Heart Wisdom: "On Self-Love"
Author: Lucia Picaza

Heart Wisdom
“On Self-Love”
By
Lucia Picaza
Founder and President
Brasilia Institute

Many of us spend years desiring to better our lives and our environment. We are taught to go to school, work hard, and to develop ourselves as we go through life. We graduate from college, some of us get Masters or Ph. D’s, or become lawyers or doctors. And yet many of us end up unhappy, frustrated, and unfulfilled. Interestingly enough, we are expected to know about personal relationships, business relationships, about correct career choices, and successful friendships. Again, most of us end up hurt and alone, not knowing how to make sense of this game called life. Unfortunately, most of us are not born with the complete understanding of how to “get it all to work” and very surely can end up like everyone else. We must learn how to make the changes or what it takes to make them.

The study of self-love is probably one of the most rewarding and profound journeys a soul ever takes. It changes your life, your destiny, your choices, and your ability to be fulfilled. Without a strong relationship with ourselves and the integration of self-love, many of us are left wandering through life without true purpose and deep soul understanding of who we are.

At Brasilia Institute, we consider self-love the first and most important step toward reaching a fulfilled and enriched life. In learning to love yourself, you will discover layer upon layer of areas which do not reflect self-love. As you learn to reach into yourself and heal these areas that do not reflect love, you begin to make different choices in friendships, different choices in partners, different choices in living space, and different choices in the quality of your intimacy. You have the ability to change your destiny over and over, reaching for more love with every choice!! You outgrow unhealthy choices and create much richer environments for yourself.

In truly learning how to love yourself, you discover how to love more, and it is in this deep intimate time with yourself that you have the opportunity to walk self-love every moment of every day. Taking time to learn and integrate self-love in a deep and profound way ensures a loving future and creates a solid pillar upon which you will build your life. Know how to deeply love yourself and you will learn how to truly love the world!






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There have always been women throughout history who have held the heart of a country as their own. Women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Princess Diana, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Jane Goodall and the First Ladies, women whose hearts responded to the call of service to their country and to their world. If there were a complementary term to the forefathers, these women would be called the foremothers of this nation. They held and still hold the courage to step forward and affect the destiny of a country. These women carry within themselves the passion of divine inspiration and, naturally, always strive to better the lives of others, their environment, and their world. Maria "Lucia" Picaza is such a woman.

Born in Havana, Cuba, and having moved to the United States in 1960, Lucia is aligned with the purity of heart of our forefathers and foremothers and is a holder of this flame. Because of her move to the United States, Lucia possesses a true and in-depth understanding of the power and unlimited potential of beginning again. She believes that the new forefathers and foremothers are emerging to lead this nation. It is with love, hope, and courage that she has stepped forward as an American citizen to give this nation and the emerging forefathers and foremothers a place to "begin again", a place to unveil and expand the heart and divinity of the United States of America. She is here to support and create a place to insure the emotional and spiritual well being of this country.

Lucia has spent the last 24 years of her life reaching deep within herself to explore many expansive and spiritual spaces. She has studied with many diverse teachers and explored various approaches to her self-realization. She began with a wonderful career in music, beginning her studies with Dr. Stephen Halpern and then moving to David Darling of the Paul Winter Consort. After a 9-year engagement as a lead vocalist with the world renowned Howard Hanger Jazz Fantasy, Lucia decided to focus entirely on her teachings. She spent many years developing her private practice, seminars, and counseling on creativity. Lucia holds a degree in education from the University of Memphis and a certification in Intention Therapy. Her experience includes programs for gifted children in the public school system and creativity seminars for musicians at the university level. She has been a musical director for church programs and a producer of concerts. She has appeared on the cable TV show "Positively Speaking" with Mary Ann Dinger.

During the last 7 years, Lucia merged into a cooperative venture when she launched her first heart centered school in North Carolina. She has since founded the national campaign, America Choose Love, and has relocated both the campaign and her school to the Washington, DC, area. She is currently working to develop and update the curriculum for her new school, Brasilia Institute - Embassy for the Heart, and take this program to a national level. Lucia is presently offering private seminars and introductory lectures to the DC metropolitan area.

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