What Exactly is Advent?
I never knew much about advent growing up in a household with, as my mother famously called herself, a “fallen Catholic” (whatever that meant) and a culturally Jewish but Atheist step dad. My father didn’t take us to church or temple either, although he’d have probably told you he was agnostic.
To me, advent meant colorful calendars with tiny windows and doors, and most importantly, daily chocolates!
It wasn’t until recently that I began to understand advent in a mystical way, as a means to support our self-transformation, and encourage our personal connection to the divine.
Essentially, what these 4 weeks before Christmas are designed to do is provide a time to intentionally clean out in preparation for receiving the light.
I never knew much about advent growing up in a household with, as my mother famously called herself, a “fallen Catholic” (whatever that meant) and a culturally Jewish but Atheist step dad. To me, advent meant colorful calendars with tiny windows and doors, and most importantly, daily chocolates!
It wasn’t until recently that I began to understand advent in a mystical way, as a means to support our self-transformation, and encourage our personal connection to the divine.
Essentially, what these 4 weeks before Christmas are designed to do is provide a time to intentionally clean out in preparation for receiving the light.
And here’s the cool thing, it doesn’t matter whether you’re Christian or not. Because right now in the northern hemisphere, we’re in the season of darkness. And as we approach the winter solstice, Yule, Channukah & Christmas, the invitation remains the same.
We’re celebrating the return of the light.
As we explore this time through a mystical lens, what’s being asked of us is to awaken to that light within us.
In order to do that, we have to empty ourselves out, or if you like, Windex the glass so the light can clearly radiate.
How do we do that?
We rid ourselves of what is no longer needed.
One way is to purge your living space. Tackle a closet, pantry or bookshelf. What is ready to be released?
You can do this work as an inside job, as well, by identifying any old patterns or habits that are keeping you stuck in pain.
Perhaps one of these patterns arose over the Thanksgiving holiday. If so, use advent to step into this old wound, and identify its source. From there, you can release it by forgiving yourself and your loved one(s).
As Louise Hay reminds us, “I forgive and I set myself free.”
It’s kind of ironic that on the one hand, we’re being encouraged to buy stuff for the holidays, and on the other, the underlying mystical message of the season is to let go and let God. Personally, I don’t see it as an either or, but a both.
We can lovingly release what we no longer need and open to receive everything that is waiting for us.
How does that sound?
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Becoming Self-Realized
When I graduated from college, I was intent on saving the world from a climate disaster.
I’d taken classes on hydrology and fossil fuel use in my senior year that awakened me the impending doom on the horizon.
And despite the fact that I actually graduated with a degree in art history, I pestered my way into an internship at the Union of Concerned Scientists. There, we created and ran a nationwide symposium on global warming.
It was 1989.
Within a year, I was half a world away in Hong Kong, struggling to figure out how to continue doing environmental work when I lacked an engineering degree and my Cantonese was lousy.
Determined to make a “difference,” I began teaching.
When I graduated from college, I was intent on saving the world from a climate disaster.
I’d taken classes on hydrology and fossil fuel use in my senior year that awakened me to the impending doom on the horizon.
And despite the fact that I actually graduated with a degree in art history, I pestered my way into an internship at the Union of Concerned Scientists. There, we created and ran a nationwide symposium on global warming.
It was 1989.
Within a year, I was half a world away in Hong Kong, struggling to figure out how to continue doing environmental work when I lacked an engineering degree and my Cantonese was lousy.
Determined to make a “difference,” I began teaching.
But more than anything, what really captured my attention, was an intense desire to know myself, to heal myself, and to understand what I was doing on this crazy mixed up planet.
Three decades later, not much has changed.
I still try to affect change, but the greatest emphasis is still within. In healing myself, and in deepening my spiritual practice.
It might sound weird, but as Ramana Maharshi, an Indian saint says, “Your own self-realization is the greatest gift you can render the world.”
Otherwise, all we’re really doing is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic (sorry, can’t remember where I heard that one).
And if Ramana Maharshi is correct, how do we actually do that, become self-realized?
I know from firsthand experience that this idea can feel unattainable… but don’t get discouraged. It’s common to erroneously think self-actualization is a journey to a destination that feels impossible to reach.
Take comfort, because, thankfully, that isn’t true. Instead, think about it like this: “Enlightenment is but a recognition, not a change at all.” (ACIM W-p1.188.1:4)
Or maybe the way my teacher Ma Jaya used to talk about it will resonate with you more. She used to say, “the difference between you and me is that I know I’m God and you don’t.”
So, what is this exactly? This recognition, this acknowledgement, this self-realization?
It’s a willingness to completely accept the totality of who you are.
To accept your beauty, your innocence, your greatness, your magnificence, your light, your love, as well as all of your quirkiness.
You could start with a statement such as: “I love and accept myself today.”
You could add an even though part too, if you want, so the statement would be: “I love and accept myself today…
even though the world feels fearful.
even though I don’t know how.
even though the idea of this feels scary.
even though I don’t believe I deserve it.
For all of us who are in a body, the world situation these days feels precarious and uncertain.
Being a solitary person, it’s easy to think you don’t matter, or what you do won’t make a difference.
But one person stepping into this realization, this self-actualization, really does change everything. We know this from heroes of the past and present- Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Louise Hay, Oprah Winfrey, and on and on.
So please! Join me.
Be a light worker. Be a spokesperson for love. Step into the magnificence of who you are. The world really needs you.
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What if Life Really Did Love You?
It's true that some days are hard.
Maybe you want to bury your head under the pillow and not face life.
Maybe it all just feels like too much.
On days like that it can be way too challenging to remember that you really are the author of you life story.
I have those days too.
So, when we’re in one of those spaces, what helps?
Lately, I’ve been finding immense comfort in Louise Hays’ affirmations. This one in particular: “Life loves me.”
Here’s how I’ve been using it.
When I feel besieged by fear, overwhelmed by anxiety, gripped by scary what-ifs and doomsday scenarios, I say to myself: “yes, and life loves me.”
It's true that some days are hard.
Maybe you want to bury your head under the pillow and not face life.
Maybe it all just feels like too much.
On days like that it can be way too challenging to remember that you really are the author of your life story.
I have those days too.
So, when we’re in one of those spaces, what helps?
Lately, I’ve been finding immense comfort in Louise Hays’ affirmations. This one in particular: “Life loves me.”
Here’s how I’ve been using it.
When I feel besieged by fear, overwhelmed by anxiety, gripped by scary what-ifs and doomsday scenarios, I say to myself: “yes, and life loves me.”
I don’t try to push away the frightening thoughts that are crowding into my mind, rather I let them stay. I keep them company by acknowledging them, and then saying, “yes, I know the world feels pretty scary right now, AND life loves me.”
Eventually, the scary bits begin to fall away and I’m left with, repeating over and over again to myself, “Life loves me.”
Life loves me.
Life loves me.
Life loves me.
Even if you don’t believe it, you can try it anyway because some part of your mind really does know it’s true.
And honestly, why not? It isn’t going to hurt anything, right?
If you want to check out more of these affirmations, here’s a photo of the backs of some of the affirmation cards she and Robert Holden created.
Take a deep breath, look out the window, and know that love is everywhere all the time, and always accessible to you, and that life really does want to support you in every way.
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3 Ways to Deepen Into Autumn
Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of fall!?!
Where I live I’m definitely seeing evidence of this shift. The air is noticeably cooler, many of my flowering plants are beginning to die, and some deciduous trees are starting to change color.
As we enter into this new season, here are a few ways to deepen into the transition:
1. Reflection
Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of fall!?!
Where I live I’m definitely seeing evidence of this shift. The air is noticeably cooler, many of my flowering plants are beginning to die, and some deciduous trees are starting to change color.
If you’re wanting to really embrace this new season,
Here are a few ways to deepen into it:
1. Reflection
Whenever we make a calendar shift, it’s a great opportunity to pause.
Take a moment to reflect on the abundance of the summer. Harken back to the warmth and sunshine, the long days and all they brought to you.
For me, it was multi-fold. I had wonderful opportunities to spend time with people I love, enjoying the beautiful outdoors together.
Our garden also gifted us with so much bounty this year! A plethora of summer squashes, cucumbers, raspberries and basil.
2. Balance
The equinox, being the moment in time when the light and dark are equal across the world, is always an invitation to look within and re-balance our lives.
I love to begin with gratitude, for the light and for the dark.
As my shaman friend Jamie is always reminding me, without the darkness, we would never see the light. And as so many of us know, it’s in healing the darkness within ourselves that brings us into the light.
Of course this time of year also seems to urge us to explore how balanced our own lives are. Is there a way in which your life has become out of balance? Is there something you could you do more of, less of? Is there something that needs to end or begin?
Tap into your internal guidance.
3. New Season, New Opportunity
Curiously, even though summer in the northern hemisphere is typically a time of being outdoors and of external activities, because the weather is warm and inviting, I often find myself living the phrase, “the lazy days of summer.” It swims through my mind compelling me to lie on the grass and do nothing.
Meanwhile the fall feels reawakening!
Every September I have a surge in energy, a desire to start a project because I feel surprisingly motivated to begin anew.
Perhaps it’s all my years of being beholden to an academic schedule. But the fall is also the new year in many cultures, and religions, so perhaps it is simply the seasonal pull.
I also recorded an equinox guided meditation entitled, Celebrate the Changing Season, #78 to help get you into the spirit!
Access that here:
Happy fall!
May it bring wonderful new opportunities filled with prosperity and joy to you.
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photo courtesy of cocoparisienne on Pixabay
4 Levels to Spiritually Awaken
At the beginning of the pandemic, I shared the 4 Stages of Spiritual Development that Michael Beckwith, the Minister of the mega church, Agape, in Los Angeles developed. If you aren’t familiar with his work, he’s a profound spiritual presence and a phenomenal speaker.
In a nut shell, these are his stages:
Stage 1- Victim Consciousness: Life is Happening to Me
In the victim place, we often wonder why things are happening to us, why we are being punished, or are experiencing suffering.
Here is where we fundamentally lack a sense of will, or even the belief that we can affect change. We feel helpless to control our life circumstances, believing that we are alone and apart from everyone including God/Universal Consciousness.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I shared the 4 Stages of Spiritual Development that Michael Beckwith, the Minister of the mega church, Agape, in Los Angeles developed. If you aren’t familiar with his work, he’s a profound spiritual presence and a phenomenal speaker.
In a nut shell, these are his stages:
Stage 1- Victim Consciousness: Life is Happening to Me
In the victim place, we often wonder why things are happening to us, why we are being punished, or are experiencing suffering.
Here is where we fundamentally lack a sense of will, or even the belief that we can affect change. We feel helpless to control our life circumstances, believing that we are alone and apart from everyone including God/Universal Consciousness.
If you are ready to evolve from being in victim mode, the invitation is to release feelings of blame, shame and guilt. In other words, take control of life.
When you do, you move into:
Stage 2- Manifestor Consciousness: Life is Happening for Me
Here you open to the recognition that God (source/love/consciousness) is within. This allows you to remember that the world is an effect. In other words, you are creating your life. So manifest whatever you desire!
At this stage, you tap into your will and activate the doing (male) aspect of life, because you are in control of your thoughts which are creating your life.
Employ visualization techniques and affirmations to imagine and speak your dreams and desires into existence. Have fun with this!
If you’re keen to continue the evolution process, the next step is to relinquish control and the illusion of power.
I know, it sounds scary, and when you’re ready, you’ll move into being:
Stage 3- Vessel for God: Life is Happening through Me
When we get to this stage, we’ve already built a solid foundation, recognizing that we have authority over our lives, and that we can create change.
But now we’re ready to relinquish control, and let God/source be in charge because we know there’s even more to life!!!
Here, we tap into the feminine aspect of receiving. This calls for faith AND the willingness to relax, as we allow God (source/love/consciousness) to move through us. As St Francis says in his prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”
At this stage, we invite the ego to step aside, allowing spirit to work through us. When this occurs, we move into grace, living in the space of non-duality. We allow love to love through us.
This is the state when you become a vehicle through which God’s love can grace every person, every encounter, every situation you find yourself in.
The final stage is when we are ready to relinquish the belief in separation altogether. In other words, when we remember that we are not a separate body, that we are and always have been part of God (source/love/consciousness).
When we realize this, we move into:
Stage 4- One-Ness: Life is Happening as Me
Here is where we release the sense of having a separate self and unite fully with God (source/love/consciousness), recognizing that we are one.
We have moved from knowing the truth to being the truth, achieving unity with the divine, mystical mind. The non-dual state.
If you’re interested in being in that space, and hearing the voice for God, meditation #76 Access the Voice of Truth, on my podcast, Love’s Refuge, is for you!
Listen Here
If all of this feels like too much, don’t fret! The truth is, all of us are constantly moving back and forth along this continuum.
Use these stages as a way to check in, to see where you are at any given moment. Don’t punish or berate yourself, but rather see this as a tool. A tool you can use as a gentle reminder to return to the truth and awareness of who you really are - love and unity.
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4 Ways to Tune Into Joy
Did you know that HAPPINESS consistently ranks at or near the top of polls when people are asked about what they want in their lives?
Yet connecting to that feeling of contentment, to absolute joy can feel elusive. We know it’s there, we see others experiencing it, but we’re not…
So how do we access joy?
1. “Joy is here because you are here.” -Dr. Robert Holden
What this means is that we ACTUALLY carry joy. Whether we believe it or not, joy is our innate nature.
And in truth, we desperately want to be in that state all the time.
Did you know that happiness consistently ranks at or near the top of polls when people are asked about what they want in their lives?
Yet connecting to that feeling of contentment, to absolute joy can feel elusive. We know it’s there, we see others experiencing it, but we’re not…
So how do we access joy?
Here are 4 ways:
1. “Joy is here because you are here.” -Dr. Robert Holden
What this means is that we ACTUALLY carry joy. Whether we believe it or not, joy is our innate nature. And in truth, we desperately want to be in that state all the time.
You can think about joy as a vibration, a frequency we tune in and out of like a radio station. Joy is always there, we simply move the dial away from it.
2. Joy is not a destination
Joy isn’t some place you’re going to get to or arrive at. Joy isn’t a goal to achieve either.
Sometimes we believe we can experience joy with a new purchase, a vacation, promotion or treatment. And maybe we're happier for a few days, but invariably, it wears off and we slide back to where we were before.
But what if, instead, you chose to believe that joy was your true nature? That joy is always here, waiting for you to remember and return to it?
If you’re finding that idea difficult, imagine you’re watching a bunch of kids playing in the park directly in front of you. You hear their laughter and squeals of happiness. As adults, most of us have forgotten how to access this. We get busy, neurotic, we live in our heads and take life seriously.
How can you laugh like a child again?
3. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is called the shortest shortcut to happiness.
Why?
Think about it.
How do you feel when you’re in a place of lack? When it feels like you don’t have everything you want, need, or desire?
You’re in a bad mood, right?
Instead, what if you focused on all the blessings you have in your life? A healthy body, family, a job, a comfortable home?
Offer thanks for everything you have in your life right now.
“Thank you for my beautiful home, my healthy family, my caring friends, my strong body, reliable car, fun job…”
It isn’t that happy people are grateful, it’s that grateful people are happy.
Acknowledge and appreciate the abundant blessings in your life and watch yourself tune back into joy.
4. Be the most joy filled person you can be
Why? Because the number one indicator of how happy you’ll be in the future, is how happy you are right now.
So how can you be happier right now, in this moment?
If you can release yesterday, avoid worrying about tomorrow, and simply be present right here in this moment, you will discover joy. It is nestled deep inside you because it lives in your heart, patiently waiting for you.
Breathe into that space in the center of your chest and re-connect.
It has never left.
It is always available.
What small actions can you take to help you experience that deep inner joy, right here, right now?
If you want to deepen into this state, podcast #74, entitled, TUNE INTO JOY is for you.
Try it here:
No matter what your life circumstances, joy is always here for you. And the more you cultivate it, the easier it will be for you to access.
Because joy lives within you, no one will ever be able to take it away from you. That is the power of inner work.
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3 Ways to Transform Despair
No matter how much “spiritual” work you do, or how long you’ve “been on the path” you’re gonna experience despair. It’s unavoidable because you have a body. And despair as an aspect of suffering, is part of the human experience.
The real question isn’t how do we avoid feeling despair, but how do we not allow ourselves to be oppressed by it?
No matter how much “spiritual” work you do, or how long you’ve “been on the path” you’re gonna experience despair. It’s unavoidable because you have a body. And despair as an aspect of suffering, is part of the human experience.
The real question isn’t how do we avoid feeling despair, but how do we not allow ourselves to be oppressed by it?
Like most suffering, it can creep up insidiously. Maybe it starts by reading an article about the intense heat in Europe or India, or perhaps the war in Ukraine. Maybe it’s the nagging feeling that there’s something missing in your life. Something elusive that you’ll never find. And then one day those feelings trip you into despair.
So what do you do?
1. Remember
This experience you are having is a natural part of being human. Don’t add suffering to your suffering by judging the fact that you’re experiencing despair. Whatever is happening will pass -even when you don’t think it will. Have compassion for yourself.
2. Reach Out
Remind yourself that you are not alone. Often when we feel despair, it can feel like a lonely pit we’ve fallen into. Reach out, talk to someone, a friend or loved one, get a hug, visit a neighbor, whatever will help you feel more supported.
3. Act
What action can you take that will feel like positive movement? Make a phone call, send an email, smile at a stranger, volunteer, garden, donate…
Getting out of your head and into the body will ALWAYS help you to feel better, no matter what it is.
4. Ask
Ask for guidance. I often use this statement: “Help me to see this situation differently.”
Sometimes we get stuck in one way of viewing things. But there are countless perspectives, only from our present vantage point, we may be blind to the myriad of possibilities. Ask to see the situation again. And then listen. Be open to guidance showing you another way.
It’s true that feeling despair can be unpleasant, but it can also be a catalyst for healing. When we’re willing to hold the space, acknowledge it, and then work with it, we can transform the pain into love.
Ready to give it these a try? I promise you’ll feel better.
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Nothing is Wrong!
Actually, the entire sentence reads like this:
There is nothing wrong with you!
Don’t roll your eyes or stop reading!
I understand that this idea- that there is nothing wrong with you can be a hard to accept. Especially because believing something is wrong with you has been the story of your life.
Right?
Actually, the entire sentence reads like this:
There is nothing wrong with you!
Don’t roll your eyes or stop reading!
I understand that this idea - that there is nothing wrong with you - can be hard to accept. Especially because believing something is wrong with you has been the story of your life.
Right?
Perhaps that story goes something like this:
You’re flawed, wounded, imperfect, failing… which one is it for you? All of the above?
Your guilty little secret is that if other people saw that part of you, knew who you really were, they would run away, abandon you, reject you.
Because we erroneously believe that at our core, we are unlovable.
Ok friend, here’s the news flash, we ALL feel this!
And if we ALL feel like this, then can we decide to be brave together?
Can we reach out and take each others’ hands and say, “I love and accept you (warts and all), will you love and accept me just the way I am?”
Recently I was listening to an interview with a woman who, in the 1950s, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when she was all of 15 years old.
One of the things she spoke about was that these challenges in our lives, what we might perceive as failings, can be tremendous opportunities for healing. And not just physical healing.
They are opportunities to re-write the story of ourselves as flawed.
It’s kind of like that idea that it is only through the cracks- those places of shame, unworthiness, illness, etc.- that the light pours through.
So instead of judging ourselves and others for being imperfect, can we accept every part of us, and know that within us, this light is shining, whole and complete, and always has been?
If these words resonate, and you’d like to do a deeper exploration into healing a wounded part of yourself, or simply want to release a shame story, try podcast #70.
It’s a guided journey that will help you identify a stuck piece within that’s ready to be released.
Go on this adventure of healing. Be an explorer into yourself! Have curiosity. Nothing bad will happen.
And if you decide to give it a try, let me know how it goes!
As Albert Einstein reminds us, “the measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
It’s time to change your thinking so what you see changes.
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Ignite Your Power Center
Do you know anything about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? Think acupuncture, and even by extension Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
Recently I learned about a cool TCM concept, dantian.
Dantian are power centers in our bodies, similar to chakras. There are only three, known as: upper, middle and lower.
The upper dantian (shen) is said to relate to spirit and intelligent consciousness. It is located on the body approximately where your 3rd eye is.
The middle dantian (qi/chi) is known as the home of universal energy and sits right around the heart chakra, in the center of your chest. This one is directly linked to the idea of life force.
Do you know anything about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? Think acupuncture, and even by extension Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
Recently I learned about a cool TCM concept, dantian.
Dantian are power centers in our bodies, similar to chakras. There are only three, known as: upper, middle and lower.
The upper dantian (shen) is said to relate to spirit and intelligent consciousness. It is located on the body approximately where your 3rd eye is.
The middle dantian (qi/chi) is known as the home of universal energy and sits right around the heart chakra, in the center of your chest. This one is directly linked to the idea of life force.
The lower dantian (jing) is said to comprise and reflect our genetic makeup, and is considered the source from which the physical body/essence is made manifest! Jing is also often equated to kundalini energy (from the vedic or yogic traditions.)
This dantian is located 2 finger widths below the navel.
So what?
Well, just like we know that there are incredible benefits from doing different kinds of yogic breathing, we can do the same with dantian.
In fact, it’s believed that when an individual’s essence, their lower dantian or jing, is healthy and robust, that life force rises into the middle dantian (qi), helping us open our hearts.
Jing is also related to the kidneys and adrenals as well as our fight/flight response. Doing breath work here, can ease feelings of anxiety and distress as well as support our physical bodies.
Cool huh?
So I decided I wanted to strengthen my jing by doing a breathing meditation.
This is a way to consciously move energy between the lower and middle dantians.
Want to give it a try? It’s #68 on the podaces, and is called, Ignite Your Power Center.
If you’re anything like me, it’s way easier to stay in those upper realms than be in the lower chakras. But to be balanced, grounded and healthy, we need to awaken and heal these parts of ourselves.
This technique oxygenates your body, awakens and moves qi (life force) and is healing to our systems on so many levels.
Why not give it a try?
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A Path Into Compassion
Many years ago, I read the Dalai Lama’s autobiography, Freedom in Exile. In the book, he shares a Buddhist practice that helps foster bodhicitta, the idea of awakening your mind with wisdom and compassion in order to benefit (yourself) and all sentient beings.
Here’s the premise: you look upon every person you meet as if they could be your mother.
Many years ago, I read the Dalai Lama’s autobiography, Freedom in Exile. In the book, he shares a Buddhist practice that helps foster bodhicitta, the idea of awakening your mind with knowledge, wisdom and compassion in order to benefit (yourself) and all sentient beings.
Here’s the premise: look upon every person you meet as if they could be your mother.
If you are one of those people who did not have a nurturing or loving relationship with your mother, think of a person (or perhaps an animal) who was that loving presence for you when you were small. That person/being who offered you kindness, took care of you, nurtured you…
When I first read about this practice, I was a stay-at-home mom and didn’t have much interaction with other people. But every day when I’d go to collect my child from her elementary school, there was this one individual who really got under my skin.
After reading his holiness, I thought I’d give his technique a try.
At first it felt weird. Why would I even want this person to be my mother? Ewwww.
Part of why Buddhists can embrace this idea is because they believe in reincarnation. The concept that we have lived multiple lives. Given that theory, it is actually possible that every being we encounter could have been a relative, or even your mother!
So I kept doing the practice, trying to see this person as if they were my mother. Over time, I’m not entirely sure what happened exactly, but the way I felt around them – annoyed, repulsed, wanting to be anywhere else- went away! And I found I could greet them with absolute equanimity. WOW.
Thinking about this practice recently, I looked it up. The formal name for it is the 7 Point Instruction on Cause & Effect and it essentially invites you to walk through seeing another as a loved one, feeling gratitude and thankfulness for all you've received, and wishing them well.
Because I think it’s such a great practice, I did a recording of it. It is called, Foster Compassion and is #65. Have a listen in the podcast today and follow along.
Feel free to let me know how it goes! I’ll be curious to see if you find it impactful.
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4 Ways to Improve Your Focus
Every time I turn around, it seems that someone is lamenting their inability to focus!
Is that you, too?
Whether it’s pandemic haze, overwhelm, or the chaos that seems to be swirling all around, some days are a hard slog. I know.
So, what can you do to improve focus?
Here are 4 tips to help you improve your concentration & focus:
Every time I turn around, it seems that someone is lamenting their inability to focus!
Is that you, too?
Whether it’s pandemic haze, overwhelm, or the chaos that seems to be swirling all around, some days are a hard slog. I know.
So, what can you do to improve focus?
Here are 4 tips to help you improve your concentration & focus:
1. Prioritize
Get clear on what needs to happen and in which order. Once you have a plan, it’s WAY easier to feel organized and clear.
2. Reduce Distractions
Some creatives turn off their internet (and phones) when they work as a way to eliminate the temptation to lose focus.
Perhaps because of your lifestyle or job, that’s impractical.
But could you turn off push notifications? And what about the place you work in? Could you reduce the stimuli and find a quiet space where you can be uninterrupted?
3. Take Breaks
This one seems counterintuitive, I know, but taking 5-minute breaks every 30 mins or hour allow you to refocus more easily upon return.
It’s also an opportunity to rehydrate and move your body which helps focus, too!
4. Mind Training
Honestly, the best way to train your mind is with meditation.
Again, it seems counterintuitive that a time you spend not working/focused on a task, can hone your concentration but it’s totally true!
Even though I didn’t begin meditating because I wanted to improve focus, time and again I’m awed by this wonderful benefit!
Be reassured. Regardless of your ability to concentrate while you meditate, (in other words, even if your mind feels like it never stops pinging), you are still making progress.
You will notice a difference when you sit down to focus on your next task.
Why not try it and see for yourself?
This podcast can help – check it out. It’s called: Improve Your Focus
Access it here.
Some days it feels impossible to get anything done. When that happens, please be gentle with yourself, use these suggestions, and remember that your brain is elastic and can be trained.
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3 Ways to Embody the Present, Feel Happy & Be More Successful
How many times have you heard that real power (feeling truly happy & successful) lies in the present moment?
Think about books, talks, spiritual leaders… The Power of Now. Return to Love. Be Here Now…
And while those phrases are helpful reminders, stepping fully into the moment can actually feel difficult and elusive.
Which is why I’m sharing my top 3 ways to embody the present, feel engaged, happy and experience greater success!
How many times have you heard that real power (feeling truly happy & successful) lies in the present moment?
Think about books, talks, spiritual leaders… The Power of Now, Return to Love, Be Here Now…
And while those phrases are helpful reminders, stepping fully into the moment can actually feel difficult and elusive.
Which is why I’m sharing my top 3 ways to embody the present, feel engaged, happy and experience greater success!
1. Breathe
I know I sound like a broken record with this one.
But, swear to God! It really works.
Every single time you stop and take a conscious breath, you clear your mind, relax your nervous system and step back into the moment.
Try it right now!!!!!
2. Declutter Your Mind
Sometimes in this experience we call modern life, a thousand things are vying for your attention. Work obligations, family needs, social media, house repairs, auto maintenance, and on and on… so much it makes your head spin.
One of my husband's favorite books is called The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan.
To boil the book down to one sentence, it is:
Focus on the ONE thing you need to do right now.
When I feel overwhelmed, I use this as a way to refocus.
I also find it helpful when there are 20+ things I need to have finished yesterday. Instead of trying to do them all, I ask myself, “What is the 1 thing I need to do for my (self, business, career, financial freedom - fill in the blank- right now?)
Here’s the thing, even if you’re a great multitasker, you’re still bleeding your focus and pushing yourself out of optimizing your performance.
I used to think I could do multiple tasks well until I realized how much energy I was wasting. Once I began using this new strategy, I was honestly shocked by how much more effective, happy, clear and successful I was. Largely because I was fully present.
Why not give it a try? Think about it like an experiment.
Ask yourself, “What is the 1 thing I need to do right now?”
Once that goal, task, job is completed, ask again.
See how you feel.
3. Commit & Focus
This is the enactment of number 2.
It’s about honing your thoughts and making the commitment to actually stay focused despite your mind’s desire to pull you away.
Here’s the truth, when you step fully into the present moment and laser focus, you can accomplish anything! Seriously.
When I was in my first "real" job at 22, a friend of mine gave me a piece of advice. He said that whatever I did, to do it well. He pointed out that regardless of how seemingly insignificant a job might appear, that I should do it fully.
What exactly did he mean?
He meant that if you’re doing the laundry, taking out the trash, washing your face, or talking to a friend, you are in 100%. You are as focused on that task as you would be if you were traversing a narrow, high mountain ridge, about to land your biggest deal, or fulfilling a life-long dream.
In other words, be fully engaged and present in the task at hand.
Now that you’ve taken a few deep breaths, and are ready to hone your mind, what’s the 1 thing you need to do?
Remember to have fun with it and allow yourself the pleasure of being present.
If you want to awaken even more deeply to this present moment, check out my guided meditation on the podcast today.
Have a listen!
Wishing you so much happiness and success as you empower yourself RIGHT NOW!
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A Blessing for 2022
A beautiful way to orient to a new year is to be intentional and offer a blessing.
It’s a wonderful way to release the old and usher in all that we want!
After all, who doesn’t crave clarity?
Recently inspiration struck and I was given a blessing which I am offering to you here:
A beautiful way to orient to a new year is to be intentional and offer a blessing.
It’s a wonderful way to release the old and usher in all that we want!
After all, who doesn’t crave clarity?
Recently inspiration struck and I was given a blessing which I am offering to you here:
Use it in any way that feels resonant for you.
Read it to yourself.
Say it out loud.
Decide to use it as a mantra for a day, a week, a month.
Use it and ring a bell or light a candle.
Shout it out from the mountain or on the shore.
Think of it as an invocation. A way to speak what you want into existence.
AND feel free to change any of it. In fact, write your own!
When we make every aspect of our lives intentional, we embody the divine and our life becomes holy.
Every act you do can be a prayer, a meditation, a ceremony, when done with awareness.
So have fun with this!
Know that you are blessed and that you deserve every blessing that wants to come to you for 2022.
I am excited for what this year holds for you. Step into it.
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Affirmation Challenge in Honor of Louise Hay
Louise Hay’s birthday is this month and she is considered the “Queen” of affirmations. She literally transformed her life by saying them. She overcame cancer, supported countless others and created a self-help empire.
Not only did she say affirmations, she lived them.
As you likely know, affirmations are positive statements. They are a powerful tool to control your thoughts and ultimately transform your life.
Because when you control your thoughts, not only do you feel happier and more successful, you also create a better future! Wahoo!
Louise Hay’s birthday is this month and as you may know she is considered the “Queen” of affirmations. She literally transformed her life by saying them. She overcame cancer, supported countless others and created a self-help empire.
Not only did she say affirmations, she lived them.
Affirmations are positive statements. They are a powerful tool to control your thoughts and ultimately transform your life.
Because when you control your thoughts, not only do you feel happier and more successful, you also create a better future! Wahoo!
But here’s the thing about affirmations.
When you first start saying one, it may feel like bull sh**. Like you don’t believe it at all. And guess what? That’s okay! Say it anyway.
And observe what happens.
Do you feel resistance?
If so, are you willing to explore that discomfort? If you are, you might be surprised at what you learn!
I did this recently with some depressed feelings I was struggling against. I was working really hard to keep my head above the water, or the depressed feelings were going to pull me under. And then one day I thought, what would happen if I just let it take me? And you know what? The depressed feelings went away!
I share this because our resistance to uncomfortable feelings can actually be feeding them rather than helping us manage them!
So if you find that an affirmation is hard for you – I encourage you to go into it. See what’s there to learn.
Your happiness, your wellbeing, your peace of mind are all linked to the thoughts you think.
This is the power of affirmation.
So what better way to honor Louise Hay than to embrace an affirmation?
The first affirmation she ever used was: “I am beautiful and everybody loves me.”
If you don’t resonate with that one, what about:
“Love surrounds me and protects me.”
“Life loves you.”
Or one of my particular faves, “I am safe in the universe and all of life loves and supports me.”
Whatever you choose, stick with it for a week or a month! Honor yourself and Louise by bringing more positivity to yourself and the world.
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What's In Your Library?
I heard the coolest saying recently.
It's from Senegal and is the polite way to refer to someone who has died. They say, “their library has burned.”
Those words made me think of my father who passed away in 2010. He had a wonderful mind and especially loved historic facts, classical music and details of New York City where he’d lived his entire life. Whenever I had to go someplace, I’d ask him how to get there and he’d instantly rattle off which highway, subway or bus to take. I think the public transit routes and roads were seared into his memory.
I heard the coolest saying recently.
It's from Senegal and is the polite way to refer to someone who has died. They say, “their library has burned.”
Those words made me think of my father who passed away in 2010. He had a wonderful mind and especially loved historic facts, classical music and details of New York City where he’d lived his entire life. Whenever I had to go someplace, I’d ask him how to get there and he’d instantly rattle off which highway, subway or bus to take. I think the public transit routes and roads were seared into his memory.
When he left his body, that library burned. And I miss it. I catch myself wanting to pick up the phone and ask him about a specific building, ball player, or place we visited together.
I'm sad that he's gone, and solace myself by growing my own library.
Being a lifelong learner, that’s my joy.
How about you?
What’s in your library?
Think about your knowledge-base in a broad way.
Your library isn’t simply the books and articles you’ve read. It’s the accumulation of the places you’ve visited, the people you’ve met, and the experiences you have had.
It all lives in you.
Can you believe the depth and incredible knowledge you hold?
Take a moment to genuinely appreciate your tomes, volumes and wealth of information.
It’s so easy for us to focus on what we don’t know, and forget to acknowledge the breadth of what we already have.
Let’s celebrate each other, our collective libraries and wealth of wisdom we hold. Let’s share that knowledge with one another now.
And as we share with one another, we expand our own libraries, too. As we are curious about one another we open to life, to the vibrancy of existence and the wealth that is here for us.