What Are You Telling Yourself?
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.
Do you know what your mind is telling you? Are you able to watch your thoughts as though they were a crawl on CNN? The way our brains are able to quickly take in information, analyze it, and assess what we should do or say in a given moment is awesome! Truly. However, as the only thinker in our minds, it is up to us to be mind~full, and to change our own thinking and programming along the way. What old tapes are you letting run? How are those affecting your everyday experiences of the World around you?
Thoughts have power; thoughts are energy. And you can make your world or break it by your own thinking.
Let’s face it, how you interpret events in your life effects your mood. If you are letting old mental tapes run, you could be using your energy in an unproductive way which could easily be leading to lowered self-esteem, cynicism, pessimism, and negativity. Don’t waste your energy getting caught up in the story of how it was, or you fear it will be. You are in control and it is time to take back your Power! The inner creates the outer. All~ways. So, whether it’s an old program which tells you that you are not good enough, intelligent enough, or attractive enough, these old thoughts and belief systems will not only be reflected in the energy you put out into the World through your word and actions, but it will also be mirrored back to you in those around you. These negative tapes could have come from trash talk on the elementary school playground, the lockers after gym class, in your home or work environment or elsewhere. What’s important is that you become Aware of them, and compassionately change them into positive thoughts. This will not only help you, but contributes positively to collective consciousness as well, assisting the whole.
You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.
How does one change one’s thinking from old negative tapes to positive, healthy thoughts? I have found that putting positive affirmations in plain view for myself is a great way to begin. Tape some affirmations on your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator, in your car, and at work. This sets in motion an awareness that you are in control of your thoughts and that it is only a thought and a thought can be changed. Be Aware of your thoughts. Watch them throughout the day, knowing that you are more than your brain, and in fact, the one in the driver’s seat.
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
Be Grateful. If you are not yet making a Gratitude List, I would Highly recommend that you begin. This is a Fantastic way to change your thinking. The power of gratitude is an extremely important aspect of attracting to yourself the abundance and happiness that you desire and deserve. Your thoughts, feelings and actions result in your circumstances, and by being in a state of gratefulness, your positive thinking will be reflected in your moods and actions, which will bring about even more things for which to be grateful.
Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious.
Positive affirmations can take different forms, but I prefer to always keep them framed in the positive, present tense. I AM statements are wonderful! I AM strong, beautiful, confident, smart, creative, etc. Fill in your ‘I AM’ statement for the areas in your life where you wish to consciously shift your thinking patterns. I also like ‘I CAN’ statements. I CAN write an Awesome, Inspiring post which motivates my BeLoved readers to shift their thinking! But, I would recommend against using too many future tense statements, such as ‘I WILL’ proclamations, as I believe that putting energy out in the future results in the desired creation always being out there… in the future. Bring it into the present tense and affirm that you already have that which you want, bridging the gap between desiring and reality. For example, instead of telling yourself, “I WILL have a Beautiful, Peaceful home”, say “I Have a Beautiful, Peaceful home.” Can you feel the difference when you say each one? Allowing your energy to be in the present tense brings the energy into being in the present tense, where you want your creations to occur. I think it is very powerful to write one’s own affirmations, but here are some of my favorite examples to get you started.
*I Love and appreciate myself just as I am.
*My life works Beautifully.
*I am strong and healthy.
*My life is blossoming in total perfection.
*Everything is working out for my Highest Good.
*I always have enough of everything.
*I Love having plenty of energy.
*I deserve the best and accept the best now.
*I prosper wherever I turn.
*I am a brilliant and successful artist.
*I value who I am.
*I love and cherish all aspects of myself.
*I radiate health through every cell and system in my body.
*I have the courage and self-confidence necessary to put my solutions into practice.
*I honor myself and treat myself with respect.
*I am the prime decision maker in my life.
*I trust my feelings and unconscious thoughts.
*As I own my power, I recognize the strength and beauty of who I am.
*I accept responsibility for all decisions I make in life.
*I treat each new problem I encounter as a new door to be opened, and an opportunity to be creative.
*I Love creating joyful, creative relationships.
* There are beautiful things happening in my life daily.
Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.
Why do affirmations and changing your thinking patterns from negative ones to positive ones work? Because they reflect the Truth. You are Perfect just as you are! You came in that way. All else is ego bullsh#t. Don’t let old tapes control you and your life. You deserve the best and it is time to accept the best *now*! Love yourself enough to become aware of what you are telling yourself and compassionately change the old, unhappy scripts into Beautifully written, constructive ones.
Love and Blessings,
Antonia
Grounding
It can be so easy to get caught up in the day, what needs to be done, moving forward, looking back, anything but being in the here and now. I like to begin my day by getting centered and grounded, and when extra stressors show up, whether it be traversing traffic, or an important meeting ahead, I once again ground myself, releasing the stressful energy and center myself in the present moment so that I can be the best me possible to face the situation.
Many of the Amazing and Beautiful womyn in my life seem to be needing this very practice, and it is advice I have shared with quite a few of them of late. “Sweetheart, take a nice cleansing breathe,” I have said to a few stressed-out friends. When I ask if they are grounding, or using any form of meditation, most are so busy doing remarkable things with their lives that they have forgotten to center themselves. I remind them that it doesn’t take very long and offer suggested methods. Just prior to my move, a Dear SistAr, shared a Lovely story with me. She is incredibly gifted at bringing people together and in being out in the World, but tends to take on too many energies, losing herself in the process. She shared that she had walked to the local park, found a tree to ground in with and was told, “Once you are grounded, you can no longer be swayed by others.” Yes! Yes! Yes! Exactly!
Five days after my recent move back to Northern California, I received a phone call from my Beautiful mother with very sad news which tested my inner resources, requiring me to utilize all of the tools I had been sharing. “I have some shocking news,” she told me, explaining that her Amazing and BeLoved father had crossed over. As soon as I was off of the phone, I put on a coat and went outside. Being outdoors to grieve, ground, and heal has been so helpful during this time. It took two days for me to feel comfortable driving, but as soon as I knew I could do so safely, I drove myself into the mountains, found a tree, and after asking its permission, I sat on its roots, my spine against the trunk, and sent my sadness down into the ground.
I had already planned to drive north to my mother’s house later in the week for her birthday celebration, which in true mother form (i.e. self-less, giving) she had changed to a Birthday/Welcome Home, Daughter party. Beautiful, yes? I am Blessed. She had planned for the top of the cake to read, “Full Circle Celebration” with two candles, but now will be adding an additional candle, one for our Dear Patriarch whose life on this side has come full circle, but remains with us in Loving memory and lineage. I chose to depart for mom’s a day early; an incredibly Beautiful journey along the CA coast.
Yesterday, mom and I had our own adventure, to the Sacred Redwoods. It was a Gorgeous journey through the pine tree covered mountains, Sun shining brightly. Wow! After driving for about fifteen miles through the curvy roads, we finally arrived at the redwood forest! WOW! They are so special and so very, very Magnificent! While it was a tad cold to sit and meditate, we listened to the Lovely babbling creek, and grounded in with the trees. It was a Wonderful journey, which was healing for us both. This weekend we shall share her birthday, my return, and fondly remember my Dear Grandfather with BeLoveds; a Full Circle Celebration.
Below are two grounding techniques which I use and would recommend to assist in getting focused and centered. They will help you in decreasing your stress levels, clearing your mind and make you feel better quickly.
A Simple Grounding Technique:
This can be done indoors, but having your feet against the Earth in an outdoor setting is always best.
Take a deep breathe and with the exhale send energy through your legs and feet, imagining that there are roots growing from your feet into the ground beneath you. Continue to take slow, cleansing breathes, sending the roots from your feet into the center of the Earth, wrapping the energy around the very core of Mother Earth, releasing any negative energy and grounding yourself. This need only take five to ten minutes to be very effective. Enjoy! It feels good to be centered in the now and you shall be a better, more effective you!
Bonus tip: If really stressed, you can use this technique while hugging a tree. It works!
Chakra Grounding Technique:
Once again, indoors or outdoors, have your feet flat on the floor. Take a cleansing breathe into your belly, allowing it to expand, and with the exhale imagine a cord from your root chakra into the center of Mother Earth. With each breathe watch the cord grow bigger and brighter as you ground. You can envision either a cord of white light, or you can use the corresponding color for each chakra as you move up your body. Next move to the sacral chakra, sending a cord into the center of the Earth. Continue with each of the chakras until you are at the crown chakra. Then, imagine yourself in a bubble of Golden Light. Lastly, send Light up from your crown chakra towards the Heavens. (One need not believe in any particular faith to do this, as all is energy, we are simply connecting with energy around us in a Loving, conscious way.) You are now centered and grounded!
I’m sure that you can imagine why after uprooting myself to a new area then facing grief so soon thereafter, continuous grounding would help me so much in dealing with both processes. I hope that the techniques I have shared are helpful to you as well, Dear Reader. And, if you are already using your own grounding/centering/meditation techniques, please feel free to share them!
Love and Blessings,
Antonia
Are You Going with the Flow?
It was a Gloriously Beautiful day in Los Angeles yesterday, and I was going almost nowhere in the bumper-to-bumper afternoon traffic when a thought occurred to me: life is rather like traffic, in that one must go with the flow, yet be prepared for those little windows of opportunity when they present themselves. Let’s face it, we’re not all going at the same speed, as we each have our own obstacles and blocks to get through. We’re going through Beautiful, albeit challenging, changes. Not the ‘change is the only constant’ kind of changes, but Deep, expansive changes, stemming from a desire to follow that which has heart and meaning, staying in our own truth, and also an unwillingness to accept untruths, what no longer works for us and is out of balance. How wonderful is that?
The unexamined life is not worth living.
There is another analogy that I have been using to explain this process of change. When I clean my closet, I take everything out for reassessment. While having my stuff all over the room may *look* really messy, it *is*, in fact, in a positive process of change. It’s moving in a positive, forwardly direction, despite outward appearances. It is through reassessing my ‘stuff’ that I find a new awareness, and in releasing that which no longer has meaning that a vacuous space is created for that which I *do* want in my life. I believe that this is happening not just in my life, and of those I know and Love, but is actually happening on a global scale. YAY! This is a Wonderful, much-needed process, for which we should be giving thanks, as it’s going to move things into better directions and restore balance!
I can tell you this, and I have it on good authority! Everything works out! We’ve been doing such great inner work, we can Trust that we will be carried through these challenging times. I know it’s a balancing act to both be letting go of the past and moving into the unknown future simultaneously. But we are ready! Just remember to stay grounded and positive with that which is swirling around you, while preparing for those little windows of opportunity when they arise. And, they will! So, when they do, be ready to take it *if* it is what you Truly want and have been magnetizing for yourself. You’ll be tested and distracted, as that is what the Universe does once declarations have been made. “Really? You want this and this? Hmmmm, what if throw *this* enticement at you?” Don’t you find? But we shall not be distracted, because we know, deep in our hearts and being what we Truly want for ourselves. And, as the inner creates the outer, all~ways, we shall Lovingly, consciously attract our heart’s desire. In Loving Gratitude and Perfect Timing!
Love and Many Blessings,
Antonia
Is Goal Setting For You?
A goal is a dream with a deadline.”
Since we are the creators of our own Universe, it’s important to know precisely what it is we want. Not having goals is similar to sailing a ship across the Atlantic without a map. Goals, like maps, help you get to your destination much faster than sailing through life randomly. So, let’s explore how we can set some goals. I know that it’s easy to get frightened by the immensity of the task at hand and want to run from it, while others will push through toward the Promised Land of a perfectly manifested creation for their time here on Earth. I invite you to experience this as a Joyful, Fun Adventure of exploring what your heart desires in different areas of your life, knowing that you are in control of your life and the direction it is heading. After all, this is the beginning of your Beautiful future! So, let’s get excited and set some goals!
Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. “
The first step is to dream! Dream of everything you want, and have always wanted in every facet of your life. There are no limits. Make sure these are goals that *you* want for yourself, not something which sounds good or is influenced by others. Ask yourself, “What would I attempt to do, if I knew I could not fail?” “What would I want for my life if I knew I could have it?”
Allow yourself to dream like you did as a child. Let your imagination run wild! Brainstorm. Write your ideas down on paper and decide which ones are the most important to you, those which spark your passionate drive!
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes. “
Next, we shall deliberately rewrite our goals so our subconscious mind knows precisely what it is trying to accomplish. Our goals are adding structure, vitality and commitment to the fulfillment of our dreams. We need to set goals grand enough to challenge ourselves. (Remember that if you don’t have to push yourself beyond your current limits to reach your goals, you’re not really achieving anything. To be truly successful, and reach your true potential, you must constantly push yourself to move outside of your “comfort zone”.) Words are powerful! We must recognize this in order to be truly effective in our goals and manifestations. Phrase everything in a very simple, specific and detailed form, making sure that it is phrased in the positive, as it is what we wish to create in our life, not what we don’t want. Define goals in measurable terms such as height, weight, inches, dollars, etc. This way we can measure progress until the desired outcome is reached. Also, be very specific! Write the goal out in complete and specific detail, once again, we are providing the subconscious with a detailed set of instructions to work on and the more detailed the info we provide it, the more clear the outcome becomes. The neuron connections are stronger, longer lasting and it takes longer to lose a neural connection when it was formed with great emotion, so be sure to be inspirational! Our goals will bring purpose to our lives and give us reason to get out of bed to create what has purpose, meaning and passion!
There are many areas in which we can set goals for ourselves. I have categorized mine in this way:
*Attitude: What part of my mindset is holding me back? Where could my attitude be improved?
*Career: Where do I wish to be in my career/field?
*Financial: How much do I wish to be making and by when?
*Mental/Education: Is there knowledge I wish to acquire in particular? What info/skills will I need to achieve my goals?
(note: as a very curious, perpetual student, paring this list down is an interesting challenge )
*Family/Home: Do I wish to have a family? What kind of relationship do I wish to have with those within the family? What do I want my home to look and feel like?
*Physical/Health: Are there any athletic goals I wish to achieve by a certain point in my life? Are there health issues I wish to resolve?
*Pleasure: What Fun Adventures do I wish to have in this lifetime? hehehe (this could get long!)
*Spiritual: What do I wish for my spiritual journey to look like?
*Public Service: What kind of difference do I wish to make? What can I do within my community/globally to assist?
Your role in achieving your goal must be giving your all. Involve yourself whole: with your heart, your mind and your soul. “
Next, we shall evaluate *why* we must obtain our goals. Write down all the reasons why you are committed to attaining your goals. Feel the emotions stir up inside of you. Feel the passion and drive. This will bring the goals to life! What would it look/feel like to attain our goals? How will we feel about ourselves? Will we feel proud? Will our self-esteem be raised? How will our loved ones respond? Will we feel more confident in our abilities? How will achieving our goals change our current reality? When we are clear about why we are working towards achievement of particular goals, and clear of the benefits, we will be more willing to work towards them. So, imagine the benefits and rewards and spark that desire!
Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people’s criticisms, carry out your plan.”
Keep sights set on your goals by reviewing them twice daily. Each morning and evening visualize having achieved your goals. Really use your imagination and paint a clear and detailed picture; feel it, be in it and experience it. Replace negative self-talk (thoughts in your head) with positive self-talk and affirmations. When decision-making throughout the day you can ask yourself, “Does this take me closer to, or further from my goals?” Share goals with people who love you and will support your dreams. We’re more likely to stick to our plan and reach our goals if we know that family and friends support us. Being a part of a team increases our determination, our stamina, and our courage. You deserve to be happy and have what you desire in life! Trust! The time to change your life is *NOW*. Take time to invest in the future you passionately wish to create for yourself. You have the power to create your own destiny!
Where will your goals take you?
Take a Deep Breath and Smile
Every thought, feeling, and action registers inside your body and changes your physiology. Stress and irritability are reflected in your posture, breath, and facial expression. You can reduce your stress instantly quite simply by adjusting your breathing, and allowing yourself to smile. You may not believe it, but try it!
We know how to breathe. It is something that occurs to us automatically, spontaneously, naturally. We are breathing even when we are not aware of it. So it seems foolish to think that one can be told how to breathe. Yet, one’s breathing becomes modified and restricted in various ways, not just momentarily, but habitually. We develop unhealthy habits without being aware of it. We tend to assume positions (slouched positions) that diminish lung capacities and take shortened breaths. Most of us breathe by expanding our chests, using our upper back and neck muscles to raise the rib cage. Our breathing is too shallow and too quick. We are not taking in sufficient oxygen and we are not eliminating sufficient carbon dioxide. As a result, our bodies are oxygen starved, and a toxic build-up occurs. Every cell in the body requires oxygen and our level of vitality is just a product of the health of all the cells. This leads to increased disease. Our resistance to disease is reduced, since oxygen is essential for healthy cells. This means we catch more colds and develop other ailments more easily. Lack of sufficient oxygen to the cells is a major contributing factor in cancer, heart disease and strokes.
Although “putting on a happy face” may seem artificial, allowing a genuine smile to spread through your body creates a powerful sense of relaxation. It is a subtle change in facial expression, a half-smile, which should extend through your eyes and the corners of your mouth. Smile both outwardly and inwardly, allowing the smile to spread throughout the body, letting tension release. You want to capture the feeling of “ahhhhhhh…,” relaxation. If you can’t do it, try forcing a big belly laugh (“ha-ha-ha”). That will get you to smile!
Place a hand on your stomach, and the other on your chest. Take a good breath. If you’re like most people, your chest expands but your stomach doesn’t move much. Lie down on your back and close your eyes.
Place your hand on your stomach and chest again. Most people naturally breathe through their stomach in this position. Take a few normal breaths to be sure your stomach expands as you breathe in, and goes down as you breathe out. Once you have the hang of it, continue breathing this way. You may place your hands wherever they feel most comfortable. Now, let that semi-smile spread from your lips and eyes to gently spread through your body. Enjoy this “mini-mental massage.” As your thoughts wander, (which they will) and your smile fades, just bring yourself back each time to an awareness of the breath and the smile. Once you are pleasantly relaxed, open your eyes, but continue the calm breathing and the smile. When ready, sit up, but continue to breathe from your stomach, and to smile!
This exercise is a wonderful way to begin the day! As soon as you wake up, lie on your back, and start your abdominal breathing. Let a gentle smile spread, and as your thoughts wander into the day, picture yourself going through the day’s activities both as you wish them to occur and see yourself with that smile on your face. There are also numerous opportunities throughout the day to get back the sense of tranquility that you are developing with your breath and smile. Take a moment when you are in line at the store, when stopped at a red light, or prior to interactions with clients/customers, etc. Turn any “mindless” activity into a “mindful” activity while doing household chores, before meals, or meetings. Turn around feelings of frustration, irritation, and annoyance by taking deep breaths and smiling.
From Gratitude Journal to Gratefulness
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.
Despite many attempts, it was not until about three years ago that I began to live my life with gratitude as an intent. I did not yet understand the power of gratitude as an extremely important aspect of attracting to oneself the abundance and happiness that one desires and deserves. In fact, it was quite a stretch to sit down each day with my Gratitude Journal and write down five things for which I was grateful. But, slowly, over time, I became conscious of the many blessings in my life for which I could be grateful, and, as the list flowed and grew, so did the things in my life for which I could be grateful. Beautiful!
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
Gratitude Journals are a wonderful way to begin the practice of mindful gratefulness. It is a life changing practice which I hope to inspire you to try, if you are not already doing so. You can pull out a blank piece of paper to do this, but I personally like to have a journal just for this purpose alone. I chose a lovely journal with a garden picture adorning the cover. Find something that works for you. Sit down and think of the different areas of your life, making note of the things for which you are sincerely grateful. If the emotion is not there, the result will reflect this, so choose that which resonates a true emotional feeling of gratefulness. Make a commitment to yourself that you will do this at least once per day and stick to that commitment. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Even 5 minutes is better than not at all. Put into it the time that you can spare, but make sure you do it every day.
“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.”
Eventually my need for a Gratitude Journal was replaced by a consistent attitude of gratefulness which carried through my day. An awareness crept in that good things were happening in my life on a day to day basis, and I found myself giving thanks throughout the day. By trusting that all was working towards the highest good, I reduced my resistance to that which didn’t fit my pictures and tried to see how that which was in front of me could be a greater gift. Of course an acceptance that it was my own thoughts and feelings that had brought about given circumstances helped in surrendering to and trusting in a challenging situation as well.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
I found myself challenged this week. I am caring for another’s dog and had to leave the dog home alone for a short time while I went marketing. Upon return I discovered that she had escaped the room in which she was supposed to be contained and had done quite a bit of damage to the house during my short outing. Now, this came on the heels of some other “upsets” and I found myself feeling quite frustrated. After a bit of cleaning up, I jumped on my exercise equipment and allowed myself a good workout. When a friend stopped by shortly thereafter, he felt my less than grounded energy and told me to relax. Yes! Relax! I went outside, looked up at the sky, and began to count my blessings. In this place of gratitude, there was no longer room for my feelings of upset, and I soon found myself contentedly happy again. I had changed my perception, and was once again living in true gratefulness.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Developing an attitude of sincere gratitude
for your current blessings unleashes the power
for receiving many more. Every Day Give Thanks.
Please let me know, dear reader, how gratitude has changed your life!
Many Blessings to you!
The Four Step Path
When my mother was in graduate school she studied with Cultural Anthropologist Angeles Arien, who taught her a four step practice which she always turns to when she’s finding herself needing clarity: show up, pay attention, tell the truth and don’t be attached to outcome. She told me that people usually have trouble with one more than the others. It took me awhile to integrate this information, but I saw that life is a journey which requires our being present, honest and detached.
Eighty percent of success is showing up.
I will have lived in Los Angeles for ten years this August, and I have to say that I have never met so many unreliable people in my life. That is not to say that there aren’t many beautiful people here, however, many of them seem to struggle with getting themselves where they say they will be at any given point and time. People are often late, if they show up at all. This happens for a myriad of reasons, but all are a reflection of a preoccupation with what has happened in the past, or what is about to happen in the future. Yet, it is usually in the present that we find exactly what we need. A bonus gift in being the one who shows up is that it has cemented my relationship with friends.
I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.
Most of us live in a society which is constantly in motion; and multi-tasking has become a means of survival. We talk on cells while driving to work or taking the kids to school. We email, message, and text our way through meals. We watch television instead of conversing with those we love. It has become a hectic world of frustrations, distractions and a general lack of being in the now. Perhaps we get into a rut, shuffle from task to task, forgetting the ability to be spontaneous. But, if we are really lucky, life engages us, and we stop to admire a new bloom on the vine, or an amazing sunset reflecting on incoming storm clouds. Being in the present moment brings us closer to where we need to be and allows us to hear not only what our beloveds and co-workers are trying to communicate, but also to hear the voice from within. It is impossible to truly pay attention and do anything else at the same time, and don’t we owe it to those around us and ourselves to pay attention in the moment, solve the problems in front of us, or eliminate the distractions so that we can stay focused upon what is really important?
Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.
Truth is what the person of knowledge brings to every moment.
As a child I heard the famous George Washington cherry tree story, as well as the Honest Abe’s penny tale, both teaching us that we should not tell lies. There’s a difference between not telling lies and being truly honest. Honesty asks us to be open to the truths of the world, true to ourselves, and truthful with the people we know. Being truly honest is a spiritual discipline, an art form, and a gift to ourselves. It is an opportunity to break free from our fears: the fear of being hurt, fear of being wrong, and the fears of being unworthy or unlovable. I believe that how we feel about ourselves and how much we love ourselves are in direct proportion to the quality and integrity of our word. Thus, when we are brave enough and loving enough to be completely truthful, we feel good, happy and at peace because we are in alignment with our self-definition.
He who binds himself to a joy
Does the winged life destroy.
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise.
It is our attachment to outcome that shows us where we have more work to do. Being attached not only clouds our vision, but leaves us stuck clinging to what we feel “should” be. When we are attached, we tend to become worried, obsessed and tense, feeling that the only way we will be happy is if things pan out in a certain way. This lack of flow with life will lead only to suffering and an inability to move forward. And I am not saying that it is easy to let go. But by trusting in the process, knowing that all is as it should be, we can allow ourselves to be flexible and flowing with life, enjoying the present moment instead of concerning ourselves with how things must look. Everything in life is sacred. It is a journey which mirrors nature through life, death, ebb, and flow. It’s all part of the great cycle of life. The only thing for certain is change, so grasp those beautiful moments, for we must only learn to enjoy now while it’s here. Many blessings on your path.
Surrender
SURRENDER
SURRENDER
SURRENDER
SURRENDER
SURRENDER
SURRENDER
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Laughter is the closest distance between two people.
I love to laugh and do so often. In fact, amongst my friends, I am known for my frequent laughing and my laugh. Perhaps because of my giggles as well. hehe My girlfriend recently confessed that she’ll ask herself, “Would this make Antonia laugh?” And how awesome is that? In turn, I do my best to crack her up as well. After all, there are plenty of things going on in the World which we could allow to dampen our spirits, but by laughing we can reduce the levels of chronic stress in our body and enhance our lifespan, boost our immune system function, protect our nervous system and sanity, and give our endocrine system a much-needed rest.
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.
At the biophysical level, laughter moves lymph fluid around the body simply by the convulsions experienced during the process of laughing; so it boosts immune system function and helps clear out old lingering materials from organs and tissues.
Secondly, laughter increases oxygenation of the body at both the cellular and organ level. By laughing, you intake vast amounts of oxygen in huge gulps, and you repeat this process in a sort of temporary hyperventilation session. As you take in oxygen, you release carbon dioxide, and that added oxygen makes it difficult for parasites and bacteria to survive. t’s also interesting to note that cancer cells are destroyed in the presence of oxygen.
He who laughs, lasts!
~Mary Pettibone Poole~
Laughing also boosts circulation, so at the same time that you’re distributing oxygen around your body, you’re boosting the circulation of your blood; you’re exercising abdominal muscles; you’re exercising the muscles of your face; and you’re enhancing the flexibility of various joints throughout your body. So it’s a bit of physical exercise and healthful body movement as well. In fact, the harder you laugh, the greater this effect. Have you ever laughed so hard that your stomach muscles were sore the next day? I have!
“Laughter is the spark of the soul”
When you laugh, you generate a wealth of healing biochemicals such as serotonin; others are immune-boosting chemicals such as interleukins. If you were to make a long list of all the chemicals created by engaging in healthy laughter, you would have quite a list of healthy body chemicals that would carry a hefty price tag if you purchased them retail. And yet, you can create these chemicals for yourself at no cost by simply engaging in laughter. In other words, laughing makes us feel great, helps bond people together and is really good for us!
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
How can we laugh more often? Rent your favourite comedies, go to your local comedy club, spend time with children, as they most certainly know how to have fun and laugh at life. Visit websites which host funny videos, subscribe to a “Joke of the Day” service, and pass along that which you find funny so others can enjoy it as well. Tonight I will be going to a “Laughter Party”, and I promise to tell you all about it next time! Just laugh! And laugh often, my beautiful friends!
I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter, the sound of which has always seemed to me to be the most civilized music in the world.
Follow Your Bliss
I am so blissed out! I made a conscious choice to do things which bring more joy into my life and the more I participate in those activities, the better I feel. By choosing to be happy and in a state of love and joy as often as possible, I find my life has a blissful and blessed rhythm and flow to it which has not only awakened me to my highest potential, but aligns me with my highest good and thus I am seeing much greater synchronicity in my life. After all, we are creators of our universe, in an interconnected web of life. The more we choose to be in a state of love, joy, and bliss, the more it comes into our lives in the form of uplifting experiences and like-minded people. The more you give, the more you get. So I shall share some of these blissful activities in hopes that you, my beloved reader, shall in turn share your ideas. What a beautiful way to love each other. Right?
1.) Using your creativity/artistic endeavours: we are all creators and it is important to utilize this artistic nature in a playful way. Set your angsty/perfectionistic artist aside and let your inner child play and create. Paint, draw, sculpt… take out crayons or finger paints and just have fun!
2.) Music: listen to something inspiring and feel your spirits lift!
3.) Movies: hopefully by now you have a few all-time favourites which bring a smile to your face, or inspire you; watch them!
4.) Laughter: is the best medicine! There is nothing like laughter to make you feel good! I highly recommend belly laughing to raise your vibration quickly and renew your sense of joy. By the way, I laugh all the time! I now awaken laughing! haha
5.) Books: I have been a book lover since I was a young child. I love to immerse myself in a great story which inspires or transports me into a great fantasy. I have to believe this aids in visualization skills as well, and thus my ability to create.
6.) Dance: You know that expression, “dance like nobody’s watching”? Yes! Do! I dance daily and it makes me so happy! I dance around the house, and even dance in my car! You know? At stoplights and such!
7.) Exercise/yoga: I believe that there is a form of exercise out there for everybody! There are so many ways to move the body. Find something you enjoy and do it today. Your body will thank you by pumping out endorphins which will make you feel really good! Besides, when you look good, you feel good!
8.) Meditation: are you meditating yet? You’ll be really glad that you did! It will ground and center you, make you feel peaceful and will get you in tune with your inner guidance system so that you can follow your intuition. You can read my post on meditation to help get you started or google ‘meditation’ as there are plenty of resources available.
9.) Sing: in the shower, in the car, wherever! Sing loud and proud and tell me it doesn’t make you happy!
10.) Breath work: sit with a straight spine and just breathe into your core. Even just stopping during the day to take three deep, thoughtful breathes, will help to center you and make you feel peaceful and at ease.
11.) Affirmations/mindful thinking: it is very important to be aware of your thinking because what you think and put out there in word and thought, is what you in turn create in your life. Purposefully begin monitoring your thinking and replace negative thoughts, ie “Bad things always happen to me,” with positive thoughts such as “My life is blessed beyond measure.”
This takes some work, but reprogramming your subconscious mind will change your life.
12.) Gratitude/being thankful: spend some time everyday to appreciate what you do have in your life. Call or write a friend and thank them for their loving presence in your life. This will bring about a sense of joy in you and them! Being in gratitude is an important and powerful practice which will bring about even more things for which to be grateful.
13.) Hot bath/spa/jacuzzi/hot tub: soaking in hot water is bliss!
14.) Massage/Acupuncture: getting a massage or acupuncture is such a gift to yourself. It’ll relax your body, destress you and bring about wellness. Besides, it feels amazing!
15.) Aromatherapy: there are many scents out there, so find the ones which you enjoy. Use high quality, essential oils to perk you up or relax you. Place a couple of drops in a hot bath, or to scent your linens (lavender is great for relaxation).
16.) Turn off the television: so much of what is in the media tends to be fear-based, and out of this fear, one feels the need to watch even more, bringing one into a negative spiral. Turn it off! I’m not saying to tune out what is happening in the world, but do not be driven by the negativity put out by the media at large.
17.) Reconnect with nature/gardening: go outside! Take off your shoes and feel the Earth beneath your feet. Dig down and get your hands dirty! Go to the mountains, beach, or a local park. Love and admire the trees, plants, flowers, and birds chirping and feel that interconnectedness with all that is and ever will be, allowing that love to be returned. It will remind you of who you are and of what you are capable.
18.) Watch a sunrise/sunset/moon and star gaze:go outside and look up! Watching the sunrise, or sunset brings such a powerful sense of bliss for me. I also love to honour the moon, stars and heavens above. It’s a wonderous place, this planet we call our home; and I feel that by appreciating it I am reconnecting with source.
19.) Cooking/baking: creating beautifully prepared meals with love is a fantastic way to bring more joy into your life, as is baking. There’s something so centering and loving about these activities and it makes me happy!
20.) Eating: I love a great meal! Especially when it involves fresh fruits, vegetables and other such ingredients which have been specially prepared with love (yes, I really believe the ‘love factor’ is key).
21.) Chocolate: Mmmmmmmmmmmmm chocolate!
22.) Smiling at strangers/random acts of kindness: it makes my heart sing to share smiles with strangers. And random acts of kindness! Have you tried it lately? One of my favourites has always been to pay for the car behind me when I cross the Golden Gate Bridge. I try to take off before they can thank me! Although, I secretly (in a lovingly detached way) hope they pass it on to the car behind them! Find a way to be a blessing in another’s life.
23.) Being around loved ones: share quality time with your favourite people!
24.) Sharing ideas/thoughts/beliefs: in a loving way, will lift spirits and inspire!
25.) Pets: spending time with furry family members is such a blessed gift!
26.) Donate: time, money, things to your community and feel a sense of purpose and meaning, because giving back is a blessed experience and a gift to yourself.
27.) myspace: haha! what?!?! I know! The friends I have found on myspace are such an amazing gift! I am Loving, Learning and Laughing so much! I highly recommend it! It’s a way to connect with like-minded individuals from around the globe.
28.) Take a drive: roadtrips are such fun! Rediscover a neighboring town, take a drive up the coast, or up into the mountains. Roll your windows down, put on your favourite music and enjoy!
29.) Traveling: I am passionate about traveling to new places and learning about the food, language and customs of the culture. Learning from other societies is a treasured gift!
30.) Make Love: need I say more?
So many blessings to you dear friends. I hope that you use these methods, or your own, to let your heart spirit soar!
Please share your favourite blissful activity with me and fellow readers. Thank you!!!
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