I've been growing through a sucky time lately. 

More honestly, I have been wallowing and feeling stuck.

I poured a lot of time, energy, money and heart into building my Home Organizing business. The past two months have been filled with networking events, calls, coffee dates, social media, my first ever $$$ magazine ad, etc.

And... crickets.

It sucks.

Admittedly, I have an overenthusiastic heart and a lofty visionary mind.

I believe with clear intention and devoted action our dreams take flight.

And sometimes I forget about Divine timing and Grace. 

I get impatient and frustrated and doubtful

Especially when I don't see results from my tireless efforts.

I am 56 years young, and have spent most of my life being true to my heart

in a world where this is not always popular or encouraged.

The good news is there is something pure and liberating about staying true.

The challenging part is sometimes thriving in the material world sucks.

It's time to tune inward more.

I know conceptually that God is my partner and CEO.

Whenever I talk to my Higher Self it assures me all is on course.

But, too much time on my hands leads to stinkin' thinking.

In this time of not contributing my gifts in the world, I've been dwelling on my extra weight, disconnect in my body, and a need to do something about it... while also wrestling with my lack of desire, even resistance to exercising

and giving up my late night comfort treats. 

I've made progress by starting exercise classes at the Community Center, swimming and going for night walks again now that it's cooling off.

But I don't have a great attitude about it... because again,

I am not seeing the immediate results my ego demands.

Patience grasshopper, patience.

My Higher Self is here now.

Thank God.

I'm sharing this with you today to let you know it's Okay.

Whatever you are growing through, it's Okay.

Life is complex.

We are complex as humans.

Our Soul is simple.

Its words are coming through now...

It's okay my dear.

You are exactly where you need to be.

Being exactly what you need to be.

Experiencing exactly what you need to experience.

Trust the process.

Patience little one, patience.

We've got you and this.

All of your needs are met.

It takes time to build something.

You are not alone.

We are right here with you.

Keep the faith.

Keep on keeping on.

Build your connection with us and your body.

Keep up your efforts as an aspiring entrepreneur.

Use this time to tune in.

Be the Love you are.

Good things are coming. 

Trust yourself and the process.

We love you.

Aaaah, that helps so much!

Thank you Amazing Soul.

If life is sucky for you now, drop me an email and share about it.

Or be brave and post your struggle publicly

so others can support you and know they are not alone too.

I did this a few days ago here and half of the burden lifted in expressing.

The loving kindness that came back to me was icing on the cake.

Bottom line, dare to share. 

Also, talk to your Higher Self

About anything and everything.

Infinite support is available when we tune in.

Be kind and gentle with yourself

wherever you are on the journey.

Now is the time for Love.

In closing, pretty please read the poem at the end of this.

I found it in the thick of my despair earlier this week.

It was soothing balm for my breaking-open heart.

In tender loving,

Teri Jo

The obstacle is the path.

~Zen Proverb

TED Talk: Why Comfort will Ruin your Life (12 minutes)

No matter who we are, life is going to put us through the changes we need

to go through. The question is: Are we willing to use this force for our transformation? I saw that even very intense situations don't have to leave psychological scars, if we are willing to process our changes at a deeper level.

~Michael A. Singer, The Surrender Experiment

TED Talk: How to Grow and Why it Sucks (19 minutes)

You are not broken, you are in pain and pain passes.

In fact, it doesn’t just pass, it leaves you with super powers you didn’t

have before. A new depth of character, an ability to relate, to move people.

An increased empathy. And a fearlessness that comes from knowing

that the last thing that felt like dying didn’t actually kill you. 

~Matthew Hussey

The ORGANIZED Corner (NEW)

This is where I share about my Home Organizing business - a tip or trick,

a client story, a win or struggle as a soulo business owner.

NEWS: One of my favorite Organizing Supplies are Smart Design Cabinet Storage Shelf Racks. Great for doubling shelf space. 2 pack on Amazon is $29 or find them at Marshalls, TJ Maxx or HomeGoods for a 3rd of the price!

Got clutter? Paper piles? An overflowing inbox? Not enough time?

Call me at 310-907-6846 to book your free consultation

terijowheeler.com

The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle

to our acting. The impediment to action advances action.

What stands in the way becomes the way.

~Marcus Aurelius (2,000 years ago)

Meet my dear friend Rumi Tsuchihashi. I was blessed to meet Rumi 10 years ago when I became part of a small circle of 4 women in Seattle that met monthly for healing, inspirational sharing and loving support. When I left Seattle, Rumi and I stayed in touch, often through writing. Her tender heart and soothing words have nourished me on many occasions over the years, especially when I was going through challenging times. I always feel seen, understood and valued by her, and I treasure our connection and friendship.

Rumi has an incredible gift for writing and expressing from and to the heart and soul. She sends a weekly-ish newsletter called Nudge that is poetic, heart-tickling and slice of lifey. The way she writes reminds me of how angels speak to each other... here on earth, about the simplicity and complexity of life here - in bite-sized chunks. You can subscribe to her newsletter here. In addition to being a brilliant writer, creative wonder, and fellow sister traveling on the healing and growing path, Rumi is also a wonderful mom to two awesome teens, Reina and Kai, and their new puppy! Find out more about Rumi here.  

When you acknowledge your story, warts and all, its beauty—

and a clear sense of direction and priorities—rise up to meet you.

~Rumi Tsuchihashi

Series Rec: Never Have I Ever (so good!)

Blessings and burdens are not mutually exclusive. 

~Ryan Holiday

One day, the mountain that is in front of you will be so far behind you, it will barely be visible in the distance. But the person you become in learning to get over it? That will stay with you forever. And that is the point of the mountain. 

~Brianna Wiest

SONG: 'Everything Sucks' by Vaultboy

I woke up this morning

to discover that I had

been gutted by depression.

I felt so hollow

like a house

whose walls still

stood after a fire

came and stole

everything inside.

As I shuffled around

in my great emptiness

I couldn't even cry

turns out that

depression even

took my tears.

I walked across

my heart and

noticed that the

blaze had removed

the worn-out carpet

and revealed a lavish

hardwood floor.

I could hear

the sound

of my footsteps

echo off the charred

walls of my poor heart

but this time

my steps

didn't sound

like stomps or

patters.

Instead

every time

I took a stride

I heard

someone whisper

"Hallelujah"

I turned around to

see who said it

nobody was there

I took another step

and heard it again

"Hallelujah"

This time I felt

my lips move

turns out

I was the one whispering.

I continued to march

around my vacant heart

and with every stride

I took the word went

from a whisper to more of a shout

step - Hallelujah...

step - Hallelujah!

step - Hallelujah!!

Before I knew it

I was dancing

and my feet became

apostles of my survival.

Yes, the invisible fire

of my melancholy

had taken everything

while I slept

but in doing so

it helped me

turn the empty space

that remained

into a stomp-and--holler

revival church of my resurrection.

Step-"Hallelujah!"

I'm still here

Step -"Hallelujah!"

I will not be destroyed

Step -"Hallelujah!"

I am endless

Step-"Hallelujah!"

I will survive

Step -"Hallelujah!"

Do your worst

Step-"Hallelujah!"

I won't stop dancing

After an hour or two of

being slain in the spirit by

the bopping - twirling - prancing - boogying

of my recovery

the walls of my once scorched

heart were now covered in speakers

that were amplifying my high-stepping.

Every step -"Hallelujah!" I took

shook my neighbor's windows

~let them call the police~

Above me I saw angels

holding spinning disco lights

~putting my survival

in the glittering spotlight.

Depression had

emptied me out

this morning

but it never

considered

that I would take

the empty space

it left me with

and turn it into

a chapel of gyrating hope.

Step -"Hallelujah!"

Step -"Hallelujah!"

Step -"Hallelujah!"

I'm still here

I'm still here

I'm still here

~John Roedel