All posts by Joy

Jun 25
0
Self Doubts

Self Doubts

By | Encouragement, positive thoughts | No Comments

Something I think we all struggle with and have in common are self doubts. I have never encountered another human being who didn’t experience them too. Even with great experience and in our elements, we still experience some self doubt. The point I want to make is that no matter what you do, you will most likely experience some doubts along the way. Since it’s a dilemma that we all share, why not go for your dreams and callings anyway?

You won’t ever get to a place that you will be fully prepared and are guaranteed it’s the “right” step. I don’t care how much rationale and justification you’ve given it. You will still have some doubts here and there. The good news is you don’t have to have all your ducks in a row or circumstances in place to go for those dreams and goals. The steps seem to just unfold as you go.

We often stay in our comfort zones or what we may consider stability over the fear of the journey. When we stand with our excuses and limitations we hold ourselves back from the progress and potentiality of our goals and dreams.

Is it going to be scary? Probably. Are you going to have doubts? Most likely. No one gets anywhere without them. Even within your safe comfort zones. So why not go for the the things that bring you joy?

You can also go about it a couple of different ways. First you can thank the doubts for letting you know you’re right on track. Many of our doubts have been planted over time from other fearful people. We adopted them and filed them in our minds. So when the naysayers pop up in your mind or in an actual individual, know that fears generally come from our egos and not our hearts and intuition. Fears are often made up scenarios and using our imagination poorly.

I can also say many of the people you admire and entertain the thoughts of wanting to be in their shoes also felt some fears and had doubts as well. The only difference that helped them get where they are today is to keep moving forward despite the doubts and fears. Regardless of how “sound” of a decision you think you’ve made, chances are self doubt will creep in.

Another way to approach those doubts is to talk back to them. Thank them and put them in their place. You don’t have to accept them as truth. Most often they really aren’t true anyway. Rather than fighting in your mind constantly, thank the doubts for trying to look out for you and help you, but acknowledge you are moving forward anyway. It’s your life. You don’t have to let your mind steer everything—really!

I have found the more I practice, the easier it gets. I still get self doubts too, but I don’t let them stop me so much any more. And they have lessened over time as well. I have a wonderful friend and colleague named Eleanor. We get to explore many creative endeavors and she not only helps me with my creative side, her friendship offers much support and therapy in the process. We often joke about the “committee” in our heads. It’s like a little panel of voices that compete for attention. There is the judge, the doubter, the worrier, the naysayer…and so on. I’m sure we each have different voices on our committee and hopefully you’ve got a few positives in there too, but the point is we all have a committee.

When I struggle with my committee, my friend Eleanor will call them out. She will say, “Now, is this how you really feel, or are you allowing your committee too much air time?” Just because they have a voice in your mind does not mean you have to accept them as your truth. Nor does it mean you have to hold yourself back from your own goals and dreams. You walk through them with the doubts.

You can survive self doubts and make some peace with them. Knowing that they affect most of us, it may help you navigate them better daily. Allowing doubts to move through you without adopting them for beliefs can help you to move forward with your dreams. The more you stand up to those doubts, the more positivity you can allow in your mind. You get to choose which thoughts are true and good for you, and you are allowed to let many doubts go.

Jun 22
0

State of Mind

By | Encouragement, positive thoughts | No Comments

Caring for our state of mind daily is as important as eating, bathing, or sleeping. Frequently I notice how easy it is for us to get caught up in our daily activities. We rush and move through the actions without taking care of our thoughts. It’s like we are on a rushed time clock to get things done. As you move through your day, be aware of whether you are checking off tasks and chores, or taking time to be in the moment of what you are doing. Are you mindful when you are doing the laundry, dishes, or picking up the kids?

Are you joyfully present in those moments or rushing to get through them? When you sit down for dinner are you present with your food and family, or busy thinking about the next things that need to be done? We can get carried away in thoughts of our daily to do list rather than engaging ourselves through each activity. When you are caught up in thought of the next thing rather than the thing/activity in front of you, you are not present. You may be moving through the motions accomplishing things, but you are not in the state of mind of peace, enjoyment, or presence when your mind is elsewhere.

It takes a little practice of being mindful each day. The more you try, the more you may find out how often you are not being present. You miss many blessings and much peace when you allow your mind away from the present. You may be breathing more shallowly, not allowing sufficient oxygen to your brain. You may be stressing or worrying over events that aren’t even happening yet. When you aren’t careful with your state of mind, you can cause more harm than good. Especially when it comes to your health.

Your thoughts direct your brain and communicate with the rest of your body. Health does start with your state of mind. Your brain is that powerful! Isn’t it cool to know that you get to choose your thoughts and be a team player in your own health and happiness? It’s not up to default or circumstances out of your control. You get to contribute to how your life unfolds. You can choose happy, healthy thoughts every day. You get to choose how you spend your energy and gauge your state of mind.

In every moment regardless of what you see, hear, or experience , you get to choose how you feel and how you respond. You can care for your state of mind like you would your child, your pet, or anyone very special in your life. Your state of mind deserves the care and attention you would give to your loved ones. Just as you would lift the spirits of your child, spouse, or perhaps your best friend, you need to lift your state of mind daily.

The more you practice care in your state of mind throughout each day, the better you habitually will become. And with small steps continuously, you can incorporate a healthy mind with a clean body, full stomach, or good night’s sleep every day. A healthy mind in turn results in more joy, peace, and happiness. These also lead to a healthy internal environment that your body has more power to take care of you. When you take care of your state of mind, you are taking care of everything else. By empowering our thoughts and feelings, we are empowering our overall health.

If your mind is going to be busy thinking every day, you might as well choose how you want to take care of it. Be mindful of what your brain is saying to your body. Choose how you want to feel and function. You are not without options. Isn’t that nice to know? Be good to your state of mind. Care for it and see how you mind, body, and soul improves. Slow down in each chore and task in your day to experience them more fully and you can create a state of mind to experience them more joyfully.

Jun 18
0
Vulnerability

Vulnerabilities

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I think what often trips us up in life are our vulnerabilities. Being brave enough to share them without the worries of judgement. We often hide behind our masks and labels rather than share our vulnerable gifts in the world. We all have them. And often they are hidden in those subtle connections. When we have the courage to show up and be ourselves, we have a better chance of connecting on a deeper level with one another.

Our vulnerable moments are our personal truths. Vulnerable moments are standing with another without knowing all of the answers. It’s also being present without advice. It’s giving our best without a plan. I find the less I try to hide my vulnerabilities, the easier I connect with others. The more they actually want to connect at a deeper level. There is more room for understanding and patience. That connection of our own truths is what we really seem to want in one another.

Being present with our vulnerabilities also supports this behavior in others. We are all journeying through life not knowing what the next day will bring , how we will handle the detours, and how things will turn and change. We are all truly a bit messy and stumbling together. Our ego’s just have a tougher time admitting it. When we can realize none of us have all the answers, we can allow the space and compassion for our vulnerabilities and differences not only with ourselves, but with each other.

Think about this, when you do business with another, are you more likely to move forward with those you have connections with? I find most people are more drawn to people that can show up with their honest vulnerabilities and be themselves. I know I like doing business with those that show me who they are. Those people may not be the perfect candidate on a resume, but when you interact with them, you know they’re not just trying to impress you by acting like someone they’re not. It’s often about the connection.

In order to connect, we share our true selves. We certainly were not born the same; nor are our likes, dislikes, and personalities the same. So why do we insist on how things go or appear to one another? Are you sharing and connecting from the inside? Or are you judging appearances and labels?

I always encourage you to go out and feel your best. What that looks like will be different for everyone. What we can do is allow those truths and hold the space for the vulnerabilities in each other. We rise and uplift each other by the energy, connection, and space we show up for in one another.

When I listen to or study some of the very successful entrepreneurs and social media gurus they all seem to have that in common. They all are very honest about themselves and their vulnerabilities. I believe it has much to do with how they got to where they are. And where many people strive to be . It’s an emotional journey first.

The next time you have a businesses presentation, an important meeting, or an agreement with another, rather than trying to appear perfect or without flaws, just be yourself: the truest version of you. See where the connection takes you and how your experience goes. The right people and energy will show up when the time is right. If the connection isn’t made, the time just isn’t right. Something better is coming. I sometimes find the connection is actually met and the timing with that person or persons will evolve down the road.

Trust yourself and especially your vulnerabilities. Don’t be afraid of showing who you are. That is how people can connect with you. This can offer more authentic experiences in your life.

Jun 15
0
Focused break

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A focused break is a dual exercise that can help you change the direction of troubling or distressing thoughts. When you find your mind driving you a little crazy focusing on negative thoughts, you can benefit yourself by taking a break and focusing your mind in a different direction. The focused exercise is how to give yourself a break from whatever is stressing you out.

Although I did not come up with this idea/exercise myself, I have found it very useful through the years. And you can make it fun too. When you can give your mind something that you enjoy to focus upon, you have this little magical tool against the thoughts that are bringing you down. Just a small shift or change can turn your mind around to introduce some happy, peaceful, and joyful thoughts to help break the momentum.

Sometimes our minds get a lot of momentum going on with thoughts that can be upsetting. It can be difficult to turn around because it’s easy for one negative thought and worry to trigger another. The next thing you know, your mind has spiraled into an abyss of negativity. Stressful thoughts and worry can not only be very draining and depressing, but not good for internal bodily environment as well. If you find yourself battling negative thoughts and stressful thoughts often, it can be nice to have a few ideas/tools to help you shift them around.

You can do this focused break in many different ways, but the first one I want to introduce you to is a writing example. Sit down with a pen and paper, (or pencil, crayon, typewriter, or any type of writing apparatus you have available). You’re going to start a list of things you love. The goal is to get lost in the exercise, so do it in whatever way feels easiest and most natural for you, whether that means setting a timer or just taking advantage of a few free minutes as they come If you have a bigger window of time available, continue to write and list things you love until you feel relaxed, happy, and charged with more positive energy.

If you can, try to give it a good 10-15 minutes for starters. Don’t think too much about it, just start writing anything and everything that you can think of that you thoroughly enjoy and love. Keep it simple and keep it focused. It’s like a little rampage of positive things. This leads to more positive thoughts and a change of energy. Even if the exercise only lasts a few minutes, that small time frame can give you enough momentum for a break in the troubling thoughts and a shift to some positive ones. This helps improve your mood by possibly giving your mind a break long enough to get some better energy going.

Think of it like driving in a fast car going down the road and trouble is up ahead. You need to slow the car down to stop or turn around. It’s hard to turn a car going fast around unless you want to increase the odds of losing control of the car. Similar to changing the direction of a car with some momentum, you have to find ways to slow your mind down and give it enough “gas’ or energy to change directions.

As I write this, I can hear the song in my head playing by the Eagles: “Take it easy… Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.” I think their lyrics mean a similar concept of how your mind can quickly take you down a road that isn’t always very helpful. Another way to change the momentum of your mind driving you crazy is to take it easy. This writing exercise is a nice way to take it easy for momentum change.

The next time you find yourself struggling with negative, troublesome, or worrisome thoughts, try this little jewel and see if it turns a few feelings around for you. I’ll give you a small example for you.

I love my family, my animals, my friends, my clients, the outdoors, my deck, my pool, massage, art/pottery class, the beach, pools, music, funny movies, wine, chocolate, cheese, bread, daisies, coloring, naps, tiki torches, campfires, sunshine, meditation, books, writing, deep breathing, walking, smiling, laughing, day dreaming, visualizing, helping, inspiring, gift giving, creating……… You are getting the picture. Now you go!

Jun 11
0
Burden basket

Burden Basket

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There’s an old tradition attributed to certain Native American tribes in which a person hangs a small basket outside the entrance to his or her lodging, providing a place for guests to leave their personal problems or complaints before entering. (The modern equivalent might be telling someone to “check it at the door.”) The symbolism of the “burden basket” is empowering; it represents our ability to pull from our own inner strength and become self-reliant, trusting ourselves to let go of our baggage.

When we can be responsible for the energy we bring to places, we affect our experience and those we come into contact with. When you leave your burdens in a “basket” you generate a lighter energy around you. When you complain and share your burdens everywhere you go, you bring your energy and those around you down. You get a better opportunity to be present and connect with the space and people you interact with when you can learn to put your burdens aside.

Also carrying our burdens and sharing them in other people’s spaces breeds the attraction of more burdens to you. There is a time and place to process and deal with dramas and issues in our life, but often we don’t notice we carry them around with us and share that energy, drumming up more burdensome energy. We weigh ourselves and others down when we carry them rather than leaving them in a basket.

If you practice carrying and sharing your problems and burdens everywhere you go, you may have to practice small steps to start becoming more aware of the energy you bring to other spaces and how you interact with others. Do you talk about the things going well when you see others? Or do you share mostly mishaps and woes? It is important to pay attention to what you are not only putting out, but the weight you may be carrying with you everywhere, everyday.

The weight of anxiety, stress, and worry is a heavy burden to carry and not so uplifting for others. Pay attention to the language you use when you speak and catch up with others. When someone asks “How are you?” or “How have you been?”, where does your story go? Be mindful of the energy you share as you get to choose the energy to be in and attract back to yourself.

It may be an even more powerful and therapeutic ritual to buy or make your own burden basket. Sometimes when we go through the motion of writing, drawing, or a tangible action, it is a more powerful declaration for your brain. Some of us need a literal release and a step further than just a verbal intention. Even if it is just for a few hours or a day or two, try to practice the act of putting your burdens, problems, and worries in the burden basket until something helpful can be done. You give yourself a break from that energy to allow more possibilities and solutions in. You can allow more clarity to either deal with the situation better, or a higher vibration of ideas and improved solutions your way.

I think you will be amazed at how your life can turn around and improve when you can put your burdens down for periods of time. Be mindful of the burdens you share with others. There are times and places that sharing and unleashing your burdens is beneficial, such as when you use a burden basket, therapist, or trusted friend that can hold a healthy space for you without taking on your burdens as well. What I’m describing is in your everyday life. We don’t generally solve every problem, every second of the day. It can be so very uplifting to lay our burdens down.

It is healing and life-giving to lay some worries in our burden baskets behind. Give yourself the joy to spend better time with others. You may find yourself enjoying the break and removing much weight from yourself. That upliftment gives you the power to enjoy your day and time better along with being open for better things to come. I do believe your actions and self- reliance will rise up to meet you.

Jun 08
0
Freedom

Freedom

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I was thinking about freedom today. What it means to each of us and how we represent that to others. I think inherently we all want freedom. Freedom to choose. We tend to want the freedom to choose what works in our lives and what doesn’t. The freedom to live where you want, the freedom to choose your career, the freedom to choose who you love, the freedom to choose your friends, and even the freedom to choose what religion if any that may be right for you. All day every day we make choices and most of us want to choose what is best for us.

We are all different. We were born as individuals with different likes, looks, mindsets, and cultures. How could it be possible in our world to agree on any one “right” way? That may be impossible, but what is not impossible is giving one another the space and freedom to choose what is right for each one of us. We are simply not all going to agree to like mustard.

When we spend our energy arguing and protesting each other for beliefs that do not belong to us, we are actually chipping away at our own freedoms. We receive the space and love we give to others. There is an old proverb that is a favorite of mine. I’m not sure who originally stated it, but it goes something like this: “There are many paths up the mountain. The only one wasting their time is the one running around the mountain pointing out another’s way is wrong.”

I’m not saying there aren’t situations in life that come across our path that we can help another. We have opportunities to share and there is nothing wrong with sharing your beliefs and passions when asked. The downfall is asserting you are the only one who knows the way or the correct way to live and be. We connect on a deeper level by attempting to understand each other. We do not have to agree with someone else’s way to be kind or be a friend. Some of our greatest connections happen when we can put our differences aside and work together. That kind of energy has the ability to heal humanity and our planet.

In our careers, we call it professionalism. I like to think in life, it’s called being a kinder human being. Respecting one another’s difference in beliefs. Not everyone is going to like wine and jazz music like I do, but I do like the freedom to choose how I spend my time. To hold that sacred, I have to allow the space and freedom for everyone to choose their own likes and paths.

I would just like to encourage you, the next time you are on your social media such as Facebook or a place where you air out your opinions, give a little space for consideration. The same freedoms you wish for yourself is the kind of allowance you need to give to others. Are you really for freedom or blocking it for yourself and others?

May 31
0
Stepping forward and stepping up

Stepping forward and Stepping Up

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Stepping forward and stepping up in life can require some tough choices. Often we can let opinions and fears of our surroundings hold us back from our greatness and possibilities. When we take the leap of faith and step forward and up, we may have to let go of things and people that aren’t moving in the same direction. Although we can be kind and loving towards others and their dreams, they may not be in a place that is aligned with where we are going.

Think about your life as a boat ride. You will meet people along the way. Some will travel long distances and some will get off at stops you make along the way. You will have old friends and new. And each will have a different purpose and time limit that they will be on your boat ride. When we can allow others to come and go as they need to for their own journeys, we can free up our own powerful creative energy to accept the gifts for us. We can get distracted in the judgments of our expectations over allowing growth and change. When you go on a journey, you rarely end up staying the same. You learn, grow, and often see things from a different perspective from the experience of life. So as you change, so will those around you.

We often think we have to lift and carry everyone in our paths and secure a seat on our boats in life. You can find some peace knowing that they are where they need to be and it may not be your boat through your entire journey.

As we learn and grow, at times we must let go of things, people, and paths that don’t serve our higher purpose. It’s not always easy to let go of people and things when the time arrives to move forward. I have found that each and every one of the paths that have crossed in my life were meant to for a reason, but sometimes that reason only lasts for a season. We teach one another some valuable lessons, but not everyone has the same dreams , goals, or intentions as you. They may continue their travel towards another path up a different mountain.

I know when I look back on my life, I have had many people and things come and go in my life as I have made transitions in careers, goals, and dreams. It can take some practice to get used to, but I have found over time that they were always blessings in disguise. Life can beautifully arrange events and replace with better things aligned with your dreams. Sometimes the people in your life will journey in a different direction than you. It’s a natural transition and often rigged in your favor.

As we grow and step forward and up, we are not going to be able to take everyone and everything in our life with us. They may have a different purpose, yearning, or drive that won’t fit on your boat in the journey. I found that if you can trust the beautiful process of change and letting go, you can soar more effortlessly. I know at times when someone or something has moved on that I didn’t understand it at first and felt tempted to let my feelings get hurt. It took me some time to learn what insecurities were mirrored and what I could work on over time. Also it was generally always for the best.

As usual I have found life disguised as a bit of a mystery, but when I trust what is moved out, better is always moving in. When we fight and resist the change, we ultimately hold ourselves back from the greatness that is working on our behalf. You won’t always recognize or receive the explanation at the time, but when you can move forward and step up in faith, time will reveal the blessings. Nor will it always be easy to let go. To help the process of moving forward without our comfort zones, I find it helps to remember the way is being paved for your next steps.

The more you can trust what is clearing away, the easier it can be to recognize what is coming. As an old saying goes, “It’s hard to catch something new when you’re too busy holding on to all of the old.” Sometimes we need to lessen our grip and trust that what needs to go, will. That makes room for what you have been waiting for. Some people and some things that are aligned with you will continue on your journey and some will naturally fall away.

It’s learning to react less by what falls away and trust more in the unfolding process. We may not understand the letting go and remaining calm, but the more you can trust and allow, the easier it will be to flow.

The same growth you experience may also lead others on a different venture than the ones you met them on. Kindly bless them and let them go. For they will meet and receive the people and things needed on their own journey. As you loosen your reins of expectations, you allow more of the people and things you need for your own. So ultimately letting go is good. It helps you in stepping forward and stepping up in your own life.

May 26
0
Joy

Seeking Joy and Peace

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Often I hear a common goal among clients that they are seeking joy and peace. When we are missing something or needing more of something in our life, we may search and seek for it outside of ourselves. In circumstances, jobs, and people. Often people believe if they have the dream job, the perfect lover , or perhaps better circumstances, then they will have joy and peace.

Did you know that you can have joy and peace before you accomplish your goals, improve your circumstances, or meet the right person? Whether it’s simply how we are taught, or habits we have adopted, we can get our leverage backwards. When you can focus on joy and peace now, you create a better atmosphere and vibration to attract and receive more to be joyful and peaceful about. And the wonderful thing is, you can obtain joy and peace regardless of your current situations.

How much you practice feeling good, being grateful, or thinking positively may determine how and where you can focus more. If you practice seeing the good in most situations, I would bet you understand and have noticed the power in your leverage. You can have a negative situation or an unexpected/unpleasant event happen and still manage to find something positive and good within it. That perspective helps you be at peace even when some unpleasant things happen.

If you are a bit new or unpracticed at seeing the good in situations, you can practice your focus in ways that benefit you better until you are more seasoned. When you are focused too long on a worry or problem, you give more leverage to the issues you want to see change. There are many ways to change the momentum, and what works for you may be different than what works for another.

One simple starter is a break. Especially if you have been very consumed in thought by a worry or problem. Meditation is a good tool to help you clear some thoughts and step away from that energy. You could take a walk, watch a funny movie, or perhaps do an activity that enables your mind to get lost in what you are doing. Activities that can break the focus and momentum of stress and worry can give you great leverage towards change: change in your brain, change in your perception, and change in your energy. Once you take a step back from the momentum of the stressor, you can allow more joy and peace into yourself.

Once you can allow more joy and peace in yourself, you have greater power and leverage over the unpleasant situations. You allow more space to receive more clarity in the situation. The shift in energy could spark an idea that you’ve been waiting on, or perhaps even lead you to stumble across a solution.

I use to have a client with a very high-stress job who was responsible for making decisions that would heavily Impact many people in his community. Often in his position, he was presented with problems to solve with delicate and ethical considerations. I always noticed he was diligent about taking care of his well-being and approaching life positively. Those actions in themselves can take one very far, but with his high demanding job, he often utilized many tools in his belt. We often swapped ideas and learned much from each other. Once he shared a trick I had never heard of. He called it “art staring.” He would stare at piece of art for hours at a time. To me this is just another form of mediation, but it really worked for him. Not only could he use his time as a break from the stressful problems, but as he was able to enjoy a beautiful piece of art. He also allowed time and space for his brain to offer more clarity, solutions, and peace.

From this space of peace, he could return to the job, stresses, and demands with more leverage to solve and tackle the problems. I remember a few times this same client would relax during his massage so deeply he would receive answers he was looking for. They came to him by relaxing and letting go of the focus on the problems.

The idea is to remind you that you can seek joy and peace in your life now, today! You not only give yourself more leverage, but you don’t have to solve the problem to experience the peace. The focus of joy and peace are what you can do now within. And that energy will connect you to the clarity.

May 21
0
Connecting to nature

Connecting To Nature

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Living in today’s world, we get very plugged into our technology and often do not notice ourselves getting out of balance until something major gets our attention. It’s not just our technology, but our stressful lifestyles and addictions to busyness as well. Often in our culture, I notice that we wear our busyness like a badge of honor. All the while our “selves,” time with family, and rest suffer and get chipped away over time.

I think as people deal with unexpected or inconvenient issues such as illness, unhappiness, and stressful jobs, we are becoming more aware as a society.. We seem to have more advancements, more options, and more education than we ever have before, but we are getting sicker, more tired, and more stressed than ever before as well.

The good news is that I believe we can balance so much more than we do. It may require some awareness and action, but the opportunity is there. Some of our technological advances can be helpful to you as well. It can buy you some time and space for the boundaries to balance. It is an invitation, but you have to accept.

I first encourage you to let a few of these advances work in your favor. We have the option today to set many boundaries to unplug a bit more each day. We have voicemails, message alerts, and ways to manage us being away more than the need to be plugged in all the time. Years ago, before voicemail and answering machines, we had busy signals. When we called someone and reached a busy signal, you had to try again later or wait until we saw the person again. You now have many more options at your disposal to use.

Nowadays, we can screen some calls and set up messages for our family, friends, and colleagues to set some boundaries for ourselves. The problem is not setting any. In case you haven’t reminded yourself lately, you do not have to be available 24 hours a day to everyone. And when you get your messages you can return them when you are ready.

Introduce some balance in your life by setting some boundaries between yourself and the overstimulation and connection to everyone you know. One of the easiest and quickest ways I receive more balance is going outside and connecting with nature. Connecting with nature, connects us within.

Walking barefoot in the grass, lying under a tree, feeling the sun hit your skin, planting seeds or flowers in the ground, listening to the birds, or simply sitting outside taking deep breaths of fresh air all raise your vibrations. The more we tune into nature, the more we increase our own frequencies.

I’ve heard some people use a popular term “earthing” to connect to the ground and nature. Basically my understanding is it’s done simply by walking around anywhere outside barefooted. All I know is that I have been doing it since I was a kid and it has always balanced me.

I am more in tune, intuitive, and inspired when I take the time to be in nature and connect. I write often outside and become generally more productive. Some of my best ideas and clarity come from relaxing outside. I often tell my family I am solar powered. I have to recharge outside in order to function in the world.

You are not just connecting with your own spirit, but you are connecting with the whole. When you can connect with the whole, you are more powerful and tapping into infinite intelligence.

Connect more and unplug more. You are not only doing it for yourself, but you are doing it for the whole world around you. Allow yourself connection with your center. Nature has a beautiful way of helping us do that when you take the time.

May 18
0
Offended

Feeling Offended

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How often are you feeling and acting offended ? What if, instead of bombarding your brain with the usual negative news stories and angry arguments on social media, you took a day or two to focus on more positive stimuli? Set a goal of a time frame to play with. Perhaps you’d like to start with a day. If you could refrain or limit yourself from following the news, dramas, and protests on the Internet or social media, you might experience a dramatic improvement in your mood.

You may have to take a small technology break if you are unable to set boundaries from upsetting news or offensive subjects. The idea is to shift some of the energy you may be using daily from stress, worry, and drama to love, joy, and peacefulness. Many people may not know how to create that type of day, but there are many ways to go about engaging yourself in more positive energy.

It takes a decision or intention. It takes being more aware of our reactions daily. When we are constantly filling our minds with the atrocities of many events in the world, along with worrying about stressful scenarios, you are contributing to and experiencing unpleasant energy in the world. As much as news reports focus on bad things, it’s easy to forget that good things are happening in the world at the same regularity. You may have to look for them and respond less to the negativity coming through your screens, but they are there nonetheless .

The energy you absorb and create with your feelings not only affects your experience in the present, it also has a large impact on what you attract into your life. When you take offense to the perspective of another, you attract more things to be upset or offended about. Are you praising and being grateful throughout your day? Or are you upset and offended by your surroundings? What energy are you a bigger part of? Once you are a bit more aware of how you are vibrating, you have more choices and control of what energy and emotions you want to dance with more in your life.

An easy start for receiving more positivity is doing some random acts of kindness. It can be random, or just taking the time to be more thoughtful or helpful to someone in your life. Not only will it uplift someone’s energy, it will also uplift your own. I’m not even sure if it’s a more joyful experience to give a gift from the heart or to receive one. I think it can be a close tie in many situations. As much as we feel good on the inside to give, some of us need to learn to receive as well. When you are not open to receiving help, love, or a gift from another, you are stealing their joy and opportunity they need to give as well. Many times we let our ego be more prideful and refuse help, therefore blocking love from ourselves and others.

To help another or execute an act of kindness, we need a giver and receiver. When you are always the giver and not the receiver, you set up an emotional imbalance. You block your own gifts of receiving and are less helpful with yourself and others. It helps to be more open with the energy moving in both ways.

Start with a list of things you can do in your day and upcoming week. If you have financial restrictions, you can do simple things like being patient and kind at the store, presenting the best version of yourself to anyone you come into contact with, holding a door for someone. You can do some simple things like…offering a smile, noticing an elderly person near you that you could run an errand for, helping with someone’s yard, or visiting someone lonely . Once you start thinking in small terms, you can come up with many little things you could do that would lighten another’s day and help your own energy.

Even more fun (if it’s an option for you) would be to make a care or gift basket for a friend who has been struggling with something. Buy movie tickets and babysit for some parents that do not get the opportunity to get to go out often. Cook dinner for someone’s family. Take a friend or a colleague some coffee or goodies on your way to work, or perhaps give those you work with something that lets them know they are appreciated.

Any of these things goes a long way. Doing them will allow you to uplift the spirits of others and perhaps inspire them to do the same. You may inspire them to continue to pass the kindness along, effecting more kind acts onto the world. All the while lifting yourself to higher vibrations. Those vibrations contribute to your experience and the world we live in. Ask yourself, what do you want to contribute to yourself, your friends, your family, and your world? It starts with how you use and consume your energy. Try for a day, or two, or a week to be less offended and more kind. See what it does for your life and joy.