There is a common Life energy that flows through nature connecting both animate and inanimate forms. There is an intricate dance and balance between sun, earth, plants, animals etc. The energy of the sun, nourishes the plants that in turn feed the herbivores providing food energy for the carnivores. Nothing in nature is in isolation.

The common, creative and conscious energy is the driving force for all - including us humans. Our bodies are made up of the same elements, minerals and life energy that make up the planet. The best way to feel our connection with nature is to spend time in nature. The air we breathe, the food we eat and the sun rays we bath in are some of the major keys to our survival and well-being.

As a human and natural-being we have the ability through our Ego, to recognize ourselves as  separate individuals. We are able to go beyond mere instinct and tap into free-will, advanced problem-solving and creative pursuits. With these unique abilities, we have the power to choose to fall in or out of alignment with our natural selves and nature itself.

We must have a deep respect, reverence and conscious awareness of how our interactions with nature affects the energetic flow, harmony and interconnections of the various hierarchies and ecosystems in nature. To destroy nature is to destroy ourselves.

Awareness begins by recognizing that we are an integral part of nature and as such we need to nurture this connection everyday.

Simply ways to connect with nature can include:

- focusing outdoors on the simple act of conscious breathing; remembering how oxygen is produced by plants
- swimming in or being near water; a large percentage of our bodies are made up of water
- walking barefoot on the ground; connecting with Earth's energy
- listening to the sound of birds or the wind in the trees; nature's sound therapy
- mindfully walking outside and observing nature in the neighbourhood or in a park
- picking and tasting the fresh, fruits of nature
- regularly getting outside soaking up some sun; gardening, exercising, meditating in a special spot that is calming, peaceful and dominated by nature

Just as this Life energy feeds, nurtures and guides nature's natural rhythms, it does the same to us as well. However, humans can choose to ignore the natural ebb and flow of things and become out of alignment. We cannot successfully thrive separate from nature. We must remember that we are an extension of nature. Communion with nature, re-sets us, centres us and opens our hearts to our true nature and the confirmation that there is a more powerful, loving, creative energy continually working in the background.

What does success look like to you? Is it measured by the number of possessions you have accumulated? Is it the amount of money in your bank account? Is it the position you hold in the corporate world? Is your level of success measured from the outside? If so, how is that working for you?

Ask yourself:
"Why do I want so much stuff?"
"What does the drive to obtain more and more money bring me?"
"Am I looking outward to be accepted, to belong and to be validated?"
"What really matters to me and where do I go to get it?"

Do we not all want the basic human needs to feel safe, secure, to be connected and loved? Do we not all strife in some form to find love, peace, joy and personal freedom? If so, where is it hiding?

Success is not found in that next job, that next promotion, in the accolades from peers, a ten pound weight loss or the ability to finally purchase your dream car or home. There is nothing wrong in obtaining various goals or milestones. The downside to such endeavours is the importance we put on them to make us happy and to prove to ourselves and others that we do matter and that we are worthwhile and noteworthy.

True, meaningful and lasting success is an inside job. We need to be willing to take a closer look at ourselves, our thoughts, our beliefs, our habits, our feelings, our physical health - the whole package, before we can have the clarity to take action and to successfully move forward.

Are we taking self-responsibility for our lives? Are we being compassionate and forgiving towards ourselves? Are we willing to be vulnerable and real? Are we giving time and space for our emotions to be acknowledged, to be felt and allowed to flow through us?

If we are not willing to be curious about who we are and experiment with what feels right for us, then society will continue to string us along its path of fear, separation and empty dreams.

Meditation, stillness, time alone, freedom from distractions, the courage to challenge negative thoughts and beliefs, the ability to breathe into emotions and allow space before action and room for an alternate perspective are some methods into the world of self-discovery.

Our true power is within; our true connection with the Source who feeds and guides us is found within. A seed must be planted in the dark earth and watered before it is able to build strong roots and flourish. Continue to look inward for peace, guidance and a source of joy and success will naturally follow.

"Being R.E.A.L." is the pathway to practical wellness.

R - Relationships. Developing and nurturing a social network that involves real face-to-face connections is essential in helping to prolong life. Loneliness and isolation is lethal to the human heart.

E - Emotions. Emotions are our compass. They let us know what feels good or bad, what feels right  or wrong, what feels to be the better choice or direction to pursue. Allowing emotions to be felt, accepted and released in a safe and healthy manner takes courage and the willingness to be vulnerable. Being vulnerable is being real and authentic and it encourages others to follow suit.

A - Attitude. Our stories, our beliefs and our thoughts shape the way we see things. We must strive to be open-minded, empathetic and willing to question our beliefs if we are not finding the peace and joy that we seek. A simple shift in attitude or perspective can be life changing.

L - Love of Self. We are spiritual beings having a human, physical experience. We are unique extensions of a loving, creative consciousness that is continually flowing, creating, expanding and experiencing itself through us and all that is. Our mind encourages the illusion of individuality which is essential for an unique experience, however we must not forget our interconnectedness with nature, the Universe and each other. Nature does not berate itself and neither should we. We must learn to see ourselves as co-creators with this loving consciousness and lovingly embrace and accept all aspects of ourselves as we continue to make choices and navigate life to the best of our ability and knowledge at the time.

It is by "Being R.E.A.L." that we are gifted with a wellness that encompasses a more liberating, joyful and more meaningful life experience and that enlightens our soul and feeds the ever expanding and changing energy of the Universe.

We are creations through thought by a loving consciousness seeking to realize itself through a human experience. We are part of the universal creative movement that is forever growing, expanding, evolving and reaching greater and greater divine self-awareness. The spiritual essence of ourselves can be felt in our connections with nature, our surge of creative energy as we pursue our passions or the still moments when we allow ourselves to be present and not consumed in thought.

The spiritual level needs to be nurtured as does the physical, mental and emotional aspects of our humanness in order for life energy to flow freely through us. One dimension of our being cannot be favoured over the other without an imbalance or dis-ease occurring. Over-exercising, over-thinking, over-dramatizing or even over-righteousness are some symptoms of imbalance.

Life around us can be very chaotic and busy as we try to keep pace with society's ideal of success, happiness and winning the race. The true secret to spiritual well-being is the ability to "do" nothing and to just "be" at being well. Be present when that bird is singing to you. Be present when you walk along a path of dried leaves. Be present when your child is talking about their day. Be present and acknowledge those emotions that are welling up inside of you. Be present and still as you connect to your heart and breathe into that inner sense of true joy and peace.

We are spiritual beings of divine light and love in a physical vehicle that allows us to experience separation, feelings, emotions, creativity and free-will. We are here to have an adventure of self-realization as we feel our way through this world of duality. To make the most of our lives, we have to consider the mind, the body and the spirit as partners working together with a common goal -an awakening through human doing and being, to our true nature - extensions of a unconditional loving Source.

Suggestions for spiritual well-being:

• mediate, be still, breathe and go within to connect with peace, joy, bliss
• walk in nature and seek out places of beauty
• focus on the now, not worry about the future or fret about the past
• listen to the "gut" or intuition
• make the heart the master and the mind the servant
• be open-minded, curious and question beliefs
• be creative, discover passions, unique talents and joy
• start each day with gratitude and a positive intention
• enjoy alone time
• play, laugh and be silly
• feel and acknowledge and accept emotions allowing them to flow up and out
• de-clutter your environment and change the energy flow
• speak your truth with gentleness and from a place of love and not ego
• be open to the balance of giving and receiving
• raise personal energy vibration with inspirational music, reading, movement, visuals, energy treatments
• change a negative situation to a positive by changing perspective
• succeed by helping others to succeed
• trust that life flows through you and not against you
• have faith that the Universe has your back and that upsetting situations or people are really setups to help nudge in the direction of your highest good

Above all, we must remember that we are divine beings created by a loving Source and we are worthy and enough just as we are. No amount of doing can change our divine status. By consciously taking care of our mind, body and spirit, we are better able to have a more enriching, creative and conscious life of self-discovery; we are better able to realize just how powerful, connected and valuable we are to the evolution of the Universe itself. We are not in a competition or a race to a coveted trophy but rather part of the flow of life that is forever moving forward at various speeds and directions that all lead to a common destination of growth, expansion and a return to Source.

Thoughts and emotions can negatively rule our lives if we allow their energy to flow unchecked. We all have our stories, beliefs and conditioning that have accumulated over time as we grew up in various environments. As a result, we each have our own unique set of triggers that tend to pull us down emotionally. We sense something and our mind automatically searches for past experiences to explain the present sensation or situation. Sometimes this can be so fast that we are not aware of the thought processes but simply experience the body sensations of fight or flight. Being attuned to our feelings and emotions are essential if we want to figure out who we are, what we like or dislike and what direction we choose to go in.

We are constantly feeling energy throughout the day. We feel temperatures, hunger, thirst, physical pain and textures. When we bring the energy our mind and heart into the equation, a feeling becomes an emotion. A feeling can occur without emotion but an emotion requires the body, mind and heart to work in concert with one another.

For example: We hear a bang in the middle of the night that makes the body jump. The mind kicks in and suggests a possible intruder is present. The mind then signals the heart to pump faster and the emotion of fear is put into motion.

Awareness of the body/mind/heart partnership is key to taking back our power in our day-to-day lives.

Bringing our focus back to the present with some slow deep breaths, imagining a more positive feel good outcome coupled with a more positive self message, help to combat the negative tyranny of the mind.

Continuing to focus on the negative thought only feeds it and adds power and longevity to the emotion. When accepted, viewed for what it is and not avoided or fueled, the wave of emotion usually lasts about 90 seconds.

Stuffing down emotions with food, alcohol, self-prescribed drugs and other addictive behaviours are only temporary fixes that backfire down the road in the form of  a mental and/or physical illness.

In the previous blog, it discussed well-being at the physical level. Just as important is the well-being of the mental and emotional levels. They all work hand-in-hand and influence one another. What we read, the information we take in, the people we interact with, the old stories and beliefs that we hold onto, the environment we choose to immerse ourselves in etc., all have a positive or negative affect on us. Each day, we need to check in and ask ourselves: What emotion am I feeling?  What can I do for my highest good and to raise my vibration? Recognize the emotion, accept it and sit with it. Listen to the emotion and disconnect from the mind chatter. A few slow deep breaths tends to calm the body and heart down so that the emotion is raw, vulnerable and exposed. Ride the wave of emotion and allow it to settle. Once settled, acknowledge it, learn from it, let go and move on. Not easy but with practice and the willingness to seek help if necessary, it becomes easier. The goal is to feel in a better way and not just to feel better. We need to learn to create space between our thoughts and emotions and to choose how to act and not simply react to a thought causing a negative emotion.

True loving energy comes from the heart and never from the head. Allow the mind to figure out logical problems but give the heart the authority to decipher the emotions. Mental, emotional and physical health are all interconnected. We cannot benefit one level without affecting the others. To complete the well-being equation, we have to next examine the spiritual level....