Inspiration | Loving Life Blog

On a Secret Mission Sent from God… November 13, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Health,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:24 am
Tags: Dr Dan, Dr Phil, healing heart, Love, rusty wells, secret mission, Urban Flow

The last nugget from the rocking-out-of-this-world yoga class with Rusty Wells earlier this week was when we were laying on the right side after Savasana (dead mans pose) at the end of the class, instructed to reach high up with our left arm and easily pull down something precious that we for any reason earlier in life had removed from our heart, and bring it back down and put it back in place.

This something precious could be love for someone who had hurt us, or made us insecure or unsure… Maybe this special someone is truly sent on a secret mission from God – (s)he just don’t know it yet, and maybe just need some extra love.

Read this slowly again. And maybe also follow the instructions – reach for something way up, and bring it back to your heart. Think of someone in your life who this would apply to. How could you reach out to him or her, and maybe extend some special care. A touch of love. Let them know they matter.

I know – it can be difficult. But imagine the impact. Imagine the impact of this yoga class let alone. The room was PACKED. It wouldn’t surprise me if we were 150 people in the room. Everyone had given himself or herself the gift of being there – with the result of feeling filled with energy, love and gratitude. Feeling alive and renewed in every cell after a challenging class. Imagine the ripple effect when each and one of them went home and acted on that message. Even if they didn’t, even if they just took the message to heart and found piece with themselves – that will show and rub off.

Coincident or not – I had had a conversation with a friend the day before who shared when he had come home from work after a bad day being in a very bad mood, and his girlfriend had approached him with a big hug expressing how “courageous” she thought he was. Immediately he felt better, and then asked “where did you get that from”? With a guilty expression she had said “Dr. Phil” – and he felt totally cheated. With a smile. Cause it worked!

Rusty Wells ended the class with an invitation to a workshop at the studio tomorrow Sunday November 14 on Bhakti and Transformational Heart-Based Healing, led by Dr Dan. According to Rusty, “better than Dr. Phil”. 😉

Spreading the L<3VE,

Johanna

Are we maybe all on a secret mission sent from God?

And by the way – when we talk about God, it is always God of our own understanding. What ever that is. Even my dear dad, who resigned from church in Sweden, would have had a tear in his eye and resonate with this.

Notes to Self: November 7, 2010

Filed under: Health,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:08 am
Tags: biking, breaks, Celebrating Change, Downward facing dogs, International Museum of Women, Keeva Acappella, Singing, Urban Flow Yoga, Wall Street Journal, yoga

1) Don’t you ever dare even thinking about quitting something that you gain so much energy and joy from. Love singing. Love these people. Free the time to do it.

The acapella group Keeva has resumed from the summer break and is now putting a set together with new world music. Groovy.

Celebrating Change IMOW

Last performed at the Celebrate Change! event at the Metreon in San Francisco, a fund raiser event for International Museum of Women exhibiting stories of change. And, yes, we can do it for you too! Email: keevasf at gmail.com.

Inspired by Tom Shadyac, I took my second hand bike to rehearsal for the first time… over the hill. Filbert street is at one point the most steep street in San Francisco. Union street that I took is parallel. Coming over the top, I realized that my bike probably is 5^th hand… the breaks were no good.

2) When buying a bike – always test the breaks in steep hills. Fast forward – can do that! Fast downhill – without breaks – not so much. And yes, I had a feeling, so I tested it early – but the thought of it…

Downward facing dog however – I love that! Urban Flow Yoga has been written about in Wall Street Journal – being the best place for downward dogs in San Francisco! Can’t more than ditto that.

Maybe one day, the International Museum of Women will exhibit all the change created by the yogis at Urban Flow Yoga, much thanks to it’s practice led by Rusty Wells. It is plenty. Amazing small and big stories with ripple effect. To be told…

With love,

Johanna

Good Morning Sunshine November 6, 2010

Filed under: Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 1:01 pm
Tags: Blog, global, Good morning starshine, Lasse Kühlers, Naturstigar, San Francisco, sun rise, Sweden

…come say hello!

As I wrote the title, the song came to my mind… and looking it up – little did I know that I had been singing the wrong lyrics all my life!

That is what happens. In Sweden. At the dance school. The instructions by Lasse Kühler in preparation for the shows were “Sing along – if you don’t know the lyrics – make it up. Sing the Norweigan national anthem!”

I got an invitation Thursday morning from my dear cousin in Sweden, to send her a photo of my sunrise so she could post on her blog http://www.naturstigar.se (Nature’s paths), to include in the post Sweden vs. San Francisco.

A couple of days later, below are the photos I took this morning. Check out her site to see the one from Stockholm. AND – what does yours look like? Share with us in a link to your tweet, facebook, flickr (or whatever you use!) in our comments!

We will reflect your sunlight and twinkle back right to ya!

Have a lovely day.

Johanna

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hair Cast – Good Morning Starshine Lyrics

La da da da , da da da , da da da , da da da da da
da da da, da da da, da da dad a, da da da da da �.

Good morning starshine
The earth says hello
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below

Good morning starshine
You lead us along
My love and me as we sing
Our early morning singing song

Gliddy gloop gloopy
Nibby nobby nooby
La la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba
Nooby abba dabba
Le le lo lo
dooby ooby walla
dooby abba dabba
Early morning singing song

Good mornin’ starshine
There’s love in your skies
reflecting the sunlight
in my lovers eyes

Good morning starshine
so happy to be
My love and me , as we sing
Our early morning singing song

Gliddy gloop gloopy
Nibby nobby nooby
La la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba
Nooby abba dabba
Le le lo lo
dooby ooby walla
dooby abba dabba
Early morning singing song

(music interlude)

Can you hear me?

Singing a song
Loving a song

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I AM = AMAZING October 16, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 8:43 am

“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”
— Peter Straub (Shadowland)

Tom Shadyac, Film Director and inspired High School Students

That quote was referred to in the last answer Hollywood director Tom Shadyac gave the group of high school students who asked “If there is one advise for life that you would give, what would it be?” Do not listen to your surrounding saying you can’t be this or you can’t be that. Ask yourselves: What do you love to do? What do you want to do? What is the theme of your life? Make sure they line up.

I couldn’t more than agree. I am in awe after having been to the SF Premier and pre-screening of Tom Shadyac’s latest award winning documentary “I AM”, presented by the Compathos Foundation at the Hub SoMa last night.

This movie brings up very important questions right now: What is wrong with our world? What will we do about it?

Dalai Lama’s direct answer to the question was: “Critical thinking followed by action. Figure out where your talents will make a change. Focus on that talent that makes your heart sing, because then other people will follow.”

People think “I am within” – but that is not what is happening. What you think, who you are, what you put out there – your whole being, impacts the rest of the world. It’s scientific. “We are not separate. Nothing is separate. There are no separation fundamentally.” Institute of Noetic Sciences

And that my dear friends is becoming more and more obvious. Even at the most subtle levels. Are you feeling it? Are you seeing it?

Mark your calendars for February 2010. As Tom added to a comment in the Q&A afterwards about the need of more humor in the communication of these questions: “Absolutely, we need to walk lightly. The humor hits the gut and we feel it. We get it.” That is true for this movie. Go see it.

Starla Sireno, Founder Fearless Women Entrepreneur Network, Tom Shadyac, Hollywood Blockbuster Film Director, Johanna Nilsson, Founder Herringbone

Film savy person said: “I didn’t like any of your other films but this one. I liked this one.”

My comment would be “I haven’t seen any of your other films – but I LOVED this one!”

Tom Shadyac said “This is different. This is my story.”

And what my (Johanna’s) calling is, is to bring fourth your story. I am sure it is equally powerful, in so many ways.

Johanna Nilsson
Herringbone – Get heard

*Herringbone is a San Francisco/Stockholm based company that provides coaching and social media consulting for clients who want to make their voices heard and create a profound impact in this world. The long-term vision for the company includes a social media based platform that will enable and capture historical journeys of change worldwide.

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Strong + Independent = Intimidating ? October 15, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 9:22 am
Tags: Ainbusk Singers, älska mig, Björn Andersson, complementary personalities, initmidating, love me, playing small, strong and independent gals

OK – I realize that I have a few loose ends hanging now from previous posts, stay tuned – I will follow up on those too. If I could, I would write full time, given the amount of content processing in my head… So to the subject of today:

At the last two events I have been to, I have heard the similar message coming out of the blue – and yesterday I got curious to hear what other people would say, so I posted the following on twitter and facebook:

Guy friend stated that guys are intimidated by gals who are strong and independent. Would you agree?

8 tweets and 14 comments later – this is what I got:

Yes: 3 (2 twitter/1 facebook)

No: 1 (1 twitter)

Only weak guys: 4 (1 twitter/3 facebook)

Depends: 1 (facebook)

The answer “depends” stated something worth thinking about for many “strong and independent” gals:

It depends what you are strong against and who you are independent from. Relationships are about a kind of complementarity and sometimes you need to help the other see where you would like him to fit in your life. But for that, you need to make room first 🙂

Now, my comment to that is: room might actually be made – but it also needs to be communicated in a way so that it is understood and felt prioritized.

I can give you a clear example from my very first relationship back in the days. I was then, probably like now ;O, involved in a dozen of different things – there was school, dance, the competitive choir, the student association project 1, the student association project 2…, my family, grandma, the personal development course, friends, and ALL other time was free available and unscheduled for me and my boyfriend. In my mind. He didn’t quite see that.

Hopefully I have learnt my lesson, but the fact that someone who barely knows me now points out just that, makes me wonder. OR it is just a very common phenomenon.

To go back to the original question – I do believe that some guys may be intimidated by perceived strong and independent gals. Also looks. And in those cases I think a big mistake is done. I know that we have all strong and weak sides. What if we perfectly complement each other!? What if we all cherish, love and appreciate our – and others – strong sides, while being aware and allow for exploring, strengthening, playing with the weak…

I don’t know about you all – but I am starting to get tired to play small in many situations. And the more I speak to people, listen to people, coach people, and see the gems that are there inside… gotta bring it out guys and gals. Focus on the good stuff. In all occasions. Each and one of us have a gift. Complementing someone else.

So Eva – you asked the question what I think. That’s it.

I’d like to share this song with you all. Read or sing it also as a message from and to yourselves. It’s called “Love me”, music written by Benny Andersson from ABBA – the next version below has the English subtitles – I just couldn’t resist this one. For a few reasons… till the end.

Here is the song with English subtitles.

And… this is the last input I got on facebook – thanks Lior – let’s join the song! 🙂 What is there to be afraid of anyway?

Peace out ;),

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I met Yoda! October 1, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:43 pm
Tags: caoching, dreaming room, johanna nilson, Michael E Gerber, yoda

Help you I can, yes. -- Yoda

I met Yoda! At which Starbucks is that possible, if not the one in Presidio Park by Lucas Film Institute.

The fact is – I actually had to ask which movie he was in. Yes I know – it’s chocking. I haven’t seen Star Wars. I tried to – a video night in Geneva, with a French voice over. We all fell asleep.

My partner in crime initially and predecessor in my current role when working with Michael E. Gerber on his social media, Cindy Lin, believes that Michael is like Yoda.

I wouldn’t know. But I know Michael, and I am about to meet him next week to participate in his Origination Dreaming Room Facilitator Certification Program. The program I am promoting. The program that provide a place where entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs come to discover how to make their dreams a reality.

One of his statements are: Create an impact that will blow your clients mind away. #Origination Dreaming Room Facilitators!

If you would do just that – what would you do? What would it take to create that extra impact? I am ready to have my mind blown away.

May the forces be with you (#quote Yoda;),

Johanna

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Laser Focus September 28, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 9:52 am
Tags: achievement, Berlin Marathon, inspire, Johanna Nilsson, laser focus, life coaching, San Francisco, Sweden, what walks around comes around

What walks around comes around. I love when what you put out there bounce back at you. It sort of hits home in a different way.

Berlin Marathon - Michael (right) is crossing the finish line

In a coaching session today with one of my clients from Sweden, Michael, he shares his experience completing the Berlin Marathon this passed weekend. He was running in a steady pace, with a smile on his face, and as he got into a more heavy passage, one of my tweets (!) came to his mind: “Laser Focus!” A tweet! That one tweet kept his focus on the finish line, which he passed at 4 hours and 16 minutes.

Congratulations Michael! Thanks for the permission to share your story and celebrate your achievement!

Now – I know what I will put my laser focus on today. How about you? What is it that you would love to get done, and believe that you might not be able to? What is it that is urgent and important for you to get out of the way? What is it that is non-urgent but very important that you just haven’t had time to tackle? What if you actually could do it all, if you just gave it a little bit of extra special attention.

One more principle that could help on the way: good for now. It doesn’t need to be perfect. As long as it is good enough – that is what matters.

Go do it – and share it with others. You don’t know what you can inspire them to do. Just the possibility of it makes it worth it.

Celebration, with love,

Johanna

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9/11. A New Beginning. September 11, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 9:17 pm
Tags: 9/11, A new beginning, Ganesh, Happy Birthday, Urban Flow, Urban Flow Yoga

9/11/2001. I was in the air, one hour from landing in New York, when we suddenly turned around due to a message saying, “No airplanes are allowed to enter US air space”. Needless to say, it was turbulent times that followed.

After three days on the Irish west coast I arrive in San Diego via Atlanta. Viveca, the president of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce greets me at the airport and smiles: “Welcome Johanna, people stay here”.

I was supposed to stay four months – maximum nine. Today it is nine years.

This morning at 5:46 – 7:28 a.m., Urban Flow Yoga opened up their doors for a Meditation on Universal Peace in conjunction of 9/11 and Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesha’s Birthday).

Ganesh is the elephant-headed diety of India, known for his ability to remove obstacles and bring success to new endeavors.

Whenever you have wishes or issues you can express that to Ganesh, with his fan-like ears, he hears everything you are expressing.

Towards the end of the meditation we were guided to meditate on what we wanted more of in our lives. “If something doesn’t work in your life – it may be time to let it go. Make room for new. Ganesh hears you – if it was your birthday today, what would you wish for?”

We sang a Ganesh mantra. Per Himalayan Academy one may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, new career or job, or before entering into any new contract or business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.

Urban Flow shared this slightly modern version later today on facebook:

We ended by singing “the most ancient mantra there is” to celebrate this day:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Rusty Wells and Urban Flow – you always bring a smile to my face.

To a new beginning,

Johanna

Leadership Lessons… from Geese August 30, 2010

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:08 am
Tags: fly high, Leadership, leadership lessons, pulling together, simple truths, teamwork

Life is beautiful. All around us there are gifts. Inspirations. Lessons to be learnt.

If you need a sip of inspiration – just look around where you are, nature, messages that comes to you, people who crosses your path.

I received an email today from Simple Truth with a movie on high performance teamwork – lessons learned from geese.

Click here to see it: Pulling together – high performance teamwork

Who new? Who will you “honk” to today? Or who will you lift up?

Lift your wings buddies and loved ones! We are going to fly high and far.

Enjoy the ride,

Johanna

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Wild Red Rose August 27, 2010

Filed under: Broadway,coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 8:03 pm
Tags: achieving dream, Brian Dorsey, Broadway, Eva Dahlgren, Musical, Red Rose Girls, Rhapsody in Rock, Robert Wells, Smell the roses, Ylva Elias

Friday late afternoon. Sitting down trying to collect my thoughts and get focus and spirit to complete what I want before the day is over, and music came to my mind and voice. “När en vild röd ros slår ut…” I realize it was a long time ago since I sang.

When a wild red rose blooms, the whole forest is filled with aroma.

Around the whole world, in all various spots, red rose leafs.

I want to let love grow in the wild.

It is a beautiful song in Swedish by Eva Dahlgren, please enjoy.

It made me think of a coming musical with a similar theme – art and love – The Read Rose Girls. Can’t wait to hear about the progress.

Have you ever had a friend realizing a big dream? How did you support? Did you feel joy? Was it almost like you yourself did it? A little bit? Did it make you work on your own dream? Was it maybe part of your dream too?

The first example I think of is when I dove in to promote “Rhapsody in Rock and Robert Wells” in San Diego 2005. Dove in. All extra time that there was. We used all resources and engaged every volunteer that was willing to help. The Scandinavian community is powerful! We executed on almost every idea that we got. And they were not few.

The dream: for my friend Ylva to perform on stage with Robert Wells in one of the major sites in San Diego.

The challenge: 6 weeks to the show, 8 tickets sold, site that takes an audience of 2,000, tickets priced $75, $85 and $95, artist widely known in Sweden and China (see performance at the 1 year count down for the Olympics), artist unknown in the US, no marketing budget.

I am just saying: if you know where you want to head – there are so many ways to reach there. I think we, the team of three, wanted it so badly to happen so we where high on the fumes.

Initially we got engaged to get 100 in the audience. In the end, the show wouldn’t happen if we didn’t have 1,000 tickets sold.

I think you can imagine my smile behind the camera, when I November 13 2005, filmed the movie below. Ylva Elias on the stage with Robert Wells, Rhapsody in Rock musicians, the Vocaletts, Peter Jöback and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard in San Diego Civic Theatre.

Part II :

Now I am excited about my friend Brian Dorsey’s project: a musical being written in this very moment to hopefully reach Broadway. Just another stage. Same same, but different… 😉 The Red Rose Girls – an uncommon story about art and love. Just make a note to self.

Bloom people, bloom! Let us smell the roses!

Johanna

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