© Copyright 2014
Month: December 2013 (Page 1 of 3)
Do you usually set New Year's resolutions? If yes, do you keep them? What kind of resolutions do you usually set? If you don't set any resolutions, why not? Take a moment to reflect on these questions and check if setting a resolution for 2014 would make a difference in your life.
The only new year's resolution I ever kept was when I decided to laugh more. If you are going to set a new year's resolution, make it count. Consider what came up for you during the meditation I posted to release 2013 and embrace 2014, and create a resolution that will help you make it happen.
As the end of the year approaches, take some time to meditate, to be grateful, to let go of 2013, and to visualize the possibilities of 2014.
Here is a meditation I suggest:
Sit in a comfortable position, relax and close your eyes. Breathe deeply at least three times, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. See yourself relaxing all parts of your body, starting from your head, eyes, jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, back, thighs, legs, feet, and your whole body. Place your hand on your heart, and breathe.
As we go through the motions of the end of the year, what it means, and the possibilities of new beginnings, let's take time to smell the roses.
Before you consider creating an intention for the new year, or create a plan for your business and life, take a moment to be present and enjoy this moment. If you can get flowers this time of year, do it, and then spend some time with it, enjoying its beauty, and allowing it to impact you. Then, you will be ready to receive inspiration for the year ahead.
Remember to include self-love in your intentions for the new year.
Yes, I meant to say the end of 2014. ; ) I suggest doing an exercise in which you start by imagining it is the end of next year. Imagine that it is December 31st 2014, and you are about to write how you did in terms of your self-love practices. What is it that you would like to be the most proud of at the end of the year?
Here are a few suggestions:
The end of the year is a great time to practice gratitude. Take some time to look back and write down a list of what you are most grateful for in 2013. Remember to include all areas of your life: relationships (new and old), career/business, major achievements, challenges overcome, spiritual practices, body care (health, exercises, food choices, balance), community involvement, ability to give and receive love, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, major lessons learned and your self-love practices.
Feel to post here what you are most grateful for in 2013.
Today take some time and create a ritual you can do with family, friends, community, or by yourself, to celebrate either the winter or summer solstice. Connect with your soul and intuition, and come up with your own ritual that honors your uniqueness, your creativity and your self-love journey.
My ritual will include lighting candles and handmade incense, playing nature sounds, setting an intention, breathing deeply, connecting to my heart, and practicing a love and kindness meditation.
The website Mystic Mamma has several suggestions for Winter Solstice or Summer Solstice rituals to be done with a group.
Feel free to share your ritual here or on Facebook.
Happy Solstice!
I’m sure you can tell by this photo that my dog (R.I.P.) used to smile as well. 😉
I was recently reminded by a friend of the power of a smile: the power of smiling by ourselves, the power of smiling when around others, and the simple power of a smile. His comments reminded me of a passage from Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “Eat, Pray, Love”, where she learned from Ketut Liyer, the healer she met in Bali, the inner smile meditation.
Since my friend reminded me to smile, I’ve been making an effort to do it on my own, to practice the inner smile meditation, and to smile to strangers who may cross my path throughout the day. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the responses I have been getting by simply making an effort to smile. Either by meditating or by simply smiling to ourselves and to others, is a wonderful self-love practice.
As you plan to attend family events, holiday parties, and end of the year celebrations, do you feel joyful and happy, or do you feel contracted, stressed, worried, and somewhat fearful of what might happen?
If you are thinking about what happened last year, or how things “usually” go at these events, take the time to set yourself up for a different outcome this year.
The first step is to prepare yourself emotionally, and not to simply show up either hoping/wishing for a certain outcome, or already expecting that it will be awful. Next, consider what would be the best for you – some possibilities: not to show up at all, show up ready to fight, show up to have a good time, or show up to be present, and ready to give and receive love. There is no right or wrong answer, it is all about you deciding the experience you prefer to have, and then preparing for it ahead of time. Third, once you know how you would like to feel and what would be the best option for you, practice.
When growing your love for yourself, it is important to practice receiving: a compliment, a gift, an acknowledgement, support, love.
How often when someone compliments you, do you stop to connect with your heart, fully take it in, and say thank you? Or instead, how often do you say after receiving a specific compliment - thanks, BUT… I haven’t washed my hair in days; or I got this at a thrift shop or this old thing?; or I was just doing my job; or don’t mention it…? When receiving a gift or when someone pays for dinner, do you tend to say: you shouldn’t have; or there is no need for it; or this is too much, and I can’t accept it…?