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Dream Changer-Featuring Isis Arjeta

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***I am a little behind with posting the latest Dream Changer feature this week, however this one is worth the wait.  I am so excited to present to you the amazing transformative journey of a dear friend, co-teacher of the Unleash Your Personal Power course, overall amazing healer and soul sister, Isis Arjeta.  I know you will leave this post feeling anything is possible and I encourage you to check Isis out online and on her Facebook page to learn more about what she can do to help you grow, heal, and evolve into the abundant and amazing soul you are meant to be.***

“You may say that I’m a DREAMER….”

Since I can remember I’ve known that I am destined for an amazing life… to change the world for the better, and really make a difference in people’s lives. The how has never been clear, but a dream is all you need, right? In following my dreams,I’ve flung myself wholeheartedly on so many life paths I can no longer count them. I attended college for 6 years, and achieved the glorious Associate of Arts they give to people who don’t know what they want to DO with their lives. I’ve changed directions and dreams so many times that it has become a magical, colorful tapestry of experience and growth.

In the process of weaving this tapestry, I worked in a busy ER and collected some wild stories about the crazy things humans do. I’ve processed paperwork, I hung out with alter-able adults, and became a massage therapist. I sold books on amazon, I moved cross country in a home-made caravan, and I learned what it means to be a New Age Hippy. I’ve had a mohawk, long shiny blonde hair, and several sets of dreadlocks. I’ve worn high end pumps, and been barefoot and broke. I’ve crossdressed, been a nudist, and I’ve sold my dirty laundry online to fetish lovers. I stepped out of societies labels and boxes and altered my consciousness in ways most people can’t even imagine. But it still didn’t satisfy my dreams of radical success and happiness.

The real shift in my life happened when I decided it was time to actually manifest what I’ve been dreaming. No matter what I do, I want it to be EASY. Yes, you heard it, easy. I was always told that life is hard, nothing is easy, and certainly you never get anything for free. Inside I always laughed, because something in me KNEW that it was a lie. It doesn’t make any sense to me that with all the resources and incredible talent present in a world filled with 7 billion creative souls, anyone would be destined to suffer and work hard.

Yet every time I tried to build a business, make a name in the world, or just be happy, something went wrong. It wasn’t easy, and I had to work very very hard. It left me with a rage and hatred that the world could be so cruel… and deep self-loathing that I couldn’t figure out how to make my dreams real. How does one small human being change the world?

One day I gave up. I screamed a desperate prayer at God (which I hadn’t done since I was a teenager) that said something like “F*ck you, I give up. What am I supposed to do? I believe in an easy, blissful, and abundant life for all beings, but everytime I try to make it real, something is in my way. What gives?”

For the first time since I was little, I actually received a full-on answer from Spirit. A Voice spoke to me and said “You are the only one standing in your way. Get your sabotaging beliefs and all those angry emotions out of your mind and heart, and the world you see will change before your eyes.” So I thought, “I need some help with that, I don’t even know where I’m stuck.” The Universe kept answering me, and the perfect teacher showed up – I could literally see her bright angel wings outlined behind her head. So yet again, I took a wild leap of faith, and signed up for an EFT and Hypnotherapy training class at The Miracle Center of California. “My dream is so big, I need a Miracle to make it happen,” I thought.

“…But I’m not the only one…”

My first day of class, everything changed. Robin Duncan, my angel teacher, used EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and Hypnotherapy to help me release trauma and angst from my childhood as well as lifetimes of experiences, and she encouraged my dreams. For the first time EVER, I met others who also believed that life can be easy and beautiful in every single moment. It requires a complete shift in how you perceive the world, but with access and tools to clear to the subconscious, it is EASY!

According to A Course in Miracles (my FAVORITE life guide), a Miracle is defined as a shift in perception from fear to love. Who doesn’t want to do that, right? Sometimes our subconscious and emotional beliefs make that difficult though, and learning EFT and Hypnotherapy gave me the ability to shift my perceptions on all levels. It became so simple to shift my experiences on a daily basis that I am now living in a whole new way – with ease and grace, no matter what challenges I seem to face. I had never realized how much of my time and energy was wasted on fear, complaining, and trying to figure out the details.

“…I hope someday you’ll join us…”

I couldn’t believe how fast that initial shift happened. I literally looked like I had a facelift after that first session – and I felt 20 paradiseyears younger. Within months I had quit my spa job and was running my own home-based massage and healing business. Nearly two years later I am now living the life I always dreamed of, filled with ease and daily Miracles. My lifelong dream of living in the tropics came true this year when I moved to Maui, Hawaii where I play and dance and swim in the ocean every day. I am able to share the gift of EFT and Hypnotherapy with clients from all over the world, in person and through the internet. I have created e-courses to help others make the same kind of shift into an easy and fulfilling life, and I teach in-person certification courses in EFT and other energy healing modalities. I am truly blessed that my dreaming world is now my waking life. I wake up every morning in Paradise, with the awareness that my DREAM is my REALITY.

I am still in awe of the transformation that occurs when we access the subconscious patterns we’ve accepted as our identities and shift them into what we truly desire. I believe that every person on earth has a very special purpose and mission – to make an impact, to change the world, and to be filled with love and gratitude in every moment. What is holding YOU back from living a life of ease, while changing the world for the better?

If you are ready to make a radical shift in your life and allow your dreams to become your everyday reality – to live on easy street and be filled with radical joy and excitement – I want to hear from you! Please comment on this blog post, and head over to my website and Facebook page to stay in touch! I want to hear what YOU are dreaming into reality!

 “…and the world will live as One!” ~ John Lennon, Imagine

IsisArjetaIsis Arjeta is a radical mystic who loves to laugh, play, and surf the waves of life – or the gorgeous Maui coastline that serves as her backyard. She uses her wide variety of skills and experience to help you uncover the brilliant being you already ARE. A session with Isis feels like a conversation with your best friend, and always includes laughter and spot-on insight. She blends an irreverent sense of Spirituality with deep love, and creates a safe space for transformation wherever she goes. You can find Isis at www.facebook.com/OneSoulution or www.isisarjeta.com to stay updated on her latest Miracle adventures!

 

Dream Changer-Featuring Applied Kinesiologist Felicia Giouzelis

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***This week I am so excited to present to you one of the co-creators and teachers of the Unleash Your Personal Power e-course (registration ends April 14th!!!), Felicia Giouzelis.  Felicia is not only a powerhouse of knowledge and experience in muscle-testing and Applied Kinesiology, but she is also a beautiful soul with a passion and spark that you can’t help but feel from her with every interaction.  You will see what I mean when you read her dream changer post below.  I hope you enjoy her story and check out her website for more information about how she changes lives on a daily basis. Take it away Felicia!***

My dream changing moment exploded onto the scene in August 2013. I had spent the past year in a high-profile position within the food service industry zoiresponsible for several departments in several locations for a company that was rapidly growing. I had revamped all processes and procedures within a year, launched a successful software redevelopment project from the ground up and altered the entire direction that this company was taken and yet, I felt empty inside.

That amount of success took approximately 90 hours per week from my life, it robbed me of my exercise routine, my healthy food choices and even my personal goals and aspirations. I watched myself deteriorate into a person that I no longer knew and I had seen this person before. The workaholic die-hard overachiever that got amazing amounts of work done but lost herself in the process. I try very hard to live without regrets, but if I were to regret any choice it would be the times that I had lost sight of myself.

Before I began that position, I was going through a terrible breakup. Looking back on it now, I realize that the job was an escape for me. I didn’t want to deal with any of the feelings associated with the breakup, so I buried myself in a position that was busy enough to help me escape. I used 90 hours a week as an excuse not to deal with any of the feelings associated with the breakup. By no means was I required to work 90 hours a week. My self-proclaimed undying determination was the reason for the extra hours, or so I thought at the time.

In August 2013, at the culmination of burnout… I lost it! I lost the need to continue working crazy hours, the need to put others before myself and the need to find fulfillment through my job. At the height of burnout, I resigned from my position. The day after my last day of employment, I simply collapsed on every level. My physical body finally had a chance to recover from the self-induced overwork of the past year and all I could do for two months was sleep about 16 hours a day – ironically, the same amount of time I was working each day!

Within a week of leaving, I started to think about what the next chapter of my life would entail. At that moment, I was invited to an advanced class in Applied Kinesiology at a school in New Mexico. The call was too loud for me to ignore it and it felt like I already belonged there. I flew out and was right, I felt instantly connected to the course and the people. It was at that moment that my entire life direction changed and I felt the shift very strongly.

I felt like I had come home.

These days a six-hour workday is about all I can muster and referring to it as a ‘workday’ is a comical statement to me. I have so much fun with applied kinesiology, it feels like I haven’t worked a single day. Being of service to others in healing is by far the most fulfilling part of my life.

Today I lovingly and gratefully reflect on my former position as a required step in my path. Without that intense pressure, I don’t think I would have left the position and found my true calling.

 

Headshot(1)Felicia is determined to live in a world where everyone is healthy, thriving and dis-ease free! As an applied kinesiologist, she’s been applauded by her peers and clients for her ability to explain how the body functions, the root cause of imbalances and how to bring it back into balance holistically – in easy to understand terms. When she’s not working with her amazing clients, you can find her pouring over articles and books about epigenetics at the local park.

Her latest e-course — Unleash your personal power — hits the internet on April 1, 2014 (registration ends April 14th!)

Find out how to bring your body into balance at www.zoiwellness.com or you can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

 

Investing in Yourself

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invest

Another theme I keep coming across in my own life and the lives of my clients is self-care.  More specifically how difficult it is to invest the time, money, and space to really support ourselves in the way we need.

Is self-care a pain point for you?

Do you often find yourself overly exhausted, worried, frustrated, or saying ‘yes’ to everyone else but yourself?

It’s time to stop all that nonsense and begin investing in yourself.

I know there are a million reasons not to do it and to be honest, the ones I hear the most comes down to money and time.

We all have money stuff.  We either believe there isn’t enough or what we have is all we will ever make, but that’s not true.  There is plenty to go around and investing in yourself is one of the best ways to bring more into your life.  Sounds a bit backwards I know, but when you are stressed, frustrated, angry, and living in a mindset of lack, do you find you are met with even more lack?  It’s likely you are.  But, what if you took some time for yourself to relax a bit.  Get a massage, treat yourself to a manicure, purchase a course that can change your life, or hire a coach to help you reach the next level of your dreams?  Wouldn’t that feel good?

At first the thought of spending money on things that aren’t ‘needs’ can scare the pants off some people and create anxiety especially if money seems to be a bit tighter than usual.  And while I am not a ‘money coach’ per se, I do a lot of work with my clients on their money stuff because it’s a part of the beliefs and blocks that hold us back.  Our relationship with money can be quite stressed depending on how we grew up, what we were taught, and the messages we heard and in turn believed about it.  The same goes for spending money on seemingly frivolous things.

The truth is that investing in yourself is not frivolous or irresponsible.  It is a necessary part of self-care and life in general.  We aren’t here to simply survive and live paycheck to paycheck or to scrimp and save every penny we have.  We are supposed to enjoy life, feel good, and take care of ourselves, but I often find some people just aren’t ready to take the leap.  If that is you, then I invite you to start small.

Treat yourself to coffee every once in a while if that is your thing.  Or go buy a good book that you have been dying to read and know that it’s OK to invest in yourself.  And should you find yourself wondering about hiring a coach or enrolling in a course that is calling to you, do it!

There are always reasons not to invest in yourself and your dreams.  Money is tight, the car might need fixing, the kids college fund needs to be bigger, or you just don’t believe it will make a difference, but I assure you that you will be better off if and when you do.

I am not asking you to dump your responsibilities and quit your job to invest in yourself, but I am asking you to get in touch with what you really want and need right now and allow your intuition to guide you.  I believe wholeheartedly in the powers of the Universe guiding us to the people, articles, books, quotes, tools etc. that we need in the moment so you being here is not a fluke. Listen with your heart and get busy enjoying this amazing gift we have called life!

You know what’s funny?  I get many of the same complaints and excuses when it comes to the time factor too.  There seems to never be enough time to invest in yourself, but the truth is you just haven’t made it a priority.  I invite you to make yourself, your self-care, your growth, and your dreams a priority.  The world needs to see your light shine and you deserve to live a life of excitement, abundance, and joy.

So I ask you, what can you do right now to invest in yourself? 

 

If you have thought about working with a coach and haven’t taken the leap just yet, I would love to chat with you.  I am taking on new clients for April and I want to hear about your dreams and goals.  If I am not a good fit for you, I will help you find a coach that works for you.  I want you to get what you need to make your dreams come alive, it’s as simple as that.  Let’s schedule a 30-minute consultation to chat about what I do and what you want to achieve.  Simple, free, and totally worth the time.  Contact me today to get your consultation scheduled.  I look forward to chatting with you!

Dream Changer featuring K.S. Takagaki

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***It’s time for another inspiring and beautiful Dream Changer piece.  This story is remarkable and will leave you to wonder about what synchronistic moments are waiting to shape the rest of your life.  For K.S. Takagaki it was a simple stroll around town that led her to a home that would change the rest of her life.  Read, enjoy, and be inspired!***

A meeting of souls

K.S. Takagaki, Ebisu’s Kyoto International House

When I first came to Kyoto, I walked everywhere. Kyoto is an amazing city for walking because of the huge number of temples and shrines, some large and some tiny, scattered across the city. It is interesting just to watch people rushing to work, cleaning the road in front of their houses, hanging futon out the windows to dry, or cycling to the shops with kids strapped into the child seats of their bicycles. Not to mention seeing the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Momoyama Castle, the university campuses, the changes wrought by the seasons, the different styles of houses and gardens, the Kamo River, the mountains, and the Yoshida hillside. It was an experience to be savored because I had come to Japan on a working holiday and, I thought, would be leaving after one year. Even though it felt like “home” to me.

One day, I decided to walk around Yoshida, the shrine, neighborhood, and hill just to the east of Kyoto University. Heading into a maze of impossibly narrow streets, I spied a set of stone steps leading up the hill. Of course I climbed them just to see where they went.

Then I saw it. On a small landing almost at the top of the hill was an old, abandoned house. Some paper had been blown against the front by the wind, the garden was overgrown, and the windows were dusty. It seemed somehow sad and alone. For all of that, I was really drawn to it. There was something promising in it and I felt my fate was intertwined with that house. I even talked to it! I said, “You are a beautiful house. You won’t be empty for much longer. I have a feeling that you will be my house.” I really didn’t know how this could be possible since I was due to leave the country in less than a year.

Fifteen years later, I was married. We had been looking around for a house we might be able to buy to live in, but we hadn’t found anything that we liked. One day, walking past the real estate agency, we saw a new listing for an old house on the mountain. It was on an enormous (for Japan) parcel of land, but there were no details about the house itself. We went in to ask about it, and the real estate agent said that the open house would be the next day and he could take uskimkim there then. We asked for the location, and he gave us a general idea. We walked up just to look at the outside. I was wondering even then if this was the same house. It turned out that it was! Another realtor was having a showing, so we walked through. We loved it, even though it was too big for two people. It had eleven rooms plus the kitchen and two toilets. The bath area was outside and obviously needed a more modern (and indoors) solution. It was really run down. But it was obviously the house we wanted to buy.

On the walk home, we did the math to see if we could afford to buy and fix it up. We realized that it would be a wonderful group house or guesthouse. We went directly to the real estate agent and told him we were interested, and made an offer. The deal was completed, the repairs done, the house outfitted with everything it needed to make our guests welcome, and Ebisu’s Kyoto International Guesthouse was opened for guests who are visiting Kyoto for a month or more.

Over the years, the people we’ve met through the house have enriched our lives more than we can say. Now there are babies being born from relationships that started in Kyoto. We get emails, cards, and letters with their precious photographs and updates on their growth. We hear about everyone’s lives and careers. Our old guests come back and stay with us when they are in town. The Ebisu’s Kyoto family keeps expanding. And the house is no longer lonely or sad.

I really had no idea when I first saw the house that this would be the result of our meeting. This house, although built long before I was born, was meant to be ours. If feel that very strongly each and every day.

Some people need to follow their passion. Some people need to follow their hearts. I needed to listen to my soul.

For more information about this beautiful space you can check out the Ebisu’s Kyoto website.

 

Dream Changer-Featuring Author Nicole Luongo

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***Nicole Luongo is sharing her dream changing moment this week and I am so honored to share her story with you.  With this being National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, this post is coming to you a day early and once you read Nicole’s story you will understand why.  To tell you she is determined would be a gross understatement.  She is magnificent in so many ways and I am so happy she is a part of the Dream Changer series.  Nicole is such an inspiration to us all and I hope you enjoy her beautiful words as much as I did.***

I came into this world the size of a baby chicken! I was born two and a half months premature, weighing less than three pounds. My mom noticed that I could not rest my feet flat of the floor. Lacking balance, I rarely took a step without holding onto something. Nearly two years passed. I still wasn’t walking on my own. A neurological evaluation revealed I had spastic diplegia, the most common type of cerebral palsy (CP).

I could not do the one thing I wanted most: walk. At three years old, I slipped my hands through shoes – belonging to my parents or ten older siblings – and crawled throughout the house on my hands and knees. I did not give up. I paved my own path. This taught me an important lesson that shaped the rest of my life: anything is possible with determination and perseverance. In January 1978, an orthopedic surgeon lengthened my Achilles tendons. After walking in other people’s shoes for the first years of my life, I finally learned to walk on my own two feet.

As an adult, I began to experience problems associated with CP. I tired easily when walking. My back hurt if I walked too much. I could not step up curbs with my right leg – something I never had difficulty doing until age 35. This continued to be a such a problem that I asked my orthopedist for a cane. I couldn’t bring myself to use it. Instead, I avoided curbs and got a handicapped license plate. In October 2012, I received news that would change my life: I was a candidate for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), the only surgical procedure that can permanently remove spasticity (abnormal muscle stiffness) caused by cerebral palsy.

My dream changing moment occurred on March 29, 2013. At nearly forty years old, I had SDR on March 29, 2013, with Dr. T.S. Park, the world-renowned nicole2neurosurgeon who is acclaimed for refining the procedure. Dr. Park predicted SDR would allow me to move with greater ease, walk with less effort and ride a two-wheel bike, the number one goal on my post-SDR bucket list! My four-month followup went well. The spasticity in my legs was gone, I walked much smoother and straighter, with heel-toe motion, no longer leaning to one side, and both legs were even (they weren’t before surgery), eliminating the need for ugly orthotics.

It’s been nearly a year since I had SDR surgery. The journey has truly been amazing! My passion for the surgery gave me a purpose. I am an advocate for people with cerebral palsy. I raise awareness about SDR on my blog and social media. Thanks to SDR, my gait has improved so much that it’s hard to tell I have CP. I can walk up and down stairs without holding on – something I would never attempt before SDR. I tried rock climbing for the first time. I went back to ballroom dancing. On my 41st birthday, I will attend an iCan Bike camp to learn how to ride a bike. I always thought (and was told, in one form or another) it was impossible. Contrary to popular belief, people with cerebral palsy who have not had SDR, can ride a two-wheel bike. My SDR journey is teaching me to stop believing in limits – those imposed by myself or others. All of us are capable of much more than we imagine.

 

NicoleNicole Luongo is the author of Naked Desires, a poignant book for everyone who is searching for love, delighting in love, or hoping to understand love. Her mission is to raise awareness for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). Nicole believes information about the surgery should be provided to every person living with cerebral palsy. Please help spread the word by sharing this blog post.

You can connect with Nicole via her blog titled Bare Your Naked Truth.  You can also reach her on Facebook or Twitter.