Whispers of the Soul

What are you aching to let go of?  Pick something this week that is draining your energy or distracting you from being your Best Most Resilient Self.  Thomas Leonard called it a TOLERATION.
This week pick one thing daily that drags you down, takes your energy or otherwise keeps you from being your passion or the best you can be.  Each day free yourself of this one thing by either addressing it, getting rid of it or changing how you think, feel, relate or how it affects your day-to-day life.  Each day give yourself new freedom.

The beginning or end of a relationship is usually a time of challenge, even if it is for the good. This is a time when a lot of change happens on the inside and outside of the life of those involved, and often others around, such as friends, family and co-workers. Another seemingly wonderful time in a relationship is when a child is born.  Studies reveal that while one of the most desired outcomes in a married couple’s life, the birth of their first child, is also a source of major stress, contributing to reduced marital satisfaction for many couples.

Truthfully, any change in life can cause stress: a new job, starting college, new sport or hobby even a vacation. For a couple, this can add or detract from the relationship happiness.  Although change puts spice in our lives, all change demands some a new adjustment. We have to know ourselves and what we do to cope with change.  Our reaction depends on our resources and our resiliency. Too much change of any sort can jeopardize your health and the health of the relationship. This is true even when it is an event we welcome.  The very best solution for this in a relationship is to:

• Be proactive 
• Know your style and what your major key areas of challenge are
• Know how you tend to react. 
• Let your partner know and put into a place a system that you both agree is solid for when the challenge comes up. 
• Know your trigger points and the beliefs and needs you have about stress or change and
• implement the strategy you agreed to. 
• Take time for yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed or triggered.  Your partner and you will both be in a better place. 
• Learn to relax.  Don’t wait until the situation arises and then start trying to get yourself or your partner to relax. 

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF

Connecting with your deepest self
Cutting the cord of the past
Living the way you have always wanted to LIVE
Having abundance, joy and freedom

Well it is another glorious day in Colorado.  The sun is brilliant.  The sky is cobalt blue and I am beaming with the thought of feeling the sun and sky.  I am going on a bike ride with my friends this morning.  We call it church.  It is heavenly going out with other spiritual being from all denominations and sharing our pleasure and our passion for riding and the outdoors.  What a way to be! With these people I feel the safety of just being myself.  I feel heard and honored and feed by their love. 

I thank God for the freedom to have this time to be with those that honor him.  I feel blessed that I get to feed my outdoor love and my spirit and connection with God through this riding group. 

Where is your safe place to be and nurture your relationship with yourself, others and God?  Enjoy a spirit filled day.

When I was talking to a friend about a new man in her life, she began by enthusiastically telling me how much she enjoyed his company and what a great time that they had together.  In a moment, before she even took a breath, I watched her move into “yes, but” mode; you know, the list of things that he DIDN”T have.  She began naming the things that were more about the looks and the exterior vs the experience.  I thought of how I had just done the very same thing with someone recently.  He was from out of town. We had danced together at a recent gathering and had a blast.  It seemed like we had been dancing together for a lifetime.  My heart was so happy and so wide open.  When the band stopped playing and it was time to go, he asked if we could get together again.  I could feel myself heart shutting down and the joy and openness I had felt all evening turn into fear.  My list and my projections started racing forward in my mind.  I asked for God’s input and immediately the list fell away and my heart opened again. 

What if we chose heart over fear?  What if we shared our fear so that our hearts could stay open?  What would shift in relationships if we spoke from our hearts?  May you have a heartful day.

As I approach the holidays, I get the feeling of a rich desire, and of filling up.  This is often a time of year when I slow down and do more reflecting.  I enjoy the the shorter, colder days that cause me to be inside more; I choose more quiet and alone time to reflect. The holidays bring me great joy, as it is a time of year that gives me an opportunity to be more present.

With Thanksgiving approaching this week, I feel called to become emotional about the people and events and things in my life that I am grateful for.   As I reflect on my life (this last year in particular) I am filled with joy.  I feel so richly blessed and grateful. I will fill myself to the brim with snowshoeing and nature this Thanksgiving day. 

I send you a wish for the fullness of Joy and a happy Thanksgiving. 

Love and light and fulfillment.

I have a friend in from out of town this week.  I have been given the opportunity to notice myself through his fresh eyes. 

Do you ever look in the mirror and say “WOW, where did that wrinkle come from?”  I have the same experience of being with a friend that knows me and hasn’t seen me in awhile.  At first I found myself in the busy hurry got to do it all mode.  I realized that this was not how I wanted to experience this time with my friend.  I saw the wrinkle and made efforts to slow it down and be more present. 

When I’m in “do it al” mode, I am aware of the pleaser in me that wants to get busy–and do it all perfectly–and do it all now.  I find that I am enjoying my friend so much more by just being in the present.  Like they say; that is why they call it the present. 

Enjoy being present during the holiday season with all you encounter and see how much it can shift your experience of the typical rush, rush, rush of the Holidays.

Who doesn’t love to dance?  I went out to a dance lesson with some friends last night vowing that I would go home and get an early start on my sleep right after the lesson.  I busted myself on holding back and getting in my own way.  My heart was aching to dance and play and BE with my friends and the music.  What an amazing and joyful evening.  There is so much opportunity to express and experience joy with others.  When I think of how I was committed to limiting myself, I smile and thank God for the grace of the music that drew me out of that place. 

Where are you holding yourself back?  What joy is your heart aching for?  Have a day of freedom and joy!

I started my day with the usual mediation and delight of a new day–having a new opportunity to be my joy.  I so enjoyed the feeling of a fresh start of being my best.  Of course, it wasn’t long after the sun rose and I completed my mediation and yoga that the racing thoughts of all the things I had to do to feel ready to launch into the week.  The To Do List began running the show.  It got louder as I glazed at the pile of chores I had before me.  All of a sudden my joy and being my best dropped back and gave way to my things list. 

My dog Destiny brought me his toy and begged me to play with him.  I was so preoccupied.  I felt his little eyes on me patiently waiting for me to respond.  I began to impatiently turn towards him however before my eyes landed on his innocent, playing presence I had realized his gift.  In this moment in time he was here to remind me of the joy of being in this moment.  Being Present allows me to be a deeper, wiser more loving human being. 

Thank you Destiny for your wise and powerful reminders of what really matters. 

May your presence give joy to all that you encounter today.

I went to a celebration of Abundance last week.  It was very revealing that the amount of energy that I can buy into that is about “less than” or “not enough”. Most recently I have found myself really buying into the lack of time and financial stability.  Sometimes it is so subtle.  I can be in my most powerful place, and yet often when I check myself, I find that an old tape is running the in background. 

All w have to do is return to our hearts and that is where the truth and safety lies.  Just one look at nature or a loved one and the truth of abundance is beaming at us. What ways is your abundant light deserving some buffing up?  I wish you oneness with your magnificent gifts and abundance beyond comprehension.