Be Well! Take Care of the Emotional YOU

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I’m a big fan of nervous system settling. Learning how to bring the body to a state of calm and restore balance is an amazing technique for feeling more peaceful and safe. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with how to provide the same type of “settling” for my emotional self. Below are some simple steps to restore a sense of well-being, even when times are tough.

STEP ONE: IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE FEELING

What are you feeling? Sometimes we expend tremendous energy trying not to answer that question. Why? Because we don’t know what to do about the situation that is causing the emotional upset. For this step, don’t jump to how to make it better. Just identify what exactly you are feeling in that moment. A great way to do this is to take a few minutes to breathe deeply. As you breathe deeply, ask yourself how you are feeling. Sometimes when I do this activity, I will see myself very angry, sometimes sad, or sometimes frustrated. I let myself “listen” to this part of me so that I allow this emotion to be expressed. Again, this isn’t the time to try and “fix” anything. It is simply an opportunity to be present for you and allow yourself to fully feel whatever is there. I find it helpful to write out what I’m hearing onto a piece of paper. The physical act of writing seems to help release the emotion more easily, especially if you destroy the paper when you are done. Our emotions aren’t always rational, but they do need to have an outlet. Writing them on a paper that will be destroyed provides a safe place for them to be expressed.

STEP TWO: PROVIDE COMFORT

When you were a child, what did your parents do when you were upset? Hopefully, they comforted you by hugging you or spending some time listening. You can provide this comfort to yourself, now that you are an adult. I do this by imagining the upset part of me as a child. I pull the child on my lap and hug her. I say and do the things I would do to comfort my son, if he was upset or afraid. This always helps me to feel relaxed and loved. This activity is simply about providing comfort and the space to express what is experienced, not a time to judge or try to fix. An additional benefit to this activity is that it empowers my wise, compassionate adult self, so everyone is happy!

STEP THREE: LEAN ON SPIRIT

As an adult, we are no longer able to lean so heavily on our parents for care and nurturing. For me, I’ve found it helpful to lean on Spirit. You can use whatever religious or spiritual reference works for you…or you can simply imagine your highest self providing the support. I use a simple meditation technique to evoke this feeling. I imagine myself sitting in a peaceful spot in the woods. I lean against a big strong oak tree and put my feet in a gentle stream in front of me. I feel the gentle breeze, hear the birds singing, smell the fresh scents of the forest and feel the soft moss under my hands. Once I am relaxed, I let myself imagine being wrapped in loving arms and feeling Divine love surrounding and supporting me. I release whatever is troubling me to Spirit, knowing I will receive the help and inspiration I need at just the right time.

STEP FOUR: ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM

Our emotions are simply a warning system. They provide us with awareness when our thoughts are creating a feeling of unease or disharmony. Sometimes, simply listening to our emotional self will calm things down and no further action will be needed. Other times though, there is an underlying fear that needs to be addressed. Ask yourself, if this were my child, what would I do or suggest to help them feel safe? If you find that you don’t know how to ease the fear, then consider asking for some help. There are many wonderful books, counselors, coaches, and healers available to give you additional insight and wisdom on how to improve the situation that is making you feel powerless. There is no shame in taking good care of yourself…and sometimes taking care of yourself means acknowledging when you need some outside input. A fresh perspective can make all the difference.

STEP FIVE:  USE ENERGETIC TOOLS TO SOOTHE

There are many amazing tools that can help support you in taking care of your emotional self.  One of the tools that really made a difference for me is a Blue Agate pendant designed by Intuitive/Artist Deanne Angel (Angel Healing Crystals).  This pendant was intuitively designed and selected for my needs.  I absolutely love it!  It has a deeply calming and soothing effect on my whole system.  It seems to work on an energetic level to help me overcome my fears and feel more emotionally balanced.   Another tool  I find helpful is flower essences.  I tried a new flower essence for emotional sensitive people recently called Pink Yarrow.  You can find that essence and others for a variety of emotional and physical concerns at http://www.featherhawk.com/.   Aromatherapy is another favorite tool of mine.  I’ve been using a roll on from Young Living (Jennifer Hagele #989297 is the distributor I use) called Tranquil which I find very helpful.  I also love the LavenMint spray from Savannah Moon.    

I hope you find this simple technique helpful! If you find you need some spiritual insight and practical input to support you with this process, I’m here to help!

Blessings to you and yours!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach who works with clients who are feeling powerless because of a relationship, health situation, job, family matter, or other concern. She offers Empowerment Readings which combine Divine guidance with practical coaching tips to help her clients make the necessary changes to move into a better situation. Readings are available by phone or email. Economic Recession Rates are $15/15 minutes. Visit my website to learn more and to get your free Divine Purpose Survey! www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

Questions? Nancy can be reached by email at Nancy@EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

No Spring Sniffles for You!

Spring has officially arrived, and not a moment too soon! The long winter has given way to occasional balmy breezes, but we still need to support our immune systems. The change of seasons, with wildly fluctuating temperatures, can leave us vulnerable to a variety of pesky germs.

You can help your immune system to function optimally by taking some common sense precautions:

1. Wash hands frequently with soap and running water. (Hand sanitizers are NOT as effective as plain soap, running water and a little friction. Anti-bacterial soap is NOT necessary.)
2. Keep your hands away from your face. We “catch” colds by picking up the virus from surfaces we touch, then touching our eyes or noses. BINGO! The virus now has a new home.
3. Eat prudently. Diets high in sugar literally paralyze your white blood cells for hours at a time, making them unable to fight germs effectively.
4. Take a good natural multivitamin/mineral supplement. Adequate amounts of properly formulated vitamins A, C, D and trace minerals will keep your immune system in tip-top shape.
5. Get adequate, healthy sun exposure daily. 20 minutes of sun exposure to your face and arms (during non-peak hours) will boost Vitamin D levels and improve your natural immunity.
6. Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours nightly. Sleep deprivation depresses the immune system dramatically.
7. Keep an Immune Support Formula on hand to use when your immune system is compromised by physical or emotional stress, air travel, or exposure to others who are ill. Being pro-active can prevent days of being miserable.
8. Keep a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people. When your energy is “drained” so is your immune system. A good support network will keep your “battery charged.”

For specific recommendations on scientifically validated nutritional products to support your immune system, contact Paula.  Paula@ProfoundWellness.com.

Knowledge is Power…and Relieves Stress!

Money- wondering if you have enough, managing it, wondering about your financial future- can be very stressful!  Besides the perception that managing your finances is no fun (think of the bad rap budgets get), there are many emotional issues tied to how money flows in and out of your life. But understanding your cash flow and knowing where your money is and how to manage it is very empowering. It doesn’t need to be complicated and if you take charge of your finances you will feel better.  So, the theme of my message today is KNOWLEDGE IS POWER when it comes to your money.

Here are a few tips to help get you on the road to a healthy and less stressful financial future:

Create a budget to track your income and expenses. It can be very simple; start with your primary living expenses (rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, etc.) and work from most necessary to least necessary, creating a category for all your expense areas including those things you only pay for several times per year (examples include car repairs and car insurance).

Use a small notebook to track all of your cash expenses. Often, we purchase things during the day- a cup of coffee, an afternoon snack- and forget to include it in our budget. Those small expenses can add up so be sure to include them in your budget.

Once your budget is on paper, begin to look at ways you can manipulate it to achieve a goal. Do you want to pay off your debt more quickly? Do you want to create a dream fund to take a special trip or make a special purchase? Do you want to contribute more to your retirement savings? This is where the fun begins! Think of it as a big puzzle where you are moving the pieces around and trying to make them fit together into a better “picture”—a picture that reflects the life you want to be living.

Envision your dream. Create a Dreamscape (contact me at email below for a copy of this activity) to give image to your dream life. What will it look like? What will it include? How does money play a role in that dream? Be specific as to how much you will want and where it will come from (better paying job, modified lifestyle, etc.). 

If you are feeling completely stuck, enlist help. If you feel like family history or a “bad” financial past is holding you back from moving to a healthier financial future, engage in some activities that will help your re-frame those negative beliefs. I often encourage clients to read The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom by Suze Orman, which offers invaluable step-by-step advice to overcoming unhealthy and self-defeating behavior patterns concerning money. There are also a number of holistically minded financial planners out there. Additionally, I offer several programs that provide money coaching assistance and support.  Please visit Transition Consulting and Coaching, for more information.

Engage in these first steps and you will be on your way to a less stressful, happier financial future. Remember- knowledge is power… especially when it comes to your money. Only by knowing where you are now will you be able create the foundation for where you want to be in the future.

Cathy Posner offers career and small business coaching services.  Visit her website to learn more, http://www.transitionconsultingandcoaching.com.  She can be reached by email at Cathy@TransitionConsultingandCoaching.com.

Hand Turned Bowls and Discovering Your Unique Self

I’ve been working with a very gifted artist, named Jim Holland from North Carolina.  He makes these amazing hand turned wood bowls, vases and containers.  They are really beautiful and each is so unique.  I am keeping my favorite stones in one.  I purchased one for a friend of mine for Christmas and filled it with tiny stone chips used to balance the chakras (the stone chips are from Corky Larson at Inner Harmony Wellness Center).  I have two other vases holding incense and eucalyptus and I’ve just ordered another one for my desk. 

As you can see, I really love his work!  His website is http://www.HandTurnedBowls.biz if you are interested.

I was thinking about the vases and how each one is so different.   A vase starts off as a block of wood…shapeless and without character, like the one below. 

Uncarved wood block from Jim Holland

And through the belief that there is something more than the surface reveals and through the willingness to be guided by the Divine, the true beauty and character of the wood can be shown.

Hand Turned Vase created by Jim Holland

I received an email from a woman who had purchased several Divinely You Readings from me for her family.  She wrote, “The Divinely You readings gave me such a great new perspective on my family and my one friend!  It showed me that we really sometimes don’t realize all of the great qualities that our family and friends have.”

I think this is often true for all of us…and it is also true about how we view ourselves.  Sometimes it is easy to focus on what is wrong with those around us.  Today, I challenge you to look for what is right…both in your loved ones and in yourself.   What do you love about yourself?  What do you love about the other people in your life? 

Feel free to share what you discover by commenting here and remember to also share it with your loved ones!

Blessings to you and yours!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach and owner of Empowering Lightworkers, Crossroads Coaching, and Sanctuary at the Crossroads.  She provides Life Coaching Readings, Intuitive Coaching Clubs, and products to empower her clients to understand their life and experiences from a spiritual perspective and to live their life purpose. 

The New Year…A Perfect Time to Set a Budget

The New Year is a perfect time to create a budget.  Many people consider a budget to be an unpleasant, limiting factor in their life.  Instead, I invite you to view it as a welcome guideline and a fun puzzle.  Nothing feels quite as good as spending within your means.  And I fully encourage you to build in a line for “treats” or “splurges.”  There are many tools available online to help with this activity.  Several sites like Kiplingers and The Dough Roller have especially useful tools.  Or Google search “budget tools” and choose one to your liking.  If you are stuck, a coaching session can help you start the process.  I am offering a new program, Budget Bliss, that can help you be on your way!  Regardless of your method, I encourage you to take the plunge!  It will give you peace of mind and the great satisfaction of having done something to take care of yourself as the new year begins.

From Cathy Posner, Transition Consulting and Coaching/Crossroads Coaching/Sanctuary at the Crossroads
www.transitionconsultingandcoaching
Questions? Call or email cathy@transitionconsultingandcoaching.com or 216-337-2106

The Power of Love: Make 2009 a Great Year!

Every year, I complete an exercise that Life Coach and author, Cheryl Richardson, sends out.  It asks you a series of questions in April and then asks you to reflect on them at the end of the year.  One of the questions is “What advice would you give yourself?

This year, when I started to answer that question I found myself getting very squirmy.  All the “words of wisdom” from the things I’ve learned just felt like something else to remember.  That’s when I realized that my advice to myself is really very simple.

Just love.

Now, we’ve all heard this suggestion a million times, but what exactly does it mean?  For me, it comes back to the most important thing I’ve learned in my life.  It is that my happiness and my sense of peace come from loving…not from being loved. 

This sounds like a very trite saying, but I encourage you to try the activity below and then see how you feel.  Ask yourself when you are done the following questions:  Is your body more relaxed?  Do you feel more peaceful?  Are you smiling? Does your heart feel lighter? 

Here is what I wrote in my journal in response to Cheryl’s question,

“What advice would I give myself this year?”

Breathe.  Relax. Let go.  Breathe. Relax. Let go.  Love yourself.  Love God.  Love your husband.  Love your sons.  Love your family and friends.  Love everyone.  Love the Earth.  Love trees.  Love the mud between your toes.  Love the birds singing in the morning.  Love the candlelight at night.  Love the first star at dusk.  Love your soulfriends.  Love your body.  Love your inner child.  Love sunshine on your face.  Love the warmth of a cozy blanket.  Love the sound of Dylan’s laugh.  Love the feel of Jacob’s head on your shoulder.  Love the feel of a rock in your hand.  Love the smooth feel of jade.  Love the softness of your pillow.  Love the wonderful scent of mint tea.  Love the lavendar in the garden.  Love God’s whispers in your mind.  Love Spirit hugs.  Love your beautiful Soul sisters.  Love simplicity.  Love joyous music.  Love laughter.   Love swimming in a quiet lake.  Love the first wildflower in the spring.  Love watching the sun come up.  Love the ebb and the flow.  Love your innocence.  Love your wisdom.  Love books and stories and stories!  Love your fears.  Love the creative rush of a new idea.  Love the smell of the pages of a book.  Love watching the branches stir in the wind.  Love the feel of the Earth beneath you.  Love the snowflakes melting on your cheeks.  Love starlit nights.  Love songs.  Love simple pleasures.  Love being loved.  Love yourself!

Now it is your turn!  What do you love?

Feel free to write your response in the comment box below.   Did you notice a difference in how you felt after your list was complete?  Share your thoughts!  We’d love to hear from you!

Save a copy of your list to refer to throughout the year.  I’m going to keep my list posted by my computer to remind me to start each day with loving thoughts.  Where could you keep your list to remind you of all that you love?

Blessings to you and yours!  Best wishes for a joyous, peaceful and loving 2009!  

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach and the owner of Sanctuary at the Crossroads, Crossroads Coaching, and Empowering Lightworkers.  She offers Life Coaching readings, products, and Intuitive Coaching Clubs which provide Divine guidance with practical coaching tips to empower you to live your life purpose.  To learn more, visit her websites:

http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com

http://www.CrossroadsCoachingOnline.com

http://www.SanctuaryAtCrossroads.com