Are you working from a place of inspiration or perspiration?

Greetings to You ~

Have you been reminded lately that you're working at an extreme and frantic pace and it's not working for you?  Does it feel like a restriction of energy where even simple tasks begin to feel like a struggle?  A telltale sign is when the thought of having fun sounds like an effort.

Working harder and getting less accomplished is a frustrating experience.

If you're feeling like your groove or your rhythm is off it's a reminder to call your energy back.  Stop moving up stream and remember how it feels to be in the flow.

What are your rituals that help you stay in a good feeling place?

• meditation
• journaling
• going for a walk
• an exercise routine or yoga practice
• eating home cooked meals
• getting enough rest

For some of you a vacation may come to mind and that may very well be what you need for extreme recharge.  You also need to find your regular rhythm when you return, otherwise you're on a roller coast that keeps you out of balance and living for the next holiday.

It may feel counter intuitive when there are deadlines, real or self-imposed, looming over you.  But it will create clarity and focus and help you work from a place of inspiration which is ultimately more efficient.

Frantic, scattered and overwhelm energy is simply a call for you to come back to a place of Spirit.

Let your heart lead you rather than your mind.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Are you finally ready to lovingly let go?

Greetings to You ~

Yesterday's blog was about transition and changing from one condition to another.

We often associate "physical healing" with our body but it's also your personal space and living environment.  Clearing clutter from your environment can be part of a healing process.

Whether it's work or personal items we often keep things that no longer bring value to our life.  You can honor the past by going through files and reports and consider this, "What can you let go of?"

If you're transitioning from a place of employment honor the work that you've done and give yourself permission to let it go.  It's a process of creating space and it's liberating.

Peace and Joy ~

Sheila 

xo

Did you know this about change?

Greetings to You ~

How easily do you adapt to transitions in your life?  Are they smooth, bumpy or do you feel you're in a holding pattern?

Whether you recognize it or not you're constantly adapting and changing to new conditions in your life.  Even the seasons bring a transition where you shift from one different cycle to a new one.  

The dictionary meaning for Transition (noun) is the process or a period of changing from one condition to another.

Whether the change is brought about by your own choice or circumstances outside of your control, the transition period is an important time in your life.

Are you in a hurry to do the next thing but it's not happening as quickly as you'd like?  A tendency can be to want to hurry the transition process.  Especially when you're used to working at a fast pace.  

Part of the process is to decompress and allow yourself to get back in touch with who you really are.  A time to consciously be aware of what direction you are moving in.

Learn and grow from the past and consider the following for your future:

"When the old way is breaking up, a new way is trying to break through."

"The more precisely you plan, the harder it can be for you to adapt."

"The best things often happen when you're not expecting it."

"Let go, knowing that something far greater than you can imagine is on its way."

If you left your workplace you may feel uncomfortable shifting to a slower pace.  For some of you a slower pace feels right but you may start to feel unworthy.  

How do you feel when a new acquaintance asks what you do?  How do you feel when friends and family ask what you've been up to?  You don’t have to explain or make it sound like you're busy.  You may not have as much outer doing to share but this can be a time of great inner transformation.

Embrace this time in the void.  You can use it to prepare for what's coming around the corner.  

In the coming days I'm going to share with you ways to take care of your physical body and what you can do in your personal space to help ease the transition.

Peace and Joy ~

Sheila

xo

Source of a Greater Power

Greetings to You ~

Do you ever wonder where great ideas come from?  Think of your physical self connecting to the energy of a master computer where the storehouse of all information is kept.

We often access that information and receive downloads from the master computer even when we don't realize it.  Most of us have experienced a coincidence or synchronicity where out of the blue, we receive just what we needed.  An answer to a question, a solution to a problem, inspiration for a new project or a new idea that inspires us to take action.

How does a synchronistic event or coincidence occur?  We're not really sure, and because we can't explain it we can sometimes discount it.  But there are times when we can't explain it but feel sure that a source of something greater than us must have been involved.

Knowing that there is this source can help us keep a dream alive.  You don't know how it's going to happen but you believe the way will be shown.  It will unfold step by step.

Let's connect some dots.

• You are grateful for what you have, even if your situation may not be ideal. 
• You have appreciation for where you've come from and what you've learned so far.
• You are aware of a feeling or a nudge to do something or make a change.  
• You are aware of your inner guidance encouraging you.
• You feel inspired to act on the nudge and you feel free and alive.  
• You have awakened to your Spirit.
• You are listening to your kind, gentle inner voice more often.  
• You have awakened desires and dreams and are willing to explore.
• You are feeling more connected to yourself and others.
• You notice there are times when coincidence and synchronicity lead you to the next step.  

This really resonates when you've had some direct experience with it.

Particularly when the source of a higher power was involved.  How was it activated?  Where did it come from?

Tomorrow I'll share with you an experience I had last month and how the source of a greater power was activated.

Until then, stay connected.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Being Present with Others

Greetings to You ~

When you awaken and connect with your own Spirit it's often referred to as "being present."  You may do this through meditating, journaling or going for a walk in nature.  It's time spent alone.

Imagine what it would be like to activate that same feeling of awareness and presence when you're with another person.  Imagine how it would feel to not just be at ease speaking with others but to really connect with them.

I'm a shy person who found it rather difficult to start up a conversation and nurture new relationships.  I also had a huge fear of public speaking and in 2003, decided to face those fears by attending a speaking group.

I was inquiring about a Toastmasters club when it was suggested that I try Speaking Circle.  It was described to me as a gentle way to unlearn habits of performance speaking and learn to be your authentic self with others.  That's when I first learned about Lee Glickstein's process called Relational Presence.

Lee Glickstein wrote the book, "Be Heard Now!" based on his own fear of public speaking.  He now teaches others to "Tap into Your Inner Speaker and Communicate with Ease."  You can unlearn habits of performance speaking and learn to be your authentic self with others.

I still attend a local Speaking Circle but now the focus is to remind myself of the importance of listening to others.  To listen to other people's silences as well as their words.  To speak when Spirit moves me rather than react to my own nervousness or interrupt a perceived awkward silence.

Chapter Four of Be Heard Now! explores Listening with the Heart:  Letting Others Be Heard Now.  I'd encourage you to read the book or visit the website if improving the art of connecting, speaking or listening is of interest to you.

http://www.speakingcircles.com/

Enjoy listening and being present.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Awaken To Your Spirit

Greetings to You ~

What does awaken your spirit mean?  Intangible concepts can be difficult to grasp until you have direct experience with it.  What is love?  Same thing, it's formless.  But you know when you feel it...the beautiful, warm connection.

The dictionary meaning for spirit is "the nonphysical part of a person that is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.  Such a part regarded as a person's true self."

Spirit awakens through your feelings which translates to your thoughts.  It speaks kindly and gently to you, and never beats you up.  It would never say the following:

• I'm not good enough
• I'm too fat
• I'm too old
• I don't belong
• I can't do it

Inspiration is simply when we're "in spirit."  What inspires you?  Where do you go and what do you do when you feel inspired?

It's challenging to awaken your spirit when we're "in our head."  It's sometimes referred to our ego mind or our physical self.  It's when we feel pressure or a need to figure things out ourselves.  A need to know the answers or control an outcome.

Being in your head is when you've disconnected from Spirit.  Ideally you want to be connected to both your head and your heart.

Think of your Spirit as your best friend who knows you inside and out and wants the very best for you.  Your best friend is empathetic when things don't work out the way you had hoped but never feels sorry for you.  That's because your best friend, your Spirit, always sees you in your brilliance.  Always sees your full potential.

Next time you're feeling bad about yourself or a particular situation, take your Spirit to tea.  Listen to the wise, loving, gentle advice and inspiration your best friend has to offer.

You are beautiful.  You are smart.  You are perfect just the way you are.  The way will be shown.  Be patient.  Keep moving forward.

Just like a very best friend, your Spirit is always there for you when you call.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Awareness of Your Inner Guidance

Greetings to You ~

Are you uncertain with making decisions about important changes in your life?  Are you aware that you have inner guidance?


Some people call it intuition, gut feeling, instinct or an inner knowing.  It's your own inner wisdom that helps us decide what's right for you.


Who's advice do you trust more, your own or someone outside of yourself?  It's fine to receive advice and information from others but it's most important to assimilate that and run your options by your own inner guidance. 

This photo of the wise man in the rock is a literal example of our inner guidance.  It's always there but we're not necessarily aware of it.  When I first took this photograph I did not see the wise man's face complete with eyes, nose, mouth and beard.


If confusion, overwhelm or frustration are present your inner wisdom won't be that clear.  It needs a bit of time and space, even five minutes to clearly focus on your options and visualize how you feel with both scenarios.  Do you feel a lift or a dip when you imagine yourself with each option?


Another way that inner guidance speaks to you is through repetitive thoughts that nudge you and won't go away.  Especially take notice of information that comes your way from three different sources about the same thing.


One of my favourite ways of accessing my own inner wisdom is through journaling.  Writing down your questions and concerns helps to bring clarity.  Then with regular practice answers can actually come through on the pages.


Trust yourself.  Only you know when something feels right.  Never, ever, ever do something out of guilt or because you think it's the right thing that you should do.  You always want to bring positive energy to your outer actions. 


So you think you should go back and get a job doing the same thing you've always done.  How did you feel when you imagined yourself doing that?  If it was a dip of disappointment you need to re-evaluate your options.  There's a hidden desire you're blocking.  Try journaling about that.


There's are two books I love to recommend.  The first is Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz and the other is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  Both were published more than fifty years ago but still relevant today.  In addition to showing how important self esteem is we learn how to use our inner guidance to direct us toward our goals.


Whatever way you choose to access your inner guidance learn to trust it.


Peace and Joy ~

Sheila

xo