Objections VS Opportunities

I'd like to share a lesson I learned recently that I think is very valuable and can be used in many circumstances in life, personally and professionally. This lesson helps me tremendously because I used to do whatever I could to avoid what I perceived as a conflict, even after I'd taken a communications class several years ago and was taught that conflict is not a bad thing. It wasn't until recently I was able to come to terms with this concept.

Perhaps it was a slight tweak in the verbage, perhaps it simply was the right time for me to learn this lesson, but here it is in all it's awesomeness. There are no objections, only opportunities for clarification. It feels so amazing to have this slightly shifted perception of objections/conflicts. It really used to be paralyzing for me to encounter a situation that had even the slightest bit of conflict or even perceived conflict about it.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="720"] Frozen by fear[/caption]

I would feel a tightness in my chest and my stomach would begin to hurt and I would freeze up and shut down. I would, literally, go silent or maybe stammer and stumble over my words. I am not exactly sure how this shift came about, but I don't even care how it came about. I am just so grateful.

I am happy and confident in my knowing. What am I knowing? I am knowing that I am a good person. I am well intended. I am not perfect and I make mistakes, but I know that I am always doing the best that I can at any given moment. My best will vary from day-to-day as circumstances in my life change, but never the less, I KNOW I am doing my best and if there is any question, objection or conflict I will approach the situation and clarify with confidence because I know like I know like I know that I am always doing my best.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="720"] Confidently clarifying[/caption]

Momma's Dream

I watched a video on YouTube today of my son playing guitar and singing What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. It is so amazing to see him following his heart. I was moved to tears as I watched him strum his guitar and sing about the wonders of life. Even though they were not his original words, a momma knows when her baby is feeling what he is singing. It brings me such a warm lovey feeling to see him flourishing. I am so happy for you Garrison.

This feeling I have for Garrison is such a wonderful feeling for me for two reasons: 1. Because a momma loves to see her baby living their passion. (I am a momma). 2. Because a momma loves to see her baby living their passion. (I have a momma).

It is an amazing feeling to feel the way I feel about my baby and to know my momma feels that way about me. You are right Garrison, it is a wonderful world.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="720"] That's my boy.[/caption]

Inspired message? That's for you to decide for you.

If it is true that words don't teach and I believe it is, otherwise, there would never ever again be any burned fingers on hot stoves,...right? So, If it is true that words don't teach, then why do I spend so much of my time stringing words together into blogs and conversations about how we all have a choice? Honestly? I think the reason is because it is a form of practice. If you think I have it all together and I just know and live all this stuff I write about all the time, well I hate to burst your bubble, but I am just out here doing my best. My best varies from day-to-day depending on a myriad of variables, but I just keep practicing positive thoughts to create positive feelings to create positive results. I just keep on practicing.

I don't believe in practice makes perfect, because I believe perfection already exists in all of us. I believe we have been taught to focus on our faults, so that we may focus on how to make improvements in ourselves. When the real truth is that we are perfect just the way we are and if we would make a choice to focus on that aspect of ourselves we would live happy fulfilling lives and ignite desire in others to focus on the best of themselves as well. Imagine how wonderful the world would be if we all simultaneously decided to commit to focusing on the best of ourselves.

Well, the truth of the matter is we only have control over one person offering the best of themselves and that person looks at you in the mirror every time you check a mirror. I looked at myself in the mirror today and I said these words to myself, I vow to you (and I pointed to myself) to offer the best of myself to you (and I pointed to myself again) today.

Words don't teach. Feelings and experience teach. So, if you are feeling inspired to experience the best of yourself today, make a vow and practice living your vow to yourself. If you don't like it, you can stop, but if you do like the way you feel when you are offering your best, keep it up.

You're an amazing person and you deserve the best. Yes, I'm talking to you (I just pointed to myself again).

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="720"] You lookin' at me?[/caption]

See? I Surprise People,...

Keri and I decided during our beach stay this last weekend that we would take a break from our lazy ways and walk into town from our beach front rental. The jaunt from the house to the town took us ALL of 10 minutes. We decided to make the most of our trek into town, so we ordered lunch to go and while we waited for it to be prepared we walked visited a few places in town. We went to the Yachats Mercantile store, The Yachats Video Rental/Organic produce store and the Underground Pub. We passed the candy/ice cream store and decided we would drive back later in the day to pick up some vanilla ice cream for Waffles.

The Mercantile Store's FB page reads, "If you need it, we probably have it". They have all kinds of things and I saw a pocket saw I thought was really cool. I don't really have a reason to have a pocket saw as I discussed with Keri, but for some reason I really like all that outdoorsy stuff. There was a cool axe with a pull out saw in the handle of the axe. I could go on and on about the variety of things they had there but that isn't the point of this story, so I will leave that for another time.

The Video rental/Organic produce store was an interesting mix of product. They had all kinds of salt, asian herbs, teas and an unusual selection of produce plus a whole bunch of VHS videos to rent. Interesting coupling. They seemed to be doing ok.

Then we headed over to the Underground Pub for a beer while we waited for our food. In all honesty, our food was probably already ready, but we walked all that way so we wanted to make the most of our trek. We sat outside facing the ocean and the sun was shinning in all its glory. It was a beautiful day.

Another couple joined our outside seating area and they had an adorable dog. She was a pit mix and very sweet. I wanted to love on her and pet her so bad. I told Keri, I'm going to ask if I can pet her. She said, "I'm sure they'll let you". So, I stood up and approached the man and woman. I maintained eye contact with the man because it seemed he was primarily caring for the dog. I asked, "Do you mind if I pet her?" He indicated it would be fine, so I reached across the table and I stroked his wife's hair two or three times.

They busted out laughing. I have to admit, it was pretty funny. I did pet their dog, Tika, and she was very sweet. I returned to our table after a bit of petting and finished my beer and visiting with Keri. As we were leaving Keri stopped at their table to pet Tika, but before she did she told them, "When she came back to our table she told me you wouldn't mind if I pet her,... either one, and gestured toward his dog and his wife.They laughed again and told us we made their day. They were a great couple with a very sweet dog.

Remembering this story is what helped me realize that I am an interesting person and I surprise people quite often. Fortunately, Keri is very used to me behaving in this manner. It has taken some "getting used to", but she loves me just the way I am.

Sassy Believes!!!

A belief is just a thought you keep thinking. Believe it into existence.

Keep Them Guessing

This last weekend we took a trip to the beach and one evening we were totally surprised by what we observed. We were enjoying the view of the sunset from our beach rental and right in front of our bay windows we watched a white SUV park in the look out area provided in front of our rental.

It was a Cadillac and very nice. We watched as the driver got out of the car. She was an older woman and once she got out of the vehicle we watched her reach back into the car for something. As we watched her step back from the vehicle, I wondered if she was by herself or if there would be others piling out of the SUV.

It turned out that she was alone. She stood in the grassy area next to her Cadillac and watched the ocean waves come and go for a little bit and then to our surprise she whipped out a bottle of bubbles. We watched as she dipped the wand into the soapy water and slowly raised her arm so the wand would reach her lips. The little wand shook just a bit as she held it in front of her lips, then she let out a deep exhalation. She set free several bubbles from the wand. She did this repeatedly.

I told Keri she should take her picture and Keri said, "You do it." So, I hustled over to my flip-flops with my iPhone in hand and at the edge of the drive way I stood balancing my camera/iPhone propped up on a fence post and snapped her picture several times. I seemed as though she noticed me because she turned my way and blew bubbles in my direction. I hollered across the street to her, "I love it!!!". She didn't respond verbally she just kept blowing her bubbles.

I went back inside and watched her blow a few more bubbles and then as if it were nothing at all she just got back in her car and drove off. It was interesting. It created a little stir in me. It made me want to be an interesting person that surprises people and then I remembered something I did over the weekend. I realized I already am an interesting person that surprises people. I'll share that story in another blog.

It's the Apozitude Challenge!!!

According to my news feed on Facebook a fairly good number of folks have accepted and participated in the Ice-bucket challenge to raise awareness for ALS, also known as, Lou Gehrig's disease and I can not deny that it has been successful. Honestly, I didn't know what ALS was the first time I saw an Ice-bucket challenge video posted to FB, so in that regard I have to agree that it has been undeniably successful. I also agree that raising awareness is a big part of what Apozitude is ALL about. The passion behind Apozitude is awareness. It is my passionate intention as the author of Apozitude to raise the awareness in the individual. An awareness that you as an individual have absolute control over your life.

If you are reading this and you are doubting your ability to have control over your life then it is I, Angel Zaumdio, that challenges you to the Apozitude challenge. I came up with this idea as I was soaking myself in a hot bath of eucalyptus and spearmint epsom salt. I had just watched a documentary entitled Stress: Portrait of a Killer on Netflix. Amazing research and documentary by Robert Sapolsky. A must see in my book.

Anyway, after watching this documentary about how stress is a killer, I decided this was the perfect time to take the epsom salt soak I had been planning. I stepped into the hot salty water and turned on my well-being meditation. I laid there in the water breathing in and breathing out as the meditation guided me to allow alignment and releasing resistance. I could feel the stress dissolving from my body and the cells of my body returning to their natural state of balance. Once I was guided to listen to the music and let it guide me to a deeper realm of relaxation, I decided to sink deeper into the water as well.

I sunk down to the point where my ears were under water and I could hear the beating of my heart echoing through the water and in the muffled distance I could also still hear the music of my meditation. I decided I would test the theory that deep intentional breathing could help relieve stress. As I listened to the rhythm of my heart, I deliberately slowed my breathing even more and I could actually hear the pace of my heart begin to slow. All of a sudden the Ice-bucket challenge popped into my mind. I thought what a drastically different effect that water would have on me than the current water I was relaxing in and that is when it occurred to me that I could create a challenge of my own for my readers.

So, how long did it take you or someone you know to get the water and ice bucket together? Add to that the time it took to find someone to record the Ice-Bucket challenge video. Now add the amount of time it took to record the video and change out of the soaking wet clothes. Plus the amount of time it took to post it to FB. How much time do you think all of that took? Let's just guess for the sake of this blog that it took just about 15 minutes. It was probably more, but let's just say 15 - 20 minutes. Just one more thing though ,... take into consideration how this made you feel. How you felt when you watched your friends video and then heard your name in the list of people they challenged. How accepting the challenge made you feel. How being recorded made you feel. How that ice water made you feel. Think about all those things.

Now! Think about the Apozitude Challenge. Oh yeah, I haven't challenged you yet. Ok, I challenge YOU to take less than the amount of time it took you or your friend to do all that stuff for the Ice-bucket thingy and dedicate 15 minutes to yourself. No distractions, simply undivided attention for 15 minutes to your breathing. I challenge you to put yourself first for 15 minutes and prove to yourself that you can have a deliberate affect on your level of stress by slowing down long enough to reduce your heart rate and focus on a sense of peace. Really focus on how that sense of peace feels in your body and know that anytime you want to you can deliberately reconnect to that sense of peace even if for just a moment here and there throughout your day.

You are an amazing person. Take time and spend it with yourself and bless the world with the best of yourself. The payback is wonderful.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480"] I kinda look intense, but I was really relaxed. :)[/caption]