1.  It’s Okay.

• It’s okay to think and believe and live different than you’re supposed to.
• It’s okay to watch tv, to enjoy it, and to admit it.
• It’s okay to say “retarded” and other politically incorrect things.
• It’s okay to play it safe; it’s okay to get risky; and it’s okay to be wrong.
• It’s also okay to paint while you coach.

It’s okay to do things different.

Actually, Martha says it’s more than okay, she says it’s crucial to do life your way.  Letting your Essential Self lead is the only way we’ll ever know happiness and joy.

Her story about refusing to cut her ski vacation short just because Oprah Winfrey’s producer wanted to talk about her guesting on the show is a prime example of:

1. how well Martha walks the talk and
2. how well that pays off.

Martha gave me permission to live life my way.  Thank you for that, Martha.

2.  Your Body Knows

If you’re ever not getting the clue about your life, you can trust your body to tell you.

It’ll take you out with a headache, back ache, or life-threatening illness if it has to in order to get your attention to create a new direction or decision for your life.  Your body won’t give up on you, and in that sense your body’s “illness signals” can be your best friend.

(Martha also taught how to hear those messages from the body sooner rather than later.)

3.  Learn from & Share with Others

Martha is a powerhouse of knowledge, and continues to learn every way she can.  Even though everyone looks up to her as one who has all the answers, she doesn’t play the “know it all” guru role.

She studies other cultures, other viewpoints, nature and animals, she reads voraciously and – she generously and enthusiastically shares her gained insights with others.

Lesson taken: Keep an open mind, and don’t keep it to yourself.

Those are three of my favorite things picked up from the incomparable Martha Beck.

If you’ve had the benefit of gaining life wisdom from Martha, please feel free to add to this Martha Love List by commenting below!