Blog Archives

Beating Your Head Against the Wall

If I told you to run headfirst into a brick wall, would you?  Probably not.  Yet, metaphorically, most of us do it day after day, week after week, year after year.  We repeat the same behaviors, bemoaning the results and expecting different outcomes.  Trapped in miserable relationships and jobs that do not support our needs, we lack the courage to take a leap of faith.  Change is terrifying. We came to terms with our pain and fear that jumping from the frying pan would plunge us into the flame. Taking a chance could be worse than enduring our misery. Pessimistic, we remain stuck, never considering that something better is waiting for us.  Phoenix rose from the ashes with renewed youth and energy.  With determination, we can transform.  Possibilities are limitless.  

If you think that I sound like Pollyanna, I understand. It is difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when you cannot see where to take your next step. Change does not happen overnight, but the process can begin immediately. First, listen to your heart.  Where would you like to be in five years?  What career would you like to pursue?  There are online courses, community colleges and training programs that tailor classes around your work schedule.  If you are in an abusive relationship, seek help and counseling.  

Life is packed with disappointments, lessons, loss and sorrow, but also joy, excitement, pleasure and love.  You deserve to be happy.  You were not put on this planet to be a victim.  Take charge and create the life you were meant to live. Only you know what that is.  Enjoy the journey.  Bon Voyage!

Let Go

Are you a control freak, sure that you can manipulate everything and everyone?  That is what your ego wants you to believe. Truth is, that everyone has free will and stuff happens.  We are here to learn and grow. Obstacles will be placed in our paths. Some problems, are solvable, but painful lessons may include forgiving and letting go of hurts or the ones you love. To see a child floundering, regardless of age, gashes a parent. There is a time when stepping back is the better option. Letting go of a loved one due to death bores a hole in the heart that never heals. The love space is there for eternity.  Walking away from a lover or letting go of unrequited love is gut wrenching, but if one truly loves this person, electing to move on is best. Pray for his/her happiness and your healing. Fighting to keep a tight fist on another human being is futile.  Our children are through us, not our possessions. True love can only be by choice. Documents, guilt and threats cannot bind another’s love.

To let go, is one of life’s toughest challenges. Unconditional love, releases the chattels. If their love is strong, they will return. If not, new opportunities will appear. Trees lose their leaves, confident that new growth will appear in the Spring. Be open to life’s magical surprises. Be grateful for today. Happiness is a choice.

Analysis Paralysis

Are you stuck and unable to get out of your own way?  What is blocking you from pursuing your heart’s desire?  Analysis Paralysis traps many of us.  The ego plays devil’s advocate, shouting every “what if” we can imagine. Our insecurities devastate the dreams that we cherish. Instead of striking out boldly, we cower in fear.

Too much in my head and not enough in my heart, I languished. A friend gave me a gentle nudge to begin by taking the first step, writing one paragraph. When the flame has gone out, grab a match and some kindling. You are precious, capable, unique and special. The ego tries to protect you from hurt, but what is life without risk?

Pursue whatever makes your heart sing.  All of us must deal with survival on this planet, but the heart longs for more.  Write the song, play the guitar, plant the garden, cook your favorite comfort food or take up a new sport.  Whatever feels right, do it. 

Our journey here is pre-destined. A veil protects us from knowing when it will be our last day. Our purpose is to learn and expand our souls. Happiness is here, but it is a choice. Start each day with joy, welcoming whatever comes.

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love,” Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach. Get out of your head and into your heart.  Life is meant to be lived.

Hurt and Disappointed

When life deals a gut wrenching blow, self-care is vital. The sick feeling in the pit of your stomach indicates that it is time to give yourself a hug. Below are some techniques for healing.

  1. Eat comfort food
  2. Snuggle under your favorite blanket
  3. Pet your dog or cat.
  4. Go for a walk, run or other exercise that you like
  5. Call a friend
  6. Go to bed early

We cannot control others’ actions, but we can control how we respond to them. It is important to remember that you are a survivor and this too will pass.

Sending much love to all.

Grief- The Knife to the Heart

Death is inevitable, the looming reality, that the journey on Earth is temporary. Although we observe the life cycles of all living things, we are devastated by loss and fear our own mortality.

Grief is an emotion that cannot be avoided. The pain is excruciating when loved ones, including pets, transition to the other side. A piece of us dies with them. Functioning like robots, we tend to daily tasks, but our hearts are non-participants.

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross developed a theory that we go through five distinct stages of grief after the loss of a loved one: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. I experienced all of these, but some during the five years that my husband fought leukemia. Denial came when he was diagnosed and relapsed from a bone marrow transplant. Bargaining was in the form of prayer during his treatment. Because he was suffering without hope of recovery, I felt acceptance and relief at his transition. Two years later, when time had dulled the illness and treatment nightmares, I was angry because he had left me to navigate life’s challenges alone. The last item is depression. Over the last seven years, I monitored my mood. Was I clinically depressed? No, but I felt a dark cloud overshadowing everything. Nothing felt the same. It was as if a nerve had been snipped from my body. I felt and enjoyed with all my senses, but the intensity was missing.

There is no time limit on grief, but we can take charge to avoid being devoured. Our loved ones are in a place of unconditional love and light. We remain here because there is more learning, growing and loving to do. Regardless of your beliefs concerning perpetual life, while here, you must survive. Reality bites when the loved one’s death puts you into financial hardship. You may have a family to feed, mortgage and other debts. Nobody is going to rush in on a white charger to save you. After the initial shock, there is no time for pity parties or for sitting in the corner to suck your thumb. Moving forward is the only way to survive. The progress may be slow. You may feel like you are slogging knee deep in molasses, with tears gushing from your eyes. The path may seem dark as pitch.  Keep going, if only by baby steps.

With time, the journey becomes easier. Set realistic expectations. Become friends with grief. Know that dates, songs, pictures and places may trigger waves of sorrow. Feel and deal with the emotion when it arises. Have a good cry. When the intensity recedes, continue your healing journey.

Love and pamper yourself. Work on mind, body and spirit health. Stay open for signs from your loved ones. I experienced electronic irregularities, coins, feathers, scents, songs on the radio, random memories, a chill, tummy blips, butterflies, dragonflies, birds and ringing bells. Repeating numbers may be messages from the angels. Multiple fours appear to me several times a day. They are on the clock, computer, license plates, receipts and car odometer. Other repeating numbers include my birthday and 1111. Your loved ones reach across the veil to give you comfort and support. Be open to their love. Their vibration is higher than ours. Raise yours to meet them. Deep in sorrow, you will miss the messages.

Grief hurts and is merciless. Struggle through the void. Find joy and be grateful. Beauty surrounds. Open your heart to receive the love.

Walk the Talk

I tell people to face fears, push outside the comfort zone, ignore negative messages from ego and be self-confident, but when the arrow is pointed at me, I buckle with self-doubt. Walking into a room filled with strangers, speaking in front of a crowd, going to an interview, entering a competition and dating throw me into panic mode. I forget that I am a spiritual being here to learn. Some experiences are painful. Ego screams that I fall short, regardless of the scenario. It is easier to run away from possible joy than to feel disappointment, rejection and hurt.

How do I move forward? The answer is self-love. I am a work in progress and can only share what I have learned from great teachers. When challenged by a situation that has me on the ropes, I take time-out to get grounded by immersing myself into what makes my heart sing. For me, nature, music, walks with my dog and dance bring me back to center. I remember who I am, a beautiful soul within flesh and bones. Others may find their sacred space with meditation, gardening, cooking, building, sewing, etc. Taking time for yourself is not selfish. You cannot serve if you are depressed and depleted.

Life would be boring without challenges. Walk boldly with love and leave fear home, in the closet with ego.

Wasted

How much of your life is wasted, while you play the what if game? 

  • What if I fail?
  • What if I never find my soulmate?
  • What if I don’t get the job?
  • What if all my dreams don’t come true?
  • What if I am abandoned?
  • What if others laugh at me?

Time is a precious commodity. Think of it as currency.  Is your priority to throw it away on negative thoughts? You cannot control what life throws at you, but you determine your response. Many disappointments and closed doors direct you to a better path. Trust that you are loved and supported. Turn off the news and take a walk. Focus on beauty and the arts, whatever feeds your soul. Go with the energetic flow and resist the temptation to swim against the current. Drop the drama. Be grateful in the moment. Inner peace is the reward.

Love or fear, the choice is yours. 

Looking for Love for All the Wrong Reasons

Are you looking for that special someone to make you happy? Are you looking for security, comfort or intimacy? Do you fear being alone, the one in the corner, not picked?

Love is a complicated emotion. Many seek to fill a hole. Whatever the need, the burden is placed on Mr. or Ms. Right for fulfillment.  

The first place to look is within. Do you love yourself, regardless of your perceived flaws? Do you accept who you are? Is your heart open to give and receive love?

Happiness flows from living in the moment with gratitude.  External people or things can only provide temporary elation. Like icing on the cake, they enhance what is already inside. 

Why?

Did you ever stop to think what motivates you? Why do respond the way you do? Are you avoiding pain or seeking comfort? Does fear of lack drive your career goals? Do you feel inadequate, therefore must prove yourself? Are competing with a sibling for your parents’ approval and love? Are you looking for love in all the wrong places, turning to food, alcohol or drugs? Scratching the surface, you may find a frightened child who needs a hug.

For almost three decades, my husband and I owned a successful photography studio. During those years, my father-in-law often asked my husband when he was going to get a real job. Our parents were programed and they lovingly passed it on to us.

Our egos tell us that we are deficient. We fear criticism and failure. How do you react? Do you find comfort in art, music or hobbies, that feed your soul? Are you anxious and irritable as you stretch for the gold ring? Do you dream about starting a business or writing a book, but talk yourself out of it?

Ask yourself why you do what you do.  If you are happy, you are in alignment with your true self. If not, you are allowing the chatter in your head drive your behavior. Listen to your heart. It will never steer you wrong.

Heart Snapshots: Six Tips for Happiness

Life is a series of snapshots that reside in the heart. Our minds may only recall the happiest or most painful events, but each frame is captured for future review. We choose the pictorial.

Six tips for happiness:

  1. Words and thoughts shape the experience. What we think, we become. Be positive. Trust in your power.
  2. Pain, hurt and loss happen. We control how we respond. Choose love, forgiveness and compassion for healing. Give yourself time.
  3. Enjoy the simple things every day. Notice the beauty and magic in the world.
  4. Take care your soul’s temporary home with diet, exercise, sleep and hydration. With a depleted body, small irritations become insurmountable challenges. Treat yourself.
  5. Trust intuition. Turn off the internal and external noise. Listen to inner guidance, instead of seeking outside validation.
  6. Gratitude

The album is yours to create with love and light.