Good Vibes 101

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When’s the last time you sat down and thought about nothing? Like actually nothing… As in, listen to your breath and forget about what you should be doing, or that thing that happened yesterday. Have you ever actually taken the time to meditate? To feel yourself sitting in a chair with the energy and weight of the universe holding you in place, allowing your mind to feel the release from the everyday hustle.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been taking time out of my day to meditate.  I thought that starting rituals would increase my vibe for the day.  I wake up, drink my lemon/ginger tea, diffuse some oils, light the candle in my salt candle holder, and breathe.  This has done wonders for the way I approach my day.  But this morning was different.  I did all of the things I usually do, but my mood was guiding me toward something new.  I had the uncontrollable urge to throw on some vinyl and listed to music. After sifting through my box of records, I found the Fleetwood Mac album that I was gravitating toward.

As I started up the music, I had an equally irrepressible urge to let go and dance to the music; to feel Stevie Nicks’ voice radiating through my entire body.  It was liberating!

While my morning rituals do start me off with a good vibe for the day, I realized today that I had just been going through the motions.  I needed to deviate from my routine in order to find the breath of frankincense-filled air I was looking for.

Take some time out of your day to throw the proverbial wrench into your daily routine. Find something your soul is naturally gravitating toward and choose the path you wouldn’t normally take today. You never know what you’ll find.

If Nobody Told You… I Will.

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I sometimes have a small, stray thundercloud that follows me around.  It makes me act a little sad, a little impatient, and maybe a little angry at trivial things.  This thundercloud feeds on anxiety and apprehensiveness. It amplifies sadness and uncertainty.  It tends to rain on those around me who didn’t realize they needed an umbrella.  It floods my head with thoughts that are not my own, and sends residual uneasiness into the lives of those I care about the most. I really don’t want to feed the thundercloud any longer, but sometimes it’s easier to weather the storm than it is to reach through and try to find the sunshine.

Living with this storm is a challenge.  It’s the first thing that comes to mind in the morning, and the very thing that initiates sleepless nights.

Sound familiar?

If so- if you are feeling lonely, unworthy, or getting eaten alive by the hole that lives in the pit of your stomach, then hear me out.  If nobody told you today, I will.  I will put my arms around you and tell you what needs to be said.

You are worth it. You are valued. You are loved.

Don’t give up. There is sunshine behind the clouds.

Write that down and repeat it to yourself until you believe it.

Because it’s true.

Balancing Act

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For the past few years, I really thought my journey through this life was orbiting around service to others– Specifically by shifting my energy toward helping people be better in every situation.  During the work day, I would try to stay calm during stressful situations in order to keep a positive energy in the space.  I would remain understanding whenever other people were voicing their thoughts.  I tried to do everything I could to help others learn a lesson during every encounter.

Throughout this time, I tried my best to take my own energy by the reigns.  Through mediation, journaling, diffusing oils, and drinking A LOT of herbal tea, I have continued down my own path to self-realization.  While this journey takes a lifetime, the sooner I found solace within myself, the sooner I found life’s obstacles getting less and less relevant to my happiness.

However, I have started to see these two things clash here and there.  Sometimes I am talking to someone and no matter what I say or how I act, they are still so filled with negative energy that there is no stopping them.  It was really starting to throw me out of kilter.  This is when I made the decision to categorize these situations as they come.  It became: “If you are not serving me or using this situation to make yourself better or to help me become better, then Scram. Go away. Scat.”

I don’t mean treat everyone as they treat you initially because sometimes first impressions can be rocky.  You may want to reach out and shake somebody right off the bat (see Be Patient Please).  You will soon see whether or not this can become a teachable moment.  If you see a window to help make that person better, go for it; but if the windows and doors are bolted shut, then you’re better off trying the next house.

In Training

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During an easy four-mile, post-pasta dinner (last night) run this morning, I looked down at my half marathon shirt. On the left sleeve, it reads In Training.  I started to think to myself, what exactly am I In Training for?  Another 13.1 at the beginning of the year was the obvious answer.  However, there is so much more behind that.

I woke up on this chilly morning– bloated from a heavy dinner, not wanting to pull myself out of my warm bed.  My husband was going to meet a buddy at the gym, so I decided to make myself go against my wishes to spend my day off lounging around.  I walked into the gym, stepped on the treadmill, and started to run.

My legs started to burn and my hips tightened with every step.  Though with this muscle reaction came clarity.  Enter the love/hate relationship with running.  With the initial pain and discomfort comes a breath of fresh air.  Not only am I training for several races over the next few months, I am training my mind to accept the clarity and fresh air it needs to make it through the overwhelming times.  I am in training for patience;  I am training for persistence, and I am training for dedication to the things that make me happy despite the discomfort along the way.

 

“Because Why?”— Getting to the Root Of Your Problems

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Most of us are familiar with the ever popular “Because Why?” banter that often occurs during conversations with young children. No matter how deeply you try to explain something, they always want to know more. While it is flattering that they think we know all of the answers, their persistent curiosity can end up being slightly irritating after awhile. Why can’t they just accept a definite answer and move on with the day? A very interesting question— which leads me to another: Why do we only accept a definite answer and move on with the day? Getting to the root of your problems can be easier than you think.

Even the most positive, happy, and successful people have challenging days; the ones when you feel like you’re in a rut and you can’t find the way out. Now and then, challenging days can result in a bit of a bad mood.We’ve all been there— a bunch of silly “bad” things happen which lead you to feel frustrated. You then take it out on someone else, leading you to feel remorse because you realize the other person literally had nothing to do with your flat tire or that you spilled coffee all over your white shirt. These are the moments when we need to take a step back and channel our inner 4-year-old:

“I’m angry with you.” Because Why? “Because my day is ruined.” Because Why? “Because I was late to work.” Because Why? “Because I woke up late.” Because Why? Because I was up late.” Because Why? “Because I was searching online.” Because Why? “Because I was looking for other income options.” Because Why? “Because I’m living paycheck to paycheck and need some relief.”

Therefore, you’re angry because of your current financial situation, not because Bob in the cubicle next to you was tapping his pencil too loudly. Take the time to find the root of your problem as opposed to letting trivial things build up and create a massive breakdown that doesn’t result in addressing the real issue.