Self Approval

“Our self-images define our own boundaries, limiting us to the narrow ideas of who we believe ourselves to be.”
~Ezra Bayda~

If you’ve ever spent time with someone who criticized your every move, always found fault with your choices or nit-picked the decisions you’ve made, you’d likely consider that person to be toxic, and would probably limit your interactions.

Yet, the unkindness perpetrated by others often pales in comparison to the dialogue of our inner critic. Many people place impossible demands upon themselves and carry the mental weight of perceived mistakes, lost opportunities, guilt or shame.

Should you observe negative self-talk, stop and change the momentum of your thoughts. Affirmations, gratitude and self-love can shift the energy into a more productive direction. Instead of demanding that you be perfect, seek to transform your experience through conscious acceptance. Don’t hate your way to change. Let love open you to the transformative energy that is all around you.

Ultimately, since the world is our reflection, we can actively practice kindness on every level: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. As your self-love increases, you’ll notice that you complain less. Acceptance, compassion, balance and harmony are the by-products of of a person who is at ease in the present moment.

Consciousness

“My new world is a reflection of my new thinking. It is a joy and a delight to plant new seeds, for I know these seeds will become my new experiences. All is well in my world.”  

~Louise Hay~

Most people do not experience a flash of insight that immediately shifts their consciousness to a permanent level of enlightenment. Rather, we experience awakening as a slow, progressive journey inward that, layer by layer, releases all that blocks us from seeing our inner sacredness and potential.

The cumulative effects of consistent practice are reflected in our life experiences. Initially, when attention is focused on healing a particular issue, things get more challenging. Life will bring the dysfunction to the surface so that we cannot miss seeing it. From there, we can utilize our tools and begin to break free from our perceived limitation.

Honor your path as sacred. Whatever arises is exactly what you require in order awaken. Trust the process. Know that you are loved, guided and protected each and every step of the way. Act with integrity, do your best, accept what is… You are contributing to the awakening collective consciousness of us all.

Cycles of Experience

“I feel safe in the rhythm and flow of my ever-changing life.”
~Louise Hay~

It’s empowering to discover your personal cycles and live in alignment with the energy of your unique experience. Simply add together the year of your last birthday (for example 2+0+2+3=7) and add that base number to the date and month of your birthday. That will tell you the basic energetic vibration in play until your next birthday. There are other nuances that add depth and meaning, but this is a good place to begin.
1 – new beginnings, leadership, creativity
2 – receptivity, peacemaking, gentleness
3 – going with the flow, expression, friendship
4 – stability, security, defining one’s boundaries
5 – freedom,change, movement and adventure
6 – love, family, home, harmony, compassion
7 – spiritual wisdom, solitude, seeking answers
8 – money, strength, building, power
9 – endings, completion, tolerance, service
For instance, if you determine you are in a 9 personal year, you’ll know that your soul seeks to experience endings and closures. With this in mind, you may choose not to begin any new ventures and instead, focus upon releasing things that no longer serve your growth in preparation for the next cycle. This is a very simple and conscious way of living aligned with the flow of your personal experience.

Transforming Stress

It’s important to listen to the messages of the body. Periodically, still the mind and go inward. Really tune in and notice if you are holding stress in a particular area, clenching the jaw or holding your breath. If so, close your eyes and breathe deeply and rhythmically. Place your focus on the flow and just be.

Now that you’ve identified that stress is present, turn your attention to any scripts that are playing in the mind and observe your surroundings. What is causing you to tighten up? If it’s in your power to change the atmosphere, do so and see how your body responds. You may discover that certain people, music or actions are pulling your energy out of balance.

If nothing can be physically changed, you can either remove yourself or move into acceptance. The present moment is your gateway to transformation. Utilize stressful situations as an opportunity to cultivate your awareness. Observation and conscious presence are sometimes  enough to reduce the stress. Remind yourself, “This, too, shall pass.”

Another powerful tool is purposeful movement. Walk, shake it off, use EFT, work out or dance. Rather than holding the energy, find a healthy way to release it. You are far more powerful than you realize.

The Now

“When I find harmony and balance in my mind, I find it in my life.”
~Louise Hay~

When you immerse yourself within the Now, experiences take on a sacred quality. Your soul is always in the process of awakening and will naturally draw in the perfect situations and circumstances to fulfill its purpose. Are you able to view those who oppose you as your healing angels? Their job is to aid you on this journey by pushing you into greater awareness.

There are many wonders waiting to be discovered. The facets of your unique expression of the Divine sparkle by reflecting the light around you. Remember to be patient and gentle with yourself and allow the joy of the journey to be your guide.

The mental patterns and frustration of the human condition are nothing more than outmoded conditioning. The spiritual seeker breaks free from societal imprinting and chooses to live at a higher level of consciousness.

Loving yourself creates miracles in your life. Self-criticism has absolutely no value. When deeply rooted in the present moment, positive self-talk is extraordinarily powerful. Your thoughts dictate the energy you send out into the world. Create experiences that amplify connection, compassion and breakthrough.

Abundance and Fulfillment

“What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. If gardening brings us alive, that is our path, if it is music, if it is conversation… we must follow what brings us alive.” 
~ David Steindl-Rast~
Look beyond challenges to the beauty that fills your life experience. The present moment provides an opportunity to awaken in a way that allows you to give rather than being propelled by desire. The awakened heart sees through the eyes of love and gratitude with the realization that abundance is a state of mind.
Spiritual abundance and fulfillment have greater depth than simple prosperity or obtaining a particular financial goal. Things, by their very nature, bring limitation and the worry of “what ifs?” that can destroy one’s sense of well-being. One who is truly abundant is already complete. Outer expressions of prosperity can ebb and flow; however, the heart that is fulfilled is untroubled and lives in a state of grace.
Celebrate existence! Embrace the joys and beauty that life has to offer. See yourself as an expression of the divine, step into service and discover the love that resides at the core of everything. Then, your walk will become flowing and harmonious.

Self Acceptance

“You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
~Louise Hay~
You have always done the best that you can… and the same is true for all of those around you. Suffering occurs when we are unhappy with our own choices and behavior. When one begins to second-guess past decisions, all the vital life force energy begins to drain out of the present moment.
You have always done the best that you can. Based upon your life-path, soul age, imprinting, experience and interpretation of the world around you, you responded in the way you thought best at the time. Awareness creates space in which transformation can occur and every situation has something to teach. Is it any wonder that you have greater knowledge after the fact? You are absolutely on the right path and your perception should grow and change as you awaken.
The art of self-forgiveness allows you to release the past. Transformation can only occur when we put down the burdens of the heart. Should past situations repeat, notice any new responses that you have. Be a loving witness of your own evolution and let the gentle movement of awareness expand.

Live in Your Magnificence

“I now choose to recognize the magnificence of my being.”
~Louise Hay~

Spiritual awakening is not like flicking on a light switch. It is a consistent process of candid self-observation, the ability to address each challenge and trigger as it arises while practicing new ways to bring the best version of yourself to each situation you encounter.

Over time we explore uncharted facets of ourselves and cultivate qualities that bring peace into our lives. One by one, we drop the limiting patterns and beliefs that cause frustration. Give yourself credit for how far you have come. When you miss the mark, forgive yourself for being human. Awakening is not about expectations of perfection or “Buddah-hood.” It is the slow, transformative process of freedom.

We teach by living our truth. Conscious actions leave a lasting imprint. Each step of the way we have an opportunity to walk our talk and speak our truth with integrity and the results can be incredibly transformative. As the soul awakens, we learn to recognize the magnificence of being. Consciousness expands by honoring the space in which life is experienced. Just be. Be the loving observer. Be the one whose only desire is to be kind. Scatter seeds of joy throughout every interaction and see what you can learn.

Be a Conscious Creator

“In the infinity of life where I am,
All is perfect, whole and complete,
I no longer choose to believe in old limitations and lack, I now choose to begin to see myself
As the Universe sees me — perfect, whole, and complete.”
~Louise Hay~

When envisioning change in your life, begin by clearly defining the desired end result. Then take steps to get there – it doesn’t matter if they’re baby steps or leaps of faith – consistently moving forward in the direction of your dreams. By opening every avenue of energy that you can, you place yourself in a position to receive assistance and direction from the Divine.

All transformation is set in motion in the Now – future plays no part in the act of conscious creation. Set your intention now, take action now, be willing to receive now and most importantly, choose happiness and fulfillment Now.

When we consciously engage in the journey we draw the necessary support, inspiration and circumstances into our experience. It’s important to remain detached from how things unfold. Often, there are miracles that await or perhaps the original vision expands with wonderful surprises. It’s empowering to see what gets set in motion from that original defining thought. Let joy and inspiration be your guide.