It’s Celebration Friday, and I want to take a moment today to celebrate the lives of two individuals who by now you know have passed on from this earth.  They are of course Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett.  You might wonder why The Champions Heart would want to celebrate these two individuals, given that they have both had their share of controversies and scandals.

The fact of the matter is I think both Michael and Farah offer two extraordinary examples of people being true to themselves, choosing a path and following their heart in a way that was right for them even if other people didn’t understand or agree.

In the case of Farah, she was on top of the world, star of a hit tv show, and yet after only one year on the show, she knew she wanted and was capable of more, even if hollywood didn’t realize it.  She walked away from “Charlies Angels” even though she wouldn’t be able to get work for years, because she was still under contract to the show.

She chose not to work, rather than work on something that was not fulfilling or challenging for her.  She would go on re-invent herself and receive great critical acclaim for several tv film and feature film roles.

As for Michael Jackson, the world may never see another performer as gifted and talented as Michael.  He expereince more than his share of accusations and scandal, none of which where ever proven.  I am not here to defend Michael Jackson, I simply choose to look at what we know.

He was adored by fans around the world of all ages all races.  Even if they didn’t always understand how he chose to live and express himself off stage, no one could deny the seemingly limiltess talent he posessed, and the joy he brought to those who saw him in concert and or listened to his music on their stereo.

Following your own heart especially when doing so causes suspicion, misunderstanding, judgements, etc, is by no means an easy jounrey for anyone.  At the same time it is always the best choice in terms of the evolution of our soul.

Despite what your personal feelings may be about these two individulas, I encourage you to focus on the lesson and the example of how these to people chose to follow their hearts inspite of public opinion.  I would also encourage you rather than read the tabloids to determine the character of these or any other individuals, speak to or listen to the people in their lives.

In both cases, when you hear the friends and family of both Michael and Farah, it is clear that they where both incredibly loving people who deeply touched those around them in a meaningful way.  To me that is the best indication of a life well lived.

Thank you and God Bless you Michael and Farah for allowing us to experience you and your gifts here on earth.  We know that you are now basked in the love of Spirit and peacefully resting after your long journey home.

If you would like to make a suggestion for a future Celebration Friday article, send an email to mitchell@TheChampionsheart.com

There are far too many people (often including our selves) who are all too eager to point out what they perceive to be our flaws.  And far too few who have taken in upon themselves to remind us of our greatness.

Through all that they think speak and do these individuals passionately teach, inspire, empower, and beautifully model a way of being that is full of aliveness, awareness, passion, compassion, and an ever expanding desire to express more of who we truly are and never less.

Some of these people may be famous, such as Wayne Dyer, Deepok Chopra, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Michael Beckwith among others.  Many more may only be known (and greatly appreciated) by a few, such as a gifted teacher in school, a neighbor, or a friend.

Regardless, I encourage you to take a moment and think of the people who have inspired you to be more of who you are.  Who have reminded you that you are important, that you do matter, and that you are worthy of having and experiencing a life of perfect abundance, peace, joy. and love.

After making your list choose your own way to celebrate them.  Perhaps you might recognize  and acknowledge the greatness in someone who at the moment is choosing to feel less than or unworthy.  Perhaps you write a card or letter to those people on your list and authentically share what they have meant to you.

However you choose to celebrate, remember it is the intention which is more important than the act.

Below is just one example of one those gifted people reminding us of our greatness.  It is a very energetic video of Dr. Michael Beckwith.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

If you would like to make a suggestion for a future Celebration Friday article, you can email all suggestions directly to Mitchell Dahood, M.A. at mitchell@thechampionsheart.com If your suggestion is used, you will receive a special thank you gift.

Too often we overlook this person as not being special enough or worthy enough of taking notice of and celebrating.  The truth is however, there is no more important person in your life.  This person is the only one that has always been there in good times and in bad.

This person is responsible for an immense amount of good in your life and the lives of others.  The person I am referring to is you.  The sound of your conscious mind right now denying what I have just written is deafening.  Your conscious mind is speaking from a place of fear.  A fear of how truly great you are and can be.

There is another voice however that is not afraid.  On the contrary, this voice recognizes the greatness within you, and fully supports you in expressing your true self.  This voice speaks from a place of unconditional love.  It is very easy to distinguish this voice from that of your conscious mind.

The challenge however is that these voices are on separate channels.  For many people they have been listening only to the channel of their conscious mind, not even aware that they had a choice to listen to another channel.

You have a choice.  I encourage you to listen to the voice that speaks to you from a place of love.  This voice is always ready willing and able to celebrate every step you take on your journey through life. 

And you have a lot to celebrate.  The only reason you might not think this is so is because your conscious mind tends focus obsessively on the negative.  You may have done a hundred or a thousand great things in your life, and your conscious mind still brings up that thing you did five, ten, maybe fifty years ago as an example of how you are not worthy of celebrating your life

If you were to take a piece of paper and write all the good things you have done for yourself and others on the right side, and all the things you judged as bad on the left, I think you find that the list on the right would be significantly longer.

Regardless, the fact is that you are an amazing person who through good times and challenging times has always done the best you could in the given circumstances, and if you could have done better you would have, and for that you deserve to CELEBRATE! 

Today and everyday instead of looking at what you have judged yourself as doing wrong, look for what you have done right and celebrate it.  Look for what other people are doing right and join them in celebrating that.

As a culture we spend way to much time beating ourselves up and judging ourselves as “less than”, not “enough”, “not worthy” The truth is you are a divine being having a human experience in which imperfection is part of the process and yet from the day you were born you had everything that you needed to create and to experience a life of perfect abundance, peace, joy, and love.

And even if that has yet to be your experience, the truth is right now in this moment, you still have everything you need to live the life you deserve and desire, and that is certainly worhty of celebrating. 

By celebrating you encourage and give permission to your true self to step forward from out of the shadows and into the light to share yourself and your gifts with the world.

So come on it’s time is now to celebrate you, the most important person in your life!