The Way

You Can Drive Away Fear

Cathie — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:10:15 +0000

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” Elbert Hubbard

Do you know people who are so afraid to take a risk, to venture outside their comfort zone, who talk themselves out of every idea? Or perhaps you suffer from fear. Maybe you allow your ego to scare you into inertia. I grew up in a household where fear ran rampant, but once I was on my own and learned that most of the fears were created in my mind by my ego, I was able to let go. (the second step of The Way.) When I was a young woman, my wise mother-in-law told me that most of the things you worry about in life won’t occur. It took me several years to master this, but once I did I was able to let go of all the fears my ego tried to tell me I needed to fear. And she was right. Most of my fears didn’t happen. I wasted all that energy for nothing. I’ve found that meditation helps. Staying in the moment helps. Editing what you read, view, listen to, and the people you hang around with help. Positive affirmations help, and sometimes doing what you fear the most is the only way to overcome what lurks in the dark recesses of your mind. Fear is different than concern. Fear is the ego’s way of holding you back. You can drive away fear, but first you need to put the car in drive and go.

The Way in Kindle Format

Cathie — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:39:25 +0000

Perhaps you haven’t read The Way. Perhaps you are looking for a e-book format. I am pleased to announce The Way is in the Kindle Store at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/178-5439850-6917926?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=The+Way%3A+Seven+Simple+Steps+To+Eliminate+Stress+and+Live+your+Life+to+the+Fullest+Catherine+MacDonald

Attractively priced at $.99, this is a great book to take with you.

Here’s a review that will intrique you to purchase the book.

Lori is a struggling alcoholic in search of lasting recovery…Jenny is fighting a losing battle with depression, which has led her to attempt suicide…Melissa can’t come to grips with the loss of her only daughter, which may ultimately cost her her marriage…all three women are on the verge of sinking into the depths of spiritual and emotional turmoil – but when they’re led to a wise spiritual elder who introduces them to a life-changing method of managing their feelings and emotions, they’re presented with an invaluable opportunity to discover their true spiritual nature and tap into their divine life purpose…

Throughout the pages of The Way: Seven Simple Steps To Eliminate Stress And Live Your Life To The Fullest, author Catherine MacDonald takes the reader on a compelling journey through the shattered lives of three conflicted souls. As Lori, Jenny, and Melissa learn to better handle the devastating problems plaguing their everyday lives, MacDonald offers the reader an inspiring glimpse into the lasting spiritual transformation that awaits us all if we learn to embrace the healing power of healthier living. In this day and age, the tempting lure of visual and electronic media has the potential to derail any efforts at securing true peace and happiness; as such, Macdonald’s insightful tale offers up a timely message on the virtues of “unplugging” from the artificial solutions that distract us from living lives of real purpose and fulfillment. A highly recommended read.

Dominique Sessons
Apex Reviews

How DO You Age With Grace and Dignity?

Cathie — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:45:20 +0000

How do you age with grace and dignity? In a culture that reveres the young, how does a wise member of the tribe give offer value and meaning to those younger? If you’ve been following the seven steps of The Way, you probably know what I’m going to say. You have to become self-reliant. You have to take care of your health, your mind, and your soul. You are still creating and contributing to the world at large. You live in the moment and are free from worrying, remembering that you are a work in progress and to be gentle with yourself. We need to become a shining example of age and grace to those behind us. They are looking at us and taking mental notes on how to achieve this task. One of the tricks I’ve discovered is a simple Buddhist teaching. Always be a beginner at something. Always be learning. When you are in the learning mode your face is flushed with energy, there is excitement in your step, and the possibilities seem endless. (Plus, you are fun to be around.) Next, surround yourself with positive people. If we become more of who we really are as we age, then positive, happy people become more positive and happier. Negative people, well you know. Bless them and let them go. Aging with grace and dignity means making the necessary lifestyle changes and planning for your future, not waiting for a crisis and then letting your children try and figure out what you would have wanted. And yes. I’ve done all of this, in my early forties when I wasn’t emotional about the topic, just pragmatic. Periodically I visit the lawyer and tweak it. And I’ve also decided that when I’m older I will live somewhere warm in the winter, and I’ve made the necessary monetary decisions to make that happen. So, how are you going to age with grace and dignity?

Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

Cathie — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:48:38 +0000

Where do you getyour inspiration? Is it a walk in Nature? Perhaps you are inspired by a piece of art, a good book, a colorful garden, or a delicious meal. For me, Nature provides my inspiration. Daily, in the early morning, I attend to my meditation practice, then I take a walk in the early morning hours with my husband and puppy. The world is silent. The air is calm, as is my mind. I allow the possibilities of the day to emerge. If a wave of inspiration blew into your mind, could you, would you, follow it? How would you be shaped by this energy? What would you do with it? I carry a small notebook, a little one I picked up at the local box store. When I have an inspiration, I quickly write it down while the energy is fresh, less I forget. Gandhi once said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Writing puts me solidly in the moment. It’s just me, my thoughts, and my pen and paper. Computers I use for writing work. My notebook is for me. What works for you and your inspiration? We are all different. The trick is to find what works for you. When the bird carrying inspiration whispers into your ear, stop, listen, and sink into the moment. Go with the energy and just be.

Road Queens in EBook

Cathie — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:27:40 +0000

Road_Queens_by_Catherine_MacDonald___Ebook

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Queens-ebook/dp/B0080X5JIC/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337001658&sr=1-2

Sometimes technology doesn’t do what I want it to do! I was trying to put the cover of Road Queens in the text, but this program has other ideas! If you’ve ever wondered about the RV lifestyle, if you want to read a great book about four women escaping their lives, then read Road Queens, which I put in ebook format all by myself!! Attractively priced at .99 cents, join Diana, Mary Anne, Suzy, and Lily as they travel the open highways of life. (And if you’re an Amazon Prime member you can read it for free!) From the coast of California to the beaches of Mexico, Road Queens is a multi-layered story inspired by my conversations with women who currently live on the road. I hope you enjoy this read. I loved writing it. This is my friend Nancy’s favorite, and the dog on the cover was my beloved beagle, Jack, who died four years ago.

The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love

Cathie — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:31:35 +0000

Motherhood is the toughest job a woman will ever love. Motherhood is demanding, constant, and a life-long commitment. Jacqueline Kennedy once said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.” And I concur. I remember days when I had to pull the car over to collect myself so I didn’t reach back and strangle them! My daughter, who is the mother to my two adorable grandchildren, asked me how I made it through because at the moment raising children seems overwhelming. Smiling, I said, “It’s one day at a time. Keep your eye on the prize.” And the prize for me was producing two grown, contributing members of society, which I, along with my husband, achieved. Both of our children graduated college and have careers. Was it easy? No. There were times I wanted to pull my hair out. There were times, especially in those teenage years, when it was a constant battle. But guess what? We won. And she will, too. Children are like a garden. You have to attend them, weed and edit, and water them with love. Yesterday we spent the morning at soccer and the monster truck show. The kids were well-behaved and we took lots of pictures. So, Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. It is a tough job, but it’s the toughest job you’ll ever love. Blessings.

The Door to Personal Excellence

Cathie — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:48:24 +0000

Today, venture through the open door that life presents you. Tuck into your soul the words of Confucius: “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach for full potential…these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” Each waking day we are presented with the door to our future, but we have to take action and walk through that door. I have found that life is one step in front of the other, step after step. Some days it feels like I’m walking in circles, yet other days it’s as if the energy flow is with me and the open door is filled with possibilities and opportunities. I utter Emily Dickinson’s words often: “I dwell in possibility,” as I try and remind myself that this magical day will never come again. Today I leave you with five tenets from Reiki. I recite them throughout the day and I hope they will find their way into your mind and daily routine. “Today I am peaceful. Today I am relaxed. Today I am grateful. Today I work hard. Today I am kind.” Now go out and make it a great day!

Your Energy Flow

Cathie — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:17:23 +0000

Daily, each of us has a supply of energy, fueled by our habits and our bodily systems. Unfortunately, our energy flows where our mind travels. So, if you tend to worry, then all your energy will be projected to your worries. That is why the second step of The Wayis so important. Live in the present moment. That is where your power is and that is where today is. In other words, Be Here Now. Another thing I’ve found that helps me with my energy flow is to stay away from energy thieves, which is the third step. They are the people who have the ability to suck your energy up. Oftentimes, they pose as family, friends, and co-workers. So, what do you do if you have energy thieves in your life sucking up your precious daily energy? First, you need to strengthen your personal boundaries. Just because an energy thief is someone in your life does not mean they are given license to take your energy. You might need to strengthen your personal boundaries. Pretend you are a two-year-old and your favorite word is NO. If you allow people to rely on you to fix their problems, then you are exhibiting co-dependent behavior. Stop it. If you are over involved in others’ problems, tell them you are going on hiatus. What will happen, is you will find that your energy flow will increase and you will have more energy to do the things you want to do. Daily, you need to evaluate what changes you need to make in your life so you can stay grounded in the moment and away from energy thieves.

Do Your Actions Cause a Wake?

Cathie — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Do your actions cause a wake, spilling over into other people’s lives? Do you know people whose actions leave a trail behind them? You know those types. They burst into the meeting room, late, coffee spilling, papers everywhere. They always have car problems, relationship problems, and money problems. In other words: their life bleeds over on yours. When one follows the seven steps of The Way, one strives to be balanced, stress-free, and responsible for one’s life. We are the sum total of all of our choices, the good and not so good. Yesterday we had a large wake at work. Yep. We all got wet! One of my employees, who has caused difficulty in the past, who had gone to counseling, had his pay demoted, then reinstated when the behavior and the work improved, made choices that caused the police to show up at work, and of course they had to use two police cars. Not good for business, and off course, being police, they handcuffed him and took him away. Not only did we have one less person to perform his job, but the entire company witnessed the event and so did the customers. Now, I’m all for giving people a second chance. We have a young man working for us who went to the big house, did his time, is on parole, and is doing an excellent job with being a contributing member of society. So, today examine the choices you make and decide if you cause a wake. Then remember you must be the change you wish to see in the world. For me, I’m going to meditate on what to do with this young man.

A Garden is a Friend

Cathie — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:22:42 +0000

“When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.” Minnie Aumonier

Yesterday, I took to the garden. It was one of those magical days. The wind was light, the sun warm, and the earth yielding to the touch. When it comes to freeing my mind, outside of sitting meditation and walking, gardening helps me detach from the busy world and find an inner distance from things and people. With trowel and shears in hand, I planted, pruned, and weeded. I liken the gardening to my life. There are times I need to prune and weed my outer and inner life, and plant new ideas and allow new growth and people into my life. I labored in silence, my dog basking in the sun, with only the sound of the waterfall. Pure bliss. The garden reminds me to follow the seven steps of The Way, and yesterday I was only in the moment. Gardening allows for growth, in the garden and in my soul. I am reminded that all growth is change, reproduction, ripening, and death. I am reminded to assimilate life in every moment.