Archive | February, 2010

Listening to Your Body 101

 


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Earlier this week, I was dragging around with very little energy.  This is pretty unusual for me because I am accustomed to getting up early and starting work immediately – and being able to work straight through the day (with a yummy break for swimming).    However, as you know, less than two weeks ago, I had major surgery.

Last week, I was still able to get the ezine written and out, my daily blogs written, and my email handled, as well as attend a meeting virtually.  I was able to get my own morning tea and oranges, and later in the week, I was able to feed my beloved birds and ducks two times a day.  I could shower and dress myself.  All good.

However, on Monday, some gremlin hit me.  I felt exhausted.  I decided I was going to push through it anyway.  Monday evening, I fixed a simple dinner for Francisco and me for the first time.  But afterward, I was done for.

By Tuesday, I was unable to do much.  I felt depressed, unable to focus, and certainly in no space to write my ezine or blogs.  By 1 pm, I surrendered to the exhaustion and slipped into bed.  Three hours later I awoke, still exhausted, still unable to focus, still depressed.

My inner conversation was raging at this point.  (This is what resistance looks like, by the way.)  “What the heck is wrong with me?”  “Why can’t I focus?”  “Why do I feel this way?”  “I don’t want to do anything, and I just took a long nap.  What’s going on?”  “Is this a side effect of the surgery?”

I couldn’t bear the idea of checking email.  Or writing anything.  Or fixing dinner (even though I was very hungry).  Or.  Or.  Or.

I prayed.  I asked for guidance.  I asked my guides and angels to clear my energy and help me regain balance.

And through praying, I surrendered to the experience.   I surrendered to the exhaustion.  I surrendered to the lack of focus.  I surrendered to the depression.

And I trusted.  I trusted that this would pass.  I trusted that I would be cared for.  I trusted that all would be well again.

I asked myself: what will make me feel better?  The answer: dinner. I was hungry.  Dinner would take care of that.

When my husband came home soon after, I had fixed a simple dinner of salad and couscous.  We sat down to eat, and I asked myself again, what will make me feel better?  The answer:  watch TV. So we did.  TV allowed me to let go, to digest dinner, to stop resisting the exhaustion.  It gave me a space to just be.  To laugh at some of the comedy, and to enjoy what I could.

Wednesday, I awoke feeling so much better.  I was able to focus.  I was able to feel joyful.  I was able to write!  I suspect I may have more of those other days in the future, and if so, I will surrender to them as best I can.  I am aware that these are indeed some of the side effects of the surgery I just had.  There are some things I can take to support my body in regaining balance, and as soon as I can go swimming again, that will be one of them!

Here’s the lesson in this – for all of us.

1.       As soon as you can, stop resisting what’s happening.  Surrender to it.  Allow it to be. Because it is in the allowing that you will be able to move through it much more quickly.  Nobody likes feeling bad – emotionally or physically.  Yet, it is a part of life as we evolve into higher consciousness.  We all have days.  Let them be, and look for the lessons in them.  Look for your opportunity to become more than you are.  Look for the compassion for yourself and you’ll find it.  Then that compassion will extend to others, as well.

2.       When you’re feeling bad, ask yourself, “What will make me feel better?” Then trust your answer.  Just do it if you can.  Your body and your higher self knows what you need to help regain balance and to heal – or to simply feel better.  Allow yourself to be guided by this inner wisdom.

3.       When you cannot figure out an answer for what’s going on, pray. Yeah, that’s it.  Pray.  Because by praying, you are declaring your intention of finding your answer. You are setting an intention of healing. And in setting your intention, you will find your answers.

So that’s it. Surrender. Ask yourself, “What will make me feel better?”  Trust.  Do it.  Pray.

Your Action Steps:

1.       Ask yourself, “What is my lesson in this?” Listen for the answer. Trust it.

2.       Ask yourself, “What will make me feel better?” Trust your answer.  Then do it.

3. Pray, and surrender to what is going on. You’ll find your way through. Trust it.

By the way, notice the theme above? Trust.  Trust.  Trust.


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3 Lessons I Learned Playing Miniature Golf

 


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Several years ago, I was attending a nephew’s wedding, and the day before the wedding, his younger brother suggested we go play miniature golf.  Unbeknownst to me, my brother, Steve, often played miniature golf with his family, while I had played it perhaps five times in the past 20 years.  So, we all went out to this beautiful course, and began to play.

Well, let me tell you, it wasn’t long before some old childhood competition began to arise in me. Steve is older than me and used to “cream” me at numerous games we played together.  (To this day, I won’t play Monopoly!)  :)

By the third hole, my score was waaaayyyy over what I would have liked it to be.  While Steve was playing quite nicely at this golf course, I was about 3 – 5 strokes over par each hole. AARRRGGHHH!!! While I knew it was just a game, I really didn’t like making a fool of myself.

After I finished hitting the ball all over the third hole, I remembered to tap.  Hmmm, now I had a dilemma.  As you know, tapping looks a bit strange, and I was not about to openly tap while standing there in the middle of the golf course!  Not happenin’!

So, I decided to tap on myself in my head. Since it wasn’t my turn, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, andimagined myself tapping on the points, while saying to myself all the feelings I was feeling:

Even though I’m feeling frustrated at how I’m playing, it’s ok … It’s just a game, and it’s just for fun…

Even though I really want to do better, and I haven’t been, I think I can, if I just relax a little bit…

Even though I’m feeling like a bit of a fool here, hitting the ball all over the place, it’s ok.  It’s just a game. It really will be fine, no matter what happens…

I continued on to tap in my imagination on whatever feelings I could come up with.

Then, it was my turn again.  Shockingly, I made par on that hole!  And then the next one!  And then the next one!  The next hole, I made a hole in one!  From that point on, I made either under par, par, or just barely over it.  (By the way, I didn’t tap again, either.)

At the very end of the game,I was the only one who hit the ball into the almost impossible shot(a hole in one! at the “19th hole”) to win a free game.  I proudly handed the coupon to Steve, and said “Yes!” in my heart!

YAY, tapping!

The lessons from this?

1.      Imaginary tapping works very well.  Remember,energy follows thought.Always.

2.      It doesn’t matter where you are, you can relieve your negative feelings gently and easily.

3.      Once you relieve those feelings, you are in a very different place of creation with the Universe.  You are able to create from a space of allowing, rather than resistance.

Your Take Action Steps:

1.      If you get into a situation where you are unable to tap (a meeting, at the dinner table with friends or family, whatever), just take a deep breath in and imagine tapping on yourself regardless of what your feelings are at that moment.  Just acknowledge them, and tap them away.  This is the key point here:recognize your negative feelings as they occur, and do something about them,rather than just allowing them to stay blocked inside.

2.      Notice how differently you feel after you tap.  Notice what things seem to “change” around you.  Notice how you are different.  Notice how others respond to you.  You will be astonished if you just pay attention.

Let me say one caveat about step 2 above.  Most of the time, we don’t pay attention to what happens after we tap.  And because we have moved into a new space of being, we then forget how we felt before, and how life was occurring for us before the tapping.  Sometimes the change is so subtle, we truly don’t recognize the difference.

However,if you will pay attention,you will notice the changes in both yourself and in the way you interact with the world.  And you will be astonished!  Promise!


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Create Happier Feelings in 3 Easy Peasy Steps

 


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Several years ago, my nephew, Kevin, paid me the greatest compliment. “Aunt Anne,” he said, “You’re the biggest kid I know!” Those of you who have been following me for some time know I’m a big believer in having fun and laughing as much as possible … no matter what.

 

Why is this?

 

Because being happy is one of the highest vibrations you can use to create the Divine life you so greatly desire. Really.

Happy Baby

 

When you’re happy, you’re smiling at the world. And the world smiles back. (And when it doesn’t, frankly, who cares? You’re feeling so good, it just doesn’t matter if someone ignores your smile.)

 

This means, then, that when you’re smiling at the world, you are creating from a very different vibrational place. You are creating from a place of awareness of your connection to the Divine, of your connection to others, and your connection to yourself.

 

By the way, as you look at the picture above, don’t you just want to smile? Doesn’t it make you feel good just looking at it? That’s how affected you are by what you see. That’s how powerful this little guy’s expression of pure joy is.

 

Ok, sometimes, frankly, the world don’t look so great. Sometimes, life pretty much stinks. It’s then that it’s hard to get up and smile, because you feel pretty fake doing it. Right? (Here’s a hint: do it anyway, to the best of your ability.)

 

So, how do you get from not-so-great to great, anyway? How do you get from upset and despair to joy?

 

Hmmm, well, that might just be too big a leap. How about getting from upset and despair to relief – or softness? To compassion – for yourself, and for someone else? How about getting from upset and despair to simply relaxing … and then leaving the joy for another time?

 

This is a process. This is how you do it. Heck, I don’t really know anyone who can go from upset and despair to joy in one fell swoop. Not really. (Maybe a kid, but even that’s pushing it.)

 

So, let’s talk about breaking it down into three easy steps, shall we?

 

Step 1- Look for a feeling of relief. Not a feeling of joy – again, that’s too much to ask of yourself. Just relief. What are you feeling right now? What will make you feel better? Can you do it? Are you willing to take the risk of giving yourself that gift?

 

If you cannot give yourself the gift of relief by doing what you really want to do (i.e., quit your job), then how can you feel better about what is happening right now so that you feel relief? Can you find a different way of looking at the situation so that you feel better … more powerful? Are you willing to?

 

Step 2- Give yourself what you CAN give yourself. This doesn’t mean go out an buy a designer outfit (if you’re into that), and, as a result, not spend the money on your mortgage. No, this means give yourself some sort of self-loving treat – a hot bath, an early night in bed, a new journal or book, a cup of tea, a great movie that lifts your spirits, a talk with a loved one, a swing on a swingset, a walk … something that will shift your energy and lift your spirits. Take care of yourself in a loving, sacred way.

 

Step 3 – Look for the good in the situation. If you dislike your job, maybe you really like your hours, or you like your pay, or you like your co-workers. Maybe you like your physical surroundings. Maybe you like the freedom you have, or the challenges you have doing your work. Write these down. Focus upon them as much as possible. Re-presence what you can celebrate and be happy about what you do have while you are going about creating what you really want.

 

Let me give you a lovely example of this: As you may know, my nephew, Kevin (the above-mentioned one) and his wife, Sheryl, are going through a very difficult time right now. Their 3-year old son, Conner, was diagnosed with leukemia in early January. He has been on chemo and undergone numerous operations, but is doing quite well. (YAY!) Last week, Kevin and several friends and Sheryl’s brother all got together to have a head-shaving party, so that they could all look like Conner.

 

So, while they are facing some frightening times, they are also creating some opportunities to celebrate and come together with love and support. No matter what you are facing, you can create something beautiful out of it. Just look for it. You’ll find it. I promise. (By the way, the picture of the happy little guy is Conner, two years ago.)

 

 

Your Action Steps:

 

1. Determine how you can find relief. Then do it. Just do it. Give yourself the gift of relief.

2. Write up a list of things you can do to give to yourself. Things that take care of you. Things that you feel better as a result of doing them. Then do one or more on that list. Keep it handy, because you will need it when you get the “crankies.” In those moments, we often forget how to feel better, and that we can feel better by gifting ourselves the gift of our loving self-care.

 

3. Write up a list of what you do like about the challenge you are facing. Focus upon this list – and only this list – to the best of your abilities. This may not be so easy, by the way, but do it anyway. Abraham (of Abraham-Hicks) says we are “sloppy thinkers.” This is a very good example of just how sloppily we think. The more you focus on what you like, the more what you don’t like disappears. More of what you don’t like doesn’t even show up in your experience! And that is a very good reason to practice this way of thinking, let me tell you!

 

4. Figure out a way to play today and Have Fun!


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5 Easy Ways to Create More Abundance

 


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Stacks of Money

Many times people share with me that they have difficulties keeping their minds focused upon what they want, rather than what they are experiencing. (Does this sound familiar?)

For example, perhaps you want more money, but you aren’t making very much. It seems as though most of the time, you feel the lack of what you want (sometimes intensely!).

In this situation, the way to create more of what you want would be to feel as though you have enough … and even more than enough. In order to feel that way, however, you have to be thinking that that is true, believing it is true, speaking as though it is true, acting as though it is true.

 

The conundrum for all of us is that it’s pretty darned hard to feel that way when it’s clear that it isn’t that way!

And this is where what we focus upon comes into play.

When we focus upon lack, we actually see more and more lack around us, and we actually feel that that is all that there is. On the other hand, when we focus upon abundance, we see more and more abundance, and we truly feel that that is what shows up in our lives.

While it’s obviously not as black and white as I painted it above, our focus truly allows for more of what we want – and don’t want – to show up in our lives.

So, here’s the question: Upon which are you focusing your thoughts, conversations, feelings, attention, and beliefs?

Because that is what will show up in your life.

So, how can we learn how to focus better upon what it is we want?

Here are five sure-fire ways to shift your focus to help you create more of what you want. (And I will continue with the example of abundance that I started above.)

1. Declare a moratorium on complaining about money – or the lack thereof.Seriously. Simply decide that you are not going to engage in this destructive type of conversation. If you want more money, you must begin to eliminate the complaining (read “feeling” here) about the lack of money that seems to exist. This includes complaining about the way your children spend their money, the way your spouse spends his/hers, the way your parents spend their money, the way your boss spends his/hers, the way your company spends its money, the way the government spends your tax dollars.  Stop it.  Just stop.

2. Decide to look for the abundance that already exists in your life.Because it does exist. Everywhere. Even if you don’t make enough right now. Even if you are in debt. Even if you can’t see a way out of a financial problem you have. Even if… It doesn’t matter. You have abundance.I promise. If you only have one pair of shoes, you have abundance. If you have a place to sleep at night, you have abundance. If you have food to eat, you have abundance. Now, if you start from that place of knowing, you will really begin to see all of the abundance that you have.

3. Be grateful for what you do have.Now that you’ve seen what you have, begin to say “Thank You!” to the Universe, to God, to the Divine, to Spirit, to that high, loving energy that flows through each and every one of us. Saying “Thank You!” will place you in an open-hearted, receptive space … which allows more abundance to flow in.

4. Share what you have with someone else. There is nothing that says“I am abundant”like sharing your abundance with another. When you do this, you truly get– in your body – that you have enough. Because when you share, you are beingthe flow of abundance. You. Are. Being. Abundance.And when you are being something, you see it show up in your life over and over and over again.

5. Declare your abundance. If you want the Divine to hear you, you must speak your faith. Not just think it (although that’s where it begins). Speak it.“I AM Abundant!” “I have abundance.” “I feel abundant.” “I have all the wealth I need and I can create all the wealth I want.”(That one takes a bit of faith to say, doesn’t it? Hmmm, that’s the point.) Speak your faith into being. Over and over and over and over…

Many people think they only need to say something once or twice, and then get discouraged when it doesn’t show up right away.

No, babe. This is anongoingre-focusing of your thoughts, your words, your beliefs, your feelings. Consider it a re-training, if you will. Speak it to everyone. (Sometimes that takes courage, and you may feel you are lying. Do it anyway.) But first of all, speak it to yourself.

Your Action Steps:

1. Say to yourself in the mirror, “I AM Abundant!” See how it feels.   Practice it at least 2x a day.  Practice it when you brush your teeth.   Practice it when you wash your hands.  Truly feel its truth.   Because You Are Abundant!

2. Stop complaining. Today. Just do it.

3. Write down 5 things you are grateful for (and have abundance with) every day for one week. See how you feel. (Pretty great, I’m sure.)

Have fun!


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