Dawn Nocera

Category: Coaching & Mentoring

  • What is your Divine Intention?

    What is your Divine Intention?

    What is your Divine Intention?

    Recently, after sharing insights on physical and psychological intentions in a previous post, I had an enlightening conversation with one of my spiritual mentors.  They introduced a beautiful concept of Divine Intention,   which goes beyond the mundane to something more natural and profoundly inherent within us.   I hope you find that this wisdom helps you bridge the gap between intention and inspiration like it did for me.

    [View an updated post from Dawn on Divine Intention.] 

    The Essence of Divine Intention

    Divine Intention isn’t something we create – it’s something we uncover within ourselves.  What I described in the previous post as Intention is mostly physical or psychological intention.   He shared that our Intention is our God particle. He describes it as our “God particle,” the essence that defines our truest selves, untouched by external expectations— from family, friends, or society.

    Being True to Yourself

    My personal quest is to embrace my true self, the ‘me’ that resonates with my deepest desires and aspirations, free from the influences of others. Divine Intention means living fully in each moment, expressing our highest potential without reservation or concealment.

    Divine Intention is not something we set, it is something we discover that is already in us.  I love this definition of intention.

    The Power of Divine Intention

    When we align with our Divine Intention, life flows more synchronously. Inspirations become frequent, and what some may call miracles seem to occur naturally. The universe begins to support us in profound ways, helping us evolve into our fullest selves.

    My Intention is to be ME, not the me that someone else wants me to be, not the me that my mom thought I should be, not the me that my husband wants me to be, not the me that my kids want me to be, but my intention is to be the ME I want to be.  My Divine Intention is to live as fully expressed in each moment as I can be.  For me, that means there is no hiding, or holding back my highest service.

    The part of us that calls us forward from within, is who we really are.  It is our God Particle, our Divine Intention.  Everything else is just ‘matter’ or the physical stuff we are made of.

    So beautiful!  Our Divine Intention is our God Particle.  It is the creative force within us.

    Identifying Your Divine Intention

    If you’re uncertain about your Divine Intention or are still exploring who you are beyond societal labels, try this simple Self-Appreciation Exercise:

    1. Relax and Reflect: Sit in a comfortable position and tune into your feelings about your Divine Intention.
    2. Appreciate Your Emotions: Whether you feel anxious, hopeful, or uncertain, appreciate your awareness of these emotions.
    3. Let Go: Without trying to analyze or figure everything out, allow yourself to be inspired by your Higher Self, tapping into the God particle within.

    What is your Divine Intention?

    Who do you want to BE?

    Over time, as you engage in this practice, you’ll begin to recognize and remember your true essence and what your Divine Intention really is.

    Join Our Community

    If you feel inspired to delve deeper into the concept of Divine Intention and self-appreciation, consider joining our wisdom-weaving sessions. Whether through personal coaching or group workshops, we explore the sacred art of self-appreciation and co-create spaces for growth and alignment. Schedule a free session with me to start your journey.

    What’s Next?

    Ask yourself, “Who do I want to be?” Let your Divine Intention guide you to the answer.

  • What is the purpose of self-appreciation?

    What is the purpose of self-appreciation?

    What is the purpose of self appreciation?

    I’m often asked, what is the purpose or the ‘goal’ of self-appreciation, as if appreciating ourselves wasn’t a meaningful enough goal.  
    When I first started receiving my marching orders, “Appreciate yourself, there is nothing else in the world you need to do,”  It felt like a relief to focus all of my attention on me for a while and off of trying to help everyone else live the easy and effortless life they were asking for.    The truth is, I can’t truly serve anyone else if I don’t appreciate and value the help I am to them.

    purpose of self appreciation

    But what’s the real purpose or the bottom line of self-appreciation?  

    I remember when I first started contemplating the idea of having a coaching business.  I thought for sure that I needed a business name other than my own name for my business.  I had lunch with a friend and graphic designer who began playing with my name and my initials and within a few seconds she had created a pretty graphic that simply said, “dna.”  I wasn’t sure of the look of the graphic she sketched out for me, however we both felt a huge inner YES!  to “dna.”  At first I thought it was simply my initials, Dawn Nocera DN and wondered what the a was about.  For a while it became Dawn Nocera & Associates, but I knew that was not it since I really didn’t have any associates at the time.  I tried to stretch to believe that maybe I was being guided to have more associates in the future working for me.  Nothing felt quite right and the more I tried to figure out what the heck those initials stood for, the more frustrated I got.
    I still hadn’t created a business, I was playing solo and I was so deep into the habit of beating myself up for not being where I wanted to be in my work, in my life, and I as much as I was helping others I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was somehow not living my life purpose, which has historically been a source of frustration for me.  I needed something to help me get on my ‘right’ course.   About that same time I received an invitation to attend a 4 day life-purpose mastermind event in Arizona from Baeth Davis, a scientific hand analyst.    I decided that I would go and set the intention to “love myself more.”
    The event was held at Miraval a magical healing spa just outside of Phoenix.  So many things opened up for me during that event.  Mostly because we were given space to receive more than just the work that we were doing during the mastermind event.   Miraval offers spa credit with for each night you stay to use for their spa services of your choice.  The first ‘miracle’ was that when I called to schedule my spa services, there was an opening for a service called, Spirit Flight with shamanic healer Tim Frank.  According to the scheduling office it was ‘impossible’ to schedule this service inside of a 4 week window as he is usually booked 2 to 4 months out.   I knew enough about the law of attraction to know that it was not only possible, but probable, so I asked her to look at his schedule to make sure.  Sure enough there was an opening and it wouldn’t interfere with the life-purpose mastermind sessions.
    Dr Frank’s spa space didn’t appear to be ‘shamanic’ It seemed very clean.  There was a massage table in the middle of the room and two high back club chairs facing each other separated by a round end table near the windows.  Dr Frank asked me a few questions about my family and my work.  He asked me what the name of my business is and when I said, “dna” he asked what it stood for.  I answered, “It’s my initials, Dawn Nocera and Associates.”  He said, “No, that is not what it stands for.”   I could feel myself stumbling over my reply,  not sure how to respond.
    I looked at him and told him, “I go to sleep at night and feel like I’ve been given the true meaning of DNA and when I wake up, I just can’t remember it!”   He just sat there waiting for me to say what was next on my mind.
    I leaned a little closer to him, “Do you know what DNA means for me and my work?”  I could feel myself pleading a little, which has always made me feel weak and dependent.  Not something I like to feel.
    His response was powerful and quick.  “No, but you soon will.”
    For the rest of the time I was there I simply surrendered.  I let go of needing to know and needing to figure it out.  I let go of expectation of what would happen as a result of the experience I was about to have taking this “Spirit Flight.”  I put my clothes nicely on the chair and wrapped myself in the white blanket and moved onto the massage table.  I closed my eyes and let go.   Every time I noticed something, I just let it go.  Every time I heard something, I let it go.  When my mind wanted to figure out ‘what the heck is he doing?” I let it go.    At one point I was lying on my stomach on the table and the thought came to me that there has to be at least 5 people in this room doing all of this work on my body.   I kept my eyes closed and I let it go.   At another point when I was on my back facing upwards towards the ceiling with my eyes still closed, I felt a tiny pinch from an acupuncture needle right between my eye brows and although my eyes were closed I could see the entire universe, and I experienced myself as all that I could see.  I didn’t try to figure out what was happening, I let it go too.
    It was a magical experience I felt at peace with myself and with the world.  I felt completely connected and aligned.
    When my session was over, I walked down the path alone I heard a clear voice speak to me, “Divine Natural Alignment.”
    The true meaning of DNA is “Divine Natural Alignment”   Oneness.
    In my life, my searching has always been a search for that connection.  Some people search for facts.  Facts bore me.  I want to feel the deepest truth life has to offer, I want to experience the connection.
    During my stay at Miraval, I experienced that connection.  Every day I woke up receiving a new mantra for each day.  It was so clear and so pure, that I wrote a small (just over 25 pages) ebook to share those mantras and the connection with other seekers.   It is not about the book, it is about the connection, the oneness, your DNA.
    When I started asking the question, “How can I help my clients understand and experience that life is so much easier than they are making it?”  I again received a clear answer, “You can’t help them get it.  They have to get it themselves.”  And then a little extra bonus surprise, “And here are 24+ ways to activate your own DNA.”  Remember DNA is your Divine Natural Alignment.  With my pen in hand ready to receive, I wrote down the 24 plus simple ways to activate and turn on our own connection to Divinity as they were given to me.   It was not so surprising to me that every one of he ‘ways’ was followed by “ in a state of self-appreciation without judgment, and without trying to figure it out.”   
    Reason9Self-Appreciation is a practice that helps you ACTIVATE a state of Divine Natural Alignment.  
    The biggest spiritual shift I’ve ever made was when I felt connected to the truth that DNA is my natural state.   Years of thinking I needed to “be fixed” faded into a moment of knowing I wanted to be ‘found’ but not by anyone outside of myself.  I wanted to be found by me.  I wanted to uncover more and more of who I really am at my core, aligned and naturally divine.
    Now every time I feel myself struggling or grasping to the conditions of life, “if you do this,  then you’ll get that,”  or try to force myself to do something that is so out of alignment with who I really am, I go to my inner guidance and I ask, “what do i need to do?”  Every time my marching orders are the same, “Appreciate yourself, there is nothing else in the world you need to do,”
    As I appreciate myself I return to that space of Divine Natural Alignment where everything is possible, where there is no BS (belief systems)  polluting the air,  where I am open to receive divine guidance, divine inspiration, and divine resources that are beyond my imagination.

    Share what you appreciate about yourself below. Three times a year I do a Sacred Art of Self-Appreciation Challenge during Mercury Retrograde. It is a great way for you to practice self-appreciation while being witnessed by others in a group. ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

  • What’s the difference between inspiration and activation?

    What’s the difference between inspiration and activation?

    This week Robin Holland, a the member of my Wealth DNA community, asked me,  “I’m curious. What’s the difference between inspiration and activation?”

    Robin is a luminary and a champion of the work of self-appreciation and she activates deep consciousness, just being in her presence can activate deeper awareness and understanding of your creative work in the world.   She is one of those people who naturally asks questions that help inspiration to flow through you, which makes her a great ally, and consultant for Creators. She knows a lot about activation and she knows when to ask questions that help us all gain clarity.

    Here is her full question and my answer:

    Inspiration or ActivationRobin:  “Dawn, I’m curious.  What’s the difference between inspiration and activation?  For example, several years ago I did JJ Virgin’s program and found I could release inflammation (joint aches, extra weight etc.) I picked up her exercise video this weekend, hadn’t taken on that part of the program and now looked at it. The mere watching of her has me re-inspired in implementing some changes for my health. Would you call that inspiration only? Or is she activating something. When I am attracted to a person’s blog or message or work, is an activation occurring? I am sure activations occur all the time. Curious about the underpinnings of activation.

    Oh, and I appreciate myself for asking the question, for my curiosity and for my viewing of myself as a test lab.”

    Dawn:  “it is clear to me that “inspiration’ is something that doesn’t stick to you. An activation is something more permanent. If watching her video changes you permanently at a cellular level you are activated. If you need to keep watching her video to stay inspired to to make the changes you are inspired. I’m sure there is both in JJ she is a powerful activator and an inspiration.

    I’ll give you another example of how I activate the truth of ease. When some people hear me say, “easy and effortless” the words themselves stick to them, they feel them as truth. I’ve had clients say they hear my voice in their heads when they are struggling. The activation of the truth of ease sticks to them and they recall it when they are out of alignment with ease. (I hear myself saying it too! I’ve activated my own ease.) If that same client needed to watch a tape or a hear an MP3 to be reminded of ease they aren’t yet ‘activated.’ Or they could be resisting the activation they received. Resisting the activation would be like hearing my voice say, “easy and effortless” and denying ease is for you. 

    Most of the time, I believe we are activated and changed by people and things that go unnoticed. Because we are not awake to what is going on with ourselves and appreciating how we change and transform daily. People’s inability to appreciate themselves and pay attention to their own subtle shifts are unconscious of the activations they receive every day. 

    When I think of inspiration I think of being inspired to DO something different.

    When I think of activation I think of being activated to BE something different.

    Activation causes us to BE more of who we are meant to be (aka Divine!) it causes DNA: Divine Natural AlignmentTM.  For example, self-appreciation causes activation of our DNA, both at a chemical level and at a spiritual level.  We are transformed and forever changed to BE something different.”

    motivation quoteI remember teaching my weekly Law of Attraction classes years ago and, Pat Smith, one of the regulars talked about how she needed to be there every week to help her stay motivated.

    Inspiration is great when it comes to you from your guidance and leads you to take some sort of action, but inspiration, like motivation, doesn’t instantly change you at a cellular level.

    This is not the first time I’ve been asked what the difference is between inspiration and activation.

    Here is the same question asked at another time by a SASA community member and my slightly different answer:  (I’ll share what Amber activates in a future post, she is quite amazing too!)

    activationInspiration

    Here are a few highlights:

    Activation causes you to BE different.

    Inspiration causes you to take action.

    Activation is spontaneous.

    Inspiration can be spontaneous.

    Inspiration is something you are aware of.

    Activation doesn’t have to come with conscious awareness.

    Activation changes your DNA.

    Inspiration changes your thoughts.

    ActivationDefinition

    I’m still on the leading edge bringing the understanding of self-appreciation and DNA activation to the world.

    If you have experiences, insights, or even inspirations about the topic, please share them!

  • Do You Live Your Life by Intention, Inspiration or by Default?

    Do You Live Your Life by Intention, Inspiration or by Default?

    Intention vs Inspiration

    This morning, I woke up inspired to write a post about the difference between living by intention and living by inspiration.   My ‘goal’ is to live by inspiration, however I still find that my habit is to live by intention.  It is a tough habit to break.    However, living by intention is light years ahead of living by default.   Let me explain…

    The majority people on earth are living unconsciously by default.  Their life is created for them by other people.   They are unaware that they can change their situation, so they feel like victims of other people’s actions and desires.   They have no control over the direction their life is going and they only change when the circumstances around them change, they lose a job, a loved one dies, they have a romantic breakup, or they get sick.   Then they are forced to make adjustments in their lives in order to fit into the new circumstances.   I believe each of these new (and sometimes painful) circumstances are an opportunity to wake up and become conscious of our ability to create change in our own lives. These opportunities help us break free from our old habits of reacting to life as if we are a victim of circumstance and allow us to consciously dream up a new set of circumstances so we can live our life with intention.

    Living by Intention is light years ahead of living by default.   When we live by intention we take control of our life.  We consciously decide what we want, where we want to go, how we want to be, what we want to experience, and how we want to go about living our life.  This doesn’t mean that bad things don’t happen in our lives, we simply no longer feel like a victim to circumstance, we begin to take responsibility for our part (if any) in creating it.   When we live by intention we live by choice.  We get to choose what we want and pursue our goals and desires with as much gusto as we want.  Life seems to bend to our will when we are living by intention.

    Why would anyone want to stop living by intention?

    It is interesting how the more conscious and awake we are about how we are creating our life, the more consciousness we have of how asleep we still are!

    For me living by intention, setting goals, and choosing how I want my life to be, started to become really hard.   I still felt like I was living my life in a way that I unconsciously thought I ‘should’ live, not necessarily how I was designed to live.   I live by a motto, “Easy & Effortless!”  I tell my clients to print out sign and hang it in their office space, “It’s so much easier than you think!” I suggest they use beautiful font that looks easy and flowing.  The thing is, I just couldn’t seem to make my intentions happen easily any more and that was a complete red flag for me that I wasn’t aligned with my higher self.  I became more and more aware that my intentions were still programs that I was running based on old habits of thought about what I should want, what I should do, and what I should be in order to be successful.   My intentions and goals no longer fulfilled me because I was aware they were not MINE!   I was looking for something more than goals based on other people’s ideas about success and failure to give meaning to my life.

    The more I practiced The Sacred Art of Self-Appreciation the more I could feel this shift happening in me.  The more I appreciated myself the less I was interested in goals and the more I was interested in growing my inner space.   My inner space of wants and desires slowly became a void of emptiness. And at my core, I knew this feeling of no desires and no wants was the beginning of something much more magical.

    Living by inspiration means letting go of our need to control the conditional outcomes (if …then…, in order for you to… you need to …)  and truly trusting that the Divine knows much better than we do what is best for us at any given point in time.  Living by inspiration is allowing yourself to get out of the way and receive the abundant blessing the universe has to offer. Living by inspiration is another benefit of doing the work of self-appreciation.

    In September of  2015, I was inspired (I appreciate my connection to the divine!)  to create a Wealth DNA community with the soul purpose of going deeper with the work of self-appreciation in an intimate community.  My guidance was clear.   While we wanted to activate our Wealth DNA,  what we were really doing was “creating the space of possibility to receive abundance.”   Three months into the experiment changes and shifts started to happen.  Our hearts were more open, our eyes could see more clearly.   We began o see appreciate some limiting beliefs about money, wealth and power and we began to feel our inner truth being activated.  Was our ambition fading?  Something was and continues to shift for all of us.  We are evolving beyond our own intentions.  We were moving to a space beyond intention, we were transformed into the space of inspiration.

    One member of the community sort of led the way with living by inspiration.   She was inspired to clear out her house and prepare to move.  In her case inspiration came from within her, as it always does from a still small voice within.   Not only did she move out of her home, she donated most of her furniture, and now lives in the void without a permanent place to live.  She wasn’t sure where she was going to live other than an inner knowing, confirmed by a few intuitive friends, that she would soon be living in house behind a house in Beverly Hills.   She didn’t go out looking for a place to live in Beverly Hills, she is still in the space of possibility to receive an invitation or another piece of inspiration that will bring her closer to ‘home.’

    That is the kind of trust I want.  I want to be inspired to do everything!  I love the feeling I get when I remember all the times I acted on inspiration and did some pretty crazy things.  It felt like I was on an adventure.   Setting intentions and watching things manifest is an adventure too, but it is an ego based adventure where we get to set our course and go where we intend.  Pamelah is listening to guidance and doing what she is inspired and guided to do.

    To me it feels like she is playing “Marco Polo” or the “Hot Cold” game where she is blindfolded and she is trusting the universe to lead the way to the treasured location that is just perfect for her to live.   This is living by Inspiration.  It is not for everyone to jump into blindly, and if you haven’t developed your ability to listen and act on guidance, living this way can feel like struggle too.   Fortunately for Pamelah, she trusts her guidance.   As much as living by inspiration feels really risky to me, my desires have shifted from material wants and intentions based on what I think I should want to this sort of deep spiritual connection of oneness.    Well, let me re-evaluate that.  I have always wanted and desired that more and more moments of ‘oneness’ where I feel connected and lead by my higher self, by God, by the universe so I could become who I am meant to be, but I haven’t always been willing to let go of control in order to allow myself to receive the inspiration and guidance I was receiving.    The more I practice The Sacred Art of Self-Appreciation the more I trust that I am always divinely and naturally aligned with the Source of creation.  And the more I trust myself to follow through and take action on the inspirations I receive,  the more I trust that I am activated and turned on to BE the person I am meant to be and live the life I am designed to live.  This BEING that I am is more than I could have intended on my own.

    Intentions seem to be limited to our beliefs about what is possible.  Inspiration seems to guide us into the realm of greater possibility than we could ever imagine on our own.

    I want to live in the space of possibility and be free from limitations, when I feel myself moving backward into thinking I know what is best for me, I do my work.  I appreciate myself for noticing where I am.  I appreciate myself for feeling the habit of needing to control the outcome or get the result taking over.  I appreciate my awareness that something more wants to emerge from the feeling of ‘needing to control.’  I appreciate myself for waking up to the moment, being fully aware of where I am, and the pattern I am running.  I appreciate the pattern, the program, the habit and I appreciate myself as I let it go.  I appreciate myself for remembering that there is something so much bigger than me that knows so much better than I do what the divine plan is for my life.  I appreciate myself for surrendering the pattern that created this habit of limitation to the Divine.  I appreciate myself for surrendering.  I appreciate myself for relaxing and allowing the divine flow of the universe to be my guide.

  • What Are You Activating?

    What Are You Activating?

    Do you know what you activate in the world?  Most people have no idea how their presence activates the world around them.   I’ve been sharing this part of my work with a small group of luminary women who are doing the work of The Sacred Art of Self-Appreciation.  Here is what one of the women said about knowing what she activates.  

    [Shared with permission, reprinted from Pamelah Landers’ newsletter]

    Activating Healing Abuse
    by Pamelah Landers, Master Hand Analyst

    Quite a few months ago, maybe about a year and 1/2, I sent a recording of me singing to my friend, Dawn Nocera. I hadn’t told her why I was sending it. Or that I was. It was a surprise.

    Her email response was , “You activate healing abuse.”

    I was expecting that maybe she would say, “You have a lovely voice.” Or “I love hearing you sing.” Or even, “thanks – very nice.” 

    But no, a life-changing response came from Dawn. Now that I know her even better, I expect nothing less than a life-changing experience when we connect! Because it always happens between Dawn and me. 

    At the time, it was shocking and enlivening all at the same time to hear that my voice has a specific activation.

    I heal abuse? Through my singing?

    Here I am last decade when I was in a group voice lessons experience. I didn’t know it then, but being in that class I was activating healing abuse with the the other students and the teacher. It’s what I do. See more below.

    My “dot-connection” was remembering that in 2007 I had this knowing (it came from guidance one day) that this life time I am here to help heal abuse and neglect. God knows I had been through enough abuse to know the experience.

    And I had had enough healing to also know the difference between feeling abused and neglected, and being supported, loved and taken care of.

    Just imagine. My voice heals abuse.   

    I also connected the dots by remembering years ago, maybe decades ago, somebody told me that my work in life is about my voice.

    It would be a few weeks after Dawn’s revelation that I would really grasp that the abuse wasn’t just from others, but self-abuse. Dawn told me that early on but it didn’t resonate. I had to grow into  feeling that truth.

    Over a few months, as Dawn and I continued to talk about activations, more in the background than foreground, we talked about how my art activates healing abuse when I started painting mandalas. The awareness about activating healing abuse happened about 3 months before I took an art class in Laguna Beach to learn how to paint mandalas.

    When Dawn saw this, she also shared how it activated healing abuse.  By December 2014, Dawn was sharing with a small group of us what we activate through our art. She sees it. It’s one of Dawn’s superpowers. She sees truth. She activates truth. So her ability to see what art activates is part of this superpower gift.

    By then I felt much freer to support people’s healing. I don’t need to sing. I can paint and still activate healing abuse – or self and others abusing you.

    Months later I started grasping, and it deepened this year, that my PRESENCE activates healing abuse. Me being in the space. Me talking with somebody. Teaching a class. Doing a private reading or mentoring session. 

    Whatever I am doing or being, my presence activates healing abuse. It’s more than my voice and art. It’s all of who I am.

    You know that phrase, “wherever you go, there you are.” It applies here very well. 

    When I checked into the suite here in Palm Desert about 10 days ago, I was at the office about 5 times within about 2 hours, interacting with the male manager. 

    I actually was aware that maybe the reason he forgot to give me the WIFI info was because he was asking for an activation to heal some type of abuse – self or from others and wanted multiple visits by me. My presence, multiple times, was being asked for to activate what was happening for him. Maybe. 

    Maybe that’s why I had to keep going down there to ask for things, like extra spoons and how to use the remotes. He even came to my room to make sure the TV system was set up with the remotes (it wasn’t set up right which is why I couldn’t figure it out.)

    Or maybe I needed what he activates (I don’t know what that is exactly.) Or maybe it was both.

    What I do know is that being conscious of this now, I don’t take it personally when somebody doesn’t want t hang out with me. I get it. It may not be the right time to have abuse activated. It may be a really “wrong time.” Or they have reached their capacity for what I activate and are moving on to another process of being activated for some other part of their life. 

    Whatever it is, it isn’t personal. And that is a big relief!

    So while I am here in Palm Desert, I continue to listen to my guidance and intuition about where to go, when and for how long. Because I know wherever I go, I activate. And I am activated by others as well. And that is also part of the mix. It’s what is. I take responsibility for it now in a way that I hadn’t been aware of before.

    Because of Dawn, I know what my close friends activate so I am aware of when I am wanting a certain type of support or activation, I know who to reach out to. When I’m not ready for that, I don’t reach out to that person. It’s really simplified my interactions.

    Much love,

    Pamelah

    To learn more about Pamelah Landers and her work, please visit her website at PamelahLanders.com.    To schedule a strategy session with Dawn, fill out this form. 

  • It’s Not All Unicorns And Rainbows

    It’s Not All Unicorns And Rainbows

    I appreciate the support I’m getting for the work of self-appreciation.  This week I was interviewed by a friend, and Star Power activator, Dena Crowder. Dena is just one of the many points of light that are on my luminary path helping me get the word out about self-appreciation and shining light on how revolutionary this simple tool really is.  

    In the interview Dena pointed out that, “It’s not all unicorns and rainbows.”

    Doing the work of self-appreciation requires an honest look at ourselves and appreciating who we really are.  Not the person that someone else wants us to be, nor the person we ‘think’ we should be, but appreciating the person we are right now.

    It’s not always easy appreciating ourselves.  We are so invested in the idea of hard work and beating ourselves up for not getting it right that it is hard to stop judging ourselves and see the gift we are to the world.

    IMG_2734

    Self-appreciation helps us connect to our inner power to be our evolutionary Self.

    For those of us that are committed to our own personal evolution and the evolution of others, self-appreciation is more than a nice idea, it is a requirement.

    Here is a 21 minute recorded interview by Dena Crowder that she shared with her Soul Star community, let me know what a-ha’s, experiences, or insights you have about the work of self-appreciation.

    If you want to connect to your activation code and your soul’s purpose,  consider scheduling an Activation Code Reading Session here.

  • The Key To Seeing Your Own Value

    The Key To Seeing Your Own Value

    This week I’m diving deep into claiming my passion for The Sacred Art of Self-Appreciation and all of the reasons why “the work” of self-appreciation is necessary in order for leaders to answer our higher callings.  

    IMG_2733

    To me it is completely obvious that self-appreciation is all about increasing your self-value.  But you don’t really get the full benefit of seeing your authentic value until you share what you appreciate about yourself with someone else.  Sharing what you appreciate with others is “the work” of self-appreciation and it is not an easy thing to do, especially for luminaries who think there is an image or persona they have to portray in order to help others.

    It is really hard work to see and feel your true value when you are operating from behind a mask of illusion trying to appear different than you really are.  I know.  I’ve done it.  There is no shame in letting your guard down and letting people know what you appreciate about yourself, what you truly value about the work you do in the world.

    For me, I deeply appreciate myself for sharing self-appreciation with more and more people every day.  I appreciate that this work makes a huge difference in the lives of the people who practice the Sacred Art of Self-Appreciation.  I appreciate myself for being a part of something that is much bigger than me.  I appreciate myself for following my intuition instead of my ego’s desires to ‘keep up appearances’ or to ‘act as if.’   The more I followed my intuition which has pretty much guided me to do one thing over the past 2 years, “Appreciate yourself,”  the more peace I have with who I authentically am.  I appreciate that the work of self-appreciation is like magic and it opens us up to our infinite possibilities.  Mostly, I appreciate that doing the work of self-appreciation helps us see our value, so we can move forward with more ease knowing that the work we do in the world helps people connect with their own infinite possibilities.  That is magical!

    When you appreciate yourself, you discover the many ways you add value to the world.   Being able to see your own value helps you understand just how much you are loved and supported by the universe.  And for us Luminaries who are out there sharing our light regularly and being activated by sharing our work, self-appreciation helps us stay grounded in our own garden of creation so we can discern opportunities from distractions much easier. Self-Appreciation is the key to Ownership of your Luminary life.  It just helps you feel yourself solidly owning your work, your message, and your calling.

    “Discovering your innate value is the work of self-appreciation.”

    Discovering the value of yourself is the work of self-appreciation. You don’t see it all at once, however when you practice appreciating yourself daily, through writing, sharing with others how you appreciate yourself, you release all of the “should’s” in your life and you find your authentic desires. The law of desire sets in an you can’t help but grow with more ease and grace. You have more faith in your direction, a clearer mind, an open heart, and you become aware that everything you’ve been looking for is right there inside of you all the time.

  • Appreciating The Shadow Side

    Appreciating The Shadow Side

    This month in one of my SASA groups, we were working on appreciating our core wound and how it helped us develop into the type of leaders we are today.   It lead me to deeper awareness of my what my shadow side really is and how it helped me emerge into who I am today.    

    It seems like it’s taken me a lifetime to get to the point where I can appreciate my shadow side.  

    Today feels like the perfect time to share the scary truth of what my shadow is and to share the actual “work” I did appreciating this shady side of me.

    Here is the full Self-Appreciation post I shared in the SASA group:

    “I appreciate the path I’ve taken as a rebel against ‘masculine leadership.’ I appreciate the new awareness of who I am as a leader though the lens of who I didn’t want to become as a child and the spiritual truth that “I am that too and always have been.” Meet my shadow, “the masculine know-it-all, my-way-or-the-highway, bow-to-me-guru type leader/emotionally unavailable parent who only values actions.”

    I appreciate that I became a rebel, not listening to anything anyone had to say, learning everything on my own (so I didn’t have to be under the influence of anyone else).  I appreciate the emotions of rage that would rise in me when anyone was taken advantage of by a masculine bully type. I appreciate the journey I took as a kid to ‘stand up and fight’ any and all ‘authority or control that was exercised over other people or myself.

    I appreciate myself for seeing the wisdom in how I chose to ‘fight the man’ and how my shadow grew out of the very fight I was in. I appreciate the years of self-abuse that I physically & emotionally caused myself for not being able to ‘control’ myself and not being able to be ‘perfect’ in my own eyes.

    I appreciate the wisdom that has emerged that I was fighting my shadow. I was fighting “the masculine know-it-all, my-way-or-the-highway, bow-to-me-guru type leader/emotionally unavailable parent who only values actions” that was in me with a completely self-directed focus.

    I appreciate the 10,000 foot view where I can see the reason I wanted to learn so much about personal development, success, and abundance was so I could learn more, do more, have more, be more than the masculine leaders who I was rebelling against.  I can see how I always wanted to beat them at their own game by having it all and do it completely different than they would ever imagine.

    I wanted nothing more than to be free of projections, judgments, and emotional control that I felt from this type of leadership.  I can feel how ‘rebelling’ “wanting to beat them at their own game” set me up to create a shadow that mirrored the very thing I was fighting against!   Oh I so appreciate you, wise soul of mine! I appreciate myself for never losing sight too long of my spiritual journey. I appreciate myself for always having a safe place to feel loved by the universe and by my parents and family-even as I rebelled.

    I appreciate the comfort and wisdom that began to come to me as I stopped listening to everyone else and stopped rebelling against everyone else and started listening to my intuition.

    I appreciate that my kids initiated me into an entirely new world of intuition and trust and an entirely new type of leadership.   Before having kids I thought I was intuitive, after having kids I didn’t have to think about my intuition.  Guidance arrived when it was needed for one purpose, “help them grow and expand and live their life purpose’s free of my projections, judgments or control.”   I appreciate how each one of my kids initiated me into a new layer of feminine leadership that I didn’t know was possible before they were born. I didn’t have a model to follow.

    I appreciate that the very thing I was petrified to do (have kids) is the very thing that transformed me in ways that no personal development work, coaching, or library of books could have possibly done.  I appreciate myself for committing to doing the work of self-appreciation that continues to come through guidance and how unbelievable it is that one simple tool is effectively and easily helping me integrate my shadow in a self-honoring way.

    I appreciate the clarity I have around what kind of leader I am NOT and clarity around how I’m integrating and evolving that form of leadership into something that is loving, amazing, and holds the space with grace and ease for my clients.

    I appreciate a deeper understanding of how the masculine-know-it-all-guru-emotionally-unavailable-parent leader in me shows up at the perfect most loving times to interrupt patterns, create structure for change, and on occasion battle some dragons.

    My shadow isn’t so scary.  It is a huge blessing and allows me to be conscious of, and master, a more harmonious type of leadership that has been emerging through me.

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    “Self-Appreciation helps you face your shadow.”

    I appreciate myself for playing in the field of expanding consciousness of what feminine and harmonious leadership is for 20 years, getting it wrong, getting it right, making a mess, stepping back, stepping-up, leaning-in, dancing with my own expression of leadership and settling in to what feels to me to be the only real work I’m here to do, appreciate myself and help others appreciate themselves.

    I appreciate the awareness that I can be in a my-way-or-the-highway role and still be loving, supportive and kind.

    I deeply appreciate Jeffrey VanDyk for his work in helping me uncover much of what is written above. Lots of layers of awareness coming together to help me appreciate where I’ve been, who I’m meant to serve, and what my next level calling really is.”

  • There is a new luminary in the world today and it’s you.

    You Are the Luminary the World Has Been Waiting For

    There’s a new light shining in the world today, and it’s you.

    Your presence, your journey, your wisdom—they all matter. You are transforming the world simply by being yourself. As you share your light, you are activating others and stepping into the role of a luminary leader, inspiring the kind of change only you can bring. Imagine traveling the world, doing what you love, spending time with the people who mean the most to you, and building a soul-aligned business that continues to expand your impact.

    This isn’t just a dream. This is for you.

    Are You an Emerging Luminary Leader, Coach, or Messenger?

    If you’re here, you’re in the right place.

    Every single person carries a unique genius—a combination of gifts that only they can share with the world. While some people are born knowing their brilliance, others discover their value along the way. Either way, your light is needed.

    You feel it, don’t you? That knowing deep inside that you’re here for more. You want to embody your soul’s highest purpose, step fully into your genius, and create something extraordinary. You crave a community of conscious, like-minded luminaries who are committed to personal growth and planetary transformation.

    At the same time, you long for guidance—a mentor who can help you decode the language of your soul, align with your highest self, and unlock your potential. Together, we can expand your ability to receive abundance, clarity, and joy in every area of your life.

    I help luminaries like you step into your divine design and embrace ease, flow, and expansion.

    What I Appreciate About You

    You are remarkable. Let me tell you why:

    1. Your Self-Awareness is Next-Level
      You’ve journeyed far to realize that you are whole just as you are. You understand that deeper self-awareness is the key to fulfilling your calling, and you embrace that truth wholeheartedly.
    2. You Love Growth
      You’re not afraid to reflect, question, and grow. The strength it takes to sit with the big questions—like “Who am I?”—is something I deeply admire about you.
    3. You Know When to Ask for Support
      You’ve learned to recognize when you feel disconnected from abundance, and you seek guidance before the struggle becomes overwhelming. I love your openness to creating an easier, more aligned path.
    4. You Embody Spirituality
      Your connection to the divine flows through every area of your life. Even in struggles, you find meaning and lean into the emergence of something greater.
    5. You Face Your Dragons
      Whether it’s shadow work, emotional healing, or overcoming fears, you’re not afraid to do the inner work. You navigate these challenges with authenticity and compassion, emerging stronger every time.
    6. You’re Building Your Legacy
      You’re sharing your unique gifts, creating your own community, and shining your light in ways that inspire and transform others. The ripple effect of your work is extraordinary.
    7. You Choose Creativity Over Competition
      You understand that celebrating others’ success amplifies your own. Collaboration, connection, and mutual support are your guiding principles.
    8. You Trust Your Intuition
      You approach coaching and mentorship from a grounded, inspired place. You value intuitive guidance and align with what feels right for your path, and that makes our work together so powerful.

    A Sacred Partnership in Growth

    What I love most about working with luminaries like you is the mutual appreciation we share. You honor your soul’s journey and the work you’ve already done. You approach your spiritual practice with devotion, and you recognize the transformational power of self-appreciation.

    When you’re ready to step into your next level of expansion, I’m here to guide you—not as someone who tells you what to do, but as a partner who holds space for you to realize your fullest potential.

    You are a force of light, a creator of beauty, and a beacon for transformation. I deeply appreciate the work you do in the world and the impact you’re making every day.

    The world needs your brilliance.

  • 7 Keys to Freedom is being published in Bulgarian.

    7 Keys to Freedom book is being published in Bulgarian.

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    Launch date & celebration is Oct 26th, 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
    I have such appreciation and gratitude for Victoria Lazarova, our Bulgarian co-author, for following her heart and inner guidance to get 7 Keys to Freedom translated and published in Bulgarian!

    I love how books have a life of their own. You think you are birthing something great that will help a few hundred people and then the book starts to take on a life of it’s own and leads you down a path of self-reflection and self-discovery. It helps birth a whole new you. Before you know it your book is traveling around the world as a visitor, meeting new people, influencing lives, touching thousands of people in ways you never could have imagined.

    Eventually it learns a new language or two and you feel a sense of pride, “Ah, our baby is all grown up!”

    I’ve been in awe of the journey this book has taken from the first moment Nita Matthews-Morgan invited each of the authors to join her mastermind group. We were attending a 3 day Bob Proctor training program. Nita chose us after a long morning meditation where she was guided to know who to invite. We met weekly via skype for 3 years and still meet occasionally. Each of us joining in from a different part of the world. Bulgaria, Mexico, Canada, and 3 of us in the US (CA, GA, OH) Only 2 of us are in the same time zone!

    I had been in mastermind groups as a facilitator and member for a while before joining this group and nothing was quite like this group. We actually practiced every principle we were writing about, we experienced what masterminding really is. Our minds were opened, our hearts were open, and we experienced Infinite Intelligence, the Divine Mind taking over and leading us every step of the way.

    It wasn’t always easy letting go and letting God, however it was magical.