Thoughtful Tuesdays: The Future Is Not What It Used to Be

Change. Notice if  that word stirred up any emotions for you? Were they pleasant feelings or uncomfortable ones? I know for me that word brings up more uncomfortable feelings than the ones I enjoy. I'm learning to embrace this word though as I focus on the opportunities 'change'  can bring. My future sure is not what it used to be even a few weeks ago. As I sit here in the 'in between' - or as my wise and inspirational friend, Dominique, would call 'the unknown' -I struggle knowing that there is only so much I can do at this point and the rest relies on my trust in the universe. For me, I am aware I need to live one day at a time, one moment at a time. Focusing on the power of my thoughts and how they can help navigate my day. There was a time when I had none of these skills at all. Where I had no trust in the process of change. I was unable to see the opportunities because I was so consumed in the fear of it. Like all of these skills offered through Douglas Bloch's book, it takes time, practice, and a lot of patience with one's self to be able to experience the good these skills can bring into your life. Are you ready to learn some new skills, pull out the welcome mat and invite 'change' with open arms? Are you willing to see where the wind blows you next?

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

The Future Is Not What It Used to Be

With the pace of change continuing to accelerate, the future is not what it used to be. From one moment to the next, no one can be certain of anything. Your job, your marriage, your relationship to your children - none of these will be the same next year, next month, or even next week. 


How does one survive this changing landscape? First, by being flexible and adaptable - ready to change course at any moment. Be prepared to "roll with the punches" and release your old attachments or current expectations. 


Second, practice living one day at a time. Realize that the only thing you can really affect is how you feel this instant.  By focusing on the present moment,  you can continue to experience peace and joy - no matter how the outer circumstances may change.


Finally, know that the removal of the old securities opens the way to new opportunities. Human consciousness is moving to ever higher levels of awareness. How much easier is the journey is when we flow with the process of change. 

Affirmations

1. I welcome all change into my life.
2. I am able to adapt to any situation I encounter.
3. I am given just what I need for optimal learning experience.
4. No matter what life deals me, I always have the winning hand.
5. Spirit guides and directs my path each step of the way.
6. Your Own ________________.

Thoughtful Tuesdays: The Strength to Overcome

 I really enjoyed reading today's excerpt from Douglas Bloch's book Listening To Your Inner Voice. It was a well timed reminder for something I need to keep fresh in mind presently in my life. I'm sure I have shared this with you before but I will share it once more. Someone who I respect greatly in my life once told me to 'change the focus' when presented with a problem. If I only look at the situation from one angle, I could miss an opportunity to see a larger picture and to recognize room for personal growth. For the last several months since being given this advice, I have held it close to my heart. It has helped me in keeping a wise mind during moments of 'crisis'. It really helps. Lately it seems I have forgotten just how powerful it is. Thank you to Bloch for the reminder. Hope you find it just as useful!

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

*Feel free to change the word 'God' to fit your belief system. I directly quoted Bloch's work.

The Strength to Overcome

Life is a process of meeting and solving problems. Solving problems is a way that we test and develop our spiritual muscle. Think of outstanding people such as Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Ghandi, and Helen Keller. Lincoln faced the problem of a divided country; Ghandi, an oppressed India; Keller, her personal handicaps. In rising to meet their challenges, these individuals expressed the qualities of vision, courage, fortitude, and compassion. They became great not in spite, but because of their problems.


Problems often come to us in the form of crisis. The Chinese glyph for the word crisis contains two symbols: one means danger and the other opportunity. When an obstacle is before you, use it to create a beneficial result. As with Lincoln, Ghandi, and Keller, let your problems bring out your greatness. 

Rather than pray for a life that is problem-free, ask for one that is solution-full. Instead of requesting that God remove the mountain before you, seek the strength to climb it. Remember that the best students always get the toughest problems. Love the problems you have, and their priceless gifts will be yours. 

Affirmations

1. My problems strengthen and bring out the best in me.

2. I face my problems courageously.

3. I uncover new challenges in my life.

4. I uncover hidden blessings in difficult circumstances.

5. When a crisis arises, I acknowledge the danger but embrace the opportunity.

6. You Own _____________.

Got Milk?

A few days ago, during my adventures on the internet, I stumbled across this picture. (To read what this image says click here)

  

This lead to some serious thinking and sparked the idea it was time to make a change in my dairy intake. Lots of people drink almond milk. Even my partner - who believe me surprised the socks right off me when I discovered he liked it - enjoys a big glass of this kind of milk. The more I thought about making the switch, the better I began to feel about myself. I'll be doing a good thing for the mama cows, the baby boy cows, the earth, and for myself. Pretty good reasons to switch hey? Not to mention the price. I could get used to this. I had made my decision, it was an easy one. Goodbye cow milk, hello almond milk. So when we went on our last grocery shopping trip, we went all out and picked up a carton of vanilla and chocolate almond milk. I was feeling pretty good about myself, I'm not going to lie. Here I am standing in what may very well be the only aisle with real food, not food like products, making a choice to add this to my new ways of a healthier life style. High five to me! Awesome. 

Not so much. 

We get home and put away the groceries. I had been craving chocolate milk for hours now and was very much looking forward to pouring a glass of my new healthy milk. Without a second thought I took the biggest gulp ...and....it was terrible. Yucky. What had I done? I could have bought my regular chocolate milk and enjoy the cool refreshing and yummy taste. Instead I just swallowed some form of watered down chalk water coloured brown. My partner just roared laughing at me. "What did you expect?" he asked. I guess I really didn't know what I expected, but it sure wasn't that. Once I got over the disappointment I found it to be pretty funny. So that folks is my story on how I tried to save the cows by drinking almond milk. While my heart was in the right place, my taste buds sure weren't.  So for now at least, I'll be sticking to my usual Scotsburn products until I feel adventurous again. 

You Can't Heal What You Can't Feel

I have been on a journey of healing for over 11 years now. In 2009 I began to take my healing process far more seriously in hopes that one day I could finally liberate myself from my painful past and the baggage I had been dragging around with me. It was evident that my old ways of thinking, and behaving were no longer helpful. It was what I was taught, grew up with - it was all that I knew and it wasn't healthy for me.  I opened my heart, mind, and soul to new ways of thinking and behaving. Even if at first I thought it was the most foolish thing I heard of and had no idea how it could help. Turns out these suggestions, methods of healing, and advice were the furthest thing from foolish and played key roles in helping me move toward the healthier life I wanted to create for myself. Feelings used to scare me on a level that I'm not even sure how to explain. They would wash over me unexpectedly  and I had no idea how to get through. So I decided to learn. Never in my life have I been more honest with myself and the rewards of doing so are showing up in my daily life. I have learned that feelings serve a purpose. I am learning how to listen to and validate these feelings The more we explore these emotions, get to understand how they help us, or hinder us in some circumstances, we can learn how to work with them together as a team. This creates opportunity for us to grow and learn from our experiences while staying in tune with our body in a healthy manner. I hope you find today's excerpt from Bloch to be a helpful one.

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

You Can't Heal What You Can't Feel

 

You are like a diamond that is continuously being polished and perfected. As this purification proceeds, old thoughts and negative patterns rise to the surface to be released. Past unfinished business must be completed. Old traumas that have been stored in the body as to be discharged. 

This is not a bad thing - far from it. The fact that painful events are being re-experienced is a sign that healing is taking place. Although you may feel tempted to run from these feelings, let yourself experience them. As you allow yourself to feel the pain, the pain diminishes and eventually disappears. 

Spirit is always helping you to release what you no longer need. Let go of the resistance and surrender to the process. Complete the past and move on. Once you have done the work, you will never have to repeat it. How good it feels to be free!

Affirmations

1. I feel my feelings.
2. I move towards my feelings, knowing they are my friends.
3. Better the pain than to remain the same.
4. Experiencing the truth of my past liberates me from it's influence.
5. I emerge from my ordeal healed and transformed.
6. Your Own _____________ 

Thoughtful Tuesdays: Moving Through Loss

In all honesty I wanted to avoid posting today's blog due to the weight it carries. I am observing with curiosity as I feel how this reading translates into my mind, body, and soul. It is a topic I tend to shy away from as a result of the overwhelming emotions that come with it. I have experienced many losses in my life and only recently have I learned that when I do embrace the loss with a balance of sadness and joy, the pain becomes more manageable (that doesn't mean it's easy to do, and it takes a lot of willingness to do this).  In all honesty it started with a quote from the incredibly talented Dr. Seuss, "“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." I was entering a transition in my life where I had to let go of so much to move forward. While I left a lot behind me, I was able to take the memories, the experiences, and the lessons learned with me. It helped me move forward. Now I have gained more tools to help the experience of moving through loss. While the pain remains just as raw and strong, I know that through my actions I can impact the experience in a more positive manner and move through. I know I'll be ok.

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

 Moving Through Loss

The nature of the material world is impermanence.  Everything that begins in time will end in time. Nothing lasts forever. To this extent, we all experience loss. 

But the pain of loss does not have to create  long-term suffering. If we embrace the pain and feel our grief, a remarkable thing happens - the pain gradually recedes. This is what is meant by the saying, "The only way out of the pain is to embrace the pain."  It is when we attempt to avoid the pain that suffering arises. 

Another approach to loss is to appreciate the joy that you gained from that which is now gone - whether it is a person, an animal, or a phase of life that just ended. As a child who lost his cat remarked, "I miss my kitty. I'm glad I had him though. I'm glad he had the chance to live here and be my friend."

Finally, realize that the essence of a material form, which is love, never dies. In this sense, there is no such thing as loss. This is why Christ left his disciples with his words, "I am with you always, even into the end of the world." In our lives as well, whatever we have loved can never leave us. 

Affirmations

1. I allow myself to feel my feelings.

2. As I embrace my pain and sadness, I begin to feel better.

3. Although I grieve for what I lost, I know that a greater good will follow.

4. I am grateful that I had had the chance to love.

5. That which I love is always with me.

6. Your Own ________________

Thoughtful Tuesdays : Letting Go

I really enjoyed today's read from Listening To Your Inner Voice.  I've been trying to practice this for years now. Sometimes it can be easier to hold on to parts of the past with resentment and disappointment, making it more tempting to stay dwelling in something that you are unable to change instead of focusing on what you can do to move forward. I am aware of the peace of mind, and happiness that is brought into my life when I do let go of such things, and  yet it can still be hard to do so. Hard for my sense of pride, or trying to justify 'well it's the  principle of the matter' when really I am only punishing myself by staying stuck. So today and the days to come, I will dedicate myself more to the process of letting go. Releasing the heavy burden on my soul and heart so I can continue on this path of inner peace. I hope you too can find a way to implement today's excerpt into your life.

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

Letting Go

According to a Japanese legend, two monks were walking down the road when they saw a finely dressed young woman standing before a large mud puddle. She explained hat she had no way of crossing the water without ruining her clothes. Without saying a word, the first monk picked her up in his arms and lifted her safely across the obstacle. 


A few hours later the second monk said in an accusatory tone, "How could you have picked up that lady? Don't you know that the rules strictly forbid us to touch a member of the opposite sex?" His friend smiled and then replied, "I put the woman down back at the puddle, are you still carrying her?"


Like the second monk, many of us are still carrying old hurts, resentments, and lost opportunities that we picked up many mud puddles ago. As long as we remain stuck in the past, we cannot fully hear the inner voice which speaks to us in the present. Thus, in order to tap into our intuition, we need to release and heal our unfinished business. 


By following the example of the first monk, we can put the past down and walk on. See your past experiences as teachings that have guided you to this present moment. An endless array of opportunities and possibilities lie before you. Immerse yourself in this good, and the old hurts will have no place left to make their home. 

Affirmations

1. I release the pain of my disappointed expectations.
2. I let go of the old and make way for the new.
3. As I free myself from the past, my energy becomes available for the present.
4. The purpose and meaning of my past experiences are now revealed to me.
5. I make peace with my past.
6. Your Own __________________

A Weekend of Celebrations

This long weekend was filled with laughter, sunshine, and adventures here in my world. From oodles of hang outs with our nephew to meeting new friends in unexpected ways, we were in fabulous company from start to finish.

Saturday I met up with my friend Stef and her mom. Stef's mom was visiting from Ontario and I've been waiting a long time to meet this wonderful soul. We packed a picnic and spent a few hours at the Bird Sanctuary hanging out with the woodland creatures. It was lovely being in the company of two strong and incredible women for a few hours.  When I arrived home I was greeted by my two favorite boys in the window waving. We spent the rest of the day playing and being silly.

After a lazy Sunday morning I made french toast for brunch and then headed off to the beach for a few hours before we picked up our nephew for more adventures.With the windows down and the music playing, we took a scenic route and enjoyed the sunny summer drive. Once we arrived at the cabin we headed straight for the ocean. The water was a little cool, but on a hot summer day it was deliciously refreshing. I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had swimming. After a nice splash in the ocean we headed back to the cabin where we dried off playing washer toss - where I totally kicked Craig's butt winning two games in a row shhh..lol. As we were playing, Craig's cousin showed up, he was staying at the cabin for the weekend. He invited us to stay out so we headed back our nephew and then back to the cabin for a night of campfires, s'mores, great company, and fireworks. Considering we had no plans when we woke up in the morning, it turned out to be an awesome day of celebrating Canada Day.

Now it's time to tend to these mosquito bites, kick back and play some video games before the week starts up. It's going to be a great one! Hope you all had a safe and fun long weekend!