Celebrate

Today is the end of my first month blogging daily.  It is time to celebrate this minor milestone!  As you set your goals and visions it is very important to remember not just to celebrate at the end but to live in the moment and enjoy the now.

Celebrate the little baby steps.  Give yourself a special treat or a simple out loud WAHOO!!!  Stretch your arms in the air, forming a big V for Victory while doing so.  Try it!  See and feel how liberating it is and what joy such a simple task can give you.  Feel silly?  We all do the first time, but you will do it again.  :)

Remember to enjoy the journey while you are reaching your goals.  If you aren't having fun now then when?  Make time to give yourself a pat on the back.  Do it in a memorable form.  It will reinforce your positivity, help you feel your progress and make you conscious of your path.  All wonderful things!

So CHEERS!  Here is to the first month!  My WAHOO was just sent out to the universe and I have a big smile on my face.  Thank you for following me on my journey.  :)

Acceptance

Sometimes when you are dealing with a big challenge/a difficult situation, no matter how hard you try or how many different tools you pull out of your box, nothing seems to work.  When all else fails, here is one more thing you can try: acceptance.

Simply give in to your feeling.  Acknowledge how you feel and feel into it.  Sit with the feeling without judgement.  This is non-reaction in action.  Know that this too will pass.  Give yourself permission to be sad or angry or whatever.  Live it consciously and above all be gentle with yourself.  You are hurting and feeling it is part of the healing.

Letting energy flow

After an awesome snowshoe hike, I came home debating what to work on first.  I have a list that's a mile long on Things To Do and one of the top things on it is to make a list of the services I want to provide.  I have had a lot of thoughts on this, but the picture hadn't quite gelled yet.  Trusting the flow of energy, I haven't forced myself to tackle that task yet, though I knew that the time was drawing near. 

Though the logical first step after a cold hike was to shower, I decided on an Epsom Salt bath, a great way to detox your body and energy field.  Though part of me didn't feel I had the time, my gut feeling won out. 

As I was warming up and letting my mind drift blankly, all of a sudden a plan started forming in this "open, blank mind space" and one by one my list of services was formed.  It flowed perfectly and felt totally right.  I was awestruck.  Here I thought I was "wasting" time and in the grand scheme of things I saved myself a lot of painstaking thinking and time.

Lesson:  You don't have to meditate to get in touch with the flow of the Universe.  All you need is an open mind, a relaxed state of being, and an openness to allow the process to manifest, to allow the energy to flow.  Water in particular is a great energy conductor.  So any time you are in water, open yourself up. 

This also works whenever you are doing a routine task that is 'automatic' to you, such as folding the laundry, vacuuming, cleaning, walking, jogging, etc.  Be conscious when you are performing routine tasks and relax your mind.  Open it up to receive guidance if that is what you want. 

Creating Affirmations

Based on my subtle energy research, I found some basic steps that help create powerful affirmations.  Here are the results...

1. First go through the steps listed in yesterday's blog "Affirmations" to get clear on what you want to change. 
2. Write the various facets of what you want to achieve down focusing on where you want to be once you work through and clear the challenge.
3. Look at what you wrote and pick out single focused points/ideas and make a list.
4. Then write one affirmation around one focal point.  Keep your sentences single focused. 
5. Keep your affirmations as simple and short as possible.  It will help the integration process.  Short sentences are also easier to remember and repeat to yourself throughout the day.
6. Use words that deeply resonate with you.  When you read the affirmation out loud you need to feel it deep within you that this is it!  Be clear that since these are states of being or consciousness that you want to achieve, you may not fully relate to it yet.  What is important is put today's doubts and fears aside and to focus on where you want to be.  If you got the right words and you put yourself into that frame of mind, then you will feel whether you hit the nail with your affirmation or if you need to rework it. 
7.  Make sure you only use positive words and positive phrasing!!!

Affirmations are a wonderful tool to raise your vibration and awareness.  Daily repetition of the affirmations you come up with is also crucial for the integration process.  Speaking them out loud, even in front of a mirror, is most effective.  :)

Affirmations

Affirmations are an important and effective tool to shift emotional imbalances.  To create good affirmations for yourself, you need to become very clear as to

1. what the root of the imbalance is
2. what role you play in this imbalance, what is your part in it
3. what are you gaining from it and if you are willing to let it go
4. which vibrational state do you want to be in ideally as relating to this imbalance.

So how do you do this?  Well, there are several ways:

1. Do it yourself - this is absolutely possible.  I have done it myself for decades and have been successful.  The downside is that it does take decades!
2. Talk to a close friend and see what they hear.  Outside perspective is a good thing.  People that listen to you can be of great value if they are able to feed back to you what they hear without judgement and personal involvement (i.e. them mixing their feelings and insecurities into your situation).
2. Hire a coach.  One of the requirements for my coaching certification was that I needed to be coached first before I coached others.  I can admit now that I thought: 'I don't need a coach.  Nobody will be as critical and analytical as I am of myself'.  I was wrong.  Having a coach was one of the best things that ever happened to me.  It was a big, eye-opening experience in that you learn so much in such a short period of time.  It is truly a great way step into high gear when it came to personal development.  Coaches are great listeners and their gift to you is the creation of a loving, non-judgmental space that you can blossom in. 

When you are dealing with your own challenges, it is like you are in your own forest and can't see the trees in front of you.  The coach helps you find the tree you are looking for.  :)

Gems and Crystals

Everything is energy, as assessed by quantum physics.  Thus, everything has a certain vibration and frequency.  That includes gems and crystals.

Ever since I can remember I have loved rocks, gems and crystals, which has even led me to get a minor in Mineralogy.  I have always collected crystals/stones/gems and use them to make jewelry.  I have been fascinated by their history and healing uses.

Since the beginning of recorded history, gems and crystals have been highly valued by almost every culture.  They were highly respected for their remarkable, even magical powers and vibrational healing properties.  Gems were used whole, placed or worn on the body, or crushed and ingested as a powder or drunk as an elixir.  It was believed that stones have a direct positive influence on the body and they were also worn for health, protection, and to attract virtues.

In general, gemstones are perceived to have eternal, almost god-like qualities (e.g. healing, protection, wisdom) and are treasured and revered because of this and because of their rarity.  Mother Earth grows these crystals over millions of years.  They are highly structured and organized "energetic living beings".

The first time I really felt a true bond with a crystal was about 5 years ago.  I was in a store and there were a LOT of crystals.  I looked at these quartz crystals and started picking them up to look at them a bit closer.  As I picked up this one crystal in particular I started feeling warm and comforted in my solar plexus area.  Though it wasn't the prettiest crystal by far, it didn't matter how many others I picked up, this one was calling to me.  To this day, when I feel distressed and pick it up, I am instantly soothed and I feel its energy running through me.  So I became a true believer.  :)

Since then I have learned that crystals remember energies and thus lend themselves really well to being programmed with any frequency you like.  With the help of the SE5-1000 I am able to do that precisely, which has been very exciting.

What is interesting about gems too is that they are wonderful grounders.  Their energy helps us anchor and physically stabilize all emotional changes/shift we make.   So if you are shifting and changing you might want to explore and include the realm of gems and crystals for further help.

Expanding Awareness

While driving (and I do a lot of that...), I was listening to my Ipod that was on shuffle and a passage of Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth" came on.  I have listened to this book many, many times and always find it very inspirational.  Anyhow, this particular time he talked about three concepts: 

1. Non-reaction
2. Non-judgement
3. Non-attachment

These three words stayed with me for several days and really resonated deeply.  I have been pondering and pursuing many different paths to expanding awareness, as you can see in my blogs.  These three words though summarize beautifully how you can tangibly expand your awareness in everyday life.  If you consciously work on applying these in your daily life, true freedom and enlightened living will inevitably follow.

It is no easy feat to achieve, but keep this compass 'handy' and you will always find your way back to awareness, to your light, to your authentic center.  :)

Showing up

When you start aligning with your higher self/purpose you learn how to ask for help from your "higher support system" (see blog post "Asking for help").  There is another important step to take and that is "showing up".

Showing up means that you are willing to do what you can to change.  It means to be present and when warranted to be willing and ready to act.  It means that you are not just leaving everything up to the Heavens, but you are putting all your efforts toward achieving what you are wanting to achieve.  And if that means facing your fears, so be it.

For example I have a vision of where I want to be.  All the details are not clear to me so I have asked for help and clarity.  As I am heading toward my vision, I have had fears come up.  For this example the fear was related to lack of knowledge and thus ultimately linked with not being "smart enough".  Though I read books and researched the Internet, I finally got to a point where it got too specific and I needed more help.  I had to reach out to a professional, in this case an accountant.

Interestingly enough, it took me almost a week to do so.  I was fighting myself and still wanted to prove to myself that I could figure this out.  Today I finally realized how ridiculous it was, just ignored my insecurities and called.  It was amazing how a simple call that lasted 25min freed up so much energy in me!   I was so charged and giddy that I started jumping and dancing around the kitchen just to release some of that energy.  I felt so empowered and on track.

It taught me again, how much easier life can be without all these self-imposed road blocks.  Also a great reminder to trust your instinct and to shut that little voice in your head off!

Eustress and Distress

Have you ever thought of stress as a good thing?  I didn't until today when I was introduced to the concept of eustress, coined and researched by an Austrian endochronologist named Hans Seyle.  He studied the effect stress has on the human body and introduced the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model.

This model has three stages that describe how humans react to stressors (= the traumatic event that acts on the mind as well as the physical body):

1. The Alarm Stage - which is the fight or flight response
2. The Resistance Stage - if the stress situation persists, the body tries to adapt/cope with the stress
3. The Exhaustion Stage - energy depletion due to prolonged resistance occurs, and your health is at high risk of deterioration

Seyle also said introduced the concept of eustress, a stress that we feel good about (such as the excitement of running a marathon), as opposed to distress, a stress that cause us feelings of upset (such as the loss of a pet).  It is important to understand though that both types of stress activate the GAS system.  The way people perceive stress will determine the impact/level of damage caused by the stressor.

Thus, when you face a challenging situation, it is healthier for you to approach it with a positive, 'can do' attitude if at all possible, than with fear.  Your perspective rules your life and your health!  You have the power to improve your health (and life!) by changing your perception of it.  How cool is that?

Pushing Through

Any time you endeavour to change something in your life, fears and doubts naturally appear.  The bigger the potential change, the stronger the fears and doubts usually.  As I am getting my new business established I am facing a lot of these.  Writing Daily Insights has helped me a lot in that it makes me focus on techniques I have shared with you in previous blogs to push through these almost paralyzing moments.  I am walking my talk so to speak. 

Either way, the more tools you can gather the better.  Some will work better in some instances than in others.  So the more you have, the more options you have.

I recently read a quote that added one more tool or at least comfort and humor to my repertoire.  If this quote is true I am in great shape!  :)

By art critic Robert Hughes:  "The greater the artist, the greater the doubt.  Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize."

Energy

Did you know that every suppressed emotion and thought takes a portion and sometimes even big chunks of you daily energy?  It takes vital energy to suppress bad memories, unwanted thoughts, anger, resentment, decisions you are unwilling to make, unresolved relations and situations, etc.  Though sometimes it is necessary to shut things out, or put things away in imaginary boxes and drawers, it is also important to work through them and let go of these things so you can reclaim you energy.

You have a certain amount of energy everyday to use.  Do you know where yours is and where it goes?  Do you wake up every day full of energy or do you wake up more on the tired side?  The latter often points toward vital energy being tied up in and/or blocked due to emotions and thoughts that need resolution.

Remember a time where you have resolved an issue with someone.  How did you feel afterward?  Relieved?  Happy?  Joyous?  These are all expressions of released energy, energy that is available to you and your well being again.

Dare. Change

Dare. Change - by Leo Burnett Pery

A short 90 second video that I find inspirational and fitting for this blog.  In my previous blog "To create change be the change"  I talked about fire breathing dragons we have to overcome...  While there are no dragons in this video, there is a wolf symbolizing the same role.  :)  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DflZi_lLSo8

Breathe

What is the first thing you need to do anytime you want to be centered or in the present moment?  BREATHE!  Nothing will bring you into the Now faster than paying attention to your breath.  All meditations start out by drawing your attention to your breath.  This simple act that we take for granted is so key not just to keep our body alive but also to help us be present. 

Anytime you want to calm yourself down, just breathe.  There is also power in breath.  It is a way to control and direct your energy flow as you learn in martial arts.  When you pay attention to your breath it also helps you focus.

Take some time today to appreciate the act of breathing and be thankful.  Every time you do you are growing your awareness.

Layers

I had an epiphany I would like to share with you today.  I have spent decades working through all the different layers of built up emotional issues. Here is a much abbreviated version of what I have learned:

When you start working on yourself you are most likely still in the victim mode…  Why me? Why does this always happen to me?  What did I do to deserve this?  Etc.

During the next phase you begin taking responsibility for what has happened, for all the perceived wrongs you experienced.  You look for how you contributed to the issue(s).  Why you made the choices you made and what you got out of them.  You start learning to forgive and that forgiveness is all about freeing yourself, letting go of all the negative emotions that are tying you down, thus freeing your energy and thus increasing your energy flow.  It is not about saying that it was ok, but saying that you are ok with letting it go.

The next phase is all about you (and this was my big epiphany).  It is about realizing the abuse you have inflicted on yourself over the years.  Hiding behind addictions (food, TV, shopping, alcohol, sex, drugs, fill in the blank), abusing your body because you were unable and/or unwilling to look at what was happening.  It is about learning to love and respect all of you:  your body, your mind, your emotions, your soul.  It is time to learn how to be kind to yourself, how to be gentle with yourself, how to take care of yourself.  Feel your light and be the light.

Food For The Soul

Today I went hiking for the first time in over a month.  Winter hiking is one of my favorite things to do especially when there is snow.  Last week we got over 20" in snow but I wasn't able to go due to the flu which doesn't seem to want to leave my body.  This morning I almost didn't go because of a bad night's sleep due to the flu.  Then there was the internal conflict, where the head kept saying to stay home and to get better, but my soul longed for the hike.

When I left the house the temperature was reading -6 F and I told myself I would turn around if I was too tired or cold (still my head arguing).  I met up with my hiking buddies and we started our hike.  And let me tell you - I LOVED IT! 

There was a moment where I stopped and breathed in the air and knew this was food for my soul.  I could feel a weight lifting and my creative juices/thoughts starting to flow ( I knew I had to share this with you).  I felt inspired and cleansed.  We even got to snowshoe for the first time in two years and got to a point where we had virgin snow.  We were blazing the trail! 

I did turn around early because I got tired, but this did so much for my spirit that I am still soring  from it right now.  I wasn't sure what it was going to do to my body since I am still ill, but I am glad to say that I feel better than this morning and am sure that my soul food helped.  I learned again how important it is to feed your inner essence and to listen to the call when it comes, even if it seems like a crazy idea.

Getting out of a "funk" is so important as well as knowing what helps you shift your energy.  Nature for me is a huge Healer, energy lifter and booster.  I love the mountains, the trees, the rocks, the snow, the flowers, you name it. 

So what is your Soul Food?  How do you get inspired, recharged, boosted?  What helps you shift into a positive state?  What helps you recharge?  Creative venues such as music (another one of my favorites), art, dancing, gardening, singing, writing, etc. are other great ways to feed your soul.  Which is your favorite method?

Sixth Sense

Everybody has a sixth sense.  There is nothing magical about it.  Have you ever had a gut feeling about something that you couldn't rationalize yet without any data knew was correct?  Have you ever had a moment of deja vu?  Have you ever had a flash/visualization of something go through your mind that had nothing to do with what you were thinking?  Have you ever felt something that you couldn't explain?  If you could say yes to any of these questions then your sixth sense or intuition was at work.

We have been trained to work with our five senses and have "forgotten" how to use the sixth.  The good news is that it is always there for you to access.  All you have to do is become more aware and pay attention to your gifts.  There are four ways under which our sixth sense operates and they are:

Clair voyance (seeing)
Clair audience (hearing)
Clair sentience (feeling)
Clair cognisance (knowing)

Each of us has access to all four.  Odds are that one of these four is stronger in you than the others.  Start by finding out which one it is.  Observe yourself and have fun doing so.

Hot Buttons

Are there certain situations that make you see 'red' (instantly infuriate you)?  Are there certain words, people or actions that trigger an automatic response from you?  Have you noticed any commonalities between them?  I call these hot buttons.  Everyone has them and children (mine for sure!) are experts at knowing yours.  They know when and how to push them to set you off.

Whether you are a parent or not doesn't matter.  The important part is to realize that these automatic reactions are deep within you and are usually tied to a deep seeded fear/emotion (or even multiples).  There is an underlying pattern that you can detect/examine/get familiar with by careful self examination and observation.  Dissolving these patterns is part of the work on your path to the light.  And if that is not your goal, it will at least make it harder for your kids to set you off (worked for me!).  :)

Here is a personal example:  By looking at one of my hot buttons I found out that I was always playing the part of "the Rescuer".  Whenever I perceived someone being in need of help or rescuing I would step in.  I also realized after some more time, that as a "rescuer" you put yourself in the middle of a conflict situation.  And often times, though your intentions are good, your interference is more harmful than not and not appreciated.  You are also depriving others of their learning opportunity.

For example, my two boys had a period where they started to spar each other verbally.  The younger one, being younger, often got shot down by the older one.  Inevitably I would step in and lecture or yell at the older one, thinking I was doing the younger one a favor and setting an example.  Boy, was I wrong.

Once I realized that I was again using my "rescuer" mode, I asked my younger son if he wanted me to step in for him.  He shyly answered that he did not and that it actually scared him!  That was quite the eye-opening answer for me.  So we agreed that I would not intervene unless he asked me to.

My underlying fear went back to my childhood where I stood up for a loved one when that person was being physically abused.  So any time I saw someone not being able to defend themselves (which was also only MY perception through My filters) I had a compulsive need to step in and defend.

This was only one example of the many facets I discovered concerning "the Rescuer" mode once I started looking.  It is not always easy to see oneself clearly and being coached helped me tremendously.  And thus I would like to send out a big thank you to all the wonderful coaches that have helped me on my way!  THANK YOU!!!

Perfection

Perfection...what a big word.  Here are some of its synonyms: excellence, faultlessness, rightness, exactness, precision, flawlessness, aptness. Is this something you strive towards in your everyday life?  On a scale from 1-10, (1 being not at all, and 10 being totally) where would you rate yourself as far as striving for perfection in all areas of your life on a daily basis?  How does this work for you?

What if you switched out Perfection with Creation in your life?  How would that change things for you?  Would the internal pressure subside?  Would new doors open for you?  Would it increase the potential of something greater surfacing?  Something unexpected, something you couldn't imagine?  Would it be more or less fulfilling?  What if...

To Create Change Be The Change

To live in the light, as discussed in my first and second blog entries, you need to change.  The only way you can change is by facing your obstacles and owning them fully.  What does owning them fully mean?  It means that you need to be brutally honest with yourself and take responsibility for what it is that is blocking/stopping you without looking for an outside/external excuse. 

 

If you believe that the only way you can change is if something or someone around you changes then you are on a self limiting path.  It is impossible to control something or someone else.  All you have control over is you.  The only thing you can truly change is you.  It is easier to point the finger at someone else and get irritated with them, but the truth is that it is an escape mechanism.  It is a way to avoid looking inside, because it is too hard, or too painful, lonely, dark, etc.

 

Should you decide though to change, you will see that the world around you changes.  Your relationships will change and I mean all of them.  Some will get stronger and others will fade.  Your change will be noticed and you will become an inspiration to some that will choose to grow with you or it may not be right for others who will then choose to go their own way.

 

Independently, you will be stepping into your light and feeling stronger and lighter.  The more you are in line with who you are and your path, the happier and more joyful you will be in the long run.  Face your fears.  They may look like fire breathing dragons, but when you look back you will see that they are really only kittens.  Our perception blows them out of proportion and you will ask yourself:  "Why didn't I do this sooner???"

 

In closing, I would like to share a quote that takes this whole discussion just one step further. Once you learn how to change you can then also direct your change to achieve great things.  :)

 

"Be the change you want to see in the world." by Mahatma Ghandi

Blessings for everyone

I would like to share a simple exercise with you.  The next time you drive in your car, send a blessing to every person you pass.  I say: "Bless you" out loud to every person that passes me until I reach my destination.  By all means continue if you so desire!

I found out that by doing this...
1. I increased my energy level
2. I did something good for others without their knowledge
3. My mood changed for the better
4. I was more productive for the rest of the day

I sure benefited a lot by being good to others.  Please let me know how this goes for you should you choose to try it.  Have a great day!

Positive Thoughts, Positive Expressions

Have you ever consciously paid attention to the type of phrasing you use everyday?  Is it positive or negative?  Whether out loud or in your head, how often do you use the words 'no' and 'not', as in can't, won't, don't, shouldn't, wouldn't?  For example, when you are talking to you children do you say: "Don't forget your lunch!" or would you say "Remember your lunch!"?  Can you notice the energetic difference in the two sentences?  The first implies that you believe they will forget their lunch and thus that they are incompetent.  The second is more encouraging/empowering.

Several years ago, I read when you speak to angels, spirit guides, etc, that negatives are not understood, so when you say: "I don't want to be sick" what comes across is "I do want to be sick".  This made me really pay attention to how I phrased my sentences and I was amazed how much of what I said and thought was in negative terms.

That challenged me to think and speak positively, which was easier said then done.  It took a lot of practice, vigilance and creativity to restructure this habit.  Over time you will see how positive such a change is for you, and also for those around you.  As you are emitting positive vibes/energy to others, through your positive thoughts and expressions, those around you will be positively influenced and thus more likely to pass that positive vibration on. 

Go on and give it a try.  Make a game out of it and see how it goes.  Challenge those around you to do it with you and see who can stay positive the longest.

Fasting

Four weeks ago, I felt compelled to start fasting one day a week, possibly for the rest of my life, though only time will tell.  Thursdays are fasting days, which means today I am fasting.  Here are the rules I set in place for myself that have worked out really well so far:

1. Drink LOTS of water. 
It is a wonderful way to hydrate yourself and it gives you something to fill your tummy when hunger strikes.  Though don't down it all at once.  Take lots of sips throughout the day.  :)

2. You can drink fresh juices (100% juice), though try to keep it to no more than 3-4 glasses a day. 
Usually my juice of choice is the juice of a fresh organic lemon in a large glass of water with some Stevia for sweetening, either cold or warmed up (do not use sugar since it will reverse the benefits of the lemon).  Lemons have a high alkalizing effect on the body when being digested, which seems counter-intuitive.  Either way I love lemons and the lemonade is delicious.
In our Western society we tend to overindulge in acidic foods and thus I thought that this would help my body get back into balance in addition to giving it a break. 

3. Don't eat any solid food.

That's it.  Simple and effective.  I feel very well throughout the day and my body appreciates the time to recoup.  Try it!  It might work for you too.

Free

Today I would like to share an inspirational song that covers many aspects of what I have blogged about this first week.  I love it and hope you will too.  Below are the lyrics and at the end a YouTube link if you would like to hear the actual song (well worth it in my opinion).  The song itself is entitled "Free" and is sung by Elliott Yamin.  ENJOY!!!

FREE

Songwriters: Louis John Biancaniello, Robert Louis Daniels, Marlaina Kemp,

Wayne Nugent, Kevin Risto, Samuel J. Watters

 

Now that fear is out of the way

I'm starting to see myself so clear

Like a light shining into the night

 

Everybody has a day

When they are criticized for somethings

But hold on to what you believe

 

REFRAIN:

Tell me what you are hiding from

Everybody is on the run

Moving so fast, gotta slow it down and breathe



Hold fast to your dreams

And don't be afraid to fly

Alone in the sky, when you do then

You'll be free

Nothing's impossible

FREE

You'll achieve the unexplainable

FREE

I believe that miracles

Happen to those who refuse to be told

They can happen when we least expect

When we let ourselves be free

 

Every chance that we take

Is one less mistake we can make

Sometimes our blessings are in disguise

 

Look beyond what they say

It don't really matter what they see

As long as you can believe

 

Repeat REFRAIN

 

It's difficult to hold on, so easy to let go

And take the road that's least resistant

But you gotta be persistent

Lead and never follow, don't wait for tomorrow

You've got to do it today

 

Nothing's impossible

FREE

You'll achieve the unexplainable

FREE

I believe that miracles

Happen to those who refuse to be told

They can happen when we least expect

When we let ourselves be free

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvx-rReZsnw



The Spiral of Life

I've always loved spirals.  When I started making jewelry I felt very drawn to this particular geometric shape.  While coaching I started understanding why and now often use the spiral as symbol to understanding life.

I believe that we all come to this earth to learn certain life lessons to grow our soul.  As we walk on the spiral of life we are confronted with challenges, learning opportunities that we can either choose to tackle or not.  Either choice is fine.  Each life lesson will be presented throughout your life to you in different ways.  You will work on all kinds of different facets of the same key challenge giving you a full spectrum learning experience and understanding of what you are here to accomplish.

If you choose to work on a life lesson it helps your spiral expand which in turn means that you are opening door after door, uncovering facet after facet.  You will find that the more you work on these facets, the easier it becomes.  In a way you are a rough diamond that you are polishing and refining facet by facet.  Needless to say, the diamond in the rough will shine more and more until it reaches absolute brilliance. 

Now if at some point you choose not to work on a lesson presented (and we all do), that is ok too.  Since you are not learning this lesson it will come back to you in a different point in time in a different form, maybe even in one that might seem more manageable to you.  Due to your choice, the spiral cannot expand, though you continue walking your spiral's path.  Since you have a limited amount of time here on earth, you will experience that the more you say no to a growth opportunity, the more frequently the new opportunities arise and often times the severity/intensity increases too. 

I guess the important thing to understand overall is that life's challenges are learning opportunities.  Instead of looking at the negative, see what there is for you to learn.  This will give you insights too into why you are here and also whether you are on the right path or where your soul's path is.  Open yourself up to seeing, hearing, growing and accepting.  The clues are subtle, but they are all around you.

Tears: a homeopathic remedy

I was recently told by an energy healer to catch my tears in my mouth when they fall because they work like a homeopathic remedy.  I found that to be an intriguing thought that really resonated with me and thus I am sharing with you.

It also made me think of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean : On Stranger Tides, where the single tear of a mermaid had great power.  :)

Try it out next time you cry and see how it makes you feel.  I would love to hear your results.  Personally, it does soothe me.  Hope it works for you too.

Where are your thoughts?

Here is a challenge/exercises for your next 24 hours:

Throughout your day, periodically (as often as you can) stop and ask yourself: Where are my thoughts right in this moment?  Are they
1) in the past,
2) in the present or
3) in the future? 

Keep a tally and see where you're at once the day is over.  Where do you spend the majority of your day?

Yesterday is gone, tomorrow will always be out there.  Why then do we spend so much time at those two extremes, while our life unfolds right now, right here?  This is one great way to start becoming more aware of your life and making a change. Only in the now can you be active.

Asking For Help

In continuation to yesterday's blog posting, another way of dealing with any challenging situation or more specifically fear is by asking your Higher Support System, that is angels, guardian angels, spirit guides, healer angles, God, etc., for help.  If you are not familiar with this, an excellent book to read is Sonia Choquette's "Ask your guides".

An important thing to understand when dealing with angels, guides, etc. is that they are always near by, but that they can only assist us if we specifically ask for their help and/or assistance.  This is not to say that they can make decisions and our work for us, but they can aid us in our choices.

It is simple to do:
1. Set your positive intent and be clear what you want to accomplish/achieve.  It is best to formulate your intent with positive words (avoid negatives). 
2. Ask for help!  If you know specifically whom you want help from, speak to them directly.  If not, then ask generally. 
3. Then let it go.  Give it over to your support system and be open for the change and the help! 

Just this morning I followed these steps and within a couple of minutes I felt a change in my subtle body.  It felt like I was "sprinkled with a crystalline blessing" (it is hard to describe the sensation) that calmed every cell in my body.  It was very peaceful and very effective. 

Doubt

In yesterday's posting I mentioned how I have committed to consciously live in the light to the best of my ability every day.  This was a big step for me because I knew it also meant facing my (hopefully) last few big fears and that change goes hand in hand with it.  I know though in my heart of hearts that I am ready and that this is my next step on my journey.  It is the biggest leap of faith I have taken yet and there hasn't been a day so far that I haven't had to face some type of fear.  Today it was doubt.

Here are some clues as to what to look for when you shift away from your center, away from your light:
1. Your body gets tense
2. Your breathing shallows and becomes more rapid
3. Your stomach is in knots
4. Your mind is chattering mirthlessly (in my case today it kept creating "what if..." scenarios seeding doubt) and you are stuck in your head
5. You slow or stop in your level of productivity/activity
6. You are not happy, calm nor in joy

Here are action steps you can follow to get back to your center:
1. Recognize you are off center - though this sounds simple it is a VERY important step and every time you do recognize it give yourself a mental high five!  It is not as easy as it looks!
2. Locate and name (if possible) the uncomfortable feeling in you
3. Breathe it out.  Take as many breaths as you need to relax your body, calm your stomach, etc and release the negative feeling.  Visualizing and sensing it leaving your body really helps.
4. Once it is out of your body, find your center - for me I open my heart area and pull energy in from above. It expands and fills me with peace and positive energy.  Whatever you do be sure to put a positive feeling into the place of the negative one that was removed.  Removal of negative energy does cause a void.
5.  Repeat these steps as often as needed.  Practice makes perfect. :)

The Light

In a guided meditation I saw this light as a lit candle shining bright in the center, right around the heart area, of each individual .  This space, that is in all of us, is warm, peaceful, sacred and powerful.  When you are in this space no one and nothing can touch you, it is that deep and profound.  You are safe, loved and one with all.  You feel a sense of awe and a complete sense of belonging.  You are home. 

Different people have a different visual of this light, but the feel of it is very consistent from person to person based on my experience.  I believe "the light" is a metaphor for this space of elevated energy, our link to the Divine, God, Allah, whatever expression you feel most comfortable with.  It maybe even is the seat of your soul and/or the Higher Self?  All I know is that it feels GREAT and the first time I got a taste of it I wanted more.

Most people, myself included, have lost touch with this space over the years and even forgotten that it is there.  The good news is that it is always there no matter how much we try to block it out.  It is our choice as to whether we want it as part of our lives, the center of our lives or not at all.

As an engineer and a very analytical person it has been a work in progress for me to find this light in me and to integrate it into my day-to-day life.  Just last month though I have become aware that my journey entails this space/light being in the center of my life, not just a part of it. So here I go!

In the coming days/weeks/months I will be sharing my learnings on how to overcome hurdles (assuming I overcome them  :) ) and anything else that might come up.  For today though, I would like to share a few suggestions on how to find this space.  If you have other suggestions, please share them!  I would love to hear about them.

HOW TO FIND THE LIGHT:
1. First and foremost, if you got this far, you are already on your way by KNOWING that there is such a space in you!  So congratulations, step one is done!
2. Close your eyes and breathe.  Set your intent on what you would like to achieve.  Let your thoughts go and then start searching within yourself.  Visualize yourself as a house and it is up to you to find the hidden door.  Let your senses guide you.
3. Odds are that the door is hidden by fears.  So if you can't find the door look for your fears.  Once you find the fear(s) either work through them or ask the fear(s) to step aside so you can take a peak.
4. If you feel you can't do this on your own, find a coach or someone who can guide you to find your space or help you raise your energy level.
5. Prayer is another great way to get in touch with the light!!!

Live your light

Our Greatest Fear

by

Marianne Williamson

 

"It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."



 

 

I love this quote and thought it would be a wonderful way to start this blog, since its content is so dear to my heart and to what I do for a living.  For several years I have felt compelled to share my journey through a blog, but have never followed through due to fear.  Today, I am ready to live my light and to share what I learn on my journey through 2013.  It is my deepest wish that this blog may be of benefit to others on their journey.  Peace, love and light to all.