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....

 






 

We are walking transmitters and receivers of energy. We enter a room and immediately pick up the energy of the space. We meet a person and before a word is spoken energy is sensed, a feeling is produced and an emotion arises. Thoughts come and go, cultivating emotions and bodily sensations depending upon the attention that we give them.

Emotions are our natural GPS. Oftentimes, we allow our minds to explain away that initial response that is felt and we proceed to stuff the emotion down or further fuel that energy. Emotions are energy- in-motion that need to be addressed and then allowed to move on and out. The emotion of fear becomes dis-ease if ignored and trapped in the body.

The secret to better health and a richer life experience is to be able to recognize the emotion when it arises and view it from a observer point of view. Label it, anger, fear, frustration, emptiness, shame etc. and feel it, breathe into it, sit with it, before taking action. We may not always understand what thought or situation triggered the emotion but by acknowledging and facing that emotion, it diffuses it, brings healing and allows it to energetically move on.

Jill Bolte Taylor’s book, A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey talks about the 90-second rule. Taylor describes the 90-second rule as, “Once triggered, the chemical released by my brain surges through my body and I have a physiological experience. Within 90 seconds from the initial trigger, the chemical component of my anger has completely dissipated from my blood and my automatic response is over. If, however, I remain angry after those 90 seconds have passed, then it is because I have chosen to let that circuit continue to run.”

The more we replay an old painful story or let the past dictate the present the stronger the cycle of mind ruling emotions becomes and the more difficult it is to disconnect and let go.

Emotions are essential to the human condition. We can intellectually learn about love from a book but until you have experienced the emotion of falling in love, losing a loved one or facing a broken relationship first hand, the true heart-felt essence and deep, cellular knowing of love is not fully realized and understood.

Emotions help us navigate life. They tell us what we like and don't like, what feels good and what doesn't and what is working and what is not working for us. Subsequently, we can take that information and make healthier choices for ourselves; choices that keep directing us back to a place of more peace and harmony as we continue along in this adventure called life.

Emotions can be painful at times. However, ignoring the natural GPS causes it to get louder and to manifest physically to make itself heard.

Without emotion, life would be colourless, meaningless and dull. Passion is what drives us forward and all the other emotions we meet along the way open us up to discover who we are, why we are here and how we can make an unique impact in this world.

Enjoy life and keep that GPS turned on!

 Enough is enough! This "minnie" statement is "mightie" in content. When fully embraced, it opens up space to experience more freedom, more happiness and a greater sense of fulfillment. There are many situations in day-to-day life where the energy behind this small statement can be applied.

Here are just a few examples where the "enough is enough" philosophy when applied, allows for more breathing room:

  1. Chasing after the latest gadget, toy, house or household item in search of happiness, status or one-upmanship.

      Enough is enough!
      Basic food, shelter and day-to-day items are needed for a certain level of
      comfort. However, if your are continually striving for the next prize in your pursuit
      to be content and satisfied, your appetite will never be satiated. Stuff is okay in itself and can 
      add fun, luxury and convenience to your lifestyle but beware when it begins to control you. If
      the upkeep and responsibility of ownership creates more stress than pleasure perhaps it is time
      to de-clutter, down-size and re-prioritize.

  2. Over exercising in a desperate attempt to look like a photoshopped model.

      Enough is enough!
      That goal is impossible. The body is a marvelous piece of machinery that is working very hard
      to keep things running smoothly. Listen to it. Nurture it with movement because you want it to
      carry you through this life and allow you to get the most out of your earthly experience.
      Appreciate and respect your body, because it is the only one you get in this lifetime. A perfect
     "thigh gap" is not the secret to a successful life or a meaningful legacy.

  3. Over eating to escape boredom, fear or pain.

      Enough is enough!
      Stuffing your emotions down with food is a temporary fix. Left unchecked, the neglected
      emotions will fester, compound and resurrect in a manner much stronger than its original
      appearance. Food is a means to fuel the body and not a form of entertainment or a quick mood
      enhancer. Facing your fears or emotional pain head on or igniting your creativity is a much
      healthier path to long term satisfaction and enjoyment. Food can be tasty and fun to eat as
      long as the majority of the time, it comes with a high nutritionally dense punch.

 4. Overthinking in the pursuit of perfection.

     Enough is enough!
     You are human. You are not here to be perfect. You are here to discover, to explore, to attempt,
     to fail, to succeed, to feel, to create and to be. In so doing, you discover who you are; your
    likes and dislikes, your creative gifts, your strengths and weaknesses and your wants and desires.
    The heart offers direction and the mind plans action. Trouble arises when the mind takes over and
    brings up judgements, fears and past failures that keep you from feeling content and finished
    with what you started. Giving something your best shot to the best of your ability is perfect
    enough.

 5. Allowing technology to be your BF and to measure your value.

     Enough is enough!
     You are alive, therefore you are worthy. You are not more valuable with each Like that you
     accumulate.  It is easy to hide behind a misleading profile online and gain a superficial
     following. However, true strength, support, love, worth and a sense of belonging come from
     personal interactions, human contact and the sharing of experiences. Technology has its place
     but don't let it replace a real BF face. 
 
So the next time things feel out of balance and a little out of control. Stop, breathe and say, "Enough is enough!"
    
     

No I am not about to put anyone down or encourage others to put a lid on it when in the process of bad mouthing (although it is a healthier idea). My trash talk actually involves the escapades of a real garbage can and its elusive lid and a perfect example of desire, energy flow and manifestation.

Picture this. A wild March day of snow squalls and heavy winds (~90 km/hr at times) reeking havoc throughout the city on no other than "garbage day". The garbage cans were sitting defenselessly at the end of the driveway fully exposed to the merciless winds. Homeowners were oblivious to the carnage that awaited them until they returned home from work or until they peered from their  home windows lured by the sound of Mother Nature's fury.

Many an empty garbage can was ripped from their perch and blown across the street into other yards and snowbanks. To further add insult to injury, garbage can lids were separated from the containers and sent on a journey of their own.

Well you get the idea. Not really a major catastrophe in the big scheme of things and I wasn't too emotionally invested in the situation. I simply observed my garbage can lying on its side across the street in the parking lot of an apartment building. I proceeded to retrieve it and return it to its proper home. However the lid was nowhere in sight. Again, no major emotional breakdown except for a minor concern that I may have to buy a whole new garbage can. Why don't they just sell lids?

I digress, back to my story. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, thoughts are energy and therefore desires are energy and emotions are energy in motion. A desire and emotions create a momentum that when free from resistance (negative thoughts and feelings contrary to your desire) will eventually manifest in the material world. In this case my desire was to come across my garbage can lid. Emotionally I approached it playfully and did not take the missing lid too seriously. In fact, I soon forgot about it all together until a couple of days later when I was walking the dog to Bellevue Park. What did I witness stuck in the snowbank all by its lonesome - a garbage can lid. It made me laugh and I continued to be amused even when I could not free it from its frozen base. I thought to myself that I am on the right track in manifesting my desire and then I let that thought go.

A few days later, again walking the dog, I decided per usual to let him lead (Cesar Millan would not approve). As we walked up the street, one over from my street, I eyed a garbage can lid leaning against the snowbank at the end of a driveway. I glanced at the person's lid covered garbage cans that were visible in his carport and then quickly deduced that this lid was a stray. My desire had manifested. This was not only a stray but I recognized it to be the actual lid that had gone missing. How fun is that?

Coincidence you might say? I prefer synchronicity and I choose to have fun with it. We tend to take life too seriously sometimes. You try it. Start out with simple desires that you are not too invested in as to whether they happen or not and see how the Universe plays with you.

Stay positive and no Trash Talk.

Who is with you from the time you are born, until the time you die?
Who is there with you when you are sad, happy, frightened or angry?
Who listens to your jokes, helps you problem-solve or suffers along with you?
Who shares your dreams, your successes, your failures, all the while refusing to leave your side?

Why it is YOU, YOURSELF and no one else. What better friend or companion could a person hope for. Yet...despite such an exhibit of loyalty, you refuse to give yourself the accolades that you deserve. Instead of deep gratitude and appreciation, you subject yourself to a constant diet of criticism, self-judgement and disdain.

Each day you submit yourself to self-interrogation based on beliefs that are influenced by the rules and regulations of today's society and its superficial, egotistical view of perfection and success.

Why can't I be thinner?
Why do I have this face, this nose, these thighs?
Why don't I have a house, 2 kids and a successful career at 40?
Why can't I have a long-term, healthy relationship?
Why am I always poor?
Why am I so stupid?
Why did I do or say that?
Why don't people like me?
Why can't I say "no"?

The list goes on and on as you continue to compare and compete with others rather than turning around and really taking a look at YOU.

You are not here to be like everyone else. The world needs you to be the real you. Yes, like others you want to be loved, to belong, to be accepted and appreciated but at the same time you owe it to yourself to achieve those things by being yourself. Being yourself does not come without cost. It means that those who want to use you, take advantage or manipulate you will no longer be attracted to you. Instead, you will attract individuals that admire your confidence, your resiliency, and your ability to be comfortable in your "own skin". You have your unique talents, personality, mind and body that allow you to create in a way only you can. When you harness your creative power and turn a blind eye to society's call to conform, you give others permission and courage to do their "thing" as well. 

When you love yourself, you no longer diet to be thin but rather eat to be healthy. You no longer seek another to complete you but rather realize all the love you seek is within. You no longer compare or compete with others because you understand that each of you is unique and there is a beauty and a need for diversity.

Life is about discovering yourself through experiences and putting your creative stamp on them. You will fall, fail and freak out at times but that is part of the human experience. Be compassionate with yourself, forgive yourself, learn what works for you and what doesn't, choose again and move on. You are worthy, you are loved and you are no accident. Look at this Universe - the order of the planets and the beauty and balance of nature. You are part of nature, so love yourself, be yourself and your love of life will flourish.

Life circumstances and situations are constantly changing. Fear arises and then passes. Joyful moments occur and then dissipate. Loss appears and then success opens up. Life is continually in motion. The movie "Groundhog Day" is merely a comedic commentary on the illusions we tell ourselves about our day to day lives. Each day, each moment harbours new potential. We are here to experience life and the full expression of emotions. In so doing, we discover who we truly are and what we like and don't like. We discover our power to create individually and together as a whole. To label a challenge as good or bad, limits the possibilities of that challenge. We may not have the ability to prevent change or to alter a situation, but we do have the power to control our perspectives, responses and intentions towards a situation. We are responsible for our lives and the energy that we send out to the world. No one or thing can take that away from us unless we allow it.

So next time something challenging comes your way, take a moment to breath and refrain from labeling it good or bad. Proceed to re-frame it in a more neutral light with the expression - We'll see...

This is best illustrated with the following Zen story of the farmer and his horse:

The story takes place in Japan in an era when a horse was a measure of wealth.

A farmer acquired his very first horse and all the local villagers came by to congratulate him.

"How proud you must be to own such a valuable horse." they all said.

The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see."

Soon afterward, the horse broke out of the paddock and ran into the countryside.

"What a terrible tragedy! What a great loss! How is it possible to recover such a thing?", the villagers lamented.

The farmer simply smiled and said, "We'll see."

Less than a week passed, and the farmer woke to find that the horse had returned accompanied by two wild horses. With the greatest of ease, he led them into the paddock and closed the gate.

"What amazing fortune! Who could of believed it was possible?", the villagers shouted.

The farmer's only response was, "We'll see."

The farmer's son worked on breaking in the horses. During one session he was thrown from the horse and broke his leg. This happened shortly before harvest when the farmer was in need of his son's help with the crops.

"What a great misfortune losing your son's help at this time!", the villagers sympathized.

"We'll see." was all the farmer said.

A few days later the Imperial Army sent troops to every village collected able-bodied young men as recruits. The Emperor had decided to go to war. The farmer's son with his broken leg, was excused from service.

And so the story goes on....

Isn't it so much better to avoid the melodrama of a situation, the labels of good or bad and just simply do what is required in the moment and chant "We'll see." Life is a roller coaster but it is always moving forward. Even in the seemingly worst circumstances, there are always fresh opportunities. You can choose to ride life's roller coaster holding on tight with fear and drama or choose to raise your hands in the air and go with the flow.

I prefer the adventure of "We'll see.".

Life is continually offering up challenges in a variety of ways. We have a chose as to how we respond. We can choose to remain on auto-pilot and be at the mercy of whatever is attracted our way or we can consciously make an effort to lighten up and brighten our paths.




10 Ways to Lighten up:

1. Smile. The very act of smiling activates neurotransmitters in our brain that boosts our mood and relaxes the body. It is also contagious and a very attractive feature.

2. Be grateful. A daily inventory of our blessings put challenges in perspective and creates a feeling of well-being and happiness.

3. De-clutter. Get rid of stuff that doesn't serve a purpose anymore. Create more open space in  life for positive energy to flow.

4. Move. Find ways to move throughout the day. Movement is a natural form of caffeine.

5. Eat healthier. Listen to the stomach not the head. Is a moment of pleasure worth hours of heartburn?

6. Commune with nature. The rhythm of nature in the form of water, trees and wildlife is a natural anti-depressant with only beneficial side-affects.

7. Get creative. Find what creates excitement and passion within and do it. It becomes a natural high.

8. Don't take it personally. People are caught up in their own issues and drama and sometimes we  are simply in the line of fire. We need to step back, wish them well and focus on maintaining our own sense of peace.

9. Exercise self-compassion. We are human, we make mistakes, we experience failure and despite all good intentions we sometimes react out of fear. Life is not about judgement, right or wrong or striving to be perfect. Life is about re-discovering who we are and deciding who we want to be and how we want to act when life presents itself to us. There is no room for regrets, guilt or shame. They are all wasted forms of energy. We must continue to love ourselves, learn about ourselves and consciously choose how we want to show up in this life - blemishes and all.

10. Be silly, have child-like fun and laugh. Young children are great teachers when it comes to enjoying life. They live in the moment, are not afraid to look foolish and they easily tap into the wonder of imagination. This type of play strengthens the immune system, increases the joy factor and melts away the stresses of the day.

Life takes on more meaning, more joy, more sense of wonder and adventure when we consciously choose to lighten up.