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.

Alone Following a Break-Up 2

Troubled waters

continued from Alone Following a Break-up
Learning to overcome things that kept me from wanting to explore my "alone-ness" took months. I had to learn the technique of "mind-shift" in order to move my thoughts from the captive state of  "flight or fight" to trust and believe. Meditation helped connect me to the invisible guardians watching over… allowing me to feel safe and protected.

It was hard to move through this transition of loving myself more and appreciating the alone time. I had avoided caring for myself for many years as I kept busy with the needs of others. Insomnia had kept me hidden behind my books and sleep deprivation dulled my brain. I was ignoring my inner-voice  and doing a damn good job of it.  I was miserable, why would I want to keep company with ME? My thoughts were certainly not positive, they were more like self-pity. I didn't show this persona to the world, and most thought I was a happy being. It was only when I was alone with my thoughts that my facade would crumble. And that is where I would have remained if I hadn't learned to look within.

Abundant opportunities

When you try to move forward after a break-up often you feel it might all be better if you could return again to the relationship, or maybe find a new object for your affections. But by taking this alone time and quieting the negative thoughts I was able to find the me that had been buried beneath despair. It had been so long since I had tuned into me. What was I passionate about? What made my heart sing? What caused distress and worry? What brought me fits of laughter or silent tears? What were my favorite foods, songs or hobbies – I really had not taken the time to examine any of this.  Meditation began to strip away the thoughts I had allowed to creep in like poison ivy that were strangling my beautiful self. My inner-voice allowed me to find the creativity that had been stifled, the voice that was trapped as a lump in my throat and the forced smile now spread more naturally as I dried my eyes.

This pathway is mine, but the story may be similar to yours. You may walk this road with others by your side or choose to go it alone. One is not better then the other and tuning into your own heart's desire will allow you to feel which road is best for you. I now treasure my silence and honor this wonderful journey.

My relationship with my family and friends is far richer for discovering this me that was hidden.

To learn more how you can find your inner-voice please read How to Begin.

Alone Following a Break-Up

I never thought I would find myself alone, after all I was born into a overcrowded family and married at the age of 18… having personal space was a luxury. But that marriage dissolved and my inability to be alone probably counts for the many unsuccessful relationships that followed. Oh sure, there were many other reasons and I don't mean to be glib about this, but the truth of the matter is that I did NOT know how to love myself– let alone others. And so in the year 2007 I did something that made a lot of people think I was crazy...I hit the RESET button and said NO MORE.

It wasn't like I woke up one day and said, hey Lorraine you need to love yourself. No, it was more like a feeling of emptiness. Something off, something missing and it was very deep. By this stage of my life I had raised three children and was now a grandparent. I had lived a role for others and in doing so, lost a bit of me. How? Aren't we supposed to be dutiful parents and give ourselves 24 hours a day to the needs of our offspring? And what about our grown parents, are we not supposed to drop everything and care for them as they become more needy? This is the the correct path, so why wasn't I happy? I adored my children and had a warm, loving relationship with my parents (they are both now in spirit). But I spent years battling insomnia and depression, and to be quite honest I was hoping some mornings I would just leave and go quietly into the spirit world... but that was then.

Hitting the reset button helped me to discover self-love. It wasn't easy contacting the lawyer and starting the divorce procedure, telling my kids I needed to start fresh, or telling my aging mother that I would call when I was settled. But you know what…it was pretty easy to quit my high-paying job, and swap all of my jewelry for cash. Yes, that part felt right, it felt solid, it felt like a huge GREEN LIGHT!

And so at the age of 52 I was finally alone. I drove 1400 miles to Key West, FL and found a tiny space I could barely afford. I came with the items I could stuff into my tiny car. No furniture, no pots or pans, no linen…just my laptop, art supplies and some summer clothes and flip-flops.

Bedroom/art studio

My new job paid me about the same hourly rate I earned in 1973 and let me tell you, it was day to day, penny to penny living. My furniture came from trash picks and yard sales. But little by little my tiny space began to feel like a palace. I was learning the importance of silence. I was learning what made me uncomfortable, happy, irritable, excited, bored… I was learning who Lorraine the person was. Not the mother, daughter, sister or friend person I had been, but the bubbling energetic child that had been squashed for a long time. I want to make it very clear that I hold no ill feelings or blame anyone, I am merely stating a fact that I was NOT BEING TRUE TO MYSELF.

My perfect tiny space

As I began spending time alone I found there were bits and pieces of me that I either wanted to examine further or discard. But how…where do you begin? It was then that I discovered the magic of being alone. At first it felt lonely, and I was wondering if I had traded my insomnia for a new zip code. I now had a new problem, I was afraid of the dark and every bump in the night. Florida had geckos, eww, creepy little things that crawled into every crevice. I DON'T DO CREEPY THINGS! I came from a quiet suburban neighborhood with squirrels and blue jays. Now I had to dodge iguanas and don't even get me started about the Key West chickens, they are as common as palm trees crowing every time someone turns a light on. So how alone was I exactly?
to be continued... Part 2

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To learn about meditation please read Meditation Mojo
Art for a cause.

That Was Then – This Is NOW

Your yesterdays are now behind you…so, what are you doing TODAY? Be honest with yourself. Are you constantly thinking of the way things "used to be," if so you are not alone.

Many people wish for things that are in the past. They long for loved ones no longer on earth; the strength of youth now slipping away; a skill or career they used to do; broken relationships – the list goes on. But how does all of this looking back help you with today? In truth – it doesn't.

We are beings filled with energy. We create thoughts. Our thoughts have a trail that lead to or away from us. When you think a thought, you give it energy. If you continue to look behind you and are feeling a constant unhappiness or wishing whatever you long for is still here, you are depleting your energy. As we weaken our energy it effects our Auras (an energy field that surrounds all living things.) A weakened Auric field can lead to illness and dis-ease. This problem is compounded as your diminished state leaves you feeling low and vulnerable. You are longing for things that are from your past, lowering your ability to ward off negative energies and your thoughts become even sadder. How can we get off of this dejected merry-go-round of yester-year?

A good way to start is to "ground" yourself. This helps you to focus on what is in the NOW.  What is grounding? It is the act of re-connecting to the earth from which you are a part. How can reconnecting with the planet help you move your mind away from the past? When we incorporate a daily practice of grounding, it restores our minds to focus on the present. It allows us to release the thoughts of the past and focus on the NOW. That draining connection that has been constant will eventually slow to a trickle and hopefully cease altogether. You will feel lighter, you will become more engaged in your TODAY.

How to ground: One of the best ways to ground is to simply go for a walk. Leave your digital devices behind and put your feet on the ground and start moving. Without headphones you will begin to hear nature's soundtrack. As you incorporate this into your routine, you may begin to notice the beauty that surrounds you. Nature paints her own tapestry and it's waiting for you. Whether you live in the tropics or the frozen tundras it makes no difference. Bundle up and step outside. If it's raining grab an umbrella. Just do it. Make this connection and get moving. This action will free up your mind and open your senses to the wonderful truth. Today is NOW. All of the things in the past are behind you – let them go. You are probably saying to yourself…that's all there is to it, can it really be that simple? Yes, try it. Use the same technique used in meditation, release all thought, breathe in and breath out and LET THEM GO. Poof!

Learn to move your mind away from negative thoughts that are draining your energy and free yourself. You can do this. When you hear people discussing negative things, move away. If the TV is spouting negativity– power it off. If your environment is adorned with photos that make you feel sad, put them away for now. In time you can bring them out and hopefully smile as you are able to see them in a new light.

It took me years to realize I was holding myself back by constantly wishing for things of yesterday. Take control of your NOW. Understand that thoughts are LIVING THINGS. You have the ability to guard your mind. Get outside and explore other avenues of grounding yourself, such as hugging a tree. Make the connection and LOVE YOURSELF more deeply. Today is what matters, tomorrow you can begin another day of NOW. Move forward in good health and encourage others to find their own methods of LETTING GO.

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To learn how you can meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day