The Bargain

Dearest Soul,

How often in life do we bargain financially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? To discover a bargain to save time, money and energy is one thing. However, to fritter away life and bargain our value with ourselves and others is another.

We bargain with the Devil – the devil being a derisive behavior or character trait that leaves us less than who we ought to be. Why bargain and deface the value of who you are? It seems to be a trait centered around worthiness and not enough mindsets. I have come to understand with the help of Brene’ Brown that not enough in her research comes from shame. You know that emotion – it lurks in the shadows and is like blast from a hailstorm, seen very quickly but damaging all the same.

SHAME is that loud billowing from the heckler seats to create an emotion within you that you are bad. It sticks with you like glue and Brene Brown says once you move through that, “Who do you Think You Are?” shows up like royalty at a gala.

It is hard to escape, Who do you think you are?” Striking a bargain with that thought leader is one that you ought to think about because on cusp of breaking free, it can freeze you in one footstep without blinking. I know this because I have experienced it.

 For years I argued with myself that I was not enough and who did I was. They won every time and showed up when I was in the process of having a massive healing breakthrough or life manifestation. Initially I thought like most that the opinion of others mattered most and ultimately that has greater value than I did. I did not see the roots of where that came from. Each expression now, I know, is driven from vastly different mindsets and experiences. I always had value, however when shame came to my door, the fear that I could not connect was in my face big and bold.

Over the last two decades I have searched to understand where and when such thinking arrive. Some ere from life changing events where shame was present, and it demoralized my positive passion and self-belief. Life certainly and with certainty has experience as such that is unavoidable. Why? Because we cannot control how others act and react to who we are. Often in the playgrounds of our life there were those that single out the difference to shame and barrage them with a sense of worthlessness. We have seen those bullies, gathering groups around to devalue one another and yet were we at the front of the line, joining in or were we standing up sharing our voice.

I remember times when I was the one at the center, having a rampart of evil speaking directed at me. Some of you know that feeling and how it changed your perspective of you for life. How you moved through that would have made all the difference. For me it made every difference, taking over forty years to reconcile and heal. I will no longer bargain my value for shame, for gain for friend, foe or otherwise. I am worth every moment I walk this earth because as I touch a life, the ripple of that love and light give them a sense of feeling that brings value in the very moment it happens.

That moment as we break down created values, principles, notions and ideas and the strength of our voice that we carry with us , shared with others’ around us, know what matters most is the people. Let me give you an example of that. I met a woman at Walmart today. I was in the beauty isle looking for facial care for myself and my daughter. Peyton stopped and talked to her, giving her a lovely compliment. 

They created a connection and eventually, in time she asked me what I thought about different facial care. She shared her life struggles with frankness and a great sense of vulnerability.  As she said thank you for the time and conversations, she mentioned she been battling mental health. I looked at her across the isle from my mobile scooter and gently asked, "Would you like a hug? Are you comfortable receiving a hug?"

Her face lit up like a warm summer day, her joy became full as her need, her feeling was found. We hugged till her bucket was full, exchanged numbers and I offered a hand of friendship.

We bargain ourselves down to nothing because of the reactions of others, again who we cannot control their way of being and accept words as our truth, our value. Remember that it isn’t about what you have but how you make another feel, which lasts longer than a Mercedes, billions of dollars, or a mansion.

There is a Māori proverb I learned this week and this is what it says:

    He aha te mea nui o te ao?
    What is the most important thing?

    He tangata, he tangata he tangata.
    It is people, it is people, it is people.

This whakatauki (proverb) speaks to my soul and that people matter, people’s hunger thirsts, troubles, tribulations, joy, hope and happiness. If you take anything with you today, I hope that you remember that - It is the People and that to leave a heartfelt expression with them matters.

Thanks,

ME xx

 

Grace Style and Fitting in your Way

  Dear Soul,

Today was a blissful adventure catching up with old friends, enjoying some great food and achieving goals for the day. There was a sense of achievement, however more than that, there was an awakening.

As parents, our children need us as they grow from infancy to toddlers, then from toddler ship to tweens, then teenagerhood. During these milestones we hope that we teach them well and can release them into the world making their mark in life. At times it is the not letting go that impedes our children's growth the most.  By empowering them with choice and roadmaps to make informed decisions, when we are no longer relevant to their progression they will thrive greatly.

Today I learned that as a parent, I need to let go sometimes and not allow my ego to outpace me or follow the socialized behavior that my very existence and validation is idealized in my parenthood and the need my children have of me. In nature we see adult animals teaching their offspring the keen awareness of how rugged and hard life can be, merely surviving as a member of the food chain. Eventually, these astute parents let go knowing the dangers, hoping their next generation get it right and thrive with a great sense of exuberance on top of the heap not at the bottom.

I am learning to let go and lead with love so that I can empower my daughter to find herself and have the strength and personal power to create life on  her terms. To let go is to allow growth. and confidence to flourish.

I met a young woman who did not fit societies expectations, and with confidence, she fit herself fully and totally. I asked her about her makeup she was wearing. She said I just started and it take lots of practice.  In our home make up is a big discussion and not having grown up in a world that it was important as a teen, I needed to understand my daughter's generation. Much like building a business, if you want to know how you are doing go ask your customers. In this instance if I want to understand a 13–14-year-old perspective, go talk to  a teen.  Compelled to learn and most of understand I asked what mattered most about wearing makeup. This young lady with such great inner self-awareness said, "For me it is about how I express myself. Make-up to me is about me and my expression, not to show up, to catch attention or to fit in, just to express myself my way."

From a sophisticated thinking, true to her core young lady, I discovered that we each have a unique, visible and identifiable mode of self-expressing. Add to that recipe a great sense of self-confidence and assuredness, you have a bonified formula around self-esteem that celebrates the fullness of all that you are.

Remember each of us throughout the duration of our lives grows and becomes a version unlike any other and knowing that is we are a rare and exceptional expression of life and there is no comparison affords us much love.

As I turn the page on this day, I leave you with two parting thoughts ...

 

Hello Gorgeous, Keep being brilliantly you and thank you for stopping by to share in a moment

Thanks,

 

ME xx

Determination

  Dear Soul,

Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable.  Grab a coffee, tea whichever creates warmth, love joy and awesomeness in your heart. Right now I need your understanding and patience.  These last couple of days including  this very moment, I felt ill,  very ill. My determination drives me to create a daily WIN in  writing.  Here goes kicking this moment into high gear, with a cool cup of tea in hand and nimble pain filled fingers to the keyboard with courage I type.

There is a word that congers up inner power.   DETERMINATION - perseverance, dauntlessness.  It is more than the "Eveready Battery Bunny".  I  type believing with every stroke that I will make it. It takes boldness, bravery, self confidence, dedication and steadfastness to continue to follow your intention.  As you know my intention is to write/blog for 365 days - an entire year. Feverish ambition - yes and so much more.  The more being a desire to flourish and blossom within myself.  Self medicated writing to therapeutically heal wounds.

Why am I so determined to do this?

By sharing parts of my  story I hope to bring compassion, understanding and support to those of you who may be going through or have gone through similar life tussles. This unique perspective on life, enables me to guide  you to see through the lens of positive and empowering  possibilities

What are my sources of Inspiration?

My life challenges resume includes, divorce, death, depression, even a sojourn with cancer as much as three years ago. It brought me a unique perspective on life. This developed a deep appreciation  for the value of positivity and resilience. By having a determination to overcome challenges I have found a home to focus on finding joy in everyday moments, cultivation of a positive mindset  and embracing self-care and self-love.

Why do you BLOG?
During my early college years, the discovery of blogging gave me an adventure in expression that was a natural fit and it has lasted six plus year.  I hope to bring thought-provoking words, an empathetic heart, fearlessly delving into my own truths with vulnerability so that it resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on you, my readers. Why? So that you acquire wisdom from what I discovered and learned. By sharing my story, in an organic real way, you will be inspired to embrace your authenticity and find strength in your own stories. 

With that said, my well has run dry and my well being is calling me to say enough - your self care matters most.  It isn't the amount that I write, but that I do keep my word to myself daily.  I wish each of you who come to share a cozy moment with me  love and light.  That you will find your brilliance daily with determination as I do.

Thanks

ME xx

A THOUGHT OR TWO

 Dear Soul,

There are many thoughts we have heard to motivate our choice and action. I have come to appreciate those thought leaders who perfectly framed  words that fire up our soul. I am going to share with you some of a favorite and ones that I discovered recently.

 I AM THE MASTER OF MY FATE

I AM THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL
Invictus - William Ernest Henley

We are masters of our thoughts, of our actions and our destiny. It is up to us to take the helm of our lives and steer it toward our intended path  fulfilling with purpose and enjoyment our pursuit of happiness.

I discovered the following words from Drew Barrymore when she was interviewed for "People to People." 

• Life is a mood board.
• No one is one note.
• Don't talk yourself out of living.

In distilling these phrases down to what works for me I discovered that when challenges get hard, I let go of those things that fill my cup up, essentially talking myself out of living.  If life was an orchestral movement, I would not be just one note because I am not linear and comprised of different energy modes, sounds that represent who I am.  With much appreciation I am grateful to discover such thought-provoking words that say everything in the simplest of ways.

I often speak of gratitude and for me it is a BE ATTIITUDES, a soul language. Over the years I have recorded my gratitude in a journal. I go back to that place, those pages from time to time to see my thoughts. With a sense of awe, wonder and even greater gratitude in my soul, my heart connects with my life journey seeing just how far and wide I have travelled. Perhaps for you, inquisitive reader or frequenter, it is time to record your feelings of gratitude so that you can feel and see your pilgrimage in time.

In my day, I when speaking to a counselor/therapist as I figure my survivorship of my cancer diagnosis I found a warm thought that I am looking forward to.  Jen M said, "Just be engaged in the presence and company of other people doing something, anything."  You see one of my goals this year is to find room for myself rather than so much room for my cancer. Granted I have an awareness of it; however it is time to live embracing celebration daily of the small steps of progression as well as not being consumed by the evolution of what cancer brought. Meaning I have spent two plus years in a place where my attention needed to be on the immediate diagnosis and treatment. We are now in a  secondary maintenance treatment phase, yes with side effects, that with truth can be managed with adaptations, wisdom, creativity and innovation.

I am open to say YES to life. YES, to  my inner being that sees life through the lens of  enjoyment, purpose, hope, passion, understanding, inspiration and a new phrase satisfaction.   I look forward to a state of being comfortable with who I am and content with the direction of my life.

I believe with a sense of satisfaction, joy, hope and love for life we can bring a greater energy unto ourselves. What about you? Where are you in the landscape of living? How do you say yes to yourself?

As a final word, by caring for ourselves we each come to a place of negotiation, acceptance and self-understanding.  For me today as I battled feeling terribly ill, I accepted I needed time to evaluate where I was, what I could manage and how that would affect my intention to write 365 days for 2024. I am grateful I took steps to put my wellbeing first and that despite still feeling less than me physically  I have the strength and courage to create.

Create a sense of contentment sharing through words how I participate in creating history, my history hopefully with verve. I encourage you to figure out what brings you satisfaction - that state of being  in giving or enjoying a state of comfort, content.

 

Thanks,

 

 ME xx

  

How to be IM POSSIBLE in the impossible

 Dear Soul,

You have been on my mind and I have been wondering what I can say that would make your day better.  I know that we all struggle and that life at times can hit us in the face pretty hard. If there is anything I can say about that  it would be that with all my heart  I understand.  

My understanding comes from my experience  - mine will be very different to yours, just as yours is different to mine.  What I can say is this ...  because of my experience my capacity to have compassion, acceptance, understanding, love, forgiveness, hope, joy and kindness for you is there in abundance.

We all have a story and have trod the road of life forging our own path. Behind that story is our learning. It isn't easy for me to say what life has acquainted me with, however they are chapters of my story

• I have felt the loss of a child not once but twice
• Buried a husband 7 years ago
• Lost a job - made redundant twice
• Almost been homeless twice
• Have been divorced
• Felt the pangs of abuse and domestic violence
• Know the feeling of a serious depression that I was in and out of acute inpatient care for 18 months

It is so very important to realize that behind behaviors, reactions and outer exterior responses we don't know another's story.  My greatest fortune is that I have been blessed to see the learning and good from my difficult. Even light was present in the middle of facing some horrible truths.  I truly believe we are never absent of any source of light.  At times, the journey may have been long arduous and tiring, barely able to function,  however nonetheless I made it through with my will and desire to thrive.

When I want to thrive, I wanted to learn.  Over the last two decades, I would have to say my greatest lessons have come from a desire to acquire personal insights.  Notably in the last three years, I discovered, Caroline Myss, her wisdom and perspective help me to refine my way of being even more.  I found personal empowerment in the following statement she said:

Live one day at a time. Keep your attention in present time. Have no expectations. Make no judgements. And give up the need to know why .

Along with Caroline's suggestions of have no expectations, make no judgements and give up the need to know why I would suggest the following:

1. Let go of negative beliefs and thoughts
2. Forgive yourself
3. Allow the emotions you are feeling - experience them.
4. Get help -  no man or woman can stand alone
5. Love who you are - tell yourself with gratitude and joy
6. Believe that you have what it takes to make it through
7. Find joy in your day
8. Count your blessings - have an attitude of gratitude
9. Discover service - give of your time and energy to others in need.

Each time I have integrated these steps into my life in one way or another I have found greater, strength courage, compassion, joy. love and hope to keep going. Finding the power within will give your soul the fuel to keep going -  all you have to do is choose.

Call to Action

My heart hears you and knows that you may be struggling.  Choose an action each day that moves your soul need, then take action on it. By doing this practice it will move your vibration, your life in a different direction that brings positive

Thanks,

ME xx

Surrender

Dear Soul,

Letting go of the control, surrendering the rope of needing to be accepted or have approval of others takes a lot of courage and internal love. I have come to a place that each day I surrender notions that do not serve me.  These notions are  not related to the fabric of Michelle, and are bought about by other expectations, opinions of where I ought to be.

Should-ing creates a false sense of security and expectations because we are not being true to ourselves.  By accepting  and surrendering to who we are,  all of us - erroneously, blunderingly through life,  clumsily making choices we are as perfect as ourselves can be. 

Flaws get found and awkwardly developed,  out of understanding - mistakes forgiven, love shared with an aptitude of unconditional, compassion shown, and kindness grown.  All virtues of a grounded heart soul and mind.  No greater love for self can be found.  We  change the language of self from should be to  I AM beautiful, I am kind, I am strong, I am growing my greatest heart space to be present to the light of others challenges.

Mindfulness daily brings with it awareness so we are aware.  Checking in with the flow of thoughts, intuition and instinct refines our perceptions and possibilities when we are acutely aware of them. To harness such light takes faith, trust in yourself and believe in your ability to thrive in that space.

These days I give away,  let go of all my "Should- Be's", all my doubt to have moments of clarity and vision. Vision of myself not bound by societal expectations that who I am  or how I should be this or that.  I know that I fit right where I am with myself and giving away my should brings me room, a wonderous, glorious room of joy, hope, light and love for me. I surrendered the mists of darkness I have carried by taking on board what was not mine to carry.

It is important to define your intentions and I have found that by making a personal declaration to myself everyday that I make my intentions known to myself.  For example: "Today I declare that I accept where I am in my life and  this was of my own making and choice.  Choices guided by intuition and a loving God who is in the very details of my life.  I know that I am loveable, kind, strong, independent, gifted and here for a purpose from the inside out. I celebrate that each day there is a day to seek joy and gratitude and its up to me to do that."

I hope that this bring harmony and sense to you in some small way, I know that letting go of other peoples' "should-be's" has been a great gift so I can make way for me, my true self.  It is not to day that I do not have moment of fear or self doubt, I do, however managing me without others ideas helps to love who I am.  Taking steps to be aware of my self love by surrendering guides me to a place of peace.

I would ask yourself the following questions:

• How are you loving and accepting yourself today?
•  How are you declaring and surrendering to be true to yourself.
• What do you do to manage your "should-be's", ?

Take a moment and reflect and record those questions. By seeing what you think you will find answers you have been looking for.

Don't forget to be true to you and keep being brilliantly you.

Thanks,

ME xx

Sunday Wisdom and Thanks

Dear Soul,

I came across a passage in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. It intrigued me greatly because his words seem very prophetic for our age, this age in time. The passage I read explains the energy behind Michelle Moments, behind Michelle. I hope that you find your own kind of wisdom in this spell binding selection of text. I highlighted those things that jumped out at me. It will connect with you too.

If you have the book, I am on page 30, Chapter 3 - Book 3

"If at some point in your life, you should come across anything better than justice, honest, self-control, courage - than a mind satisfied that it has succeeded in enabling you to act rationally and satisfied to accept what's beyond its control - if you find anything better than that , embrace it without reservation - it must be an extraordinary thing indeed - and enjoy it to the full.

But if nothing presents itself that's superior to the spirit that lives within - the one that has subordinated individual desire to itself, that discriminates impression that has broken free of the physical temptations (as Socrates used to say), and subordinated itself to the god's, and looks out for human being's welfare, if you find that there's nothing more important and valuable than that ....

 ...then don't make room for anything else but it. - for anything than that might lead you astray, tempt you off the road, and leave you unable to devote yourself completely to achieving the goodness that is uniquely yours.  It would be wrong for anything to stand between you and attaining goodness - as a rational being and a citizen. Anything at all: the applause of the crowd, high office, wealth, or self-indulgence. All of them might seem compatible with it for a while. But suddenly they control us and sweep us away.

So make your choice straightforwardly, once and for all, and stick to it. Choose what is best.

- Best is what benefits me

As a rational being? Then follow through. Or just as an animal? Then say so and stand your ground without making a show of it. (Just make sure you've done your homework first.)"

 My homework has been my life experience and challenges coupled with reading to understand how I can get through. There is nothing more satisfying than finding ways to inspire others, the extraordinary inside me tells me so and that is good for humankind.

I am grateful for my life and all that has happened, arrived, and brought in learning, perspective. I am grateful for the losses, the heart ache, the hard. Those things have helped me to hew my life into who I am now and where I stand. Albeit there is much more to learn, we are imperfectly perfect - spiritual beings trying to tough it out soulfully. 

I am grateful for the tranquility and harmony that follows when I recognize how God and the universe has a hand in my life.

I am grateful for each of you and the time you take to read my blogs.

I am grateful for my education in life and scholastically whereby I learned to read and write. 

I am grateful for my parents who allowed me to figure out me. To find out what I am all about.

I am grateful for technology like phones that reach beyond miles to connect the sound of a voice with another. The evolution of the phone is marvelous, and I am so so grateful that I can reach out  and see those I love where miles become invisible and not so distant.

I am grateful for my homeland New Zealand and the vista of life it gave me in my youth. There is so  much that I was able to experience that it fills my youthful inner child with happiness.

Let me close with this thought again from Marcus Aurelius [...] "14. You have functioned as part of something; you will vanish into what you have produced you.

OR be restored, rather. To
To the logos from which all things spring.
By being changed."

Life has changed me for the better and I hope as you go through today you take the time to express gratitude, thanks to your partner, your wife, your husband, your children but most of all yourself.

Thanks,

 

ME xx

 

The Sunlight after the Storms

 

Some years after my husband passed away, I started reading the book, " The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O'Connor.  In truth I have yet to finish it because thinking about grief and losses took it's toll. A toll that was about remembrances.  Avoidance behaviors seemed to work for a while during that time, however it caught up with me in other ways.  Daily losses, were about as my daughter called them the missing.  As the book described it, "felt lost without the daily interaction of the person who had been in her life everyday since she was born."  A story of a sister grieving the loss of her younger sister to breast cancer. 

What I want to point out is grief is about travelling through getting used to those daily interactions no longer being there from the biggest to the smallest of things. We catch ourselves in those times that we do things and turn to look for our loved ones, they are absent, missing. The book also mentions our brain is deeply encoded by our loved ones. Further more to help you understand what you are going through, may I add this from the book, "Encoding someone means that yearning is the inevitable result of separation from them. Our brain is doing everything in its power to keep us united with the ones we love."

Courage is the valor of our hearts when we learnt how to adapt to loosing someone, with the help of other family members, friends, community, time and hope we work through that part of our brain that is desperately doing what it thinks we need. Grief is gradual and we move at our own steam.  Being present for some might mean an immediate realization of the loss, the missing interactions and life consequences that have to be dealt with.  Moment to moment, day by day we trudge through the pain to find our new normal, ourselves.

Here and now moment will drift in like a warm summer breeze and unless taken over by grief in such a way, we cannot see what the world has to offer.  If we take a gamble and let it that giggle from a little toddler, grandchild or child will awaken us to here I am and there they are - the beauty of being aware to create awareness.  Awareness will grow when you become aware, taking a calculated risk to engage in life.

When you engage in life on your terms your way even in grief you give yourself an opportunity to be gifted with a troupe of magical beauty that abounds in life and awakens your heart. Experiencing life through a different lens at your pace and in your time.

Bringing together part of the past to build a future takes prayerful awareness, consideration and bravery. Bravery to venture away from the missing to find joy in the folds of new routines, structures and learning.  Learning to do for yourself most of all.  Discovering who you have become as an individual, singular again, for some it may be a child without a parent - finding strength to stand taller.  There are those who have lost children which is an altogether challenging cluster especially if you have other children.  

To grieve as a parent, a person while bringing your family together knowing your children need you aware of them and providing a sense of security.  Such harmony is achievable when love, patience, faith and trust are present in you.

I remember when my son passed away, I got lost in the grief and decided that my grief was so devastating,  I no longer wanted to be present to life.  Eighteen months passed by  - in and out of hospital with a thought pattern, I had nothing to live for.  One day I heard a demeaning statement not worth repeating and with a robust tastes of anger and stubborn coursing through my veins, I aroused all my facilities trying to prove what I heard was wrong. I was going to show them.

In truth I was going to be shown a few truths and learning. Awakening my spirit got me to get present, present to what I had experienced over a year earlier.  The day my son passed away, he was ever present to me and living life fully - only being 33 days old, my greatest wish was to see his eyes open. What a treasure it was to see those eye looking at me, open and soulfully aware.  I calmly muttered, "I love you," In the last hours of his life he gave me his all.  With Giselle like energy I was instantly warped to the present, my now a serious depression, denial, stigmas, unsupported and alone.  This baby was courage, strength and love, hope and joy and I got to be his mother.  How blessed was I.

This was my sunshine after my storm.  An impetus to find  and create more to get me through. I do not call the duration of time that went by but what I did know is that my lens shifted.  How I chose to see the hurt - something that I could learn and grow from was the key.   A turning point arrived and so had I.

There is nothing more tumultuous as loss, the lens we use to get through it matters. The sun will shine and joy can be found in your time and in your way because we cannot live in a constant of no light.  Our soul needs nourishment and nurturing to thrive.  Connecting with others, finding new interests,  having closeness can counter and must of all  we realize that we share commonalities with anyone who has ever been loved, felt love and lost. 

Surrendering to the truth your truth will free you from the shackles that bind you. Feel the emotions, let them go through you, experience them as they arrive. I value these divine intervals of growth and appreciate the schooling.

Value is a mechanism we use to rate ourselves just as we do with experience.  Often we put a low value on ourselves because of the magnitude of our life challenges and changes.  Know that you are more than your experience.  Know that you are being refined into an amazing spiritual being having a human experience. Your refinement is your gift to us. Keep being brilliantly YOU.

Thanks,

ME xx

Extra Extra Read All About it - Meaningful Moments that make lemonade.

 

Dear Soul,

Meaningful Moments that Matter:

One hot summer in New Zealand, as I sat on the back porch of my maternal grandparents home, the sun shone on my face. I was squinting to see the reflection of my Pop's face.  He said to me ... " If life gives you lemons, Michelle make lemonade.  No one is going to do that for you  - you have to and it takes work.  You have to want to do the work first.  The rewards will come but don't expect them.

There was so much more to that conversation that meant everything to me.  That this tall, stalwart man of character and life changing experiences, my Pop would take the time to have a conversation with me. His tough exterior showed his hardened travels and yet in those words that day I loved my Pop even more, including his toughness.

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT - New Making Lemonade Strategy

Making lemonade has been the theme of the day and I fell upon the soulful recipe as I took a pause during my work day.  On May 22, 2023 as I read the  book "The Untethered Soul - the Journey Beyond  yourself I found words that stirred me up.  I noted those words on an envelope and this is the result of reviewing those words

In times of hardship, difficulty or challenges emotions will rise up. Perhaps not the best according to society but all the same there.  There is a cross road of choices that will either allow more negative to permeate or  give way to an opportunity whereby our feelings be acknowledged, felt without hinderance.  Such an out pouring, a getting "through" is the best soul medicine we can administer to ourselves. This will release you so that as Michael Singer describes "Allow yourself to experience every note the heart can play."

At the seat of my life today I felt  sadness arrive, pangs of loneliness from time to time, guilt, happiness, hope. relief, satisfaction and joy.   I let them pass through me without stopping or questioning them.  Allowing our emotional experience or passed energies to move through us gives the lens to hope, build faith and create courage that our "Through" is washing away with gentle ease and flow like water.  

This is how life should be an how God intended.  He never wants us to hold space for hurt - we are that we might have JOY, to know the good from the bad, to experience that we may succor - run to the help of - give assistance or aid to.  Our life experiences bring us gifts of compassion, understanding, love unconditional, acceptance, tolerance, kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, and hope - we return that in a BE-Attitude keenly aware that our choice will aid another through.  

Today I learned that by stepping into life and flipping the negatives into something delicious, beautiful and a gold mine of learning, intuition and hope I grew 3 sizes like the Grinch.  Funny - Yes but very true, growth develops character.  Characteristics we could all use - Hope is the seed of faith.  Faith is the growth - the branch of motion.  In the soul garden of life, the flower of courage is the BE-Attitude that creates inertia and perpetual motion. 

As I round out today's blog may I say in the infamous word of Frozen, "Let It Go,". Let Go, Allow, Accept and have an attitude of gratitude. There are some things we should store up and your emotions and feeling is not one of them. A final word from the book that has been a source of understanding which intuitively created a beautiful expansion of thought:

"Once the personal energies pass through you, the world becomes a difference place. People and events will appear different to you. You will realize that you have talents and abilities you never saw before."

I encourage you to get the book Untethered Soul if you want to learn more about how thoughts, emotions are interconnected with your soul heart mind energy.  Remember you are wonderful, beautiful, unique, authentic and the best and only version of you through all generations of time.  Keep being brilliantly you.

Thanks,

ME xx

Photo Credit:

Grandfather and Grand Daughter; 

Close-up portrait of black grandfather and teen granddaughter sitting together, on the porch, hugging, smiling. Illustration created with Generative AI ...

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Phenomenal Blessing from Bumps in the Road

 

Dear Soul,

After several attempts and self-doubt here goes. Life is not a dress rehearsal, and neither are our daily choices on how to show up for ourselves and those around us. Yesterday’s inspiring blog and today’s experiences tell me that what I share is solid truth and it works.

How did I know because when I put something out to the universe about what I learn there is bound to be a test of my commitment to that truth. “ Through our actions and attitudes as parents, we can shift behaviors in our children. If, for instance, we need understanding, we ought to embody understanding. Staying consistent with these attitudes over time, they will eventually manifest in our interactions with others.”

 In other words: Over time as you are consistent, which is key, your Be-ATTITUDES will blossom in other places of your life. BE HAPPY, BE GRATEFUL, BE HONEST, BE COMPASSIONATE, BE UNDERSTANDING, BE ACCEPTING, BE LOVING AND BE YOU.

Today I watched in a therapy session a child who needed my love and compassion as she got vulnerable recalling events in her life recently. This conversation created  a circumstance where I had a choice on how to show up with a Be-ATTITUDE. The context of the discussion made for ill-at-ease exchange. Hard decisions for next steps followed and through that the mirror of my soul and heart was to BE …. a reflection of what was needed for the other person. (We will chat about outcomes in the next blog.)

Later in my day, I intuitively knew something else was going to arrive. I had received a premonition the day before. The greatest surprise is how on point my intuitions. It was a testament to me to trust those instincts and that the universe had my back when those gentle messages fell sweetly into my lap. When the news arrived, warm tears stained my cheeks,  and I graciously accepted the outcome with warm heartfelt words. I wished them well in the best kind of way I knew – with enthusiasm and love.

My response when all was said and done was to call my best friend to find consolation so I could think out loud. By the time that conversation ended, I was where I needed  to be.

As the next bump in the road arrived, I was as Maya Angelou said in the poem, Phenomenal woman phenomenally –

“It’s in the reach of my arms,
The Span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips,
I am a woman
Phenomenally,

Phenomenal woman
That’s ME…”

(Psssst – my initials are M. E. – Michelle Elizabeth)

I walked away with grace, style a smile on the curve of my lips and a song in my heart. I was grateful for the warning shot over the bough that I had received the day before. I stood in the place of rejection and saw myself with love. I saw who I am and loved every part knowing that rejection – not being chosen did not have me in its grips because I chose to respond in a way that carried the mirror of light that I needed to move through.

As the day waned on an abundance of gratitude lavished my heart because in the details of my life, I could see God and the universes hand in my life. I saw with loving eyes that I was a choice for myself and with God too because the experience leading up to the bumps in the road gave me empowerment, solace, warning, and boundless understanding. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Thanks,

ME xx

 

Be the Change You Wish to See ...

Dear Soul ...

Today presented several emotional challenges due to parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). This condition tests one's patience and understanding to the extreme, requiring both education and a listening ear for successful navigation.

However, I hold onto the words of Mahatma Ghandi,

Applying this to my circumstances, I perceive it as:

• Be the change you wish to see in your child
• Be the change you wish to see in your energy

When negative inertia sets in - a result of unresolved hurt, abuse, a bad day, or unmet expectations - action must be taken to channel positivity and happiness. Today, following my infusion, I chose to lean into learning as a way to displace negative feelings and set my energy flow on a better trajectory. This attempt to change the inertia, or momentum, was a key step towards the desired state of being.

Through our actions and attitudes as parents, we can shift behaviors in our children. If, for instance, we need understanding, we ought to embody understanding. Remaining consistent with these attitudes over time, they will eventually manifest in our interactions with others.

The same process applies to dealing with long-term health concerns. These can drain you mentally and emotionally, challenging your ability to maintain a positive attitude. The key is to diligently seek the positive, even if it means uncovering it within yourself.  

Thanks,

ME xx

P. S. My challenge to you today, this week, this year is this:

• Find the joy in the world, then be that JOY. 
• Find the Positive in you, then be the POSITIVE.