Action Required to achieve your dreams. It starts NOW.

Last weekend during my meditation I was guided to do an exercise to help myself move forward in the direction of my dream of being an author. Many of us have dreams we carry in our hearts but hold back on pursuing, for a variety of reasons. Mostly, we talk ourselves out of them. In this post I am sharing both the process I was guided to use to become unstuck, and my own answers, which makes me feel very vulnerable. I hope in sharing my truth it will help someone release their own junk and get moving in the direction of their dreams, whatever those are.

Sit quietly with a piece of paper and a pen. Open yourself up to your deepest fears about whatever is weighing on your heart in regards to that thing you are not doing, but want to do, (your dream). Then write down those fears (no one ever needs to see them except you).

9/12/2021 Fears About Writing my Book

dying with the words still in me

not making a difference, not mattering

not fulfilling my purpose

running out of time

not having anything unique to say

not being a success at writing

not being good enough to call myself an author

not making an impact with my book

not being able to do it

doing it wrong, so I am afraid to start

taking the wrong path with my words

no one will read what I write

missing the point

criticism

ridicule

rejection

Now once those are released and out where you can read and acknowledge them, sit with them for a minute. Just breathe. How do they make you feel? In my case, I see they are holding me back from giving it my all, from trying, from starting.

The next step is to acknowledge you are holding your self back with those negative thoughts. You are self-sabotaging. Our thoughts have power, and until we begin to fuel our own self-esteem with positive thoughts, we will stay stuck/safe. Become your own best cheerleader and change those inner thoughts around. With your pen and paper, open yourself up to support from the universe, imagine all the words you need to hear are pouring into you. Write them down, without judgment or editing.

9/12/2021 Affirmations that support my dream of writing my book

I have something to say

My words will resonate

I am good enough

I can do this

I am an author

I know exactly where to begin

My story is worth telling

I can make a difference

I am open to receive direct support and guidance

I am ready

The time is now

It is my time to shine

Again, sit with your written affirmations, and reread them. How do they make you feel? Better? We hope so. Do this exercise whenever you need to acknowledge and release the things that hold you back. Change the negative thoughts to positive, and believe in yourself again, as we do. Do this over and over again, as needed.

I was then guided to write these words:

You cannot help others until you help yourself. Speak your truth, share your wisdom, and lead by example. The time is now. You can do this, surround yourself with those who believe in you—and begin within for that support. You are your own worst critic. You hold yourself back out of fear of failure. You can totally do this. Believe in the power of you. You will make a difference. Be your own best cheerleader and make the time & space to begin moving forward toward your dream. There is time, the time is now, stop distracting yourself by helping others reach for their dreams. It is your turn. Begin within. ♥

If you, like me, are a work-in-progress, this will be helpful whenever I am feeling stuck. I plan to reread my journal whenever I feel those negative, self-sabotaging thoughts about my writing creeping their way back in. And while I am still feeling supported and inspired, I will write.

Namaste.

This is a photo from my one of my favorite places on earth, my family’s old cabin. I wrote this meditation thinking about this view and the many hours of peace it brought to me. I hope you find it soothing as well.

While I haven't been writing on my blog as much as I'd hoped to, I have tried my hand at writing a few meditations. Here is one I recently recorded. It isn't perfect, but then who/what is? I hope you enjoy it! --Namaste

It is no secret to anyone that I meditate. Lately though I've been choosing quality over quantity, as I am very picky about the spaces I choose to meditate. Outdoors is by far my favorite setting and in the warmer months there is a little spot that calls to me up north by my cottage.

Meditation has proven to be a lifesaver for me. I realize now how many years I spent ignoring my inner voice and suppressing my intuition, even going so far as to dismiss early signs in my own body of an imbalance or potential problem. It's a common thing, especially for women. Often times we put the needs of others, our families our spouses, even our careers ahead of our own physical and spiritual needs. By the time we get our 'to do' list done, there is no energy left to direct inward. If meditation is suggested before a Type A like me even  understands how to slow down, fledgling attempts to relax and meditate are met with sleep. (As was often the case for me in the early days of yoga classes, shavashana equaled power nap.)

Embracing down time and creating opportunities and space to tune in and to let my mind wander without specific goals has allowed me to have a greater understanding of my body, of my thought patterns, and has reconnected me with my positive and supportive inner voice. In the spaces between my thoughts, I have found the real me. 

The real me is much more aware of unhealthy patterns now. A week ago I posed a question to myself during my meditation time asking why I had stalled on my writing efforts. Writing is important to me and my biggest creative goal is to write a book (or three).

Here is the internal conversation that ensued.

Me: Why am I not motivated to write?

Inner Me: I sense that I am on a precipice. It is higher than I am normally comfortable with. I am distracting myself from taking the next step because I am scared. The next step isn't clear. It requires courage, belief, trust and means total vulnerability.

Me: What if I write what I need/want to and no one reads it?

Inner Me: Does it really matter?

Me: I have written a lot that no one has even read.  Do you think it would get me unstuck if I just get the words out--with no expectation they will go anywhere?

Inner Me: What do you think? If you thought the wisdom you'd gained would help someone else, wouldn't you share it? Of course you would.

Me: So there is my answer, right?

Inner Me: Write it and share it. If it helps someone, or if someone likes your words or your writing style, it may lead to the next step.

Me: What if I am not sure of my audience?

Inner Me: Does it really matter? Again, if you thought someone (an unnamed, unidentified person) could learn from you being courageous and sharing your words, would you share them? Of course you would. So don't worry about your audience. Write from your soul. The accomplished writers always say to write what you know. So, write what you know. Trust the rest will happen as it is supposed to.

Me: Anything else I need to know?

Inner Me: You are loved.

Me: Thank you. So are you. Appreciate the help. Perhaps now I just need to Get Off Go.

Meditation can be different every time you tune in. That is why it is a practice and we approach it with no expectations, only patience and space. I will say after years of dialogue in my head with a mean inner voice who always found me lacking, I am happy to connect with this supportive, helpful and loving side. No matter where it takes me, my focused inward time during meditation always brings me back to a peaceful place--and shines a welcoming light on the next step in front of me.

Which now that I think about it --- is very helpful when you are on a precipice.

I've been encouraged to try my hand at recording some guided meditations for relaxation. Here are a few to get you started. Each are around 10 minutes in length. It is key to remember that meditation is not about emptying your mind of thought, it is about quieting your mind and reducing the noise from the world around you to hear your deepest thoughts.

So I encourage you to find a comfortable quiet place and see if these meditations help rejuvenate your spirit. Please allow yourself a few extra minutes afterwards to reflect on the the places your mind wandered when it was allowed to just be for a bit. Oftentimes there is an important message that comes to the surface when we are finally able to quiet the noise.

I hope you enjoy these-- and will check back for more as I improve my technique.

--Namaste

I'm excited to announce that together with friends I have started a new venture called Soulistic Sisters. Our first event is on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 pm. If you are looking for more personal peace and calm in in your world, start by attending our first Soulistic Sisters Event called: A Night of Soulicious Pampering.

This one centers around meditation and how it can help you find your own personal peace and calm for the upcoming holiday and keep it throughout the new year.

Here is the link to our invitation. I hope you will join us.

Our goal is to offer events that bring women together for an opportunity to experience  holistic ways to grow and nurture their souls, while also having fun and making new friends.

Giving myself permission to stop the madness and step off the fast moving train of life was probably the smartest thing I have done in a long time. At first it seemed selfish, but I’ve come to learn it wasn’t at all, it was necessary. I had dabbled in attempting to figure out specific areas of my life for a few years and I wasn’t making much progress. I realize now that I hadn't really tuned in. I had been looking outward for solutions when what I really needed was some quality "me" time to focus inward.

Oh and I hadn't been ready. 

I credit yoga with opening my heart enough to help me begin to see the light. Yoga “forced” me to make some quiet time and focus inward. Somewhere after I stopped using that quiet time at the beginning of class to create more to do lists in my head, I began to hear my heart. And clearly there were life lessons I needed to grasp before I could really begin  to make progress in my transformation process. Eventually I realized how much of my day was spent focusing outward trying to control things I had no business controlling. It helped me see that what I needed most was to tune into the quiet inside me, and to stop doubting what I heard. I really only needed to control one thing : me.

Maybe it is true that you cannot fully learn your missing life lessons until you are ready to understand them.

Question of the Week #42/ Are You Ready to Put Yourself First on the List?

If time after time the same things keep happening in your life, yet you hope for change, maybe you need to shift your focus.

Do you run from the quiet of your own mind? Or often wonder why certain areas of your life are stuck in a kind of groundhog's day? Is someone you live with,  love or work with entrenched in a rut and keeping you there with them?

Maybe you are missing some important signs because you aren’t giving yourself enough time to check in. What is really bothering you? Can you identify the root of the problem? Try to get whatever is bothering you clear in your mind’s eye ---then reflect, observe (from all angles), tune in to your inner voice and emotions and start figuring what you can change to attempt to fix things. Is your stress coming from something you need to let go of? What first steps can you take to be happier, more alive,  healthier or whatever you are feeling is missing from your life?

As a firm believer in asking myself the deep questions or in finding someone else to challenge me by asking them, I think the ONLY way to get to the best version of me is to be aware that I am stuck in an old pattern. Every week I run into someone who tells me they are “not the yoga type” –they say they like to move, or they can’t sit still, or they like to sweat or they are just too busy for yoga.

I nod because I get it. They aren’t ready. That was once me, and just like me, they will get it someday. From experience I know those people who say they aren’t the yoga type are exactly the people who need it most. But their time will come, and the good news is it is never too late to begin tuning in.

Please stop putting your name last on the list. Move “me” time to the top of that To Do list. Try some yoga or another mindful practice like Tai Chi or guided meditation and be ready to hear what comes to you in the quiet moments. Who knows maybe this will be your gateway to happiness, too.

Put yourself first, begin today.

 

I might have mentioned in earlier posts that I am a "doer"; I have been as long as I can remember. Throughout my life people have used words like: organized, responsible, conscientious, efficient and bossy to describe me. Until recently that is, lately I've heard words like kind, brave, and "a  blessing".

Is this a new thing, the result of changes I have been making in me? Or, have those things always been said about me, only I wasn't listening for them?

I know I have always tended to measure my worth in how much I get done, how many things I cross off my to do list, or how big my contribution to helping something go smoothly was. I pretty much never say that something I do is "good enough", I always strive to make it the best it can be. I can always find fault, or ways to improve it.

But I have to admit I am tired. I'm tired of paddling upstream. Of never accomplishing enough, or doing it as good as I think I should.

It is impossible to keep up all that internal pressure.  I've seen what it is like to enjoy the moment and to go with the flow, to stop trying to control everything. I like this way better. I'm going to keep making sure I do more of this in my life. Taking time to chill. To think. To just "be".

I see now how important it is to have the other side in your life-- the side that appreciates the moment, the stop-and-smell-the-roses-side, the side that notices and savors the little things. I have learned the hard way that you cannot always make things happen by sheer will and energy --you need to give things space to "allow" for them to happen. To grow.  And to blossom in their own time.

It's become "clear" to me recently in several different ways that allowing time for "me", time to chill, and to enjoy life is where the clarity I've been seeking lives.

Question of the Week #25 / How Much "Me" Time Do You Allow For Yourself?

Finding my own true voice is the biggest and brightest thing I can do for my future. And the only way I hear that voice is to make time to listen.

Focusing inward is not selfish, it is necessary. And so is spending time with ourselves.  If your answer to the question above is "not a lot", or what is "me" time? then it is more important than ever that you start making that time. In whatever way works for you.

Because you are entirely worth it.

And so am I.