Blog: Beauty Unleashed
Posted: October 30, 2010
“Did it feel like you were being squeezed?” These were the sassy, profound words of my eighty-five year old mother after I shared some intimate details of my unusual, overwhelming struggle. I stopped, gulped and smiled. Yes, that’s exactly how I felt, I thought, and I wonder what makes me feel that way? I pondered over this the next few days looking for discernment and insight into my squeezing. I recognized it in two areas of my life. When I feel overwhelmed with too many demands and don’t have the time to find defining answers and God’s truth. When my life is cluttered with too much “stuff.” Both of these points clutter up my life, my brain, my thoughts and my search for God’s truth and discernment for clarify. I recall Thanksgiving weekend when I needed my favorite potato peeler, but couldn’t find it anywhere….
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed, Encouragement, Finding Truth, Freedom from Busyness, Making Wise Choices, Overcoming Struggles
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Posted: September 28, 2010
Nothing creates more discussion, joy, heartache and confusion than; relationships. In spite of the fact that we are saturated with information, surveys, studies, workshops on relationships in friendship and marriage, we are extremely cautious and even more isolated. In my next book, called SAND TO PEARLS: Making Bold Choices to Enrich your Life, (Release date-January 2011) I devote two chapters on the topic of friendship. This subject always causes the greatest conversation, heartache and mystery when I speak to women across Canada. In each of us there are basic needs, and when they are met, we can have vibrant, lasting relationships. Here are my top nine needs, and I am sure most of them will be yours as well: I NEED YOU TO: 1. Listen to me. I mean pay attention, look me in the eyes, nod now and then (not drifting off to sleep kind of nodding) but “wide awake” attentiveness…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed, Encouragement, Expectations, Friendship, Making Wise Choices
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Posted: March 18, 2010
“Limbic Looping” We all need to feel pleasure. Consciously or sub-consciously we will do whatever it takes to feel it. If you think you are beyond pleasure seeking; read on. There is a portion of our brain that is called the “limbic system”, and it is the seat of our memory and our gorgeous emotions. It is the part of our brain that releases our pleasure chemicals. In the book Social Intelligence, the author Daniel Goleman has done intensive research on the human brain and how it responds and functions in human relationships. This book is loaded with so much valuable information it will make your head swim; but I want to focus on one aspect-the “looping”. We have all experienced the phenomenal delight when we smile at a baby or toddler. Here is what happens: We smile at the baby, the baby watches our faces and breaks forth…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: September 14, 2009
The Drive-Inn Movie Theatre in Prince George leaves a lasting legacy in my mind. I can still see Charles Heston as Moses with his cane, handsome face and flowing robes, in the “Ten Commandments” approaching Pharaoh and telling the king to “Let God’s people go!” After God changed all the water into blood, sent locusts, turned rods into snakes…and then came the frogs. The bible says that the frogs were everywhere! In the ovens, in the kneading troughs, and in the palace bed. Here is the astonishing part. Moses specifically told Pharaoh that he would pray and ask God to remove the frogs whenever the King wanted them removed. Our dear King Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow!” When we read that we throw up our hands and exclaim, “Why in the world would anyone want to live with pesky frogs any longer than you have to?” In fact, we all do. Many of…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: August 14, 2009
“Lingering and Loving it – in Poland” Last night I lingered with friends in a coffee shop. Surprisingly I stayed longer than I anticipated; I didn’t want to leave because we were talking about the joys and struggles of relationships. I’ve noticed that when we start talking about relationships at a “heart connection” level, it is a story without end. When we finally stop the surface conversations about the weather, lousy economics, toilet training, “busy” activities or the price of gas – we get down to what matters – issues of the heart. If I really want to know someone, be aware of God’s magnificent creation, or discover a treasure that God has placed in my path in that moment, I have to learn to linger. I discovered this necessary but gorgeous concept on my overseas trip to Poland where I taught lectures on “Spiritual Transformation”. When I heard a comment like,…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: March 28, 2009
BEAUTY TIP #2 – “Forgiveness removes wrinkles.” I read a story about identical twin sisters who had been abused and mistreated by their father. In their early 20’s, they moved away from their family – angry and bitter at their life’s circumstances. They had no contact with each other until they were 65. When they met, it was shocking to see on their face visual evidence of what had taken place in their heart. The twin who never forgave her father had a face that was distorted, angry frown marks, sagging skin and wrinkles. The other twin had chosen to forgive her father – looked years younger, had less wrinkles and her face was radiant. Unforgiveness turns into bitterness and the affects of this begins to show on our faces. How many older people do you know that have angry scowls on their faces, hunched shoulders and when they speak you can…
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: January 5, 2009
Austin, my adorable, blonde tousled grandson, is only two but he’s already King of the House. He’s tough, energetic and makes everyone laugh outrageously – especially now that he is starting to talk. When his eyes start to droop and it’s time for a nap he walks up to me, looks me square in the eye with that helpless, innocent baby look and says, “Suckie please Nana!” He always adds the “Please.” My heart melts and I give him what will comfort him the most in this tender moment – his suckie. He’s only two so it’s OK and cute to walk around with a crown and suckie, but it’s not so cute when we’re in our 20’s or older. Let’s face it we all want to be king or queen and run this world, but after harrowing days that seem to control us and leave us overwhelmed and drained, all…
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed, Uncategorized
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Posted: November 2, 2008
I’ve had several “near death” experiences. More often than I care to count, I have driven down the highway on a dark rainy night, with the windshield wiper going at full speed, then switching lanes and finding that I almost drove into someone right beside me. Or thinking, “Where in the world did that bike come from – and how come I didn’t see him?” I can still feel my jelly knees and pounding heart with the harsh reality that I might have killed someone – or myself. Those near death experiences have helped me to grasp the concept of scotomas – the clinical name for “blind spots.” Now that I am aware of them – I also see our scomotas in relationships. How often have we heard someone complain about “so and so did this and that?” With a shocked look on our faces we listen to what they are…
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: July 10, 2008
There is a discontentment in the air. I sense it in the hurried sentences, the frazzled eyes, the hopes for a better pay check, the longing for peace and quiet. Summer – the hope for many of us that it will be a time of laying back in a deck chair – sipping a sweet creation, beatifully pedicured toe-nails, and evenings of sitting by candle light and savouring the delicate summer breezes. For many, the summer is not what we hoped for – we are still rushing – with company, with children, with too many summer activities. I yearn for the kind of contentment that the apostle Paul had – he says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11 NIV). TO BE CONTENT WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. How do we do that? Here are 2 things that I…
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