Thinking Out Loud

I'm amazed at the power of thought. Change your thoughts and you really will change your life. I was driving to work today dreading the tasks that laid ahead. I haven't, for a LONG time, had a dreadful feeling about going to work. It's not normal for me to feel this way as I'm usually excited to get to the office and attack my day. So what did I do? Well, I simply noticed the dreadful thought and decided to change it. It was that simple. I'm not a fan of arguing with my thoughts--I realize they come and go. I am, however, a firm believer in discarding unwanted thoughts. My thought process goes like this: Thoughts emerge I notice them I bring awareness to them and try to understand their genesis I don't judge them as either good or bad, but I do decide whether it's a thought I want to run with or leave behind If it's a thought I want to drop, I create a new thought to replace the spontaneously generated thought I'm not a fan of lett

Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers." I find it interesting that he didn't simply say, "Blessed are the peace lovers." There is a difference between "loving peace" and "making peace." I don't know many people who love conflict and tension, yet they seem to create it. IMO it is easy to say we are for peace, but harder to remember to work for it. When we find our actions generating anything contrary to peace, we should stop and work for a peaceful resolution. Blessed are those who not only love peace, but also work for it. Blessed are the peacemakers.

I find it highly fascinating that life gives me exactly the circumstances I need to practice and apply everything I'm learning on my enlightenment journey. Recently, I've been studying how our thoughts can change our lives. It's amazing how easy we can ruin our day by the story we allow our minds to make. Since becoming much more Zen, it takes quite a bit to ruffle my feathers. I've become quite strong in areas I was once weak. However, I find it beautiful that life has this perfect way of always taking us to the next level. We get to see that there are still rats in our cellar. My current work position provides me with plenty of trying situations. I'm having to negotiate new relationships, deal with politics, policies, and different personalities. All of it is challenging and not always sunshine and rainbows, but because it is hard, I know it will be worth it. Plus, I've learned that you can't really run from difficulties. What we try to avoid comes up

I love this quote by Henry David Thoreau: If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. I can't stop thinking about the beauty of those who march to the beat of their inner drum. I'm not one for non-conformity just for the sake of non-conformity, but I am for being true to oneself. Too often we do what others tell us to do or what is expected of us. Life is far more fulfilling when we create our own beat and then step in time. Most everyone is familiar with the first part of Thoreau's quote, but I'd be remiss if I ended my thoughts there, for he finished with: Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. I just spent the last hour in our ward's bishop's office. He began by acknowledging all the service and good I do in the ward and asked if I'd be willing to accept occasional assignments from him. He says he just feels like there is so much more good I can do. I told

I tried a new flexibility workout this morning and the instructor pointed out the importance of also maintaining flexibility of mind. Learning to relax and breathe through the stretch is something we can apply to much more than just our muscles. Practicing flexibility mindfully carries over powerfully to our daily interactions, reactions, relationships and thoughts. I love how yoga is changing me. I feel my muscles and mind getting stronger every day. Which reminds me of a talk given in church recently. A lady spoke about meekness. She explained how the root of the word meek comes from the same Latin root for war horse and means power under control. A war horse is an excellent example of power under control for they are expected to ride fearlessly and flawlessly into battle amidst the chaos, confusion, and clamor of war. When we train our minds and muscles to be flexible we become a powerful, in-control, war horse. We can act, not re-act, amidst incoming assaults, from a calm and cen

I think one of the most important discoveries for me this year has been the discovery of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. They are both insanely intelligent atheists committed to educating the masses about the dangers of organized religion. According to Harris and Dawkins, societies should rely on science, not dogma, for their governing principles. Additionally, it has been so refreshing for me to hear intelligent people give voice to some of the very same perplexing questions I have had over the years concerning the Bible, God, and organized religions. What's ironic though is that there was a time--not all that long ago--where, because of what I was taught, I thought I would be hell-bound for listening to these heathens. Entertaining, let alone agreeing, with individuals offering arguments of their nature is programmed into believers as blaspheme. But now that I have expanded my beliefs, I find it fascinating to study and learn from the argument of others. I want to discover ev

Here's a quote by Carl Jung that I love and can relate to: What was great in the morning will be little at evening, and what in the morning was true at evening will have become a lie. I remember reading Gandhi's autobiography and how in the opening pages of his book he confessed his hesitation to pen his thoughts for he feared what he wrote today would not ring true later in his life. I too began a blog over a year ago called Janelle's Journal. I wrote that my purpose was to "Think out loud," and confessed that what I believed today would surely be different from what I believed tomorrow. The evolution of thought is real, especially as we give ourselves permission to drop beliefs that don't support our being and adopt those that feed our spirits. I my evening hours, I'm finding there is very little of which I'm certain. In fact, the only thing I'm certain of is change. I'm especially certain that--over time--my thoughts will change. As I

You will never believe what happened today. Eduard flew in from Spain and we were setting up our studio. As we carried in the equipment we joked about the time Cory dropped the brand new $4500 camera and broke the camera and lens. Sure enough, as we were packing up, Eddie dropped the camera and broke the lens. It really wasn't a big deal. He felt sick and I felt bad about that. I mean it's crummy because it's my personal camera and I'm not going to make him pay for it and so there's that. But people are more important than things so who cares right? I thought nothing more of it and we finished up our preparations for the upcoming shoot. Later tonight Eduard texted me to apologize once again and to thank me for being so awesome. I again told him no worries and to rest well. I trust everything will work out fine. It always does. The new lens is $2,000. Life is funny like that. Oh and as we were walking back to my office--and Eddie was apologizing profusely, I re

I love my new job. It gives me several opportunities to squash my ego. I like to think of my ego as this wild monster whom I stuff into a little box and then sit on top. He's always trying to get out and he hates his little container that I'm constantly stuffing him into. I derive great satisfaction by keeping him at bay, and I am equally amused by its strident attempts to escape! I just finished reading Dr. Dyer's book The Shift. I loved it as much as I love his other works so I had my family watch The Shift last night for family home evening. It's available for free on YouTube because Wayne Dyer is epic like that--he always wanted his content disseminated as freely as possible so that it could bless as many lives as possible. Anyhow, I took notes on ego and I'm pasting them here. I'd like to spend more time caressing these thoughts, but tonight I'm in a crunch so I'll have to come back. But I did a pretty bang up job scribbling down my thoughts in

I have a newfound appreciation and understanding for the word resistance. In yoga, we spend a lot of time stretching because as we increase flexibility and mobility, we eliminate resistance, and resistance, not lack of strength, is actually what makes most poses so difficult. Before becoming a serious student of yoga, I thought my inability to perform certain poses was due to a lack of strength. But as I’ve grown in my practice, I’ve witnessed firsthand the benefits of eliminating resistance. Through increased flexibility, I've been able to achieve poses I never before thought possible. In fact, the more I've eliminated resistance, the less strength I require. Resistance doesn't just prevent us from mastering exceedingly difficult yoga poses, it can also hold us back from pursuing our dreams. Negative thoughts, disbelief, doubts, naysayers, critics, and discouragement are just a few of the many faces of resistance. Like mastering difficult yoga poses, if we hope to "

I've probably already blogged about this movie, but last night I watched it with the kids. They loved it, but hated the ending. I tried to explain the beauty of the story, and while I did succeed in opening their eyes they still preferred an ending where Sebastian married Mia and they both lived happily ever after. La La Land is magical for me because it's ending is life-like rather than fairy-tale. It's a powerful reminder that not all relationships last, but their impact does. I like it's helpful to think of our life like a movie or play. There are acts and actors/actresses who cross our stage. Some have major roles, some only minor, but each plays an important part. Those that we form relationships with become our greatest teachers. They add to the plot by providing, twists and turns, ups and downs, agonies and ecstasies, and trials and triumphs. I have had several relationships already that have positively impacted my play. My former spouse gave me many fond mem

I used to struggle with leaving anything undone. Finishing, for me, was imperative. Perhaps it's because of adages like these: Stick to a task till it sticks to you, beginners are many and finishers are few. Winners never quit and quitters never win. Such sayings surely played a part in my being unable to leave any task incomplete. Finishing, of course, isn't always a bad thing. In fact, every morning I'm grateful I cleaned the kitchen before going to bed so that I don't wake up to last night's dishes. Sometimes, I'll admit, it's terribly inconvenient to make everyone wait till I finish the dishes before we move on to our next adventure, but I'm getting better at being able to leave things unfinished, knowing full well that if it's important, I'll get it done soon enough--and if I don't get back around to it, finishing must have not been that imperative. The problem with thinking everything has a finish, or is simply a task that must b

I need someone who can serve as my assistant. I need someone detail-oriented, reliable, fun, and great with excel. I don't care if they come into the office or work from home, but I do have plenty of work to keep them busy full-time. I need them to do keyword research for our product skus, populate our file feed template, and move images on the graphics server. Once all 6,000 products are optimized, they will assist in managing the storefront and any other tasks I get bogged down with. I want someone who is in it for the long haul. Or at least 1-2 years. I can handle turnover every 1-2 years, but I don't want to invest a lot of time training someone and get them humming along just to lose 'em. In fact, I'm thinking this person could be my assistant. I am throwing out to the universe exactly what I need. I trust the universe. It is always sending me exactly what I need right when I need it. In fact, everything I need is already on its way. I will keep my eyes peeled

Last night was Valentine's Day. I loved the card my lover and significant other gave me. Albeit short and sweet, it touched my soul. Three reasons I love you: Passion for Life Love of Others Integrity of Soul Truer words could not be written. I am passionate. I am love. And I am integrity of soul. It's fun knowing others see it what I believe.

Luke had a dentist appointment after school on Tuesday. Since I was at work, he rode his scooter. Later, I received this message via Facebook from the dental assistant: Janelle I hope this isn’t weird to you. I work for Kip Jones I’m not sure if you’d even remember me. Anyway, I was working today when your not so little Luke came in. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with him. What an outstanding boy you have, incredibly happy, upbeat, positive and respectful boy. I was so impressed by the spirit he carries; not only did I notice but so did the other ladies in our office. I couldn’t help but think “gosh dang his mom is doing something (probably lots of things) right!  Just thought you might want to know how amazing you are and how amazing he is. If you wanna ever mom tutor me, I have three boys and I would be so proud to have my kids behave and have the confidence Luke has. I replied: Oh my gosh! How could anyone think such a thoughtful compliment weird? Your ki

It seems like everyone these days is talking about finding their purpose or wondering if they are living their purpose? I have often wondered the same thing. And I still wonder because I feel like I have some great thing I'm here to accomplish and honestly, I'm still not sure exactly what that one great thing is. In fact, the longer I live the more I realize it's not just one great thing, but many things. And rather than worry about whether or not I'm living my purpose I have taken Dr. Dyer's advice and focused my energies on living my life on purpose trusting that in time my greater purpose will surface. What exactly does it mean to live on purpose ? For me, I feel on purpose when I'm loving and serving others. In fact, nothing brings me greater peace, happiness, fulfillment, and joy than giving my self away in the service of others. Some ascended masters said it this way: She that loseth her life for my sake shall find it-- Jesus The best way to fin

I used to want to serve a mission for my church. That was back when I believed what I had been taught which was that our religion was the only true religion on the earth. I was instructed that it was our duty to share these gospel truths with all the world so that they too may be saved. When I believed that this was the case, there was nothing I wanted to do more than travel the earth preaching the restored gospel to all within earshot. Now that I know that this just isn't so, I have no desire to go. I don't believe that there is only one true religion on this earth. I believe that all religions are man-made organizations designed to help people draw closer to God and accomplish good. All religions contain some beautiful truths--they have to or else no one would be drawn to them. And all religions also contain their own flare and share of the doctrines of men. Additionally, all religions do much good and all religions do their fair share of harm. I favor no one organization ove

I still remember when I first met Dr. Dyer. I took his book Inspiration with me to Lake Tahoe. Reading it was like a baptism by fire. I had been searching for answers and additional truths, and Dr. Dyer provided me with just what I was seeking. I immediately looked him up with great hopes of connecting with him. I wanted to see if I could study under him or pay him to be my mentor. I was disheartened to learn that he had recently passed away (August 29, 2015). I was so sad. How could he be dead when I knew he was perfect for me? Gratefully, I felt his spirit whisper to me that death was not an obstacle for the work we were going to be doing together. He assured me that he would be with me in spirit and that all of the knowledge and training I needed I could get through the study of his books. That is one of the reasons he had meticulously written so many. So I went to the library and checked out every Dr. Dyer book they had available. And for the past 6 months I have p

I'm applying for a position in the new Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. As a part of the application process I had to obtain a letter of recommendation from a spiritual leader or mentor. Here is my letter: To Whom it May Concern, It is my privilege to recommend Janelle Page for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. I have known Janelle for 3 years and have had the pleasure of working alongside her professionally, personally, and spiritually. I currently serve as a spiritual leader in her congregation and have had the privilege of attending numerous presentations and courses taught by Janelle. As a teacher, she is dynamic, enthusiastic, passionate, knowledgeable, stimulating, and kind. Janelle radiates positive energy and her love for others is palpable. She cares about her students as much as, if not more than, her curriculum. This attribute is just one of many skills Janelle possesses that enables her to powerfully impact those she ins

I'm reading a powerful book by Dr. Dyer called The Power of Intention. I love this concept that there exists a universal power source into which we can tap. This power is always available and is the original creative source. By tuning in, or going to our source, we can manifest into our lives anything upon which we set our intentions. The power to manifest really is as simple as setting our intention. And setting our intention is as simple as envisioning that which we want to happen as already being a current reality. I remember the first time I tried this concept. I was struggling to hop into a handstand. After attempting, and failing several times I distinctly said to myself, "I'm never going to be able to do this!" And then I remembered the power of our thoughts--they create our reality. So I quickly corrected myself and said, "I will be able to do this and I intend to do it now." I visualized myself hopping to a handstand. I assumed the feeling of wh

I've been looking for a good charity to donate some money to when this video started to play in my Facebook news feed: It was an answer to prayers. The cool thing is the amount I was looking to donate is the same amount that it takes to sponsor an entire well for a community. How cool to be able to provide clean drinking water to a village! I had originally planned to start my own 501c3 so that I could dispense of my surplus in accord with my beliefs and values. I have been sitting on the paperwork for over a month now and in the meantime worthy causes have sprung up sufficient to suit my needs. So for now, I think I'll give through these other avenues till I have something specific in mind. I am keen to participate with several humanitarian organizations like Mercy Ships and CamFed . I was taught the principle of tithing from my youth and giving a portion of your increase is something I believe in. I don't believe you have to give it to a church to be in good sta

I've been toying with the idea of attending a mindfulness and meditation retreat for some time, but have shied away because I worry that I won't be able to tolerate sitting still for long periods of time. Additionally, I worry that I won't like it. So I started reading a pamphlet that dispels the myths surrounding mindfulness and meditation. All of the points are good, but here are just a few that I found particularly poignant: Practicing mindfulness isn’t about zoning out. It’s about zoning in. You train yourself to pay closer attention than you might normally be used to, and this kind of focus rubs off on the rest of your life . It can actually help you to get into “the zone” and stay there longer. Meditation practice need not be tied to any belief system. The only necessary belief is not a dogmatic one, but one that says each of us has the capacity to understand ourselves more fully, and to care more deeply both for ourselves and for others. Its methods work to fre

Tonight we attended the Killers' Concert and there were many lessons I learned: 1) I give because I can and because I want to. On our walk from the Joseph Smith Building to the Vivint Arena we were skipping and a gentleman joined in while singing "We're off to see the Wizard." It was endearing. We asked him what he was up to and he proceeded to admit that he was homeless and living in a tent. He explained that he was actually in need of $28 for an application. I told him that I just so happened to have $30. I pulled out my wallet and gave him $30 plus $5 for good measure. He was positively delighted. I know some wondered why I would give to him and whether it was really legit, but honestly, I don't care what he does with the money for "Ask and ye shall receive." He is my brother and he is not as fortunate as I when it comes to currency. So I shared my surplus. And as we waited for the light to change, I noticed a beggar in a wheel chair. His sign sai

No this post isn't going to be about yoga, even though I have a not-so-secret obsession with it. This post has to do with being willing to bend. Have you ever met someone who is rigid in their opinions? They are always right, and they have a hard time considering any one elses's viewpoint. Rigid, inflexible people aren't that fun to be around. Being inflexible isn't healthy. Just think about it: We are born bendy. :) Babies are so flexible. Think of how much better you can take a fall if you aren't brittle? Learning to walk could be downright dangerous if you weren't a bendy baby. Old people that are stiff fall and break their hip! Perhaps there is a lesson in that. . . you were born bendy and when you die you are stiff. I believe that one of the secrets to a long and--if not long--at least happy life is to remain flexible. Realize that there is no "ONE" right way. There are many ways. ALLOW others to walk their way so long as it doesn't ha

Words of wisdom for any parent, boss, or leader: Demand Less, Encourage More. The more we allow (I love that word) others to do their thing, the more joy and creativity they bring to the task at hand. I don't like to work for, with, or around demanding people, why then would anyone want to work for, with, or around me if I'm demanding? Demanding less of myself and others while encouraging more has provided me with so much personal peace and harmony. It is so liberating to not care what others think. It's also so rewarding to watch my children grow and develop. Each is unique. Twould be a crying shame, not to mention mighty ignorant and arrogant, for me to try to mold them into becoming only that which I felt would best reflect on me. I want to make as little demands on others as possible. Instead, I want to encourage everyone in their various endeavors. What exactly would I encourage others to do? I'd encourage them to pursue their own truths and let got of limit

The weather is gorgeous today! I have been cleaning the garage and took Thor on a walk. I basked in the warmth of the sun mid winter. I passed a neighbor and mentioned how much I loved the weather today and then I caught myself saying how I shouldn't enjoy it so because we needed the snow. After exchanging a few more words I walked on and thought, "Nature knows it needs to snow why should I worry?" And with that thought I decided I would no longer qualify my enjoyment of the day with the statement about how we shouldn't enjoy it so because of our need for snow. Nature knows. If we need more snow, we will get it. I trust in the universal life force to supply just what we need when we need it. Everything is always as it should be. If there is a drought, Nature has a mighty fine reason. If there is a hurricane that wreaks havoc on the coast, Nature is serving its purpose. Our job is to go with the flow and hopefully, enjoy it as it goes. So grateful for this awaren

What if we saw everyone as a marvel? What if the word weird were replaced with marvelous? My heart marvels to think how the world would transform if everyone treated one another as a wonderful, marvelous, miracle. I love these thoughts by Pablo Casals: When will we teach our children what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your cunning fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel And when you grow up can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? May we teach and treat each other as the marvels that we are!

Hurry! Such a stressful word. I can't think of one good thing that comes out of being in a hurry! As a young mother, I learned quickly that trying to hurry my kids only resulted in tears for them and frustration for me. Simply hearing or saying the word "hurry" causes anxiety to well up inside. I'm making a conscious effort to not use the word hurry. And I'm trying not to hurry myself nor others. When I hurry, I stress. When I hurry, I miss out on the beauty that surrounds me. When I hurry, I focus on outcomes and I'm more inclined to run over others. I forget to enjoy the journey and I miss out on the power of now as I hurry right on through it. There is great wisdom in slowing down, taking your time, being present, and ever mindful . Goodbye hurry and goodby hectic. Hello sanity, awe, and enlightenment! p.s. I'm finding that hurry can be eliminated with proper planning. I don't need to "hurry" across the street when I'm patie