Peace begins within you

It seems as if most of us have been searching for peace amongst the chaos that has been surrounding us for months, perhaps for years. However, most of us are looking for that peace in all the wrong places, things and people. However, when you recognize that life is your mirror, you can begin to understand that the outer chaos merely represents your mental state. And, when you can quiet your inner chaos, your outer chaos will also dissipate. It is only from cultivating an inner calm and centeredness that you will be able to transcend above any outer chaos. Today, is the day that you stop searching, seeking and wishing your way towards inner peace. Instead, begin by really using your affirmations, replacing the running inner dialogue of anger, frustration and fatalistic thoughts. Next, create a regular time during which you consciously choose to quiet your mind through whatever type of meditation works for you-watching tv, listening to podcasts and talking to your friends or therapist does not count as meditation. Meditation is about quieting your mind. No more excuses, you cannot create peace through your monkey mind. Today, remember, the outer world is a mirror of our inner world. If you can tame the inner beast inside, the dramas in your outer world will subside.

Just for today, I recognize that when I create peace, harmony and balance in my mind, I will find it in my life. The inner creates the outer, always. Because I keep myself centered in peace, I have peace in my outer world. I am the only power in my world and I create a peaceful, joyful fulfilling life. I am at peace and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Feeling the Full Moon

If you were lucky enough to see the moon last night you were treated to some luminous beauty, a preview of our Full Moon tomorrow. And, as we begin a new month with a Full Moon in Aries, you in all probability have already begun to feel the intensity of this fiery full moon. Today, before we experience the power of that full moon take some time to reflect on the many lessons that September brought you and me. It has been a month filled with lots of emotions. And, since Full Moons bring us culminations and endings, today would also be a good day to reflect on what you would like to release during tomorrow's full moon. Most of us right now feel some degree of uncertainty about our futures. Perhaps it would be a good idea for us to let go of the need to know what comes next; to know the outcome of the future. Today, contemplate how far you have come and how much you have accomplished this month. Despite our individual and collective suffering, wondering and worrying, each one of us has been growing in leaps and bounds. Today honor your growth and know that even if you do not want to change, you have been changed and your world will never look the same.

Just for today, I am proud of myself and all the lessons that I have learned this month. I am willing to learn something new every day. The more I learn, the more I grow. I recognize that each day is a new opportunity. Yesterday is over. Today is the first day of my future. I know that every obstacle is but a stepping stone. My good cannot be stopped. I am safe. It is only change and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Impermanence and attachment

Nothing and no one is permanent in our lives, no matter how hard to hold on or how many illusions you create to remain attached to them. And, love is not about attachment or permanence. Love is about spending time with another person, sharing moments, experiences, and each other.

The moment you make it about “keeping” another for your own gain, your own needs, it becomes about your ego, fears, and insecurities. Sometimes happiness and love for others is moving on and letting go. Today it is time to consciously allow yourself to let go of who you used to be; to let go of the people in your lives that no longer serve any purpose in your life and to let go of the fear of the unknown. It is time to let go of your life and the illusions that you are holding onto out of fear. It is time to let go of your past and stop creating illusions about how good it used to be. In reality, it was not and you and I need to change. Today allow yourself to let go and stop looking back. Today allow yourself to let go and when you do you will be free of the idea of attachment and permanence and you will be able to see the simple beauty of this moment, now. Be willing to let go-the past is over and the future awaits you only if you let go.

Just for today, I am willing to let go. I am willing to let go of all the people, places and things that no longer serve any purpose in my life. I know that old negative patterns no longer limit me. I let them go with ease. I let go of all expectations. People, places and things are free to be who they are and I am free to be me. I give myself permission to let go and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Over thinking is stopping you from moving forward.

Whatever issues life presents us, whether small or big, we think about them. We think about what to do, what not to do, and what would be “best” for us and for everyone around us. But how often do you think about your thinking? Have you ever stopped to question whether you are over-thinking, whether all your thinking, thinking, thinking is actually productive and how to stop the incessant loop that runs through your brain, which in reality is wasting time and does not achieve anything. Today it is time to recognize that all your thinking, planning and scheming is in actuality stopping you from moving forward. Today it is time to stop over thinking everything. It is time to consciously remain present-not in the past or the future but in the present where you can actually take practical steps towards achieving your goals. It has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Today stop thinking, thinking thinking and take a concrete step towards your future. Allow yourself to stop thinking, listen to your intuition and allow yourself to take a risk and take one step, knowing that you will only know if you are headed in the right direction when you actually take action in that direction. Today, take one step and then another.

Just for today, I do not fix my problems. I fix my thinking and then my problems fix themselves. I know that if I want to change my life on the outside, I must change the inside first. The inner creates the outer, always. I trust my intuition. I am willing to listen to that small still voice inside me and when I do I hear all the answers to all the questions I shall ever ask. I am willing to take the first step. I am willing to grow and change. Everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Gratitude

It may be challenging to step into a state of gratitude during this time of tumult and fear. But now, more than ever, you and I need to practice gratitude. The practice of gratitude can lift you out from under the heavy weight of your unsettling thoughts and feelings and move you into the direction of loving-kindness. Today, no matter what is going on in your life, make time during the day and before you go to sleep to count your blessings, to focus on what you have to be grateful for. It is a fact that you cannot be frightened when you are in a state of gratitude and acknowledging what you have to be grateful for will bring you more. Be grateful today!

Just for today, I am grateful. I am grateful to be alive another day. I am grateful for every experience that I have every had for they have taught me so much and have shaped me into the person who I am right now, who is exactly who I am supposed to be. The more I am grateful, the more I have to be grateful for. The supply is endless. I begin and end each day in gratitude and joy. I am safe and all is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Cultivate joy

It can be really challenging to find happiness and joy these days. However, it is still possible and perhaps it is essential for you and I to cultivate joy during these frightening and divisive times. And you may even feel a bit selfish and crazy to focus on happiness when the world around you is in so much distress. Yet, that is exactly why it is so important for you to do so. For when you cultivate joy, you contribute to raising your vibration and the vibration around you-you contribute to the culture of joy. Today, despite what is happening around you, actively seek out people, places and things that bring you joy. Take a walk, find ways to move your body that are fun and that lift your spirits; connect with people that make you feel loved. And, finally seek out things that make you laugh because it is true that laughter is the best medicine. The world needs you and I to once again feel good, uplifted and joyful. Today set your intentions to find joy because it is still out there you just need to seek it out, find it and make it your daily practice. Cultivating joy in your own life will ultimately change the world around you.

Just for today, I am surrounded by joy and laughter. How wonderful it is to be alive. I know that if I dwell on what I do not want that is exactly what I will get more of. I now affirm only the good in my life. I begin and end each day in gratitude and joy. I laugh at myself and at Life. Nothing can bring me down. Life supports me in every possibly way and out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Boundaries

Boundaries define us. They define what is you and what is not you. A boundary shows you where you end and someone else begins. It sounds so easy and yet many of us struggle with maintaining our boundaries because we were taught that it was selfish, self centered to say no to someone. However, boundary setting is not about being selfish. It is about protecting yourself and others. Because it’s not just about protecting yourself from others, it’s also about protecting others from your own potential toxic behaviors that may unconsciously occur when your needs are not being met-when you say yes when you really mean no. And setting boundaries is really about modifying your own behavior to conform to the reality that you are limited in what you can do for others. It means recognizing that to effectively bring your authentic self to others, you must care for yourself—not as an afterthought, but as primary focus. Today, it is time to become aware about your boundaries, or lack of them and begin to take steps to create better boundaries in your life. Begin by clearly defining your values-what do you really want. Then, set you intentions to say no when you mean no even if the other person attempts to guilt you into doing what they want. Finally allow yourself to ask for what you need and to make time for yourself. You have in reality trained the people in your life to "use you", to bully you and they have come to count on you to not have any boundaries at all because that meets their needs. Today it is time that you consciously stop making other people's needs and wants more important than your own. Today begin to ask for what you need. Say no when you need to, and when you say yes, mean it. As a result of you setting better boundaries, you will be able to be more compassionate toward others because your healthy boundaries will keep you out of resentment and anger because your needs will finally be met. Remember, the only people that will be upset about you setting healthy boundaries are the ones that benefit from you having none.

Just for today, I respect my boundaries and I insist others do too. I say yes when I mean yes and no when I mean no. I know what I want and I do not need to apologize for it. I am a master at setting healthy boundaries that save my time, energy, creativity and emotional well being. I ask for what I want. I am safe when I speak up for myself. I reclaim my power now and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Libra Season

Yesterday we entered Libra season. Libra is the sign of justice and with so many injustices being played out in our world today, you might just feel like the scales of justice would be tipping over. However, the key to keeping your personal scales balanced this month is to stay true to yourself and centered in what you truly believe in. Today begin to use the justice loving energy of Libra to help you heal your relationships and to bring balance to every part of your life.

Just for today, my mind and body are in perfect balance. I am a harmonious being. I am even tempered and emotionally well balanced. I am an open channel to creative ideas. I know that experiences will comes and go but my love for myself is constant. I trust the power the created me to protect me and guide me at all times and under all circumstances. I handle my life with joy and ease and all is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Fall Equinox

Happy Fall Equinox! The Fall Equinox is a day where we experience equal hours of night and day, symbolizing both duality and oneness. It is the halfway point in the astrological year and indicates a change in the flow of energy as we move through this next stage of the cycle. The Equinox is also seen as a time where the veil between dimensions grows thin, as it represents this idea of light and dark coming into balance. It is also a reminder that one can’t exist without the other. It is only when we have basked in the shadows that we can fully appreciate the light. It is only once we have ventured into the light that we can fully understand the shadows. On the Equinox, with the thinning veil, we can connect to the Oneness within and around us. And, today the Sun moves into Libra, adding more focus on your relationships and how you might just be selling yourself short in them-that you need to bring balance to them. Today on the first day of Fall, allow the energies of the Equinox to help you to evaluate where you are, find balance in your relationships and your life as a whole, methodically plan for the next steps in your journey, as you prepare for winter. Today, make time to tune into what balance means to you, how you can restore balance into your life and to take ownership of the direction of the rest of this year and the rest of your life.

Just for today, I recognize that I am one with everyone in the planet. I know that I have come to this planet to learn to love myself more and to share that love with others. For every problem that I may create I am confident that I can find a solution. My life is perfectly balanced between work and plan. I am safe and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Embrace the Uncertainty

Our lives are filled with so much uncertainty these days. And, uncertainty for most of us makes us feel vulnerable, so we try and escape it any way that we can. We convince ourselves that we are fortune tellers and can therefore see the future. We make ourselves crazy, spinning our minds through the same handful of scenarios we come up with, over and over again, never feeling any closer to some sort of resolution. However, it seems, despite our need for control, a great paradox of life is that it is only through the embracing of uncertainty that we actually can thrive. In fact, our lives are greatly determined by what we do when we get uncertain. And, without uncertainty, we might never grow because we would never be pushed beyond our comfort zones. Many people do not end up following their true passions because it is seemingly impractical, or because there is a large degree of perceived uncertainty associated with following that path. Today it is time to awaken to the fact that contrary to popular beliefs, not knowing exactly what will happen next in your life is okay. In fact, it is actually liberating. The ability to let go, not know, and not try to totally control what will happen next is a necessary skill for living happy, joyous, and free. And, when you accept that things are unknown, that you don’t have all of the answers, you can see that lessons are always available if you are paying attention. When you trust, let go, and embrace the uncertainty, that noise in your own mind subsides.

Ironically, the quietness created by letting go of the need to know then allows contact with your own intuition, and you actually get clearer direction from within your own heart and you can feel more certain about this direction. Today, let go of your need to know what comes next, trust yourself and your intuition to guide you and allow yourself to get comfortable with the uncertainty of life.

Just for today, I am willing to do something different. I am willing to step out of my comfort zone and experience my life in a whole new way. Each day I stretch my comfort zone a little further. I release all fear and doubt and Life becomes simple and easy. I feel safe and secure in my world. I trust Life. I trust myself and I trust that everything is always working out for my highest good. All is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Be compassionate

People are always fighting battles we can’t see, or know nothing about. Often their reactions to us are truly just a mirror of what is going on within them and has nothing to do with you. Remembering this will help you be patient, kinder, more empathetic, and far less critical and judgmental. Life is hard and some days the best we all can do is to show up using every ounce of energy and willpower we can possibly muster. And, none of us can be in top form all the time. You and I are human beings, not human doings. Today, choose to be compassionate and choose to notice what’s going on with the people around us and know that they suffer like you and that they are doing the best they can right now, just like you are. Today, allow people to be who they are and accept them and accept yourself just as you are.

Just for today, I forgive everyone for not being what I wanted them to be. I release all criticism of myself and others. As I release all judgement and criticism of others, judgmental people leave my life. I no longer judge or criticize others. I now recognize that we are all doing the best we can with the knowledge, understanding and awareness that we have right now. I now accept everyone as they are, including myself.. I am free to love who I am. I am safe. It is only change and everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Grieve

We are living in a time of unprecedented and volatile changes and loss. So, it is normal and natural that with these changes a variety of feelings arise-sadness, grief and anger. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that embraces toxic positivity. Scrolling through the incessant happy, exciting adventures on your social media feeds, you can begin to feel guilty or like there is something wrong with you when you have a normal human emotion like grief, anger, or sadness. The end result of us ignoring our pain, however, is that we actually are limiting our own positive emotions. For you see, you can only feel the positive emotions to the depth and degree that you allow yourself to feel deeply into the difficult, uncomfortable emotions. Any joy or happiness you experience is blunted and/or limited by your inability to lean into the difficult emotions you have as part of the human experience. Today, make some time to grieve and allow yourself to really begin to understand the impermanence of this life. Allow yourself to grieve the fact that nothing is forever. Today, acknowledge that all of life, our possessions, and our relationships are temporary. Making friends with impermanence can help you suffer less, and acknowledging impermanence encourages gratitude for all that is good in this moment. Today allow yourself to feel all your feelings and share them with those who you trust. Accept all your emotions with an open my heart, knowing you are not limited by them. Feel compassion for yourself and your own suffering and extend that compassion to those around you. Compassion encourages us to not turn away from suffering, but to lean into it. This is another way that feeling all of our emotions allows us to be fuller, more tender hearted human beings. Finally, be grateful that in reality that you and I are learning so much from our current losses and that we will come out of this time of loss, fear and great turmoil, stronger, smarter, more compassionate and ready for our next steps of our journey.

Just for today, I listen to my feelings and I am gentle with myself. I know that all my feelings are my friends, not just the ones that I like but all of them. Every experience I have is perfect for my self growth. I recognize that every obstacle is but a stepping stone. My good cannot be stopped. I feel safe in the rhythm and flow of my every changing life. I love life and out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Slow down and stop forcing things to happen

You might just be feeling like things have slowed down and that you are trudging through quicksand, forcing things to happen. And, that is the intention of Mars Retrograde. Mars Retrograde can bring delays and slow things down to a crawl, but this is only so you can take time to ensure that what you actually want to do is in alignment with your true and highest self. As humans, we find it hard to allow ourselves to slow down or to stop because it means that we must reconsider and re think which direction is really in our highest good. Most f us just want to keep moving forward without taking any time to really evaluate our next decisions or actions. Today, if you are meeting resistance, you might just want to stop and ask yourself if your heart is really into where you are headed or what you are doing. We all have so many lessons to learn right now. Today do not force things to happen. Instead just let them happen. If you try to force a decision, you are most likely to find that what you thought you wanted no longer aligns with where you have ended up. Today trust and listen to your intuition and take time to make your decisions. Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do. Today stop forcing and start flowing.

Just for today, I flow easily and effortlessly with new experiences, new challenges and new people who enter my life. I am proud that I can easily adapt to the ebb and flow of my life. I trust the power that created me to protect me and guide me at all time and under all circumstances. I do not force things to happen. I am willing to allow life to unfold the way it should. I am safe. I am willing to change and all is truly well in my world. And so it is.