Dr. Holden To The Lobby...Dr. Robert Holden To The Lobby, Please

Over 6 years ago after "losing" a job, felt overwhelmed. I called in to speak with the kind heart of Dr. Robert Holden on his weekly Hay House radio show. I had been listening to his weekly show even since attending his lecture at Hay House I Can Do It! in Austin in 2013.  I had heard him imbue such beautiful words of wisdom to listeners, that I knew he would help ease my distress and point me in the right direction. He gave me invaluable advice, changed my perspective from fear to gratitude, and my life has been better ever since.

One of the most profound things he said to me when I told him I lost my job, was that I "handed it in." It really made me consider my responsibility in the situation, and even if it looked like I was fired, in reality, I lost interest in it. I was more driven by my business Suitable Gifts, then in fully giving my heart to the job I had. I was growing spiritually and was more invested in writing, learning, and growing. It was true, I gave it away. 

So what was next? I headed the words of Dr. Holden amidst my fears. When I didn't know how to get through this, he advised me to repeat the mantra "I am grateful for the guidance that is already here." That made me feel wrapped in spirit, that I was never alone, and could lean into them for help. I would walk 3 miles around my subdivision every day repeating that mantra, and thanking all of spirit, who I knew were there to help me. I would say affirmations of all of the things I wanted to connect to including financial security, health, happiness for me and my family, and a deeper connection to spirit. Because of Dr. Holden, I began a gratitude journal. I listed three things a day I was grateful for. It started out simple, and in such a short time the list grew and miracles started pouring in. To this day, I recommend to my Reiki clients to have a daily spiritual practice including gratitude. This and more is all thanks to Dr. Robert Holden. His gift of advice to me, continues to reach so many more.

Although I thanked him on air, and sent him and his family a gratitude box filled with gifts (and a way too lengthy letter), one summer when they vacationed in San Diego, I felt like it wasn't enough to express how much his advice meant to me. I really wanted to thank him in person. It's funny isn't it, these thoughts can mean so much to the individual to express. I knew it was a need in me, not something Dr. Holden was expecting. 

When I learned that Hay House would be coming to Austin for Hay House Live! this past October, I immediately ordered tickets to see James Van Praagh and Colette Baron-Reid, and booked the hotel they blocked out for us. It wasn't until later that I found out Dr. Holden would also be there for his Coach Camp. Dang it. 

As I knew I would meet Dr. Wayne Dyer in 2013, I also knew I would get a chance to thank Robert Holden in person, even if I wasn't in his class. Manifesting is something you feel and believe. I went back in my mind to how I manifested that chance encounter with Dr. Dyer, I didn't know where I would meet him, but I knew I would. I knew what I would say, I knew how I would feel. And poof, there was Wayne Dyer, in front of me after a serious of unexpected events, just coming off the elevator in my hotel.

So, I felt similar about this, even though I wouldn't be in Dr. Holden's weekend workshop, I would meet him and I would thank him. I didn't quite know what that would completely look like, I'm not psychic, but I am intuitive, and I firmly knew I would meet him.

As the conference drew near, Hay House sent out lots of reminders and information of additional fun things going on during the conference. At the bottom of one of the emails they had a completely different hotel than what I had booked so long ago. Was it possible all of the authors and attendees were staying somewhere else? After a moment of despair, I thought, eh, everything will work out as it's intended to. This is all part of the unfolding. I have learned to let go of outcome and trying to control a situation. I have learned to be at ease no matter how things appear, and I have a deep knowing that things are always working out for my highest good.

I headed up the Friday morning before the event to enjoy a day in Houston. On the drive, I prayed as I always do to God, Jesus and my spiritual team about the upcoming weekend. I prayed for a fun time, feeling calm, happy, joyful, for the workshops to be wonderful along with the people I meet, and of course to meet and thank Dr. Robert Holden. I always end with "this or even better." What is possible can be far better than our imagination can picture. It's fun to leave things open to something even more wonderful.

The day was so much fun, visiting Chloe Dao's (from Project Runway) store and treating myself to some of her beautiful fashions, getting my nails done (it's been ages), buying some fabric from a store across from Chloe's shop for a future skirt, and walking, walking, and walking around a fun shopping center. I originally planned to get to the hotel before the 3pm check in. It was already past 3:30, so I decided to head over. It took me awhile to figure out where the front of the hotel was to valet my car, so I circled the hotel several times until I figured it out. Time was ticking by, but I was going there by myself, and the event didn't even start until the next day, but I felt like I should get myself checked in. I have learned more and more to listen to my inner guidance.

I checked in and went up to my room on the third floor. I threw my bags on the coffee table, took some pics of my pretty room and decided to take a peek outside my curtains. It was overlooking the lobby and a central area with a bar, tables and chairs, a perfect place to hang out. Oh my goodness, there he was! Yes, there was Dr. Robert Holden walking in the center of my view with arms outstretched to hug fellow Hay House author Nancy Levin. As I picked my jaw up off the floor, I smiled thinking about how fast this manifested, and how every moment in the day led to this. I grabbed my phone, my room key, and my poor heart pounding out of my chest, and I rushed out of the room to the elevator. Breathe, breathe, breathe, I told myself as I headed down to the lobby. Would he still be there? Relax, relax, relax, if this is how I'm supposed to meet him, he will be there.

Yes, that was how I was supposed to meet him!!! I gently (as gently as I could) interrupted his reunion with Nancy Levin and asked if I could speak with him for a moment. All I rehearsed came flying out of my mouth in a hurried garble. I actually needed to stop myself and breathe, I was so overwhelmed that he was standing right in front of me. Admittedly, all I wanted to say was spoken much smoother, and I was really quite charming, when I had previously rehearsed this in my mind. In person, it took on a life of it's own...oh dear, it was quite messy. But Dr. Holden was so kind, so welcoming, He was as wonderful as I knew he would be. If you have heard him on Hay House Radio, read his books, attended his lectures, or worked one of his courses, you know his is filled with love. He doesn't just teach love, he is love. And that was who I met, love incarnate.

He was so gracious to take a picture with me, and his assistant was kind enough to take it. It's funny, I was trying to say everything as quick as I could so I wouldn't take up too much of his time, but when I looked back on my photos, only 6 minutes had passed from the time I took the picture in my hotel room, until this one was taken. Time felt slowed down during all of this, it was amazing!

If I had kept shopping, things wouldn't have unfolded this way. If I hadn't circled my hotel so many times, none of this would have happened like this. If I had gotten to the hotel less than a half hour later, I would have been in the midst of a flurry of travelers who just came back to the hotel after one of the playoff games with the Astros, and I wouldn't have met Dr. Holden in that way. That is why I know to trust when something doesn't go as planned, or I get stuck in traffic, or something unexpectedly gets cancelled, I know in my heart that things are working out for my best interest. Because of the lessons Dr. Holden taught me, I understand that any seeming obstacle or difficulty has blessings in it. This fills me with a joy, rather than a frustration trying to make everything work out exactly how I think it should be.

The rest of the weekend was filled with seeing Dr. Holden everywhere. And it really made me smile, because it felt like an over the top nod from the Universe. You want to see Robert Holden, Kerri? Oh you are going to see him alright! It kind of makes me wonder what Dr. Holden was aligning with energetically himself, to conjure me all over the place that weekend. He has probably done some serious course correction since (I'm snorting with laughter right now!).

On Saturday morning, I was seated in a room waiting for the first lecture, when a lady sat next to me. She mentioned she forgot her book on her nightstand for James Van Praagh to sign. I thought back to the previous events I had gone to, and how much fun it was to get in the book line, have a moment with your spiritual hero, and have a signed book to take home. There's magic in that signature, a connection to that author. I got up to go buy her a book before the lecture began, and walked down the hallway to where the the books and vendors were camped out. As I got to the end of the hallway, walking perpendicular to me, was Dr. Holden and his assistant. We all shared a smile of acknowledgement and paused our momentum. I said "You really need to stop following me around like this, it's getting embarrassing." We all laughed, they walked to their classroom location and I went to get the book for my new friend. It was that timing thing again, I hadn't intended to leave my seat in James Van Praagh's room, but I did. And I thank the Universe again for that sweet moment.

I didn't bring a book to the hotel lobby when I saw Dr. Holden, I really just wanted to thank him, but I brought one of his books to the venue to get signed over the weekend, and bought a few more at the book stand too. When I was at James Van Praagh's lecture, I thought about when I would see Robert Holden again, maybe I would have enough time after, and he would have a book signing too. No pressure, just a wish to the Universe that some time during the weekend this would happen. Wish, imagine, feel, let it go. 

So after the lecture, and James' book signing, I asked one of the Hay House VIP coordinators where Dr. Holden was having his class. I walked towards the room and the door was closed, and some students were outside of the classroom. They had books to be signed too, so I decided to hang out with them! Soon he appeared and sat down to sign some books. I took pictures for the person in front of me, and they took pictures for me. It was all perfect, and we got to chat and laugh for a little longer. Honestly, it was just so cool!!!

The next day I visited Dr. Holden's classroom one last time, and gave him some kindness tags for his children. It has one of my favorite quotes by Lao Tzu. The full quote is "Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." 

Dr. Holden gave me a big hug, I thanked him again, told him I loved him, and I left for my lecture with Colette Baron-Reid. For me, it felt like coming full circle. I first saw him six years ago in Austin, a few months later I had the job "loss" and his words and kindness changed my life, then six years later I was able to say thank you face to face. There are people who come into your life and make such a profound difference, and being able to say so in person, is such a gift. I am truly grateful. "All this, or even better," it was definitely even better!


Here's some fab books & courses from Dr. Robert Holden:

Books: *NEW - Finding Love Everywhere - Click here
Loveability - Click here
Holy Shift! - Click here
Shift Happens! - Click here

Courses: Shift Happens Online Course: www.hayhouse.com/shift-happens-saying-yes-to-the-next-step-in-your-life-online-course
Loving Yourself Online Course: www.hayhouse.com/loving-yourself-online-video-course

Website: https://www.robertholden.com/


In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

What Fills You Up?

I noticed an event post on Facebook for a spiritual store that I visit. They have some amazing classes such as singing bowl meditations, drum circles, mayan astrology, and numerology, but I had yet to attend one. They were having a Connect To Your Spirit Guides workshop this past Saturday, so I first clicked on "Interested" and then by Friday I fully committed to "Going."

The class was fun, and through the teaching of Twyla, we worked with crystals to feel their energy, did a guided meditation and also automatic writing to connect with our spirit guides. The guided meditation was beautiful, Twyla led us through a lovely grassy field and towards a park bench. Seated, we were to picture our guide coming towards us and sitting with us. Everything looked ethereal in my meditation, white, and mystical. I saw my guide coming towards me and I knew who it was. I recently did a 4-week spirit guides course, and through automatic writing, one of my teacher guides told me his name was "Father Time." That was who was coming towards me. He looked like a wizard, with the hat and robe, all in white and silver. Actually, he looked like the Winter Warlock from Rudolph. You know...

He sat with me and we held hands. I asked him his name. He told me "Frank." After he said that, the clock on the wall in the room started ticking loudly (Father Time). I asked him what he wanted to teach me, he said "wisdom." And the sound of the clock sounded again tic..tic..tic..

The meditation and the automatic writing moved some of the class to tears. It was at times emotional because some of the people who came were grieving lost loved ones. Some of them shared amazing stories of current connections to them, but they were still so sad. There is that longing for the physical even when miraculous moments are happening. One woman told a story of a dragonfly landing her nose. She said to the dragonfly "Joe (her husband) if that's you, come sit on my finger." It landed on her finger and stayed. Her sister sitting next to her confirmed the story. 

After class I had some errands to run. I went to a local shopping center and someone was holding out a sign for Family Christian Store for their going out of business sale. It wasn't on my list, but I decided to go in since I've been looking for a Mother Mary statue. I didn't find her, but when I was waiting on line, this was next to me. Not your typical name...

It was a day well spent. Something I really noticed afterwards was that I went from 10AM until 5PM without eating, and I wasn't hungry. I wasn't shaky or cranky either. That isn't typical for me. I certainly don't recommend going a day without eating, it just happened, and for the first time in forever, I wasn't thinking about food. As I continue on my up and down weight loss journey, I am learning what is going on emotionally with me, so I don't gain it back. On this day I learned that there are other things that can truly fill me up that aren't food. I didn't think that was possible. I had a happy day, learning about something that truly interested me. Learning about the light in all of us, the connections we have to the spiritual realm, and the connection every living being, creature, and plant has to each other feeds me. And they are all zero calories! I was full. 

I am in the middle of a new book right now too. Along with A Course In Miracles, I am reading A Course In Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson. It is teaching me to hand the weight loss goal over to God. I am doing certain activities every day towards that goal. It has been having a profound effect on me. My experience on Saturday showed me that keeping centered around activities that are spiritual and inspiring are where I need to be. This in-person experience was definitely something new for me, and it will be a door I will continue to walk through as I navigate my weight loss journey and my life. 

There are many "easy" go-tos, addictions, and ways to avoid stress and life such as excessive food, shopping, drama, and more, so I wanted to share this as food for thought! What fills you up? If it leans more on the negative or self-destructive side, I can say for certain that there are healthier ways to feed you such as reading, writing, art, walking in nature, taking a class, meditating, being with good friends, or just trying something totally new. Now get out there and feast!

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulern
www.suitablegifts.com

I Am A Student Of A Course In Miracles

Well, that wasn't something I thought I would ever write, but it's true I am a student of A Course In Miracles. Through the recommendation of my good friend Estella, I purchased the book last year. It had been calling to me, but I wasn't quite ready to answer it. It is said to be a channeled book from Jesus. That alone would make someone go hmmmm. It's not that I don't believe in channeling, I have read enough and listened to enough to understand that it is possible, anything is possible. And throughout this spiritual journey I have kept my mind open. But Jesus? That's pretty big! Over 2.2 million copies have been sold worldwide since its publication in 1976, and a majority of the spiritual teachers I follow refer often to the Course, so there must be something to it. 

After holding on to the book for a few months without reading beyond the preface. I just wasn't sure how to use the Course. I felt a bit intimidated. There are three sections to it, the Text, the Manual for Teachers, and the Workbook. The Text has over 600 pages. the Workbook has 365 lessons. While pondering when I would actually start this, and if I would even be able to understand what I was doing, as usual, the answer came. Hollie Holden announced on her Facebook page that she was going to start the Presence of Love Study Group to study A Course In Miracles. I joined right away, and the first lesson was to begin January 1st. It has been a beautiful introduction to the course. Hollie is just so lovely and she gives a daily live lesson on Facebook. She's in the U.K., so I listen to her after the live broadcast, but it is still just as powerful. The group has grown to over 850, with members from all over the world. Any member of the group can post on the page for guidance and support, as well as leave messages of kindness and love. It is a safe place to bare your soul and not feel judged. The lessons can bring up quite a bit of feelings, so it is so helpful to have a supportive group who understands.

Today I am on Lesson 93. I read two pages of text a day, so I will complete that part by the end of the year along with the lessons. I spend 20-30 minutes listening to Hollie's lesson, another 15 minutes reading the text and lesson, and then 15-20 minutes of meditation. This may sound like so much time, but it isn't. I listen to Hollie's video lesson while I'm still in bed trying to wake up (sometimes at the gym when I'm riding the bicycle), I read while I'm drinking my morning coffee and eating breakfast, and I was already meditating every morning anyway. The lesson is also practiced throughout the day. Honestly, I do get busy, so the lesson isn't always practiced throughout the day! I do what I am able to, but the messages are still sinking in. I intend to follow this through for the year and see where it takes me. 

In the beginning I had ups and downs. I definitely had doubts about the whole idea of this. I moved away from organized religion because I didn't feel connected to it. I felt on the outside looking at something I could never be good enough, or perfect enough to feel welcome. Spirituality has felt more all inclusive. There were parts of the readings that have brought me back to that religious feeling. I felt like I was being told to follow this way, as it's the only way. I hadn't felt close to Jesus in a long time as well. I felt a block, a disconnect. I know I created it, but I'm not really sure why. I know it bothered me that I felt like religion was teaching me that the only way to God was through Jesus. I kept thinking, I can talk to Him any time I want to, I don't need to go through Jesus! It felt like another pressure that I had to do things a certain way or I couldn't be close to God. 

Heading into my fourth month of the Course. I feel differently, my heart is opening. I am feeling a change through this daily practice. The Course is a return to love, a return to God. It is an undoing of the destructive thoughts of the ego. It is about true forgiveness of oneself and others. It is the realization that our judgments are blocking us from true vision. Have you ever had this image in your mind of what someone was all about, then got to know them and realized you had made up a story in your mind? Apparently, that's what we are doing constantly. This new journey at times been challenging and fascinating. It has shown me that when I look at another, they are serving as a mirror. How I react to them is mirroring back something that I need to know about myself. When I am being judged, it is a reflection of the one doing the judging and vice versa when I am judging. The truth is, we are all One. Judgment, anger and hatred is not of love (God), it is of fear. 

There is no separation, even though it may appear that way. We are also all a part of God (or Source, Divine Mind, or whatever feels right to you). It can be hard to fathom this when there appears to be so much chaos, evil, narcissism, and hatred going on in the world. But I'm not speaking of the choices of a warped ego, I am speaking of the soul. We are a soul in human form, not a human with a soul. And God loves us unconditionally despite our perceived wrong doings. I know this may dredge up so much of how we have been treated poorly, abused, or judged. It definitely brought it all up to the surface for me. Through the lessons, I realized how much of my time was consumed with the same grievances for the same people or situations day after day after day. This Course is about forgiveness, and that probably is what really kept me from it. I am a work in progress, but the book is helping. What I can say at this point, is it feels much better to let go and forgive, than to hold on to anger and resentment. 

I am not at all suggesting to hang out with the person who harmed you. I am not saying to commend those in the world who do not have the kind and inclusive beliefs you do. If there is a part of you that can suspend the story you've been telling yourself about the other person (family member, friend, boss, political figure, etc.) and imagine that there is something deeper that you hadn't considered that caused them to be who they appear to be, would saying a prayer for their return to love be so hard to do? The thing is, not only can that silent blessing change them, it changes you. That is what it is for, to free you.

And how much do we judge ourselves? We are One, we are the same Divine souls that everyone else is. This prayer by a Benedictine nun sums it up quite perfectly: 

O God

help me to believe

the truth about myself-

no matter how beautiful it is!

Macrina Wiederkehr

Do you know how beautiful you are? Maybe it's time for a re-introduction to you.

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com