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So many of us are trying to get somewhere. We think there is a destination that we must keep working toward. Wherever it is, it seems elusive. We don't seem to be getting any closer. It always seems in the distance. If we just try harder, we might get there. Eventually. But, what if there is no such destination? What if, it is an illusion of our ego that there is somewhere we must get to? What if the journey is the destination? And, we are already there?  

Doesn't more ease and grace in your life sound delicious? It does to me. This is what I've been longing for more of in my own life. I know that when I am focusing my attention on things that don't "appear" to be working out in my life, I tend to feel anxious and uneasy. In those times, when I notice I've allowed myself to get caught up in the worries in my head, I just bring myself back to the present moment and I instantly begin to feel better. I just remind myself that I'm only just this moment. That I only have power to do anything about anything in the present. It's the only place where true power can be found. Because it's the only place where life is happening. When I am present to just this moment, then I realize I don't need to worry about past moments I can't change or future moments that aren't here. I can't do anything about any of that. I'm learning to allow Life to lead me where I'm meant to go. Life knows how everything is interconnected and knows what is the best use of me. We see a beautiful picture of how Life flows with ease and grace when we observe nature. Nature doesn't strive to figure out what to do next. It isn't worried about any of that. There's a beautiful ebb and flow in nature. It just knows what to do. And, when we allow Life to ebb and flow in us the same way, we can experience a greater sense of ease in our life. Trusting that Life knows what it's doing. No more striving. No more pushing. No more forcing. No more making it happen. That's how I've lived most of my life and it doesn't feel good to do it that way. So, I'm choosing a new way to live my life. With ease and grace. And, as I practice allowing Life to flow this way in me I'm beginning to experience the deliciousness that in only found in surrender. ❤️ It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Inside the Chrysalis- Between the Old and the New Episode 31: Letting Go of the Old Story Episode 32: Finding Joy in Surrender Episode 33: Allowing the Moment to Be Episode 34: Life's Perfect Provision Episode 28: Healing Our Inner Child Kyle Cease Website Eckhart Tolle Website Tosha Silver Website *These are not affiliate links. I'm not an affiliate for anyone or anything.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Do you ever find yourself complaining about how Life is providing for you? Maybe things don't look the way you want them to look. You look around at the circumstances in your life and don't see your dreams coming true. Not even close. Or, so your mind tells you. Is this you? Take a deep breath. Look a little deeper. Often, when we look at the outer circumstances of our life situation, it appears that something's wrong. That, it shouldn't be this way. But, Life is always working on our behalf. It might not seem that way, but rest assured that It is. Life has a different agenda than we may have, though, which is why it may seem at times to be working against us. Life's objective in everything is our transformation. That we learn who we are at our deepest essence and that we become more and more of that. Its primary focus isn't that we get all the things we want in our outer experience of life. Although, we most likely will get some of those things, too. It sends us exactly what we need, in order to become more of that Ocean of Love that we are, so more of what we are not falls away. As I am going through this period of being uprooted and in-between the old story and the new story of my life, I am experiencing just how marvelously Life is providing for me exactly what I need. My heart is swelling as I feel the deep love Life has for me as everything I need shows up when I need it. Without fail. Sometimes, I don't always recognize I am being provided for because I am expecting it look a different way. But, then I see it. Life providing just what I need. Again. And again. And, again. Thank you, Divine Beloved, for loving me soooo freaking much that you give me just what I need and spare me the burden of being weighted down with what I truly don't. I know I am safe and secure in your unwavering love. And, it will forever be that way. I love you. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Inside the Chrysalis- Between the Old and the New Episode 31: Letting Go of the Old Story Episode 32: Finding Joy in Surrender Episode 33: Allowing the Moment to Be   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!     * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️    

Learning to surrender to what is, to the way things look at the moment, is the key to living Life fully and powerfully. That doesn't mean it's easy to do. Yet, Life gives us opportunities daily to practice. I'm currently learning this crucial lesson: how to allow the moment to be as it is. We cause ourselves much suffering when we resist the moment and think that what's happening shouldn't be happening. Such as: There shouldn't be all this traffic right now, I'm in a hurry. I shouldn't have to clean up after my spouse. The neighbor's dog shouldn't bark so much. It's driving me crazy! All day, every day, we find ourselves in situations where we can choose to resist the moment or allow and accept it just as it is. Just like the caterpillar surrenders to the process of becoming a butterfly, which requires that it dissolve so it can be recreated into a whole new creature, we're in a similar transformation process. Surrender and allowing is the key. If you've been following the last several episodes (links below), you know I'm currently in a time of letting go of everything that is connected to my old story to make room for a new story. I'm not sure what the new story is, yet. Life is unfolding that one step at a time. All I know is that right now, Life is leading me to let go of everything in my life that no longer is who I am. The parts of my life that are stagnant and outgrown. That aren't in alignment with who I am becoming. It's an uncomfortable process, yet a sacred and holy one. As the old parts of me dissolve, much like the caterpillar, so more of that Ocean of Love that I am at my true essence can shine more fully from me and into the word. This process requires surrender. It requires allowing the moment to be as it is. To be friendly with Life. And, the only place where Life is happening, is in the present. In the NOW. Life can't happen anywhere else. All there is, is NOW. So, as I practice allowing each moment to simply be, and not need it to be any different, I am experiencing peace. And, joy. And, learning that ultimately, there is no destination I need to get to. The journey IS the destination. And, as I allow the journey to unfold in each moment, and I allow each moment to be the sacred space that it is, no matter what's happening, then I am learning how to live Life fully. By embracing it. One sacred moment at a time. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Inside the Chrysalis- Between the Old and the New Episode 31: Letting Go of the Old Story Episode 32: Finding Joy in Surrender *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

One would not expect to find joy in the rubble of a life crumbling apart. Yet, when we surrender to the process that these events are here to teach us instead of fighting against them, our sorrow has a companion to walk alongside it. Joy. I'm recording this episode from my almost empty apartment. Yesterday, I moved all my stuff out and today I am doing the final cleaning before I say goodbye to this apartment and turn in my keys. I felt the Universe leading me to let go of this apartment even though I didn't know at the time where I would go and how I would pay for a different apartment. I just knew that this place was part of my old story and it was time to release it. It was here that I moved over 9 years ago after leaving a painful marriage. It was here I cried many tears grieving the dissolving of my family. It was here that I experienced much pain and suffering as I attempted to move forward when I felt so crushed and beaten down. But, it was also here that I began my transformational journey. It was here that I experienced sooooo much healing. It was here that I learned to love and accept myself. It was here that I discovered who I really am. A brilliant beautiful spiritual being. So much pain, yet so much joy has been felt inside these walls. So, today as I prepare to close this part of my old story, I bless this place. I bless it for the part it played in my story. I bless it for all the beautiful things that happened within these walls, both painful and joyful. I bless it for sheltering me so wonderfully for all these years. As I've been going through this little completion process here at this apartment, I feel an unexpected wave of joy. Surprising, since there are many things up in the air for me. Yet, I'm learning never to underestimate the power of joy to appear in the most unlikely places. Even, and especially, in surrender. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Inside the Chrysalis- Between the Old and the New Episode 31: Letting Go of the Old Story   *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the web!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Every year I create a new theme for my life for the year. I have bracelets made with the new theme and wear them all year to remind me of what I'm focusing on for those 12 months. For 2019, my theme is: Feel Good. Throughout this year I have been working to create a life that feels good. Sooooo, I've been letting go of everything that no longer feels good. Jobs, my apartment, old beliefs, stuff I no longer need, etc. Things that are part of the old story. Things that have served their purpose in my life, but the time has come to bless them and release them. This has not been an easy-peasy process. There have been tears, fears, and lots of continual surrendering. Creating a life that feels good means learning to surrender to Life and the transformational procedure It performs on us while we are in that place of transition. Transitioning from the old way of doing life into a new way of living life. That in-between place. I've been in an in-between place for a while now. Years, actually. As parts of me that are part of my old story are crumbling and falling away. And, something new is preparing to emerge. It's uncomfortable to be here in this place. In last week's episode, Episode 30: Inside the Chrysalis- Between the Old and the New, I talk about what it's like being in this middle, in-between place. In-between the old story that's dissolving and the new one that hasn't quite emerged yet. This episode is a continuation of that conversation, I guess. I was just sitting here feeling emotions, processing thoughts, getting insights about this uncomfortable uncertain place I'm in right now. I felt compelled to plug in my microphone and started sharing what I'm currently experiencing in my life to help me process it all. I teach what I'm learning. I coach myself as I go through life's challenging places. Even though, I'm in one of those places right now, I recognize that these times in our journey are necessary in order for us to become the highest version of ourselves we can be. So, it's all perfect. All of it. I know it won't last. I know the tremendous growth that I can feel happening on the inside of me will at last emerge and show forth. Any time now. I can feel it about to break through to welcome the new dawn. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Inside the Chrysalis- Between the Old and the New MudLOVE- Handmade Pottery and Jewelry *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the web!    * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Ever heard of caterpillar soup? It's actually a thing. Yep. It's cooked up inside a chrysalis and served up a'la butterfly. HUH?? I know. It sounds like something one might be forced to eat as a contestant on Survivor, but let me explain. We know that when the caterpillar spins itself into a chrysalis, it emerges as a butterfly. But, what the heck is happening inside that thing??? The caterpillar actually disintegrates in there until it is just a pile of goo. If you were to open the chrysalis during this time, caterpillar soup would come running out!! YUK!!! But, then...magic happens! The cells begin to restructure themselves. The goo is actually recreating itself into an entirely new being! WHAT THE WHAT!!??!! Isn't that soooo freaking fascinating!?! The chrysalis is really a sacred place where magic happens! Just like butterflies, we also experience this in-between place of transformation. A time when we are in-between what is passing away in our life, the old, and what is still to come, the new. And, it is also a sacred place where magic happens. To be sure, it's uncomfortable to be in that place. I know. I'm in that place right now. Right now, I am caterpillar soup. I can feel the changes happening inside me, but they haven't manifested in the outer part of my life yet. I can feel that beautiful new creature being restructured inside me! I'm in a process right now of letting go of everything in my life that is part of my OLD story. The parts of my life that no longer serve me. That are no longer working. But, the NEW hasn't emerged for me yet. I'm in a place of unknown and uncertainty. I can't see where Life is taking me. I haven't a clue. Other than deeper in and deeper down. To more of that PURE LOVE that exists in me. It exists in you, too. I have a beautiful blessing that captures this in-between place so wonderfully: For the Interim Time When near the end of day, life has drained Out of light, and it is too soon For the mind of night to have darkened things, No Place looks like itself, loss of outline Makes everything look strangely in-between, Unsure of what has been, or what might come. In this wan light, even trees seem groundless. In a while it will be night, but nothing Here seems TO believe the relief of dark. You are in this time of the interim Where everything seems withheld. The path you took to get here has washed out; The way forward is still concealed from you. "The old is not old enough to have died away; The new is still too young to be born." You cannot lay claim to anything; In this place of dusk, Your eyes are blurred; And there is no mirror. Everyone else has lost sight of your heart And you can see nowhere to put your trust; You know you have to make your own way through. As far as you can, hold your confidence. Do not allow your confusion to squander This call which is loosening Your roots in false ground, That you might come free From all you have outgrown. What is being transfigured here is your mind. And it is difficult and slow to become new. The more faithfully you can endure here, The more refined your heart will become For your arrival in the new dawn. John O'Donohue from "To Bless the Space Between Us- A Book of Blessings" In this episode I share: The illusion that there is a destination to get to What the in-between place is and why we must pass through it What diamonds and butterflies have to do with it How we can move powerfully through such interim times in our life My own in-between story that I am currently in and the transformation I am receiving as a result If you are caterpillar soup right now, too, just know that is temporary. I'm certain of the promise for me and for you, that eventually, we will emerge from the chrysalis as beautiful new beings that can bring much love and joy to the world. We must love the place where we are right now. For where we are is a sacred and holy place. We are here, in the very presence of magic. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: To Bless the Space Between Us -A Book of Blessings by John O'Donohue Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver   *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the web!    * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you? I did when I was seven years old and I thought I was dying. Literally. Obviously, I didn't because I'm writing this right now. Sometimes in life, things happen that "knock the wind out of us". Sometimes, we lose our way and find ourselves in the darkness. Maybe you are there right now. In the darkness. I recently ran across a YouTube video that told the story of a young man, a talented singer, who had experienced great success as a teen. His name is Jack Vidgen and when he was 14, he won the 2011 Australia's Got Talent competition. I had never heard of him until I ran across a YouTube video, in my FB news feed, of his Blind Audition for 2019 The Voice Australia. It turns out this was his first time stepping on a stage in 5 years. A series of painful experiences occurred that "knocked the wind out of him" and he stopped singing. In this episode, I tell his inspiring homecoming story (YouTube links posted below). His story reminded me of a time in my life when painful experiences left me breathless and fighting for air. A time when I, also, lost my way. And, just like Jack, I managed to find my way back to me and to what I am meant to do in this lifetime. The truth is we all have something unique to share with the world. YOU have something unique to share with the world! Me, too!!! Martha Graham said it so beautifully: “There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open." Whenever you are not sharing who you are with the world, there is not only a hole in the world, there is a hole inside you. You KNOW something is missing. When you've been knocked down, it can be sooooo difficult and painful to get back up. Yet, it's not until you come home to yourself, to who you truly are and what you are here on this planet to share and express, that things will feel right again. It's time to come home. Home is where it's always been. There, inside you. Just waiting for you to open the door and step inside. Welcome home. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links Mentioned in this Episode: Blind Audition: Jack Vidgen - Hello - The Voice Australia 2019 Bullied 'Got Talent' Winner auditions in The Voice | Journey #45 Jack Vidgen - Australia's Got Talent 2011 Audition!  Jack Vidgen - Australia's Got Talent 2011 GRAND FINAL!  Episode 28: Healing Our Inner Child Healing the Inner Child FB LIVE   *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web! Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Do you find yourself sabotaging yourself repeatedly? Are you still struggling with pain and emotions from events in your past? Do you often feel unlovable, rejected, and like something is wrong with you? Then, let me introduce you to the source of most, if not all, of these experiences. Your inner child. That little boy or little girl that is still inside you who never felt seen, heard, or loved as a child. Your beliefs about yourself, about life and the world, developed when you were little. Your parents, your experiences at school, your friends and family, what was happening in your home and in the world, all helped shape you into who you became as an adult. All the self-sabotaging patterns you find in your life can be traced back to your childhood. Sooooo, what can you do to stop those habitual behaviors? How can you help heal your inner child and ultimately heal your life? In this episode I share: What the inner child is and how it develops My own inner child story Three powerful tools I used to heal my own inner child A sample dialogue with my inner child Where you find the source of the Love that can heal your inner little kid   The tools I used to heal my inner little Darlene are powerful and they totally work! But, for them to work for you, you have to actually do them. If you want a life of love, joy, and freedom from suffering, you must make a commitment to your own inner healing. It can be done. You CAN learn to love and accept yourself. I know. Because, I did it for me. I healed my own little girl and learned to be my own BFF. If I can do it, you can too. Although, if you have experienced severe trauma, then you should have a counselor or therapist help you move through the pain. But, for many of you, these tools will be enough to cause tremendous healing in your life. The power to change your life is already in you. And, only you can do it. Just take a small step today toward a new tomorrow. As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 2: Intrinsic Value- How Do You Measure the Worth of a Person? Episode 3: How to Love Yourself and be Your Own BFF Healing the Inner Child Facebook Live Kyle Cease Website Kyle Cease YouTube Channel Eckhart Tolle Website Eckhart Tolle YouTube Channel SuperSoul Sunday   *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Have you ever run across a song, quote, book, movie, etc that touched you so deeply that you felt a shift happen inside? That, it caused you to see something in a new or deeper way? And, you felt that in some way, your life was transformed? Even more, you knew that it wasn't a coincidence that you found it and that actually, it was sent to you at just the right moment? I had one of these experiences this past weekend. I LOVE it when the Universe sends me messages this way! A few days ago I ran across a beautiful song by Jason Mraz called Love is Still the Answer. (Video link posted below) Now, I LOVE Jason Mraz. Almost as much as I LOVE using ALL CAPS to emphasize words and phrases! Sooooo, I have NO FREAKING IDEA how in the world I missed the release of this song! It's been out for 6 months! Say, what??!! It must be I was meant to find it a few days ago, which was the perfect timing for this song to enter my life. This song brought up many emotions, and valuable insights. It also strengthened my commitment to my mission of doing everything I can to cause more love in the world. To shift the energy in the world from one of conflict and hate, to one of love and unity. So, in this episode I share what opened up for me through this beautiful, and oh so timely message of love. I share: My struggle to find love and why it felt so elusive. That love is really spiritual in nature That in order to have more peace in the world, we need to connect with the true source of love that dwells inside each of us. My journey from feeling like I didn't belong anywhere and contemplating suicide to the realization that the home I was seeking was in my own heart the whole time. How working in a Senior Care Facility has helped me realize how precious life is and helped me to be conscious and intentional to use the rest of my life in a way that will leave me with no regrets when it's my turn to leave this world. That we can't take anything with us when we die except the part of us that is eternal, which is nothing but PURE LOVE. How this song deepened my commitment to do everything I can to cause more love in the world while I'm still living and breathing. If you resonate with the message and mission of Making Everything Beautiful, then connect with me! I'm looking for my kindred spirits! My soul brothers and sisters who also want to cause a HUGANTIC shift of love on this planet! Let's connect! Reach out to me and introduce yourself! We have work to do! It's time to get off all our buts and our other butts! LET'S GO! It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: BlinkNow Website Love is Still the Answer by Jason Mraz *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more beautiful goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

It's so easy for us to fling our words around frivolously without thinking about the impact they might have. In this modern technological age, many new developments in science, neuroscience and positive psychology show us how our words actually create our reality and impact not only our own health and well-being, but also the health and well-being of the planet. One of these groundbreaking insights came through the work of the late Dr. Masaru Emoto whose experiments with water give a powerful picture of how our words, thoughts, and feelings really do shape our world. Dr. Emoto gathered water samples from all around the world. He then took some samples and spoke beautiful words to them, such as "love" and "thank you", and then froze the samples. When he looked under the microscope at them he saw that beautiful crystals formed on the samples. Then, he took samples and spoke violent words to them, such as, "You fool" and "You make me sick", and then froze the samples. But, these samples did NOT form crystals. Instead they look deformed and distorted. He did similar experiments using thoughts and emotions, and experienced the same results. The water samples that were sent positive thoughts and emotions formed beautiful crystals and the samples exposed to negative thoughts and emotions did NOT form crystals and instead look distorted. His research shows that our words, thoughts, and emotions can change the molecular structure of water. And, he also pointed out that our bodies are made up of 70% water. Similarly, our planet is comprised of 70% water. Um...I don't know about you, but the implications here BLOW MY MIND! He said that the words we speak, thoughts we think, emotions we experience, all have and effect on our health and well-being. And, on the health and well-being of our planet! Holy Shiitake!!! But, I resonate with this so much! I can feel in my body it's true. I've experienced it in my own life. And, if you sit with this insight for a minute, you will know it to be true as well. You've experienced it yourself in your own life, too. Our words matter. They set into motion responses, actions, and reactions that will produce results consistent with the energy of the words we speak. So, what kind of life do you want to create? What kind of world do you want to live in? Only you can answer this for yourself. I'll end these show notes with a quote from the book, The Hidden Messages of Water by Dr. Masaru Emoto: "I know it sounds like I'm saying that it's all in your mind, but what I'm actually trying to say is that when you drink water with a feeling of gratitude the water itself is physically different than when you drink the same water with clouded feelings in your soul. Our emotions and feelings have an effect on the world moment by moment. If you send out words and images of creativity, then you will be contributing to the creation of a beautiful world. However, emitting messages of destruction, you contribute to the destruction of the universe. If you become aware of this, you will no longer be able to speak words of anger to those around you, or blame others for your own mistakes and weaknesses. You have the capacity to change the world in a moment. All you must do is make a simple choice. Are you going to choose a world of love and gratitude, or a tortured world filled with discontent and impoverishment?"  (Bolded Emphasis Mine) It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele Links mentioned in this episode: BlinkNow Website The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto Kyle Cease Website Kyle Cease YouTube Channel Eckhart Tolle Website Eckhart Tolle YouTube Channel SuperSoul Sunday The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more beautiful goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

It's important that we acknowledge ourselves when reach a milestone. When we experience a win. This is Episode 25! Today, marks the halfway point of the first year of the Making Everything Beautiful podcast! Holy Moly!! So, today, I am celebrating that I stuck in there and didn't give up. There were a few times I felt like it. But, I didn't want to be another abandoned podcast with only 7 episodes. I made a commitment to this dream/mission that I would keep showing up and giving love and being of service whether or not anyone was listening. That the results are not my responsibility. The Universe is responsible for the outcome. My job is simply to show up, give the best of who I am to the work, and let Life take it from there. I ran across a quote just before I started this podcast in January that actually inspired my to get busy and get my message out there. That I have NO guarantee how many days I have left on this planet. "The minute you begin to do what you really want to do, it's really a different kind of life." Buckminster Fuller This quote lit a fire under my butt. I wanted so much to live a life that felt good. That I loved. And, that's why I began this podcast. To do what I really wanted to be doing with my life. To live the kind of life I wanted to be living. So, I just started. With no website. No FB Page. No Instagram. I just started recording a few episodes and figured out how to upload them to a podcast hosting platform and submit them to Apple Podcasts and some other places. It was a messy beginning. But, I took action and began. My dream is now out there in the world where it could possibly add value to someone's life. That's the whole point! And, if YOU are sitting on a dream/mission of your own, don't wait for perfect. It will never happen. Don't wait for when you are ready. You never will be. Just start. Do it messy. Do it afraid. Do it imperfectly. Just get it out there where it can be a contribution to the world. You can improve and develop it as you go. “Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Martin Luther King Jr. All we need to do, is show up for the next step. That's how dreams come true. One step at a time. It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: BlinkNow Website *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Renewal. Refreshment. New Start. New beginning. This is what was coming up for me as I was listening to the rain outside my window, just before I began to record this episode. I've been working through a financial challenge for about a year now and the rain was bringing up the feeling of longing for a time of renewal, for a new start, for an end to my year long challenge. So, in this episode, I am dealing with myself as I move through the emotions of wanting to be past the challenge, yet still being in the challenge. I bet you have been here before, too. In the middle of a challenge and you can't see how it going to work out. It can feel like we are in a pressure cooker. Like diamonds, which are created by intense heat and intense pressure, the challenges burn away the impurities, the parts of us that aren't helpful to us anymore. I've learned that it's in the pressure cooker of challenges that we experience the greatest transformation in our lives. Life is soooo AMAZING! As I was recording this, life showed up and reminded me that my source of renewal is right here in me. Not in any condition outside myself. Not in a job. Not in a person. Not in a certain amount of money. Life unfolds perfectly for me and for you. It knows just how long we need to remain in the pressure cooker in order to become the people we can be for the world. To be the highest version of myself. That's what I want. I'm sure that's what you want, too. So, I welcome this current financial challenge. There is something the Universe is teaching me through the situation. And, when I emerge...I will be an even brighter light for the world. I'm going to need some better sunglasses! Thank you, Life. ❤️ It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Pencils of Promise Website Episode 7: In the Darkness- Living with Uncertainty *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Courage isn't always those big moments... like Mel Gibson, as William Wallace, in Braveheart, fighting for his country, or firemen rushing in to a burning building to save someone. Sometimes, it's a quiet, softer experience that rests inside you, as you take one more step, make it through one more day. And, some days, it can feel like a gargantuan feat to take one more step and get through one more day. I've been there more times than I can count.  I'm sure you have, too. But, do we know where the true source of courage lies? HINT:  It's not in the head. Our source of courage exists in the same place where true Love is found. From the other worldly place inside each of us where our spiritual essence dwells.  It is not of this world and can only be accessed from this spiritual seat inside us. Actually, everything we are seeking is found there.  It is the source of all things. So, that is where we can tap into our courage when it is needed.  When we must face those BIG scary things. And, when it can be challenging to take just one more step. In this episode, I share what I've come to know about courage. "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, I'll try again tomorrow."  Mary Anne Radmacher It starts with us.  It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele    Links mentioned in this episode: Pencils of Promise Website The Promise of Pencil by Adam Braun The Landmark Forum (The seminar that began my transformation) * I am not an affiliate for anyone.  These are not affiliate links.   The Making Everything Beautiful Website is now live.  Hop on over and check it out!  Join me Live on Thursdays at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!    * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

I had such a frustrating day today! Holy Moly! Something that should have been simple ended up being such an ordeal. Have you ever experienced this? I'm betting you have, if you are human. I certainly don't experience life as being all perfectly smooth days without challenges. Definitely not! Actually, life would be pretty boring without challenges to cause growth in us. Today was just that kind of day! Listen in as I relate how the Universe grabbed me by the collar in the middle of my exasperating experience and what happened as a result. It has a happy ending. I promise. I just LOVE happy endings. 😊 It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Pencils of Promise Website *I am not an affiliate for anyone. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web! Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Reminders. Wake up calls. These are opportunities Life gives us to recalculate and make adjustments. Life loves us that much! It helps us remember what is of true importance. We often get caught up in all kinds of silly, insignificant things that don't really matter in the greater scope of it all. Life just gave me two such reminders in the span of two days. I share these experiences and what beautiful insights they brought to my life. I know they will resonate with many of you. I was reminded of the fragility of our humanity when I received a call that someone I adored passed away that morning. Life also gave me another reminder of our oneness as spiritual beings as I was invited to a 4th of July cookout with my kids, in which their father was also going to be there. Having not communicated with my former husband for over two years, I wasn't sure how that was going to go. Yet, I chose to go and be the space of love. I chose to not see an enemy. But, recognize the Divine essence in everyone, including my former husband. To see myself in the other and the other in myself. Profound, to say the least! Life is soooo AMAZING! It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Pencils of Promise Website Pencils of Promise YouTube Channel Marie Forleo's Interview with PoP Founder Adam Braun The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun   *I am not an affiliate for anyone. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web! Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Do you ever feel like you are inadequate? Like you aren't enough? Ever feel like giving up? What's the point anyway? That's just how I'm feeling as I record this episode. You see, I've been struggling with feeling like I'm not good at podcasting. I'm just a beginner at all this. My equipment isn't the best. I'm still figuring out what in the heck I'm even doing with this podcast. Why would anyone want to listen to me, anyway? At least, that's what's been running through my head today. At this point, I have a choice. To listen to those thoughts and give up. Or, to chose to be reminded of what is true. That it's ok to be a beginner. That no one masters anything without practice. That mastery takes time. It takes doing something over and over and over and over.....more times than can be counted. "The one thing all famous authors, world class athletes, business tycoons, singers, actors, and celebrated achievers in any field have in common is that they all began their journeys when they were none of these things." Mike Dooley When it comes down to it, though, we must remember that there is only one of us in all space and time. There is something truly special that we are each here to contribute. There are no extra people. We each have a place at the table. A part to play in the greater human experience. “There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. " Martha Graham These words inspire and empower me to keep going forward. To keep showing up. To do it one more time. And, one more time. And, one more time. To keep the channel open. To allow my expression to shine forth like the sun. And, by recording this episode, I did it one more time. It starts with us. It starts with love. ❤️ With Much Love, Darlene Michele   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web! Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

Some angels walk around in human form. This episode is a tribute to two real life heroes that I personally know. These angel ladies are a shining example of turning pain into purpose. As Bryant McGill said, "When the storm rips you to pieces, you get to choose how to put yourself back together again." WE choose whether we will be a victim of our circumstances or if we will use our painful experiences to be a space of love for others and help them heal. Listen in as I share the inspiring and beautiful stories of how these ladies embraced their own pain and then turned it into service for others. They are proof that angels, indeed, do walk amongst us. It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Women for Women International Zainab Salbi TED Talk - Women, Wartime, and Dreams of Peace Kute Blackson Website Kute Blackson YouTube Channel You Are The One Book by Kute Blackson *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️ 

These words by Elizabeth Gilbert, brought comfort to me today as I was loving myself through a painful day. "I came here to live a life fully, all of it. And I'll take it. I'll take all of it. I'll take the whole thing. Because, I don't want to have come all this distance to live a human life and miss the experience. So, I just want to show up for the whole ride." Elizabeth Gilbert Life often doesn't go the way we'd like. Some days are great and others, not so much. But, I know that I'd be so bored after a while if every day was a great day. No variety. No growth. Being stuck in a stagnant place inside myself. It's in the valleys of life where we learn how to go deeper. Where we deepen our relationship with the Divine being inside ourselves. While the mountain top experiences are awesome and I totally enjoy them, I want to experience the whole range of emotions. I want to experience the whole human experience. I wouldn't trade a minute of my life. Not a minute. It's all beautiful. Settle in and listen as I share how this Father's Day brought up some old pain that needed my loving attention. It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in today's episode: Healing the Inner Child FB Live The Landmark Forum (The seminar that began my transformation) Super Soul Sunday: Elizabeth Gilbert - City of Girls The Sheri and Nancy Show Podcast: Elizabeth Gilbert- Becoming Love Kyle Cease Website Kyle Cease YouTube Channel *I am not an affiliate for anyone or anything. These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️

It's time, to talk about time. Many of us are not living our life from an empowering perspective of time. There are three kinds of time that drastically impact our lives. They are clock time, psychological time, and Divine time and they are very different from each other. Clock time is what we normally think of when we think of time. What time is it? Our appointments. Calendars. What time we have to be somewhere. Psychological time has to do with past, present, and future. Divine time is the timing of the Universe. Which functions in Its own dimension or realm. It is of the Spiritual realm and has nothing to do with our earthy concept of time. Whichever one we are viewing our life from at any given moment will impact our experience of life. Join me, as we discuss this mind-blowing and fascinating topic. You will never see or experience time the same way again! It starts with us. It starts with love. With Much Love, Darlene Michele   Links mentioned in this episode: Women for Women International Zainab Salbi TED Talk- Women, Wartime, and the Dream of Peace Eckhart Tolle on Time The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Eckhart Tolle Website Eckhart Tolle YouTube Channel Landmark Forum Tosha Silver Website Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver Change Me Prayers by Tosha Silver   *I'm not an affiliate for anyone.  These are not affiliate links.   For more goodness, visit Making Everything Beautiful on the Web!  Join me LIVE every Thursday at 1pm EST on the Making Everything Beautiful FB Page!!   * Intro and Outro song by Tamir Leibovich ❤️