Happy Holidays!

As this Christmas season is well underway, and we are so rapidly running around shopping for gifts, making treats for friends and otherwise stressing out, don't forget to take a few moments every day to recognize your strengths. Remember the many things you have been blessed with. Spend time with your families and loved ones and those who make you happy. Never neglect the things that mean the most to you, because if you do, you are absolutely neglecting yourself. Meditate and pray and recognize your role in another's life, and how impactful others are in your own.

Merry Christmas

Peace and Serenity

It takes but a momentary reflection to recognize that life was out of sync, and that the closer we return to our homeostasis, the happier we become.

I recently moved back to Utah. Back to my home. 3 weeks of reflection. 3 weeks to realize... not that I WAS burned out, but just how far that shutdown had seeped into my mind and into my life. Being back in the beautiful mountains during the most gorgeous season, driving through Provo and Sundance canyons several times each week, I have been reflecting on just how close I can be to what is most important. Looking at the meadows, hills and cliffs with amber, auburn and gold trees shooting up from all angles, I can't help but feel complete peace. To top it off, just as life changes, things look up. People come into our lives. We recognize the importance of time. We value more appropriately. Thank you, life, for returning.

Peaceful quotes

"I have no one to criticize and no thing, not even me. For criticism blocks the flow of love, it is gratitude that pours through me like a flood."

"I listen to the whispers of my heart and they are clear and bright to me. They are always about increasing the flow of love in my life and in the lives of others. There is nothing clearer."

"I do not defend my ego, for I am not in competition ‘against’ anyone or anything. I like to compete ‘with’ others so that we can both reach higher."

"Every one is my teacher, every event a gift, we are all peers; One."

"What a perfect life! I create everything I choose and exist within every one and every thing."

"I breathe in love and out gratitude, there is nothing higher or deeper."

Never be so arrogant as to disallow the mind to saturate with feedback

Transformation begins when the need for an improvement is first recognized.


Let that sink in for a moment. How often do we tell ourselves, or even... how often does SOMEONE ELSE TELL US that something we do is wrong?! We can approach this situation in a number of ways: Become defensive and angry; denial (I prefer to use the term 'precontemplative'); accepting the feedback or realization as a part of us (i.e. "That's just me, deal with it"); or we can acknowledge the feedback and determine to make a change. I speak so often about increasing personal awareness for a reason. If I do something wrong and have no idea I'm in error, I will likely never change. If I am mistaken and have the insight to be able to work on it, the potential for improvement is limitless.

Always remember that there is room for progress. We are never 'there' and we should not expect to be. No perfection can be realized in this lifetime. I look at the desire one might have for continual progress as a perfect balance between humility and the motivation for greatness.

Rewarding Successes

It's been about 4 months. Life has been extremely busy, working two jobs and spending time with my beautiful daughter. One of the things I've neglected over the past few months has been my own self-care and rewards system. With the chaos and stress that is life, I know how imperative it is to take care of me. Along with some clients earlier this evening, I brainstormed ideas for rewarding oneself in a healthy manner. Some enjoy a new purchase or a delicious meal as a pat on the back, while others go for a spa treatment or take a day off. There are even those who fall into negative patterns for rewards such as potentially addictive behaviors and/or drug use, as it is often believed that this will provide an escape from reality or a high that cannot be reached without a foreign substance. Reality is this... we reward ourselves in a number of ways, and they may or may not be for our actual benefit. Whatever our choices, it is important to evaluate what we do FOR ourselves so that we don't burn out doing the things we must do to survive and maintain the lifestyle we have grown accustomed to. One method that I have recently rediscovered is my love for yoga. I've been practicing for about 5 years off and on, but only recently have I focused my priorities around my yoga practice at least twice per week. During practice two weeks ago I had an awakening. Life is again full of blessings and opportunities. Last night's practice took that new perspective to the next level. As my mind was completely clear, I recognized that there are patterns of rewards from my past that have caused me harm. I forever hope to never return there, but to continually develop and improve my self-care techniques and enjoy the pure and abundant joy of life.

Situational Rebellion

Life has been extremely busy but it has brought some incredibly valuable lessons. For some time I have been contemplating this concept of rebellion, and that's apparently all I've been doing is just contemplating, as it's been about 4 months since I've been active on here. I believe we all have a tendency to rebel, to do precisely what we are instructed NOT to do, even when the consequences are potentially dreadful. Whether this is intentional and conscious or it is something that we are essentially unaware of, there exists that inner desire to revolt and do the forbidden. Why else, then, would people continue to behave in a manner that causes such destruction? We actually have, at times, an inability to think logically for ourselves, because the pull to do precisely what we are told to avoid can hijack our free will.

Most of the time I will make the opposing argument, but this time I will refrain. I'm intentionally leaving this vague. Much of the time I get a text or email response from a follower who will either acknowledge a point I'm making or oppose it with furious passion. I invite you to share your thoughts, either publicly or privately.

Have a marvelous day. When you feel the urge to rebel next, ignore it. See what happens.

5 Love Languages

Hummingbirds

"Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation."

Miscommunication

What is the point of miscommunication and disagreement? Many will say there is no point. But there are those times, when we are not on the same page with another, that we are able to engage in further discussion to clarify perspectives. If we are humble and open-minded, we are granted the incredible opportunity to view the world through the eyes of another, rather than from behind our own biased lenses. Miscommunication often results in discontent and frustration, even anger toward another. We aren't able to escape this, it is one of the absolutes of this life. We are quick to give answers, sometimes without considering all things. We have our personal stereotypes, beliefs and expectations. It is often very easy to dismiss an idea that we do not understand, rather than taking only a moment to investigate something new. To discover and delight in something that has never before crossed our mind is to relish the spontaneity of this world. There are too many beautiful experiences in this universe to keep a closed off, stubborn and immature mindset.