End of Year Nostalgia and Rambling

These past few weeks I have been putting together everything I have learned about energy over the past 20 years. Energy is all we are, yet in our resistance to the natural flow we create obstacles, disruptions, irritations and find ourselves battling within. Though I have practiced and taught heart mind body integration for a few years, the clarity of it all has suddenly become ever more apparent.

You have heard me speak of emotions vs feelings, illness vs disease, allowing vs acceptance. All of the similarities and opposites come as a result of allowing natural flow according to who we are deep at the core of our being. The flip side is also true, these similarities and opposites occur when we resist our highest good, believing we know everything there is to know about who we truly are. Through meditation and a growing understanding of energy, meridians, neurovascular points, and in becoming clearer about the way energy flows through us or stagnates has created many aha moments.

The ending of a year always puts me into a state of nostalgia. What have I accomplished? What could I have done better? How will I use my time in the coming year to make improvements? Part of this questioning has led me to two wonderful teachers. All of a sudden, what I have studied, learned and practiced makes so much sense, in terms of healing, living, creating. It was always there. I could see each individual gift, but the package of it all eluded me. Isn't that true with every area of life? All we desire is right in front of us, but we need to clear energy, and stagnant beliefs in order to see the larger gift within each small moment of time.

Have you ever felt stuck, or believed that what was happening in your life was fate, or God's Will, yet at the same time deep within, knew it was time for you to shift?  Not wanting to interfere with Higher Power, you stay in acceptance, not unhappy, but perhaps feeling guilty for not stepping up for what you believe to be true for your life? Not sure guilt is the right word, it may be a sense of unworthiness. Whatever the underlying emotion, you stay the course, while wondering what is missing.....

Who would believe that a few simple exercises done in minutes a day could change your perceptions of the world, all while increasing your health? And I have to say, none of the energy stimulation done, requires muscle, brawn or sweat. It is not that any of this was new to me, it was just a matter of making a decision to actually take the 10 - 15 minutes to run the routine. Why is it even when we know something will enhance our lives immensely, we find so many excuses not to take the steps? With all I thought I knew about energy, I realize I have not been optimizing mine. So to begin again, clear my mind of what I believe to be true and allow even more truth to whisper in, and settle wherever energy has closed off my ability to see the infinite possibilities of life.

I can't wait to get this all put together in a deliverable package, to share with you. The New Year will welcome additional strength to the healing modalities I now offer, and I will be updating Chakra Classes, Meditation, and Color workshops. I am excited, not just for expanding my sense of wellness, but to be able to assist others in living their best life.

The greatest "aha" is knowing that in being true to ourselves, we do not need to manipulate energy, to have the health and happiness we long for. In our truth we become the catalyst for our greatest desires. Time slows down, energy lifts, pain disappears, to the extent we are willing to allow the natural flow of energy to propel us. When we stop resisting and begin allowing everything falls quietly into place.

When I wrote "Don't Change For Heaven's Sake", I had a sense releasing and getting back to the basics of clean living was important. It is the first step in the process. The practices done daily, with awareness will lead to alignment with your energy pattern. Now is the time to see where the pattern is being challenged, restricted, eluded, and make the shifts to enhance rather than discourage, what the body needs to help the mind and heart align with "All that Is".

Over the past year I have been writing a new book, asking each of us if we can take responsibility for our creation. Can we step up to our purpose in being alive at this time? Perhaps the questions have led me to these wonderful gentle answers. Writing has once again become easy. Life has more meaning and as I begin to feel the difference in me, I long to share it with the world. Being true to yourself is so much more than just being in acceptance of who you are, but to be aware of how you could allow yourself to be happier, healthier, more abundant, more loving, more forgiving.

Do you make it a practice to review the previous year and set goals for the coming year? Do you take time to write your experiences out, rambling through the good, bad and indifferent? Can you use what you have learned to this point, to create an even better year to come?

Now is the time of year to clear the past, set intentions for the future, and give thanks for what has been and will be. Not sure how to do that? I would love to help.

Many Blessings to All of You!

I felt compelled to share this short post with all of you today. I am asked so often how I keep going with a busy schedule, and endless weeks of continual work, clients and responsibilities. There are days when if I stop to think about it I feel like the "eveready bunny", so I stop thinking about it. Instead I start my day with the following intention:

"Today is the best day of my life. Please show me all the beauty and joy this day has to offer and allow me to love and prosper everyone I encounter as I go about the tasks that are set before me."

At the end of the day, I take note of what I have learned, experienced and shared and offer gratitude for all of it with this short prayer:

"Thank you for the best day of my life. Bless all who have helped to make this a day filled with love, joy, beauty and prosperity. Bless all those who have challenged or shown me parts of myself I needed to see. Thank you for allowing me to experience one more step on this wonderful adventure called life."

The wording is not always exactly the same, but the intention clearly puts me in the moment with no worry for tomorrow, and allows me to let go of any troubles of the day, knowing that all is as it should be. As I sort through the day, I make note of anything that stands out as unfinished business and make a mental note to clarify misunderstandings, mistakes, or errors in judgement as soon as the opportunity arises. With everything taken care of I can then enjoy a good night's sleep, in preparation for the beauty of tomorrow.

Create your own intentions or prayers and make them a part of your daily life. The results are beyond amazing. Feel free to use mine until the right wording for you shows up.

May Today Be The Best Day Of Your Life

What Are Your Plans for 2010

This is a repost from December 2007. Goal setting, planning and intention for success are all part of an ongoing process, that keeps our dreams alive. May 2010 be your best year ever.

Have you made your plans for the coming year? Set your goal? Now is the time.

Each year at this time I consider those ideas, and plans that I have not accomplished in the current year. I ask “Are they still valid? Do they belong on this years dream board? Why have I not moved towards completion of the undone projects? (Fear, disinterest, procrastination??) Do I need to rework the idea, or perhaps meditate on the faith I am putting into the project?”

As I mentioned in previous posts it is important at this time of year, especially, to begin clearing clutter from your physical space, as well as your mental and emotional space. Well now is also the time to clear the clutter on your to do lists, your goal cards, and dream boards. Take the goals, dreams and wishes that are no longer valid (carefully consider what you are ready to let go) and erase them from the picture. That leaves room to really focus on the ideas that are important to you.

If you have never set goals on paper or created visual aids to track your progress and give your mind some visual stimulation, today is the day to begin. Goals left only in the thought process are merely dreams.

Goal setting is not a 10 minute process, like a New Year’s Resolution. Really choosing how you want to create your life takes time, thought and feeling. Before you write down “I want” or I will” take some time to consider how you want to feel, how your desires will benefit others, why you want to accomplish certain things. Are these accompishments true desires or are they “I know I shoulds”? Shoulds seldom work out very well. In order to create the life you choose to live, the goals must come from your heart, not your head.

Here is a suggestion for those who have never formally put a goal and action plan in place:
Begin by finding quiet space where you will not be disturbed for an hour or so. Grab a pen and paper. Take a few moments to quiet your mind, then allow your thoughts to tune into what you want from life (notice I did not say what I want in life), and what you want to give to life.
Begin to write out the thoughts and ideas as they come. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling or any other writing skills at this time - just write what is pouring out of your thoughts and your heart - feelings, things, work, family, relationships, health.

How do you want to be feeling? Is there a health issue you want to improve? Are there actions you want to take? Do you have a special talent you are ready to share with the world or want to prepare to share? Want material possessions would you like to have? How much money would you like to earn? Is it time to focus on family and friends - to have better relationships? Are you thinking of taking a fabulous vacation?

Write, Write, Write. When you have exhausted the supply of ideas, take the paper and tuck it away for 24 hours.

The following day, find that same quiet place, bring a fresh sheet of paper, and perhaps a nice cup of tea. I like to have at least 3 marker colors or crayons on hand. Get really comfortable and read your previous days wish list. As you read through highlight or circle those that really stand out. I circle the ones that create passion within me in red, the ones that give a feeling of abundance in green, and those that I think “why did I write that?” in blue. There may me things on the list that leave you feeling indifferent. Those I leave alone. They are probably not worth considering further. But keep this paper - there is a reason you wrote them down and you may want to come back to it in the future.

Begin a list of the those circled in red, then a list of the green, then blue. Split the page down the middle so the ideas are on the left and you have room to comment on the right.

Take another look at the list and if anything stands out for you on the lists make a note. You may have ideas to start formulating a plan, questions about why you would deserve this is your life, feelings of fear that you cannot accomplish a certain idea, how this idea will benefit others, someone who can help with your project…. Make these notes in the left column. Then put the list away for at least another 24 hours.

Come back to your list (allow at least another hour) Take another look at it, and consider time frames for accomplishment - are these short term goals, or long term goals? Do some of the ideas fit together to create a bigger picture. Take the feeling items and place them with the accomplishment items. Do some of your travel plans work in with work goals?

Beside each item place an S beside the short term goals (things you want or want to accomplish within a few weeks or a couple of months) and M beside those that you would like to see come about within the next 6 - 8 months and an L beside those you want to see within 9 months to 2 years. At this point don’t put specific dates, you are still in the thought process - brainstorming with yourself.

When doubts arise or thoughts of what others will think, stop yourself and set the number one goal “I am now ready to live a life that is satisfying and joyous, for the highest good of all, and I am grateful for the manifestation of my desires” As long as your goals do not beat another down, or hurt anyone else, don’t worry about how selfish someone might think you are, or how impossible others might see your dreams. This is your plan - not theirs. You may choose to only speak of these goals with supportive, like minded people. (In fact I recommend it)

If you have been lucky enough to plan to spend an entire day working with your goals, then carry on at this point. For those who can only spend an hour or so, put your paper away for now and come back to it tommorow. Don’t leave it longer than that or you will just let it go. Commit to creating your story, writing your life plan for the coming year(s)

Now is the time to take the short term goals - create dates for completion or fruition, make action notes and statements for projects and write affirmations that support each of these goals. Affirmations show the gratitude for having that goal manifested in your life now. They are stated in present terms. Example: I am so happy and grateful now that I am living in a beautiful and appropriate home, that suits my lifestyle and family.”

Continue to do the same for each of your midterm and long term goals.

Once this is complete, begin your wish board (dream board/vision board). Look through magazines, online, newspapers, etc. to find pictures, phrases, articles, travel plans, house plans, vehicles……… - anything that is on your list and paste them onto the board. Place the board where you can see it on a daily basis. This part is important. In the past I used to hide my wish board so that others wouldn’t see it. Alas, it did nothing to further my success. I realize that I was hiding my dreams, embarrassed at what others might think of me. The Universe cannot easily give you things when you don’t feel worthy to receive.

I could continue and write a book on this subject and there are good books available. So to shorten things up from this point read and affirm your goals daily. Make notes as ideas come up that will help you take action or put you in the right place to receive, give your doubts to the Universe and keep your eye on the present moment (not on the end result) and most of all be grateful for all that is coming into your life and all that is in your life right now.

I do take this one step further and write a story about my life for the coming year. It begins “At this time ………….” and ends with ” and we all live happily everafter, with new ideas, love, peace and joy.” If you like to write, try it. It’s interesting to read as you begin to clear and create next year.

One last note - goal setting does not have to wait until December or happen only once a year. Once you begin the process, you will find yourself updating and adding to your list on a regular basis and that is the way it works best.

Best Wishes and Blessings on your Journey.
Julie