience, perserverance and compassion.

 

The steps:
1. Set an intention

2. Defend your actions and your successes

3. Accept where you are

 

Example:

When you watch television you feel unfit as you see healthy, thin and energetic characters on your favorite shows and commercials.

• Set an Intention: Make an intention to make changes to your fitness level.
• Defend against your critical voice: Tell yourself that many of the actors and models may not actually eat properly have personal trainers and can have demanding workout regimens.
• Accept where you are: Realize that watching television makes you feel comfortable, but slightly sedentary. Understand that it's okay for you to continue watching, but remember your intention.

 

Resources:
Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

Is there anything you would you regret not having tried?

As you probably already know, your Life Path represents those things that you're passionate about within your life. Your Life Path represents your inner drive and passion. It’s the “What do I want to do with my life” impulse that is buried deeply within your heart and soul. It’s a question that must be answered, but you can only fully answer it by following your heart.

You can really think of your Life Path as an essential blueprint or treasure map for where you can have passionate life experiences. Your Life Path can be a powerful ally, that has the potential to guide you toward learning and working with the skills, qualities and talents that will be beneficial for you and can come easily and naturally to you.

Generally, you will feel naturally drawn to experiences and situations in which you can develop and express your particular talents and abilities. As you will feel drawn to these activities, it's best to find ways to encourage yourself to move toward these dreams and aspirations. All of us have our own dreams, but unfortunately there are times when we let life get in the way, and we're pulled in other directions.

Over time, we can let our dreams fade and they become memories of dreams that we used to believe in. Then we build up stress and regret about not pursuing these dreams. Instead of living with the regret, why not embrace your dreams and try to find a way to pursue them? You might not become an expert in your field, but you can still satisfy your inner calling by pursuing the activities that you're drawn to. Following a dream may not have an immediate and observable benefit, but may help you to open new doors and possibilities.

Have you seen the 2007 movie the "Bucket List" starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? The movie is about two men who are dieing and have a list of things they want to accomplish before they pass away. The two men make a pact to do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die. As you watch the two men go through challenges and adventures, something is stirred in your soul. You as the viewer are somehow inspired to fulfill the challenges on your own list.

Now, if you were to create your own bucket list, what would be on it? What activities would you have regrets about, if you never pursued them during your lifetime? What things would you have liked try?

Find some personal space and time to explore and identify your dreams that you may have put on hold. You can make a list of desired activities and dreams, and order them by importance. By following your dreams, you're actually working toward living out your passion. And, you'll have the added benefit of not having regrets.