Midweek Mantra :: Give It Love

"Reinvention is a key to positive change.  Affirm your current self and give yourself permission to turn into anything you know you must be.  Be gentle with others who cannot meet your latest incarnation.  Peace out on the ones who will not entertain the idea that your change is constant."       ~Sarah Gottesdiener

This quote from my Many Moons workbook really resonated with me when I read it this weekend. I had just planned the theme of EXPANSION for my end of April breathwork circle in response to all the shifts and changes I'm feeling in the people around me, including in myself.  Job changes, moves, career shifts, project ideas, graduations, babies, spring goals, lifestyle changes... 

When we take steps to reinventing ourselves and making changes in our lives there's a period of transition between the endings of things and the beginnings of the new shifts.  I know for me, it's really easy to rush over those transitions in efforts to hurry up and get to the next thing out of excitement or the uncomfortable feelings that come up.  When we take a moment, however, to honor our feelings by noticing and naming them, we give ourselves closure from one story as we move into the next story we are creating and version of ourselves we are becoming (without all that extra baggage!).  

This week's mantra is inspired from a line in The Goddess Project film that I saw a few weeks ago with a fabulous group of women friends (totally recommend seeing the film if you get a chance!) where one of the suggestions is placing love in your body in place of something else.  But rather than displacing our valuable and important feelings, we'll acknowledge them with love: 

Take a deep inhale and exhale.

Give your body a little scan to see what emotions are coming up for you around the changes in your life.

Say to yourself: I SEE MY ____________ AND GIVE IT LOVE.

Give this mantra a go at the beginning of your day, at the end of your day, in the middle of your day, or anytime you are feeling a particular feeling coming up.  Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

I SEE MY FEAR AND I GIVE IT LOVE.
I SEE MY RESISTANCE AND I GIVE IT LOVE.
I SEE MY RELIEF AND I GIVE IT LOVE. 
I SEE MY DOUBT AND I GIVE IT LOVE. 
I SEE MY SADNESS, WORRY, ANXIETY, GRIEF AND I GIVE IT LOVE.
I SEE MY EXCITEMENT, ANTICIPATION, DELIGHT AND I GIVE IT LOVE. 

We just had a full moon so this is a perfect time to celebrate your fullness of emotions BY BEING A WITNESS FOR YOURSELF as well as release those feelings that don't need to come with you in the next part of your journey.  Sometimes we need to let go of certain habits, relationships, lifestyle habits in order to really allow ourselves to expand with this spring energy, so honor what comes up when you decide to no longer play small.  And give yourself all the love.  

**Twin Cities tribe, we'll be breathing around this theme of EXPANSION and working through all the emotions and sensations that brings up for us on Friday, April 28th so please join us if this resonates for you! xo

Midweek Mantra :: Inner Guidance

{original image :: repost from @gracesmithtv} 

Giving an energy healing session long distance this week, I was reminded by an important piece of what I do in sessions, in breathwork circles, and in new moon circles: give space for connecting to inner guidance.  My belief is that in "coming home to our bodies" we tap into that innate wisdom and intuitive sense that we each have within us.  

I admit that sometimes it's uncomfortable to be in our bodies because of the life experiences we have had (wounds, trauma, pain, being sensitive) or if we don't really want to hear what our bodies and our guidance has to say (like, something isn't working for us anymore or something in our life has to change - and change is hard!).  And sometimes it is really grounding and blissful and, well, HOME when we are in our bodies.  

The benefits of being at home in your body, however, are worth it.  And the more we pay attention to the little messages we receive from our inner guidance, the more they will come and the more trust we have in follow these cues.  It's like exercising a muscle!

How does your inner guidance speak to you? 

Do you get a gut feeling or a physical sensation in your body?  Are there images or colors or words or phrases or sounds or numbers that come to you?  Is it a song on the radio at the exact right time that gives you the message you need?  Is there a little quiet voice that gives you a little yes or no?   

Take a deep inhale and exhale.

Close your eyes briefly and bring your awareness to the center of your forehead.

Say to yourself: I TUNE IN TO MY INNER GUIDANCE.  

And if you're looking for some help in hearing your wisdom and connecting to your body, I am here for you.  This is what I love to do!  There are a variety of tools to guide you in connecting to your wisdom, so find what resonates for you by practicing with this mantra when you are looking for clarity or centering.  

This week's mantra :: I TUNE IN TO MY INNER GUIDANCE. 

Monday Mantra :: Begin

I'll admit that I am an "on the day" kind of gal.  I like to celebrate my birthday ON THE DAY.  I like to celebrate holidays on the day.  In the past when I'm working on new habits or starting something new, I like to wait til Monday or the first of the month or the start of the year to begin.  

A couple things have started to help me shift this mindset a bit as I'm feeling the rigidness and limitations it puts upon me and my personal growth.  As I began to pay attention and follow the moon cycles, I found that the energy of the new moon (or the Spring Equinox or Winter Solstice!) actually begins a few days before and ends a few days after.  Don't have time to sit and journal or reflect on the ACTUAL new moon?? No problem!  Just do it the next day or the day before in your own timing.  

I've also been in a nutrition and mindset coaching program since last July and the philosophy is 1% better each day.  No, not focusing on "perfection" ("say what?!" exclaims my inner perfectionist!), but just a little better.  Focusing on doing habits, taking small actions, starting fresh EACH DAY, which has increased my quality of life (and my health) a hundred-fold.  

So when I read this phrase, which is our mantra this week, on social media this weekend, my body gave a big ol' YES :: Every day is a fresh start.

How does your body feel when you read that?  Do you get a sense of relief?  Possibility?  Freedom?  

Take a deep inhale and exhale.

Feel your feet on the floor as you straighten your spine long.

Say to yourself :: EVERY DAY IS A FRESH START.

This week also just so happens to be a new moon filled with spring energy, which is perfect for new beginnings, but every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.  I encourage you to do this short and simple meditation each morning when you wake up and perhaps each night before you go to bed.  The perfect bookend to your day as a reminder that you get to choose how to BEGIN and honor YOU in the way you move about your day and about your life.   

This week's mantra :: EVERY DAY IS A FRESH START.  

Monday Mantra :: Blossom

HAPPY SPRING EQUINOX!

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

~ Anaïs Nin

This is one of my favorite quotes and there have been several times in my life where I could feel the truth and beauty (and challenge!) of these words deep in my being.... where I felt terrified to take that next step, but staying where I was felt completely unbearable.  It keeps playing itself in my head the last couple days, so it feels appropriate to share today.   

We have officially arrived in the season of spring!  Even though Mother Nature may grace us with more snow and cold, we are moving into a season of growth, expansion, planting, and blooming.  If we look to nature for cues, we will start to see buds on trees and the shoots of green plants peeking out of the dirt while the days get longer and the sun feels a little bit stronger and warmer.  

This week's mantra, in honor of the Spring Equinox, encourages us to look at what in our lives is ACHING to be born and to give ourselves permission to expand: 

What projects have you put off?  
What changes have you avoided that are finally ready to take place?
What healing work are you ready to dive into or what lifestyle habits are you ready to begin?
What heart's desires are you willing to honor?  
Where in your life can you open up more in order to allow space for your full self? 

Take a deep inhale and exhale. 

Feel your feet firmly rooting into the ground as you spread your arms wide.

Say to yourself: I AM BLOSSOMING.  

As you move about the next couple weeks, I invite you to reflect on what will nurture your blossoming this spring.  What simple action steps will nourish your growth and your intentions?

For me this spring, it is time to write that children's book that's been waiting to be born.  To nourish this intention, I am scheduling meditation and writing time into my life so that there is space for this creation to come into being.  You?? 

This week's mantra :: I AM BLOSSOMING.  

**If you are local to the Twin Cities, there are two opportunities to plant seeds with me this week to honor new beginnings with the new moon and the Spring Equinox.  Friday 3/24 will be a Breathwork Circle to breathe in spring energy and Sunday 3/26 will be a planting those seeds with reflection and intention in a New Moon Circle.  Hope to see you!