Pronunciation: fi-lah-me-thee                                                                                                                    

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: The love of learning.

Notes: dating back to the end of the 16^th century. Its family includes an adjective, philomathic or philomathical and an adverb philomathically.  (Thanks to Dr. Goodword.  www.alphadictionary.com)

“Personally I’m always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.” —Sir Winston Churchill

Neither of my parents loved their jobs; they worked out of duty and responsibility.  Nor could they understand how seduced and enthralled I was by design. My college years fueled me, and I recounted the connections, the ah-has, the gleanings at the dinner table most nights.

I have been fed, spiritually and professionally, by my life’s work.

To this day, I do my best work—indeed, my best living—when I am learning. With each client, an interesting conversation, a lecture or film, every book. . . opportunities abound. I am philomathic!

At TEDxAtlanta this week, I heard some mighty fine music, and 18 minutes from nine speakers who are experts in their field, all of whom have found something unique, some new take, or a spark that led to a new application or outcome. Each provocative and compelling.

Once home, I stared into space for a while, then phoned to cancel my evening plans. I’d had as much pleasure as I could take in for one day—like eating, and not being able to take another bite.

I feel such gratitude for my ability to think, feel and understand. The willingness to give what Dr. Rita Charon called “exquisite attention” to people who have such passion for their noble work, inspires me to listen more, do good, and be better.

Oh! How I love learning.

Carpe diem

If you haven’t  discovered TED.com, don’t wait another minute. Go there NOW and watch this: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

Then watch http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Then,  pick something—anything— at random, even something you think may not be interesting, and expect to be wowed.

As you’re well aware (you’re reading a personal growth blog after all), there are skillions of pathways to growth and wellness. There’s meditation and feng shui, yoga and rebirthing, art therapy and Reiki, coaching and chakra regeneration (and if there isn’t there should be). There are so many different ways in, and I highly recommend that you find your favorite way(s) and go.

And if you’re even remotely called to write, don’t wait.  Pick up a pen and write today.

It doesn’t matter where you start – randomly pick a word from the dictionary; write about the weather; your favorite movie; your favorite food; the song that you can’t get out of your head; the one that got away; what you want; the last news story you heard on TV that pissed you off; the first time someone you cared about died.

Write for 5 minutes if you feel overwhelmed by the blank page.  Then write tomorrow for 5 more; or try for 10.  The day will come when 50 minutes will feel  like not nearly enough, I promise you.

Give writing some time and attention and it will bless you exponentially now and in the future.

I read in a book somewhere (if only I could remember who said it*) that writers live twice – once when it happens, and again when they write. I’d add one more life to that list: we live our lives again when we re-read what written.

What an amazing present for yourself: to unwrap your life again and again through writing. Reading your old writing can help you solve problems, de-stress and get perspective. It can amuse, educate, enlighten and comfort you. It can remind and inspire you; provide focus.  Writing can set you on your way to a new adventure. Writing is an amazing gift.

Go ahead, give yourself a present.

Happy New Year.

<3 Deb

*if you know who said it, leave a comment; i’ll be eternally grateful. 

It has hooked a friend of mine. I recently attended a race where my boyfriend’s twin brother ran a FIFTY-mile trail race through Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Is he crazy? Half of me admires him, the other half ask, why, why, why?

I’m amazed that the body can do that, and I think that is a big factor for him too. The difference is that I can be satisfied looking on from the sidelines, while he must make the 12-hour trek to prove it to himself.

I understand this, a little. I had a compulsion to travel the globe and did so for almost 2 years. I couldn’t be satisfied with seeing cultural shows on cable. I had to see it, experience it, and immerse myself in it. It wasn’t always easy, I was lonely here and there, but ultimately, I had a ton of fun and wouldn’t trade the enriching experience for anything.

Another area I do this is when I paint a painting (www.tamara-art.com). EVERY painting has a point where I think… it’s unsolvable…just toss it, but I cannot. I have to push through to the end. I have to make it work because the end result gives me the greatest sense of accomplishment. The end result makes it joyful.

I’m beginning to think that passion is just another name for a compulsion with a payoff, that being, accomplishment, joy, endorphins…

Is stress and redemption part of the passion process? How do we choose our passions? Do passions choose us?

These are the questions swimming around in my head today. I’d be interested to hear what your passion is about. Maybe, you have the answer.

It’s our big, annual event, the Prosperity Conference & Expo, a two-day coming together of like-minded, positive, success-oriented people joining forces with the express purpose of building our businesses and building our lives. A lineup of success speakers, millionaire mentors and victim to victory triumphs meant to inspire, educate and motivate. And the ultimate goal – to change lives.  Marianne Williamson, author of “Return to Love” among other “Course in Miracles” based books said:

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

That’s the goal of the Prosperity Conference – to demolish fear so that we embrace our power and use it to make our world not just better, but the best we can make it.

This year was the pinnacle. This year the breakthroughs were extraordinary. People sought me out the entire weekend to share their Ah-Ha Moments, the perfect partnerships they created, their epiphanies, that one thing they needed to see, hear, feel that’s now taking them to the next level. It was magical. Really, magical.

They reminded me that the time, effort, energy and work required to make the conference happen was beyond worth it. Putting on an event for hundreds of people is a major undertaking:  selling tickets, managing speakers, enrolling volunteers, on and on and on…it was easy to get lost in the details and forget what I was working toward.

I’m changing my world even though I don’t always see it right away. So are you. In every person you touch, you change your piece of the world. You may not have a big annual event to provide immediate testimony, but you are changing your world nevertheless. What’s your vision, your dream? Look right now at your day to day, remind yourself of your vision, your passion, your dream. Keep going. There’s no feeling in the world like accomplishing what you set out to accomplish. It’s magical, it’s powerful and it’s joyful!

It’s our big, annual event, the Prosperity Conference & Expo, a two-day coming together of like-minded, positive, success-oriented people joining forces with the express purpose of building our businesses and building our lives. A lineup of success speakers, millionaire mentors and victim to victory triumphs meant to inspire, educate and motivate. And the ultimate goal – to change lives.  Marianne Williamson, author of “Return to Love” among other “Course in Miracles” based books said:

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

That’s the goal of the Prosperity Conference – to demolish fear so that we embrace our power and use it to make our world not just better, but the best we can make it.

This year was the pinnacle. This year the breakthroughs were extraordinary. People sought me out the entire weekend to share their Ah-Ha Moments, the perfect partnerships they created, their epiphanies, that one thing they needed to see, hear, feel that’s now taking them to the next level. It was magical. Really, magical.

They reminded me that the time, effort, energy and work required to make the conference happen was beyond worth it. Putting on an event for hundreds of people is a major undertaking:  selling tickets, managing speakers, enrolling volunteers, on and on and on…it was easy to get lost in the details and forget what I was working toward.

I’m changing my world even though I don’t always see it right away. So are you. In every person you touch, you change your piece of the world. You may not have a big annual event to provide immediate testimony, but you are changing your world nevertheless. What’s your vision, your dream? Look right now at your day to day, remind yourself of your vision, your passion, your dream. Keep going. There’s no feeling in the world like accomplishing what you set out to accomplish. It’s magical, it’s powerful and it’s joyful!

Letting go of being so influenced by what people think (including my own inner self judgments), allowing spirit to move through me, whether organizing a closet or sipping on a vanilla latte at Aurora… what a joy!

If passions a

Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm, or compelling emotion towards a subject, idea, person, or object. When you have a passion for something you have a strong positive affinity for it. It is amazing what happens when you put your attention to the things that are most important in your life.

As a certified facilitator of The Passion Test, I have watched magic happen again and again. One of my clients here in Atlanta took the test in October of 2009. I saw him at a meeting on Tuesday and he told me that since he took the Passion Test his income has doubled. That made my heart sing. Did I mention that The Passion Test is a test that you will never fail?

Imagine what your life will be like when you are clear about what your best life is. As Janet Bray Attwood, co-author of the New York Times bestselling book The Passion Test states, “Clarity is power.” Once you gain clarity on your passions, you can use them as a compass, moving you in the direction that brings you the most fulfillment.   Doesn’t that sound delightful?

Tomorrow’s ingredient du jour: Authentic Expression

In the meantime, whether you are a tiger or not, take a look and see what qualities you are going to consciously integrate into your life to truly make this a happy new year!