Just Dive In…You'll Learn to Swim Later

Survival. As we continue to face economic hardships, mounting health problems and global warming where can we look for guidance? Should we look to the media with its parroted news flashes bought and paid for by corporate leaders? Should we look to government officials that are sitting upon their thrones of authority, clearly they must have the answers. Or perhaps we should just follow the paths of our ancestors and stick close to the wisdom of the family tree, after all this takes the pressure off of actually thinking for ourselves. How about following your intuition?

in·tu·i·tion

noun

intuition

the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.

How can anyone hear themselves glued to TV, Internet, I-Devices and the daily addiction to social media?

Throughout my life I faced many storms and I do not pretend to know all of the answers, but I have learned to navigate the turbulence by tuning in. Can intuition really be a tool we can use for survival? Of course and it begins with meditation. I have included a simple link on How to Begin below.

Life disasters such as job loss, divorce, a death in the family, illness, depression, etc. can appear upon your horizon like a turbulent storm. With it comes a tremendous life altering calamity, that for many, may seem beyond their ability to survive. They may turn to family and friends for advice, cruise the internet, ask their community leaders— but in truth, they must make personal decisions by following their gut. We must learn to exercise this ability to soften the static input and listen to the guidance waiting within.

Anxiety and self doubt stop many in their tracks. They spend hours, days…years listening to others and stay rooted in toxic relationships or negative energy fueled by their depression and inability to really LET GO and TRUST their intuition. How do we break this cycle? By DIVING IN and learning to swim later.

It takes only 15 minutes daily of silent meditation to connect to your higher self. This will bolster and encourage you. Self empowerment will lead you to a place where you can ignore the naysayers and move forward with your head held high. You CAN do this and no one is stopping you but yourself.

I have watched many people stuck doing the same thing year after year too afraid to chart a course and swim to higher ground. They complain about their miserable lives and do nothing to improve it. They will list a multitude of excuses as to why they cannot achieve their goals, and in actual fact if they put as much energy into DOING instead of thinking, they would find themselves much happier beings.

Survival is becoming harder and we as a people must learn to think for ourselves. But if we really sit in silence and tune in we will realize we are never alone. A multitude of guides and helpers are there to help you and will never leave your side. Begin today with a positive affirmation, look your situation face on and say, "I am a beautiful person and I will seek my happiness by being true to myself. I will begin in silence and I will learn to ignore the chatter and welcome the guidance that has always been within me— my intuition."

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Want to learn more? Read my short book.

Raise Your Vibration with THOUGHT

Where is your inner harbor of peace? If you were to close your eyes and imagine a place of total tranquility  –what would you see?

I recently asked my students this during a meditation class. For some it is a beach, others beside a mountain and for others it's in a garden. No two answers are ever the same. This is because we are each such diverse creatures. If I were to lead them on a guided meditation how would I know where to take them? Oh, of course they would follow along as I take them into a garden or along a beach foot path or even under a waterfall. But I am trying to help them find their OWN special place.  And they can do this by looking within.

You can find your secluded haven by rewarding yourself with quiet time alone. Take a walk, ride your bike…or just sit in a room by yourself. Pull your mind away from the struggles of the day and think of a place that makes you feel calm, safe and secure. Can you feel your energy shift? That was your vibration lifting. Yes, you actually raised your vibration by THINKING of a place. How can you use this positive energy in your life? By allowing this thought of this beautiful resting place to inhabit your daily routine.

As you go about your day learn to find moments of escape. You may be sitting at your desk, in traffic or waiting in a noisy supermarket. Whenever you need to calm yourself take a few cleansing breaths and think of your special space. This will help you to raise your vibration and remove negative energy that may begin to swirl around you as you become tense with anxiety.

The more you visit this retreat the better. You are becoming pro-active in training your mind to bathe in positive beautiful thoughts. It feels good and your body will feel lighter, your mood will seem more bubbly. This is your vibration raising and this is you harmonizing with the beautiful energy of your spirit. This is a simple practice that everyone can do … all ages...all people.

Meditation can take you wherever you want to go and is a wonderful tool to "let go" of thoughts. Remember, thoughts are living things and you are the guardian of them. Learn this simple method of finding your quiet space that was designed for you alone and be a happier person. This happiness will spread to your family, friends, pets and to the world around you. To learn how you can begin meditating please read Meditation Mojo. 

Spirits in My Laundry

At times I am reminded of my parents. Even though my father passed in 2004 he is around me so much it’s as if we share intimate conversations daily about life. My mother passed in 2010 and brings feelings of affection when I need it most. I find myself doing mundane tasks and being swept away as I think of her ability to weather so many storms that have all blown away. How come I didn’t think Dot and George were so amazing when I was 10?

All of my youth I wanted to be loved by them. There was this simmering battle going on within the frame of our home as my mother tried the best she could to provide for us. Relying on slim earnings reduced even further by my father’s alcoholism brought her misery. He was a jolly drunk and rarely raised his voice to my seven siblings or me but he was the reason behind my mother’s frown. She on the other hand naturally became the disciplinarian and was quick to swat any child stepping out of line. But as the years went by and we all got older the conflict eased as sobriety replaced the bottle. I was now grown with children of my own and still felt robbed of my youth. How dare he put my daughter on his lap and read her stories and listen to her dreams. And my mother, who was always buried beneath a mountain of dirty dishes, suddenly found time to watch a dress-up show with her grandchildren? I carried this anger beneath the surface and it wreaked havoc in many relationships. I recognized this in myself and even though it was a bit scary I confronted them and it's no longer an issue.

I am fortunate enough to have had many walks and talks with them before their crossing and there are no words left unsaid. We spoke of everything and old wounds were released and our relationship only blossomed. I recognized that although they were my parents they were two people. Just ordinary people that had hopes and fears laughter and sorrow just like everyone else and for some reason I expected them to be more than this because they wore the title of “parents.”
They bring me little reminders every now and again. My father is cigarette smoke that follows me everywhere even in the rain. At first this put me off as I am a non-smoker and it really annoyed me, but now I smile and say “Hi dad…back again?”

My mother leaves me clothespins in the most unusual places. At first I would find them and think nothing of it…perhaps my spouse accidentally put it on the freshly wiped counter, but no. She brings them again and again and I am delighted to have made this connection. As a public speaker I often begin introducing myself,  “I was raised by a champion clothes hanger-upper who did four loads daily without a dryer.” I spoke with her as I always do when hanging up laundry after selling our home in and preparing to move.  I said, “Well mom I’m gonna miss our times here. I won’t be hanging up wash here anymore,” and just at that moment the linen bag of clothespins broke and fell into my hands. They looked like a bouquet of wooden flowers and I was so overcome I ran for my camera in tears. She was telling me you have ME don’t worry about the laundry!

Daily meditation can bring so many wonderful life lessons.  As I hear a song reminding me of my childhood the thought drifts with the tune and an image will appear. It’s my parents dancing cheek to cheek and the feeling of their love for each other. It’s a powerful love that remains and it has enabled me to look at my own storms and see that there truly is sunshine behind those clouds. I want to take this light and pass it to my own children. I want to be the song in their hearts. Will I one day be smoke or clothespins? Probably not, but I will teach them that although I wear the name parent I am very much like everyone else. I hope I dream…and I love.