Sustaining a sense of humor cultivates lightheartedness. It connects us to the deepest reaches of our soul and is crucial in healing. Most people express that they would rather die than live a life without laughter. Research shows that laughter lowers blood pressure, increases vascular blood flow, reduces stress which in turn reduces anxiety and depression. Most importantly, when we laugh with others, we share a sense of interconnectedness and belonging which assists in healing as well. For me, laughter that originates deep within and assists us in communing with others in an intimate way is soul laughter. Soul laughter lets us share our … [Read more...]
Leaning into Our Vulnerabilities and Releasing Our Pain
"There's a crack in everything.That's how light gets in."-Leonard Cohen The more we lean into our vulnerabilities, the more open we become to spiritual transformation, for one unlocks the door to the other. The moment we lean into our vulnerabilities, courageously stepping through this portal to personal transformation, we find that love has been there all along. Health, relationships, and finances are the areas of our lives in which we feel most vulnerable. Whether or not we had a healthy and loving childhood, we all experience some form of loss or suffering in our lives as a reflection of the human condition. Our subsequent pain, while … [Read more...]
Living in Harmony with the Universe
When we live in harmony with the universe, we let go of controlling our lives and trust the unfolding of it. Spiritual author, Gary Zukav compares living in harmony with spirit to the journey of the hawk, "The journey of a hawk depends on both the hawk and the wind. Sometimes the wind takes the hawk where it wants to go, and sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, the hawk doesn't mind. Either way, they ride the wind. They do the best they can, and then they let the wind take them where they need to go.The wind is your life. It is all the things that happen between the time you are born and the time you go home. Elegant spirits don't know what … [Read more...]
Sustaining Lightness in Our Lives
"You don't stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing." George Bernard Shaw Sustaining lightness in your life is created by the choices you make in every moment. Trust that you are the co-creator of the inner and outer landscape of life so choose your thoughts, words and actions consciously. Be patient, tolerant, and flexible when life gets challenging or things don't go you way. Keep an open and loving heart and a great sense of humor no matter what is happening at the time. Being playful opens our hearts and sustains a flow of light energy so we hold steady in the midst of the natural twists and turns of … [Read more...]
Tuning Into Our Intuition
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller Tuning in to our intuition or inner wisdom helps us develop a more spiritually conscious and integrated relationship with ourselves. We all have sensitivities that we can listen to guide our lives whether it is a gut feeling, an "aha" moment or an inner knowing. When we are inspired or "in-spirited," our senses tune into this pure vibration of information. Opening our hearts, we can access this pure flow of information and invite spirit to guide us to make better choices in our lives. With an open heart, … [Read more...]
Being Vulnerable Opens Us to Authenticity
Embracing our vulnerabilities allows us to know the essence of ourselves-love. It is the catalyst for releasing who we think we should be in order to become who we really are. Delving deep within and connecting with our inner selves exposes the egocentric patterns that inhibit us from experiencing authentic, joyful, and balanced lives. At the same time, it infuses our lives with spiritual depth. In effect, embracing our vulnerabilities brings us closer to the light at our core, thereby enlightening us. Unfortunately, our culture teaches us that vulnerabilities are signs of weakness. We are programmed to take a pill at the first symptom of … [Read more...]
Letting It All Be
John Lennon's inspirational song "Let It Be" speaks of a spiritual principle that can profoundly change our lives. As a practice, letting it be flows from an open loving heart where we trust the divine unfolding of our lives. It moves us beyond letting go for it starts with zero expectations of how someone or something "should be" that only sets us up for disappointment-even with ourselves. It encourages compassion, forgiveness and acceptance of ourselves and others no matter what our journeys may be. For me, letting it all be is letting my entire life be without judgment and with forgiving the past. This hit home for me recently when my … [Read more...]
Being Vulnerable Opens Us to Authenticity
Being vulnerable opens us to our authenticity-our most precious, cherished self. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable takes tremendous strength of heart; yet not nearly as much time, energy and stress as running away from it. We must move toward our fear, trauma, and pain. In embracing it, we can acknowledge our hurt without hurting back, When we stay with our insecurity, shakiness, and broken heart, we awaken to our authenticity. Ultimately, we are light and love. An example of being vulnerable was when I took my first NIA class. NIA is a sensory-based movement practice that incorporates dance, and the martial and healing arts. It empowers … [Read more...]
The Courage to Be Who We Are
"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do." Brene BrownIt takes courage to be who we are in the world. Courage comes from the Latin word for "heart." To be courageous is to be open-hearted, speaking our truth honestly and openly with our whole heart. In other words, sharing our most intimate thoughts, feelings and experiences that comprise our true being.Loving ourselves enough to reveal our deepest vulnerabilities is the most courageous choice we can make. Unlike bravery which is externally motivated, courage comes from within. It sources deep within our hearts as self-love, … [Read more...]
Living in the Flow of Love
"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance." John LennonLiving in love creates a constant flow of positive energy which dissolves fear, insecurity and negativity. We are love-a whole and complete energy without limits or boundaries. Living as the embodiment of love, we obliterate all negativity and sustain all that is well and good. It lifts us beyond the drone of the human condition and reminds us that we are this divine energy source capable of creating a fulfilling and purposeful … [Read more...]
