Practicing Radical Self-Acceptance

Written by Barbara Huson

All my life, I’ve been a self-improvement junkie. Show me a seminar touting personal growth and it was like throwing raw meat to a ravenous lion. I’d hungrily pounce on it.

But then, in 2020 when life went into lockdown, removing a myriad of distractions, I noticed something disturbing—how brutally critical I am of me. This wasn’t a new insight, of course, but I began to see how awful it felt.

So, I made a conscious decision. Rather than pushing myself to improve, I decided to practice Radical Self-Acceptance, loving myself, warts and all…especially the warts.

Don’t get me wrong. I still aspire to be better. But I’m finding a remarkable sense of freedom and well-being as I learn to fully embrace my shortcomings and my strengths, my achievements and my failures, without fear or false humility, without shame or recrimination.

The “I” Word

Written by Barbara Huson

One thing I know for sure—Your financial foundation is only as strong as your personal integrity.

The word integrity comes from a Latin root, meaning wholeness or entirety. Integrity demands your words and deeds consistently reflect your deepest truths.

Or, as A Course in Miracles puts it, “There is nothing you say that contradicts what you think or do.”

Whenever you’re settling for less than you truly desire, working at a job you hate, making excuses, rationalizing, spending money you don’t have, not honoring your most cherished values and authentic truths, you’re out of integrity, giving away your power and sabotaging your success.

How the Spiritual Factors into Financial Success

Written by Barbara Huson

Let’s talk about the Higher Work of Wealth—something I believe is missing when we talk about financial success.

The financial media focuses almost exclusively on the Outer Work of Wealth—learning the practical facts, like understanding the difference between a stock and a bond or how to diversify your retirement account.

Granted, we’re seeing more articles, even books exploring the Inner Work of Wealth—overcoming internal blocks, negative attitudes and limiting beliefs we have about Wealth.

But discussions of the Higher Work of Wealth are rare. Though it’s certainly a hot topic in my online community, The Wealth Connection. I believe for most women, the real motivation to create wealth–what keeps us going when resistance rears its ugly head—is not amassing more money.

My Journey Through Fear

Written by Barbara Huson

I don’t know about you, but these past months have cast a dark pall over my positive attitude. I’ve been feeling fragile, fearful, unsettled.

Finally, it dawned on me—somehow, I needed to get quiet enough and surrender in stillness to receive guidance from a higher wisdom.

Almost immediately, a lesson from A Course in Miracles came to mind—You can see peace instead of this.

A Spiritual Truth for Scary Times

Written by Barbara Huson

I’m turning to A Course in Miracles (ACIM) a lot more these days. As many of you know, ACIM is a spiritual text that calls itself “a course in mind training,” and declares its sole purpose is “to restore awareness of the power of the mind.

I may not be able to control the crazy unfolding of current events. But I can use the power of my mind to control how I react to them.

The only way to make prudent decisions during volatile events, my favorite WSJ columnist, Jason Zweig, recently advised, “Is by creating a circle of calm around yourself,”

The Power of Your Mind

Written by Barbara Huson

For the first time in 30 years, I’m teaching a class that’s not about money. It’s based on A Course of Miracles (ACIM), a profound spiritual text.

I believe this book was written precisely for these turbulent, conflict-ridden times. And I’m convinced, if the masses lived by the Course’s message, we’d see a saner world.

ACIM calls itself a course in mind training. It’s stated purpose is “to restore the awareness of the power of the mind.’

“What you do comes from what you think,” the Course explains. “All power is given to you through your mind.”

This is great news. Because your mind is the only thing you can control. I certainly can’t stop the fighting in the middle east, but it doesn’t have to destroy my peace. And this applies not only to global disasters but to daily annoyances.

The Motivating Power of Divine Conviction

Written by Barbara Huson

While cleaning out my files, I discovered a crumpled-up article from the Wall Street Journal, with no date, but faded with age. The subject quickly grabbed my attention.

The reporter asked a bevy of the biggest super stars the secret to their stellar success. What he found surprised him…and fascinated me.

These luminaries—mostly pop singers, pro athletes, and movie stars–gave God all the credit.

Finding Your Highest Purpose

Written by Barbara Huson

Studies have proven that a strong purpose is the secret to longevity. And in my experience, it’s the key to higher earnings.

What if you don’t know your purpose? Here are four places to look to help you find—or refine—your purpose:

1. In Past Pain

I’m not sure our life purpose has to come from pain, but it’s a good place to start looking. What has been your most painful challenge in life?

2. In World Problems

Ask yourself: What is the one problem in the world that you yearn to see solved, and would you be willing to spend the next 10 years of your life working on, talking about, and being part of the solution for?

3. In Childhood Play

As we look back at the tapestry of our lives, it’s easy to spot certain threads that show up in our youth and continually repeat, displaying an unwavering pattern holding clues to our purpose. What did you love to play as a kid?

4. In Secret Wishes

Once, someone asked me whose job would I love to have?” That was easy. Neil Diamond’s. Why? “I wanted to write my songs and sing them.” OK, so I can’t carry a tune. But I’ve managed to write my songs (books) and sing (teach) them. If you could have anyone’s job, which would it be?

It’s also quite possible for your purpose to shift throughout your life. Have you found your purpose? Tell me about it in a comment below.

Living with Uncertainty

Written by Barbara Huson

Transitions are a bitch. And so many in my community are in the midst of one right now. As I listen to their frustration and confusion, I’m reminded of a cartoon:

A frog is leaping from one lily pad to another with a look of sheer terror as he realizes he’s about to miss his target. The caption read: ‘Just when you think you’ve made ends meet, someone moves an end.

That’s exactly how it feels to be in transition—whether it’s a conscious choice (like taking a sabbatical) or an unwelcomed disruption (like being laid off). You’re poised mid-air between the old and the new, wondering “what do I do now?’

I remember my first big transition, back in the 80’s, when I moved from the Midwest to San Francisco…a dream come true. But as soon as I settled in, I felt untethered, disoriented, anxious. This wasn’t what I expected.

Thankfully, I discovered the book Transitions: Making sense of Life’s Changes by Bill Bridges. It was a godsend!

The Gospel of Rumi

Written by Barbara Huson

Yoga class began with the teacher saying, “Hold out your hands to receive something you truly desire.”

As we extended our hands, palms up, he softly quoted Rumi: ‘What you seek is seeking you.”

I, with arms outstretched, stood transfixed.

What if that were true? What if my desire is heading towards me like a heat seeking missile?)? What if (gasp!) I no longer needed to struggle?

It felt farfetched, but during Downward Dog, I made a decision. I’m taking Rumi’s words as gospel truth.

As I sank into Child’s Pose, I remembered a poster that once hung in my office with a quote from Richard Bach: “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true.” Then, in tiny letters: “You may have to work for it, however.”

Spirituality

Practicing Radical Self-Acceptance

The “I” Word

How the Spiritual Factors into Financial Success

My Journey Through Fear

A Spiritual Truth for Scary Times

The Power of Your Mind

The Motivating Power of Divine Conviction

Finding Your Highest Purpose

Living with Uncertainty

The Gospel of Rumi

Meet Barbara Huson

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