Tag: love
A Look at Self Care
As the days grow colder (at least we are where I am, here in the United States) and we’re now smack in the middle of the end-of-year holiday season, it is important to take a step back from the hustle and bustle and make time to take care of yourself. I know, I know, you have shopping to do, presents to wrap, and holiday parties to attend. And do I think that tree is going to decorate itself? How in the world, when you already feel as though you’re running behind, and like everything could fall apart if you don’t go even faster, are you going to stop and carve out some “me time”? I understand, believe me, I do. And that is precisely why you need to do it.
I think the problem comes in our perception of self care. Typical images conjure up bubble baths, or reading a book while wrapped up in a cozy blanket by the fire. Don’t get me wrong; these are great ways to exercise self care and are very relaxing too. However, self care doesn’t need to be the stereotypical perception of relaxing or pampering to count as self care. I’d encourage you to look deeper and discover what makes you smile, warms your heart, and feeds your soul.
The things you choose for your own self care can be as small as making yourself a cup of tea that you enjoy. Or it can be something that you expect others would not think of as self care – like finally cleaning out and organizing the junk drawer – but that gives you such a sense of well-being and accomplishment that it makes you do a happy dance inside. I won’t judge you for it! In fact, I would be happy that you added to your joy and sense of self. For that is what self care is really all about: nourishing yourself in all ways, big and small.
In a season that is all about taking care of and doing things for others, it might be difficult to get in touch with what would nurture your own soul. To help get you started, I’ve listed some suggestions below. I suspect that once you start thinking about it, you will come up with many more ways to nourish yourself that feel right to you. Go for it! You are worth it!
Self Care Suggestions
- Drink a cup of tea, or other warm beverage you enjoy
- Read a book
- Walk through nature
- Feed the birds
- Do a task you’ve been putting off
- Try a new lotion or perfume
- Eat a crisp apple
- Relax by the fireplace
- Get a pedicure or massage
- Arrange flowers for your home
- Create! Paint, sew, sculpt, knit, solder metal, papier-mâché, string beads, etc.
- Draw in a coloring book
- Bake cookies
- Take a class on something you’ve wanted to learn
- Watch the sunrise or sunset
- Listen to yourself and give yourself permission to explore what makes you happy and contented
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Learning Through Love
Throughout our lives we have been conditioned to believe that the only way learn our life lessons is through pain and suffering. Our belief that it has to hurt creates negative memories, which then become beliefs, all based on perceptions of the illusion. We believe this to the extent that to love and be loved, we must experience suffering and pain. What if we could learn through love?
Often we tend to experience everything that way, then unconsciously feel validated when reality reflects our theory. We externalize this in our culture by making drama glamorous entertainment that we enjoy. Individually and collectively we believe this is the only way… creating more hurt and pain, making those close to us suffer.
What if we believed and actually KNEW that we can learn our lessons through love and not suffering? How about the idea that… consequences can also be loving? Wow! Can you imagine and visualize it?
While we can acknowledge the pain and suffering that exists, we can also learn to change it. I have Trinity Energy Progression to thank for that! As I began my journey within Trinity Energy Progression, I started to embody my divinity. My heart began to open, and I began to perceive reality differently.
With new awareness, I questioned my old concepts and beliefs. In my spiritual practice, I used affirmations focused on creating my reality differently. Believing in the possibility of experiencing lessons though love, I began to experience life differently and underwent huge change. Though these concepts were at first, very far-fetched t me, I began to experience their reality more.
When I first accepted this knowledge, my manifestations in life where showing me something completely different. I was feeling all of the pain and suffering of ego. At the same time I began to clearly identify the duality of love vs. fear. When I could see and observe love, it was in such contrast to the fear I had been experiencing. My observations created an awareness that enabled me to acknowledge fear for what it is. Though I’m still processing all the changes I am going thorough, I realized that I had chosen to the pain I have allowed in my life, because I believed it had to be that way. Now I know and remember that it doesn’t have to be that way at all!
When life experiences and situations pushed me out of my comfort zone, I challenged myself to go within. Guided to flow with the changes, I explored, realized and accepted who I had become. Then I allowed myself to make the changes necessary to do and be different.
I started to allow myself to explore the opportunities and synchronistic experiences that guided me experience love, create peace and bliss, with an open heart. Needless to say, some moments feel like they’re a “taking each breath consciously” kind of experience, due to their intensity. These changes made me feel alive and have opened my heart. I know that my effort in the self-love journey has shifted things, and it’s really starting to manifest in ways that I had never expected.
When I found myself in those lowest, rock bottom moments, the Universe supported and encouraged me through experiences in miraculous ways, both positively and negatively. I realized that there is love in every lesson and the ego can lovingly show me the areas where I still need to look within. To those situations that I perceived as negative, I posed the question, “what is the lesson in unconditional love to self and others?” I saw where I could be more loving toward myself and others. I set the boundaries and the conscious awareness that would allow me to do so.
All of a sudden, I find myself in a position where I have started noticing how the epiphanies and realizations are coming more effortlessly and gracefully. These moments of insight and the love I manifest through others show me an abundance of love, forgiveness, and acceptance. This resonates with the self-love I feel, show myself, and believe that I AM and deserve.
If others are capable of showing it, don’t you feel called to love yourself the same way, so it can be reciprocated? Right? A challenge in itself, huh?
I find it helpful to identify that limiting voice within and question the source. Is it from love or pain? Then I choose to focus on the loving action to take for myself. This allows me to take responsibility for what is mine and allows others to do the same.
Learning lessons through love has been a conscious desire. I practice daily with intention. Self-care, love, dedication and self-celebration are key to practicing this new way of being.
In full vulnerability and trust, I actively decide to be open to the wholeness of experience, allowing the emotions, everything to be as it is. I accept the oneness in every moment, allowing myself to feel and observe it, to perceive all of it within. Opening to awareness, I see what limits and/or expands me to greatness and self-mastery through the love I can accept, to be, give and receive.
I know that I am worthy to be, exist in, feel, receive, give, share and experience the fullness and the greatness of Love as the Source of all.
Yashmin Wall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
How Can I Love You?
Five words that could change the way you think about how we communicate and listen to the ones we love.
This past summer I had the privilege of attending a PSI (personal development) seminar. It was a wonderful experience that I was fortunate enough to attend with my spouse. There were interesting break-out exercises .that resulted in many personal insights. One of my favorite sessions was the “How can I love you” exercise.
How can I love you? Say this to your loved one and see what happens. Sit across from each other… hold hands and look into one another’s eyes. Just enjoy looking until you feel connected. You can whisper or ask out loud. How can I love you? Sit together in a safe space and be fully engaged in active listening. Fully and completely. Listen. Give your partner plenty of time to reply, as some may have never been asked and have to think about it. When your partners is done speaking… ask again How can I love you? Continue as guided. Change places. Does it feel empowering to clearly state how you feel? Was it easier to listen or speak? What a fun and creative way to fine- tune our personal relationships.
Debi Weinstein
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Shining Your Light for Others
(Reposted with permission from Ann’s Website, Omnigirl.net)
You always give love to others and try to support them, but one of the most important things you can do for others is to love yourself. When you totally accept who you are and forgive yourself for perceived wrongdoings in the past, you can truly start loving yourself. This shows in everything you do and say. You automatically attract others who want to be around you. They can feel your “positive energy” giving them a sense of calmness. Many of us believe that if we love ourselves, others will think we are boastful. This does not mean bragging about yourself, it just means being yourself and sharing the love with others. When you truly love yourself, you can give love unconditionally to others. You do not need someone to “complete you and make you happy”- you already have that from within. It is such a free feeling to be around someone who does not expect anything from you to win their affection.
This quote by Marianne Williamson https://marianne.com/ is one of my favorites in remembering how to love myself: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s for everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
You do not realize how much a kind word or action can mean to another person. The story ” A Simple Gesture” by John W. Schlatter tells of a boy in high school who was contemplating suicide. Another boy came by on his way home from school and helped him pick up some things he had dropped. They talked and became friends. He later told his friend that by his kind actions, he decided he wanted to live that day http://www.chickensoup.com/book-story/36173/a-simple-gesture
Recently a close friend of mine told me that my kindness in junior high school had a big influence on her life. I did not realize it at the time. I tend to talk to everyone- just ask anyone who knows me. By the simple act of being a friend who listens, I changed someone’s life. What more could you ask for in this earthly plane, than to make a real difference for someone else? It is amazing how wonderful people are, even the ones that don’t appear to be on the outside. If you take a little time to get to know them, you can learn and grow from everyone you meet.
When I was trying to decide whether to go to a workshop on publishing an e-book, I told a friend I didn’t have anything to write about. She said,”Yes you do! Do you know how much your behavior influences others?” I had double knee replacement 5 years ago and kept going to physical therapy, even though the pain was unbelievable, so I could go whitewater rafting on Class 5 rapids six months later. She told me that my actions made her determined to start walking and lose weight. She realized that her excuses were small compared to mine for not taking care of her health.
The next time you think a kind thought about how nice someone looks, how kind their smile is, or how they make you feel, tell them. It only takes a minute of your time. It could be a major impact on their lives. Never underestimate a smile or kind word – it is worth more than you know.
If you would like to begin your journey to self-love, I would suggest starting a 10-minute meditation practice daily. Begin your day with at least five things you are grateful for. Also, think of five things you love about yourself. Over time, it gets easier. The time you invest in yourself will be manifested in your life many times over.
Ann McKenzie
Trinity Energy Progression Practitioner
Navigating This Shift… to ME
We have definitely shifted into a different space. The trip I took to Mt. Shasta in September was so powerful that I haven’t been able to fully return into my former home reality. I no longer feel like there is a specific place that I can call home. I keep longing for something that I can’t put my finger on. I have this feeling I should move, but every time I think I’ve found a place that would be good, it doesn’t feel right and the search begins again. There doesn’t seem to be a place that captures what I’m feeling inside.
In addition, I’ve been faced with issues that I thought I had worked out. Feelings of victimization, self-loathing, abandonment, loneliness, judgment, not being heard, fear of confrontation, feelings of self- sacrifice, self-judgment, feelings of worthlessness. Heavy stuff, things that I didn’t realize were still profoundly affecting me. I mean, how much of this do I have inside? It feels insurmountable at times. I have been brought to my knees AGAIN. Almost every relationship showing me things to shift, but yet are so challenging to face. The relationship with my parents and siblings is at the moment the one that has been mirroring issues for me the most. I knew that I had been changed forever when in Shasta but I had underestimated how much. I really thought that I could come home, take a couple of weeks to re-acclimate and go back to my routine life. But that isn’t the case! There is no such thing as “going back to routine.” That time has passed, and I am writing this so that all who read this can find comfort in the fact that so many of us are currently feeling the same way. Everyone I’ve spoken with has a similar story. We are all being pushed so hard to step into our full Divinity, our Truth. So many mirrors being put up so that we don’t stop moving forward. The Universe is no longer waiting around! It’s been doing this for some time, I know, but I feel we’ve gone into warp speed over the last couple of months. When I can finally get my head above water, out of all those feelings of separation, I can see all of it from a higher perspective. In those moments of clarity… my goodness, how beautiful and perfect it all is!
It’s only when I get out of mind and sit in the vibration of Love, the vibration that is ME, that I get the clarity. That’s when I get the peace. Although, I have to say, those times have been few and far between. There are many days, moments within the day that I have to constantly remind myself to allow and flow, and man, that has been really hard to do! Ego is holding on with a death grip! It’s been a challenging time fighting it. The thought of just going back to the way I was would be so much easier… but that isn’t an option, because the feelings of being stagnant are even more terrifying than the self work, which I know will end in something wonderful.
The perfection is that all of the things that I am being shown are exactly what’s standing in my way of true self-love, and it is only through this that we will be able to do what we came here to do. It’s only when we get through every last thing that gets in the way of loving ourselves completely as the perfect Divine beings we are, that we’ll be able to go forward without fear or doubt or anything and be exactly what we were created to be, pure Love. Love that knows no boundaries. Love that encompasses all. Love that is our Oneness. Love that needs no words, or thoughts, or physicality. Love that will just Be, Be the Divine that we already are but we can’t yet see because of all the blinders we’ve put up. They are falling away. This is what we are all being pushed to realize. Because there is no work to do really; that’s just an illusion. Everything we are being shown for us to shift are just messages to ourselves, reminders, the bread crumbs we have left so we can find our way back. All of it so we can remember WE ARE already all of it. We are the Divine. We are Perfect. We are ALL.
Cathy Guido
Trinity Energy Progression Practitioner/Facilitator
D5 Creation