All posts by Joy

Nov 07
1
Love

Love

By | Encouragement, positive thoughts | No Comments

How does one describe the endearment of love? I think love is infinite. Love is kind. Love is eternal. It is something you take with you always. It infuses your soul. It is the highest expression you can give someone. Love also has the power to heal.

Love is described in an infinite number of ways. Love is felt, seen, give, and touched differently. Each experience with love is unique. We can help others with love. One of the highest gifts is love.

How we feel love, how we show love, and how we infuse love into what we do reflects a powerful high vibration. I believe this vibration not only heals us, but also helps to heal loved ones, and in turn our earth. Love is magnified throughout the universe.

Can you believe that when you love yourself and others, you are contributing to a positive vibration within the collective consciousness? To give and receive love you are part of helping the planet. Love can guide you to feeling your connection with the earth, in this universe, and with each other.

I often hear “How can I make a difference?” Love. What can I do? Love. How can I contribute? Love. Love where you are. Love yourself. Love those around you. Whomever you come into contact with daily. Before you smirk about those annoying or pesky individuals in your life, could you instead try to see them with more loving eyes? It can change the energy you interact with and receive from that person. If you don’t enjoy their presence so much, you can use love to shift your experience with them.

Sometimes people are moody or unkind because of how they feel about themselves. Show them some love and see what can transform. Love has the power, the ability, and the magic to transcend. Even what may seem impossible to change. Everything is energy and everything moves on some level. So there is always the power of change.

Love is something you can believe in. Love doesn’t have one definition, description, or language. Through hardships, love can uplift us. Love gives us hope. Love gives us peace and love gives us possibility.

No matter your job, your titles, your family dynamics—-you have the opportunity to infuse them with love. Love is boundless and timeless. We may not take our material belongings with us when we transition from these bodies, but I do believe we take our love. Our status, our finances, our home all stay behind. Love goes with the soul. The bonds through love are never ending. No matter what you believe, love helps our journey in life.

Love is also linked with happiness, gratitude, and joy. They dance in this artful experience of life. Our lives and joys all look different from one another, but all joy is a root of love.

Every day when you arise and move through your day, you have the option to bring more love. To show love and to see love. No matter what is blaring on the news. No matter what fear and stresses have been amplified by so many. You have the option, the opportunity, and the ability to love. In small or big ways. Maybe it’s making breakfast for your family. Providing transportation, smiling at customers, helping your co-worker, holding the door for someone, helping someone that has their hands full, paying a compliment, being gentle with an animal, being patient with the elderly, or simply showing up with your presence.

Pay attention to what energy you infuse. Then pay attention to what is coming back to you. The more love you can infuse, notice if anything uplifts. Pay attention to how it make you feel. The atmosphere around you. Consider this as an experiment. And I’d love to hear your feedback!

Oct 31
0

Uniquely You

By | Encouragement, positive thoughts | No Comments

When you ponder if you’re good enough, worthy enough, or even talented enough, I think it’s worth remembering you are uniquely you. No one can do any task, role, or job just like you. You may come across kindred spirits or friends that have much in common with you, but no one can be exactly like you.

So before you continue to measure yourself, compare yourself, or simply doubt yourself, remember you have a unique ability that only you bring to the table. You entail your own strengths, perspective, and style. Your smile, your laugh, and even the place of some freckles. Even twins have distinguishable features. There is room for a variety of contribution in this world. What a boring place it would look and feel if we were all moving around and looking the same!

When I was growing up, I was lucky my mom pretty much let me pick out my clothes and dress myself. Looking back at pictures, that clearly showed through. I have to admit I may have come off pretty tacky at times, but no one else had my style. From the way we fix our hair, to the way we wear our clothes, we could be more encouraging and do more to embrace each other’s uniqueness.

When I notice people making fun of how others dress or look, I think we are disempowering ourselves. When we do this, we reveal our inner judge and critic. Maybe this is their sense of style. Maybe it’s all they had available to wear. Perhaps they were having a bad day and that was the best they could do at the time. Maybe they don’t look in the mirror and try to please other people.

We have plenty of ways we can help and uplift each other without cutting down our appearances and feelings. The next time you’re in a store and perhaps someone has their pajamas on, give them a smile or high five for courageously being themselves. Be happy they are able to be in the store and make purchases to begin with. Some people out there on limited budgets have to miss out on those luxuries we may take for granted.

I certainly think it would feel a little weird if everyone showed up looking like me. We can appreciate our differences and uniqueness as we all add special ingredients to life. Our attire, our cars, our jobs, our homes, and our hobbies are all uniquely for our own choices. Sure, it’s fun when you encounter people that enjoy similar things. I’m just pointing out trying not to lose sight of the beauty in our differences and diversity.

The next time you’re up for a job, or meeting someone new, or perhaps questioning your appearance before you leave your home out into public, remember your unique strengths. You have a beautiful uniqueness no one else can occupy. For example, let’s use the possibility of new job or position for instance. You may find yourself not getting picked for the position. Rather than feeling not good enough for the position, you can feel like the position wasn’t good enough for you. You want to embark on things suited for you. There is a straight line to misery when you try force something that isn’t for you.

Your unique strengths give you an advantage of what you offer. Carry this confidence in your heart and if the position or situation doesn’t work out, you can be grateful that a more unique opportunity for you is on the way. Changing the energy of feeling unworthiness or something being wrong with you to feeling vibrant and uniquely you can open space for more empowering energy and opportunities.

It’s a feeling and a blessing to carry with you. You are uniquely you!

Oct 24
0
Yes

Yes

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Often our yes is more than an answer or response. It is often an opportunity. An invitation to a journey. A journey of experiences, lessons, and growth. It is a gauge to help you towards the direction in which you intend to go. We say yes when we are ready to learn.

When you say yes, it certainly doesn’t mean that you are ever fully ready or know how things will go. Yes is the opening of a door. Perhaps many doors. No guarantees, but there really aren’t many in flow and energy in life.

It helps to be cautious with the expectation of yes. Yes is where you intend to go, but I think it is helpful to understand that all yeses come with a journey that can be full of ups and downs.

The important thing to note is the opportunity of yes. It can be an avenue to a successful business journey. You will learn over time from your yes what works and often what doesn’t work. Saying yes is an invitation to the opening of what is possible.

Where no simply shuts all doors, yes allows. Yes is an opportunity to be more understanding and more open to life. Yes allows the energy to move in the direction of our dreams, hopes, and desires.

Yes can also move through failures to your success. Think of it this way: When a baby is first learning to walk, just because he falls several times does not mean he/she won’t ever walk. Just because you have a fight with your significant other doesn’t mean your relationship has to be over. It’s an opportunity to say yes and continue to try and move forward.

Yes is allowing yourself to be less rigid. Energy can flow better when we don’t try to block the flow. Yes can use the energy to leverage the universe. How can you attempt any new career, idea, or dream if you aren’t willing to say yes?

Yes opens the space to be picked by ideas and inspiration. When you say yes, you certainly don’t have to have all the answers to move forward. Most often that is impossible to know. Until we are all given a crystal ball in seeing the future, we have the unknown to rely on. There is such beauty in the unknown as well. It can feel shaky, but how boring life would be if we could see the entire staircase! We would kill our desire to strive and accomplish anything right there.

What would be the point of moving if we knew how the whole movie would play out? Yes is a step. Yes is a try. Yes is a permission slip to the journey. Yes is embarking onto a path. And though there is also great power in when to use the word no, we often throw it out before thoroughly considering the yes. We can get into a bad habit of automatically saying yes or no. When we do this, we miss so many options and opportunities and blessings in life. We need to take time to consider things before a quick response.

I have a tip that has helped myself and many through the years. Anytime you are proposed an opportunity in anything in life, before saying yes or no, think about it. Give yourself the space to see and feel if the fit of opportunity is there for you. I certainly think we should all give ourselves that space before any decision. When we answer on the spot without giving it some room in consideration, we can regret our answer. Tell the other or others you will have to take it into consideration. You reserve the right to figure out what is best.

Once you give it a little time to examine and contemplate, you can allow the space to receive guidance and information. Explore the opportunities of your yeses and noes. Will the yes be the direction you are wanting to head? You won’t have all the answers to begin with. Your yes is the beginning. When you say yes, be ready. You are granting access to infinite energy. You open up a portal to a journey and lessons. Be aware of the opportunities and beauty of your YES!

Oct 17
0
Anger

Anger

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Many of us struggle with anger from time to time or perhaps habitually. There are times that anger can be positive if it motivates you towards positive change. Often though, our anger is self destructive.

Anger is a natural energy of emotion. It is designed to protect you from danger. It is ideally set up as a warning system to protect us and provide us with the energy to do something about it. The problem we can develop with anger is when we adopt it as a frequent reaction, or build it up on the inside. Unresolved anger can play out in our lives in torturous and unhealthy ways.

Our mind can be our friend or our enemy. Our brains are very powerful and our imagination is what creates our experiences. It is helpful to be aware of what your mind habitually is imagining. Especially when you struggle with anger often. It can act as a slow poison to your system.

Anger indicates what your mind is thinking or imagining. It is the barometer of your focus. The root of anger often stems from fear, self judgement, comparing, worry, and self abuse. It can take some focus and awareness to look deeper into the causes of your anger. It often comes from and builds from your internal dialog, imagination, and beliefs.

To reduce our anger we need to identify patterns, notice what your mind is practicing, and especially your self-talk (what you frequently tell yourself.) This can help you dissolve patterns and shift some beliefs.

When you are feeling or experiencing anger, step back and notice what your thinking. Is it from an unmet expectation? Physical or emotional pain caused by a person or event? Could you be suffering from frustration? Many times our imagination creates unnecessary worry and builds worst-case scenarios that consume our mind. When we dwell in anger we cultivate more trauma for ourselves. When we remember pain and replay distressing events, we lower our emotions to that vibration and repeatedly experience the pain building into more anger.

Being less angry takes time and practice. Practicing and redirecting your focus more regularly helps change your anger into peace and enables you to let it go. You can approach it many ways and explore what may work best for you.

The simple act of awareness is a powerful step. It helps give you a grasp on which way to refocus/pivot.
This one may initially sound outlandish, but accept and acknowledge your pain. Since pain is unpleasant we often avoid it at all costs, but it has to go somewhere, and hiding it on the inside or burying it causes problems to our physical and emotional health. Accepting and feeling our pain helps us to heal and move through it.
Be gentle and love yourself when you are experiencing pain and anger. Your body communicates with you on what it needs when we learn to tune in. Being loving to yourself as you work through it helps you transform it.
Deep breathing. I cannot express this enough. Not only can this be a simple tool to calm you down in the moment, it also counteracts what pain and anger do to your body.
Some of us need literal exercises to feel more of an impact. You can write a letter to work through anger. Perhaps you need to write a letter of forgiveness to let it go. Forgiving doesn’t mean it was okay; it just means bringing peace onto yourself.
Affirmations work well when practiced over time. We need to feel what we are saying to ourselves for a more powerful effect. For example: “I’m choosing to let this situation go for my health.” Another one can be, “I choose to move past this circumstance.” You may need to practice it a bit, but try it.
You can also have a breakthrough by visualizing yourself releasing the pain, hurt, and anger.

These are just a few examples of simple tools you can implement to help you through your struggles with anger. I’m not saying you won’t ever experience anger, but if you are struggling with anger regularly it can be affecting your life in negative ways. It can affect your health and how your body heals. The more of a positive mindset you can maintain more regularly, the more you can actually boost your immune system.

Over time I hope you can help yourself to use your mind and imagination to empower yourself instead of suffering with anger. If you practice your changes, I believe you can experience less anger and live more joyfully. I won’t promise you that you’ll never experience anger, but when you learn to be less reactive with it you can use these tools to move through it quicker and transform it in more healthy ways. Ideally it would be beneficial to work with our emotions to help us rather than harm us. The less anger you feel, the lighter you become. It can be like removing an anchor, unchaining your feet, or perhaps opening your heart.

Oct 10
0
Grief

Grief

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Many of us may think of grief when it comes to death, but grief comes in many packages and sizes. We grieve not only in the loss from death, but the loss of relationships, loss of a marraige, the loss of a job, and loss of expectations. Many times in life we find ourselves dealing with grief in one form or another. We don’t always have the language and tools to express ourselves and heal.

Grief is like a storm of emotions you didn’t know was possible. Grief is hard to describe because it’s felt and experienced so differently by everyone. I remember hearing someone describe grief like an onion, each comes apart differently.

Grief takes you to a depth seemingly impossible. In the midst of grief we struggle to see our way out. A moment when emotional pain feels physical. A stab wound come to life emotionally. No matter what our titles, accomplishments, or roles we carry around are in life we all are stripped bare naked within grief.

It feels like time standing in the midst of an illusion. Regardless of our roles, titles, and accomplishments, in grief we all experience this humanness. This place of depth deep within. An experience and feelings you could not have imagined. Life jerking you into the present. An elation of rawness. Exposing something in your core.

It can not be measured nor assigned to time. It flows and experienced differently by everyone it meets. It seems to have memory that knows no time or space and can be transported at a thought’s glance.

The surreality about grief is during the midst of it, life moves on. All around you. You may be able to even notice the differences in the vibrations of life simultaneously. It’s like scrambling our way out all the while noticing those around us being “normal”. Acknowledging how we took the day before for advantage.

Grief is normal. It is part of our human experience at times. We can heal from it. We can gain strenth from it. We can also find the gifts within. You can choose to allow it to take hold on the inside. Some struggle letting it go. Some fight it. I think some sew it to the inside of their soul. There really isn’t a right or wrong way to handle it. I do believe it will change you. How it changes you and what you do with it is up to you.

Friends can help. Counseling can help. Love can help. Time can help. Sharing and compassion can help. Many tools can be implemented for feeling and healing. Often it’s the miracles that show up. The blessings in people that help. Our friends and family who help uplift us, hold us, or simply give their presence. We don’t always know what we need to heal and move foreword, but like life it’s a journey.

Each day of grief will be different. Some days will be easier than others. It’s often about allowing the measurements, expectations, and how it should look like go. Letting it be what it is can be an empowering energy to move through it. It can be a demonstration of how much you love.

I’ve learned to give grief it’s time and space. It is especially worth while to remind myself it’s temporary. As other grief has came and gone through in my life, I do move on. I will experience joy and happiness again. It won’t always feel like grief. It’s welcoming it and allowing the energy through. To stay can be damaging. We can pass that energy on to others or simply just continue torturing ourselves with it.

I think it’s good to remember we are allowed these emotions going through life. It’s part of processing and accepting things that have happened. It can eventually become a beautiful metaphor of living life. Getting the rainbow after the storms. The promise of hope, and moving on to tomorrow. It can be a fierce reminder of each mundane day as a gift.

So remember in times of grief to be gentle and caring with yourself. For this process and power is not there to permeately harm you, but an opportunity for love, compassion, and hope. It takes time. And each of us need a different amount of time. Lend a hug, love, helping hand, or simply be present for those grieving around you because there will be times you’ll need it as well. Treat grief with love and respect. Honor it’s presence to help you in the tough times. And remember this too shall pass…

Oct 03
0
empathy

Empathy

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Empathy. I’ve always felt very empathic my entire life. I feel emotions of others in a strong and strange way. Communicating with other people has been very easy as an adult, but not so much as a child. As a child, the experience was overwhelming. I was shy and wasn’t always sure about expressing myself.

I’ve learned through life experiences, both extremely good and bad, how to open up and share my empathy. Maybe not always in the best of ways, but I feel like it’s a part of me that I experience out in the world. Especially in my careers. I cannot or can’t always explain it. I do explore it in reflection and in writing. It is a bit in how I live with it. I do feel I’m not alone and many of us do not know how to deal with it and express it. To give it a name and simply put our finger on it.

I try to allow some of the energy of my empathy to move through me, and then share it. I try to put into words what I pick up on and what I have a hunch in the things/feelings that many of us experience. I understand we all have a different perspective in what and how we experience in life. It can be challenging trying to describe life with language. I do however feel I have an interesting and unique perspective on how I experience it.

In my spare time, I try and attempt to translate this empathy in my writing. It’s a practice. It evolves and develops. Maybe it’s my strength and maybe it’s my nemesis; I haven’t fully decided. It does allow me a deeper connection with people. Or at least I feel so. I don’t always know what to do with it, how to process it, or how to describe it. I do explore different avenues to express it. For a while now, writing has been a helpful and joyful outlet.

I suspect we all have different gifts to share. Taking the time to be authentic to yourself and explore ways of expressing your inner self is probably worth your while. We don’t always experience the encouragement to shine or explore our passions and gifts. We can get caught up in the expectations, goals, and accomplishments instead of what we truly desire to know and share.

I’m the first to admit it happened to me too . I didn’t start exploring and understanding myself until probably my late 20s and on into my 30s There are no set rules or explanations for how and when you should act, uncover, or simply try to understand yourself. I just like to share some of my experiences and encourage yours. To always remind you that 1) you’re not alone and 2) it’s okay to be unsure and explore.

Perhaps if I live to be an old woman, I will have a different perspective by then as well. I suspect I may even say that the exploration never ended. Especially since we are always moving, evolving, and changing with the experience in our journey in life.

If you are already lucky enough to really know some of your inner truths and gifts/strengths of yourself, how wonderful. Please take the time to hone in, honor and share your gifts. It’s your strength. You can already use that in what you are already doing every day. If you feel like you are in situations or circumstances (like your job, for instance) that you struggle in shining your authentic light, you can explore some other options. You might not currently be in a position to up and leave, but in your spare moments you can utilize some other tools and avenues for your expressions.

I feel blessed that I get to use my empathy in my business with my clients and express it through my writing. I certainly hope I can bring it to the table when I am present with my family and friends. Not perfectly, but as close to my empathic presence as I can be.

I encourage you to explore your gifts and light in whatever ways you can. You may be a great listener, healer, teacher, caregiver, leader, or encourager. The more you infuse life with your energy, I believe the more you receive in return. You are more powerful and successful in the world when you bring your authenticity. Allow it, shine it, and let it pull you where you need to be. Trust it. It is your gift.

Sep 26
0
Health begins when you stop fighting your own body

Health Begins When You Stop Fighting Your Own Body

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One simple thing I think we often miss is that our improved health begins when we stop fighting our bodies. Every day our bodies are constantly striving to obtain the best alignment and health it possibly can. Our cells are always creating a homeostatic environment and striving to balance our systems collectively.

While you are talking, while you’re sleeping, while you’re engaging in your daily activities, and even when you may be complaining, your body is moving behind the scenes. Think about it. How many times a day do you remind your heart to beat every minute? How often do you ask your lungs to exchange the air you need to breathe? When you touch something, do you ask your nervous system to feel for you every time? We can take a lot for granted that is constantly happening for us.

While you have your amazing body functioning on your behalf each and every day, how are you treating it in return? Do you care and respect it as much as you would your family, home, or even work? Do you put it last? Often we trade our cars, homes, and jobs when we need an upgrade. We can’t do that with our bodies. We may improve them, but I haven’t found a store where you get the full trade.

From the way we speak to ourselves (remember our cells are always listening) to the way we take care of it and give it rest and nutrition, our body works with what we put into it. Perhaps when we step back and feel gratitude for all that is going on internally on our behalf, we can inspire better care of ourselves.

You don’t have to reroute your entire life to do it. There are times that your health may call for extreme health care during a crisis, but I’m talking about the things you can do each day. Those steps in self care magnetize to better health.

Being patient with yourself is a good start. Giving your body water more often enables your cells and organs to do so much more on your behalf. Giving it some movement, and also balancing it out with ample amounts of rest and sleep. There is a time for both in optimal health. One of the biggest things I see from clients is the need to set more healthy boundaries on stress.

If you are being pulled in too many directions in life that prevent you from rest and self care, I highly recommend a re-evaluation of your life. It’s very healthy to do from time to time. Especially since not all commitments are meant to be for a lifetime. It may be only of use in seasons. Like life, our needs and balance change. You may be on the spectrum of walking away from some things and you may be on the spectrum to get out a little more and pick up some new things. We can easily get out of whack on both sides.

The investment in time towards your health can be of great reward. Especially if you yearn a long healthy life. You can enjoy your loved ones more. You can engage in the things that bring you passion easier when you feel well. Just as you would tend to your child, elderly parent, a pet, and even plants, you deserve as much attention as you give to others.

Many people think that if they care well for themselves they are being selfish and taking away from others. I found it to be the exact opposite. The better you care for yourself, the better you feel, and the better you are to others. You actually seem to crave wellness for others when you feel well.

So…take that time for yourself. Get a massage, take a nap, go to bed a little earlier, drink more water, try some yoga, make a few minutes for silence or meditation, go on a nature walk, or think grateful and loving thoughts towards yourself. Be creative and simply ask your body what it needs. It’s always communicating with us; we just often aren’t listening. And spend more time learning to listen to your body. I’ve found it to be people’s best guru.

Sep 19
1
Not forcing things

Not Forcing Things

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One of the biggest things I’ve learned about creativity is that you really can’t force things if they aren’t ready. I have weekly writing goals and luckily have a wonderful writing coach that helps my needs in improvement and accountability. It helps me in my flow. My goals generally work really well for me. Like life, it can get a little off balance and at times need a bit of rearranging. Mostly they fit easily in my life.

With all that said, even with “goals” set forth, I find there are times and days that the tap isn’t flowing for me. When you write or create often, you can get out of balance. When this happens, I’ve found we can help move that stagnant energy by refilling ourselves. Refilling ourselves helps with inspiration and blocks. I’m very busy outside of my writing practice running my own businesses, taking care of my family, my pets, and my variety of daily activities. I’m always checking in with my balance scales to be more aware and perhaps a little better. Refilling my “tank” helps me to juggle the many things going on daily.

There are times that I have the opportunity and atmosphere set up and ready to write and not much is flowing. The more I try to force it, it truly eludes me even more. I’ve learned to not get so frustrated and take it as a sign for a little refueling. I have found many little tidbits to help me balance. At times I only briefly walk away and the flow comes right back. I may read some current topics, listen to an inspiring YouTube video or lecture, and I also love to catch up on TED talks (I’m going to suggest checking out TED talks if you’re not familiar with them already as I think these are great for hope and inspiration). Even a short break can get the juices flowing.

When I have days where I originally planned plenty of time for my writing and it doesn’t flow much that day, I see it as a blessed opportunity to break and focus my energy elsewhere. I have a list of books I look forward to reading and I may pick one up to take a break from my own head. I also recognize that when you have busyness in your life, a day or two of self care to refuel certainly helps responsibilities, work, and people in your life.

When you feel a little stuck, not flowing, or perhaps fatigued in some of your activities, consider redirecting your focus to gain some clarity, insight, or inspiration. It can be big or small. There will be times and opportunities for both. If and when you can swing the opportunity do some self care days, jump on it! It could be a massage, a trip to the salon, or some sort of service that makes your soul joyful and your mind relaxed. On days you do not have those bigger opportunities, you can implement small things. It could be a favorite book, a funny movie, a walk, a little yoga, a soulful chat with a friend, or anything you can do that uplifts you a bit.

When we try to force our flow or energy, we often don’t get far past our frustration. Trying to force things doesn’t feel inspired and we aren’t moving so much from the soul. Have you ever noticed when you are excited about a project, that it just flows? Now think about how it feels when you try to force or make something happen. I know my gut isn’t comfortable when I try to force action. The action ends up feeling empty or incomplete. Mainly it feels like I put a lot of work and energy in and didn’t make it very far..

When you can be mindful in how you feel while you are creating or doing a project, you can steer the energy to serve you better. If it feels like you are forcing it, take it as a sign for a beautiful break. Declare you are allowing some space for divine ideas and inspiration. Redirect your energy and simply go do something else. See if you find some relief. If we can get away from insisting things always flow our way, we can allow space for more powerful energy that can serve you much better. You may even tap into a more magnificent flow!

Sep 14
0
Prime yourself

Prime Yourself

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I was listening to an interview between Oprah and Tony Robbins. He stated “If you don’t have ten minutes in the morning to prime yourself, you don’t have a life.” This really rang a bell for me. How often I have heard that people don’t have any time for themselves. Through the years, I’ve had the privilege of listening to my client’s thoughts and struggles when they come for their massage therapy.

I’m often asked about health, happiness, and how to feel one’s best. I get to explore ideas, suggest tools, and share experiences that I have learned from as well. I find that small tips are more applicable for everyday life. While there can be much good to come from large long term goals, I have found that the small steps we can implement each day make the large impact we are looking for.

I believe it happens a little over time. Each day that we choose a little better for ourselves, we experience the shifts of positive change. One of the biggest impacts I have experienced and heard often from many other teachers is how they start their day. You may assume they meditate for hours every morning. And though this may be an ideal you are aiming for, I find that most of them spend a small amount of time priming and grounding themselves for the day.

This is something you can do. For just ten to fifteen minutes each morning when your eyes and ears are awake, you can take a few minutes to tune yourself to a calm and peaceful place before going about your day. Especially if you generally have busy and hectic days. I like to think of it as putting your armor on before you leave your house. Or perhaps just prepare ahead of time for your daily interactions.

When you prime yourself first thing in the morning, you have more footing in how you deal with your family, co-workers, and those you come into contact with each day. Regardless of what you do daily, you can still choose your vibrational set point before each day begins.

There are no rules of course as to what may work for you. We all have different lifestyles and what you can implement in your reality. I have cats that wait on me each morning to open my eyes to feed them. I love my animals, but I have to admit it makes starting my day a little tricky. I’m guessing that many of you have living beings to work around such as children, spouse, and family. Add your daily responsibilities and it’s easy for us to not take that ten to fifteen minutes in the morning for ourselves.

It’s easy to want to get a jump start when we have a lot on our plates every day. If you aren’t in a position to rearrange some of these demands, you can at least take a few minutes for some deep breathing and perhaps just to be grateful in that space. As soon as I awaken, I kind of of lay there and pretend I’m not awake in my attempt to trick my cats for a little more time to myself. Before my feet hit the floor, I take a few minutes to think of everything I possibly can to be grateful for.

It starts my day in a more positive place, and I strongly feel it buys me much more patience with my animals, my spouse, and my daughter. When I can peacefully and calmly take a few minutes to prime or ground myself, I find life to flow more gentler and easier for me. As I am walking around the house preparing the animals’ food, my vitamins, coffee, and so on, I will continue in my head to focus on all the blessings around me. I really start simple. I think about how grateful I am to have food, electricity, a home, a comfortable bed, appliances, technology, and many amenities that make my life easier.

The fact that I don’t have to start my day like people did 100 years ago can certainly be given credit to how spoiled we are today. The more I can look around and think about what I am grateful for, the more I feel centered, calm, and appreciative. That vibration reverberates to my family, my home, and on to my job. When you are priming yourself, you are filling your tank up not only to interact with others, but also to emit an energy into the universe.

If you cannot find ten minutes in your morning, you may simply not be making it a priority. Think about what Tony said… “If you don’t have ten minutes in the morning you don’t have a life.” I like to think more that you don’t have much creative and centered control of your life when you do not take the time for any priming. You are basically moving in your autopilot mode. Now if you feel your life is better than you can imagine, perhaps your autopilot is right where it needs to be. I just often hear from others how chaotic, busy, and stressed their lives are currently flowing.

To cut back on some of this chaos, you can set aside ten minutes for a practice that works nicely for you to start your day. And perhaps you need to get the kids out the door to create that time, but the priority is doing something. Practice it for a month and just see where it takes you. Be aware if things shift and especially what you notice. Sometimes our own life shows us what we need to see. We often look outside for advice from others when it’s standing right from within. I hope to inspire you not to give all your power away to busyness or chaos in each day. Give yourself back ten minutes and see what it buys you. Ten minutes is not only a reasonable start, but I think a necessary one for more joyful peace of mind.

Sep 07
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Monkey mind

Monkey MInd

By | Encouragement, positive thoughts | No Comments

One of the biggest struggles many of us seem to have in common is dealing with our monkey mind. It’s the 50 million thoughts constantly competing for our attention. Our ego gets really good at distracting us from peace and relaxation, especially when we have practiced many troubling or worrisome thoughts for a long time. Overthinking can cause stress, unnecessary worry, and regrets. When we occupy much of our time replaying the past and worrying about the future, we can miss the peace in the present.

Often meditation teachers offer tools on how to slow down the monkey mind. For some, sitting still in silence can be tough for a beginner. Until you have practiced ways to quiet the mind, you can easily get frustrated with your monkey mind. It can take a little time to let go and simply observe your thoughts without entering a conversation with yourself with each one.

I often hear from clients how challenging sitting in meditation and quieting their mind is for them. The cool thing to know is that there are so many avenues to quiet the mind other than sitting in silence. Sitting in silence is very beneficial, but I’ve learned you certainly don’t have to beat yourself up because you haven’t mastered it.

What works well for one, may not flow for the next. I find with myself that I turn to many different tools to help my own monkey mind. Sitting in meditation doesn’t happen every day. Often I find that place of peace when I’m in my practice of writing. I also change up what I’m doing depending on how I’m feeling that day.

I also can slow down my monkey mind when I am engaged in painting, pottery, walking, yoga, and simply being in nature. You can implement walking meditation if you need some movement in slowing down your mind. There are no rules in what works for you. Give yourself permission and space to try a few things out that resonate with you.

For some it may be a quiet cup of coffee on their porch. Perhaps it’s baking or a round of golf. The key is getting lost in what you’re doing. When you focus on things you enjoy, you can find yourself more present and learn to take a break from the 50 million thoughts running through your mind each day. The more you practice, the better you get! Eventually you may even find yourself with the ability to sit in silence and meditation longer.

The idea is to work your way into quieting the monkey mind. When you do stumble on activities that slow down your thinking and bring you relief, those are going to be the things you want to hone in on initially. Staying with those things may be enough for you, but if you are seeking a deeper connection with yourself and hearing that inner voice, keep at it. That is the key we often leave behind. When things don’t happen for us fast enough, we often drop it and accept that it doesn’t work when perhaps you didn’t give it enough time or patience.

I believe that, given time, “can’t” is often replaced with “can.” It may take quite a while, but all things can be possible. When you can slow down your monkey mind, you can create the space to focus on what brings you peace and joy. I highly encourage you to frequently find time to quiet your mind. Not only can it bring you more peace, but it often helps enhance the things you do in daily life. You can approach situations from a calmer and more grounded place when you feel clearer and more balanced. Slowing down many of our distracting thoughts helps us focus more clearly.