Peace of MIND, Tips to Quiet the Mind and Relieve Stress
Have you ever felt like your brain will not be quiet? I’ve had a real struggle with this for a lot of my life. Whether my mind is obsessed with worries or involved in creative brainstorming, sometimes it will not leave me alone! While I get a real high when my brain starts off on a creative spiral, I’m not so crazy about the nervous system overload that comes with it. Anxiety and sleeplessness get old very fast. Over the last few years, I’ve done a much better job of stopping myself before I get caught in a mental frenzy of activity. Today, I have a confession to make…I fell off the wagon.
Thankfully, Spirit intervened, bringing me a vision to get me back on track. As I’ve talked to many others who have been suffering with the same problem, I thought I should share what I learned.
So here’s my vision…The first thing I saw was a nest of sea turtle eggs. I watched as they all hatched and these adorable, tiny turtles started making their way to the ocean. I felt this wonderful elation followed by panic. How could I possibly get all these wonderful creatures to the ocean safely?
The message was that I couldn’t. The reality is that only a few sea turtle hatchlings actually live to become full grown sea turtles. The same is true for my ”brilliant” ideas. Only a few of those ideas are meant to manifest right now and I’ll have plenty of time to nurture them to fruition (at least I will if I stop running frantically around the beach trying to scoop up baby turtles!).
In case you’ve found yourself with an unending to do list and a brain that won’t turn off, I thought I’d post a few tips to bring back your peace of mind. Give them a try!
TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITHOUT ANXIETY AND STRESS
Pay attention to your body. The best defense to help yourself avoid moving into a stressed out, anxious state of being, is to notice how your body feels. Get in the habit of regular check ins. Ask yourself: How does my stomach feel? How about my muscles? Is my jaw tense? If you are feeling any discomfort, then take a deep breath and work on relaxing your muscles. Make yourself set aside what you are working on until your body returns to a more relaxed state. Believe me, it is worth the time.
Turn off your work mind by 7PM. It is really important to get a good night sleep. One of the keys to sleeping well is to avoid giving your mind lots of juicy things to think about right before you are telling it to shut down for the night. Make a firm cut off time (at least a couple hours before you go to sleep) to drop any serious topics or work items and stick to it. Do something relaxing before you fall asleep. I find it helpful to visualize all the stresses of the day washing off me in a gentle lake or at the beach. Pick something that is soothing to you and make it part of your nighttime ritual.
Exercise. I’ve never been a very gung ho exerciser, but a couple of years of living with anxiety completely changed my opinion about its importance. The bottom line is that exercising reduces stress hormones. A walk outside. Time on an exercise machine. Yoga. Playing a sport. All of these things help to get you out of your head and into a more relaxed and comfortable body.
Yoga Mudras. I think Sabrina Mesko should hire me to handle her publicity. Honestly, I am a HUGE fan of yoga mudras and I own all of Sabrina’s products (check out my Amazon store in the blogroll if you’d like to get your own copies). Her three minute hand postures are amazingly powerful. They really do help to shift the energy, calm the body and the mind, and bring you to a peaceful state of being. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Listen to Relaxation CD’s and/or peaceful music. I escaped my two years of anxiety Hell through the wonders of a technique called nervous system settling. When I finally understood that what was happening was simply nervous system overload and my constant mental gymnastics to bring it under control were actually increasing my anxiety, I had what I needed to end the cycle. I learned about this technique from Gary Peterson, an author and nervous system expert. He has a great CD to help you settle your nervous system. You can purchase it at http://www.Energiabooks.com or learn more about it on his website: http://www.StarInstitute.us. Besides his CD, I find relaxing music to be very helpful to soothe my overactive mind. Enya is a favorite artist of mine. Find something you enjoy and put it on the next time you find yourself overthinking.
Get some help. Sometimes it helps to talk with someone objective to get things back in perspective. Talk with a good friend, a counselor, or make an appointment with me! As I’ve explained, I’ve had lots of practice with this, not only with myself but with many clients. To purchase a life coaching reading, visit my website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.
Here’s to peace of mind for us all!
Nancy
Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach who empowers her clients to overcome feelings of powerlessness and to make changes to create a life they love. To learn more about her services and products, visit her website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers. Nancy is also the owner Sanctuary at the Crossroads and Crossroads Coaching.
Trust and Becoming a Wise Innocent
I love the message of the Fool card in the Tarot deck. The version I have depicts a man smiling happily as he is about to step off a cliff. The interpretation speaks of this card as the state of a wise innocence. A person who is able to have a child-like trust in the good of the Universe and therefore avoids harm, no matter what path they take. They live a charmed existence where Angels intervene to keep them from harm…a harm they often don’t even know was there in the first place.
While pondering this card, I was shown a vision of a child approaching a dog. The child was young, 2 or 3 years old, and it was so excited to touch the dog. I could feel how much she longed to wrap her arms around the dog’s neck. The child’s mother stood near the dog and seemed to be saying it was okay for her to approach, but when the child did rush up to hug the dog, the dog bit her. The mother was as shocked as the child.
The purpose of this vision was to help me understand the dynamic that takes place within us as we seek to have faith and trust in the Divine and in ourselves. Such early experiences, as illustrated by the dog example, teach our innocent self that it isn’t safe to trust. The parent who loves us, can’t always keep us safe from danger. The love we feel in our hearts isn’t always reciprocated by the object of our affections. It teaches us how to pay attention and to learn what we need to know about our environment to avoid danger and stay safe.
This brings me to a universal question…how can one trust and feel safe in an unsafe world? How does one become a wise innocent? Is it possible, after earlier experiences that have taught us the world can be dangerous, that we can find a state of blissful ignorance where unseen helpers leap to whisk us out of danger before we even know the danger exists?
For me, the only path of serenity in the midst of constant change is to find an anchor. For me that anchor is the Divine and while I realize that my faith in God’s guidance and protection doesn’t exempt me from the hurtful experiences in life, it does guarantee me that I will never have to walk through any circumstance alone. I’ve been blessed to see how our Divine helpers will come to our aid whenever we ask. They work through our thoughts, our feelings, through books, and other human beings. They step into the place of fear and pain, and bring comfort and love. We just need to ask.
Today, I encourage you to take a look back over the course of your life. Find a moment when life felt hopeless and filled with despair. Did someone show up to comfort you unexpectedly? Did things work out in a way that, while maybe not what you’d hoped for, were what you really needed? Letting go of our fears and the parts of ourselves that need to evolve for us to grow can be painful, but it is also necessary. So ask for comfort, ask for love, ask for healing, ask for God to make smooth your path and guide you in making wise choices. Then remember… help will come for you. It always does.
Blessings to you and yours!
Nancy
Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach. She offers Life Coaching Readings, Divinely Guided Messages by email, Divinely You Readings, coaching clubs, and other products to inspire and empower. For a free Divine Purpose Survey and to learn more about her services, visit her website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.
Just for Today…Loving the Day You Are In
Jones Gap State Park, SC
My husband and I just took a short trip South this past weekend. Usually, I spend a lot of time anticipating a vacation which makes it especially hard when the trip is over and it is time to come back home. I didn’t have as much time to anticipate this time around (we weren’t 100% sure we were going until the last minute), but I still found myself reluctant when it came time to head back to responsibilities and snowy weather!
This got me to thinking. What is the spiritual lesson to be learned here? What occurred to me is the importance of living in each day, instead of living in tomorrow or yesterday. Below are a few simple ideas to help you make the most of each moment. I hope you find them helpful!
1. Just for today… This statement came from my Reiki training. It asks that you do a series of things “Just for Today.” I find that this serves me well in moments when I feel sad or unsettled. I ask myself, can I get through this moment I’m in? Can I get through just this day? I may not relish the moment, but usually I find that it isn’t the moment or even the day that is causing my sadness. It’s tomorrow or yesterday. So step one is to ask yourself to do just the moment you are in…just this particular day…and let the future days be dealt with when they arrive.
2. Daydream: When one thing ends and I can’t see what is coming next, it often helps to let myself dream. Try asking yourself, What would I like to have as my reality today? Even if you can’t bring it into being in this moment, you can feel the joy of it through your imagination. Have you ever felt like you can’t dream? When that happens to me, I know that I’m not letting myself admit what I truly want. Ask yourself if you lived in a world without limitation, what would your world look like? Where would you live? Who would you be with? What would you be doing? Then let yourself daydream. Feel the joy of it and trust that even if you have no idea how that could ever exist, that somewhere out there, the Angels are working to bring you the feeling you just experienced. They are guiding you gently towards exactly that which you seek…even if it is something you haven’t thought to seek. It’s the feeling that matters….the joy…let yourself rest in that in whatever form it comes. And more will come to you.
3. Do the Day: My dear and wise friend Lori Byrnes (http://www.thehealerstouch.com) often says this very thing to me. When you don’t feel that things are the way you want them to be and you find yourself frustrated or sad, one thing you can do is just “do the day.” What needs to be done right now? What is before you to do? Do that. After all, we each get only the moment we are in and it is up to us what type of moment that is. We can sit and feel miserable, or we can get up and do what is before us to do and look for the joy to be found in that. The choice of how we respond to our day is always ours, no matter what our outer circumstances.
4. Find Simple Pleasures: Did you notice the bird sitting outside your window? How about the tender new wildflower growing up out of the ground? What about the silly show on tv or the warm cup of tea you are holding? There is always something to love. Sometimes we just have to look at the small things to find it. Love the people around you. Love the Earth. Love God. Love yourself. Loving is the path to peace and to joy…and it isn’t as hard as it sometimes seems.
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC
So here is to a beautiful day…TODAY!
Blessings to you and yours!
Nancy
Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach. She offers Life Coaching Readings, Divinely Guided Messages by email, Divinely You Readings, coaching clubs, and other products to inspire and empower. For a free Divine Purpose Survey and to learn more about her services, visit her website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.
Divinely Guided Message 3-Security Within
I’ve asked for a Divinely inspired message for you today (on whatever day you happen to read this!) and this is what I was shown.
DIVINELY GUIDED VISION (as shown to Nancy Nicholas)
I am standing in white, silky sand looking out over a beach. Clumps of wild grass and small dunes flow out from me. I catch a glimpse of the ocean far off to my right. My attention shifts to my feet and I see that I have sunk down in the sand so that it now reaches up to the tops of my ankles. I feel the sand beneath my feet and get the sense of it shifting. This makes me uncomfortable and I keep trying to push my feet down further so that I come into contact with solid ground again. I soon realize that solid ground is not going to be found here. I look up and try to see which way I should walk to find a sturdier place to stand. Before me are miles of sandy shore. I feel reluctant to turn and look to my left or behind me (perhaps this is where I’ve come from?), so reluctant that I sit down instead of turning. I close my eyes and imagine myself where I’d like to be. I am sitting on a mountain top and the rock is solid and warm beneath me. I feel the breeze and hear an eagle soaring overhead. When I open my eyes again, I am on the mountaintop. The sand is gone. I stand up and look to my left and a path winds away from me. I turn and follow it.
INTERPRETATION
From Nature-Speak: Signs, Omens & Messages in Nature by Ted Andrews:
Beaches and Dunes: “Keynote: Adaptability to unique challenges; healing; doorways to spirit. Beach and dune habitats are more challenging than most. Plants that survive here have unique qualities and adaptability. This is often a reminder to keep ourselves grounded when opening to new realms and to protect our own roots, while we extend ourselves out into new and challenging areas. When beaches and dunes show up in our life, it reflects a time in which we need to balance some elements within our life. This environment reminds us to find creative and unique approaches to the challenges in life.”
Mountains: “Keynote: Discovering our spiritual powers; overcoming obstacles for spiritual attainment; communion with spirits. The mountain reminds us of the spiritual attainment that is ours as we overcome our obstacles. The height of the mountains gives rise to thoughts of being a world axis, linking heaven and Earth. Mountains are symbols for higher meditation, spiritual elevation, and communion with the blessed spirits. Mountains lift our spirits. They give us perspective on things both mundane and spiritual. They open us to hear our own inner spirit and open us to hear the spirits around us. It is not unusual for people to begin hearing spirit after a visit to the mountains. Intuition heightenss and creativity flows.”
From Native American Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson
Eagle: Keynote: Spirit: “Eagle medicine is the power of the Great Spirit, the connection to the Divine. It is the ability to live in the realm of spirit, and yet remain connected and balanced within the realms of Earth. Eagle soars, and is quick to observe expansiveness within the overall pattern of life. Eagle is reminding you to take heart and gather your courage, for the universe is presenting you with an opportunity to soar above the mundane levels of your life. Eagle teaches you to broaden your sense of self beyond the horizon of what is presently visible.”
FROM SPIRIT
“In a world of change, it is easy to feel you are in danger. Remember, though, that each change brings with it a gift…a chance to move beyond the challenges of the moment to an easier more God-centered way of living. Today, look at your world with new eyes. Trust that the security you seek is within you. Step into your own true self. Feel the strength of who you are. Rest in the truth that you are Divinely guided and protected at all times. All will be well.”
COACHING TIP FROM NANCY
Do you have a morning routine that includes time to reconnect with your deepest self? If not, this would be a great time to start one. My routine includes a few moments each morning listening to peaceful music and practicing yoga mudras. I randomly flip to a page in Power Mudras: Yoga Hand Postures for Women by Sabrina Mesko. I also often use the Native American Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson to ask for an animal totem to represent my male and female energies for the day. Throughout the day, I imagine these two animals with me and I can feel an energetic shift, moving me into a more balanced state of being. I breathe slowly and deeply, soak in the warm sunshine through the window, and imagine somewhere deeply peaceful. Sometimes I am shown a vision. Other times I simply feel deeply loved. This can be a time to ask for guidance, support or healing. It is also a wonderful time to feel deeply centered in yourself and in the moment you are in. What activities, books, or music help you feel connected to your deepest self and the Divine? I encourage you to look for a way to incorporate them into your daily routine.
RESOURCES
BOOKS: The books mentioned above are also available in my Amazon store if you’d like your own copy. I highly recommend them! STORE
Have a wonderful day!
Nancy
For a free Divine Purpose Survey and information on Life Coaching Readings, Divinely You Readings, Divinely Guided Messages by email, Intuitive Coaching Clubs, and products to empower and inspire you, visit my website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.
Divinely Guided Message 2
I’ve asked for a Divinely inspired message for you today (on whatever day you happen to read this!) and this is what I was shown.
DIVINELY GUIDED VISION (as shown to Nancy Nicholas)
I see a butterfly landing on my finger. A ray of sun is shining through the trees and it hits the butterfly’s wings. They glow and shimmer. I can see its head and antennae very clearly. I hold it up to my eyes and we look at each other. The butterfly climbs along my finger and hops on my nose. It tickles! It walks up the bridge of my nose and brushes its wings against my forehead. The butterfly is now facing forward. I close my eyes and see the world before me through the eyes of the butterfly. The first thing that strikes me is how large everything seems. I find myself fascinated with the tiny lines on the leaf hanging in front of us. I watch as the colors of green shift and change as the wind gently lifts the leaf. I can see all its veins and can even see the movement of the sap through them. I am the butterfly and I imagine the touch of the leaf on my feet as I land upon it. I walk along its edge with great delicacy. I taste the sweetness of the leaf’s surface.
INTERPRETATION
From Animal-Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Power of Creatures Great and Small by Ted Andrews:
“Keynote: Transmutation and the Dance of Joy. Butterflies appear to dance as they light upon flowers and such. They remind us not to take things quite so seriously within our lives. They awaken a sense of lightness and joy. They remind us that life is a dance, and dance, though powerful is also a great pleasure. Butterflies can be reminders to get up and move, for if you can move you can dance. Dance brings the sweetness of life back. Transformation is inevitable, but butterfly will help teach you that growth and change does not have to be traumatic. It will teach you that it can occur as gently, as sweetly, and as joyfully as we wish.”
From Native American Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson
“The power that Butterfly brings to us is akin to the air. It is the mind, and the ability to know the mind or to change it. It is the art of transformation. Butterfly can give clarity to your mental process, help you organize the project you are undertaking, and assist you in finding the next step for your personal life or career. The main message to be obtained by drawing this symbol is that you are ready to undergo some type of transformation.”
FROM SPIRIT
“The message today is about understanding your perception. Notice how the butterfly’s attention was focused intently on what was right before it, not on the scene far beyond. This is a time for noticing and appreciating the beauty of the small and intricate. This is a time for keeping your focus in the moment you are in. The worries you experience come from the land of “what if” and there is no peace to be found in that space. Notice and enjoy the bits of beauty you encounter in each moment. Rest in the knowledge that you are protected and guided in all that you do.”
COACHING TIP FROM NANCY
Have you been hearing the word “crisis” a lot lately? It seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days. Today, I encourage you to take stock of your own life. What is going well for you? Do you have a place to live? Are you healthy? Do you have people who love and care about you? Do you have a way to earn a living? Did you see a beautiful sunrise this morning?
It is easy to get in crisis mode when unexpected change comes to our lives. Operating in crisis mode, however, doesn’t help the situation. If you are currently facing a “threatening” situation, resist the temptation to play out the possible outcomes. Our left brain dislikes uncertainty. It creates a story based on whatever facts are available (even if there are only one or two) and it is easy to find yourself living as if the story is true. Pay attention to your thoughts. Refuse to move beyond the day you are in. What is true today? Let tomorrow develop as it needs to and trust that when you get to tomorrow, you will have the resources you need to handle what it brings.
RESOURCES
Have a wonderful day!
Nancy
PS. Thanks to Lori Byrnes for the butterfly photo! Besides being a wonderful photographer she is also an amazing Intuitive healer and massage therapist. Check out her website to learn more: http://thehealerstouch.com
For a free Divine Purpose Survey and information on Life Coaching Readings, Divinely You Readings, Intuitive Coaching Clubs, and products to empower and inspire you, visit my website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.
A Divinely Guided Message To Empower You
Good Morning!
I’ve asked for a Divinely inspired message for you today (on whatever day you happen to read this!) and this is what I was shown.
DIVINELY GUIDED VISION (as shown to Nancy Nicholas)…
I am sitting beside an unusual tree. Its bark is soft and reddish in color. I am reminded of a Cedar tree. As I lean against the tree I feel a healing energy travel down my shoulder blades and across my back. I breathe deeply and inhale the aromatic scent. I look up and see the needles of the tree gently waving in the wind. The sun is shining between the branches. On a small branch, I see a bluebird. It is singing…I can see its throat moving as it raises its beak toward the sky. The sunlight captures the bright brown/red of its chest and the brilliant blue of its back. I feel a sense of deep joy.
INTERPRETATION…
From Ted Andrews Nature-Speak: Signs, Omens, and Messages of Nature
Red Cedar: “It is a tough survivor and one of the signs of new growth returning to an area. Cedar is a tree whose spirit and essence will strengthen and enhance any inner potentials of the individual. This is a tree tied to strong healing energies. Its energies cleanse the auric field, especially at night while the individual sleeps. It helps the individual to balance the emotional and mental bodies and can stimulate dream activity, which brings inspiration and calm. Do we need ot be more protective of our environment? Do we need to cleanse some area of our life? Cedars will help us to do so.”
From Ted Andrews Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small:
Bluebird: “Bluebirds are quite rare. This often is a reminder that we are born to happiness and fulfillment, but we sometimes get so lost and wrapped up in the everyday events of our lives that our happiness and fulfillment seem rare. When bluebirds show up as a totem, it should first of all remind you to take time to enjoy yourself. If a bluebird has come into your life, look for opportunities to touch the joyful and intrinsically native aspects of yourself that you may have lost touch with.”
FROM SPIRIT…
“Today is a day to remember the joy of being alive! Joy is found in simple pleasures…the small everyday moments of beauty and wonder. You have been struggling lately and have lost your sense of wonder. Do you remember a time when you felt safe and cared for? Do you remember how it felt to go about your day without worries of tomorrow? Be ten again today…all is well…you are safe…let simple moments and quiet joys inspire you. ”
COACHING TIP FROM NANCY…
Here’s a simple activity you can try to help you stay centered in the present moment.
S–Step into a snow globe (but fill it with sunshine and wildflowers instead of snow!). Imagine this is your own sacred space where you are safe and cared for. Nothing can enter without your permission. This is your special space.
A–Allow yourself to breathe deeply. Can you smell the wildflowers and the fresh spring air? Take a deep breath, hold it for a moment, and then exhale through the mouth.
F–Focus on relaxing your muscles. Let them soften and release. Feel yourself sink into the warm, fragrant grass. Relax and let go.
E–Enjoy peaceful thoughts! Repeat: “Peace dwells within me. Peace dwells around me. All is well in my world, and I am safe.”
RESOURCES
MUSIC: While I wrote this I was listening to Enya’s Caribbean Blue (Shepard Moons CD). If you’d like to hear a sample or purchase this amazing CD, it is available in my Amazon store: STORE.
BOOKS: The books by Ted Andrews mentioned above are also available in my Amazon store if you’d like your own copy. I highly recommend them! STORE
Have a wonderful day!
Nancy
For information on Life Coaching Readings, Divinely You Readings, Intuitive Coaching Clubs, and products to empower and inspire you, visit my website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.
Hand Turned Bowls and Discovering One’s Unique Self
I’ve been working with a very gifted artist, named Jim Holland from North Carolina. He makes these amazing hand turned wood bowls, vases and containers. They are really beautiful and each is so unique. I am keeping my favorite stones in one. I purchased one for a friend of mine for Christmas and filled it with tiny stone chips used to balance the chakras (the stone chips are from Corky Larson at Inner Harmony Wellness Center). I have two other vases holding incense and eucalyptus and I’ve just ordered another one for my desk.
As you can see, I really love his work! His website is http://www.HandTurnedBowls.biz if you are interested.
I was thinking about the vases and how each one is so different. A vase starts off as a block of wood…shapeless and without character, like the one below.
Uncarved wood block from Jim Holland
And through the belief that there is something more than the surface reveals and through the willingness to be guided by the Divine, the true beauty and character of the wood can be shown.
Hand Turned Vase created by Jim Holland
I received an email from a woman who had purchased several Divinely You Readings from me for her family. She wrote, “The Divinely You readings gave me such a great new perspective on my family and my one friend! It showed me that we really sometimes don’t realize all of the great qualities that our family and friends have.”
I think this is often true for all of us…and it is also true about how we view ourselves. Sometimes it is easy to focus on what is wrong with those around us. Today, I challenge you to look for what is right…both in your loved ones and in yourself. What do you love about yourself? What do you love about the other people in your life?
Feel free to share what you discover by commenting here and remember to also share it with your loved ones!
Blessings to you and yours!
Nancy
Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach and owner of Empowering Lightworkers, Crossroads Coaching, and Sanctuary at the Crossroads. She provides Life Coaching Readings, Intuitive Coaching Clubs, and products to empower her clients to understand their life and experiences from a spiritual perspective and to live their life purpose.
The Power of Love: Make 2009 a Great Year!
Every year, I complete an exercise that Life Coach and author, Cheryl Richardson, sends out. It asks you a series of questions in April and then asks you to reflect on them at the end of the year. One of the questions is “What advice would you give yourself?
This year, when I started to answer that question I found myself getting very squirmy. All the “words of wisdom” from the things I’ve learned just felt like something else to remember. That’s when I realized that my advice to myself is really very simple.
Just love.
Now, we’ve all heard this suggestion a million times, but what exactly does it mean? For me, it comes back to the most important thing I’ve learned in my life. It is that my happiness and my sense of peace come from loving…not from being loved.
This sounds like a very trite saying, but I encourage you to try the activity below and then see how you feel. Ask yourself when you are done the following questions: Is your body more relaxed? Do you feel more peaceful? Are you smiling? Does your heart feel lighter?
Here is what I wrote in my journal in response to Cheryl’s question,
“What advice would I give myself this year?”
Breathe. Relax. Let go. Breathe. Relax. Let go. Love yourself. Love God. Love your husband. Love your sons. Love your family and friends. Love everyone. Love the Earth. Love trees. Love the mud between your toes. Love the birds singing in the morning. Love the candlelight at night. Love the first star at dusk. Love your soulfriends. Love your body. Love your inner child. Love sunshine on your face. Love the warmth of a cozy blanket. Love the sound of Dylan’s laugh. Love the feel of Jacob’s head on your shoulder. Love the feel of a rock in your hand. Love the smooth feel of jade. Love the softness of your pillow. Love the wonderful scent of mint tea. Love the lavendar in the garden. Love God’s whispers in your mind. Love Spirit hugs. Love your beautiful Soul sisters. Love simplicity. Love joyous music. Love laughter. Love swimming in a quiet lake. Love the first wildflower in the spring. Love watching the sun come up. Love the ebb and the flow. Love your innocence. Love your wisdom. Love books and stories and stories! Love your fears. Love the creative rush of a new idea. Love the smell of the pages of a book. Love watching the branches stir in the wind. Love the feel of the Earth beneath you. Love the snowflakes melting on your cheeks. Love starlit nights. Love songs. Love simple pleasures. Love being loved. Love yourself!
Now it is your turn! What do you love?
Feel free to write your response in the comment box below. Did you notice a difference in how you felt after your list was complete? Share your thoughts! We’d love to hear from you!
Save a copy of your list to refer to throughout the year. I’m going to keep my list posted by my computer to remind me to start each day with loving thoughts. Where could you keep your list to remind you of all that you love?
Blessings to you and yours! Best wishes for a joyous, peaceful and loving 2009!
Nancy
Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach and the owner of Sanctuary at the Crossroads, Crossroads Coaching, and Empowering Lightworkers. She offers Life Coaching readings, products, and Intuitive Coaching Clubs which provide Divine guidance with practical coaching tips to empower you to live your life purpose. To learn more, visit her websites:
http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com
Spiritual Ascension and Tough Times
In the last month, I have heard more tales of illness, job loss, and fear than I have heard at any time in my life. I realize that I’m highly sensitive and therefore feel things more intensely, but I’m guessing everyone is feeling the brunt of this period of transition. I’ve asked for some guidance on all of this to help me stay centered and balanced as the world goes through birthing pains. Below are the things that have come to me through others and through my own intuitive ability. I hope you find it as helpful as I did.
From Notes from the Universe (a free daily email sent to your inbox… go to http://www.tut.com to sign up):
“I can imagine that from your perspective, it must seem like some truly awful things happen in time and space. So if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to weigh in. Nancy, you live in a world of illusions. A world that springs from a much deeper and far greater reality. And while at times the illusions are indeed ugly, with your physical senses you only see the tip of the iceberg. If you could see the whole, you’d discover that the unpleasantness was only the tiniest piece of a most spectacular puzzle that was created with order, intelligence, and absolute love. You’d see that contrary to appearances, in the grandest scheme of things, nothing is ever lost, no one becomes less, and setbacks are always temporary. And you’d understand that no matter what has happened, everyone lives again, everyone laughs again, and everyone loves again, even more richly than before.”
From the Ascension Companion by Karen Bishop (http://www.WhatsUpOnPlanetEarth.com):
“In addition to much departing in regard to who we are, or old ways and old energy, and many other lower vibrating non-physical creations, we are also experiencing loss at physical levels. Friends, relationships, family members, jobs, careers, are leaving our spaces at a rapid and regular pace. If you have chosen this page, you are being asked to come to terms with loss. As many things leave our lives, better and more suitable things begin to arrive for us. As the New most certainly begins to arrive, it is more in alignment with who we now are and fits us so much better! Know that you are also becoming lighter and lighter and learning that an attachment to Source is your only real and necessary attachment.”
Note from Nancy on above: To me attachment to “Source” (God in my vocabulary) comes to us through our love of others. For those who have lost loved ones recently, Bishop says that some souls are choosing to leave because they have decided not to go through spiritual ascension in a physical body. While that isn’t much comfort for your own loss, at least it suggests that those who have passed weren’t forced to do so, no matter how it seemed to their Earthly self. To know they are at peace brings some comfort for me. I also believe and have experienced that when someone passes, our inner connection with them continues. After the pain of loss eases, you can feel them again…and know that they are still with you and the love between you continues and always will. It isn’t the same, but at least there is comfort in knowing they aren’t truly “gone.”
Finally, here is a vision I was shown about the situation in our world right now:
I walk across the river and climb up on the bank on the opposite side. I feel the moist dirt and cool touch of the plants growing along the bank. As I step up onto the ground, the scene changes. I see upheaval around me. Trees have fallen, pulled up by their roots, and there are cracks in the ground. I hear a sound over my shoulder and I look up. I see a bird flying low and coming to land on a fallen tree in front of me. It is a peregrine falcon. The falcon lifts off and I look down at the Earth from its eyes. I see waves of green and healing rolling across the land moving closer to the place I just left. The place looks like a smaller circle. I watch as the green touches each area and see that it is transformed, bringing lush forests, and healthy rivers. I see the circle where I stood and I see water bubbling up from the ground. The water spreads, filling in the holes and cracks and life begins anew. Spirit says come home to your own center. Be still within, and trust that the world will transform without. All is well and will be well. The old must die to give birth to the new.
So, in conclusion, I’m focusing on taking one moment at a time, staying centered in myself, and trusting that what looks like disaster, is only the breaking down before a new period of growth begins. As you go through this period of change, remember to ask your Angels and spiritual support team to help. Even if they aren’t able to completely alleviate the pain you are going through, I’ve found that they can and will bring you comfort and help you to transition as gently as possible.
Hang in there everyone! This too shall pass…
Blessings to you and yours!
Nancy
http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com
Holiday Self Care
Happy Holidays!
This time of year it is easy to wear yourself out. Below are some simple tips to help you stay healthy and in balance. Best wishes for a lovely holiday season and a wonderful 2009!
Nancy
Say No when you need to. Remember that for you to give to others, you must have time and energy for yourself. It is not only appropriate, but necessary to say no sometimes, so you can take time to recharge. Remember to ask for help too (both Earth plane and Angelic)!
Schedule “You Time” for one hour everyday. Time alone to do those activities that restore your energy and enthusiasm is essential. Put one hour a day (it can be in two half hour blocks) on your daily to do list and use the time to do activities that help you feel good. You’ll be amazed at how much more energy you will have to share with others.
Take care of your physical self. Try thinking of yourself as a child you are taking care of. You would be sure the child was eating healthy meals three times a day, getting enough rest and exercise, and having time to play. You need the same thing! Include adequate time to eat, drink water, exercise and rest in your daily schedule and don’t compromise those times, especially during this busy season.
Give yourself a mental break every 90 minutes. This is an amazing strategy that really works. The key to this strategy is to not only take a physical break, but to also take a mental break from whatever you are doing. Often, we are physically “resting” but our minds are still “working” which means we are still using a lot of energy. Try doing a yoga mudra (see below), stretching, eating an energy bar, listening to peaceful music, saying a positive affirmation (“I am relaxed and peaceful” for example) or going for a quick walk for at least 5 minutes every 90 minutes during the day. Even five minutes of “mental rest” every 90 minutes will make a huge difference in the amount of energy you will have by the end of the day.
Reward yourself once a week. Remember when you were a kid and you’d get a present or a special treat? Do you remember how fun that was? Well, now that you are all grown up, it is time to start giving a special treat to yourself. You deserve it! Make a list of simple things that make you feel good or that you enjoy. Keep the list handy and pick one thing a week to buy or do for you. Maybe pick out a special Christmas gift for yourself and put it under the tree. Remember this doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. Even scheduling time for a half hour nap on a Sunday afternoon can make a big difference in how you feel. The point is to remind yourself that you are taking good care of you!
Try this yoga mudra from Sabrina Mesko to help you recharge! From Sabrina Mesko’s Cards: Yoga for the Hands~ Preventing Burnout: “Sit with a straight spine. Bring your forearms up in front of you at your heart level and bend your elbows to the side. With your palms facing the ground, fold your thumbs across the palms of each hand until they reach the bases of your fingers. Bend your fingers slightly and touch the backs of your fingertips together, forming a V shape with your hands. Hold for three minutes and keep the elbows from sinking. Relax and rest. Breath: Long, deep and slow.”
Avoiding Burnout Yoga Mudra
To purchase Sabrina Mesko’s Cards: Yoga for the Hands or her other great books, visit our Amazon Store: http://astore.amazon.com/sanctuary0a-20?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=6
