5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Life - 30 Days at a Time

Brazil street art
Source: Flickr.com

5 Easy ways to improve your life, taking 30 days at a time by local author Roslyn Carrington (featured in the Trinidad Guardian on 22 June 2014).

Not only are they easy to do but they actually work. I need to practice number 5 often because when I'm in a bad  mood or feeling down, I get mean at times.

Folks, the difference, the quiet inside that comes from stilling the incessant commenting on others is just amazing. Try them and surprise yourself. Our lives are fuller than we sometimes believe.

I call these self-improvement tips everyday spirituality because we are turned on when we tune in! Roslyn writes:

30 Days at a time

Every once in a while we stop and take stock of ourselves, adn feel like we should change something. The problem lies int he mistaken belief that we should make huge, life-shaking changes... and that's when we become discouraged.

The secret is to take on small, easy challenges, that take very little effort, but add up to so much in the end.

Here are 5 easy 30-day challenges that won't take a whole lot out of you, but which are sure to add richness to your life.

1. Watch one documentary a day for 30 days. Try short pieces like those on TED talks, they usually run 15 minutes or so. Browse through and pick from the endless variety of topics. Be sure to share what you learned.

2. Take a photo every day for 30 days.  Keep your phone or pocket camera nearby, and keep an eye out for something that touches you or says something about your life. Post your photos online or in a private journal, with a short note explaining what the shot means to you. You'd be surprised how textured your life will seem once you open your eyes.



Street art in Brazil by L7m
Source: streetartutopia.com

3. Say hello to a stranger every day for 30 days. No, not creepy looking guys on the street but people you pass by or interact with wordlessly all the time. The cashier at the store, the doubles man, the janitor at the office. "Hello? How are you? How's your day going?" can make all the difference in someone else's day.

4. Take a cold shower every day for 30 days. No joke; most of us have become a little too dependent on the luxury of warm showers. A good, bracing daily shower will brighten your skin, wake you up, and make you more alert to face the day. It will also make you less dependent on first-world niceties that the vast majority of the world does without.

5. Swallow negative or pessimistic comments about yourself and others for 30 days. You'll be surprised how eliminating negativity from the tip of your tongue also erases it from your heart and your  mood. You'll start to feel lighter in no time.

Try one of these challenges, starting today.

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7 Ways to Discover Your Soul's Desires and Change Your Life

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com

Self-improvement is the only way to empowering yourself. This journey is never finished when you consciously decide to change what is not working in your life.

It doesn't matter if it's more "things", more money, more recognition, etc. Your clue is that dissatisfied feeling of not-enoughness after getting what you thought you wanted.

We all experience these feelings but not many of us are brave enough though, to heed and follow those yearnings that just will not go away. It's your soul's desires calling and it makes for a sad, silent and deeply unhappy person when you ignore it and forge ahead with your "planned" life.

You can begin taking small steps toward understanding yourself, by clarifying your thoughts in order to discover who you really are. This is important because we all lie to ourselves, daily. Only then would you begin to unearth what makes you unique. That's all part of the journey, not the so-called achievement at the end because learning never ends.

Success and happiness go hand in glove when we do what we love. Seriously and I didn't believe that until it happened to me! This is as natural as the rising and setting of the sun, birdsong in springtime, reflections in clear pools and the smile on a baby's face. We always need so many words to try to describe a particular feeling, don't we...

As Abraham-Hicks says there's really no problem and there will be no struggle if we all just go with the flow instead of fighting against the current of what is simply because we have been taught to believe this way is normal.

Personal growth is why we are here - we are spiritual beings living a human experience - and everyone has their role to play so you must focus on yours only and forge ahead. 7 ways to Discover Your Soul's Desires and Change Your Life.

If you knew everything was really all right, and that it always has a happy ending, then you would not feel trepidacious about your future. Everything is really so very all right! If you could believe and trust that, then, immediately everything would automatically and instantly become all right. 
~Abraham

1. Journal Every Day

Journalling clarifies your thoughts and feelings, highlights your motivations and unearth insights into particular events which did not strike you at the time. A journal is a private chat between you and your Self. It's a great way to vent without hurting anyone's feelings, be abusive as you like and get the shit of your chest that's stressing you to the max.

What a fantastic tool for self-discovery when you review it days, weeks or months later, identifying what makes you tick and get ticked off, your shadow side, your warts with which you must become comfortable, and the challenges you face climbing your ladder of personal growth. After years of practice, I discover new insights all the time about myself and others that didn't strike me at the time! It works. Drop your Self a few lines each day.



2. Meditation

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Most people don't think of meditation as a means of improving themselves. If I didn't go to my inner well of stillness every day, I would still be a basket case today. My Jungian psychologist encouraged me many years ago to journal every day.
 

I now know for sure that meditation is the perfect way to become stressless and feel good all the time! 

Sitting or lying comfortably and quietly without interruptions for fifteen to thirty minutes each day, in a calm space by yourself, with or without soothing music, focussing on your breath going in and out of your nostrils, clears unnecessary thoughts from your head.

It works because you are no longer thinking. You are focussed instead on your breath going in and out of your nostrils or your belly or wherever you feel it. 

Afterwards, you feel calmer, think clearer and are able to act in a more thoughtful manner. 

It is a proven medical fact that continued meditation improves your digestion, health, sleep pattern and minimises stress. The key word here is practice. Make the time every day whether you stay in bed longer in the morning or you do so before going to bed.

3. Maintain Positive Thoughts 

This appears to be the most difficult to achieve but that's because you allow others to influence and manipulate you especially when they know that you are intent on change for your betterment. People are like that. Don't be surprised by it.

When you expect a negative outcome you will get exactly that and unless and until become aware of your thoughts and deliberately stop yourself and think something positive and uplifting. Continue to review your objectives and remind yourself about why you want to change and improve your life.

The only way to achieve success is to expect positive results. You and only you, are responsible for the thoughts you think! Are you really going to allow some silly, self-serving bitchy complaining critical remark, aimed to hurt and derail you, put you off your game? Are you really and truly going to allow challenges to impede your progress when you know how far you have come?

I have discovered that the best way to nix all this crap is by writing down your desires, coming up with achievable goals, creating a plan of action to make them come true one step at a time and every.single.night. list what you created that day. Re-read the previous list of everything that went well. Nothing brings a bigger smile to your face than that. Rock on!

The starting point of all achievement is desire. 
~Napoleon Hill

4. Written Goals Require Action!

A written goal is your intention you send out to the Universe. Write down a small goal, one thing that you know you can do right now and is so inconsequential that it's not a big deal and tape that piece of paper or index card somewhere you will see it every day. When you see your written goal in black and white, you automatically begin thinking of ways to achieve it.

You want to take action to make it come true because seeing it keeps it active at the front of your mind. How long did it take to make it happen? Wasn't it great and that was a "small goal"! Imagine the greater feeling of satisfaction on something more significant!

Writing down your goals and seeing them in black and white activates your imagination and you begin thinking of ways to achieve it. Ideas come from the most unlikely sources at times because you have taken the most important step to crystallise your desire. You want to make it happen.

When you feel depressed or disappointed with yourself, as will happen, when plans don't work out, go back to your list. Write down the what and the how and be honest about the why (you and your actions), then decide and course correct with a new action plan. Failure only happens when you stop trying. And where did i get all this...from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich.

5. Journey of your soul's desires

Allow meditation to be your anchor and the pivot around which you improve the areas of your life that you know need work. You will need it once you embark on this journey of your soul's desires and make no mistake, this is what it is - resistance creates the most exquisitely painful experiences - everything in your life will be affected including your relationships, your health and your finances.

Personal growth means powerful change and you will find yourself often out of balance as you ramp it up. Consequently, it is essential to maintain or begin a physical fitness routine (as simple as a daily walk starting slow and building up your stamina). Meditation will take care of your mental and emotional fitness. You need social support from like-minded people like yourself who are genuinely rooting for your success. Community centers, Facebook groups and such are good options. Go with the flow: the direction of least resistance.

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort 
and struggle. ~Napoleon Hill

6. Affirmations

Positive affirmations will change you negative self talk you - that inner dialogue that is constantly repeating and self defeating. For me, Louise Hay has the best affirmations. Use those that resonate with you or create your own. Nothing exaggerated eh. It has to be general! This powerful tool can turn your life around and nix your discontented mind chatter.

Write down and repeat your affirmations every day, out loud and preferably in front of a mirror at home. Keep them with you in your bag or wallet or pocket. When you practice repeating affirmations, silently and out loud, you are in effect retraining your subconscious mind with positive self-talk.

7. You Teach What You Need To Learn

You take charge of your personal growth by teaching what you need to learn. Sure, you know the subject. That's not the issue. You teach what you learn however this is about self-growth and mistakes and self-correcting puts you and keeps you on course and everyone benefits. It's a perfect way of sharing yourself with the world.

Namasté

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You are the Captain of your Ship and the Master of your Soul

Hibiscus flower by 3.bp.blogspot.com

Louise Hay just shared three Heart Thoughts  with us from her book of the same name via her free newsletter. 

I'm passing them on to you because of their importance to your physical and mental well-being.

The heart is the centre of our universe - yours and mine - and the fact that it lies in the centre of your chest is no coincidence.

 It is the well-spring from which we seek succor in times of pain and stress. We need to become friends with who we really are inside there.

Leaving yourself open may make you feel too vulnerable but it is the only way to face what ails you, head on and deal with it.

I unwittingly left myself open after the final year of psychotherapy during my suicidal depression and it was one of my best friends who brought it to my attention.

 She was impressed and scared at the same time that I could walk around in public without a mask.

I cannot say that it is easy every day but that was eight years ago and I am learning more about me every day and making the changes that are essential to my growth and evolution. 

This is everyday spirituality and a powerful technique for your personal growth.

Deal with the hurt and pain created by your thoughts and beliefs learnt from others in childhood when you had no choice and knew no better. 

As adults you can choose who you want to be and the thoughts you want to keep in your heads. Your beliefs are up to you.

You are the captain of your ship and master of your soul!

I Am Free to Be Me

Don’t swallow your anger and have it settle in your body.

When you get upset, give yourself a physical release. 

There are several methods you can use to release these feelings in positive ways.

You can scream in the car with the windows closed. You can beat your bed or kick pillows. 

You can make noise and say all the things you want to say. You can scream into a pillow. 

You can run around a track, or play a game like tennis to release the energy.

Beat the bed or kick pillows at least once a week, whether you feel angry or not...just to release those physical tensions you store in your body! 

I Create Wonderful New Beliefs about Myself

These are some of the beliefs that can really help you in your life if you think or say them every day: 

I am always safe.

Everything I need to know is revealed to me.

Everything I need comes to me in the perfect time/space sequence.

Life is a joy and filled with love.

I prosper wherever I turn.

I am willing to change and to grow.

All is well in my world.  

It’s Only a Thought and a Thought Can Be Changed  

How many times have you refused to think a positive thought about yourself? 

Well, you can refuse to think negative thoughts about yourself, too. People say, “I can’t stop thinking a thought.” 

Yes, you can!  

You have to make up your mind that it’s what you’re going to do. You don’t have to fight your thoughts when you want to change things.  

When that negative voice comes up, you can say, “Thank you for sharing, and I’m choosing to do something else. 

I don’t want to buy into that anymore, I want to create another way of thinking.” 

Don’t fight your thoughts. Acknowledge them and go beyond them. 

Affirmation: I claim my power now. Life is always there for me.

Louise Hay

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TAT - A FAB Technique to Empower Yourself and Get Free of Stress and Trauma

TAT - Tapas Acupressure Technique is a fabulously simple, non-invasive procedure to remove stress and any kind of trauma. I have used it to amazing effect and I strongly suggest you give it a try. I didn't believe but was desperate to get rid of the hate for the man who raped me, the child and of my mother who denied it happened.

It destroyed my childhood and my adult years into my mid 40s. TAT is so amazing, I've collated a few of the founder's, Tapas Fleming's videos here to illustrate it.

TAT is based on Chinese acupuncture using three fingers on your face. It couldn't be simpler. It's just another fabulous way to empower yourself and get free of the emotional clutter which habitually destroys your living a fruitful and healthy life.

All I can say is try it, what could it hurt.

What is TAT


TAT Trauma - Her Mother Burnt her Teddy Bear



TAT Pose and stopper for Weight Loss


TAT Fear of Success

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Your Breath brings you back to the moment

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.

~Author unknown

You might be preoccupied when speaking with other people today which could be a result of your scattered thoughts. These distractions may be a way for you to really avoid connecting with other people, and they might even make your interactions all the more difficult.

King Protea - Jenny Hallward

Using your breath as a point of focus while interacting with others could make it easier for you to be more engaged in what is being said and might also provide some relief from your scattered thoughts.

Should you notice your mind beginning to wander at any point today, briefly bring your attention to the point where your breath enters your nose.

Let your mind settle for a few moments on this spot while at the same time looking at the person you are talking with, and this should bring you back to the moment.

Being conscious of our breath allows us to be present in all of our interactions. It is natural for the mind to drift at least part of the time when we are listening to others.

If we have something to anchor our mind, however, it becomes so much easier for us to remain present to other people. Putting our focus on some part of our body and using our breath to briefly attach to that point will aid in this process, enhancing our ability to give others our undivided attention.

The more you train your mind to come to a single point of concentration, the more positive and fruitful your interactions will be today. DailyOM

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Inner exploration - Discover more of your past lives and Live Now

When you do things from your soul you feel a river moving in you, a joy. When action come from another section, the feeling disappears. ~Rumi

Peony - Moyariya

Inner exploration on your own is always useful. It enables you to go behind the veil of illusion where you live. That is the only place to find the truth of why things are going wrong in your life. It's sometimes unpalatable, sometimes not but always gratifying. Never beat yourself up over it.



You see, we all lie to ourselves so that we don't have to take action to get our lives in order. We don't want to get anyone upset by changing anything not even ourselves and so, we just go along pretending that everything's okay when it's patently not.

A perfect example is this new friend of mine. We're both of middle class upbringing, educated, I'm non-religious and she is and we ended up living in a homeless shelter for different reasons.

So, we decided to support and push one another to vigorously seek out opportunities which would enable us to quit the shelter by December 2013.

Over the past weeks however, I noticed that her energy dipped. She was moving slower, started acting anxious but denied it, began listening to the blandishments of an alcoholic who is married, began having stupid accidents, was frequently tired and the most telling, has become very critical of those around her which is so very unlike her.

When I brought up these things she denied it all.

She goes to church services twice per day when she's not working but thank goodness she doesn't preach yet she is unaware that she is feeling depressed mainly fosted by the positive signs and contacts that I have been receiving in my daily job searches.

She has now developed, literally overnight, what sounds like a sticky chest cold that hurts when she coughs at night and is losing her voice (inability to express herself verbally). I had told her a few days before that whatever negative (resentment) feelings she was harbouring - over missed opportunities, being swindled by family etc. - she had to "get it off her chest" in order to lift her spirits and gain clarity to move forward.

She is being afflicted by the emotional clutter from the unacknowledged and deeply felt hurt which she denies.

Chucking that garbage out significantly boosts your energy and enables you to see past that comforting, illusory veil.

Pink Hibiscus - Ira Nathenson

Here are 13 simple empowering coping skills and Booster posts to spring you to the next level which may contain a technique you identify with to get you started on the road to where you need to be. This is personal growth at its best.

Real life, living in the Now is all you and I have got and it is the best. Take it from me people. No matter what is happening that you think is so awful, denying it and pretending it is otherwise is perilous to your existence.

When you feel stuck and can't seem to get restarted, take time out to review those false beliefs. The Universe, Source is telling you it's time to discover a brand new world full of opportunities just waiting for you.
Also, Madisyn Taylor suggests a simple technique in her article Memories of the soul to handle those feelings of déjà-vu most of us have experienced at some time in our lives that will help you uncover limiting beliefs you didn't know you had.

To discover more about your past lives, consider keeping a notebook where you can record anything that could be a memory from a different lifetime.

You may also feel drawn to a particular period in history, a seemingly unfamiliar locale, or a new person you’ve met who seems oddly familiar.

Pick a time and choose a place where you can relax. Envision your body being filled with healing white light. Remember that nothing you see or hear will harm you.

Ask yourself what you hope to achieve through regression and connect with your inner vision. Observe what you see without judgment. When you are done, think about how what you experienced relates to your present life.

There may be beliefs from a past life that you are still operating under but are now ready to let go of. The significance of your past life memory may not be immediately obvious until much later. You can make the most of your past lives by learning from them.

While past life regression can be an exciting journey, it! is not a substitute for living in the present where we are most needed right here and now. dailyom

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EFT Script: My Needs are Not Important as Others'

Another fun and fab EFT script from Expert Extraordinaire Brad Yates called My Needs are not as Important as Others’. All about EFT is where you'll find the tapping points if you are new to EFT.

YOU must take responsibility for yourself and any emotions which may arise as a result of EFT tapping.

Side of the Hand: Even though I need to make these sacrifices,
I choose to love and accept myself.
Even though I need to make these sacrifices,
I choose to love and honor myself.
Even though I need to make these sacrifices,
I need to give up
what I might feel that I need,
so that others needs are met first.
And, hopefully there will be some left over for me.
It could be about anything,
But, I need to let others get theirs first.
I need to wait my turn,
And my turn is always last.
Maybe in the past,
I sometimes wanted to be first,
and, I got scolded for that
So, now I know,
It’s safest to wait to go last.
And, if that means I might not get anything, that’s ok.
That’s better than being first and being selfish.
I need to make this sacrifice
in order to be a good person.
I choose to deeply and completely
Love, honor, and accept myself,
and, anyone else,
including all those people
who could have contributed to this problem 

Eyebrow Point (EB): I need to make this sacrifice
Side of Eye (SE): I need to wait
Under the Eye (UE): I need to let others go first
Under the Nose (UN): Because I talk too much
Under the Mouth (UM): I talk too much
Collarbone (CB): I take up other people’s time
Under the Breast (UB): I’ve been too selfish
Under the Arm (UA): I get my needs met
Top of the Head(TH): and the expense of others

EB: and, I was told that makes me a bad person
SE: makes me a selfish person
UE: it makes me a rude person
UN: it makes me an uncaring person
UM: and, I don’t want to be that
CB: so, I let everyone go before me
UB: as long as there is someone else who wants something
UA: I am going to let them go before me
TH: I’m going to stand there holding the door open

EB: maybe when no one else is showing up
SE: I’ll go and see if anything is left
UE: and, even if there isn’t anything left
UN: at least I’ve been a nice person
UM: all this need to be the nice person
CB: all this need to be the self-sacrificing person
UB: all this need to be a martyr
UA: putting others needs before my own
TH: 24/7

EB: I don’t want anyone to think that I am selfish
SE: I don’t want anyone to think that I am uncaring
UE: I don’t want anyone thinking that I believe I am more important than others
UN: so, I make it look like they are more important than I am
UM: and, that is not working for me
CB: it’s only getting one need met
UB: the need to be self-sacrificing
UA: in order to look like I’m being nice
TH: and, that’s not to say

EB: that there are times
SE: when it makes sense to let others go first
UE: but, I feel I always have to do it
UN: and I choose to release that
UM: no one is more important than I am
CB: maybe no one is less important UB: but, no one is more important
UA: no one is more deserving
TH: if I were on a plane with my girls

EB: and there was a loss in cabin pressure
SE: I know the drill
UE: I have to put my own mask on first
UN: and then put it on my girls
UM: my needs have to get met, too
CB: because I am important
UB: and, I have a lot to offer
UA: and, me getting my needs met
TH: benefits a lot of people

EB: if I put the mask on the girls first
SE: and, then I passed out
UE: is that really in their best interest?
UN: because, that’s not the last thing I have to offer them
UM: I have so much more to offer them
CB: and, I have so much to offer the world
UB: and to be able to offer it fully
UA: I have needs that need to get met
TH: it’s important that I get certain things

EB: or let go of certain things
SE: like I do on this teleclass
UE: when I speak up with what is going on for me
UN: it benefits a lot of people
UM: the issue that I am dealing with
CB: might be bothering a lot of other people, too
UB: someone else is going to get benefit from it
UA: and, as I let it go
TH: I have greater freedom

EB: to share my gifts and talents
SE: so, by speaking up
UE: and moving forward
UN: that’s not just selfish
UM: it’s benefiting a lot of people
CB: and, there may have been times in the past
UB: where I didn’t think as much as I could have
UA: and, I might have rushed in a lot more than I needed to
TH: and, it’s not because I am a bad person

EB: and, I wish the teachers could have said to me
SE: let’s let someone else go first this time
UE: without shaming me
UN: if they simply said,
UM: “We are coming up with a system that is fair for everyone.”
CB: Because some people are shy
UB: and we need to find something that works for them, too
UA: and, it’s really great that you are more out there
TH: that’s a fantastic quality

EB: don’t lose it
SE: and, maybe there’s ways to temper it
UE: but, not by shutting yourself down
UN: I felt the need to go to the other extreme
UM: so, as to avoid being shamed again
CB: I needed to do that to protect myself
UB: I forgive myself for misunderstanding
UA: I might even forgive these teachers for not knowing better
TH: I’m releasing the past pain

EB: releasing the past shame
SE: all those times
UE: where I felt I got my hand slapped
UN: for speaking up
UM: all those times I got my hand slapped
CB: for talking too much
UB: all those times I became afraid
UA: that there would be all kinds of negative consequences
TH: if I spoke up

EB: and I’m healing
SE: releasing that past pain
UE: releasing that past shame
UN: releasing it at a cellular level
UM: releasing it all the way through my past
CB: setting myself free
UB: so that I can do more good more for the world
UA: I am setting myself free
TH: In body, mind, and spirit

Take a deep breath… and a drink of water.

 

 "I'd say that I think the most revolutionary act that you can commit in our society today is to be happy."

Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams

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2 Ways to Exorcise Your Fearful Thoughts and Feelings

I am a voracious reader  and I find messages in books that help me deal with difficulties What the night knows is one such book.
in my life at any point in time and Dean Koontz's

I've been agonizing for weeks, terrified, worried sick really of never finding another job and I am 54 now and jobless since 2012 and under-employed since 2010. On top of that, I met a man, loved something special in him only to discover that he was an abusive alcoholic who I want out of my life, and to cap it all I live in a homeless shelter.

"So be as a child. Put aside pride and vanity. Have the humility of a child who is weak and knows his weakness. Admit fear in the face of the void. Admit ignorance in the presence of the unknowable. A child believes in mysteries within mysteries and seeks wonder, which should be easy considering that here in this year, this very moment, John was adrift in a sea of mystery, in a storm of wonder. What the heart knows, the mind has forgotten and what the heart knows is the truth. ~Koontz's Calvino

My fear reached its peak and caused me to sit up all night on the balcony wracked with the pain of my negative thoughts.

These powerful, negative feelings only give rise to negative results because we feed those beliefs that
bring us down and we begin living in the hell we created.

Worse, we invited that thing that we don't want into our lives, "nothing's ever going to work for me", "he might as well kill me, I don't care anymore" type of shit. That's where I was.

I stayed up supping all night into early morning on the words of Koontz's characters and gained a lot of insight into my own fears.

This is not a book review. Yes, it's got a psychological thrill but even more important and significant to me, it focuses on the innate strength and intuitive knowing of children and how they hold up the world, theirs and ours.

The book was superb, the best I've read in this genre in a few years. Children and adults overcome their fears in their own unique ways, fight for the right to live and love like any adult and are wise beyond their years.

One of the boys now grown reflects on a 20-year old fear that burdened him: "But he figured that if he worried excessively about the feather and what it implied, he might be inviting something into his life that he would regret. Someone once said that if you painted the devil on the walls often enought, you got the devil on the stairs, his footsteps approaching."

I was reminded to face what you fear - FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real - with the utter conviction that it cannot harm you ever. No matter if you are shaking as if you have ague, deal with it and free yourself.

Nothing and no one can harm you unless you believe they can. It means you gave away your power by focusing on the other person instead of yourself and what you want! In these situation, be kind to yourself and have compassion for yourself.

In other words, stop beating yourself up!

After the weight of 20 years apprehension has lifted , Calvino says, "In my work Mr Dugley, I've seen that good usually triumphs. But I've also seen that evil never dies. it's always wise to remain vigilant."

2 ways to exorcise your fearful thoughts and feelings:

1- Write a letter

Don't want to or can't face your monster, imagined or real life events, make some quiet time for yourself then sit down write him or her a no-holds barred letter. Write down every single thing you think and feel about that person to exorcise those demonic thoughts and feelings.

Burn the letter afterward and move on with your new, free life.

2- Face the mirror

Stand in front of the mirror and imagine that beast - mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, friend, neighbour, lover, husband, or colleague - is standing right there in front of you, in the flesh and let rip. Bare your goddam soul as you never have before. Let it all come out.

When you're done, it's done. Go treat yourself to something that makes you feel good and let that be the end of it all.

These two exercises are powerful, cathartic and emotionally freeing. It's just another way of removing emotional blockages and works on anything that disturbs your equilibrium. The letter is particularly powerful and could be one way of opening the door for a much needed discussion.


 "In this world of ours, there's always a chance that a day of fire will come, but there is nothing to be gained by extending an invitation to the arsonist, no matter how persistently he hints that he would like to have one." Koontz's Dugley

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Cutting the Emotional Cords that Bind and Weigh You Down

Orange bougainvillea

Every time I find myself caught up in a twisty knot of my emotions, I end up finding techniques to unknot myself.

In this case, an unsatisfactory relationship in which I can't seem to get rid of the guy, and I know it's a karmic relationship which I have healed as much as I am able and so I feel it's time to move on.  

Madisyn Taylor, co-founder of DailyOM describes cutting those emotional cords that bind. Meditation, visualization and  focus are the simple tools you need to rid yourself of the emotional baggage weighing you down.

A Sense of Closure

In every relationship, people are constantly exchanging energy that can become a chord connecting two people. This energetic cord forms just below the breastbone and can remain long after a relationship has ended. This unbroken cord may leave an open channel between you and another person, through which emotions and energy can continue to flow.

If you are unaware that the chord exists, it is easy to feel the other person’s emotions and mistakenly think that they are yours.

Besides the fact that this can limit the amount of closure you can experience in a relationship, letting this cord remain intact can leave you with a continued sense of sadness while creating feelings of lethargy as your own energy is sapped from you.

Cutting the cord can help you separate yourself from old baggage, unnecessary attachments, and release you from connections that are no longer serving you.

Finding and cutting unwanted cords is a simple, gentle process that is best done alone and when you are relaxed. It is important that you are strong in your intention to release the chord between you and someone else.

To begin, breathe deeply and perform a simple centering meditation. When you are ready, visualize or sense the chords that are connecting you to other people.

Run your fingers through the cords to separate them until you find the cord you wish to sever. There is no need to worry, because the chord you need to sever will feel just right.

When you have found it, determine where the cut should be made and then visualize the cord being cleanly cut. If you need assistance, Archangel Michael can be called upon to help you with his sword.

Afterward, if you feel that cutting the chord has left spaces in your energy field, then visualize those spaces being filled with healing sunlight.

There may be times where cutting a cord can help free a relative or loved one to reach new stages of growth. You’re not severing a relationship, but you are severing the cords that are no longer serving you both.

At other times, a cord may simply refuse to be cut because it is still serving a higher purpose. It is also important to remember that cutting a cord with someone is not a replacement for doing your emotional work with people. It can, however, be an enactment of that work upon its completion.

In any case, cutting a relationship cord should always be viewed as a positive and nurturing act. By cutting the cords that no longer need to be there, you are setting yourself and others free from the ties that bind.

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7 Practices for a Fresh New Year - Resolving What Really Matters and Opening The Door Within

Chinese character for Love 

The loveliest lady shrink I know, Cara Barker wrote a smashing article Resolving what really matters - 7 practices for a fresh new year. 

I completed this immediately after I read the article  and you know what happened, a door opened somewhere inside me.

Now, I haven't a clue on that means for my future but I am game to get it on. I do believe that is love — respecting the soul's needs. That is what I feel and therefore I have no other choice.

I must pursue this, pull at the end of this string and see where it leads.

Take your time and complete each of the seven points. They will highlight, unbeknowst to you, your accomplishments — when you probably think they were inexistent —and perhaps help you to flesh out your goals...

1 - Recall the gratitude you have for what others have given. (I am grateful for Maria, Georg, Marcos, Omar, Raymond, John, and other "human angels" whom I did not know last year but who have assisted me to embrace new challenges by their example of upbeat, loving service.

I am grateful to those of you who know who you are, who have gone above and beyond to assist me to "learn to walk again" in more ways than one.) Your turn. Make your list.
 2 - Recall the personal challenges that have helped you grow. Find compassion for the simple expressions of good that have come your way. (I am grateful for the encouragement of HuffPost readers, and your compassion as you claim your right to grow together, taking the time for outreach when it's impractical to take your time to do so.) Tell those who've assisted your unfolding.
 
3 - Recall moments of beauty. Beauty comes out of chaos. (I am grateful for the forest outside my window, the pond beside the forest, the hummingbirds at the feeder this December.) Share the memory with someone you love. Ask them theirs.
 
4 - Recall the new people, places and things you discovered that touched you most. (I am grateful for connecting with others who care about what's most important to the heart as we grow together, even while limping!) Write a thank-you notes in three sentences or less, and send them.
 
5. Recall the dreams that have continued to stir your heart, pressing your spirit to express them while you still can. (I remember my gratitude for unfolding clarity on The Love Project, and what must be created to live it out in the rest of my life.) Ask someone you love about their current dream, and share your own.
 
6 - Recall the unexpected moments of encouragement you've found in nature, in the stillness, or in a glance or look from another living creature that have reminded you that connection lives, and that life is richest when appreciating the simple things.
 
7 - Recall one favorite moment from this year that touched you deeply. (I remember my grandbaby touching my cheek, again and again, as she drifted off to sleep, and the awareness that what matters most, at the end of the day, is love.) Thank whomever needs thanking.

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Change how you think and your experience changes

The Law of Attraction is responding to your thought, not to your current reality. When you change the thought, your reality must follow suit.

If things are going well for you, then focusing upon what is happening now will cause the well-being to continue, but if there are things happening now that are not pleasing, you must find a way of taking your attention away from those unwanted things.

You have the ability to quickly change your patterns of thought, and eventually… your life experience.

Take 15 minutes daily, thinking of pleasant scenarios regarding your body, with the sole intent of enjoying your body and appreciating its strength and stamina and flexibility and beauty. 

When you visualize for the joy of visualizing rather than with the intention of correcting some deficiency, your thoughts are more pure and, therefore, more powerful. 

When you visualize to overcome something that is wrong, your thoughts are diluted with the "lackful" side of the equation. In time, your physical condition will acquiesce to your dominant thoughts.

Abraham

Excerpted from the book "Money and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Health, Wealth and Happiness" #669

 

Read some more:

• Michael Bernard Beckwith: The Law Of Attraction: Does It Grant Us An Evolutionary Edge? (huffingtonpost.com)
• Five Ways to Bring Harmony and Prosperity (socyberty.com)
• For whom the law of attraction won't work. (using-spiritual-energy.blogspot.com)
• ~Abraham-Hicks~The Greatest Gift you can give to your child. (parenting-success.com)

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Reconnecting with what you already know

Here's a simple and effective visualization technique for Meeting your inner guide from Shakti Gawain's Reflections in the Light, Daily thoughts and affirmations.  As in all messages in her book, an affirmation follows at the end.

You already have all the answers inside you and this is an excellent method of reconnecting with what you already know. Relaxation is key for this method to succeed so please turn off external noises.

Close your eyes and relax deeply.  

Go to your inner sanctuary. Imagine that you are standing on a path.  

Start to walk up the path. See in the distance a form coming toward you radiating a clear bright light. As you approach the form, see how it looks, how it is dressed, whether it is male or female.  

Greet this being, ask its name. Take whatever name comes. Ask if there is anything he or she would like to say to you. You may ask specific questions.  

When the experience of being together feels complete, thank your guide. Express your appreciation and ask him or her to meet you again, whenever you desire.

I am now in contact with a wise inner guide.

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Go The Extra Mile with a Positive Attitude

What others think of you is important, as long as it coincides with what you think of yourself. If you are recognized by others as a positive person who always makes an important contribution, you will be in demand, for there are never enough such people in any organization. Your co-workers will value you, your customers will appreciate you, and your boss will recognize and reward you if you stick with it. You may not become an overnight success, but neither will you fail instantly and permanently. Make it a habit to go the extra mile with a Positive Mental Attitude. Napoleon Hill

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