Refiners Fire

During life's journey of ups and downs it' can be difficult to appreciate the challenges, especially when we are so "in it." However, if we take the time to appreciate the challenge and step back we then have the opportunity to feeling the blessing of the challenge and the growth opportunity that it offers us. It's similar to the idea of the refiners fire. In order to purify metal, the procees requires the metal to be passed through extreme heat in order to remove it's imparities. Once the process is completed the end result of a stonger and purified metal is achieved. The difficulty is looking at the outcome while in the fire and being in appreciation for the muck life. There is a line in the movie Steel Magnolies that says, "what doesn't kill you, can only make you stronger."

In the discovery weekend of Ike Pono Vision Quest the opportunity to recognize the pattern's or our thought process that we find ourselves in on this journey of life are availalble. These tools are presented so that when we do find ourselves in the refiners fire we have the ability to step back and make different choices thus effecting our results.

What lessons have you learned during the process of the refiners fire?

Just 2%

We just completed another successful weekend here on Maui. I am so appreciative of the level of connection within the participants in only 2 1/2 days. A common thread in the past two classes that seems to be developing is the idea of change. When I think of change, my mind automatically sees the end result which can be so big that it becomes daunting to even start the task. For example, if I decide to lose weight or start a health program, I become daunted with the idea of hours in the gym, losing 20 pounds, not being able to eat ALL the types of food that I want. As a result I get so wrapped up in the enormity of the situation that I give up before I've even started.

What I have learned is the idea of 2%. If I can make a shift of just 2% and be in the that 2% more things will shift. For example, I say I want more peace as I experience life. I then make a conscious effort to stay in that "peace" of mind frame 2% more my life can and will make a difference for me.

Just 2%!!!!