Friday Inspo – Call Back Your Power

Happy Friday friends! Here’s a round-up of miscellany that’s been inspiring and motivating me lately. I’d love to hear what’s firing you up!

“I call all of my power back to me now. I am whole and complete.”

Danielle LaPorte has an article in which she delves into what she describes as the ongoing practice of ensuring that your personhood is your own, on a deeply resonant energetic level. Especially if you’ve been feeling drained, pulled in different directions, or wanting to connect to your selfhood rather than the expectations and desires of others, this exercise is worth experiencing. Affirm to yourself, and feel the truth and reality of this as you do, “I call all of my power back to me now. I am whole and complete.”

Finding Sacred Truth Through an Uncomfortable Messenger

Simone Grace Seol is an incredible coach – it’s very inspiring to me that she also has ADHD and is extremely aware of and has great unique guidance for neurodiverse creators. She’s partnering with David Bedrick to teach how internalized shame plays into our ability to follow through on implementing our ideas and hopes. This concept literally opened my mind to all the deep-seated messages shame tells me about how I shouldn’t risk being seen, or that I’m not worthy and lesser in so many ways. Bringing this shadow work to the surface is incredibly important to loving and understanding a different angle of our resistances and blocks, so we can find our path out from the grip these deep-rooted messages may be holding on our unconscious selves. (Without adding more shame to the process of becoming aware of our internalized shame!) I think bringing this awareness to light is an incredible first step toward embodying our fuller potential. Learn more on this topic from Simone here and from David here.

“There’s Nothing I Can’t Do When I Put My Mind to It”

Check out this beautiful reel of a dad encouraging his daughter to, very literally, take a leap of faith! I wish the same encouragement for us all – think about what it means to “put your mind to” something – if an endeavor is calling you, trust that it’s for a reason, trust that you have deep within yourself the focus, dedication, ability that’s uniquely yours, and tenacity to leap for and achieve what you wish ❤ And look for those “safety nets” to give you security along the way – whether it’s a trusted loved one who can cheer you on, or even keeping your endeavors close to your heart and mind for now, and connecting with your highest self or a spiritual anchor to help hold and support you in your endeavors.

Photo by Kosamtu from Getty Images.

What Inspires You?

Hey folks! I woke up today thinking about the nature of inspiration. How Sunday tends to be a day of calm and rest, naturally more introspective than the weekend rush vibes of Thursday evening through Saturday. I started to wonder what truly, genuinely inspires me. What is the most fun, meaningful, and interesting to me that helps me feel either at ease, or motivated to accomplish more and do better in my life. These are a few things that immediately came to mind as my favorite inspirational go-tos:

-Following creators that inspire – especially not just for the nature of their content, but their emphasis on self-care, mindfulness, and consideration of the types of energies we put out in the world. I have so many on my list, but a few are @katiesteckly, @simone.grace.seol, @hopehealingarts, and @thejeffreymarsh.

-Stories that remind me that making real changes or finding your path is possible at any time – especially stories of people who’ve grown, shifted, explored, and created in ages/times/circumstances that society tends to tell us aren’t tenable. Some examples are Stan Lee creating his first comic at age 39, or Julia Child writing her first cookbook at 50.

-Stories of people who’ve changed paths. We tend to identify folks with what they’re most known/successful at – i.e. this is an actor, a scientist, etc. But you can really pursue what speaks to you at any time, even if you’ve already found your “identity” or success in another area. For instance, Jon Favreau transitioning from primarily acting to producing and writing, and creating beloved entertainment such as The Mandalorian. Or Ken Jeong switching from practicing medicine to acting. (And he still keeps up with his medical licensing!)

-Finding resources and ideas to speak to the spark of spirit, of creation, that are beautiful and that resonate with me. Reminders of the bigger picture and ways we can bring that sense of spirit, of kindness, of genuine wellness into our lives as well as others’ lives.

-And finally (for now!) finding that inspiration by going within. Whether it’s starting my day with a few moments of meditation – or, as often happens, a few moments of just awareness of how I’d like to start my day and what I’d like to accomplish. Ideally, when you can quietly connect to the source within (whether it’s at the start of your day, or really any time of day!) you’ll be amazed at the ideas and inspiration that shines through, especially when you consciously ask for it to arrive.

I hope this has maybe helped you think about your own connection to inspiration, and encouraged you to actively seek what you love and what’s meaningful to you! The more we do this, I believe the more we can heal ourselves and find our path to positive personal growth and development, and the more we can have a great effect on the world by sharing this positive, uplifting consciousness with others.

(P.S. – if my work resonates with you, I’m offering coaching! 1-1 spots can be available soon, (limited places simply due to personal schedule at the moment) and look out for group workshops coming up! Join my email list (link at the bottom of the home page) for updates, or email me at contact@magdalenejournal.com if you’d like to learn more.) 

Erica Magdalene

Support for Ukraine

The situation in Ukraine is at once unbelievably heartrending, yet also full of so much hope, persistence, and resistance in the face of the unfathomable. 

President Zelensky’s passionate steadfastness has rallied not only his own country, but the whole world to have faith and take actions for the best outcomes for the Ukrainian people. His incredible self-determination is evident in his articulate and stirring statements, such as “The fate of Ukraine depends only on Ukrainians. No one but ourselves will control our lives. We are on our land. The truth is on our side.”

In a time like this it can be so hard to know the right thing to do or say, especially for those of us who are so far away from the epicenter of this event. But in the interest of doing what we can, I’ve consolidated some resources for supporters of Ukraine. NOTE – these sources are as reputable as I can discern to the best of my ability, but please always do your own assessments before donating to any group or charity.

  • Finally, what are ways to support Ukraine if one can’t donate money? The main method that comes to mind for me is speaking up to the best of one’s ability. This could include sharing helpful info on social media, providing emotional support on message boards, and even joining a rally. This link has information on rallies and events: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-help-ukraine-conflict/

You can also follow relevant hashtags like these on social media to keep up with upcoming events: #standwithukraine #rallyforukraine #peaceforukraine.

One more important caveat – again, always, always be sure to the best that you can that the information you’re accessing is accurate. This article by the Washington Post is an excellent resource for discerning credible information versus misinformation, and also contains many great points on media and news literacy: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/02/ukraine-disinformation-news-literacy-lessons/ 

Slava Ukraini!

With love, Erica Magdalene

Adjusting

The cold is surprisingly one of the easier changes to acclimate to. Especially if it’s a sunny day. I actually enjoy long walks in the brisk, bright cold days here, because sunshiny days are not to be taken for granted during an east coast fall/winter season.

I’m from here — born and raised in Brooklyn, New York —but had been living in Southern California for 11 years until just 3 months ago.

It’s been a difficult shift, more difficult than I expected. The pace of life and traffic is quite too fast and chaotic for me, though in that regard, for safety, I’ve rapidly changed to (or should I say, reverted back to) personal movements that are quicker, sharper—constantly on alert for the unexpected.

So, I’ve been finding ways to balance my need for air, light, and finding beauty on my daily walks within the context of heightened self-awareness in a more urban, high-traffic environment.

Today I paid attention to the lights and Yule festiveness. Multicolored lights twinkling on a skinny, bare-branched tree. White sparkly stars alongside the Avenue signs. A Christmas tree seller on a side street off Cortelyou Road, with tiny to small-medium trees, perfect for a small apartment space. The pine scent reminded me, as pine always does, of the huge tree outside my grandmother’s home in New Jersey —occasional visits there gave me some of the most exposure to natural, earthy beauty I enjoyed as a child.

I usually try to set out while the sun is high, work allowing, but I couldn’t leave until after four in the afternoon today. So I got to see the crisp sun set, with faint wintery pinks and blues fading into deep navy.

Walking home, the Christmas lights were so cheerful against the night sky. It truly helped me find, maybe not so far as cheer, but a welcome sense of contentment.

Erica Magdalene

An Intentional Day: Setting and Remembering Your Aims

Here are three ideas to bring more intentionality to your days, as well as help you follow through on what you want to add to your life in balanced and mindful ways.

1 – Start with a moment of intentional magic

This is a little ritual I’ve started adding to my mornings recently, and I enjoy this idea because it’s so easy to remember and make time for! As you begin your day, hold a cup of water, tea, or coffee in your hands, and intend that you’re imbuing your day with all good things — you can be as general or specific as you want. Make time for this exercise in as mindful, unrushed a manner as possible, even if it is only two completely attentive minutes. This is both a good way to add moments of reflection and focus — especially if you often find yourself too busy to add a longer practice such as a movement or yoga session, or longer meditation time, to your mornings.

2 – Intend to accomplish 3 things

I recently came across this inspiration from Neeramitra Reddy’s article on Better Human: How to Actually Achieve More in A Day than Most Normally Do in A Week. There’s an idea in here that I really like, with which you can combine higher-minded intention setting with practical elements of goal-setting and productivity practices. Here, Neeramitra speaks of committing to 3 tasks to fully complete in your day: “3 is a sweet number — while with 7 or 20 item To-do lists, you’d be over-committing and scattering your focus, with 2 tasks or lesser, you’d be cutting yourself short.” Part of the purpose here, of course, is to do your best to ensure that you achieve completing an accessible, doable amount of items in your day. When you choose 3 items that connect to a larger goal in your life — such as being healthier, starting a business, or forming stronger connections with others — this can remove some of the abstractness from your bigger goal, and make it very achievable through a series of small steps.

3 – Set a little reminder at a time that feels good for you to check in with yourself. Maybe midday, or maybe early or late afternoon. Why? Because checking in on your intentions as your day continues is a great way to make sure you’re both making progress on goals and also having a more meaningful day. This is a good time to level-set with yourself. If your intention for the day was more along the lines of an affirmation, this is a good time to revisit that energy for yourself. And if you have a specifically goal-focused intention, such as the suggestion for choosing 3 doable items, you can assess what you need to do to achieve these tasks today.

This process is meant not to add more “to-dos” to your day, but rather as helpful reminders to help you achieve on a daily, weekly, or even longer-term basis what’s meaningful to you. Happy intending!

Erica Magdalene

Musings of a Retired Car Enthusiast

Being retired I have a lot of time to think about things. As I love to drive, one of the things I often think about is “why does every car look like every other car?”

I see all these cars that look the same on the outside, yet they look even more alike on the inside. Now I’m not talking about seats and dashboard; I’m talking about the fact that you can’t see anything; the visibility inside any car in the last twenty or so years is dismal. And therein lies the answer. If you can’t see well, you’re extra careful and that’s good for the insurance companies. This same thinking is at the root of many changes in cars over the years.

The most egregious example that comes to mind is that the rear view mirrors no longer show a true image. When you can’t see clearly, you’re careful.

All this would constitute the biggest conspiracy in world history, involving many nations and supposedly independent companies. Talk about restraint of trade; that’s why this whole theory is preposterous. However, I can’t think of another more plausible explanation, can you?

P.S. In reality I have an old Toyota that looks like a new Mercedes so I’m not that upset.

🙖

Photo credit: Nick Savari (Unsplash)

Book Review: Alex & Me

Alex, the African grey, was a revelation to people all over the world, and especially to the scientific community. In Alex & Me, Dr. Irene Pepperberg tells the story of how her work with Alex — the structured training and testing that she did — proved that he had the intelligence of a four-year-old child. She also recognized that Alex became her true companion as the two of them established a close bond over the thirty years they were together. Alex appeared on television shows many times, and there are a lot of YouTube videos that demonstrate his skills. I believe that anyone who enjoys animals would like this book.

Dr. Irene Pepperberg had a series of parakeets, or budgies, when she was growing up. She quickly learned that they could understand what she said, learn to talk, and show affection. She majored in chemistry, received a doctorate, and then changed her focus. Her goal was to prove that a parrot is capable of using cognitive processes that only humans and higher primates were thought to achieve.

African grey parrots are known for their intelligence, so to begin her work she bought a one-year-old grey at a pet shop. With an assistant, she began to work with him. He learned to recognize colors, shapes, and names of objects. After a couple of years, she began submitting articles to scientific journals. She called her studies Project ALEX: Avian Language Experiment, and that’s how Alex got his name.

This led to a grant from the National Science Foundation, where she began her work at Purdue University. She changed universities a few times and the grants continued, which included payments for her assistants. She also taught classes. During a lean period, her husband told her to “get a real job and forget this bird nonsense.” They divorced soon after that. She was completely dedicated to her work. She acquired other greys, and had success with them as well.

Most people believed that parrots talked by mimicking what they heard without understanding it. Bird people know differently. The first pet I had was a parakeet and I quickly learned how wonderful a bird could be. Cuddles was friendly, tame, loved to sit on my shoulder and fly to my hand when I held my arm up. He learned to talk, and became my friend and companion as we continued to bond over the years. I have had many parrots after that and they were all different. Some talked better, some cuddled more, and some were very intelligent. Coco, a Meyers parrot, was also very intelligent. He said “night night” when it was time for him to go to bed. I had other birds who picked it up from him, but said it randomly. This got Coco very upset — he didn’t realize they didn’t know what it meant. Stickley, a Pionus that was a rescue, took two years of daily work before she trusted me. After that, she loved sitting on my shoulder and being stroked. I developed a bond with all of them, joined a bird club, and wrote articles for Bird Talk. 

I currently live with Joey (shown in the photo above), a 22-year-old Jardine’s parrot I acquired as a baby. Joey understands what I tell him, and speaks to me in context. When I ask him to do something, and he doesn’t want to, he very clearly says “No.” I learned that if I insisted, he would bite. The picture shows him sharing my lunch, a daily occurrence.

Throughout the book, Dr. Pepperberg stresses many times that birds are intelligent, curious, and social animals who should not be locked up in a cage all day. Whatever pet someone acquires, they should realize that it is their job to deal with their physical needs, and to give them the socialization that they need to become wonderful companions.

Alex and Dr. Irene Pepperberg  spent a lot of time together talking, learning new things, and hanging out. Alex was very clear about what he wanted to eat — if he said banana and was offered a grape, he threw it back. He wasn’t always in the mood for training, and said “Wanna go back.” Like most parrots, he could be bratty and destructive. He learned to say “I’m sorry” eventually and was forgiven.

Alex was only 31 when he died in 2007, and his last words to Dr. Irene Pepperberg were “You be good, I love you. See you tomorrow.” Everyone who had worked with Alex was devastated, and the animal lovers all over the world mourned with them.

Please visit https://alexfoundation.org/ to help support Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s continuing research and learn more about the incredible world of parrots.

Article and photo credit: Sue Anderson

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The Freedom of Simplicity

“The Capsule Makeup Bag” is based on the “capsule wardrobe,” a term coined by Susie Faux in the 1970s. Susie, a boutique owner in London, wanted to streamline her client’s wardrobe with high-quality, tailored pieces that could be mixed and matched. The concept became popular in the United States in the 1980s when Donna Karan introduced her Seven Easy Pieces.

This concept got me thinking about my makeup collection. Having had a career in cosmetics, I acquired an incredible number of products. However most had expired, were the wrong shade, or were too trendy for real life. Yet once these beauty products found their way into my makeup bag, that is where they stayed. A collection of impulse buys that had come with the promise of a flawless face, plump lips, and lush lashes.

As 2020 ended I realized it was time to let go of the excess in my makeup wardrobe. I know my must-haves; the few tried and true color cosmetics that make me look and feel my best. So, with “the freedom of simplicity” as my mantra, I began to purge: into the trash went bright red lipstick, blue mascara, and metallic eye shadows.

I am now the proud owner of cosmetics I love to use. I have a minimum of quality products that offer maximum results. With a daily routine that is quick and easy, I find myself enjoying applying makeup again.

Become your own beauty editor.

JoAnn Gerardo started her career in cosmetology as a hairstylist but soon discovered that her true passion was cosmetics. As a makeup artist, she represented many prestigious brands including Chanel and Laura Mercier. She also worked as a regional training manager for Shiseido Cosmetics and as the fragrance and cosmetics manager for Barneys New York in Scottsdale. Currently JoAnn is an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Get more great tips and insights from JoAnn at:

www.marykay.com/jgerardo
https://www.facebook.com/gerardo.fountainhills