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I can't believe it has been 22 years since the release of this video! I was in elementary school when it came out and it is as beautiful and inspiring now as it was then. It is so true that you always regret what you didn't do so much more than chances you took that did not work out as intended. At least you can learn from your mistakes. Just like you can't get a job if you don't apply, the universe can't give you something that you don't say out loud and make efforts to achieve. If one door closes, you can be sure that an even bigger, brighter door is waiting for you. You just need to have faith in the time that both doors are closed, that great things are in store for you. Trust in the natural timing of the universe, every step is necessary to take you where you need to go.
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Starting the day with self-care enhances the probability that the focus is more on you having control over the tone of your day rather than letting it be determined by other people. This can be through those in your life needing something from you, the latest developments in the lives of people on your social media, celebrity stories, stores wanting you to buy their product, people selling their services, and/or the news detailing what is happening in your city or around the world. Focusing externally makes you more reactive, more likely to make comparisons with other people, and leaves you with a feeling of underlying anxiety. In contrast, focusing internally shifts your energy into feeling more peaceful and ready to handle the day with confidence.
The world constantly spins around us but when we cultivate an unshakeable inner peace, we are not affected as much by the energy of other people or the constantly changing ups and downs in life. Instead of having moods change like the ocean waves coming in and out, being happy when circumstances are what you want and people act the way you ideally wish them to be, and then unhappy when life does not conform to your wishes and expectations, you dive down deep where the water is perfectly still. You put a gap between the words and actions of other people and what you say and do in return. I always remember Dr. Wayne Dyer's advice, "what other people do is their karma, how you react is your own". There are laws that no individual can escape, no matter what their power, privilege, or wealth get them out of in this life. I feel it is important to always speak your truth to help to achieve just outcomes but then let go and let God take care of the rest. The power imbalances in society are set up to protect certain groups of people while scapegoating others, and this will take a long time to correct. People with privilege will continue to fight hard to retain their privilege but it is always worth your time and effort to challenge them. This is how society changes and this is how the world changes. I have learned that negative emotions towards others keep one tied to the wheel of samsara, the never ending cycle of birth and death. Radical forgiveness is necessary to finally be free. Just because you forgive someone, it does not free them of having to face the consequences of their actions. Holding onto these toxic emotions stops you from fulfilling your divine destiny. Trust that the universe is perfectly just and fair and you will find yourself transformed. I love affirmations, the correct way to phrase them is, "I am __________. Suggestions include, "I am beautiful, I am strong, I am powerful, I am kind, I am loving, I am compassionate, I am generous, I am wealthy, I am courageous, I speak my truth honestly and genuinely, I feel safe and secure, I am peaceful, I am radiant, I am successful". Always phrase affirmations in the present tense, as if they are already true. Smile while you say them; the famous Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh says that smiling from your eyes, genuinely and authentically, relaxes 300 muscles in your face. Say them by faith and with enthusiasm, never mechanically. Affirmations and positive self-talk go a long way in countering the inner critic that we all have living rent free in our minds. Your thoughts create your reality so guard them preciously. Focus your energy on what you want to create rather than what other people say about you, or what you believe they may think about you. Successful people drown out the noise of what other people say by focusing on their talents and strengths. They don't compare their achievements with other people. They focus their time and energy on creating their best lives, on running their own race. Practice visualization of your ideal life. What are your top 5 strengths? How would you describe yourself in 10 adjectives? What type of work are you doing? Who are you with? Where do you live? Do you travel? What types of people are your friends? What activities to you participate in? What does a typical day look like for you? What are your most significant relationships characterized by? How are you living out your top 5 values? What type of impact and legacy are you creating and leaving in the world? How is your family, friends, local environment and/or the world at large benefitting from your knowledge, skills and experience? What types of conversations would you like to be having and with who? You can journal the answers to these questions and picture yourself mentally living this life. Feel how you would feel if you were living your ideal life. Do some morning yoga to give the body an energy and flexibility boost. I love to watch Yoga with Kassandra, Boho Beautiful and Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. Immerse yourself in more inspiring ways of approaching life, learn new ways of thinking from people you admire via reading their books or listening to their YouTube or podcasts. Even 10 minutes of uplifting material a day can shift your focus from sadness to joy, and from pessimism to hope. Engage in guided meditation, mantra meditation, walking meditation or simply observe silence with or without music. Meditation changes the wiring of the brain so that you are calmer regardless of what happens in your environment. The goal of meditation is not to stop having thoughts, it is to become more aware of the nature of the mind, specifically the self-sabotaging patterns that hold you back from reaching your potential. You become aware of how certain beliefs you hold do not serve your best interests and you become better able to let these go. Over time, the gaps between your thoughts will grow, and your energy will be less affected by the changing waves of life. You will have more fresh thoughts, rather than recycling the same thoughts from day to day, week to week and year to year. Commit to having a 20 minute practice a day for at least a month. This will hopefully create a self-sustaining habit after you notice yourself being calmer and more confident. Mudras are hand gestures that are used during meditation or affirmation practices to create a better energetic flow throughout the mind and body, I find using these can enhance concentration and ability to tap into one's inner wisdom. Do some deep breathing for at least 5-10 minutes a day. Most of our breathing is shallow during the day. Deep breathing energizes the body, mind and spirit, assists in immune and digestive processes, and increases clarity of mind. Do a morning face massage, this wakes you up, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and can give energy for the day. TheMoments, Yasuko Kawamura and Su-Man all have high quality videos to choose from. In reflexology, they say massaging different points on the feet can promote healing in other areas of the body. You can do this manually and/or you can use a foot massager to ease tension and stress from the feet. Using a foam roller is also a great way to ease accumulated tension from other areas of the body, which can have a positive impact on your posture. Journalling can be cathartic, because it is a way to release repressed emotions in a safe way, and untangle your thoughts which can be jumbled or unclear in your mind. Writing promotes enhanced understanding of the heart of your issues, enabling you to be more effective in targeting thought and behavioural patterns that need to be changed. Writing down future goals and aspirations, as well as steps you can take to move closer to these goals increases the likelihood of you taking concrete and measurable action, rather than passively waiting for a dream to come true. Different oils and scented candles can change your mood. I think of lighting a candle is igniting the fire and passion of life. I use cinnamon and peppermint to energize and ylang ylang and lavender to wind down. You can cultivate a gratitude practice composed of thinking about three things you were grateful for the previous day, or you can write these down. No matter how difficult the challenges you are facing, focusing on what is going well in your life will shift your mindset from lack to abundance. The aspects of our lives we focus on will grow, so always focus on things that are going well for you. My favourite detox tea which I have every morning is a mix of cumin, coriander, fenugreek and fennel. I combine a half cup of each of these seeds in a bowl, mix them, and put a teaspoon into a large cup of boiled water. Let the seeds sit for at least a half hour in the water and strain them out. This beverage is best served warm though you can sip on the water all day if you want to. I invite you to try at least a few of these activities each day for at least 21 days, so this can create a habit that can uplift your energy and vitality. I have felt so much better since starting my day in a way that prioritizes my mental well-being, which in turn has increased the quality of everything I do. |
Samantha SamuelsPsychotherapeutic services in Peel region Archives
December 2022
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