All Posts By

Sarah

Why Wishing is a Dangerous Practice and What to do Instead

May 8, 2017

Have you often wished for things to be different but the desired outcome has not come? Learn an alternative to wishing that WILL manifest your deisres!

Wishing is not Hoping

Ever since we were children, people have encouraged us to wish. For example, the phrase, “wishing upon a star,” has warped our minds into thinking wishing is the same as hoping, and vice versa. This my friend, is where most of the emotional and psychological danger happens.

I am all for going after your dreams and making the most of this precious life. I am even all for thinking positive about your life and the people in it. Most certainly, if we only think badly about situations and people, there really is no chance of it getting better.

However, what many don’t realize is that wishing (or what they may call “hoping”) can almost do just as much damage. Because in reality, it is actually a form of resistance. Let’s look at the actual synonyms for this word as an example: wanting, needing, desiring, coveting, requiring, craving, demanding, asking, etc. Nowhere on this list (provided by MS Word) is the option of hoping.

All of the words above indicate a sense of desperation. When there is a feeling of desperation present, you know resistance is right by its side.

ResistanceYour Worst Enemy

SO, what is resistance? Well, let’s take a look at its synonyms: conflict, confrontation, battle, struggle and the list goes on!

Resistance happens when we push against something instead of flowing with it. When we do NOT come from a place of acceptance and inspired action. But instead, come from a place of wanting, wishing, demanding, etc.

Here is a hypothetical scenario with two characters as an example. Person A, is a young child who is wishing that they will get lots of presents on their birthday. Persona B, is a mature adult who is hoping their birthday is a pleasant one, and is taking action to make this happen (i.e. ordering their own birthday cake, inviting people over they know who are reliable and giving these same people plenty of time to plan ahead).

Because the child, is only a child, they can’t really do much else but “wish.” But, as you become an adult, you can let go of the wishing and embrace the many different positive possibilities. You can take life into your own hands and create a great day.

And even if for some reason things don’t go as planned, you can choose to still have a good day. You can hope, but not get so attached that you ruin your day by being stuck in disappointment and resisting what IS. You can surrender to other possibilities.

For example, when no one shows up for your birthday and the amazing cake you ordered fell out of the car, you can choose to wallow in self-pity all day. OR, you can choose to do something like this: go to the dollar store, get some decorations, buy a cheap cake substitute (and know you don’t have to share *wink*), come home, sing yourself Happy Birthday, turn on some tunes and create your own dance party, eat cake for dinner, and watch some of your favourite movies without having any interruptions!

In the latter scenario, you are taking life into your own hands and choosing to have a good day, despite the present circumstances. You are choosing to be your own hero, instead of a victim!

One saying that does continue to be helpful is, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This is what people are actually talking about when they say this. Use your divine intelligence and love to transform every moment into an opportunity.

A Way to Make Lemonade

I am not saying that you do not have a right to your feelings and shouldn’t be disappointed. Of course, you can have your initial feelings, but don’t let yourself get stuck there! Here are some methods that I used recently to help me through a difficult situation:

  1. Called a person I trusted to discuss my feelings and be open to a different perspective.
  2. Meditated. As always, Oprah and Deepak had perfect timing when they recently launched another free 21-day meditation challenge. And guess what? This time it was on HOPE. Be sure to check out their latest here.
  3. Used EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) which is also known as “Tapping.” This allowed me to move past my anger and hurt and look for solutions. If you want a free guide on this method, be sure to check out this page.
  4. Wrote my heart out. First with raw feelings, allowing everything to come out with no judgement. Then, after an epiphanythis article! If you would like to learn more on how writing can help you heal and be happier, check out my free e-course here.

Have you often wished for things to be different but the desired outcome has not come? Learn an alternative to wishing that WILL manifest your deisres!

Another Danger of Wishing

As mentioned above, resistance is the main danger of wishing. However, there is another consequence I would like to discuss, that often has rippling effects of destruction.

Wishing, because it first occurs when we are a child, it can put us back at a place of being immature, naïve and more vulnerable emotionally. Even though children are great at getting what they want, usually it is at an expense of a power struggle and manipulation.

As parents, we know that sometimes, what may seem unfair is actually for the best. It is the parents’ job to set clear boundaries, so children grow up with integrity.

Even as adults, if we are aware, we can quickly identify who was spoiled, or who had more enlightened parents. For example, the person who lies and manipulates to get their way versus the kind and honest person that naturally gets what they want because they simply asked nicely. And even after not getting what they want, instead of holding a grudge or stomping their feet, they make lemonade.

Getting trapped in the mindset of your inner-child is not a healthy place to be. It can have consequences on all of your relationships. However, for healing it is necessary to have awareness of this and work through it privately. In the free writing course mentioned above, I walk you through this process, so you can start making more conscious and mature decisions, which inevitably will help you get what you want/need more often.

From Wishing to Hoping

Let’s get back to discussing the actual process of wishing. I don’t know about you but when I picture someone wishing, they are on their knees in a pleading position. However, when I think of the true meaning of hoping I see someone walking towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

Two things to take note about the hope image above are:

1) The person may be in darkness but they know there is light eventually.

2) They are taking action (walking) towards their desired result. They are taking responsibility and not expecting someone else to fix it for them.

The next time you are in a situation where you “wish” for it to be different, think of this image and what it symbolizes. Tell yourself the following, “I can choose to see light in this situation or at least see the light at the end, that is coming soon. Here, I will find peace. I also choose to listen to my higher self/spirit for guidance on what the next inspired action is. Then, I will listen and follow through.”

Coming from this place will give you the BEST chance of turning around a situation AND the best chance of it happening quickly!

Wishing is a desperation out of the ego. Usually our wishes are shallow, and are often unfulfilled. However, our true hopes and dreams are deep, come from a higher place, and are aligned with the universe. Therefore, are more likely to be manifested, when purposeful action is taken.

So, wish all you want, but you will not attain your most meaningful desires, until it is transformed into HOPE.

Besides the suggested tasks already mentioned, I encourage you to do the following, so you can start to have awareness if you are in a place of “wishing” or “hoping”. Make a WISH list and a HOPE listthen compare the two! You will start to see the difference and even delete many of your wishes, as you know they will naturally come forth once your hopes are realized. Or, better yet, you may realize that you don’t need to wish for these things at all, because your life can be gloriously fulfilling without them!

Be sure to share your results, in the comments belowI would love to hear thoughts! Also, if you are looking for more intuitive tools to help you achieve your deepest hopes and dreams, be sure to sign up to the newsletter. Or, if you opt-in for one of the free tools mentioned above, you will automatically be signed up to the newsletter. And of course, you have the choice to “opt-out” at any time, here or anywhere!

 

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3 Ways on How to Kick your Tough Emotions to the Curb

April 18, 2017

Feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Irritable? By using 3 of my favourite tools, say good-bye to tough emotions and finally find some peace!

And it begins… 

OMG, why is my husband so annoying?! Why is my kid so annoying? Why is the lady at the pool so annoying? Oh wait… maybe it’s not them that’s the problem. Crap. Here I go again…. 

One of the challenges of being a “sensi” is that because we are sensitive to our own emotions and others, things can often overwhelm us. This can also mean that on our bad days we can turn into a hot head due to an overload of irritating triggers – or, a basket-case, due to saddening triggers.  

One of my main struggles is taking things personally and needing things to be a certain way to help my anxiety and to feel safe. But I have learned that these are MY problems, not others’. People are doing the best they can, at their level of awareness. They can’t read your mind, or have the capability of knowing or even fulfilling your every need when you need them to. It’s a bummer, I know, but, we got to get it right for ourselves so we don’t cause our emotional storm to surge and drag others with us. 

The 3 Methods

So, you are probably wondering, “How the heck do we do that?” when our emotions are so strong and we feel they are so real? Well, there are actually many ways, but here are the 3 I used today, to get back to my happy place: 

  1. Breathed and breathed some more. I know, obvious right? I am sure you have heard this one but it is sooo true! However, this morning during my flustered and tired state I kicked it up a notch with yoga. Yoga is so awesome because it helps the mind focus on something other than your crazy thoughts. You can focus on your breath, a chant or how good that stretch feels! And you don’t have to be a “yogi” or an athletic person- you can benefit no matter who you are.
  2. Went beyond my comfort zone and had some water fun with my 1 year old. I know not everyone believes in astrology and quite frankly, not sure if I do either, ha! But, my daughter and I are water signs and being in water seems to help get our Zen back. Not to mention, doing something lighthearted and fun always allows a release of negative tension. Point is, get in touch with the elements (preferably outdoors) and have some fun!
  3. Got it all down on paper and became aware that these are just thoughts! Not me! After the above activities I didn’t feel burdened with emotions anymore BUT, my mind was still trying to suck me into a negative thought pattern. So, my cure for this was to write about it!  Remember, your true self is the awareness of your thoughts, not the thoughts themselves! Once you can detach from them, your ego lets go of its tight grip, because it is not identifying with the thoughts or issue anymore. This activity also helps when I go into “beating myself up” mode for the not-so-nice things I did or said in the heat of the moment. It allows for me to forgive myself quicker, release the negative charges, learn from my mistakes and be a more positive person the next time (and lessen “next times”).

Feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Irritable? By using 3 of my favourite tools, say good-bye to tough emotions and finally find some peace!

But what if I don’t have time for these long-ish methods? 

OK, I get that you may have a hectic schedule and therefore, don’t have the time to pause and do these tasks to get your emotions under control. However, you DO have the time. Even if you do a short version of these throughout the day it will help greatly. For instance, at work, use your breaks or bathroom breaks to really take those slow deep breaths. Or, go for a short walk on your lunch, or stand outside for a couple minutes and look up to the sky. To lighten up, draw a funny cartoon about the situation, or play some cards on your break: whatever you fancy that helps you feel like a fun-loving kid again. For the 3rd method, even if you can only find a crayon and a napkin, write down those feelings: point form if you have to! 

You Matter and…. 

Your emotional well-being matters! Not only for yourself, but for the people you love, don’t love and don’t even know! It is essential that you make it priority when you are seeking to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. 

If these methods don’t seem to be working for you, I have plenty more up my sleeve that will. Be sure to sign up to our newsletter for effective strategies to control, release and be free of those emotions! Also, feel free to let me know how you deal with emotional overload, in the comments below or shoot me an e-mail at sarah@riseaboveliving.com

An Unexpected Reason for Your Low Self-Esteem

April 10, 2017

Low self-esteem? Feel misunderstood? Discover why being introverted in an "outgoing" society could be your source of pain and how to deal with it!

Although this post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own.  Please see the Disclaimer page for more information.

The Struggle

Basically, most of my life I have suffered from low self-esteem. Today it is much better but there still are bad days where I think I am scum of the earth. In fact, I think even the most confident people can have these “bad” days.  

There were many reasons I could say why I had/have low self-esteem, such as; having been teased a lot for having red hair, being a younger sibling to 4 older ones, my weight at times, not being popular in school, living below the poverty line many moments in my life, etc. However, the level of pain due to this low self-esteem did not seem justified from these external factors. 

Most people probably believe that others, or they themselves, have low self-esteem because of external attributes. This could include things such as weight, social class, race, their unique interests, etc. All of these things can be seen from the outside. But what if there is another type of prejudice that plagues others but, is rarely talked about?  

The Secret Prejudice

These are internal prejudices. Meaning, they may be able to be recognized from the outside (from the way one talks, dresses etc.) but more often it is not obviously seen. It is an aspect of one’s personality. This is why it goes deeper and can be more painful than external factors that are sometimes changeable and often not really “personal”. When someone claims they don’t like you because of your race, yes it is painful because you can’t change that either but, you can just chalk it up to them being ignorant and perhaps let it go easier. However, when someone claims to not like you, because of, well, who you actually are, it cuts even deeper.  

The time where I finally figured out the main reason for my low self-esteem was a liberating one. I just had a baby a few months before, so I had a lot of time where I couldn’t do much but read. This was a blessing because the last thing I wanted to pass down to my baby girl was my low self-esteem!  

This ah-ha moment regarding my self-esteem was also great timing because I was going through some mild postpartum depression and could certainly use a confidence boost. I say mild because I was not treated for it nor did I receive professional help, and I am still alive, but it was not “mild” by any means. 

The Source of My Ah-Ha Moment

The book was Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. I highly recommend this book if you identify with being an introvert or want to understand someone in your life better who can be described as being so.  In the book, Cain frequently discusses our first class societies and how extroverted people are more favored.

This is not hard to see when you are looking for jobs and the most common attributes used are words like; energetic, friendly, outgoing, etc. Or, when you look at the type of people in our society that are idolized (actors, musicians, etc.). Even if these celebrities claim to be introverts by nature, they certainly don’t appear that way to the everyday person. 

Low self-esteem? Feel misunderstood? Discover why being introverted in an "outgoing" society could be your source of pain and how to deal with it!

You are Needed, Wanted and of VALUE

If you can relate to this and have felt the underlying prejudice and felt pressured to become someone you are not, I am here to tell you to not cave. You ARE good enough. In fact, you have amazing gifts to give to the world. After all, where would all the talkers be if there were no listeners? This world is all about balance when it comes to keeping the peace, there is no balance if we are all trying to be like someone else.  

Be proud of who you are, find a way of expressing it that you are comfortable with, and do NOT apologize for it.  

Have you felt this underlying prejudice in our society? If so, in what way? Please comment below. Or, if you would like further help releasing your low self-esteem, sign up for the newsletter today! I have plenty of goodies to share that can assist in your seeking journey.

How Your Identity is Ruining Your Life

April 3, 2017

Learn how letting go of your identity can create freedom, peace and love within yourself! Also, a free and quick exercise to help you do just that!

Identity IS Ruining the World

Ruining? I know, dramatic right? While I do apologize for the dramatics, I still think that once you read through this post, and do some self-reflection, you will probably agree with me.

If you look at all of the conflict in the world—everything from marital disputes to wars—everyone is fighting from a position that is “us” vs “them.”  So how do we even conceptualize “us” and “them”? Well, with identity markers, such as; sex, race, religion, and social status. These identity markers create walls of division between us. Letting go of these walls that we put up by creating identity markers, could literally stop the fighting. This is because once these labels are deconstructed, there would only be “us” human beings, making up a global community. We would be more motivated to work together and make a better world for everyone. Believe it or not, you don’t have to suffer so that someone else can be happy, or vice versa.

So that, in a nutshell is how it is ruining the world, but let’s look at how it is ruining your personal life. 

Identity IS Ruining Your Life

Identity is an attachment to a concept, which you then internalize to be “you.” This internalization is where the danger happens—it unites and becomes part of your ego.  I am not saying to throw out all of your “labels” because for certain circumstances, it may assist in creating healthy boundaries or establishing guidelines, (for example, teacher and student).

However, if you internalize and become attached to being a “student,” eventually having to leave school may result in a breakdown, such as an “identity crisis”. The idea of leaving school may make you so terrified that you may keep going back to school where you remain comfortable in your identity as a “student.” This could lead to lots of debt, getting behind in a possible career, living with your parents for a little too long, (which could damper your social or romantic life), and many other life altering consequences.

Alternatively, if you could say something to yourself like: “I am NOT just a student. I am a beautiful soul and have many amazing opportunities waiting for me.”  This alone will allow you to break through your own walls, claim the real you, and go forth seeking those amazing opportunities.

If you are getting offended by any of the comments that I have made, well, it proves my point that you are too identified with your labels. Ego is based upon your identities, and to live a more joyful and boundless life, your ego has to move aside. Even if you could detach from the labels just for a little while and see the real, gorgeous you, then you would get a glimpse of the freedom and self-confidence that is possible when letting go of your identities. 

You cannot be offended if someone calls you fat, ugly, black, white, etc., if you do not identify with it. Don’t believe me? Well, just imagine someone calling you a racial slur of a different race you don’t identify with. That doesn’t make you upset right? That is because you don’t identify with it. In fact, you can use the words that actually offend you as clues to which identities you may need to let go of. 

Learn how letting go of your identity can create freedom, peace and love within yourself! Also, a free and quick exercise to help you do just that!

An Exercise for Letting Go

Identity is such a huge thing in pretty much every culture. So much of our lives in based on our identities. Therefore, I realize how difficult it may be to read these concepts, never mind put them into practice. However, let’s go through a more in-depth exercise to help demonstrate the freedom that can come with giving up your identity:

  • Please close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
  • Imagine yourself in front of you, with all your identities attached to you. For example, if you are an American Hispanic female college student, you may see yourself wearing college apparel, holding some books, have your hair done that is related to your ethnic roots, holding an American flag and maybe another flag that represents your ethnicity. (Can you already see you are putting yourself into a “box” and even stereotyping yourself?)
  • Now, imagine “stripping” away all those identity markers (don’t worry I am not saying imagine yourself naked, because those could still bring up “identity factors”). However, do completely erase what you see. You may be left with nothing at first or just an outline of something—that is ok.
  • So…what are you left with? Take few moments and see what really shows up. Draw or describe on paper if you can. This is who you really are.

Break Free

Isn’t it incredibly freeing to not be tied down to all your identities? Could you imagine living your life every day with this freedom? How confident yet humble you would be? How fearless, yet loving? I believe this is how we are all meant to be. Actually, not “meant” to be, because deep down this is who we really are. But it is about stripping away the identities and being brave enough to uncover our true self and then be even braver and express it to the world.

What are your identities that you feel are holding you back? Is there a label you are offended by that you would like to let go of? Please comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts! Or, sign up to our newsletter for more insights, tips and exercises to allow your full potential to come forth.

3 Ways Motherhood Helps You Reach Your Highest Potential

February 16, 2017

Learn how motherhood can help you reach your highest potential and not just be a better mom but a better person and live a happier life.

The Expectation

There are endless people and resources that will tell you all the joys about motherhood. There are also many stories of tragedy and hardship around motherhood. However, there aren’t many people talking about how motherhood can be the ultimate test in your seeking journey and cultivation. Although, this post will only focus on 3 attributes contributing to this, there are plenty more to be discussed.

Before I became a mother, I thought I was the one who had it figured out. I thought, “I got this”—I had a university degree which focused mostly on developmental psychology. I also grew up with a sibling 8 years younger than I, who I took care of often. In my early teens to my 20-somethings, I taught at a kids’ camp, babysat many children, and lived with my now husband’s niece and 2 nephews for a couple years. So needless to say, yes, I am good with other peoples’ kids. However, I didn’t realize this may not translate into being a perfect mother of an infant.

The first year of my daughter’s life was one of the hardest of mine. Pretty sure she was colicky (or had some other issue going on that, I still can’t pinpoint today), and I actually didn’t have that much experience with infants. Or, experience with many, many, many sleepless nights in a row. Nothing can really prepare you for the exhaustion that may come with motherhood. You literally feel like you are going crazy, and I believe, I had my moments.

Before I continue to list some great benefits of being a mother, I am going to share the first poem, of many, I wrote during my darkest days (that I hope someday will translate into a song). This is for all the mothers out there (especially the first-timers raising an infant):

A Poem: “Needed to Crawl”

In all my 30 years, I could not predict

What was coming, what I would feel

How beautifully difficult it is

 

Only a few can understand

The pain

The confusion

The sadness

 

All in all, it began small, small, small

All in all, it ended up, I also needed to crawl, crawl, crawl

 

In all my experience, I was wrong

What it would be

What she would feel

How incredibly crazy it is

 

Only a few can understand

The joy

The rewards

The triumphs

 

All in all, it began small, small, small

All in all, it ended up, I also needed to crawl, crawl, crawl

 

The secret is out, I’m letting you know

How it can be, the battlefield

of the greatest love, you will ever feel

 

Only a few can really understand

The love

The love

The love

 

All in all, it began small, small, small

All in all, it ended up, I also needed to crawl, crawl, crawl

Learn how motherhood can help you reach your highest potential and not just be a better mom but a better person and live a happier life.

The 3 Ways

This poems actually describes all 3 ways motherhood can help in your seeking journey and, help you reach your greatest potential:

  • Makes You Look At Your Shadows:  You cannot get through motherhood, especially if you end up having those many sleepless nights, without seeing your demons come out. This can be in many forms such as; crying a lot, yelling, fantasies of murdering your husband (I joke, but this could be true). Whatever your demons are, they are actually there for a purpose. For example, I didn’t realize I still had many issues with my parents, until I had a child. I thought I did my work around that and had forgiven them, etc.  Motherhood allowed me to take a really good look at my issues and actually heal them this time. One of my ways was through writing poetry and free-flow writing, which allows you to just write everything that you’re thinking (no editing allowed).  I highly recommend these methods because the poetry—which is a creative outlet—is catharsis and allows you to express things in a unique way. The other allows you to get all the junk out of your head so you can read it back and be aware of the crazy you may be creating (in a loving way of course). This awareness allows you to be more present and work towards more helpful thought patterns.
  • Humbles You:  As I write in the poem, I realized I was not perfect and there is no perfect!  We are just doing the best we can, and our best, yes, still may screw our child up a bit, but they will survive and be OK. In our quest to be the best, we fall sometimes and be the worst. This may sound like a bad thing but it is not. It makes you human. I am not saying we should all stop trying, but we should continue to do so with love and compassion for ourselves and our children. Stop expecting perfection—it’s just not going to happen. After all, if everyone was perfect, it would be kind of boring right? So just laugh at yourself, lighten up, be real ,and yes, still seek the perfect imperfection, that is the unique and beautiful you.  Also, with this humbling, we remove ourselves from our ego which always has great benefits for our well-being and others.
  • Allows For the Highest Love To Be Reached:  Honestly, before my child, I don’t think I really knew what love was. I did love people, even in an unconditional sense, but it wasn’t the same love I had for my daughter. The love I discovered is eternal, always present and the most unconditional you could imagine. Even in moments she may drive me crazy, on my best days, I can take a step back and smile at the fact I still think she is the best thing in this world. I remember again the overflowing love I have for her; and that everyone deserves this love. It made me a better person because now I strive to love everyone from that place, including myself. They say you can’t love anyone until you really love yourself. But, I believe this means we can’t learn to express our love in a healthy manner if we haven’t learned to do so for ourselves. Loving my daughter has made me really look at my patterns of loving myself and others and realized how incomplete they were. I am still not fully there but, I hope every day I become a better mom and person, in striving to embody this love.

As I stated earlier, motherhood has many great benefits. However, it is a decision to not be taken lightheartedly. Ultimately, deciding to be a mother, should be with the same intention as starting a charity. It should be about contributing to the community and world. And that you do everything you can to raise a healthy person, because in the end, our world is made up of individuals, and if all these individuals were happy and healthy—what an amazing place it would be!  The place to start though, is with you. The best thing you can do for your child is to love you, heal you, and be an amazing example of growth.

What has been the greatest gift motherhood has given you? Or, what were your “crazy” moments that has taught you about life? Please let me know in the comments below—I would love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you would like help in your journey to be perfectly imperfect, sign up to the newsletter for more sensi-seeking strategies.

 

What IS Energy Therapy and Is It For You? A Short Quiz

February 16, 2017

Ever wonder what Energy Therapy is? Popular techniques such as; Reiki, EFT (aka Tapping), and ZPoint? Here is a quiz to see if it is right for you.

What IT Is

If you have been reading some of my other posts, you may be wondering what the heck this energy and energy therapy stuff is. Although, I have a long explanation on my other site, which can be found by clicking here, I would like to give you a short synopsis before we determine if it right for you.

I am sure most of you know what energy is—at least in a vague sense, such as electrical generated energy, radio waves, etc. However, when I speak of energy, I am speaking about the life-force energy— the energy that drives literally all life and everything, including all of our technology. Without this energy, everything would be, well, “dead” for lack of a better word.

Energy Therapy then, is the science and methods on how to manage this energy so it can work for your best healing. Healing of what exactly? Well, since it is in literally everything, it is for the healing of ANYTHING. There are however, certain techniques that seem to work better than others for different things.

Also, don’t get me wrong but I am not claiming Energy Therapy can cure every physical, mental, and emotional ailment. But, it CAN help prevent every one of these. Which is pretty amazing, right? Also, depending on the severity of the issue and how willing or open the client is to healing, it can definitely heal the problem, at least to a certain extent.

Your body, which runs on this energy, is an incredible, healing, and genius of a being. It simply heals itself ALL the time. Sometimes without you even knowing it! Energy Therapy helps this intelligence become even smarter and super charges its healing capabilities.Ever wonder what Energy Therapy is? Popular techniques such as; Reiki, EFT (aka Tapping), ZPoint? Here is a quiz to see if it is right for you.

QUIZ: Is Energy Therapy For You?

  1. Are you a human being?
  2. Are you alive?
  3. Do you feel like you have a “problem” emotionally, mentally or physically that you would like to treat, improve, let go of?

If you answered YES to all of these, then of course Energy Therapy is for you—it is for anyone that wants to improve their life on any level!

I know these questions seem silly and simple, but I did say short quiz right…? My point is, is that from my level of experience working with Energy Therapy, it seems silly that people would even question its capabilities in this day in age where we encounter miracles using energy every day, (ie. the device you are using to read this). So, instead of talking about chakras and “woo- woo” things that may have you run away, I decided to put it into a real-life perspective.

I hope that you understand Energy Therapy a bit better now, and know it is not some “out there” methods that only weird spiritual people do, but that it is a practical tool that can help anyone with any type of problem. We were given these amazingly intelligent bodies for a reason—let’s bring it to its optimal performance and watch even more miracles happen (and this time maybe more of the ones that elicit love and unity instead of hate and destruction? Just saying…).

How do you feel energy has worked for you already in your life? Make a comment and let me know- would love to hear your thoughts! Or, sign up to the newsletter if you would like to know more about Energy Therapy and how it can help you live more fully (specific techniques are shared!).

What “Law of Attraction” Experts Don’t Tell You

February 16, 2017

Always wondered why Law of Attraction doesn't seem to work for you? I can help! Discover the main reason why it may not be happening for you.

Although this post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own.  Please see the Disclaimer page for more information.

What They DO Tell You

The other day, I was tuning into a Personal Development webinar that had many “Law of Attraction” speakers featured. Confession: I have attended at least a dozen of these webinarsat one point, I’m pretty sure I was addicted. Normally, I would get super excited and be ready to jot down a hundred notes; however, I found myself tuning out and working on this site instead.

Don’t get me wrong, there were amazing speakers that had great advice, but I just was not getting out of it what I used to. I was finally at a different place where I didn’t need their advice. I still liked it, even though I have heard the same things many times before. In fact, it is always good to repeat great advice. They say this is so your brain keeps those positive re-programs in-check. The main purpose of listening to these webinars, podcasts, etc, is to get rid of your negative belief systems that are keeping you stuck, and implement positive ones.

Some of the most common techniques to help implement these positive beliefs, that Law of Attraction experts often discuss, are things like; affirmations, dream boards and envisioning exercises. These help create the necessary vibration and mindset in order to attract what you want in life. If you would like to know more about these exercises, please click here to read my post, “The Top 10 Law of Attraction Techniques for a Better Life.”

Because I know repetition of these techniques helps implement positive vibes, I thought, “Maybe the re-programming finally took! And that is why I don’t feel the need to listen any more.” And then I thought, “But how? What had I done differently?”

It could have been the dozens of times I heard the same positive material but then, wouldn’t I have only felt satisfied after the program? When it would have finally “took”? But right away I didn’t feel the need to listen.

So I took an inventory of my life over the last 6 months, and I DID do something differently. While it did involve repetition, it was so much more than that.

What They DON’T Tell You

Some may talk about writing down a commitment to yourself and making sure you look at your dream board, and/or do other positive tasks every day; however, they don’t tell you exactly how many times or what you should do before even trying these tasks.

Yes, I said BEFORE. There is something deep within you that has to shift and lift before these tasks will even help. Many times before I had tried doing the daily tasks for even months and nothing really changed. That is why many people may not believe in the Law of Attraction. But the funny thing (or not-so-funny thing), is that there is something HUGE they may be missing.

This thing that they are missing is HEALING. I say this because if you are already a happy person, with a healthy upbringing and not many bad things have happened to youfirst of all, I want to say congratulations because you are a raritythen this stuff WILL WORK.  Right away even, not months or years!

See, the thing about energy and your vibration is the older you get, the harder it can be to change, because your emotional, mental and physical conditioning is so well wired. This is why people say that old people are stuck in their ways. It is actually true for a lot them. I am not saying they can’t change their life for the better using these techniques, but depending on their willingness, it may be very difficult. Usually the energy it takes to change is simply not worth it for them; they are OK with where they are at. Even younger people often have to hit rock bottom before they make changes, so it is no wonder the older generations have a tough time.

OK, so back to the thing you have to do before implementing the law of attraction techniques. You have to make a commitment to HEAL. Every day you have to work on yourself. You have to use tools that will help you release negative emotions, let go of negative energy, and therefore free up space in your energy field to introduce these techniques. And, you can’t simply go to a counselling session once in a while or get a Reiki treatment once a year; you have to make a commitment every day!

Always wondered why Law of Attraction doesn't seem to work for you? I can help! Discover the main reason why it may not be happening for you.

How To Do It

In the last 6 months, I made this serious commitment to myself to do this. Every morning I meditate, even if it is only for 5 minutes. I also do a tuning exercise to help get my chakras healed and balanced using tuning forks such as these.  Additionally, I do some yoga to release negative energy and kick-start my body for optimal performance. For a while, I also did extra healing work (such as inner child work), almost every day. I was also looking at my dream board, doing a gratitude exercise and I tried to listen to an inspiring talk almost every day. My favourites right now are Sadhguru and Oprah’s Super Soul TV sessions and interviews.

All of this does take some time (anywhere from half hour to 2 hours). It may even be an all-day process if you have children that pause these activities, but it is sooo worth it! After a certain point, you can take what you feel is most valuable and narrow it down to a half-hour a day process (once the major areas of healing are almost complete). Although keep in mind, you may need to have intervention days where you go back to pure healing again.

As you may have noticed, I have taken some of these healing techniques and combined them with the law of attraction techniques. What can I say? I have a one-year-old, so I have to be efficient (or at least try! Ha!). In this busy world, you may have to do the same as well. Although looking back before I was able to make this commitment, I did a lot of crying, writing, etc. So, some serious pure healing happening did take place. Depending on the situation, you may need to do this as well, especially if you feel like you have hit rock bottom emotionally or otherwise. Just keep throwing in those positive techniques though because sometimes when we are healing we get sucked back into the negative energy.

Give yourself some much-needed breaks, such as; bubble baths, naps, watching an inspiring or funny movie, or hang out with some positive people. You want to still try to keep your spirits up in between healing because it is A LOT of work. I don’t want to lie and say it’s fun or something; I mean, more people would be doing it if it were, right? It takes a lot of energy, support of loved ones, and your attention to self-care. Drink lots of water, eat well, and take those breaks!

Once you get over the hill, I promise you will feel 100% better. You will feel lighter, have more energy and be motivated to take positive action. Finally, those Law of Attraction techniques will make sense and start working in your life. You will be on your glorious way.

If you would like more information about healing tools, Law of Attraction and other techniques to help create a better life for yourself, please subscribe to the newsletter. You deserve healing and you deserve happiness!

What do you find is missing from the Law of Attraction teachings? Please comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts!

The Top 10 Law of Attraction Techniques for a Better Life (pt.2)

February 16, 2017

A continuation of the best and most acclaimed Law of Attraction techniques. Also, other helpful resources to helping you achieve the best results.

Although this post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own.  Please see the Disclaimer page for more information.

A Prelude

If you haven’t read the first 5 techniques of this series, I would strongly suggest you do so, here. I find  most of these techniques work best when combined. Many of them play off of one another, and sometimes you may not be able to execute one of them without their complimentary technique.

Law of Attraction may seem like a no-brainer when you first learn about it, but because we as humans can be very complex, the process in making it work for our best interest can be too. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are also many other laws of the universe that are at play. All parts of life are connected. Even if you try to make one aspect perfect, you are not guaranteed happiness. You need to consider all aspects, and therefore all laws as well. In future articles, I will be discussing these laws in more detail. I hope that this article will be helpful in bringing forth your best self, and therefore naturally tuning your life into something wonderful.

Let us continue our discussion on some super helpful Law of Attraction techniques, learned from the best:

The Techniques Continued

6.  Affirmations

If you are unfamiliar with this technique, it consists of positive written phrases that you read repeatedly every day. They are meant to inspire, energize and help re-frame your negative beliefs. Some people have had great luck with these but others like myself, (in the beginning of my journey), have not. The reason these may not take is because our negative beliefs may be so deep rooted that our subconscious cannot believe these positive things, and therefore it rejects them. A simple trick for affirmations related to yourself, is to phrase them like this: “On my best days and moments… I am beautiful.”  You can also rephrase the “I am beautiful” part to “I feel beautiful.” This is a subtle difference, but often when we don’t believe we are pretty, wealthy, or awesome on our best days (at the very least) we feel we are in certain moments.

7. Surround Yourself with Positive People and Environments

Have you ever heard the idea that smiles are contagious? Well, this technique is like that, but on steroids. There has been many studies done around this, and one of the interesting facts is that your income is reflective of the 5 people you surround yourself with. Now, money is not everything and I am not saying dump your best friend because they are poor. But, be aware of how they talk about money, themselves, and you. You may find out they aren’t so pleasant after all. Or, they are awesome to be around, just their own dream life hasn’t quite manifested yet.

In any case, it’s always best to lead by example, but if all of your friends are struggling with money, gossip a lot, and are always complaining well, I am sorry to say but it is time to make new friends. If you want to live a more abundant and joyous life, unfortunately there are some sacrifices you have to make. You may think you will regret it, but I can assure you, you won’t. As it turns out, not just smiles are contagious but positive attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyles are too!

8. Being Conscious

This is a BIGGY. I cannot stress enough the importance of being conscious! Although Law of Attraction experts may not say this directly, you may notice it is common thread in all the techniques. You have to be aware in order to change your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs. You have to be aware of all the amazing things around you to be gracious. You have to be aware of your dreams and goals in order to achieve them. Getting clear and aware of yourself and what you want is invaluable. But being conscious takes practice! Seriously, it can be really tough at first, and even tiring as you feel like you are always auto-correcting. But no worries, because it gets easier and eventually second nature. Or, not as needed because your positive habits now have taken place so there is no “correction” needed. One of the most helpful books I have found for practicing this technique is Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now

A continuation of the best and most acclaimed Law of Attraction techniques. Also, other helpful resources to helping you achieve the best results.

9. Meditation

OK, so I can’t talk about being conscious without talking about the big M. Even if you don’t do it, you at least know in general what it is, right….? In case, it is not clear, seriously, just go google it because it is super simple, (and super complicated, depending on who you talk to). I personally like to KISS (keep it simple stupid) by doing the following; sit upright, close your eyes, deep breath, and concentrate on this breathbe in your body, fully in the moment. Be still and quiet with relaxing music or sounds, or nothing at all.

This process helps you many ways, but mostly it helps you start practicing to be conscious. Which as mentioned above, will enhance all the other techniques. For example,  you can amp up the other techniques by turning them into a mediation, such as the envisioning exercise. Or, you can get really fancy and get special meditation music such as Pure Binarual Beats, which will get those brainwaves where you want them to be, for optimal and possibly quicker results.

10. Inspired Action

This one is always tied to being conscious because to take action that inspires you, you have to be aware of, well, what inspires you! Taking action is absolutely necessary for any change to happen in your life, especially big things. However, if you take mindless action you will end up going around in circles and not get very far. To take inspired action is to take action with positive intention and do the tasks that excite you or that you feel intuitively is correct. Even if logic tells you otherwise (to an extent) this is always the best path to take. Because you are then living with integrity and purpose and therefore you will be happier, on many levels. And don’t worry because when you live in line with your spirit, the universe will support it in many amazing ways.

The Journey is Just Beginning

I could probably write for days and days about Law of Attraction because there are so many helpful tools and techniques out there to live a great life. Also, each technique is multi-faceted, so there is always more to learn. For now, please enjoy what I feel are the most important and supported techniques. As well as the most helpful tidbits for each one. However, I don’t want to leave you here. I believe there is something inherently missing from the Law of Attraction world and I would like for you to read about it here.

In that post, you can find more pieces of advice that will enhance these techniques even further. As well as some necessary knowledge to get these tools to actually work.

Also, be sure to comment below on what technique you find most helpful, or anything else you feel the need to share. I look forward to hearing from you! One more thing: our newsletter has tons of great resources that can help you perfect these techniques, as well as other tools that can help you on your seeking journey!

The Top 10 Law of Attraction Techniques for a Better Life (pt.1)

February 16, 2017

The best and most acclaimed Law of Attraction techniques that I have learned over the last decade.Also, additional tidbits for the best outcome!

What is Law of Attraction?

I am sure many of you already know what Law of Attraction is, since it has pretty much taken over the internet in the last decade (or so it seems). But, just in case you don’t, here is a short explanation:

The universe has many “laws” that all things abide to. For example, the law of gravity, or karma (what you put out, you get back), which many people view as a law. The Law of Attraction compliments the karmic law, as it says that you attract in your life, things that are in your vibration. Your vibration is your energetic field. Many things create this, such as your thoughts, behaviours, what you eat, etc.  You can even hold other people’s energy in your field as well.

In a nutshell, Law of Attraction says that you need to have your vibration positive and high if you want the finer things in life, which can include everything from a nice house to a loving marriage. Or, it could just simply be whatever you uniquely desire. How we get our energy high and positive, is what these techniques help you to achieve.

The Techniques

1. Gratitude

No one can deny the power of gratitude. It really does have amazing results in shifting your mood and energy. Everyone can find at least 5 things a day to be grateful for. Even if it is simple things like being glad the sun is out today, or that you have indoor plumbing. From my experience, the best way to execute this technique is writing down 5 things every day in a format such as, “I’m so happy and thankful that…” If you are having trouble with this, just thinkyou are reading this on some sort of technology, which likely means you are not located on some barren land with no food and shelter, in the middle of war. Most of us are complaining about 1st world problems, and really we should be in ecstasy with the amount of privilege and convenience we DO have.

2. Dream BIG/Dream Board

Honestly, this one is so common, I think they are starting to make jokes about it on sitcoms. But on a serious note, it IS valuable. As Richard Branson and many that followed him said, “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re too small.” Meaning, you need to dream about things that scare you in a positive way. Dreams that excite you so much, you are willing to push through in order to reach them. Because in the end, if we think about what we will regret at the end of our lives, it will mostly be of things we DIDN’T do. So really, what do you have to lose by at least trying? The dream board is way of having a visual reminder of your goals and aspirations. The idea is that you put on a poster board (or something similar), pictures that represent what you want in your lifeThese pictures can be of a happy and healthy family, a new car, vacations, business goals, etc. They can even include images of words and quotes. The exact pictures aren’t that important—the point is that it creates the feelings that you want such as; fun, joy, peace, success, etc.

3. Envisioning

This one goes hand-in-hand with the previous one, as well as the next one I will discuss. It is a focused day-dreaming exercise. Often, you are told to close your eyes or look at your dream board while doing this. Besides just imagining you are living your life dream, you have to put more effort into these day dreams. Many say to imagine with ALL of your senses, as if it happening to you right now in the present. Ask yourself, “How does it feel, touch, taste, smell, and look?” It is also great to do this before bed or right as you wake up, so it really seeps into your subconscious.

The best and most acclaimed Law of Attraction techniques that I have learned over the last decade.Also, additional tidbits for the best outcome!

4. Writing Goals and Visions

Sometimes just envisioning something can be difficult as our minds like to wander. However, fine-tuning these visions by writing them out, helps us determine what we really want. It is best not to be too specific and not too general either. Often what will show up may not be exactly what we wanted, but it will be the same feelings and experiences. It may even end up being better than we imagined! Also, another tip suggested for this exercise is to write it in present tense, as if it has already happened or is happening now. The idea is that our subconscious does not know the difference between the past or present. So, if you combine it with your envisioning exercise, it will think it IS happening. Therefore, any beliefs of you thinking it CAN’T happen, will be lessened much more. It is tricking your brain into thinking it already did happen so it thinks, “Of course it can happen again!” You can even use this trick with your gratitude list—simply write things that haven’t happened yet. For example: “I am so grateful and happy that I now have a fulfilling career that provides me with financial freedom.”

5. Intend and Then Surrend(er)

Practicing the envisioning exercises, comes with intention. Meaning, you intend to have these things happen and have them happen positively. Even before writing them out, make your intentions clear. Be mindful of what you want to get out of the exercise. Finally, know what achieving these goals will mean to your life and  those around you. There is no point in achieving these things if you intend to do so “no matter what,” as this could mean hurting others or even yourself in the process. While you are looking to achieve your dream life, it is important that you do so with integrity and honor. This why it is also important to have these visions include something that is about giving back in some way. After all, we all count in what we do. Even if it is being an honest worker, that is still a noble intention and counts towards contributing to your community, society, and even the world.

Now that clear and moral intentions are set and your dreams are big and beautiful, it is time to let go. Let go of the need to control every detail on how it you think it should happen. There really is a higher/divine hand in your life and everywhere. Let it work for you as well. Also, surrender the idea that “it has to happen, or I will die and life will suck.” What some people don’t understand is that what we really want in our “dream” lives are things like happiness, health, love, freedom, etc. The way this manifests is the “things” we are after and what we put pictures up of.  But the end goal is not the “things” that are sought after, but the positive feelings and emotion they bring.

Stay Tuned…

Because this is a lot to digest, and you may want to get going on putting these into practice, I have continued the Law of Attraction techniques on another post. You can find the information here. Otherwise, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the first 5. Have you tried any of them? How are they working for you? Is there anything you would like me to add? Also, for more tips and techniques like these, feel free subscribe to our newsletter!

How Knowing If You Are a Sensi-Seeker Can Change Your Life

January 13, 2017

 If you consider yourself an "Empath" and a person who enjoys seeking the meaning of life and making your own the best it can be, then this post is for you!

Although this post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own.  Please see the Disclaimer page for more information.

Empath? Or…Something More?

As an empath and highly sensitive person, it has been a long journey. The journey that for some, could take their entire lifetime. I am, however, incredibly grateful it has only taken me 31 years. What journey is this, you ask? Well, it was the process of finding out who I really was and not being scared of it.

While exploring possible themes for this site, I went through many personal exercises that led to this revelation. I found out not only what interests me but what also drives me. And, I discovered a term that could sum up not only aspects of my personality but also my greatest passion and purpose in life.

Although I can identify with the terms empath or highly sensitive, there was a different layer of my being that needed to be explained. This has brought me to the following explanation:

What a Sensi-Seeker is…

Being a Sensi-Seeker consists of two main things:

  • “Sensi,” (as you might have guessed) is short for sensitive. I realize this is a broad term but often sensitive people can be described as one or more of the following: emotional, shy, introverted, intuitive, empathetic, an empath or energetically sensitive. An example of what this could mean, is that you easily sense when people are upset.
  • “Seeker” refers to a person who longs to exceed beyond the boundaries of ordinary life. Often they seek for a greater meaning and do so through spiritual practices, spiritual studies, greater education, scientific studies, etc. Although it often has a spiritual context, it doesn’t mean the person is also religious or has any so-called “spiritual beliefs.” Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation, says the following about one who is a true seeker: 
    you are a genuine seeker only when you realize you don't know anything about this.- Sadhguru
    Thus, this “not knowing” propels you to always seek, to always reach beyond what is in front of you, and it allows you to surpass your ego. In later posts, I will discuss how this is beneficial to the self and others. If you want to learn more about Sadhguru’s teachings, I recommend his amazing book “Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy”.

Are You, Or Someone You Know, One?

By looking at the attributes above, you can probably recognize if you are a Sensi-Seeker. Or, if you are only a sensi or just a seeker. But, just in case it is still unclear, here are some things to consider:

  • Do you have your feelings easily hurt?
  • Have you identified with the term empath or highly sensitive?
  • Do you feel things deeply and truly understand others’ pain, even when you may not have been through the same thing?
  • Do you need time to yourself, to reflect, be still, create, etc.?
  • Do you often consider the “big picture”?
  • Do you constantly question the meaning of life?
  • Has many forms of “spirituality” left you craving for something more?
  • Do you often search for new techniques, belief-systems, etc. that could finally bring real meaning into your life?

If you consider yourself an "Empath" and a person who enjoys seeking the meaning of life and making your own the best it can be, then this post is for you!

Why it Changes Your Life

If you think you are just sensitive (or an empath ) and not a seeker, well, I’m sorry to say but you are probably wrong. As a highly sensitive person, I know first-hand that these experiences have actually led me to constantly seek. It has led me to greater heights of awareness and techniques to help calm the storm, which has often been “seeking” in nature. For instance, if you are always creating to help channel your emotions, this my friend, is seeking. If you are constantly reading up on psychology and self-help, this my friend is seeking. If you bury yourself in fictional worlds to escape the real pain of life, this too is seeking. Many of these are ineffective, but still seeking in nature.

In fact…

the very core of a human being can’t help but long for something beyond the physical world
Therefore, we are all technically seekers. Maybe not yet “genuine seekers” as Sadhguru describes, but this is the goal.

This brings me to how it has changed my life, and how it can change yours too. Knowing I am a sensi-seeker, I have rapidly become more aware of my conditioned thoughts and difficult emotional states. With this awareness, and the knowledge of “why” they have come about, more peace has resided within me.

With this peace, I am able to let go of these emotions and thoughts more easily. Also, there has been a greater level of acceptance for oneself, (which being an empath) can be a life struggle. Another way it has changed my life is now I can have freedom in knowing that even my so-called faults are actually motivation and strengths in becoming a better human being and being a positive influence on others. As a result, it has helped create a more joyful life for myself and those around me.

I hope by realizing you are at least a seeker (as mentioned above, we all are deep down), and possibly a sensi-seeker, has given you the freedom to know you are OK, as you are. That it is OK to always seek, always ask questions, be comfortable and find peace in the “not knowing,” that you CAN use your “weaknesses” as strengths and, that your goal for attaining peace within, is an admirable one.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to e-mail me directly ([email protected]) or comment below. Also, be sure to sign up for the newsletter which will include exciting tips, tools and techniques for a trans-formative and joyful life.