We all face challenges and anxieties at times, reacting with anything from denial to obsession. By taking steps to reduce stress from day-to-day situations, we can gain the strength and clarity needed to navigate through more difficult challenges. Despite current circumstances, with practice we can initiate a shift within ourselves to prevent excess stress from harming our health. By adopting simple practices we can become more aware of the beliefs causing the stress, shift our attitudes and beliefs, and reduce energy depletion.  We can begin to think more clearly and possibly seek help for ourselves and our families. During high stress, it can be hard to accept helpful advice. Remember, you're not alone, and asking for help is okay. Sharing feelings doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. Challenge the beliefs that might be causing stress, and realize they are just concepts, not truths. Reflect on where these beliefs originated, often from childhood, and recognize that they may not be true. Learning how to discern what ‘s innately true for you only takes practice, practice with noticing your thoughts and being present.  The “bad” feelings are a huge clue.  Those feelings are indications that the thoughts and beliefs are not a match with the energy of Love and Light that you are. You can change your thoughts and beliefs and come home to your true Self, the place of wisdom, strength and security. Do this now:  Notice your breath.  Imagine your breath is passing in and out through your heart /chest area. Envision yourself taking a time out to refuel and recharge by breathing in an attitude of calm and balance. Generate a true feeling of calm and balance, appreciation or compassion. Do this simple practice as often during the day as you can when you’re alone in a quiet place, or even when you are walking or jogging. As you become more familiar with it, you can do this even when you are having a conversation with someone.

“Resistance is futile” is a quote I heard many years ago, reported to have first been quoted by Dr. Who in 1976, but who knows? 😊   “In life, we often resist the very existence we are meant to embrace.” I found this statement as I was searching the web for information about resistance.   It really hits home for me. I have been exploring energy work for several decades, a path I was led to for my own healing. I found energy healing fascinating and it made so much sense to me. It was sort of a self-recognition.   I can see how what I’ve learned and experienced has gradually brought me to now, where I feel a stronger connection to a deeper existence of my true, authentic Self.   I still sometimes experience resistance and I know many others do too, a lot has been written about it. I wonder why we resist being our true Self.   After much thought and research over the years, I've realized that we are inherently wired for resistance.  We are electric beings and, as such, resistance is necessary. (Think about the electrical power of a lightening bolt!). This is a fundamental truth that we don't often acknowledge in our daily lives.   Electrical resistance opposes the flow of electric current in a circuit, and similarly, our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions act as resistance in our energy bodies. When energy (or electric current) doesn't flow properly, we feel stuck, blocked, stressed, and wonder what's wrong with us.   Learning to manage and reduce resistance is a natural part of our growth. It involves changing our thought patterns and beliefs.   When we practice reducing resistance, we notice that ease replaces stress. We become open to infinite possibilities, deeper connections, and clearer decision-making. This openness allows us to better understand guidance from the Universe, leading us toward our true, authentic Self, a being of Love and Light.   Take a moment right now to quiet your mind and take a few deep breaths. Focus on the area around your heart and feel the connection with your heart.   Notice any tension in your body and release it, allowing yourself to feel as if you’re melting into whatever you’re sitting on. Ask your thoughts to be still and quiet, focus on your breath.   Feel, sense or see your Inner Light. Breathe and feel the Light flowing through you.   Appreciate yourself .

We all from time to time have feelings of not being good enough, which can mean different things to different people. These feelings are nudges to direct us to connect with our own Inner Greatness.   If I feel I’m not getting what I need from “out there,” it’s because I’m not getting it from myself. If I don’t feel appreciated, I realize I'm not appreciating myself. If I don’t feel loved or cared about, I realize I’m not loving or caring about myself, or giving care to myself.  If I feel I can’t connect with others in a way I would like to, I’m not connecting with myself in a loving and nurturing way.    It’s nice to hear from other people how much I’m loved or cared about, but until and unless I feel that deep within myself, for myself, it just isn’t fulfilling enough to last.   Notice how you are feeling right now. Focus on your heart/chest area. Put your hand on your chest and notice how your hand feels to your chest. Take a moment to feel that. Now notice how your chest feels to your hand. Take a moment to feel that.    Focus your breath in your heart/chest area. Breathe in and out as if through that area. Do that for a few moments. Now evoke a feeling of deep care or appreciation – for anything. Maybe a pet or a sunrise. It’s the feeling that matters. Continue that for a few moments. Radiate that feeling of care/appreciation out to your immediate surroundings, then to your neighborhood, to your city, state, country, and the planet.   Now radiate that feeling of deep care and appreciation back to yourself.  Appreciate your body down to all of your cells, working tirelessly to keep you balanced.   This is a good first step to remember to love yourself – from your heart to your heart, sincerely.

I believe we are always seeking guidance/direction to some degree or another whether we realize it or not. We’re also always receiving guidance whether we realize it or not.  There are times when I feel perfectly aligned with my purpose, confident and clear about my direction. However, there are also moments when I feel disconnected from my own inner guidance, as if I have abandoned myself. During these periods of feeling disconnected, I am overwhelmed by lower vibrational emotions such as anger, frustration, and hopelessness, which makes it difficult to feel the connection with the positive guidance of my heart and soul. These challenging emotional states, while uncomfortable, are not inherently negative. They serve as indicators that something within needs attention and recalibration. Over the years, I have learned from various mentors how to recognize and elevate these emotions. Understanding that these feelings are temporary and part of a larger cycle helps me to navigate them more effectively, reminding me that there is always a path to higher emotional ground, even if I can’t feel it yet. Dr. Joe Dispenza describes our emotional cycles as a feedback loop where our thoughts generate feelings, which in turn, our thoughts. Recognizing this cycle offers a powerful opportunity to intervene. By identifying when I am caught in this loop, simply acknowledging its presence can help. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes not. So, I’ve acquired many tools for those occasions of despair.  As a seasoned practitioner of energy healing and a HeartMath Coach, I consult my heart for guidance when I feel overwhelmed or uncertain. This practice of tapping into the heart's energy has refined my ability to discern and shift from lower to higher vibrational emotions. Practice, it does take practice to train our thought habits and our nervous system. The solutions may vary, but the source remains constant: my heart, the home of my soul, which steadfastly guides me towards realizing the powerful being that I am, as we all are.

There are many paths to self-realization and transformation. One of the practices I discovered early on as I was searching for a path for more peace and connection, was the concept of “change your thoughts, change your life.” It came to me through a book of that name by Wayne Dyer, whose philosophies I treasured. And it made sense to me as I heard notions such as “we create our own reality.” It took me a while to get what that meant, but I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I discovered this is a concept being taught through countless books, discussions, and personal experiences, reaffirming it is a tried and true method of transformation. As we challenge limiting beliefs, reframe perspectives, and acknowledge the limitless potential within us, we grow towards a more authentic existence. By recognizing the power of our thoughts and consciously directing them towards alignment to peace, we cultivate a path to profound personal growth. Embrace this journey of transformation, for within it lies the key to unlocking your fullest innate potential. I’d love to show you how I can help you can transform stress to peace, Schedule a chat soon.   If you haven't had a chance to try the 2-minute morning meditation from last week’s email,  I encourage you to take a few moments today to explore this simple yet powerful practice. (Link here)  it's can be a quick, versatile tool that can be done any moment of your day, fostering a sense of calm and centeredness whenever you need it most.