​Are there days that you feel like curling up in a ball and not joining the rest of the world? Do you wonder if you’ll ever experience a true sense of inner peace and calm in life?
Some days are harder than others. The troubles that loom over our heads – troubles in the world, in our country, in our communities, even with our families and friends.  Sometimes it all feels like too much. 
And yet, we must reach deep within ourselves to find the strength to move forward. But how?
If you dig deep down into your inner well and it’s not full, what then?  How do you cultivate self power, an inner strength, so that it’s always available to you?  How can we find this hidden treasure? 
When your inner well’s full, you begin to develop a certain steadiness in life. You’re guided and strengthened from within, rather than dependent on external influences. This gives you even more strength for all that comes your way in life.  You’ll become more present and fully experience all of life. And a sense of peace and calm will arise, as you begin to see the bigger purpose and meaning of your life.
Here are a few tips for filling your inner well, giving you the key to unlocking the hidden treasure of your own inner power. 
 
Explore Who am I? 
Take a look at who you are. Truly. Your abilities, your qualities.  Your biography and current life.
 
What moments in your life were turning points?  Who did you meet? What made a difference in your journey? 
 
What are you passionate about?  What gets you excited?  What do you want to do to make a difference in the world?  

​What do you like doing for fun? How do you relax and rejuvenate?
 
The more deeply you know who you are, the more aware you become of the best way to care for yourself and your needs. You’ll feel more grounded and confident.  And more yourself. 
 
Identify Your Gifts
We all have unique gifts – talents or skills – that we can use to make a difference in the world. What are yours?  Where do you shine? 
 
Our gifts typically develop out of our passions in life.
 
Or sometimes out of overcoming adversity. 
 
By sharing these with others, not only does it benefit them, but also you!  You are able to engage in meaningful and purposeful work in the world – which ignites your inner fire and power.  

Replace Negative Voices
Pay attention to what enters your mind that’s negative and doesn’t serve you. When these thoughts enter your mind, simply acknowledge them without judgment and then bid them farewell.  Replace them with gratitude. Think of something in your life that you’re currently grateful for. Focus your thoughts on the gratitude you have.   
 
Balance Your Solar Plexus Chakra 
​

​Your third chakra, the solar plexus chakra, is the source of the light that radiates your personal power and strength out into the world. It’s located between your navel and the bottom of your sternum.
 
Bring this chakra into balance to access your own inner strength. Sit quietly in an upright posture and picture your third chakra filled with the warm yellow light of the sun, radiating out into the world while saying these affirmations:
 
I love myself.
 
I am strong and courageous.
 
I feel my own power.
 
When your solar plexus chakra is balanced, you’ll feel confident and want to say “YES!” to life. You’ll be grounded and ready to start each day. You’ll feel strong and able to take up actions, moving through challenges as they arise.  

Connect to a Higher Presence
Having a regular spiritual practice helps you not only be healthier and more grounded, but connects you with the Divine. This might be meditation, yoga, chanting, being in nature, studying ancient sacred texts, or even sitting in silence.  This raises your vibrational frequency. Doubts and fears fall away as you experience your True Self and have divine support to accompany you.
 
 
This is the 3rd in my series on Radical Self-Care. Watch for more over the next few weeks!  You can also access an audio of a mantra here in my Free Healing Library to call upon the Goddess Durga with her great courage and strength to remove any obstacles that are holding you back from feeling confident and powerful within your life.  Click here to access the Library.
 
 

​It’s so easy today to let fear overwhelm us. If you pause and focus on what could make you anxious and fearful, there, most likely, will be a long list. 
 
Fear of not having enough – enough food, shelter, or basic needs.  Or fear of getting older and not doing all you had dreamed of doing in your life. 
 
Or fear of not enough love or connection in the world. 
 
Not enough control of your life. Not sure what’ll come towards you out in the world. 
 
Or fear of losing what you have. The relationships you cherish, the people you love. Your job, your home.    

​You may want to run away or strike out angrily at your friends and family.  Or you just feel frozen in place –unable to move. 
 
You might even become a “mother bear” wanting to protect yourself and others who are more vulnerable. 
 
Fear of not having enough or fear of losing what you have. It’s part of our human nature. 
 
And although fear is a natural part of our life that helps us to survive at times, dwelling on fear can build and spiral out of control like a tornado picking up strength as it moves across land, destroying any joy or happiness in the present moment. 
 
When we let fear take control of us, we feel unsafe and insecure.  This most basic need – feeling safe and secure in life, is essential in life. Without it, we’re always on guard for threats that may arise, in survival mode.  In this state, we have no space left to explore, learn, connect, create, discover – truly thrive in life. To experience joy.
 
Fear is a part of being human and probably has been with us since the beginning of time.  And yet we’re in charge of how we work with our own fear, how we let it paralyze or overwhelm us or how we may dissolve it.  Our external circumstances don’t actually have control over our fear.  We do!
 
Each one of us needs to find our own path out of the sinking hole of fear.  We must muster our inner strength and courage and explore our own fear.  Move toward it with curiosity, with interest.  Why’s it here?  What’s its origin?  Does it remind us of a fear from earlier years? 
 
"Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones." –Thich Nhat Hanh 
 

​Here are 5 tips to support you in breaking free from fear if you finding it creeping into your life. 
 
1. Shift to Thinking – Move your attention away from your feelings to your thinking. Identify the facts that actually exist currently about the situation.  Not speculating about the future. Not the chatter from others or in your head that fuels the fear.
 
2. Take Charge of What You Invite In – Monitor what you choose to see and hear regularly – through news stories, the internet, and even friends who focus on igniting fear through their addiction to threats, violence, dread, and doom. 

3. Let the fear go - Move toward your fear. Find a way to share the fear outside yourself – someone who can listen and not fan the fire, but calm it. Maybe write about it.  Or express it artistically.  Something that’ll begin to move it from a state of being stuck and frozen. 
 
4. Talk to Someone who can Listen Deeply - Share how you feel with someone who listens well. Ask for their insight about the situation. Avoid those who tend to dwell in negativity and anxiety. 
 
5. Remember Your Inner Work - Bring your attention to the present moment. Calm your whole being through meditation, deep breathing, or a walk in nature.  Taking charge of your own state is the best way to reduce fear that seems to be creeping in. Within a calmer state, your awareness expands and you can begin to explore and discover new perspectives and solutions. You begin to find your own sense of safety and security and soon discover the fear starts to dissolve.  

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do." – Eleanor Roosevelt  
 
 
This is the second in my series on Radical Self-Care. Watch for more over the next few weeks!  You can also access an audio of a mantra for Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, here in my Free Healing Library to help you get started today on radical self-care. Click here to become a member!
 
 

​ When was the last time that you did something to nurture yourself?  Honestly.  Today?  Yesterday?  Last week?  Or you can’t remember when? 
 
Self nurturing isn’t often our first priority.  And yet it’s essential for our own health and well-being.
 
Many of us tend to be caregivers who put the needs of others first, before our own needs. We support and nurture our loved ones – our children, partner, parents, friends, and even coworkers – first, and leave little for ourselves. 
 
We often feel comfortable showering others with compassion, care, and generosity. But when it comes to showering ourselves with these same gifts, we might not feel as comfortable and even struggle with giving ourselves permission for self care. 
 
You might feel nurturing yourself is too self-centered or frivolous. Or maybe the negative voices in your head tell you that you don’t deserve such special time.  Or simply don’t have the time or resources for it. 
 
Yet, when you don’t take care of yourself first, you can feel completely depleted and stuck in a cycle of always giving, giving, giving and not receiving. 

​While it might sound easy enough to do, learning to love and care for yourself may be one of the most difficult tasks you’ll ever encounter! Yet, through this care, you’ll gain a sense of self-worth, strength, and resiliency. 
 
Loving yourself doesn’t mean you’re selfish. In fact, self-care will strengthen your ability to be available and care for others.
 
“We need to replace your vicious stress cycle with a vicious cycle of self care.”  – Dr. Sara Gottfried
 
 
Where do you receive rejuvenation and balance? How do you fill yourself? 

​Giving to yourself doesn’t need to take a lot of effort or cost a lot of money! It may simply be telling your loved ones that you’re going to take 15 minutes for yourself.
 
Take a few moments right now and consider what would be nurturing to you at this time in your life. Only you’ll know what fills and renews you! Each person is different and even your own needs may change over your lifetime too. 

Here are some ideas to get you started on nurturing yourself in just 15-30 minutes a day! 
 

• sit quietly for meditation, chanting, or silence
• sing or draw or engage in another form of artistic expression
• cook and eat a delicious meal
• enjoy an activity with a friend or loved one
• walk or sit in nature
• take your shoes off and sit barefoot with your feet on the earth
• take a bath, maybe even in candlelight!
• have a cup of tea
• curl up in front of the fireplace
• read a good book
• diffuse an essential oil in the room while you relax
• do yoga or qigong
• take a bike ride or go swimming
• go to bed early
• listen to an inspiring podcast or seminar online
• get a massage, pedicure, or manicure

 
Try to do something for yourself every day, guilt-free, and notice how it makes a difference in your day! 
 
“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” – Unknown
​

This is the first in my series on Radical Self-Care. Watch for more over the next few weeks!  You can also access an audio of a mantra for Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, here in my Free Healing Library to help you get started today on radical self-care!   
 

​Do you ever pause and wonder why you have a spiritual practice?  Or why being on a spiritual path is important for you and for the world?  

​We are all spiritual beings.  It’s always good to remind ourselves of this. 
 
We are spiritual beings who have come to earth and are living an earthly life.
 
But, being on a spiritual path during our earthly life is really a choice.  A choice we each make, in freedom. 
 
Coming into the World
When you’re born, you come into the world in a state of wonder and innocence in the world. You still have a strong connection to the Divine, as you did before coming to the earth.
 
Your next several years are learning how to be in the world and live on the earth.  How to use your body, interact with the world, relate to other people.  You learn to think, feel, and act. 
 

​Becoming an Individual
Over time, you become more of an individual with your own ideas and thoughts and ways of being in the world. Your spiritual connection often diminishes the more you become skilled and competent on this earthly plane. You feel more comfortable functioning in the world on your own and may even feel confident and successful in your life. 
 
At this point, your life can continue to become self-centered, where you want to acquire more material items, money, status, or power.  Or you may lose yourself in the life of others – spouse or children, expecting something more in return for your sacrifice.
 
Search for Meaning and Purpose
If you have even a glimpse of consciousness or awareness around this time, you begin to look for deeper meaning and purpose in life.  Who am I? Why am I here?  Why are we alive and on earth?  What is the purpose of our lives? 
 

​You may decide to start helping others because you feel that is more meaningful than just serving yourself. As you do, you recognize your giving can become selfless, not for recognition or reward, but out of love and compassion for the other. You start to see how your life could have a purpose. 
 
Creating a Spiritual Practice
Around this time in your life, you may begin a regular spiritual practice as you long for deeper meaning and wisdom in understanding this purpose in life.  You may meditate, study spiritual texts, and engage in other contemplative practices.  This is a conscious choice that you make for further spiritual growth, a path that not everyone follows in life. 
 
But, if you do, and stay with a regular practice, you begin to awaken. You start to have insight into the whole of the Cosmos and your part in the whole.  You realize this lifetime is just one part of the bigger whole of who you are in the Universe.  

​Discovering Unity and Harmony
Continue on your spiritual path and soon you experience there is no longer separation between you and the Universe, only oneness. You begin to function in the world in total harmony with nature. Your actions become effortless and harmonious in the world.  You begin to experience your True Self and tap into Divine Consciousness with an open connection to a flowing Cosmic Energy.
 
At many points along this path of awakening, there are moments of choice- for further spiritual development or further attachment to self and the material world.   Do I choose truth or illusion?  Material or eternal?
 
Staying disciplined and regular in your spiritual practice at this time will support your growth on this journey. Yet, it’s wise to not waste your energy on being discouraged if you falter or wander off this path! Just return once again and take up the work with deeper awareness of the purpose of the path. 
 
Soon you’ll experience there are no longer choices. There’s an inner quiet and light. Unity and oneness. Total freedom. 
 
You’ll no longer experience yourself as a victim in the world. You experience the deeper truth about the world and your True Being.  

Experiencing Inner Peace
When you surrender again and again, you begin to experience states of peace – inner peace. This brings you a great strength, as you no longer are controlled or manipulated.  You have found an inner peace or, one might say, state of enlightenment. 
 
This energy of peace radiates outward into the world.  So that your own spiritual growth, your own evolution in the world, serves all of humankind. 
 
By reaching these higher states of being within ourselves, we become a healing presence in the world.  Healing ourselves, we heal the world. 
 
“We can never obtain peace in the outer world
until we make peace with ourselves.”  Dalai Lama
 
 
Interested in more support on your spiritual journey?  Check out my Free Healing Library on my website at Doctor of the Soul. Click here to become a member.
 

​There are moments in my life when I haven’t felt fully confident in myself. I’m sure most people feel like this from time to time. 
 
Sometimes, old stories and negative voices from our past sabotage us. 
 
Sometimes, we have fear and anxiety about putting ourselves out there in the world – vulnerable to judgment and criticism. 
 
Sometimes, we just feel weak and anything but courageous. 
 
When I’m in this place, I love to bring an image of the Hindu goddess, Durga, to mind.
 
She’s invincible and powerful, the protective Mother of the Universe. 

She emerged from the powerful and fierce light of the great Goddess as a divine woman with one thousand arms  - both beautiful and ferocious. In each hand, she carries a weapon that was given to her as a gift from the gods. Armed with the multitude of weapons, she mounts and rides her tiger that roars so loudly that the heavens and earth tremble.
 
I hold this image of Durga, and even chant a mantra invoking her as I remember the 5 tips noted below. This helps me to step into my own power with confidence. You can access a recording of this mantra by becoming a member of my Free Healing Library. Click here to become a member.

​You can do this too when you need a boost to your self-confidence and it’ll help you be able to shine your light into the world! You’ll feel empowered, powerful, and strong. You’ll be able to take up actions with courage. 
 
Doubts, insecurities, and criticisms will start to melt. 
 
You’ll align with your True Self. You’ll embrace all that you are.

​Here are 5 tips to help you give your self-confidence a boost when you need it most. 

     1. Be mindful of those negative voices in your head!  If they’re making awful comments about you or your abilities, change that tune. As soon as you notice the negative            voices, stop them, fill yourself with compassion for YOU, and shift those voices to positive, kind, compassionate words.   
        “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”    Lao Tzu

     2. Spend a few moments sending love to yourself. Imagine warm, golden light in your heart. Feel this light warm and expand your heart. Feel it reach out beyond your              heart and encompass your whole being. Speak those compassionate and kind words to yourself in your head. Do this every morning or several times throughout the              day, as needed.  

     3. Seek those in your community who can support and encourage you.  Maybe these are your close friends or maybe a support group with a specific focus. Find those              who can give you encouraging and positive feedback.   

    4. Shift your posture. Sometimes when inwardly we don’t feel very confident, we can shift our soul mood by shifting our physical body. Stand in a posture that speaks                confidence to you. Maybe legs apart a little, hands on hips. Or sitting upright, leaning forward. Relax your face, breathe deeply, and smile. Hold the posture that you                experience as CONFIDENCE for a couple minutes. This helps to shift your mood to one with more inner power and confidence. 

     5. Leave the rest to the Divine. After you’ve done the work that you can, simply turn it over to the Divine. The Divine has wonderful ways of supporting us and moving us          along our journey in life, as long as we put forth our own effort. So, offer it up to the Divine for further guidance.  Trust that Divine support will come to you. Say a                  prayer out loud. Here is one of my favorites from the 12 Step Tradition: "God, I offer myself to Thee, to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the           bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I wold help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and thy             way of life. May I do Thy will always!"   (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 63)
      
 
Interested in more?  Check out my Free Healing Library, including a mantra for Durga on my website at Doctor of the Soul. Click here to become a member.
​

​This week, as I’ve seen the beauty of the sun shining on the sparkling white snow resting in the branches of the evergreen trees, I’m reminded of a favorite Navajo Prayer Song about beauty. 
 
Now I Walk in Beauty

Now I walk in beauty
Beauty is before me
Beauty is behind me
Above and below me
 
 
Beauty’s easy to see in the world when we look at something like the sun shining upon the glistening snow or a palm tree sway in the breeze over turquoise waters

​But what about on a gray overcast day when you’re not feeling particularly energetic and enthusiastic about life? And there seem to be many problems that you’re facing at the moment. 
 
How do we find the beauty in the world then? 

I’ve learned, in my life, that this is the most important time to see the beauty in the world. Even though it may be hard.
 
When we do find the beauty – either see the beauty that is already there or create beauty in our lives - it’s like healing salve to our soul.
 
It helps us not get bogged down by our difficulties.
 
It brings us a sense of peace and joy in our day and in our lives. 
 
Take a moment and consider the beauty that is all around you right now.  Maybe the dazzling color of a blooming flower or the crackling flames of a fire in a fireplace.  Maybe a soothing song you heard on the radio. 
Consider the beauty you create in your life too. The beauty of a meaningful encounter with a loved one that ends with a warm smile.  The beauty of a nutritious salad you just made for lunch brimming with fresh produce with all the colors of the rainbow.     
Taking time to become mindful of the beauty in your life can help you to….

1. Focus on the positive, not the negative - Our tendency is often to focus on what is wrong in our lives, not what is right. Noticing beauty helps us to become aware of what is good, what is right, what is beautiful in our lives. 

 
     2.  Awaken gratitude – When we become aware of the beauty in our lives, it awakens our sense of gratitude for all that we have.  And,
          we know how beneficial this is to our personal growth and our health.  

    3.  Be in the present moment – When you pause to see and recognize the beauty around you right now, you come into the present
        moment.  You set aside your thoughts about the past and about the future and become mindful of what is in the present in your life.  

     4. Cultivate a mood of calm, peace, and joy – Noticing the beauty in the present moment, automatically slows us down.  We breathe
         deeper, feel warmed within, and smile. A wave of peace and joy washes over us.  

      5. Express your love and care for yourself and others – Beauty in the form of actions such as a vase of flowers set lovingly on a table,
​          a tidy kitchen, a warm smile, or a handwritten note all express love and care for either yourself or others.  

What beauty can you find around you right now?
How can you bring beauty into your life more?

Interested in more?  Check out my Free Healing Library on my website at Doctor of the Soul.

As I awake in the morning I always head down to my kitchen and make myself a cup of herbal tea. The tea I chose this morning was Sweet Cinnamon Spice. Then I settle into my rocking chair in front of my altar, light my candle, cover myself with my Broncos blanket and begin my morning meditation.
 
Our bodies, and even our beings, thrive with a rhythm in our lives. We know what to expect and can relax into it, supporting us in being grounded and peaceful. There’s a consistency and reliability that builds strength over time. Then from this strong foundation, we can step out to explore, be creative and adventurous, and try something new out of our daily routines.
 
But, if our lives don’t have a rhythm or a routine, either due to the circumstances we find ourselves in or because we just don’t like routines, we can find ourselves more on edge, more worried or fearful, more insecure and anxious. We might find ourselves more often in a fight- flight mode and can’t relax or access our higher capacities.  Or you might just float throughout the day, realizing late that you don’t have any food for dinner or your teeth never were brushed or you didn’t accomplish anything that day. 
Having something you know you can depend on every day—whether it’s getting up at the same time every morning for some peaceful, alone time or exercising in the evening after work—will give your body and your being a consistency that it craves

One can ascend to a higher development only by bringing rhythm and repetition into one's life. Rhythm holds sway in all nature.  - Rudolf Steiner

Balance is key when we work to bring rhythm into our lives. 
Rhythm is a foundation that brings us strength, yet needs to be flexible and fluid too. It’s possible to become too rigid in a routine that could result in too much contraction which can be draining and deadening, squashing any possibility for fun, spontaneity, and joy. 
Rhythm is really finding our own way to breathe through the day, to flow within a routine, yet with space for flexibility and an openness for something new that may come.
 
What rhythm do you have?  What is it that you repeatedly do each day or week?
 
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”  - Aristotle 
 
 If you are longing for more strength, calm, and balance in your life, consider the following areas of rhythm in your life:
 
1. Morning – Mornings are so important!  They set the tone for your day. Entering into a new day calmly and with intention can make a huge difference for our entire day.  Even if you are short on time in the morning, a few moments to breathe deeply, stretch your body, and focus on your intentions for the day can make a world of difference to how our day begins. Don’t forget to drink a glass of water too and best to not pick up your cellphone until after you’ve prepared yourself for entering into the day. 

2. Gratitude  - We all know how much a practice of gratitude’s important for health and well-being. But has it become a habit in your life yet?  Make it one by including it in your morning or evening routine.   
​
3. Beauty – Take a few minutes to make your bed in the morning, put the dishes in the dishwasher, put fresh flowers on the table or whatever brings beauty into your environment.  This affects us in a positive way probably more than we realize! It creates a space where you can relax and enjoy your environment, doing whatever you are at that moment. 

​4. Mindfulness – How often do we go into autopilot or overstimulation or mind chatter in a day?  Set an intention in your morning routine to practice mindfulness throughout the day. Then observe how often you are truly present in the moment, not on autopilot, not overstimulated by excessive noises, screens, and people.  Or not relentlessly thinking about the past or the future.  Just present with yourself in the moment or with those who are with you.  What a wonderful practice to make a habit! 
 
5. Practice – What practice do you have for the health of your body, heart/mind, and spirit? Do you meditate and exercise during your day? Or walk in the morning and chant in the evening? Or something else? How are you nourishing your body, heart, mind, and spirit daily?  

​6. Nutritious food – We need food that has the nutrients our bodies need to not only survive, but thrive!  Eaten at the times we need for our health.  What you eat and when you eat are important. Explore what is best for you, what supports a healthy body, and a good night's sleep.

7. Relax and Rejuvenate – Do you take time each week to do what you enjoy?  What makes you relax and rejuvenate?  What makes you feel alive and joyful?  Make this a part of your regular rhythm.

8. Preparing for Bed –  As you prepared mindfully for your day, prepare for sleep. Take time to relax, drink a cup of tea, or do some stretches.  Turn off screens at least an hour before bed. Meditate or breathe deeply. Pick a routine that works for you, but make it a habit that supports a healthy night’s sleep.  

9. Sleep – Take advantage of this time where your body rests and rejuvenates. This is where your body rids itself of its toxins, rebuilds and rejuvenates its organs, and prepares you for the next day.   ​

10. Nature – Don’t forget to get outside every day at least for a few minutes! Take deep breaths, put your feet on the earth, look at the beauty of nature, or take a walk.  However you can enjoy the rejuvenating and health benefits of Mother Earth. Longer times are wonderful, when you are able to make those part of your rhythm too.  

What’s one area where you’d like to bring more rhythm into your life?  Why not try that this month! Then see, at the end of the month, what changes do you notice? 
 
 
Interested in bringing the chanting of mantras into your spiritual practice as part of your rhythm?  Check out my guidebook, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.  
 

​When you were a child, did you imagine what life would be like as an adult? How did you picture it? What was being a “grown-up” going to be like? 
 
Maybe you thought life would be filled with fun, freedom, joy, and all that you ever wanted? 
 
Or you pictured traveling, exploring new cultures, and fun experiences?
 
Did things always unfold easily and joyfully in your imagination?
 
Maybe you thought you’d fall in love, get married, live in a beautiful house, and have children – living the American dream of years ago? 
 
Or maybe you pictured yourself at the top of your career – as a leader, innovator, loved and respected? 
 
Maybe you thought you’d be so free that you could do anything you wanted at any time, anywhere?  It didn’t matter what, just that you were free to choose and you imagined you did so with joy and passion for your next adventure? 

Now, as an adult, what is your picture of adulthood? 
 
Do you cling to any of those past pictures from your childhood that leave you feeling disappointed or deflated now?
 
Maybe you see that you’re not achieving them – yet deep down you still hold a belief or picture that you should be? 
 
Do you feel like you’re failing because inside you still hold the view from your childhood that’s full of the “shoulds” – what you think you “should” be working towards or doing in your life.
 
What if you were released from all of these “shoulds?” Whether they came from your childhood or appeared since then. You simply let go of them all.
 
What if you put in new attitudes and a new belief system for the present time?  
What if you believed you are living your perfect life now? What if you believed….
 
You are everything and you have everything that you need now. 
 
And your path in life is simply accessing and using what you already have within you. 
 
What kind of shift would that bring in your attitude, how you perceive your life, how you enter into your life?
 
"Trust that your soul has a plan, and even if you can't see it completely, know that everything will unfold as it is meant to." — Deepak Chopra
​

​Your soul does have a plan for you. Here are a few tips for learning how to trust in your soul’s plan for your life and letting go of what does not serve you now.

1. Release the negative voices in your head – Pay attention to what enters your mind that is a belief from earlier years that no longer serves you.  When these thoughts enter your mind, simply acknowledge them without judging them or yourself.  Maybe even thank them for serving you in earlier years – giving you hope and joy for the future!  And then bid them farewell releasing them from your life.

 

1. Replace the negative voices with other thoughts – When you become aware of the negative voices and then acknowledge and release them, replace them with gratitude. Think of something in your life that you’re currently grateful for.  Focus your thoughts on the gratitude you have.    

 

1. Be in the present, not the past or future – Be aware and alert to what’s in your life now.  Let go of regrets or disappointment or feelings from the past. Release the anxiety, worry, and fear for the future. Picture that you are holding the past in one hand and the future in the other – releasing them from your mind.  Your mind now can be in the present – aware of your current experiences and interactions in the world.

 

1. Ask for guidance from the spiritual world – Don’t forget to ask for guidance! Your spirit guides are there to help and can easily be called upon. Breathe out, releasing any tension, and relax into the knowing that you’re held within the spirit world.  Rather than contracting, tightening your grip, and trying to control, relax and loosen. Be open to new possibilities, to guidance from the spiritual world.

 

1. Listen to your intuition – Your intuition speaks what’s best for you on your path.  What serves your highest good. This is not always comfortable or easy.  So, sometimes we ignore it.  Listen carefully, what’s my gut telling me?  How does it feel?  Is it humming with excitement and joy?  Or is it in a knot that you decide to ignore and then just push forward in your life. 

 
Curious about a plan that my soul had for me that wasn’t exactly what I pictured for my life? Check out the film of scene 2 from my performance of Feathers on the Breath of God that is available on YouTube. Watch it here!     
 
 
 
 

How is the Divine calling you to shine forth in the new year?  
What images come to mind for you as you look into 2019?  
What do you want to create or birth new in this year?  ​

What in your life are you being called to create right now?  
 
What is your next Rupertsberg?  Meaning, what is your current (or next) creative endeavor that you are being called to birth into this world so that it can be of service? 
 
Fill your Rupertsberg with beauty, light, and love as you picture it in your mind. Imagine it bringing warmth and healing into the world. Step into what it would be like to manifest in the world. How would you feel? 
 
Picture yourself having already brought this vision into reality. How do you feel now?  
 
How can you realize and manifest this vision? 
 
 
If you are inspired by the song O Jerusalem and the accompanying practice, I invite you to check out all 10 Healing Songs and Practices that Will Give Voice to Your Creativity now available here.  Bring your creative vision into the world this year!