the-java-times

Anvil or Hammer? Or something More?

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:37:02 +0100

In this world man must either be anvil or hammer.

~Henry W. Longfellow

Now I adore Mr. Longfellow and have ever since grade 11 when my English teacher introduced us to the genre of Romantic Literature. Loved it so much in fact that I studied it again in University.

Still, I came across this rather famous quote the other day and had a bit of a thought bubble freaking explode over my head.

I mean, I get what he's saying here.

The hammer is the tool used to strike whatever is being created at the time. An anvil is meant to bear the brunt of the hammer, to transfer the energy of the strike to whatever is being forged.

Both are important and needed. There is quite a few who mention the two in speeches and quotes because these tools were really important in humanity’s history.

Edwin Markham is quoted as saying “For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvils, bear - when you are the hammer, strike.”

We heard from Emily Dickenson that “It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”

What I noticed missing from this lovely metaphor - what is being forged. And yet that is rarely mentioned.

They all believe you are either the hammer-the one striking; or the anvil the one being acted upon. I think they may have missed something. A different option.

At some point you can also liken all of humanity as the steel being forged and shaped can you not?

Let's face it we are always changing, getting tempered as the steel does by life's lessons and changes. We are being acted upon by external and internal forces as the hammer does to the steel.

What do you think? Are you an Anvil, Hammer or something more being forged by the trials and joys of life? And just what are you becoming?

Who's writing your story?

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:47:09 +0100

They say life is mirror and you get reflected back what you put into it.

Makes sense right?

Except when you try to be really great, focus your energy on the postitive and live with compassion and kindness and then S#!* still happens.

What gives right?

Look no one ever said that things would be easy. The deal is this...it can always be a lot worse and you can get stuck there, on that page of your life, much longer than you have to be.

I love the image of life being a book, the story of your journey. For someone like me it's a no brainer. I love to read and often fall in love with the characters of a really good story.

Somewhere I read a quote about making sure it was me who was in control of the way the story played out. I hold the pen. Still, a story needs some excitement and life surely complies.

The thing is bad stuff does and is going to happen. Sometimes it's because we goofed, sometimes it's a lesson we still need to learn, sometimes people will hurt you and sometimes bad stuff just is. No matter that. Keep in mind that in your life story...or your life pages as my good friend Deeone Higgs calls it...pages turn. Chapters close and begin anew.

You can survive it, you can grow from it and you will become the person you want to be if you let yourself.

You can only own your own life story, your own karma. Without the darker times we would never learn what an amazing thing it is to shine out light out into the world.

Who's writing your life story?

Things are Wonderful

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:06:40 +0100

This weekend I was blessed by conversation with Eleanor Ross of www.eleanormross.com   I have to say I ended up with 4 pages of things to reflect on.

I hope you've had time to listen to the replay. Leave us your comments and questions below this post.

For those that registered Eleanor asked me to add this link to her book (which is FREE by the way) entitled Women On Purpose.  Being me I had to grab a copy also and boy am I glad I did. It fits beautifully into Coffee with Soul.  In it's covers (does that still work with ebooks? lol) you'll find a number of lovely ladies sharing their own reflections on finding their own life purpose.

Even if you didn't register I have to share it with you...yup..it's that wonderful.  http://www.eleanormross.com/lifepurpose/women-on-purpose/

Things have really been so wonderful with this series I have to tell you I have begun to look forward to these calls because I too get so much from them. Please share with me what you found helpful, enlightening and inspiring. Let me know what you want to know more about.

You can leave a comment below the post or you can join me on the facebook fan page. I just created this page so that we have a place to gather and discuss, share ideas or what have you. Please join me by liking the page and saying hello!

The nice part about that page is I will make announcements there too regarding upcoming calls, put reminders and links to some of the offers that the speakers often have. Add in a community of people who are life long learners and who share the same mindset around personal and spiritual growth and we are looking at creating something amazing.

Keep well,

Upcoming Call with Eleanor Ross

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:59:01 +0100

Our next speaker is new to the series, but she is not new to helping women let go of the self-imposed roadblocks that keep them stuck!

Eleanor Ross will be talking about those who have experienced painful or abusive relationships and how they can release the emotion from the experience.

I love this statement from her website! It really tells you a lot about the warm and supportive person that she is.

"For the last 15 years I have been searching, testing and living ways of accelerating my evolvement, my success and understanding why I succeeded, why I failed and why I became stuck.
I have trained in energy healing, self development, intuitive development, sometimes the real woo woo stuff but mostly the grounded, practical techniques of embodying being who I know I am meant to be."

Register for the call right now to get the call-in details.

The date: June 16, 2012
Time: 10 am (PST)

'See' you on the call.

Let The Day Happen

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:07:34 +0100

Let the day happen, by letting go of the hurry.

Why are you in such a hurry? Do you know?

It seems as a general rule people today are in a state of ‘I need it now’. Go, go go!

Instead, take a moment, breathe deeply, relax.

Do this right now. Close your eyes, take a couple of breaths and slowly let go of the hurry.

Too many of us are living either in the past or the future and we are missing out on our today. We have lost the art of living in our here and now and experiencing the joys and beauty contained within the moments.

Feel your feelings right now. Accept the gifts of this moment.

Let the day happen.

There is no point in fretting over problems we cannot solve; instead focus on solving today’s problems. On the steps you are taking right now.

Trust that you are right where you should be to learn the lessons you need. You are where you have been going to work on your own healing and understanding.

Let the day happen.

Be here right now, where you are. Look around, breathe it all in. Tomorrow will come no quicker or any slower if you worry about it. This moment is what you have to enjoy. Find the joy in it.

Trust that by being here today, you will find what you need for tomorrow.

Bonnie Copeland
www.RivendellCoaching.com
Personal Growth Coach and Mindset Mentor

Welcome to The Java Times

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 21:45:55 +0100

We just can't get enough can we?

Some days you just really want to kick back with you favorite beverage (hot or cold) and read something just as yummy.

You want to be inspired, motivated and have the words touch you.

You want the same things you get from the coffee with soul chats!

Many of our upcoming contibuters you may have already heard on the Coffee with Soul Chats in fact. Some you may have not heard...yet!

Be sure to subscribe to the RRS feed or bookmark us so you don't miss out.

I look forward to more discussion and sharing.

Blessings and love,

Bonnie Copeland
www.RivendellCoaching.com
Personal Growth Coach and Mindset Mentor