I’ve always known that being yourself, speaking your truth, being authentic were important ingredients to why I am here on Earth. I knew those things were essential to simply existing, but I’ve never thought about it in regards to being vulnerable. In Brene Brown’s TED speech – The Power of Vulnerability – she gives poignant evidence to, well, the power of being vulnerable.

Her speech initially caught my attention because I wholeheartedly agree and believe that we are here for connection – connecting to each and every person, plant, and animal even while carrying around these body suits.

But here’s where my world shifted: In order to have true connection, you must be vulnerable. Oh shit.

I was thinking back on my own life where I’ve been vulnerable. For the first 29 years of my life, I had never experienced vulnerability. I lived the life of perfection. I was the perfect good girl. I had the perfect grades. And I had the perfect marriage. I was miserable. And then something shifted. I had to tell people that I was getting a divorce. In getting a divorce I felt like a failure. I was no longer perfect. I was vulnerable. And suddenly I was so much more likeable among my friends, coworkers, and colleagues. And for the first time I got a taste of true connection. Ever since then each and every time that I am vulnerable, the Universe rewards me in some way. And most likely you too.

Vulnerable is the willingness to say ‘I Love You’ first. It’s the willingness to do something without knowing the outcome just for the sake of your soul. Being vulnerable is being you without caring what others think.

Just saying the word ‘vulnerable’ is hard, let alone being vulnerable. Another way to think of being vulnerable is being seen. Yes, that’s even scarier, right? But we are at the point of our evolution where it is essential to be our true selves.

And I do believe that it is the secret to happiness. And here’s why. As Brene says, if you block out or numb being vulnerable, you also block out or numb the good stuff too – joy, gratitude, caring, empathy, etc. You can’t choose your numbing. It’s all or nothing.

Be Vulnerable.

Be Seen.

Be You.

Love you.

The accident happened on Mother’s Day and it was my first day home from college.  After Mother’s Day dinner, I apparently needed more excitement so I took off on a 3-wheeler.  The next thing I know I found myself in the woods struggling to stay conscious with blood everywhere and bones protruding. I made my way out of the woods at the exact time a woman and her son were taking an after-dinner stroll.  She happened to be a nurse and she sent her son running home to get a car.  The rest was a blur, except for the look on my mom’s face when she saw me.

For the next month, I was in excruciating pain as the doctors could not put my facial bones back into place until the swelling had gone down.  Not even Percocet was strong enough as I awaited surgery.  Would I ever look the same or was my ET-like face my destiny?  Meanwhile, I was studying for the LSAT.  Nothing was going to stop me from staying on track for law school.  Afterall, I felt fortunate to still have a functioning brain.

I often look back on that time and wonder why that accident happened. What was the message?

As I was sitting in the ER overwhelmed with feeling.  I was feeling everything so acutely.  Worse than the physical pain was the yearning to be having an ordinary Sunday night with my family.  A night that I would have otherwise taken for granted and had taken for granted countless other times.  Sunday nights still remain sacred to me.

And so this time around – 19 years later – I will not take moments for granted.  (And I will certainly not be riding ATVs.)

Enjoy your Sunday evening.

I am well into my third month since my fire was first lit with THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS. In my previous review after doing Module 1, I talked about the fire energy in which the FSS embodies. I am now through Module 3 and still loving it but for a different reason. While Danielle lights your creative spark in Module 1, she helps direct your flame in Modules 2 and 3.

I should probably give you a little background about how I came to purchase the FSS. I was considering hiring a business coach. As a life coach myself, I know that you must commit to multiple sessions to get the benefit and you ultimately get back what you put into it. At an average rate of $150/session, I knew it would be a time and money investment. I wavered back and forth on the decision. I also considered booking an individual FSS from Danielle. That’s when I first considered purchasing the FSS. I again put off the decision.

Then oddly enough, my RSS Feed for Whitehottruth.com no longer came to my Reader and I forgot all about it. I just figured that Danielle was taking a long vacation. But when one day the RSS feed magically resumed, I realized I had missed out on the deal of a lifetime: Danielle’s pay-what-you-can deal on her birthday.

I couldn’t believe that I had missed out on purchasing the FSS at probably $50. It was then that I had an epiphany! Do I want to get a $50 value out of the FSS or do I want to get a $150 value? The FSS is just like hiring a life coach – you get back what you put into it. It was then that I declared that I wanted to get (at least) $150 of value out of the FSS and ordered it. I was only half way through Module 1 when I had new inspiration, new motivation, new… well fire that far outweighed the price tag.

I have been working at my own pace all Summer with the FSS. It took me about a month to get through Module 1. Each time I would sit down to do a Session, I would inevitably only get about half way through when all these ideas would start flowing in. It was as if I was channeling an actual Fire Starter Session with Danielle. And I was so inspired by the ideas that I would actually put them to action – not just write them down and move on.

Module 2 and 3 continue to inspire but with more practicability and application. The resources that Danielle provides are invaluable. I know that I will (and already have) refer back to the FSS like a resource book on my shelf; but even better, I can just click to the resource from my computer.

So I am ready to move to the final Module. However, I feel myself stalling – you know how you sometimes do with a really good book that you don’t want to end.

Right now, I am still digesting a concept that has revolutionized my way of thinking:

“Becoming YOU is your [life] purpose. YOU are the very purpose of your existence.”

Chew on that for a while…

Order your copy of THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS by Danielle LaPorte!

Or just try a bite sized version… (it’s the best Module!)

Do you find yourself constantly striving to find a balance in your life? Because we live in a world of dualities, simple things such as work and play OR complex things such as the energy centers within our body can easily become out of balance. Ultimately all of our challenges come down to BALANCE whether it is stress, relationships, or health. And so is the case within our home.

Feng Shui is all about balance.

Just as yoga is about the breath in the body, feng shui is about the energy flow through your home. Both break up stagnant energy and blocks while bringing about balance. And, as a result, you have more vitality in your mind, body, and home. If your home lacks balance, then there are other areas of your life that lack balance as the two are interrelated

It is for this reason that I am thrilled to launch Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook.

This eWorkbook was inspired by a workshop that I held, called Feng Shui Your Life. By using the nine sections of the Bagua Map, we would look at all areas of our life and see where they fall within our home. It was fascinating for participants to actually “see” the state of certain areas of their life by seeing it in their house. For example, the kitchen trashcan may have fallen in the Relationship Corner or the toilet in the Wealth Corner making it apparent the current state of those areas for them. I would then provide suggestions on how to improve those areas of their home.

With a combination of improving the energy flow in their home and using conscious intentions and affirmations, positive changes in those areas of their life would follow.

Building on my knowledge, experience, training and intuition as a feng shui consultant and life coach, Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook will give you all the tools to bring your home and your life back into balance. My objective was to make this eWorkbook the closest virtual experience you will have to hiring your own feng shui consultant AND life coach, combined. I have attempted to provide you the information and practical applications as if I were in your house myself. The eWorkbook is designed to work through it chronologically, similar to a course, but to be done at your own pace.

Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook is created to help anyone who has an interest in improving the energy flow in their home and their life.

Along the way, you’ll learn foundational principles of Feng Shui and how to directly apply them to your home.

For more information (including a Sample) OR to purchase, click here!

We see it all the time. Sports figures retire, un-retire, re-retire, un-re-retire, and finally retire. If it wasn’t Michael Jordan, it was Magic Johnson, Jimmy Connors, Lance Armstrong, and now Brett Favre.  And while they go through this in front of the world, we all go through a similar struggle without the media attention. This struggle that I am referring to is the attachment to our “identity.”

And as our world undergoes major changes and shifts, most of us will also experience an identity crisis at some point, if not already.

The most common identity attachment is to our jobs whether it be in sports, law, banking, arts, medicine, or any other identifiable category. Typically, the more time and/or energy one puts into it, the greater the attachment to that identity. Take sports figures, for example. They have dedicated their entire life to that sport with an incredible intensity. The same could be true for someone who acquired lots of education in a particular field. Also the amount of income received can bolster one’s attachment to the identity. And, of course, society’s perception of the value of that identity weighs heavily.

In addition to attaching to an identity in the workplace, we also identify with certain role identities. For example, being a mom, being rich, having a great portfolio, driving a jag, being the homecoming queen, being spiritual, being vegan, being a Steelers fan, being the frat guy, and the list goes on. We will find any possible identity to hang on. Why?

We don’t know who we would we be without our identity. Our mind (ego) won’t let us just ‘be’.

The mind, or ego, attaches to an identity in order to categorize, separate, and, ultimately, survive. The problem is that these illusory labels are only temporary. The athletic body fades away, the kids grow up, you get laid off, your portfolio loses its value, or you finally retire. How many times have you seen this? A man works his entire life with hardly ever taking a sick day, he retires, and then suddenly his health deteriorates and/or he just dies. Jack Nicholson’s character in About Schmidt went through a similar experience. Upon retiring from the insurance business, he had no idea who he was, let alone his wife or daughter.

The word “identification” is derived from the Latin word idem, which means “same” and facere, which means “to make.” Therefore, when we identify with something, we are attempting to make it the same as our Self. But the only thing that we can really “be” is our Self.

The job, object, person, or role is just a temporary, illusive substitute which becomes a bottomless pit of seeking happiness.

In the Introduction of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, he gives a personal testimony of going from suicidal to enlightenment literally overnight. He attributes this dramatic shift to the loss of identification with anything. He describes this experience of nonattachment as follows:

“A time came when, for a while, I was left with nothing on the physical plane. I had no relationships, no job, no home, no socially defined identity. I spent almost two years sitting on park benches in a state of the most intense joy.” -Eckhart Tolle

While it is unlikely that most of us will experience such a dramatic loss of identification, many are currently grappling with a loss of identity either voluntarily or involuntarily. Many people are voluntarily changing careers after working their way up the ladder for years only to start back at the bottom in a new career. Although it is by choice, it can still be challenging to shed the former identity. In fact, I would guess that loss of identity unconsciously prevents many people from moving out of a career that is not satisfying.

I remember my own experience with this a few years ago. I was transitioning from practicing law to a more fulfilling career of yoga and energy healing. One day, my legal contracting clients suddenly dried up before I got my new career underway. I felt like I had fallen into a crack between two worlds. I suddenly had no identity. And no income.

After making decent money ever since entering the workforce, I had not realized how much “making good money” was part of my identity until it wasn’t there. Even with the ability to meet my expenses through savings, my identity as a money-making attorney was gone and my ego was blown. After a week of mourning, I began to dig deep within myself trying to find something with which to identify. This has often been referred to as “the dark night of the soul.”

The only thing left was my Soul. I realized that my permanent, inner Light is in fact my most valuable asset.

With the current state of the economy, many people are experiencing this same loss of identity.  Like an artist facing a blank canvas, it can be daunting. But this opportunity can be freeing at the same time. Shedding these egoic identifications can be liberating.  The involuntarily loss of identifications are forcing people to dig deep and find their true Self. And what they are finding is their soul. Their heart.

We are living in a time when our heart is our greatest commodity.  Like a compass, it will lead us the way in these times of uncertainty.

If you are someone who has recently lost or losing an identity, either voluntarily or involuntarily, don’t just search for the next one. Instead, use this as an opportunity to find your true Light. And let it guide you to your Soul’s inner joy.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Also check out the NEW Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook.  NOW AVAILABLE!

About a month ago I moved into a new home. Not literally new, but a 1904 brick Victorian. It had been occupied for eons by an old man, was completely renovated and even the subject of a Canadian reality show – Meet the Wilsons. It is now a beautiful, modern home with lovely exposed brick and a clawfoot tub. About a week into living there, I realized we were not alone, but shared the space with a ghost.

In the early 1900′s the home was a pastor’s home with its sister home being the church next door. Apparently our cohabitant had come to the pastor’s home for forgiveness, but didn’t get everything he needed. A week before Halloween I assisted him in moving onward and upward. I had gotten to know him and was oddly comforted by his presence. Moments after he left, I felt an emptiness in the house. It was a small sampling of what parents must feel when their child leaves for the weekend to go back to college. And like what most mothers do, I start busying myself to distract from the emptiness.

Within thirty minutes I see a mouse run across the kitchen floor. I scream. I can deal with ghosts, but NOT mice. Over the next few days, there were traces – my dog sniffing in odd places, another sighting, an uneasiness. I was to the point that I didn’t want to be home after dusk.

For many years, I have been compiling a list of the metaphysics of the home for a future book. As every part of our home is a representation of our emotional, mental, or physical Self. And my homes have always been my greatest teachers. And so I began to wonder what the meaning of all this was. And then I remembered what my client said, “I think I have an issue with taking up space.” And it hit me. I was not taking up my own space! This is just another way of saying, “I’m not using my power. I am underutilizing myself and allowing others to overpower me.” If you don’t take up your space, then someone or something else will – whether it be a ghost, mice, a competitor, your mother, or even a friend.

And if you can’t take up the space in your own home, then you sure as hell aren’t going to be able to do it out in the world.

When I realized that this was what was happening in my own home – that I energetically had not claimed the space as mine yet – I got to work. I cranked up Mumford & Sons, got out the mop, and amped up my energy. I was tired of being fearful of the mice. I was tired of something else taking over MY home. I felt a new sense of power that I had never felt before. I claimed it as my home and completely filled every corner and nook & cranny with my energy. This was MY house. I wondered where else in the world I haven’t been taking up my rightful space.

Have you taken up the space in your home? In the world?

I am happy to say that I haven’t seen a mouse since.

Claim your space.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

What if there was no such thing as “being selfish”?

I recently started really thinking about the word “selfish” after watching a discussion between entrepreneur guru Danielle LaPorte and Dyana Valentine in Danielle’s brilliant virtual video/book entrepreneurial rock-star experience, The Fire Starter Sessions. The two were discussing “when do you feel selfish” and “should you feel selfish” in regards to business and family. This got me thinking…

After all, I have had my own internal battle with selfishness. When you go from being a people pleaser for the first 29 years of your life and suddenly start living life for yourself, you get labeled “selfish.” By whom? Those people who benefited from your pleasing, of course. But, doesn’t that make them selfish for calling me selfish? (Oh wait, I’m not going to use that label anymore.)

How did the word “selfish” gain so much power?  In the English language, this word has really become a big deal and gets a bad rap.  What is so bad about focusing on yourself? In our society, it is a really bad thing to be selfish. It breeds the word “should” (which according to Louise Hay, should be abolished).  And the worst part is that it turns into the most powerful and damaging emotion in our current psyche: guilt.

Down here in the Bible belt, guilt is an emotion that is second nature. I thought I had worked through all of my guilt issues until the recent flood in Nashville. For those of us who were not victimized by the flood, we were instead left sitting in a big pool of guilt. There were so many people in need of emotional and physical support.

Finding a balance between helping folks and keeping my own life in check was difficult. I would feel guilty when I would sit down at a computer to do some work.  But then again, I knew the best thing that I could offer was that which I do best – and it’s not pulling out insulation and mold.   After about two weeks of this, I finally found some peace by finding a balance of doing light physical labor and deep energy healing for the city.

So what if the word “selfish” simply didn’t exist in our language?

Would we turn into a self-centered society never reaching out and helping our friends, family, neighbors, and strangers? Do we need to judge ourselves or others as being selfish to wake us up to the plight of others. Of course not! Instead, we could just be ourself. That’s right, we could just be our Self! Wouldn’t that be nice. And when we are our Self (with a capital “S”) we naturally do what’s right for ourself and the rest of the world. The word “selfish” implies that we are not good enough. And I just don’t believe that.

There are of course extreme cases in which people are just plain rude acting out of the plight of their suffering ego. But that is a mental illness and there is a word for that: Narcissism. In fact, according to Websters, Narcissism is defined as “the personality trait of egotism denoting vanity, conceit, or simple selfishness.” So from now on I am abolishing the word “selfish” from my vocabulary. And I hope you will join me. After all, at the end of the day, we are all just trying to get through the day the best we can, making the best decisions we can, and being the best we can be.

This reminds me of my favorite quote by Ghandi of course, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” This implies if we take care of ourself and be the best person we can be, that is the best thing we can do for our World.

Now go be Selfish… the World needs you!

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Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

It seems like lately everything I read stresses the importance of ‘being’.  What used to be words of only the enlightened masters has crept into all areas, including the business world.   The “do, do, do” mentality of the 80s and 90s has become “be, be, be” of the 2000s.

While I can sit and ‘be’ with the best of them, my practical side eventually rears its head saying, “with all this ‘being’, how do you ever get anything done?”  And so I pondered this question.

On an energetic level, ‘doing’ is an active, masculine energy, while ‘being’ is a passive, feminine energy.  Ultimately it is a balance (yin/yang) of these two energies that is optimal.  As a society, we are needing to balance as a whole and thus more feminine energies are permeating up from Mother Earth.

Putting the energy stuff aside for a second, I started to think back at all of the most pivotal times in my life… people, jobs, and situations.  I realized all of them just came to me or fell into my lap as opposed to my seeking it out.

Afterall, it is only when you are ‘being’ still that something can fall into your lap.”

Here is a personal example.

When I was graduating from law school and searching for my first law job, I sent out hundreds of resumes with not a single response. Then one evening at a law review reception, I saw my adjunct professor, who also happened to be a federal judge. Without even thinking about it, I walked up to him and asked if he knew of anyone hiring. He said, “Well, I am.” Within weeks, I was hired as his law clerk, which was far better than any of the jobs to which I had sent a resume. More importantly, he ended up being one of the most influential people in my life, which had nothing to do with law and everything to do with the meaning of life.

So you can see in my example where the delicate balance lies in ‘doing’ and ‘being’. I had enough active, doing energy to set an intention to get a law job (and to attend a boring law reception). From there, I was in a state of being waiting for the right opportunity and/or person to come along. And when it did, I listened to my inner voice and approached the Judge.

Sending out blind resumes was an example of too much ‘doing’. There is a huge difference between inspired action and busying yourself with activity to try to make things happen. Instead, by being present, you will be conscious and alert when those people or opportunities come along.

Think back on your most pivotal moments and use those as a template for finding your yin/yang balance point.

photo credit

As we head into Winter and the holiday season, what a great time to pick up some of those books you’ve been meaning to read. You’ve probably had many people recommend you many books, but don’t remember what they were. Or perhaps you just don’t know where to begin. That’s why I’m here! Simply put, I am a spiritual book junkie and have read about everything out there. If there were such a thing as a spiritual growth geek, it would be me.

I go through several books a month, but only a few get to stay on my shelves. These are the keepers! These books are my top 10 of all time (so far!)

10. Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar

This is THE book on yoga. The only other book that could be better is Light on Yoga by Iyengar. But if you are looking for the real purpose and meaning behind your downward facing dog, this is the book. If your yoga practice needs some inspiration, you will certainly hit the mat (not to mention the meditation cushion) after reading this.

 

9. The Intention Experiment by Lynne McTaggart

I must confess that the only D I ever made in school was in Science. I must have amended some karma however because I have entered into a new love affair with Science. The Intention Experiment is basically a scientific explanation of spirituality. Basically, I love being proven right when it comes to energy… you know when you just know something but can’t prove it and others think you’re crazy. After reading this book, I now see (and talk) to my plants in a whole new way.

8. The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer

There are now thousands of books on the Law of Attraction and intention, but what I like about this one is that it was one of the first. In other words, it came before The Secret and does a much better explanation on how to manifest what you want. I particularly appreciate his in-depth discussion on “will” versus surrender—a fine balance that is a constant struggle for myself.

7. The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra

Deepak (yes, we are on a first name basis—he feels like family) is the only author that appears twice on my list. Why? I think he is the most gifted spiritual writer of our current time. He has an amazing masculine/feminine balance in his writing. He finds the perfect balance between the right brain and left brain walking the tightrope between science and spirituality. Really, any of his books could be on this list, but this happens to be the one I most recently read.

6. The Western Guide to Feng Shui by Terah Collins

I always tell people that Feng Shui is one of those things that people know just enough to be dangerous with. So many people pick up a Feng Shui book to get a general understanding. Oftentimes however Feng Shui books can be very confusing. But not this one. Written by a westerner for westerners, this book is much more simple and user-friendly than most. When clients ask me if I recommend a Feng Shui book for them to read, this is the one!

5. Bringers of the Dawn by Barbara Marciniak

Warning: This book is not for the weak or weary, the skeptics, or those who want light reading. This is hard-core stuff and will rock your world! If it resonates with you, then it could end up being the only book you need on your shelf. If it doesn’t, then it will end up in your trash can. You be the judge!

4. Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller

This is an Astrology classic. I have learned SO much from this book about me, myself, and I. Just when you think you’ve figured out yourself, your path, and what you think your lessons are, this book will further enlighten you. (For even more fun, learn about family members!) Instead of using your Sun sign, it focuses solely on your North Node, which determines your path in this life.

3. The Path to Love by Deepak Chopra

This book is simply beautiful! A must for anyone in a relationship or looking to be in a relationship, which is pretty much everyone. Chock full of practical information, inspiration, and even some exercises.

2. The Power of Now and The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

I’ve put these two books together because the information is practically the same, but in slightly different formats. While Eckhart has received tons of props from teaming up with Oprah, he is worthy of the attention. These books are the quintessential spiritual thought of our present consciousness. Some people have found The New Earth to be difficult to read. For others, it reads like poetry. Either way, however, your consciousness will be raised just be holding the book. Really. The Power of Now reads a little more user-friendly in a Q&A format which some people find easier to understand. A great book to read during the holidays when it is the most difficult time to be present!

1.You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

This is by far my most often recommended book. If you are looking to make real, permanent changes in your life, this is the book. Note that this is not a page turner. Instead, it’s practically a workbook with successive Exercises used to extract old subconscious programming and to be replaced by new, desired thoughts. And it works! Also in the back of the book is a long list of mind/body associations that I often reference. The perfect book to read along with your New Year’s Resolutions.

I would love to hear about some of your all-time favorite books….!

One of my favorite books I recommend to clients is You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. I absolutely love this book. If there was such a thing as a recipe for making permanent changes on either or all of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels, then this book would be it.

When I recommend this book, however, I can tell some people question whether they need to do something as extreme as “heal”, particularly those without a physical illness or disease. If I could read their mind, they would be saying, “Healing is for sick people. And I’m not sick.” But the word “heal” is synonymous with the word “change.” To heal is to change. And most everyone wants to change their life in some way or another. And, healers are essentially transformers, or instruments of change.

If you don’t have a physical illness, then why do you need to heal or change? Simple. So that you won’t get a physical illness or disease. All physical ailments start out on the emotional or mental levels way before they ever reach the physical body. The physical body is the outward manifestation of our mind. Thus, the body is the last resort, or the red flag, that lets us know that major changes are needed. So, ideally, we make the necessary changes, or heal, before the physical body ever gets involved. Oh, and did I mention another reason we want to heal… so that we can live the best and most fulfilling life we can.

What about genetic diseases? You might ask how someone is supposed to change something that they didn’t even create in the first place. When a genetic disease is passed down, what is passed down is the mental or emotional belief system that creates the disease, not the physical disease itself. It is scientifically proven that DNA can be changed with our mind. And when DNA is changed, genetic diseases are changed.

Why do you have to change to heal? We live in an ever expanding and evolving Universe. I am not saying this as a prophetic spiritual statement, but as a scientific fact. The common phrase “evolve or die” succinctly sums it up. You have also probably heard the phrase, “the only guarantee in life is change.” We are here on Earth to grow and evolve. It is impossible to improve your life, including health, without making some change. In extreme cases, the “change” may be surgery, which may as a result prompt one to make a change, i.e. pattern, belief. (For example, after having a minor, same-day surgery a few years ago, the experience was so undesirable for me that it awakened me to take preventative care steps to hopefully avoid ever having to be in a hospital again!)

If surgery is still not enough to prompt a change, then the problem will rearise somewhere else in the body—in some form at some point. We are living in a world where we are bombarded by messages of quick fixes and have grown to believe that we can change our life without making changes!

What prevents us from change? Fear. More specifically, we get caught up in old patterns (or ruts) because they are “safe” and “known”. Fear is of the unknown, even if the unknown could be heaven on earth. These patterns could be the result of inherited family patterns, unserving belief systems, and/or karma. When something finally becomes too painful to continue, either physically or emotionally, then one will finally make a change (or make a more dramatic transition from Earth). But why put yourself through the years of painful misery? Instead, make a conscious change, or, in other words, choose to heal.

Love – for ourself or others—is at the core of all change. And when we make a change that is in our highest and best interest it always comes from the heart. Think about major changes that you have made in your life that have been beneficial for your growth, evolution, and happiness. They all involved loving yourself or someone else. Perhaps, it was taking the risk to move across the country to be with someone you love, or breaking up with someone that you knew was not in your highest and best interest. Maybe it was loving yourself enough to take a risk with a job or school that was more in alignment with your life purpose. Or perhaps it was changing a belief system in order to tap into your unconditionally loving someone.

Heal = Change

Change = Love

Love = Heal

Love always comes from the heart.
Open your heart and you will heal or, vice versa, heal by opening your heart!

photo credit

 

If you’ve found yourself voraciously cleaning stuff out of your home lately, you’re not alone. Over the last few months, I have heard this repeatedly from friends and clients. There is an insatiable urge to clear things out of closets, basements, drawers, and in some cases, entire rooms. For many people, this urge is so pronounced and unlike anything ever experienced before. For those of you who are historically packrats, this feeling is very new and perhaps even confusing.

So what is going on? Afterall, it’s not even Spring!

Basically, we (in conjunction with Planet Earth) are going through a major purging. Looking at it in terms of the economic climate, we have all realized that we not only can live with less, but feel better with less. All of the stuff that we accumulated over the last couple of decades just doesn’t feel good anymore. Stuff feels like a big weight. Instead, space makes us feel good. We can breathe again (notice how your breath changes after you clear something out). This is all part of a return of living close and in harmony with the Earth, not in opposition like we as a collective have been doing. In fact, you may have noticed that when you are now drawn to purchase something, it is artisan-made, natural fibers, and/or organic products.

From a spiritual perspective, we have been and will continue to be (perhaps until 2012) on an accelerated course of evolution with this Summer (’09) being in full force. As we evolve, we become less and less dense as different vibrations cannot co-exist. Matter is the highest form of density. Whereas, energy before it manifests into a physical form is a lighter density, but still some level of density. For example, a kidney stone would be emotional energy like anger that has manifested into a physical form. As we evolve, we purge this density (which could be the subject of numerous blog articles) on the physical, emotional, and mental levels. And, our home, which is an extension and reflection of ourself, needs to as well.

As you clean stuff out of your home, you are assisting in an important and necessary part of your spiritual growth, which is paramount to your physical and emotional well-being. You may even notice some resistance well up along the way. Be conscious and notice what the resistance is.

As you clean out your basement, you are cleaning out your subconscious mind. In other words, you are bringing things from the subconscious to the conscious mind in order to effectively deal with it and, if necessary, get rid of it. Prior to that, things were stuffed down there to avoid dealing with it or even having to see it.

What about closets? This is where we stuff things we don’t want others to see, perhaps including ourselves. As we clean out our closet, we are all “coming out of the closet” in some aspect. In your own unique way, it is allowing you to live more authentically. This again is a letting go or purging of anything dense, such as lies, fronts, and fakes. Even with regards to your clothing closet, perhaps there are clothes that no longer seem to fit who you are anymore.

We are all evolving to our highest vibration and most authentic selves, which is love. So, when you get the urge to purge your home, go with it.