Building Courage

I find it quite a “God Wink” that the pre-determined topic for this month’s newsletter  is courage, based on the archetype (aspect of the personality) focus of the Warrior.  This aspect as defined by Carol Pearson’s book, Awakening the Heroes Within:  Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World has the gift of courage, discipline and skill.  It “fights” for what really matters.  As I sit here writing this, my husband and I are waiting for a call from his doctor.  He had a small tumor removed from his left abdominal wall this week and the doctor sent it out to be tested to determine if it is malignant or benign.  This tumor was found through a test for a completely different matter.  It went from “probably being a cyst” to where we are now…the great unknown.   This is definitely a time when we both need our inner warrior.

Frankly, the Warrior has never been a favorite of mine.  The Magician, Ruler, and the Creator are the archetypes I’ve been most comfortable with.  How interesting that I find myself in a time where the qualities I’ve been most resistant to are exactly the ones that I need!  Last month’s orphan work (February’s focus) really stood me well as this whole situation unfolded with my husband.  How amazed and comforted I was when I saw that my orphan had done its work.  It had helped me to develop support systems of fellow orphans, those who have been wounded in their own dance with life, and how these orphans offered their wisdom, their kindness, and their love.  The innocent within has played its part as well.  It has allowed me to have faith in positive outcomes.  To believe that God and the Universe are working toward my highest good and the highest good of those I love. Those pre-dawn whispers of assurance and love have kept me strong in the face of the “what ifs” that push to be heard.  The warrior within has given me the ability to stay in myself, to be there, to love, to support, but not to become.  The caregiver in me longs to walk this with my husband as if I was in his shoes in the vain hope that somehow I could make it easier for us both, but the warrior in me holds me back.  The warrior reminds me that how I can best help is to see my husband’s strength.  To know he has within him what he needs to heal and to grow beyond fear.  To see his power and his strength and to recognize that he is doing exactly what he needs to do for his own growth.  I honor that in him and so doing, I find it in myself.

Are you experiencing a situation that evokes fear in your own life?

If you are, you aren’t alone.  Just a few minutes watching the news will show you that.  I believe this push to face our fears is all part of the process of preparing us for a more joyous and peaceful way of living.  As we draw to us those experiences that challenge us to stay in a place of love, we build the muscles that allow us to do this consistently.  We all have coping patterns that we developed at an early age to get through the scary experiences of life.  I know for me, those patterns no longer work. It’s time to develop a new approach.  I have been shown through guidance that this is occurring collectively.  Some of us are aware this is happening and some of us are being dragged through the experience blindly.  Awareness doesn’t mean we escape the pain of growing, but it does make it a little easier to believe it is all happening for good purpose.

Of course, the life coach in me feels most at peace when I have a game plan for how to bring about change.  My spiritual support team (Angels, Archangels, Guides, and Ascended Masters) have shown me a way to handle fear as it comes up.  I was vainly hoping I’d just get to a place where I no longer felt fear, but I’m realizing that just isn’t how it works (at least not for me).  Instead, I need to learn how to handle fear.  To build those muscles that allows me to get through challenging situations in the best way possible.  So here’s what I’ve been working with.  I hope it helps you as well!

A Game Plan for Building Your Courage Muscles

1.  Acknowledge your feelings.  I’ve found for myself and many of my clients there is a temptation to skip this step.  When faced with something there isn’t an immediate solution for, it seems pointless to listen to our fears, worries, and sadness.  After all, if we can’t fix it, how does it help to express it?  It does help though.  Think of a child you know.  Have you noticed that when a child is upset, the process of expressing what they are feeling often brings them to a better place, even if they don’t get what they want?  Just being heard and having the release brings healing.  Try writing in a journal, talking to a friend, or having a conversation directly with your inner child to provide the opportunity to express what needs to be shared.  It’s the first step to shifting from fear to love, as it is the loving thing to listen to ourselves, even when we don’t like what is being said.

2.  Comfort yourself. I am a firm believer in the importance of caring for yourself as you would a most beloved child.  Wouldn’t you comfort your child if he/she was upset?  Do the same thing for yourself.  Give yourself a hug.  Do something for yourself that is soothing.  Call a friend and let them comfort you too.  Taking good care of ourselves is another vital step in being able to focus on love instead of fear.  Knowing that you will love and care for yourself at all times makes it difficult for fear to get the best of you.

3.  Set an Intention. Now that you’ve expressed your feelings and provided comfort, it is time to be clear about what you intend.  Say aloud or write down exactly what you want to happen.  For example, “I intend for my husband to be healthy and well and for us to have many happy, joyous years ahead .”  You may want to set more than one intention.  I also added this one, “I intend to be safe and secure on all levels and to have a happy and joyous future.”  The point of the intention is to make it clear what you intend to happen.  This should make you feel better.  Play with it until you get something that makes you feel peaceful and relaxed.

4.  Ask for Divine Help. I have experienced first- hand evidence that we aren’t alone here. We do have amazing spiritual beings who love us dearly and are here to help us.  Ask them for help.  I asked Spirit to manifest my intentions and also to bring me any and all support I could receive both on the Earth plane and Spirit plane.  Be willing to receive love, support, and help.  Be thankful when it appears.

5.  Surrender the Worry. This is another step that most of us have a tough time with.  Once the nervous system gets activated, adrenaline and other stress hormones will flood your system. This physiological experience requires some type of action.  Since typically the thing that is challenging us isn’t something you can run from or fight, we try to fight it with our minds.  We keep thinking about what we are afraid of in the hopes of coming up with a solution that can make us feel safe.  Often, we’ll start buying into one of the “what ifs” based on insufficient facts because the brain is very uncomfortable with inputing data and not coming up with a conclusion.  The best thing to do for this is to steadfastly refuse to keep thinking about the thing you are afraid of.  When the thought comes up, simply repeat your intention and remind yourself that God has it all under control.  If that doesn’t work, then do the whole plan above again.  This really is where the muscle building comes in.  Most of us (me included) have built a lot of worry muscles over the years.   Now we are choosing not to use them.  The goal is to keep your nervous system settled.  Focusing on something we are afraid of leads to all those stress hormones flooding the system, which is only going to make you feel worse.  Would you feed your child on fear?  I’m sure you wouldn’t!  So don’t feed your inner child on it either.

6.  Focus on Something Else. The last step of the process is to find what is there for you to do.  Does your house need to be cleaned?  Do you need to get the grocery shopping done?  Is it a good time to exercise?  Stay in the moment you are in and do what is before you to do.  Let yourself get caught up in something unrelated to what you are worried about.  The longer you can go without worrying, the better you will feel, and the more able you will be to handle what you need to.  When your mind starts to slip, just gently pull it back.  You can do this!

So there’s the plan.  I’ve been employing it myself and it is really helping.  I can’t say I’ve got it down perfectly.  As I mentioned, I’ve got forty some years of worry muscles built up.  I am, though, committed to my own healing (and I do recognize that this is also happening for my growth, not just my husband’s).  I am ready to be free from letting worry consume me.  I’m ready to trust my inner warrior again.  I hope you decide to do the same.

Many blessings and much love to you all!
Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach offering Empowerment Readings, Empowerment Clubs, Sensitive Person Mentoring, and a Soul Friends Community. She is the author of Soul Friends Guide to Surviving the Pit: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Surviving and Thriving Through Tough Life Changes  (available at Amazon.com and other retail bookstores).  For a free Empowerment Packet and to learn more about Nancy’s work, visit her website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

Live From the Heart

Each day of our lives we walk around with a collection of perspectives or archetypes that make up our personality.  Carol Pearson Ph.D., author of Awakening the Heroes Within:  Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World, discusses these twelve archetypes that make up our psyche.  The first two are the innocent and the orphan.  The innocent is the pure inner child who has yet to experience wounding.  It is the part of ourselves that believes the best in others and expects good things to come to us.  It’s our internal optimist.  The orphan is a child who has experienced wounding.  They’ve been abandoned on some level and found the world to be unsafe.  They expect the worst and have little faith in the world as a good place to live.  Both of these aspects are in each of us.  We may resonate with one more than the other, depending on our life experience, but each aspect exists in us all.

I believe that the first step to living a heart-centered life is to bring these two aspects of the inner child into balance.  If we are living to strongly in either perspective we are inadequately loving and caring for ourselves.  For instance, if I am more centered in the perspective of the innocent, I will find myself wounded by people and circumstances where fear is dominant.  If I am more centered in the perspective of the orphan, I will be unable to trust in the good of others and will experience limitation and lack.

A healthy child has a good mother and father.  The mother nurtures, encourages, and comforts the child as they experience their world.  The father protects, supports, and creates a safe space for the child to grow.    The child has to trust the parents to truly be in a state of love and peace.  As an adult, you are your own parent.  You are the one who decides what is safe, what boundaries to set up, what experiences to try and you are the one who provides the comfort when life becomes challenging.

This month, I encourage you to find a picture of yourself when you were a young child.  Put it somewhere prominent that you will see every day.  As you go through the month, ask yourself what this child needs.  Is she tired?  Has he had a good meal?  Would she like to play for awhile? Think of this child when you are confronted with decisions.  By asking yourself if the decision you are about to make would benefit this child self, you are coming from a more loving space and will therefore make decisions that are more in harmony with your highest truth.

Here are a couple of upcoming opportunities to empower you through this process:

The Divinely YOU Club: Do you feel trapped in old patterns?  Do you find yourself reacting to current situations from the mindset of old wounds?  Are you tired of finding yourself struggling with the same challenges again and again?  Would you like to be free of self-doubt, self-loathing, self-criticism, or self-sabotage?  Are you ready to really love yourself, all of yourself?  Are you ready to stop fighting your fears and start living your dreams? I know I am and I want to help you do the same!  This year, I’m inviting you to take a journey with me to discover your own wholeness and Divine nature.  Together, we’ll explore the twelve archetypes that make up our personalities.  I’ll use my intuitive gifts to provide spiritual insight and guidance on how you can heal old wounds, release your fears, and really come to love the amazing person you are (and you are amazing, even if you don’t feel like it right now!).  We’ll learn how to integrate the aspects of ourselves that are often in conflict by discovering and honoring the gifts that each quality brings to us.   We’ll find a way to start living from the heart, to start loving ourselves, and start loving our lives.  Interested?  Learn more on my website (see link)!  Small Group Options begin at $25/month.  DIVINELY YOU CLUB

 

Soul Friends Empowerment Call with Financial Coach Laurie Price (1/27/2011, 6:30 PM -7:30 PM EST): Do you worry about money?  Do you find yourself neglecting your own needs because of these worries?  Do you feel financially secure?  If not, would you like to? I don’t know many people who don’t worry about money, even if they have a lot of it.  Coming from this place of lack, we allow our inner orphans to work us to the bone and erode our sense of well-being and love.  It doesn’t have to be this way!  We can heal our relationship with money, provide the security and sense of safety that we crave, so that we can focus on what we love instead of fighting our fears!  Join me for a one hour tele-seminar with financial wise woman Laurie Price.  Combining intuitive insight with practical coaching strategies, we’ll help you identify your true financial goals and create an action plan to get you there.  Each participant will receive handouts to guide you through the process.  To Register:  Email Nancy@EmpoweringLightworkers.com or call (330) 416-6184.  Cost:  $15 (Soul Friends Community Members, $10—not a member yet?  Join today:  SOUL FRIENDS COMMUNITY

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach offering Empowerment Readings, Empowerment Clubs, Sensitive Person Mentoring, and a Soul Friends Community. She is the author of Soul Friends Guide to Surviving the Pit: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Surviving and Thriving Through Tough Life Changes  (available at Amazon.com and other retail bookstores).  For a free Empowerment Packet and to learn more about Nancy’s work, visit her website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

Embodying Grace

We have all heard the stories about the large scale changes happening on Earth.  Some predict the “end of the world” and others declare the change will bring about a more peaceful, harmonious way of living.  Personally, just the word “change” is enough to make me twitchy.  I’ve been through changes…we all have…and some of mine have not been gentle.  With all the earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and terrorist attacks, it is hard not to anticipate that this change is also going to be drastic.  But does it have to be?

During a recent session, I had an intuitive flash about this situation. Keeping in mind that my visions are metaphoric, here is what I was shown… I saw an image of the Earth. On one side, I saw caterpillars and the other butterflies. The balance was equal. Some of the butterflies kept crossing back and forth between the two places, throwing off the balance. As the caterpillar side became more populated, the earth would tip. These “tips” brought about unsettling events with the purpose of encouraging transformation and change. Gradually, the balance started to shift and the butterfly side grew to the place that the caterpillar side “poured” into the other…all transformed.

Looking at this metaphor, the following things come to mind. First, caterpillars will eat every bit of plant life in their path. This made me think of our role on the Earth to this point and the problem developing as we use up so much of the Earth’s resources. The other thought was about a caterpillar’s “life purpose.” The focus for this creature is to eat as much as possible so that it has what it needs to transform into a butterfly. Have we on Earth possible “eaten” all that we need to make this change?

A butterfly’s purpose is to help things grow. It is less concerned with its own home and more concerned with making the whole garden beautiful. Again, this is a wonderful metaphor for our world right now. The call is to move beyond simply accumulating into looking for ways to create an abundant “garden” home for all.

I like the metaphor and certainly see in my own life the push to stay in a higher vibrating state. The question is though, what do we do to help ourselves move into our next phase and transform with ease? How do those of us who are already butterflies remember to stay where we belong instead of trying to live in old ways? Here are some tips to help!

Hang out with butterflies: Take a look at the people you spend most of your time with. Would you say they are caterpillars, in a cocoon, or a butterfly? If you answered anything but butterfly, you may want to consider creating some additional support networks. Look for classes or groups that uplift your heart. Find ways to connect with others who are interested in living at a higher vibration.

Pollinate instead of decimate: What can you do today to empower and support someone else to see the beauty in life? Remember that butterflies love the spring flowers, not the dried up husks of winter. Spread sunshine by smiling more, encouraging and loving those around you. Spend a few minutes in front of the mirror each day smiling and telling yourself how happy you are. Even if you aren’t feeling it, it can change the chemistry in your body and uplift your mood.

Spread your wings and fly high: Physically, pay attention to your body postures. Are you hunched over? Are your shoulders curved in? Try throwing back your shoulders and opening your chest to the world. Stand up straight, smile, and walk confidently. Convince your body that you are confident and happy, and you will feel confident and happy. Be a butterfly and choose graceful healing exercises such as Tai Chi or Yoga. Dance and feel free!

Choose to focus on the flowers.  Sometimes it feels very difficult not to sink into despair or fear.  One thing that might help when the world is overwhelming you is to change your focus.  When faced with a situation or experience you don’t like, try making a list of what you do like in the situation.  For instance, if you are unhappy with your job make a list of the aspects of your job that you do like.  Is your office or workplace comfortable?  Do you have a flexible work schedule?  Do you enjoy your colleagues?  Is the work fulfilling?  Do you have a supportive boss?  Once you have made a list of what you do like in the situation, identify the specific parts that you are unhappy with.  Ask the angels to help you with that part and to guide you to make the changes needed to improve the situation.  Once you hand it over, turn your attention back to the flowers (i.e. the parts you are grateful for) and do your best to keep your focus there while the other situation is resolved.  

Recognize how powerful you are.  Remember that the one that suffers the most when you are sad, angry or afraid is you.  Be your own best friend.  How can you love yourself in the situation?  Step out of the role of victim.  Turn your energy and attention to yourself.  Do what needs to be done to take care of you.  Ask for Divine support where you need help and then relax.  What you need will come…

Today is a beautiful day! I invite you to raise your energetic vibration to new heights! Trust that even the most tragic of events is all part of a larger pattern. One that will bear good fruit for us all, even if we can’t see how it can happen. Love as much as you can in the meantime and remember with all things, that “this too shall pass.”

I asked for a quote to finish off this article and this is what I found…

“We need a path not to go from here to there, but to go from here to here.”

Jakusho Kwong

Many Blessings to you and yours!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach and owner of Sanctuary at the Crossroads, Crossroads Coaching, and Empowering Lightworkers. For a free Divine Purpose Survey and information on Empowerment Readings, Empowerment Products, and the Sensitive Person and Lightworker Mentoring Programs, visit Nancy’s website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

Define What You Want-Manifest your dreams!

Sanctuary member, Jennifer Hagele, has selected “Define” for her one word resolution this year.  As I read through her article (see her “Hopes and Dreams” page), I realized that this was the second step in my process of learning how to surrender my fears and enjoy my life (my New Year’s goal).  I’m finding that for this whole thing to work, I have to be able to define what I really want to happen and then keep focused on that.  As I know many of you are working on the same goal this year, I thought I’d share some simple steps to help you manifest your hopes and dreams this year. I hope you find them helpful!

How to Manifest Your Hopes and Dreams

1.  Face your feelings head on. When a worry comes up, don’t shove it away…look at it squarely and decide if the worry is based on evidence or not.

2.  Define what you want to happen instead of the thing you’re afraid will happen. What do you want to see manifest in regards to the situation?  Think broadly (no point in having to make a whole lot of little requests…pick a nice encompassing wish that covers it all!).  For example, if you are worried about a relationship, say something like, “I want to have deeply fulfilling and committed relationships with people who I love and who love me.”

3.  Surrender the how to the Divine. This means that once you are focusing on what you want, you hand over the details of how to get there to a higher source.  Let God and the angels manifest it for you…you just keep your eyes on what you want to see more of!

4.  While you are waiting, think about something you are grateful for. Sometimes, after we hand over the how, a worry pops up that the Angels may not get to our request, or that it will take too long to arrive.  A quick cure is to think about something you feel grateful for in the moment.  For instance, you may be still working at a job you are tired of, but what little things are happening that you feel grateful for.  Keep it simple…it doesn’t have to be a big thing for gratitude to work.  The point is to shift our focus to the good things and away from our worries.

5.  Acknowledge your progress. Make a point of starting your day focusing on what you want, and ending on reviewing the moments when your wants came true.  For me, I can’t say that every day I feel like I loved my whole day, but I can say that every day there have been several sections that I have really loved.  Noticing the successes keeps us on the right track with the process.

Give it a try!

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach who works with clients who are feeling powerless because of a relationship, health situation, job, family matter, or other concern.  She offers Empowerment Readings which combine Divine guidance with practical coaching tips to help her clients make the necessary changes to move into a better situation.   Readings are available by phone or email.  Visit her website to learn more and to get your free Divine Purpose Survey!   www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

One Word Resolutions to Manifest Your Dreams!

Join the Sanctuary members as we embark on a year of fulfilling our hopes and dreams! The Sanctuary members have each chosen a word to represent how they intend to manifest their hopes and dreams this year.  The purpose of this exercise is to help each of us have a simple focus for our highest intentions for ourselves and our businesses.

Each month, our newsletter will focus on one of the words a member or members have chosen (and the articles will be posted in the Hopes and Dreams section of our website).  That member(s) will share about the word they chose and about their journey through the course of the year.  We will also be highlighting an organization or cause each month with the focus on how we can give back to our community by supporting causes we believe in.

We invite you to join us on this journey!  It’s simple to come along with us as we see what a year of focusing on our highest intention and paying forward can bring.  All you need to do is answer the questions below:

What are your hopes and dreams for 2010?

What one word can you focus on to help you achieve them?

Visit the Hopes and Dreams page on our website to share about your experience, learn about ways you can give back, and share about your own hopes and dreams for 2010!  Sign up for our newsletter or subscribe to our blog (see sign up on right hand column) to be updated on tools, special offers, and events that will help you have a wonderful 2010!

Check out the following pages by our members…

JANUARY ONE WORD RESOLUTION by Intuitive Life Coach Nancy Nicholas

Surrender

FEBRUARY ONE WORD RESOLUTION by Young Living Essential Oil Independent Distributor, Jennifer Hagele

Define

Holiday Gift Giving Without the Hangover

I just LOVE giving gifts at Christmas!  It is such fun to find the perfect gift or to help someone else who is less fortunate.  Nothing brings more joy or satisfaction.

This year, my desire to give is being frustrated by a series of unexpected very costly expenses.  In the span of a month, we’ve had to pay for the following:  a car door ($500), dental work ($200), college class ($400), dishwasher (haven’t got it yet but guessing it will be at least $600), and a new furnace ($2300).  Needless to say, this has put a damper on the holiday spending plans!

So, in case some of you are in my situation or worse, I thought it would be helpful to come up with some inexpensive ways to keep the joy of giving in the holidays without the painful hangover that can follow. I’d love to hear your ideas too!  Feel free to comment and share!

Holiday Giving Ideas

Barter

Have a skill you can share?  Why not barter for gift certificates or products for your loved ones?  While this probably won’t work at the major stores, it may with those in the service professions.  It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Re-Gift

We all have things in our home that we bought and then didn’t use or were given but didn’t feel drawn to.  Those same things might be just what someone else would love to have.  Even gently used items can be a delight to someone else.  Do you have a favorite CD or book that you are through with?  Be creative and look at your possessions through new eyes.  I bet you’ll find some unexpected treasures to share!

Give Your Time

My third grade students often make coupon books to give their parents at Christmas.  What about the same idea for those you love?  How could you give the gift of your time and energy this year?  Do you have a talent you can share?  My brother in law spent four hours fixing my computers.  That was the best gift I could have been given (and saved me from another couple thousand in expenses!).  Think about what you have to offer.  Be creative!

Make Something

Are you a talented cook?  Do you like to create crafts?  Look for unique recipes to include with a favorite food item.  Visit a local craft store for unique and fun ideas that you can make inexpensively.  One of my favorites is to make cinnamon or salt dough ornaments.  One year, my son and I made gingerbread people ornaments with names for all of our family members.  My parents still have them on their tree.

Choose Smaller Quantity Gifts

Another option is to purchase a helpful service or gift for a shorter time or in a smaller quantity.  This year, the Sanctuary members are offering a whole collection of holistic gifts, all for under $20 (Sanctuary Marketplace).  Many businesses are offering specials with this approach in mind.  Look for samples that you can include in a small Christmas stocking!

Any other ideas?   I’d love to hear them!  Please comment below and help us all enjoy giving this holiday season!

Blessings to you and yours!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach who works with clients who are feeling powerless because of a relationship, health situation, job, family matter, or other concern.  She offers Empowerment Readings and products which combine Divine guidance with practical coaching tips to help her clients make the necessary changes to move into a better situation.   Divinely You, Divine Purpose, and Divinely Us Gift Card Readings available.  Visit my website to learn more and to get your free Divine Purpose Survey! www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

Be Well! Take care of the Emotional YOU

Ever feel like a victim to your emotions?  You aren’t alone!  Feelings are something we all experience (no matter how we sometimes try to ignore them!) 

One of my biggest passions is learning to master self-care and to teach others how to do the same thing.  Over the years, I’ve become very adept at caring for my needs energetically, physically, and mentally.  Recently, I’ve realized I wasn’t as adept at providing the same care for my emotional self. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I’m a big fan of nervous system settling.  Learning how to bring the body to a state of calm and restore balance is an amazing technique for feeling more peaceful and safe.  Lately, I’ve been experimenting with how to provide the same type of “settling” for my emotional self.  Below are some simple steps to restore a sense of well-being, even when times are tough.

STEP ONE:  IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE FEELING

What are you feeling?  Sometimes we expend tremendous energy trying not to answer that question.  Why?  Because we don’t know what to do about the situation that is causing the emotional upset.  For this step, don’t jump to how to make it better.  Just identify what exactly you are feeling in that moment. 

A great way to do this is to take a few minutes to breathe deeply.  As you breathe deeply, ask yourself how you are feeling.  Sometimes when I do this activity, I will see myself very angry, sometimes sad, or sometimes frustrated.  I let myself “listen” to this part of me so that I allow this emotion to be expressed.  Again, this isn’t the time to try and “fix” anything. It is simply an opportunity to be present for you and allow yourself to fully feel whatever is there.  I find it helpful to write out what I’m hearing onto a piece of paper.  The physical act of writing seems to help release the emotion more easily, especially if you destroy the paper when you are done.  Our emotions aren’t always rational, but they do need to have an outlet.  Writing them on a paper that will be destroyed provides a safe place for them to be expressed. 

STEP TWO:  PROVIDE COMFORT

When you were a child, what did your parents do when you were upset?  Hopefully, they comforted you by hugging you or spending some time listening.  You can provide this comfort to yourself, now that you are an adult.  I do this by imagining the upset part of me as a child.  I pull the child on my lap and hug her.  I say and do the things I would do to comfort my son, if he was upset or afraid.  This always helps me to feel relaxed and loved.  This activity is simply about providing comfort and the space to express what is experienced, not a time to judge or try to fix.  An additional benefit to this activity is that it empowers my wise, compassionate adult self, so everyone is happy! 

STEP THREE:  LEAN ON SPIRIT

As an adult, we are no longer able to lean so heavily on our parents for care and nurturing.  For me, I’ve found it helpful to lean on Spirit.  You can use whatever religious or spiritual reference works for you…or you can simply imagine your highest self providing the support.  I use a simple meditation technique to evoke this feeling.  I imagine myself sitting in a peaceful spot in the woods.  I lean against a big strong oak tree and put my feet in a gentle stream in front of me.  I feel the gentle breeze, hear the birds singing, smell the fresh scents of the forest and feel the soft moss under my hands.  Once I am relaxed, I let myself imagine being wrapped in loving arms and feeling Divine love surrounding and supporting me.  I release whatever is troubling me to Spirit, knowing I will receive the help and inspiration I need at just the right time. 

STEP FOUR:  ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM

Our emotions are simply a warning system.  They provide us with awareness when our thoughts are creating a feeling of unease or disharmony.  Sometimes, simply listening to our emotional self will calm things down and no further action will be needed.  Other times though, there is an underlying fear that needs to be addressed.  Ask yourself, if this were my child, what would I do or suggest to help them feel safe?  If you find that you don’t know how to ease the fear, then consider asking for some help.  There are many wonderful books, counselors, coaches, and healers available to give you additional insight and wisdom on how to improve the situation that is making you feel powerless.  There is no shame in taking good care of yourself…and sometimes taking care of yourself means acknowledging when you need some outside input.  A fresh perspective can make all the difference.

STEP FIVE:  USE ENERGETIC TOOLS TO SOOTHE

There are many amazing tools that can help support you in taking care of your emotional self.  One of the tools that really made a difference for me is a Blue Agate pendant designed by Intuitive/Artist Deanne Angel (Angel Healing Crystals).  This pendant was intuitively designed and selected for my needs.  I absolutely love it!  It has a deeply calming and soothing effect on my whole system.  It seems to work on an energetic level to help me overcome my fears and feel more emotionally balanced.   Another tool  I find helpful is flower essences.  I tried a new flower essence for emotional sensitive people recently called Pink Yarrow.  You can find that essence and others for a variety of emotional and physical concerns at http://www.featherhawk.com/.   Aromatherapy is another favorite tool of mine.  I’ve been using a roll on from Young Living  called Tranquil which I find very helpful.  I also love the LavenMint spray from Savannah Moon.    

Blessings to you and yours!
Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach who works with clients who are feeling powerless because of a relationship, health situation, job, family matter, or other concern.  She offers Empowerment Readings which combine Divine guidance with practical coaching tips to help her clients make the necessary changes to move into a better situation.   Readings are available by phone or email.  Economic Recession Rates are $15/15 minutes.  Visit my website to learn more and to get your free Divine Purpose Survey!   www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com. 

Questions?  Nancy can be reached by email at Nancy@EmpoweringLightworkers.com. 

 

 

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.

Book Review: Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life

I highly value the advice life coach Gail Blanke offers through her column in Real Simple magazine.  I was even more excited to read she has recently authored a book titled Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life. (Springboard Press, 2009).  It was mentioned in the April issue of Real Simple with the challenge to get rid of fifty things that are no longer serving your life, including actual junk or old mindsets.  To celebrate the start of spring, I plan on doing just that and encourage you to do the same.  You will feel lighter!

This book can be purchased through Amazon by clicking HERE.

Contributed by Cathy Posner, Transition Consulting and Coaching/Crossroads Coaching/Sanctuary at the Crossroads www.transitionconsultingandcoaching.com

Hand Turned Bowls and Discovering Your 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.