Acceptance

Life is hard, and no amount of positive thinking, affirmations or goal-setting can change that. And, that fact isn’t a good or bad thing. It just is. And most of the time the "problems" that we are wrestling with come down to the fact that there is a gap between who we want to be and who we are today. And, as humans we have two solutions to "cure" our unhappiness-keep hustling and fighting to create the life we want, which can work but can leave you exhausted and burn out. Then, there is another choice to choose to accept. Acceptance is the exact opposite of hustling and fighting. Acceptance doesn’t need reality to change in any way. It allows what is, to just be. Acceptance is also the gateway to gratitude. When you choose acceptance, you choose to slow down and to cherish what you already have and what you already are. Finally, acceptance can let you see that not all goals are worth pursuing and perhaps all your hustling isn't worth it either. Today, consciously choose to stop fighting and focusing on how unhappy, unsatisfied and maybe even a little afraid you are and instead choose to accept. Choose to accept life exactly as it is and then choose to find what you are grateful for in that life. Acceptance and gratitude can soften this "hard" life one, hour and one day at time. Today set your intentions to accept things exactly as they are and to be grateful for all of it for in reality it is the only thing we have right now, in this moment and we are never promised anymore than that. Today choose to accept.

Just for today, I release all fears and doubts. I accept myself exactly as I am and create peace in my mind and in my heart. I am grateful for every experience I have ever had for they have taught me so much and they have made me wiser and stronger. I am safe, divinely protected and loved. And, out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Hang in there!

We are living in an emotionally intense time in between two eclipses and in the midst of Mercury Retrograde. Those two cosmic events are urging you and I to let go of our past by bringing unprocessed and unconscious feelings to the surface, so we can let them go. It is also a time of review and re-visioning. With all that past stuff that is coming to the surface, you just might be looking at your past wondering why you made such bad choices. Or, perhaps you are anxious about your uncertain future. Whatever your feeling know that it will pass and all you need to do in this moment is to keep hanging in there. Today, set your intentions to remain in the present moment. Allow the uncomfortable feelings to move through you and have compassion about your past, and confidence about your future. The intensity is almost over so today, be willing to let go even if it feels uncomfortable, be willing to forgive yourself and be willing to accept yourself, exactly as you are right now. As it has been said, this too shall pass, it may be pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.

Just for today, I am willing to release the need for struggling and suffering. I deserve all that is good in life and I lovingly allow myself to accept it. I am grateful for every experience that I have ever had for they have shaped me into the person I am today and that is exactly who I am supposed to be right now. I forgive myself for all past perceived mistakes and I choose to love and accept myself exactly as I am. I am safe. It is only change and everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Self talk

Talking to ourselves in a nurturing way can be a challenge if we rarely heard nurturing words as we were growing up. In fact, if we were often criticized or neglected, we probably learned to criticize and neglect ourselves. And, it is your self-talk, which is actually programming yourself for your statements to become your truth. And, if you repeat anything over and over again, it will become your truth and you will attract more of what you keep telling yourself. Today, consciously listen to the messages that you keep telling yourself over and over. The words you use in your everyday life have power. They can either destroy or build relationships with yourself and other people. Getting mindful of your self-talk is one of the best forms of self-love and self-compassion. Today, choose the words that you say to yourself wisely. You will never speak to anyone more than you speak to yourself in your head. Today, choose to be kind to yourself. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Give it to yourself today through support and comforting self talk. Today, don't be a victim of your negative self talk-remember you are listening!

Just for today, I monitor my self talk making certain that it is uplifting and supportive of myself and others. I no longer judge or criticize myself. I am doing the best I can with the knowledge understanding and awareness that I have right now. I am my own best friend. Other friends will come and go but I am always here for and with myself. I am safe and I am willing to change. Everything is working out for my highest good and so it is.

Express yourself

The Universe wants us to express our deepest feelings so we can be healed. It is teaching each and everyone of us how to communicate our feelings by triggering all of those feelings that we have hidden deep within us-those feelings of hurt, anger, frustration and perhaps despondence. Whether those feelings are from childhood or from more recent events, deep emotions are being triggered so we can express what's in our hearts, even if it feels frightening or perhaps in some cases a waste of time. Today, create some quiet time to listen to the feelings that are being triggered within you. The better you are at speaking your truth, the easier this will be for you to move through these emotionally charged times. Today, begin to understand that a little communication will go a long way.

Just for today, I am a clear thinker, I express myself with ease. I am safe when I express my feelings. I can remain serene under all circumstances. I am comfortable enough with my emotions to let them out freely. I let my tears flow when I am sad and I rejoice openly when I feel joy. Life brings me only good experiences from which I can learn, change and grow. Everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Forgive but do not forget

Living a life where you hold on to resentment, anger, and frustration toward someone is painful. Anger, bitterness, and resentment doesn’t change the past; it keeps you stuck in it. And, by now, you may know that forgiveness is the key to freeing yourself from the past. However, you may have also been told to forgive and forget. But, that may not be the best advice for your personal growth. In fact, forgetting what you learned about the person through your toxic experience may be what is causing you to repeat the same experience with the same people over and over again. Today, set your intentions to forgive, but NOT to forget. Today, choose to release the burden of anger and resentment, and forgive. And, instead of forgetting what your hurt is trying to teach you, choose to remember the lessons that you learned from your hurt and not to forget them. Today, learn from your pain instead of wallowing in it and instead of repeating it, choose to forgive, but remember.

Just for today, I am willing to forgive. I forgive everyone for all past perceived wrongs. I release them with love. They are now free and I am now free to move forward with love in my heart. I forgive myself for not being perfect. I am living the best way I know how. I choose to learn something new about myself every day. I forgive and set myself free. I am safe, divinely guided and protected. Out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Giving up can be a good thing

Most of us were taught that giving up is weak. And, that if you do give up on something that you are a quitter-something no one wants to be labeled as. However, you might be experiencing a situation that isn’t working and wondering whether you should persevere a little longer. You might wonder whether more time will allow you to fix the problem/the person or reach the goal. After all, people always say, “Never give up.” But, I’ve come to understand that there are times that call for us to call it quits. The big question is how do you know that it is time for you to give up. One big signal that it may be time to give up is when your quest to solve a problem takes over all other aspects of your life and you can’t stop thinking about your situation. Then it might be time to reconsider the reason why you keep trying. Another signal that it may be time for you to give up is when you begin to doubt yourself and who you are. And, when you first wake in the morning and ask your intuition what does it tell you to give up on. Making the decision to give up might not be easy, but it will open the door to new and more fulfilling life experiences. Letting go will set you on a path of learning, growth, and expansion! Sometimes giving up is good!

Just for today, I am willing to let go. I find it easy to change a thought pattern or belief. I am enough exactly as I am. I am lovable because I exist. All Life loves and supports and in truth, everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is.

Follow your feelings

One of the hardest things to do in a world where everything is immediate and time is a scarce commodity is to just let yourself experience your feelings. Most of us are not very good at allowing ourselves to fully experience our emotions without trying to speed up the process to just get over it quickly. Today, allow yourself to really experience the emotions that in all likelihood have been bubbling up from within you. Do not run from your feelings or try to rationalize them away. Your feelings are screaming out to be heard. So, today allow yourself to express all the emotions that you have buried beneath the surface. It can feel challenging to be more sensitive and to feel your feelings. Yet, it can be so cleansing. And, when you allow yourself to feel your feelings, you can tap into the immense intuitive powers that the energies of your feelings can bring. Today, allow yourself to feel all the feels. And then allow yourself to dream of what you would love your life to look like. Your feelings and your imagination are calling you to visualize a more beautiful future. Today, let your feelings be your guide.

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 I like. I am safe when I express my feelings. I can remain serene under all circumstances. I am centered and focused. I feel more secure each day. I am safe, divinely guided and loved. Life supports me in every possible way and out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Shame

“We cannot grow when we are in shame, and we cannot use shame to change ourselves or others.” And shame is what may be coming up for you right now during these retrogrades and eclipses! And, as humans, we are good at sheltering shame inside us. Odds are you no matter what has happened to you in your life, you have internalized feelings of unworthiness from shaming messages you’ve received from parents, teachers, and peers during your “formative” years. As we grow, we begin to internalize the shame and add to that foundation of shame, after we make bad choices or mistakes. We then begin to see our world through a filter of shame, keeping that shame hidden deep inside of us because we are fearful that others will see our shadows. As we build that secretive place of shame, we tend to disconnect, isolate, and hide within a cloak of shame. We isolate ourselves in our way of protecting ourselves. But, although we feel protected, we also are disconnected from the life around us. Today, it is time to uncover your shame, feel it, understand, accept it and then let it go. People from your past or perhaps your present during this retrograde time may come into your life for the purpose of triggering your shame. But, today, instead of isolating yourself, it is time to look at your shame and to see it for what it really is and show yourself some compassion, instead of judgement. Today, you can literally begin to rewire your shame filter with new experiences of self-empathy, and inner compassion. Today, understand that you did the best you could in any given situation and then, shower yourself with love and compassion. It’s scary bringing shame to light, but the minute you allow yourself to do so, you will step into a newfound freedom, you will learn who you are outside of the identities everyone else has given you; you will become fully yourself. You will able to see the worthy, deserving, more-than-enough person that you have always been. Let go of the shame today, it’s only holding you back and you are so deserving of so much more!

Just for today, I release the need to judge or criticize myself. I am all doing the best we can with the knowledge, understanding and awareness that I have right now. I forgive myself for all past perceived wrongs. I am now free to love myself exactly as I am. I release all shame from the past. I am willing to release it and live in this moment. Life supports me in every way and out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Eclipse portal

We are currently in a portal in between two eclipses (and Mercury Retrograde) and it is a time of letting go, wrapping up karmic patterns, and initiating new beginnings. Mercury Retrograde is a time of re-flection, re-visiting, re-doing, and re-imagining. So, there is a good chance that you are most likely confronting aspects of your life you've attempted to sweep under the rug or "thought" you were done with. But, the Universe won't allow you nor I to ignore those aspects and they are all coming to light now. And, that is what June will be all about. Your life review. In fact, if you are not examining almost everything in your life, then you might want to take some time to do so. This is your time to tune into what is really important to you, not your ego or what other people think you should be doing. Today, set your intentions to use the energies of this eclipse portal to slow down. to re-think, to re-pair, to re-view, to re-cognize, and to re-evaluate, where you are right now and where your soul wants you to go.

Just for today, I focus my attention on loving myself and trusting the Universe. Regardless of my setbacks, I always have a comeback in me. I am a capable person. I can handle anything that comes my way. I am safe, divinely guided and loved. And out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.

Hurt feelings

During a retrograde it can be easy to get your feelings hurt due to the actions or words of others. In fact, as a highly sensitive person you may often find your feelings hurt by other people. However, when you base your feelings on other people’s opinions, you are allowing them to control your life. You are basically allowing them to be your puppet master, and when they pull the strings just right, you either feel good or bad. And when you give ownership of your feelings over to others, you give up control over your emotions. The fact of the matter is, the only person that can hurt your feelings is you. To change how other people’s actions make you feel, you only need to change a thought. This step sometimes takes a bit of work because your thoughts are usually automatic or even on the unconscious level, so it may take some digging to figure out what thought is causing your emotion. But once you do, challenge it, question it, or accept it. Your emotions will follow. Today, recognize that when you give ownership of your feelings over to others, you give up control over your emotions, over your life. In truth, the only person that can hurt your feelings is you. Conversely the only person who can make you feel worthy and valuable is you. Today, choose to stop worrying about what other people think of you and free yourself from the prison of approval and begin to start living your life authentically you.

Just for today, I am far more than other people's opinions. My opinion of myself is the only one that counts. I allow myself to succeed. I am far more than my past thinking. As I move through other people's belief and opinions, I see within myself a beautiful and wise being. I love what I see when I look inside me. It does not mater what other people say or do. What does matter is how I choose to respond and what I choose to believe about myself. I am doing the best I can with the knowledge, understanding and awareness that I have right now and all is truly well in my world. And so it is.

Mercury Retrograde in Gemini

Mercury goes retrograde today and will continue for for the next three weeks. As Mercury is the planet of communication, contracts, technology and media, its retrograde is a time where these things may come into our conscious awareness a little more in the form for communication snafus, challenges and flat out confusion. Communication seems like it should be easy, but there are often so many layers involved that it can become complicated. We each have our own perspectives, beliefs and ways of communicating which can color our experience. Very often it is a lack of communication or even miscommunication that is at the root of most of our conflicts. With Mercury turning retrograde, it’s an opportunity for us to pause, sit back, and reflect on how we are choosing to communicate, and what we are communicating to others and to the Universe. (What is all our whining communicating to the Universe?) However, Mercury Retrograde is not to be feared or dramatized. Mercury Retrograde is a time to take a deep breath and to look at how the information you ingest and the technology you use. And, whether you are using them consciously or unconsciously and how they are influencing your decisions, your communication, your mental health and your overall well-being. Under the spell of this Mercury Retrograde, decide to ingest information from the world around you consciously or perhaps take a break from social media or reading the news all together. Instead, use your time to retreat to a quiet space and begin learning the sound of your own voice speaking to you. When you connect with your inner voice it will bring you great power. And, when you are free to express yourself and how you really feel, it can inspire others to do the same and can allow those around us to know exactly where we stand and how we wish to be treated. It is definitely not easy to reach this place of speaking and connecting from a place of pure authenticity, but today take the first step by going within, learning to get still, clear the mental clutter, and listen to the still voice that resides within. It is only from that place of inner knowing can you fully, clearly and unequivocally speak your truth, ask for what you need and to become clear with who you really are. Today, set your intentions to slow down, get quiet, listen and learn how to clearly communicate to the world what you need and who you are.

Just for today, I communicate clearly and honestly. People can trust what I say. I love to communicate my feelings for they attract loving experiences and people into my life. I am safe when I express my feelings. I can remain calm under all circumstances. I am divinely protected, guided and loved. And, everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

It's the journey

It is easy to become frightened or overwhelmed when you don't know what your next steps in your journey look like, especially when all you want to do is to move forward out of the place you are right now. However, the Universe wants you and I to stop focusing on the finish line, where we want to be in the future, and instead, focus on the journey and where we are right now in the present. Today, consciously stop focusing on what comes next, your future and just be curious about yourself and enjoy the small and lovely moments along the way. It is in the moments of every day that we are given subtle cues on where to go next and what or whom to let go of so that we can begin again. We are all being asked to start a journey on a new path. A path that is full of acceptance of our imperfections and which will feel deep and genuine. This path is messier and the road is winding, but when you take it you feel fully alive, which is in truth the only thing that we are supposed to feel and experience in this life. Today, consciously stay present and aware of how you feel and listen to the small subtle voice that in truth will guide you to your next steps and where all the answers to all the questions you shall ever ask reside. Today, live in the present and connect to what matters and serves your the highest good.

Just for today, I release all negative thoughts of the past and worries about the future and live in this present moment. I recognize that my point of power is always in the present moment. I am a powerful person because I live in the present moment. I am grateful for every experience that I have ever had for they have shaped me into the person I am today, and that is exactly who I am supposed to be right now. I am safe and I choose to live with this understanding that I am always in the right place, doing the right thing at the right time. Everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.

The ghosts of your past

Saying no to others and setting healthy boundaries can be challenging, especially if you have spent most of your life saying yes, acting on the belief that other people's needs were more important than your own needs and attracting people who liked you just because they knew that they could manipulate you into saying yes and thus, meet their needs. Of course, you are meeting their needs at your own expense which is little concern to those people who have come to expect to use you. When you choose to change and set healthy boundaries, those very same people will protest and attempt to shame you back into the person you used to be-the one that met all their needs. Today, it is time to come to terms that you can no longer be the person you used to be and to secure your boundaries so that you do not slide backwards in an attempt to make the other people happy and thus make yourself feel safe. Today, respect and love yourself enough to recognize when something isn’t healthy for you and respect your inner knowing. Today, be confident enough to set clear boundaries to protect yourself, even when the ghosts of your past appear to stir fear and doubt in you. Remember, the only people that get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones that are benefiting from you having none. Today, focus on getting your needs met and on setting healthy boundaries. The way you treat yourself sets the standards for everyone else.

Just for today, I deserve better than I have accepted in the past. I respect my healthy boundaries and I insist that others do too. I am safe when I say no. I know what I want and I do not have to apologize for it. I am lovable I am loving and I am loved and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.