How much richer life becomes when we are fully present for the magic in every interaction. Stranger, friend or foe — it matters not. Each is a face of the divine.

Gosh, I don’t know even know where to start. For the record, my morning routine didn’t happen at all.  Hanna, my 5 yr old, was up many times through the night with stomach pains and therefore, so was I. The difference was she fell back to sleep, I didn’t until about 6 am. And then it was too late to complete my routine before I had to make arrangements for her and get into the city.

Despite this, my last 24 hours have been absolutely riveting.

Yesterday, I went to sing for Sandra and her family – the woman battling an aggressive brain tumour.  This was pure love and compassion in its truest form. I was received so warmly by the family and walked away thinking it was ME who had received the greatest gift. Leaving in peace, I had such a calm sense about reaching the end of one’s life. It is just as beautiful as birth when we surrender to what is. That’s why my song “Let Love Be” seemed so fitting to sing. Josh Groban needs to sing that song one day. I wrote it for a big, rich voice like his.

Then last night, I was blown away by Bill Walsh at a business seminar. His no-nonsense approach to helping people design a business plan and keeping them focused until their business gains traction spoke to me in spades.  He said, “Too often people just don’t know what they don’t know in terms of marketing/building their business (usually with no formal plan) and so they spin their wheels guessing, repeating what hasn’t and likely won’t work, and wonder why they are exhausted and/or broke.”

BINGO.

Fast forward 14 hours and I found myself sitting in a coffee shop with the most gorgeous young woman nearing the completion of her undergrad degree. We met so she could pick my brain about corporate communications.  But honestly this session was this fabulous discussion about life, integrating all parts of ourselves, building a big vision of who we are and then “opportunity hunting” from that wonderfully-connected space.

All I can say is… JUICY!

I left there and grabbed a bite to eat at Community Health Foods only to find myself highly entertained by two men — one 70 and one 90. They were so refreshing, funny, insightful and loving. The 90-yr old called me his ‘girlfriend’, yet was proud of his 62 years of marriage. We talked about everything from his conversation with Jesus in his living room to me adopting Hanna. He said something that caught my attention:

“Too many people live in the world of duality – positive and negative. That duality is an illusion. It’s all positive.”

Brilliant and so true. Negativity is merely our perception something is wrong, but if we could rise above and see the highest picture of oneness, we’d see how ‘right’ everything is. He’s just recently bought a computer and is learning to use email — at the age of 90! That’s impressive. So Ron and Bob if you are reading this post, know that you made my day.

From there, I moved to another coffee shop only to be taken with the brilliant Karen Klassen of Women Embracing Brilliance. Ooo, I still have chills. She is rich with wisdom and faith.  And I know she has a role to play in my blossoming. Karen, I can’t wait for the journey.

Most of these people I had barely met before today. Isn’t that interesting? And yet, I felt perfectly in the flow of life connecting with each of them — so open and generous. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again…

There are no true strangers in life — just kindred spirits whose face our minds don’t yet recognize.

Tomorrow morning we return to the AM Bliss routine. But what a fabulous detour!

Lots of love,
Paula

One of the most powerful steps in any journey is the art of refining it.

After I made my tracking sheet on the weekend, I noticed that the part of my morning routine getting short-changed was my exercise. I was still including daily movement, but my exercise time was being reduced or wasn’t happening until later in the day when I have less energy. So for the last two mornings, I’ve flipped my routine on its head and started with my exercise first. It’s an adjustment for sure but at least the exercise is happening with vigor again!

I even put my work out clothes right at the foot of my bed so I literally stumble into them as I wake up. To be honest, I prefer having a few moments of quiet time before exercise. But I’m enjoying shaking up this routine and figuring out my ideal morning flow. That’s really where the ‘art’ comes in.

There is no right or wrong way to journey. Be in tune with your flow.

Check in with yourself. Is your routine working for you? What changes, if any, do you want to make? Be willing to experiment with rituals themselves and also the order.  The more attention you pay to the subtle messages your body is giving you, the more it becomes a powerful guide to light your way.

Love & sparkling energy,
Paula

One effortless way to improve your results is to track your success.

It’s Day 14, which means we’re half way through the journey. Of all the journeys I’ve led, this clearly has been my favourite so far. It’s had the greatest impact in shaping my days, increasing my awareness of my thoughts and how I spend my time, and propelling my dreams forward.

I’m grateful for the amazing feedback from those of you travelling with me. If you are new to my site and this AM Bliss Journey, please join in. Any day you partake in this journey will improve your daily flow. The important thing is to choose morning rituals that are perfect for you. Just recently a lovely woman wrote to me:

“Thank you for your post this morning – it reminded me of what I like to do in the morning and I have accomplished much this morning by doing everything in the way I like to do it. We all get caught up in everyone else’s expectations –especially on the work front and we forget to listen to ourselves.”  – Ayashah in Calgary

Brilliantly said. Imagine if every person had that experience. Then multiply that times 30 days and just imagine your results. Dreams really are possible with consistent, daily action and a solid energetic foundation.

Track Your Succcess

In addition to being a source of inspiration, I want you to see results. I created this simple tracking sheet (pdf) for you to print out and track your success. It allows you to list your activities down the left hand side and then check them off as you complete them daily. You can get creative and use coloured markers for each ritual or even fancy stickers — whatever helps make this fun. Hang this sheet on your fridge, office wall or somewhere else visible.

Reward Your Progress

You’ll notice a spot for a weekly reward on the tracking sheet. (We like treats!) Pick a reward that you give yourself for having committed to your AM Bliss Routine. Honouring self commitments is the first step in building the confidence we need to move any dream — big or small — forward. After all, any step forward is worth celebrating.

As always, keep me posted on your progress. I love hearing from you.

Sparkling love,
Paula

I awaken to simple yet profound messages from the sun. She is filled with wisdom and light for each of us to glean.

If I can rise each day and shine my light, so can you.
If I can find my way even through the darkest of clouds, so can you.
If I can let go of yesterday’s stormy rain, so can you.
If I can spread my warmth without judgment, so can you.
If I can glow from deep within my core, so can you.
If I can know for every ray I shine, there is more to share,

SO CAN YOU.

We are more the same than different, you and me.
Now go spread your light, for a million suns we need.  

♥♥♥

Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.  — Johann Wolgang Von Goethe

From the moment you wake up, be willing to be bold. Feel the energy that says, “Yes, you can do this!” and then reply “Just watch me!”

When we shift our energy from hoping/wishing/wanting our dreams, to knowing and living them in whatever way we can TODAY, the Universe gets the clear message.

Clarity is power. That’s all boldness really is… vibrant clarity.

And then when we can act from that place of clarity, look out! We are unstoppable.

Lee Horbachewski modeled that this week for me. She was absolutely committed to making a dream come true for a dear friend dealing with an aggressive brain tumour. Read the full story. Sandra’s one wish was to have Michael Buble sing for her. So Lee set out to make that happen. She reached out on Facebook, Twitter and through a media release to share Sandra’s story and ultimately get in touch with Michael. Momentum gained as a tribe of angels rallied behind her to keep spreading the word.

I love how technology can shrink the world, and love can expand it.

And yes, to the complete awe and joy of many of us, Michael answered the call! From Hong Kong, where he was about to perform, he recorded a video with a message and song just for Sandra. HER WISH CAME TRUE in less than 24 hours!!!!  Unbelievable.

OOOO, the power of social media and love!

Now that’s BOLDNESS doing great work! Thanks Lee for this powerful, powerful lesson. You truly are an earth angel. Thanks Michael Buble for responding to the outpouring of love that came your way. Thank you Sandra, for being courageous enough to voice your dream and then receive. You are surrounded by beautiful healing light around the globe right now.

So, let’s all breathe this one in. It’s so wonderful.

How can you step into boldness today? Where in your life do you want to embrace that voice that says, “Just watch me!”

The Universe is waiting for you to claim that vibrant clarity. And it’s all too willing to make miracles happen.

Lots of Love,
Paula

How we live in a beautiful world. A world so connected, so full of magic and miracles. A world of wonderment.

My heart goes out to the people in Japan and around the world affected by the tsunami. Even in the face of tragedy, ordinary miracles are appearing. People are pulling together to help one another. Hearts unite in service. The collective human spirit triumphs, as courage leads the way.

Reflecting that back into my own life, this morning and week have been over-the-moon exciting for me. I’m so grateful for new friendships. I’m so grateful for this daily ritual of sharing with you, and the immense transformation that comes with simple daily awareness. I’m so grateful for opportunities to really get what it means to connect powerfully in service to others. I’m feeling the need to pause and simply take it all in.

Enjoy a fabulous weekend. Hug a loved one. Celebrate being alive. Visit or phone someone you’ve been meaning to connect with. Forgive yourself or someone else for something that has long passed. (It’s done.) Rest your body and your mind, knowing they’ve served you well. Play, laugh, smile. Be sure to share your sparkle.

And perhaps most important, remember you are loved, and never alone. Thank you for enriching my journey.

With love and sparkling light,
Paula

Recently I’ve heard this response from a few people. “I love your posts, but I’m not a morning person.”

Great feedback! So, here’s my response.

This journey is not about turning you into something you’re not — just the opposite. It’s about discovering your natural rhythm and working with that. Whether you wake up at 6 am or 8 am or 10 am or 2 pm, we all need to wake up at some point.

The question is, how can you shape that routine to best honour you and set you up for an amazing day?

Consider this. A friend of mine wasn’t a morning person. She hated having to make conversation with others first thing in the morning. So for the first hour, she spoke to no one. She got up slowly, made herself some coffee, read the morning paper and then proceeded to shower and get ready while listening to her favourite music. Then after this time to herself, she was ready to greet the world, including her husband. If you would see her throughout the day, you would never guess this outgoing vibrant woman had this silent morning ritual. And yet it makes perfect sense.

For some of us, we first need to see the family off before we can sink into our juicy routine. (That’s how my day unfolded today.) Or maybe your sacred rituals happen when you arrive at work or even on your morning commute (unless of course that interferes with your driving).

Your morning ritual doesn’t need to be all serene and zen-like, and it certainly doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else.

Maybe you need a good laugh first thing. Maybe you crave singing at the top of your lungs in the shower. Maybe you need vigorous exercise. Maybe you want to phone a loved one and share good company. Maybe you want to practise that acceptance speech for the job/award/nomination you dream of. Or maybe you just want to lay in bed for an extra half an hour and visualize your perfect day.

Be willing to be flexible and creative. More important than getting it right, is just beginning.

It’s the commitment and self awareness that are the most important parts. Start somewhere, anywhere — it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you get conscious that this life you are creating is yours to author — right from your first morning blink.

As you begin any of my journeys, you will find that it’s like removing layers of an onion. You can vaguely see the next layer but can’t access it until the top layer is removed.

But when you do, look out! The juices will flow! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find out that the belief you hold that you are not a morning person was just a myth after all.

With Love,
Paula

I am the beauty I see in this world. My gentle strength is undeniable. As I connect with my Source, I experience what blissful living is all about.

This morning I awoke to my “gentle strength”.  I’m realizing its power to shape my life. If you read my post yesterday, you know that I was not willing to allow myself the same old song of defeat that my internal choir is so ready to sing. That’s old news. And I’m ready for a new song and dance.

The concept of gentle strength has formed for me recently. It’s the kind of strength that doesn’t come by pushing oneself forward, but rather being pulled by the flow of inspiration. While it may at first seem less powerful, it actually has the capacity to sustain over a longer time period, because of its deep nurturing quality. That is, if we are not fighting ourselves at every twist and turn, we are not expending as much energy — thus we can go farther and with greater peace and joy.

With gentle strength as my foundation, I had the most blissful morning. I read, I slept, I wrote, I exercised. I joined you Silvina in two sparkling glasses of water. This was a nurturing contrast to the last two mornings where I made the choice to shorten my morning routine because of family and work.

Most important, I completed another item off my Freedom List. I paid off a significant chunk of debt. Talk about freeing and healing at the same time. I have so much to share regarding money and debt, and their connection to self love. It’s deeper than we know. I will share soon, likely as a short E-book.

Supporting You

How is your morning routine?  Any tweaks you are making? Are you able to consistently honour your AM Bliss? If yes, any changes you’ve noticed in how you feel or what is unfolding in your life? If you haven’t been able to consistently honour it, what trips you? The obstacles are so important to examine, as there is a story that you are telling yourself — one that can be changed if you so desire. Simply contact me and let’s shift your internal conversation from struggle to flow.

With love,
Paula