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Dear Friends,
I had a great time in Chicago last week and I hope you had a chance
to see the Oprah Winfrey Show about the Law of Attraction. It was
such a honor to share the stage with Louise Hay, a woman whose work I
deeply admire, and it was great to meet Martha Beck, a coach who has
so much wisdom to share (and a terrific sense of humor!). Thanks to
all of you who wrote in with your well wishes...I am blessed beyond
measure to have such loving support.
Although we did run out of the movie, "You Can Heal Your Life," we
should have more in stock on Tuesday, 2/12. This is a very special
DVD that seems to have a powerful effect on viewers who watch the
journey unfold. I hope you'll take a look at the trailer and read
about the movie here.
Join me for this week's "Coach on Call" live radio show where I'll
talk about "Creating a Conspiracy of Love." I'll also take your
calls. To join me, visit
www.hayhouseradio.com on Monday at 5pm ET (2pm PT, 10pm GMT)
and click on the "listen now" button.
Finally, over the next few weeks, as I finish up my next book, I'll
be rebroadcasting a few popular newsletters now and then, trusting
that the message will be just what you need to hear :).
Have a great week...
Love,
Cheryl
p.s. - Need a little Divine Direction? Use the "Touch of Grace" button on our homepage here: http://www.cherylrichardson.com.
"Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to
burning metal;
it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it."
--Eliza Tabor
This week I caught an interview with Jennifer Hudson, the young
singer who was voted off of American Idol and ended up stealing the
show in the movie, Dreamgirls. Jennifer was asked how she handled
the disappointment of being eliminated from Idol when most people
thought she would win. She admitted that it was painful and that she
cried a lot, but that eventually she returned to her faith. "I chose
to trust that God had a bigger plan for me than I could see at the
time," she explained.
I guess so. Her performance led to an Oscar.
Jennifer's story is a powerful reminder of how life's disappointments
may in fact be preparation for something even more significant in our
lives. And, this belief has the best chance of coming true when you
make a demonstrated commitment to learn and grow from your present
day circumstances.
For example, when I look back at the painful breakup of the
relationship I was in before my marriage, I can see that the
suffering and subsequent growth I went through was exactly what I
needed to prepare me for a more mature and lasting relationship later
on -- although I certainly didn't know it at the time. The pain and
disappointment forced me to grow. It challenged me to face my fear
of living alone. It prompted me to get my butt into therapy. And it
ultimately helped me to develop self-respect. I learned to treat
myself better, which in turn, naturally raised my standards for how I
would allow others to treat me in the future.
Jennifer's belief can serve us all in times of suffering or
pain. For example, is there something going on in your life right
now -- a breakup, a problem at work, the slow growth of your
business, or the chronic stress of trying to find time for your life
-- that might be attempting to prepare you for what's next? Think
about it. What if your current challenge is a call to action -- the
kind of action that will prepare you for the next phase of your
life? What are you being invited to learn? What qualities of
character are trying to be strengthened or developed?
As I've dealt with my own challenges over the last several months,
the belief of "disappointment or suffering as preparation" is
something I hold onto as a reminder that we are never alone, that
there is a purpose to our suffering and pain, and that when we get to
the other side, a great opportunity to use what we've learned in
service to ourselves and others awaits. Take heart. Every day, in
some way, we're all being prepared for something better . . .
~*~ Take Action Challenge ~*~
Choose one thing that you feel disappointed about, frustrated by, or
fearful of? Now, ask yourself the following questions:
1. If this were happening to help strengthen a part of me, which
part would it be?
2. What lesson can I learn from this experience?
3. How is facing this obstacle teaching me important skills that can
be used to help others?
Finally, ask yourself: What kind of help do I need to make the most
of this learning opportunity? Then, do what it takes to find that
support. Ask a friend for a referral to a therapist, call a mentor
for guidance, or create a gathering of hand-picked friends to help
you brainstorm new ideas.
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