It’s been an amazing opportunity in the past months to lead Authentic Relating practice groups. It brought me and many others to a new edge! We are close to wrapping up the series, but it’s not too late to join us. Our next gathering is Tuesday, October 4 at 6:30 pm. Stay tuned for more information on our next series— Nonviolent Communication. It’s highly related to Authentic Relating, but is so amazing that it deserves its own special focus! RSVP for October 4 here>>
Yesterday, I was on a hike with my dog and at the top of the mountain I heard the guidance: “Pause here, meditate, and do an intentional gratitude practice.” My Helping Spirits didn’t have to work too hard to convince me. It was a beautiful spot.
I also knew that I needed it. I’ve been feeling ‘off’ for the past week. I went on a wonderful family vacation to the east coast, but got Covid at the end of the trip. So instead of coming home recharged and ready to get back to work, I had to cancel in person activities and spend a lot of time on the couch.
My thoughts went down a dark path— “Why can’t I push through this and still be productive? … I just took a vacation and now I’m missing more work time! … I should be using this time to meditate but I really just want to watch Netflix and that probably means I’m a terrible Spiritual Counselor!!”
Oh boy. LOL.
I’m a 3 on the Enneagram. If you aren’t familiar with Enneagram, it means that emerging out of adolescence, I developed a strong internal structure that tells me I derive my self-worth from what I achieve in life. If I’m not doing something meaningful or productive— I’m not a lovable, valuable human being.
Of course, we know this isn’t true. Don’t we?!! We are all divine beings who are inherently worthy. We don’t have to do, be, or achieve anything. It took a ton of courage for each of us to incarnate on planet Earth and simply being here is enough. Completely.
It’s also a part of the human experience to forget this. Then, our mind focuses on all the ways that we don’t measure up— the aspects of ourselves we haven’t mastered or developed. It’s easy to get lost in this mental pattern. It can act as its own negative feedback loop if we aren’t mindful with our thoughts and emotions.
Enter Helping Spirits!!! :-)
I honestly don’t know what I would do without them. We have to open up our higher awareness to allow wiser energies (however you define them) to guide us back to balance.
Gratitude practices are an incredible way to raise our vibration. It shifts the mind from focusing on what isn’t here to what is here. Suddenly we realize we have many amazing parts of our life!
My Helping Spirits told me to find ten things to be grateful for. I literally counted them off on my fingers. This practice was akin to someone turning on a light bulb in my consciousness. Wow— things weren’t so bad after all! Things were pretty great overall, actually! Haha.
We all have this power. We all need reminders to utilize this power. I hope that today, this email can be your reminder. Pause now, take a breath, and count off a few reasons to feel grateful today. I’m willing to bet you’ll feel better after.
With appreciation for each of you,
Kelley