http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials A Spirited Approach to Living Fully, Deeply, and Authentically Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:20:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The first rule of authenticity is honesty.  If you are dedicated to honoring your authentic self, there are some questions that are essential to ask yourself with regularity and to answer with honesty. What’s your answer to this question (try not to overthink this—just go with the first thing that arises ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/08/25/what-will-make-the-biggest-difference/ “You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes.” —Maimonides Have you stumbled upon any signs or symbols in unexpected places lately—messages meant just for you? I have. I’ve been taking some time this summer to contemplate my next projects and have been working my way through folders and folders of ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/08/01/honor-the-signs-and-symbols/ We all talk about wanting more "peace" in our lives.  But what is peace? In many ways, peace is a paradox. Peace is soft and it's strong. It's open to listening and it takes a stand. Sometimes we think that "peaceful" means having no challenges, upsets, or obstacles in our lives. ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/07/23/the-paradox-of-peace/ “We must make the choices that enable us to fulfill the deepest capacities of our real selves." —Thomas Merton Giving is great, but is it always better than receiving? Is giving better than receiving if our giving ends up knocking us flat on our backs, compromising our ability to give with ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/06/28/do-you-know-how-to-receive/ I'm very much looking forward to book signings coming up for my book Honor Yourself: The Inner Art of Giving and Receiving in Queens, Yonkers, and Westport, CT,  on 5-30, 6-1, and 6-2 (schedule below). If you’re in the area, grab a friend, come by, and say hi. I would love ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/05/22/honor-yourself-book-signings-in-may-and-june-in-new-york-connecticut/ I’m thrilled—my book Honor Yourself: The Inner Art of Giving and Receiving has just won TWO prestigious book awards for 2010. It is a Nautilus Silver Award Winner in Self-Help/Psychology AND it won the National Indie Excellence Award for Spirituality. I’m so excited and grateful.  (And a big thank you ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/05/22/honor-yourself-wins-two-national-book-awards/ What's the next part of you that is being born? And are you paying attention to what it needs? I was about to make a right turn onto a busy two-lane street today when I noticed that the cars in the left lane had come to a halt. I thought ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/05/09/what-are-you-giving-birth-to/ “Most of us,” said prominent psychologist Abraham Maslow, “have learned to avoid authenticity.” That’s a serious charge and a worthy challenge. What he meant was that many of us are trained to ignore our inner signals. We suppress our feelings rather than express them. We haven’t dug deep and gotten ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/04/14/honor-your-inner-impulses/ Facing an unwanted ending or a painful memory—or know someone who is struggling to recover from a loss? Endings can be tough on the heart and soul.  Lay-offs, break-ups, or sudden, unexpected life changes can throw us off balance and make us feel unsure about ourselves and our future. When someone ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/03/13/10-ways-to-release-regrets/ Life is never a one-size-fits-all formula. If you are to develop and give your gifts (that's why we're here, isn't it?), you must honor who you are and celebrate your own voice. That means embracing the paradox that while it's important to value the mentors and role models who guide ... http://www.practicalspirituality.info/inneressentials/2010/02/28/honor-your-own-style/