Wise Words from Yoda!

As I was kicking around topics this week, I kept going back to a quote I ran across in school.

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. –Yoda

Fear is such venom in our minds and hearts and it leads us to create much more hurt in life. Hurt that we carry around with us daily and it is often ‘unknowingly’ projected on everything or everyone we encounter. Often, we do not visually see this part of us….but, it is festering inside. Fear has many different faces that we wear: Anger, upset, frustration, sadness, judgment, boredom, and many more. However, we do not always see the clear picture of what is really beneath our current feelings. In the end, Yoda is accurate with fear leading to our personal suffering. WE are the ones that suffer from our unresolved fear.

With that said, it is scary to look inside because what if we don’t like what we see? What if we are not who we hoped we are? Do not worry, you were born with a very caring, loving soul and it is still in there. We just have some dusting to do of the years of life you have lived. Life is not perfect and we all have had moments in life that has hurt and disappointed us. These are the ‘unresolved’ items we have in the way of feeling peaceful again. Therefore, let us do some housework and start dusting everything! Grab your can of Pledge and a dusting cloth = Pocket of Pearls journal, and let us get started!

Do you want to feel less annoyance, frustration, and confusion? If so, the answer lies right in front of you or should I say inside of you! It takes small stepping-stones to begin finding more peace. One-step at a time. If you take a huge leap and go from one extreme to the other it really is not healing, it is another mask. If you put on a ‘fake’ smile and do not look inside and care for yourself this is just another mask and one that will not last long. I have been there many years ago before I realized soul searching is the key to happiness. You are not alone here at all! In addition, this is where a personal coach can help you find a stronger path to peace. I have worked with countless people over the years that desire more peace in their life and find it! It takes some hard work to get there, but it is soo worth it. Please remember, it is much more exhausting to live suffering each day with unresolved hurt and fear than it is to work through it. I know this from personal experience and the people I have coached. I have a sturdy toolbox to help you on this path to peace.

Therefore, your choices are starting today or continue waiting for life to magically change. Hmmm…I must add that the journey may be a little rough from time to time and it can be grand others….. It is soooo worth it!

Have a faaaabulous Sunday!

Merna

What is on your Vision Wall?

Hello!

Happy Sunday! I have had a great week with school and work, while working with people who are discovering Pocket of Pearls. I have a monthly newsletter starting on September 1, so be sure to sign up for this subscription. Send your email address to newsletter@pocketofpearls.com and you will be added to our database.

Yes, I have a Vision Wall! I have had a version of this for many, many years. I have had one in the past since I was in my 20’s [in the 80’s] cut out photos of effects I wanted in my life and place them in areas I would view a lot. I didn’t think of it as visualizing tho, only of dreaming. However, I believed the right ones would come true. I had some friends think this was comical or silly, so I started putting these things or lists of dreams only where I could see it. Maybe I shouldn’t of cut back a bit from others seeing it, but what mattered is ‘I’ believe it and loved doing it!

Once I started working from home, I started putting items on the wall in my home office. It became my Vision wall. Once I saw The Secret, the validation was great and I even got much more specific in my dreams. Visualizing to materializing is the key to moving forward and one day living your dreams. It is a huge notch above positive thinking, but we must feel optimistic with our ‘Vision Wall’. [Trivia on Merna - Her hair salon’s she had in the 90s and the early 2000’s name was Visions. Health issues ended her stylist career.]

This is where your journal Pocket of Pearls will start you on this path to materializing your passions. We must ignite the fire inside of us to create this lure of attraction. Remember, in the law of attraction like attracts like. However, if our inner voice isn’t positive and peaceful you will attract more negativity. All of us have experienced this and not realized it and it can start changing today. Pocket of Pearls is the one-step with a big impact on changing your path. Aren’t you worth starting this healthier path today? The answer is ..... YES!

Have a Great Day!
Merna

Are you living with “if” or “when”?

Hey there!

Here we are again meeting on a beautiful Sunday sharing our thoughts to loving the life we have, while dreaming of more. Is that the tape that is running in your head? Or is it a more defeating one? I have been using this very question with many aspects of my life. Let’s look at this question. Are you holding on to your ‘dreams and hopes’ if or when you have more money? Are you holding on to your ‘dreams and hopes’ if or when you have more time? In addition, we must realize where we are placing the responsibility for OUR happiness...It is solely our own, no one else has this power for OUR life. Example: I would be much happier if we had more money! or If others wouldn't bother me I would be less crabby. When I have more money I will sit back and enjoy my life. Hello! Today is here now... it's the best time for all. This loving of today will help you move to the dreams of tomorrow.

The key to start attracting more in our lives is to take the first step to look within ourselves. Do you find yourself saying, "I will be much happier if my boss wasn’t a jerk"? Or if everything was less stressful? Often, there are many 'excuses' that fly out of our mouths or pop into our minds. Who is the common denominator? The hard pill to swallow is US! I have been there and decided to swallow this bitter pill a few times in my life. It took me to be at the end of my options and tired of feeling unhappy or unfulfilled. I had to look within to start a changing journey inside of Merna!

Where do you start? I can almost here this question out loud as I am writing here, because I have asked the same questions in life. It starts with you! Remember – just KISS; keep it simple stupid! This is a saying I heard many, many years ago and it still rings in my head at times. Often, WE are the culprits that make our life passionless and hopeless. Each of us has the options to start today and make a better feeling life for ourselves. Think of it like ripples in a pond. When our core starts feeling better it will affect each other area of life.

This is where a personal relationship/life coach can help you break down your own barriers. They are the person to set the stage for you so you see what housecleaning needs to be done - without judgment! If you are interested in working with me go to my website and you will find a link for coaching with this information. You can also email me at the address below.

The first perfect stepping-stone is starting your Pocket of Pearls journey. To start making change we must first see what needs to change. One large ingredient in our fuel daily is our inner voice. How is yours?

I will leave you with that for today. I would love to hear about your journals any time. Drop me a note at Merna@pocketofpearls.com

Take care,

Merna

Is Your Roof Leaking?

Hello!

It is a gorgeous July day here in Northern Iowa and I plan to be outside working on my acreage. It does not really seem like work since I will be outside enjoying the summer. I have 5.5 acres to mow and tend to, but when I am finished ‘I’ think it is breathtaking here. I LOVE my home and do my best to take care of it. After all, if I do not tend to it this place it will fall apart and it would not take long for it to start showing on the surface.

With that said, let us use this visual with our relationship with self. Without work, sweat, and attention it will start to fade. It will not be long before the lack of attention starts showing visually, let alone what is happening below it. For instance, when you have a leak in your roof you keep putting off the repairs that are needed. Let us say you take months and months to get the roof looked at. By the time, you have a professional look at it the repairs are beyond a few nails and shingles. The rotting of the frame of the roof, attic boards, ceiling in your house and the sheet rock that has rotted from staying wet… and so on… Any homeowner knows the consequences of ‘putting off’ repairs.

Now, back to us! :) Using these thoughts on our mind, heart, and soul. If we do not tend to our personal spirit, it will wither and need more repair. Now of course, this does not mean you will ‘rot’ at your core as if the roof did, but it could feel that way. This feeling would take on many faces like despair, passionless, lack of motivation, and so on. Where did your dreams go in life? Our dreams and goals in life are necessary to a confident feeling. We should all ask this great question to ourselves. I dream a lot! I believe in the world of “The Secret” it is called manifesting. However, once I learned the law of attraction I utilize this skill in a more powerful way by fully understanding it and NOT killing my own hopes. Dreaming alone will not attract more, but adding the necessary tools will help you live your dreams. As in the law of attraction, what you feel you will attract! If you are feeling bad about yourself, or your voice is harsh – this is what you attract. Therefore, the first place to start ‘attracting abundance’ is where the magnet lives, which is in your personal spirit. The Pocket of Pearls workbook will start you on this path of abundant living, while keeping you on your toes daily.

What are your dreams? Does your inner voice encourage you or tell you its silly and not going to happen? I have heard that deflating voice in the past and I stay attentive with my relationship with Merna. Take the Pocket of Pearls journey and learn more about you. Do not be afraid of looking within because you were brought into this world as a sweet, kind soul. You are still in there… we just have some housecleaning to do… Remember, you do not have to go through this journey alone; you have me in your pocket daily.

Have a great Sunday!

Love,

Merna

Too Close to Home?

Hello again!

I am recouping from my busy weekend with family. We had a wonderful time celebrating our parent’s 50^th anniversary and everyone made it home. My mother enjoyed every ‘picture taking minute’ of our time together. It is tough to get all 25+ of us together at one time, so she took as many as she wished. After all, it was her day, so we complied.

Many great memories we talked and laughed about, while making more. I hope you were able to have a wonderful 4^th of July with your family and friends. We here in northern Iowa had amazing weather to enjoy the weekend.

For a few weeks now, I have been thinking about a few responses I have had about my book. To some people, this book hits a little too close to home. What I mean by this is how frightening it is to look in the mirror of self, so I want to talk more about this. My hopes are to support the people who are having trouble reading the book or stopping himself or herself from reading it. You are NOT alone! It is scary to start a journey of looking within, especially when life has been so busy that you have been put on the back burner. This happens slowly over time, and unknowingly in some ways. I, too, have been there!

One of my hopes when writing this book was to support the person who is too scared of looking within and can’t quite verbalize this yet. When any sort of self-discovery journey begins for anyone, you can panic because you do not know what you will see on the inside. I remember this very well in rehab many years ago. I remember saying to myself over and over, “What if I am rotten to the core?” or “What if I am not as good as I hope I am.” And, “What if I just don’t like what I see!” This makes me so sad looking back at myself as a young girl in treatment. I know it was my experiences, and I am so grateful I continued on my life of taking care of me. What a terrible place to be! I will never forget where I came from. I got through it and no longer feel this way, so you can too! However, I am not perfect and still have tough days, but my feelings and fears are not this deep any longer, so this is your pocket of hope.

So this is my olive branch to those of you who are a bit apprehensive to looking within for the first time. Remember, your soul is good, kind, and caring. The ‘stuff’ on top of it is ‘life’s happenings’ and we are going to do some housecleaning. If you feel the need for one on one guidance, this is the perfect time to invest in a personal life coach or counselor. They offer you the strongest unbiased support and tools to a strong inner core. The two go hand in hand and true change happens when both areas have the same attention. Then your life is like ripples in a pond, these strong, loving vibes affect the rest of your life when your core is healing and stronger. Remember, a good coach will never judge you and the investment in yourself is so worth it!

Therefore, here is your challenge for the day. Take one day at a time and start with your Pockets of Pearls journey. You do not have to go through this alone! There are many women and men who are taking this journey with satisfaction, conviction, and are pleased with the improvement on self. Are you ready for some pearls of YOUR personal wisdom!

Have a great Sunday and let me know if you have any questions!

Love,

Merna

Don't Be Afraid to Look in the Mirror of Self...

The fourth of July is fast approaching and giving everyone a 3-day weekend! WooooHooo! I hope you find fireworks in your area. This weekend we are celebrating my parent’s 50^th wedding anniversary! For any couple, it is a fantastic milestone to celebrate with their families. My parents are making the joke that it feels longer! LOL… Really? How can you tell? I think that is a long time and many great stories to keep. They have their 6 children, in laws, significant others, and 12 grandchildren. It will be a great party!

I started my two courses for college last week on my trek to my bachelor degree in psychology. I am taking a statistics class and a psychology ethics class this term. I was a little hesitant at first and didn’t know what to expect. However, the first week in both classes grabbed my attention and I look forward to learning much more. My inner voice was a little shaky as I was overwhelmed with all the new software, navigation, and people I had to learn about with my two new courses. It took a couple days and I am settled in now for the ride!

I wanted to share with you some thoughts I received from one of my readers about Pocket of Pearls. She told me when she first heard the title of the book she got a tear in her eye; it hit a soft spot immediately! I commend her for NOT walking away, but chose to push through the feelings and learn more about it. She signed up for one of my workshops and then purchased 2 extra books for friends. In addition, she wanted to be sure she had future access to additional month’s journals. Yes, they are on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online at $9.95 each. I wanted to keep this a slim and affordable journal for everyone. Don’t forget to keep your monthly journals, so you can look back on your progress!

When I wrote Pocket of Pearls I went out of my way to make sure this was a comforting and inviting book since this is a very personal subject; we are talking about our self worth! It is a very private matter and subject to discuss. I do know this and want to remind you… Do not be afraid of looking in the ‘mirror’ of self – your soul is good, kind, and caring. When the tough gets going, reach out for some guidance~! Send me an email if you would like some avenues of support you can implement into your life. Go to my website for contact information. Also, if you are interested in hosting a Pocket of Pearls WorkShop in your area, send your request in.

Remember, you are not alone and have me in your 'pocket' daily with your Pocket of Pearls workbook in your handbag or by your bed before going to sleep.

See you next week and Happy 4^th!!

Love,

Merna