Interview

Joanna Interviews Meggan Watterson, Author of REVEAL: A Sacred Manual for Getting Spiritually Naked

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I’m thrilled to share this interview with my good friend and soul-sister Meggan Watterson with you. She gives us a sneak peak into her fantastic new book!

Joanna Lindenbaum: Your book is called REVEAL. What is the significance of the title? 

Meggan Watterson: In my experience, the closer I am to simply revealing the truth of who I am, the closer I am to the Divine. Rather than an idea of the Divine as something outside me or beyond me that I have to reach up out of myself to attain, for me my spiritual path has been all about going within and finding that voice of audacious truth inside me.

That quiet unassuming voice of love inside me, my soul-voice, is my direct connection to the Divine. Each time I have the pluck to align my every word and action to the voice of my soul, that, to me, is what it means to be spiritual. That’s revealing the soul.

JL: In REVEAL, you discuss seven veils, which refer to the stages of the spiritual process you went through. Tell us what the 7 veils are.  

MW: Each veil is a shift in belief that allowed me to get closer to the truth of who I really am. My soul-voice felt buried behind layers, or veils, of fear and self-doubt. And these seven shifts helped these veils to lift, or for me to shift, from one form of thinking to another that was far more liberating. These are the veils:

  1. Empowerment
  2. Embodiment
  3. True love- the kind of limitless love you can only connect to from within.
  4. Revealing your divine worth.
  5. Claiming your inner mystic to never forget just how powerful you are.
  6. Your soul-work in the world: how it gives you this chance to reveal the love you are at your core- to put your love into action.
  7. Spiritual community: how (at least for me) I can never really forget who I am or what I have come here to do if I have a bevy of women who believe in me. 

JL: We all have a wise, knowing voice inside. I call it woman wisdom, and you call it soul-voice. Sometimes we forget it’s there. Other times it tells us things we don’t want to hear. How can we better align ourselves with that inner voice and listen to its wisdom?

MW: It takes the dreaded word: discipline. It takes devotion and practice. I initially only went within to connect to my soul-voice during meditation, which would sometimes happen at some point of my day.

When my son was born and I felt an intense pressure to write REVEAL, I needed the support, love, and encouragement my soul-voice could give me so desperately that I began to go within whenever I could. While changing my son’s diaper, while taking a shower, while waiting in line at the grocery store, it didn’t matter where I was; all that mattered was how I chose to focus my attention.

I went in again and again even if only for a quick fist-pump with my soul. I perpetually aligned myself in this way all throughout the day with the voice I know is leading me to my highest potential.

JL: In your opinion, how does spirituality relate to a person’s soul-centered project or business? How can we use spirituality to help us in our professional lives?

MW: As a single mom, or indie mom, as I prefer, there have been moments when I was filled with so much stress I literally thought I would combust. Or just pass out flat. These are the moments when I can’t imagine my spiritual life separate from my professional life. For me they are inextricably linked. My spiritual practice is to remain fully embodied, no matter what the stress or fear- my vow is to come back home to my body again and again. And the moment I do, the answers to what’s next are right there.

The moment I can have the courage to just be present is the same moment I become conscious of precisely what I need to do. It sounds simple because it is. What’s difficult is daring to be present to just how much we know, and then trusting ourselves, our soul-voice, enough to take action on its directives.

About Meggan Watterson:

Meggan Watterson is an author, speaker, and spiritual firebrand who inspires women to live from the audacity and authenticity of the voice of their soul. Her best-selling book, REVEAL: A Sacred Manual For Getting Spiritually Naked, was published this month by Hay House. And her signature event, REVEAL, is next month on May 18th here in NYC and is a day-long form of lady-church that’s one part ritual, one part fiery soul-voices, and one part dance party.

www.megganwaterson(dot)com

Blog Summit – Day 2 – Getting to Your Joy Default

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Wow! We’re off to an amazing start to the second day of the Gratitude Project Blog Summit! On November 18th, phone in from 9am to 4pm EST for the first 10 minutes of each hour to experience different waves of gratitude! Join us and sign up!

sigrid_picMy new friend, Sigrid Kjeldsen, is the next wise mind to give her take on gratitude! Sigrid also owns and operates the site The Joyful Mother which offers inspiration, one on one coaching and online courses with new courses launching this January! The Joyful Mother helps conscious moms dissolve resistance, in the form of stress, self-doubt, frustration, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, etc., that stands in the way of living and loving as a Joyful Mother. By taking responsibility for their own happiness, Sigrid believes moms can make this their most important parenting tool. You can find out more about the Joyful Mother by visiting www.thejoyfulmother.com. Sign up for The Joyful Mother’s Top 5 Tips That Will Take Mom from Good to Great by visiting and LIKING The Joyful Mother Facebook page!


Getting to Your Joy Default
By Sigrid Kjeldsen
For many of us, struggle, strain and turmoil is how we learn. Coming out the other end of really awful situations is how we understand and SEE that life is indeed beautiful. Over at The Joyful Mother Facebook community, we have moms that have experienced the unthinkable – the loss of a child or of a spouse. Many of these moms have used and are learning to use, their experiences to cultivate a greater appreciation for life.

Then there is this huge group of us today that haven’t gone through such turmoil. But we seem to complain about life as if we had. Our children are irritating and wild, our jobs are stressful, all of the responsibilities we juggle are draining, we are out of shape and exhausted and we often feel we are living our lives unfulfilled and frustrated. The biggest challenge for this group is the tendency to seek fulfillment and meaning outside of ourselves. Doing this creates a sort of happiness instability. We are happy when things are going right, frustrated when things go wrong.

For the first group, the stressor is so extreme, so worst-case scenario, that after some time people realize “Hey! I just experienced my greatest fear”, and they often recognize that underneath fear, worry, stress, frustration is this naturally, pulsating joyful life experience. What I call The Joy Default.

You see the people living with, let’s say, less major stress have accepted this way of life as the NORM. We have completely normalized stress because we see no other way, we see no relief. The only thing that we think will give us relief is a change in our external circumstances. If you lack money, relief comes only with the addition of more money. If you hate your job, relief comes only in the form of a new, better job. If you find balancing work and home life a struggle, relief only comes in finding the perfect balancing act. This group is fundamentally unconscious of what the other group sees and has recognized– that there is life underneath the life experience as Ekhart Tolle says.

Does this explain your life? If so, you are one of millions that feel the same. But today could be the day life changes for you! I am going to tell you how to escape from a life of stress and frustration and it is the easiest, most lovely habit you could ever cultivate.

It is about getting grateful. Your life will literally change when you start focusing on all the blessings in your life. Really feel them, see them and cultivate a deep awareness of these things throughout your day. And do you know what will start happening? You will find the RELIEF you have been searching for. Relief from your daily struggles, from what isn’t working in your life, and discover your life underneath your life experience or your Joy Default.

So, ask yourself this…”If you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for yesterday, what would you have?”

Blog Summit – Day 1 – The Key to Happiness

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Welcome to the first day of the Gratitude Project Blog Summit! I am so excited that this day is finally here because it means we’re another day closer to the Gratitude Project on November 18th! You can find out all about it here!

barbara_retouched_partialTo get the summit started, I want to introduce one of today’s wisest minds (and a close, personal friend of mine), Barbara Biziou. Barbara offers necessary tools for creating prosperity, love, joy and success in the 21st Century. She integrates her extensive knowledge of global spiritual practices, rituals and psychology into your life – transforming you from merely surviving to THRIVING. She is the renowned go-to expert for high-end, custom ceremonies, global rituals, weddings, and the celebration of all life’s passages. She is also the revered author of The Joy of Ritual and The Joys of Family Rituals, as well as a respected national TV personality who has worked with clients ranging from Donna Karen to Equinox Gym to Barney’s New York. You can learn more about Barbara by visiting www.joyofritual.com and you can connect with her via Facebook and Twitter.

The Key to Happiness
By Barbara Biziou
The only way I know to sustain real comfort in these times of collective anxiety is to practice living in the moment.

Appreciating what we have is the magical tool to creating harmony and joy. Gratitude is a key that turns the lock and opens the mind and heart. It reminds me of what I do have and allows me to shift focus from scarcity to prosperity.

My 93-year-old mother is a perfect example of this. When I spoke to her this morning and asked her how she was, she responded with a simple answer of what was right in her life. Even though she fell yesterday and is banged up, all she told me was, “the sun is shining today and the fall could have been worse”. She has the ability to be totally present in the now and looks for the good in any situation. Like a small child, she is aware of the beauty and magic in everything around here.

When I am able to slow down (not easy for a New Yorker) enough to see and appreciate the beauty in life, I transcend the ordinary and my spirit opens to joy. Life becomes simple again and I am more than able to cast away my tendency to over worry and over think life.

I know that it is up to me to change how I view the world. There is a freedom in being in the present moment. In this place I can bless every gift the Universe sends me from the love I already have in my life to a friendly smile from a stranger.

This does not mean I am a Pollyanna and unaware of the realities of life. It just means that I more easily accept the challenges life throws my way. I am consciously aware of my current reality, but do not let it define my future. In this way I gain greater energy and an increased capacity for joy.

I have learned that whenever I show appreciation, I actually reinforce the good that I bless and it increases and grows. When I criticize (especially myself) I reinforce the bad that I don’t like and it also increases and grows.
My friend Donna Henes once told me, “Whenever you find yourself criticizing yourself, apologize and pat yourself on the back!” This has become one of my favorite rituals to share. Thanks, Donna!

Today, I give thanks for all the people in my life who have given me love, support and caring. I bless the Earth and all who live on and in her who have added to my life.

Sometime in the next week, make sure to call and/or write to share your appreciation with the special people in your life. Don’t wait! Life is a gift and we need to appreciate each moment.

Detox Your Way to Health and Greater Success – An interview with the Detox Goddess, Lisa Fabrega!

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An interview with the Detox Goddess, Lisa Fabrega!by Joanna Lindenbaum, Woman Wisdom Success Coach

I am just THRILLED to share with you the magical Lisa Fabrega. Lisa is the Pleasurable Detox coach. She is creatrix of Not a Skinny Minnie Wellness (www.notaskinnyminny.com), and a total wise woman when it comes to helping you understand exactly what’s right for your body.

I was able to sit down (virtually!) with Lisa for an wisdom-packed interview on the 4 Pillars for Detoxifing Your Life. It is just so easy to learn and be inspired from this woman. This is a must-watch video, and I’m so happy to be bringing Lisa’s experience the the Soulful Coaching community because any woman who is working on being a soul-centered leader needs to be taking care of her body too!

Watch the interview now! (it’s my first step into the world of video, FYI!)

Detox Your Way to Health and Greater Success – An interview with the Detox Goddess, Lisa Fabrega! from Joanna Lindenbaum on Vimeo.