You’ve Got a Friend

“Self-care is never a selfish act; it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer

As she walked out the door, my friend Gloria said, “What would we do without our friends?” Three of us enjoyed a great lunch together and precious time to catch up. All three of us were going through a similar challenges and were surprised to learn that the others were experiencing the same.

There is a tendency to keep things to ourselves. We can minimize what we are experiencing and don’t want to bother anyone with our problems. Sometimes there are feelings of shame or guilt and it feels too vulnerable to share them out loud. The fear of rejection alone can keep us from connecting with others.

No doubt about it, reaching out takes courage. But the benefits far outweigh the fear. Friends can offer words of comfort, can listen without judgement and be physically present when we are going through something tough. Friends can help us build confidence when we are doubting ourselves. Friends help us be our best selves.

Reaching out to others is self-care. You are worth the time and energy. You are loved and appreciated more than you know. Summon your faith and courage and connect with a friend this week. Send a text and say hi. Or arrange for coffee time or a lunch. Be willing to receive. You will be so glad you did.

Send Love Instead

“If God is in all things, all things may be lifted to that vision of the Divine and are transformed by and through the lifting. When you see with the eyes the Christ, you are attending to the world before you in its Divine potential.” — Paul Selig, The Book of Mastery

Take a breath. I know, your heart hurts. Your body may be achy, your mind distracted. You are okay. You are in the midst of the grieving process. We witness so many tragic events in our neighborhoods and around the world each day. We are in a collective state of grief. Take another breath.

When feeling dismay and grief, our tendency can be to hide out and isolate. Give yourself the time for sorrow and tears. Feel the emotions with gentle tenderness. When you are ready, take a step out into the world. Your loving vibration is needed more than ever.

Being engaged can lift us up. Take small steps. Perhaps connect with your church, your bridge group or book group. Call a friend and meet for coffee. Take a class at the gym. Take a walk out in nature. Your energy, your compassion, your quiet whispers of prayers and hope are all needed in the world. Activist, filmmaker and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, Valarie Kaur, reminds us, “Revolutions do not happen only in grand moments in public view but also in small pockets of people coming together to inhabit a new way of being. We birth the beloved community by becoming the beloved community.”

Be gentle. Practice compassion. Having compassion for ourselves and others opens us to love and be loved. Compassion awakens love in us. Love is the healing power beyond judgment and blame. There is always a choice.

Practice visualizing what you want rather than what you don’t want. Ask each day “What is mine to do to make the world a better place?” Release judgment and anger and send love instead. Sending love raises the vibration for everyone.

Speak prayers of faith and hope and gratitude. Speak this attunement from Paul Selig aloud whenever you are feeling separate, angry, or judgmental. Speak it aloud for yourself when you are feeling fearful.

I am Love through the One I see before me.

I choose to see you, _____, in Love.

I choose to see you in your worth.

I choose to see you in your right to be.

I see you in your perfection.

I see you in your beauty.

I see you in your choices.

I am Love through the One I see before me.

Word I am Word.

You are the light of the world. Thank you for shining your light and love.

Imagine the Possibilities

“Everybody here on this plane is now ready to uplift whether they know it or not. If you can imagine right now that there is a tide that is rising and everyone is being lifted in this frequency, regardless of whether they know it or not, you will begin to understand that what is actually happening here is a global phenomenon.” Paul Selig, Book of Love and Creation

Almost everyone I know has shared about recently waking up in the middle of the night feeling anxiety and dread, worrying about things that may or may not happen. Our nervous systems are on high alert right now. What would it be like to contemplate a world of possibilities instead of thoughts of fear and dread. Imagine letting go of the worries of tomorrow and focusing on the infinite potential that await us.

Think about what the world would look like where we truly took control of our thoughts, prioritizing our desires rather than dwelling on what we do not want. While this wouldn’t magically solve all our problems, it would result in a calmer mind, a release of bodily stress, and a more peaceful vibration. As we see a greater potential for ourselves, we see that for others as well.

According to Joe Dispenza, the brain has the remarkable ability to form fresh neural connections and embrace new ideas. He states, “Spend time, contemplating who you want to be. The mere process of contemplating who you want to be, begins to change your brain.” As we shift to seeing things in a positive light, we raise our frequency. See yourself sending vibrations of love and peace.

We have an opportunity to send love where we see sorrow, to visualize peace where we see conflict, to recognize wholeness in the midst of lack. We can reframe what we are seeing and be open to infinite possibilities. When we refocus our energy and intention we contribute to a world that works for everyone.

See yourself sending vibrations of love and peace out before you. Affirm this attunement from Paul Selig:

“I am choosing now to recognize myself as a Divine Being in full manifestation. I rise above this planet. I rise above the limitations of this physical world, and I claim this: I am Love through all those standing before me on this earth.”

Thank you for raising the vibration of the planet.

Joy is Love

Joy is prayer; joy is strength, joy is love; Joy is a net of love, by which you can catch souls. “. –Mother Theresa

We can get so caught up in the busy holiday season and feel stressed, anxious, worried and overwhelmed. We can easily lose sight of the magic of the season.

Wouldn’t it be great to live the holiday through the eyes and awareness of a child? Here are some helpful tips.

1. Be Here Now. There is no tomorrow or later. There is only NOW. Try it for yourself. Spend the next 30 minutes being in the moment. It’s not as easy as it looks.

2. The Universe is abundant. There is no lack in a child’s world. They see the unlimited view. They will ask for what they want. If they get a ‘no’ answer, they’ll ask again. And again. And again.
 
3. Imagination is everything. We adults live inside the box. We see what we expect to see. Using the imagination expands our reality into unlimited possibilities.

4. Rules are meant to be changed. If you don’t like the outcome of your game, then change the rules. Change your mind. Change your thinking. Just change.

5. Love heals everything. A hug, a kiss or a smile can transform tears into laughter, discord into peace, separation into harmony. 

We discover the real joy of Christmas when we take time to slow down, be in the moment, give thanks for our blessings, and share a hug or a smile.  Perhaps if we take a moment to see Christmas from the eyes of a child, we can be in awe of the miracle of the season. 

 “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came without ribbons. It came without tags.”
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!” 
And he puzzled three hours, til his puzzler was sore. 
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!”
— Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas


May the Light of the Season guide your journey with Grace, fill your heart with Love and your life with Infinite Joy.

Christmas blessings and Love,

Christine

Caring for our Tender Hearts

“Pray for a tough hide and a tender heart.” –Martha Graham

Have you noticed that the holiday season sometimes feels like a rollercoaster of emotions? There are moments of joy, sadness, grief— all in the same day. 

We are all a bit fragile during the holidays. Our hearts are especially tender. There are expectations, demands, promises, hopes, fears, joys and worries all swirling together. And then often, there is grief. Grief from the Christmas memories from long ago, loss of friends and family, aging and loneliness, We have our own personal challenges to deal with as well as feeling the pain of humanity’s injustices. 

We do our best to honor the ups and downs. As we practice awareness, we are more willing to accept and allow our emotions and not get thrown off balance.

Here are some simple steps I take to bring me back to balance.

• Be mindful and acknowledge how I am feeling.

• Breathe and be in the moment.

• Be grateful for all the blessings in my life.

Love myself first and extend that love to others.

• Speak with loving kindness.

Here is a prayer that brings me back to Love:

I am grateful for this new day. I embrace this day knowing God is revealed as the radiant, energizing, joy-filled presence of Love. I know Love moves into the very cells of my being bringing light, harmony, and peace. I accept guidance to willingly let go of any resentment, hurt or disappointment. I invite the healing presence of Love to wash away any pain or darkness. I enter this day with a grateful heart and receive all the blessings Love has in store for me. And so it is. Amen.

May the light of the season guide your days with wisdom, fill your heart with peace and surround you with the presence of love.