Moving From The Inside Out - THE MOVEMENT WITHIN

Below is the interview from The Voice Within blog. Camile Araujo interviewed me and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed answering Camile's perfect questions. Love, Light and Movement, xoxo -April

Moving From The Inside Out - THE MOVEMENT WITHIN

Once in a while we come across people who are real movers.  People who take "living" to a whole 'nother level.  These people have a gift and they make it a point in their lives to share their gift with their world.  They look at you and see themselves also.  They understand.  They feel.  They relate.  One of these people is April Claxton, founder of The Movement Within.  


After my awesome cruise around the Western Caribbean with Hay House, my life took an incredible turn towards my innermost dreams.  I was being coached by Vanessa Talbot (Writers' Success Creation Coach) and she had told me that writers often speak in public.  I needed to start looking into some speaking engagements for myself.  The Universe took action right away.  In less than a week, I came across April's page on Facebook and went to one of her classes which were held at Modern Zen (Davie, FL) at the time.  After meeting April, she invited me to come back the following week and be a guest speaker in her class.  The topic was GRATITUDE.  


April is an Intuitive Life Coach, Author, Inspirational Speaker, and superb human being.  I believe greatly in intuition, hence The Voice Within, but April is pretty phenomenal.  The Sunday prior to me speaking in her class, I asked her for an intuitive reading.  It was during the summer of 2010.  Prior to leaving my house that day and after the reading was done.  April looked at me and said, "The angels are asking me to tell you about "Stacy"."  I had no idea who "Stacy" was, so I shrugged the information off.  As soon as I saw her to the door and came to my computer to check my emails, my mom had sent me an email about my to-be daughter, whose name was Anastasia, but the nurses in the hospital where she was born referred to her as "Tasi".  I will never forget that day.  


One morning, as Tasi slept and I watched her in wondrous awe, feeling deep love and gratitude for her presence in my life, I remembered the day when April told me about her before I even knew she existed.  I decided to interview April and let a little more of the world know what she does and how incredibly well she does it.  Below is the interview.  Please keep in mind my initials are CA and April's are AC.  Enjoy!! 

C.A. - WHAT IS AN INTUITIVE LIFE COACH?

A.C. - I believe an ILC is one who is able to intuitively guide, direct and support their clients through their own revolutionary life journey. An ILC offers divine intuitive information that comes through for the client without judgment and offers support through simply holding the space for the client to connect with his/ her loved ones, Spirit Guides and Angels. Divine messages also include tools that are relevant to each client in order for them to grow, learn and evolve. An ILC is also one who takes their position to heart. Clients place their own hearts in our hands, and I do not take this lightly. An ILC should do all they can to insure that they are strictly being used to heal and assist instead of doing the healing and assisting themselves.  

C.A. - HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THAT YOU HAVE THIS GIFT AND HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?

A.C. - I have known that "something" was "different" in me since I was little. The older I got, the more I realized I wasn't different at all. We all have this ability- just some are more in tune than others. I found out exactly how I was being called to use this ability while I was experiencing my own healing. It is often when we arrive at the bottom of the barrel that we discover exactly who we are and who we want to be. It is when we are unable to fly that we discover we truly have wings. 

C.A. - WHAT IS THE MOVEMENT WITHIN?

  

A.C. - When I arrived at "the bottom of the barrel," I began to Move Within. I had to. All that we will ever need is within us. I had to figure out how I worked and didn't work- how I felt and didn't feel- what was mine to work with and what wasn't mine to work with. I realized that I wasn't broken and I began to journal and journal and journal. I discovered that I had been "speaking" to Divine sources (from within me) through my writing. I filled journals upon journals of detailed messages about humanity, lessons, goals, life, family, love... It became apparent to me that I wanted God/ Source/ Spirit- your God, my God- to use me as a direct channel of information and messages to help others move within themselves as well. If I could discover my purpose and my own values of self, and if that could inspire me to make a difference in my own life, then imagine what the same thing could do for someone else! And The Movement Within was born. It was actually called Inner Hope in the beginning but I believe that website was already taken. When I asked my Guides what to call it instead, they stated in writing, "The Movement Within." Life requires movement. Growth requires movement. The best type of movement will always start and take place within.

C.A. - WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE MOVEMENT WITHIN?

A.C. - This is a great question. The goal of TMW is its motto: Lifting Humanity. One Heart at a Time. It only takes one heart to be inspired to dance to the beat of its own drum in order to create a ripple effect for others. It's simple.

C.A. - WHAT IS THE MISSION YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WITH ALL THAT YOU DO?

A.C. - My mission is to simply make a positive difference in the world so that the bits of the world I do touch feel the love that DOES exist. The world is only as dark as we see it to be. I see bright colors of joy, life- butterflies that flutter by to make us smile, moments of choice that are there to enlighten and encourage, peace, serenity, hope.... My mission is hope.

C.A. - WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IN LIFE?

A.C. - My source of inspiration is the world around me. The pain, the suffering, the hurting, the life, the love, the hopes, the dreams... that inspires me to love more and lift more. I am a bleeding heart and even though I cannot do the healing for people, I still long to teach others how to learn to heal themselves. Healing feels good- especially when we each do our own work from the inside out. What an empowering feeling! 

C.A. - WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM YOUR WORK?

A.C. - Anyone who wants to. Anyone who feels "pulled" to "something" that is calling them. Anyone who says, "You know what? I don't know what is happening within me or my life- but SOMETHING is happening and I need to find out!" Each of us is called, not to find our purpose and save the world, but to find our purpose and love ourselves. In doing this, we save the world. Anyone who knows that the world has love within it and they feel pulled to this- no matter how broken, lost, confused, sad, scared, and unsure or disconnected they feel- these are the ones who benefit from this work. It is not my work- I am simply a torch holder who passes on the torch. It is the work of the Self and God/ Spirit/ Source is the light. 

C.A. - WHY WOULD THEY GO TO YOU?

A.C. - People "end up" in front of me. I often hear, "I just found you." Or, "My friend referred you." It is interesting how Source/ Spirit/ God will bring people to me. People would come to me to hear what it is they are supposed to hear right now at this point in time in their lives from their Guides, God, Angels and Loved Ones. They would come for support, direction, encouragement, validation, hope, clarity... And then I send them on their way to KEEP MOVING. They come back for touch ups, but- and as much as love and appreciate my clients- it is also my goal that they continue on their paths without me. They can return as needed, but I cannot do the work for them. They must learn to do the work for themselves. This is where the treasures are. People usually feel connected to me. I think it is because through the sessions, they feel themselves for the first time. They feel their courage, strength and they find their own hopes. It's like the scene in Bambi when Bambi walks for the first time. He falls but eventually he gets up and can walk all on his own. I want to bring people to their feet and then I want them to walk on their own and then run and then dance! 

C.A. - TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BOOKS AND HOW YOU WERE INSPIRED TO WRITE THEM.

A.C. - I have written 3 so far. The first was 'The Movement Within: 8 Steps To Ignite The Movement Within.' This teaches you how to begin and experience your own Movement Within. I was inspired to write this when I was asked to speak to a group of young boys and girls who were in a lock up facility. I thought God was crazy for sending me there to speak to amazing children who have experienced many less than amazing lives. I sat down and said, "OK, God, what do you want ME to tell THEM?" And the 8 steps were born. As time went on, these steps became a class that I taught and then evolved into a book.

The second book was 'The Power of Self-Love: A Mini Book, Because a Little Goes a Long Way." It is a smaller book with big font so that you can read it in under an hour. It is cute and funny and deep. It brings you to your inner child. It has an exercise that introduces you to him/ her. Without our inner child, we would not be. I wrote this first as an E-book and then had it published. I wanted to give something back to my clients and those who visited the website. And, voila! It is on the homepage of TheMovementWithin.com free for download.

And the third book is my favorite! It is a children's book that has been endorsed by New York Times bestselling author, Melody Beattie and also TV Guide Network. It also allowed me to become a part of the StoneWall National Museum and Archives Distinguished Author Series. 'Goodnight Just The Same' was illustrated by Diane Koziol Krueger and together we created a book that does one simple thing: it nurtures EVERY family dynamic telling each and every child that they matter and their family IS normal. The moon cares not your name or location or family type. It tucks everyone in just the same. I wrote this because I was raised in a divorced household with a step-parent. I also have a daughter who is being raised in a "non-traditional" family environment as well. I realized that all of these situations are normal and traditional! Every book was read to me or that I read to my daughter always had a mom and a dad. That unfortunately is no longer the "norm" in our society today. EVERY child needs to feel as if they are right where they are supposed to be and they ARE normal. And so, Goodnight Just The Same was written.   

C.A. - HOW WOULD YOU LIKE APRIL AND HER LEGACY TO BE REMEMBERED? 

A.C. - So, this question has made me tear up a little. I just want people to remember me and think, 'She loved life. She taught me that life is within me and that I am alive too! How great it was to meet or know her." That's it. I want people to see life through me. I want to be the mirror in which they can see themselves for the first time and then are able to go and not just live but truly come alive within their own lives. That is how I want to be remembered. I want be the April who created a Movement of Self and Love. 

 C.A. - FINALLY, IF YOU COULD BE HEARD BY EVERY SINGLE BEING IN THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOUR 30 SEC. MESSAGE BE?

A.C. - This is it folks. We are here together for a reason. We can either use this lifetime to experience life through each other or we can lose the lesson. Life is what you make it and however you make it will create your life. Let go. Let love. Let life. Let. Go. 

 (I love this answer by the way.  Love it with all my heart. -c.a.)

I believe April is just beginning.  She is a force to be reckoned with.  She is an inspiration to all of us.  Start moving and check her out.  



Thank you, April, for taking the time to answer the questions.  One of my questions made you tear up, all of your answers brought tears to my eyes.  I have a seven video series that gives 7 steps to learning how to listen to your own Voice Within, and the last step is TAKE ACTION.  In other words, for anything in our lives to happen, we need to take action, start moving, and it starts within.  

I strongly encourage everyone to visit The Movement Within website, and the Facebook page.  The Movement Within also has a channel on YouTube under the same name and April has a radio show on CBS NewSkyRadio.com, that airs on Mondays at 6pm, EST.  In case you feel inspired to purchase April's books, I included the Amazon.com link to each one of them, correspondingly.  

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And I thank you, Camile for such a wonderful interview! Thank YOU for Moving!

Today Be The Day To Find My Way!

There are three kinds of people in the world. Those who enjoy being behind a desk, those who feel chained to a desk and those who must fly as far away from a desk as possible. Which one are you? Sometimes we are behind a desk because at the present time we have no choice. Bills must get paid. But tomorrow does come. The sun sets and always rises. So what exactly am I trying to get at here? My point: life is always what we make it.

What do you think about when you lay in bed each night before you close your eyes? Many of us think the same thing, "Tomorrow I will make it my life. Tomorrow I will start, I will try... I will..." And we close our eyes and open them to the sound of the alarm and hit the ground running- but many of us are still back in bed, hoping and dreaming...

What do you want to do? Are you a writer? A painter? A speaker? A teacher? A dancer? An activist? A mother? I singer? Do you want to extreme coupon? Do you want to rearrange the garage? Do you want to move? Why do we lay in bed each night only dreaming of what our lives could be like if only... we did what our hearts wanted to do. If only...

If only we woke up and changed the course of our day! How many of us say that if only we walked or stretched would we feel better? If only I set my alarm a little earlier and went to bed earlier? If only I smiled more at work and took classes at night- maybe guitar classes or art classes... If only I learned how to eat better... Why is it that what we desire actually sounds childish or impossible when we begin to make it a priority? It is not. Our fears of failing or succeeding or changing seem to alter this in our minds.

Many times our parents told us growing up that we were too wild or crazy to dream up such things. But look at many of their lives now. Do you know how many older women I work with who tell me that they wish they would have fallen in love with the milk boy when they were 20 or they should have continued to tap dance when they were 30- if only they actually lived their lives....

What can you do right now to live your life? Are you chained to your desk? Do you actually love your desk and are living from the inside out? Or are you a free spirit who must be out and about to grow and flow? Whichever one you are, claim it. Own it. And then move with it. Allow where you are to MOVE you to where you want to be. It's the only place that matters. Right here. Right now. It is the only place where we can make anything happen. Tomorrow will come but the actions to change it must happen today.

Today, make a list of things you can start doing- large or small- that will begin to move you in the direction of your dreams and desires. You can't bake award-winning pies if you don't know the first thing about pie crust. You can't speak to the world if you have a fear of speaking. You can't paint without brushes... Begin. You. Today. Your heart is waiting. So are we.

xo Love, Light and Always Life,

April

April Claxton is Part of the Distinguished Author Series at Stonewall Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, FL June 11, 2011

On Saturday June 11, 2011 I became part of the Distinguished Author Series at Stonewall Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, FL for my children's book, Goodnight Just The Same. It was a day that will stay in my memory box forever.

Not only was I honored to be there and read from this important book, but this day marked a special point in my career as an author. And what a place it was to do it!

Stonewall is extremely important for me for many reasons. The Stonewall National Museum & Archives is an extraordinary publicly accessible cultural and educational resource that preserves, interprets and shares the remarkable heritage of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. More than that, they serve as an epicenter of enlightenment for our community and have played a significant role in building bridges of cultural understanding in the LGBT community and beyond. The Stonewall National Museum & Archives provides a unique cultural and intellectual alternative in the community and through our collections, programs and services they honor and explore the past while striving to engage, inform and inspire the next generation of our community’s leaders.

So to be honored that Stonewall will house Goodnight Just The Same is an understatement. The book now sits proudly on the same shelf as Heather Has Two Mommies, Donovan's Big Day, And Tango Makes Three- as well as many others.

Goodnight Just The Same is not only for "gay" families. It truly is for all families. It is a book about family. Period. When I grew up in a "non-traditional" family with divorced parents, I read from children's books. I always felt as if these books carried me away to a place where things were happy, safe and functional- clearly something was wrong with me because my family was not like any of the families in these books. Or so I thought.

For children who are raised in "non-traditional" families, it is important that they know that their family is traditional. Every family is a family. Every dynamic, make-up, structure... wherever that child is, is normal to them. And when the numbers rise, it becomes normal for society as well- whether society likes it or not.

We cannot deny a child because of their family. We are to embrace them and encourage them. Whether a child has one mom, no mom, a grandparent, step-parents, two moms, two dads... and the dynamics continue... this child is to know that they are normal and their family is just as necessary and real as any other family. This is why books like Goodnight Just The Same are so important. They put every child on the map. And being on the map feels good. Being acknowledged for who we are and where we are feels good. And feeling good is the reason most of us make decisions to do anything at all.

Kids have to be given the room and the support to be. We live in a society where we are constantly told that who and where we are needs to be fixed, tweaked, remodeled, adjusted, changed... what does that really tell us and our children? It tells us that where we are and who we are is not good enough. Children grow up feeling this in school and through their peers. It will happen anyway. This is why it is important to encourage them to feel comfortable and safe in the environment they are in at home. It's okay to not be the "norm" and to know that by doing so, they are now the norm. How great is that!?

This is also not to take away from those who do live in environments that are unsafe and unfit for any child. This is only to make note of those children who go home to whatever family it is that they have and to know that no matter what, the child is what is most important and that all feelings matter.

Writing this book for me has been such a gift. Divorce for any child- or adult- is not always easy. Emotions run rampant and support is mandatory. Adjustments are being made. Change is happening. Having step-parents also creates a new adjustment period. Having no parents also creates thoughts and feelings that need to be supported and explored. Having two moms or two dads also creates the need to have support and acceptance. Children need to feel supported. They, as do adults, have the right to feel and be heard. It is important to feel validated. We cannot be who we are not. We must support who we are and where we are. By doing so will only invest in every child's self-esteem, worthiness and ability to be just as they are. It will also invest in our own.

A family is a family as long as it comes from love. Communication is the driving force behind any family dynamic and relationship. Support and love at home, communicating freely and openly and embracing one another is what creates strong, healthy, confident children. We learn our coping skills at home. We learn how to communicate at home. We are molded from birth- conception- by our home environment and caretakers. Thousands upon thousands of children live on the Earth. All of them have an environment in which they live. However, not all of these children know how perfectly necessary and beautiful they are. A small percentage- and this includes children in homes of both moms and dads together- are actually acclimated, confident, safe, sure and happy in who they are and the family they are in. How can a child face the world wholeheartedly when the world tells them that they aren't part of the puzzle?

Everything is as normal as we make it. And to the Moon, EVERY family is tucked in Just The Same.

Thank you to Stonewall National Museum and Archives, Nate Klarfeld and Bryan Knicely for giving me and my book this experience. Thank you to my talented illustrator, Diane Koziol Krueger. Thank you to my editor, Marissa Cohen. And thank you to my family... My parents, siblings, my supportive and appreciated partner and my strong and beautiful daugther. Thank you for making me feel normal- just as I am. 

Purchase Goodnight Just The Same