Recently, I started working for Inner Rewards a brilliant new wellness website that offers articles, reviews and discounts on personal wellness. Part of my role is to respond to people's wellness related questions. One such question really got me thinking and felt juicy enough to share my response with you all here. Enjoy!
Question: How do you make a good habit stick?
There are so many things I think I should do more or less of. Take fish oil. Drink wine. Drink water. Put cream in my coffee. Sleep. Fiddle around on Facebook. Eat a healthy breakfast every day. How do you make and stick with good habits, or break "bad" ones?
Response: Here's the deal, all good habits (or bad one's for that matter) start in our brains. Our brain literally creates a neural cluster around things we do over and over again, including thoughts we think repeatedly, conscious or unconscious, and a thought is basically the root of any action. What this means is we become preconditioned to whatever we do, feel or think over and over and over again.
Its recently been shown that the brain creates a neural cluster when we do something for more than 15 minutes. When we spend 15 minutes or more focused on something we are creating cellular memory around it, a predisposition to do or think this again.
Doctors used to think that was it, you built all your neural clusters by the time you were 25 and that was what you were stuck with. But the science of neural plasticity is showing that we can actually remap the brain based on new actions, thoughts, and choices.
So look at it this way, if you spend say 15 minutes every morning eating a healthy breakfast, focusing yourself on the way eating healthy makes you feel, you are creating a new neural cluster that conditions you to eat that way. If you do this for, say, 21 days then you are siphoning off all the energy that normally went to the bad eating habits cluster and rerouting it to the new healthy eating cluster. But if you go back and forth you are disbursing your energy and are at a wash.
Think of it like having a bank account. If you invest in the account of healthy eating (or any habit that strengthens you) that account gets bigger/stronger from being invested in. Likewise, if you invest in all the things that you know weaken you, that account is strengthened instead. The thing is that the brain, at this level, does not discriminate between what weakens you or what strengthens you, it just sends more juice to whatever you are focusing on by your thoughts, feelings or actions.
Knowing this about yourself can go a long way to creating healthy habits that stick! One of my favorite stories that illustrates this is:
A Grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson.
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."
"One wolf is evil and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance."
"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, true, compassion, gratitude, and deep VISION."
"This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other human as well."
The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out; "Oh! Grandfather, which wolf will win?"
The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed."
Friday, October 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Embracing the Mess
By Megan Woolever
The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions. ~Ellen Glasgow
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown
As the saying goes, the only thing that's consistent is change. And yet why do we resist change so vehemently, holding on to what is safe, what is familiar, what we "know?" To learn and to grow requires letting go of the familiar and embracing the unknown. And often this looks a little messy.
The nature of change is just that, messy. Think of a baby being born. The baby is all warm and snuggly in mom's belly until WHAMMO its time to be born. That birth process from the baby's perspective must be pretty scary, moving from a completely ensconced and protected space into who knows what of an outside world. And messy? To say the least!
In life as in nature the most effective route isn't necessarily the cleanest, straightest of lines. Often we take twists and turns along the way, we get lost, we ask directions, maybe we find a hidden retreat. And all the while we are discovering, exploring and uncovering the mystery of our life and our world. It is only when we are willing to get lost a bit in life, to let go of our need to know and control every step along the way, that we can then begin to open to learning something new or finding something extraordinary outside the realm of our comfort zone or routine.
Embracing the mess is a mindset. It says, "I honor and acknowledge that there are things in life that are beyond my comprehension and therefore I let go of trying to control every aspect of life." Do you really think the caterpillar would willingly volunteer to cocoon itself if it knew its entire body would break down to the point of near annihilation in the process of becoming a butterfly? Sounds pretty messy if you ask me. And yet, that is its destiny, its purpose. Like it or not, the genetic egg timer goes off inside the caterpillar and, just like that baby being born, there is nothing that it can do to stop the change. It must occur.
The more we resist, the more we try to control the change, the harder we make it on ourselves. Better to embrace the process and surf the waves of change with hope and a vision for who we are becoming and what we are learning than to fight tooth and nail to keep things the way they are. Change is inevitable in life. Our greatest power lies not in controlling or predicting the change, but in interpreting it, understanding it and ultimately allowing it to shape and inform us of who we are becoming.
Things die, fall apart and are no longer relevant to our experience. Rather than trying to hold on to the past because "that's the way it used to work," instead of trying for perfection, which is just another word for stagnation, why not embrace the mystery of the world as it unfolds this very moment in all its quirks, glitches and foibles. Why not embrace the mystery of yourself as you fall down, hiccup and faux pas your way to your destiny. It may be messy, but it will not be boring!
The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions. ~Ellen Glasgow
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown
As the saying goes, the only thing that's consistent is change. And yet why do we resist change so vehemently, holding on to what is safe, what is familiar, what we "know?" To learn and to grow requires letting go of the familiar and embracing the unknown. And often this looks a little messy.
The nature of change is just that, messy. Think of a baby being born. The baby is all warm and snuggly in mom's belly until WHAMMO its time to be born. That birth process from the baby's perspective must be pretty scary, moving from a completely ensconced and protected space into who knows what of an outside world. And messy? To say the least!
In life as in nature the most effective route isn't necessarily the cleanest, straightest of lines. Often we take twists and turns along the way, we get lost, we ask directions, maybe we find a hidden retreat. And all the while we are discovering, exploring and uncovering the mystery of our life and our world. It is only when we are willing to get lost a bit in life, to let go of our need to know and control every step along the way, that we can then begin to open to learning something new or finding something extraordinary outside the realm of our comfort zone or routine.
Embracing the mess is a mindset. It says, "I honor and acknowledge that there are things in life that are beyond my comprehension and therefore I let go of trying to control every aspect of life." Do you really think the caterpillar would willingly volunteer to cocoon itself if it knew its entire body would break down to the point of near annihilation in the process of becoming a butterfly? Sounds pretty messy if you ask me. And yet, that is its destiny, its purpose. Like it or not, the genetic egg timer goes off inside the caterpillar and, just like that baby being born, there is nothing that it can do to stop the change. It must occur.
The more we resist, the more we try to control the change, the harder we make it on ourselves. Better to embrace the process and surf the waves of change with hope and a vision for who we are becoming and what we are learning than to fight tooth and nail to keep things the way they are. Change is inevitable in life. Our greatest power lies not in controlling or predicting the change, but in interpreting it, understanding it and ultimately allowing it to shape and inform us of who we are becoming.
Things die, fall apart and are no longer relevant to our experience. Rather than trying to hold on to the past because "that's the way it used to work," instead of trying for perfection, which is just another word for stagnation, why not embrace the mystery of the world as it unfolds this very moment in all its quirks, glitches and foibles. Why not embrace the mystery of yourself as you fall down, hiccup and faux pas your way to your destiny. It may be messy, but it will not be boring!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Choosing Your Heart's Yes
Did you know that your heart says "yes" or "no" before your mind even considers the question? Researchers at the HeartMath Institute have discovered that the heart actually perceives things before it reaches your mind. In fact, the heart actually has pre-knowledge of the information you will encounter before it is even presented! How's that for "let your heart be your guide?"
And the heart has a distinct way of saying "yes" or saying "no." When our heart says "yes" we feel it opening, like energy is flowing through us, around us, with us in a positive, harmonious way. You feel eager, enthusiastic and peaceful when the heart says "yes." There may be no rational reason why, but your heart's wisdom fills you with a sense of knowingness beyond the mind's comprehension.
The opposite is true when your heart says "no." You feel a contraction, a protection, or a shutting down. It may be subtle, in the case of an "I don't know" or "maybe" it may even be just a shadow of doubt or uncertain twinge, but these are cues from the heart telling you a "yes" would not fully open and move you into your creative flow. They tether you, hold you back a little, urge you to look before you leap.
A few years ago I read a book Buffalo Woman Comes Singing by Brooke Medicine Eagle. In it Brooke describes a process she learned to help empower her to make conscious choices that were in alignment with her passion and purpose in life. She called this process "The Absolute Yes."
Brooke says that our Absolute Yes is the "yes" our heart says fully, without reservation. The "yes" we described above. It is when we listen to this "yes" that we are brought into alignment with our destiny in life, and are in flow with the universe and its purpose for our lives. Whenever we say "yes" to things that our hearts are either unsure of or are definite "no's" we actually move ourselves out of the flow of destiny and create blocks in our system.
The truth of this is brought home in the recent film The Living Matrix. Doctors and scientists in this film report that our heart's rhythm is actually set by the emotions we feel. Positive emotions create a stable, harmonious rhythm in the heart, while negative emotions cause erratic heartbeats. They also say that the heart's beat sends a pulse wave through your body, aligning all the other functions and organs to the beat of the heart. Your heart is the regulator for the health of your body, and its health is set by the choices you make. You can either choose to do that which opens and strengthens your heart, or that which shuts you down and weakens you. And you make that choice again and again, every day, every hour, every minute.
The good news is that beginning to follow your "Absolute Yes" is as easy as listening to your body. You feel open, good, powerful when you hear a "yes" response in the heart. That's the easy part. For many of us, our biggest challenge is learning to say "no." We let duty, other people's expectations and pride often drive us to say "yes" when our heart is telling us otherwise. We often put others health before our own, choosing things that shut us down or deplete us because we feel we have to. Ultimately this makes us sick, physically as well as emotionally.
So the Absolute Yes practice is this: For a week, or at minimum a day, try to only say "yes" to your Absolute Yes. Practice getting quiet enough so you can hear and feel that Absolute Yes in your heart. Then only follow its guidance and nothing else. You may be surprised at the things you say "yes" to!
And if you are finding it particularly tricky to say "no" to some things in your life, like your family or a work related event, then find something about that situation that you can feel a "yes" for and focus on that being the purpose for your participation, not the shoulds, musts and have tos.
One week of following your Absolute Yes and you will find that doors begin to open where you previously saw no way, and opportunities will begin to call to you that you had no idea were even a possibility. A lifetime of Absolute Yes and you will have truly lived the life you were born to live!
And the heart has a distinct way of saying "yes" or saying "no." When our heart says "yes" we feel it opening, like energy is flowing through us, around us, with us in a positive, harmonious way. You feel eager, enthusiastic and peaceful when the heart says "yes." There may be no rational reason why, but your heart's wisdom fills you with a sense of knowingness beyond the mind's comprehension.
The opposite is true when your heart says "no." You feel a contraction, a protection, or a shutting down. It may be subtle, in the case of an "I don't know" or "maybe" it may even be just a shadow of doubt or uncertain twinge, but these are cues from the heart telling you a "yes" would not fully open and move you into your creative flow. They tether you, hold you back a little, urge you to look before you leap.
A few years ago I read a book Buffalo Woman Comes Singing by Brooke Medicine Eagle. In it Brooke describes a process she learned to help empower her to make conscious choices that were in alignment with her passion and purpose in life. She called this process "The Absolute Yes."
Brooke says that our Absolute Yes is the "yes" our heart says fully, without reservation. The "yes" we described above. It is when we listen to this "yes" that we are brought into alignment with our destiny in life, and are in flow with the universe and its purpose for our lives. Whenever we say "yes" to things that our hearts are either unsure of or are definite "no's" we actually move ourselves out of the flow of destiny and create blocks in our system.
The truth of this is brought home in the recent film The Living Matrix. Doctors and scientists in this film report that our heart's rhythm is actually set by the emotions we feel. Positive emotions create a stable, harmonious rhythm in the heart, while negative emotions cause erratic heartbeats. They also say that the heart's beat sends a pulse wave through your body, aligning all the other functions and organs to the beat of the heart. Your heart is the regulator for the health of your body, and its health is set by the choices you make. You can either choose to do that which opens and strengthens your heart, or that which shuts you down and weakens you. And you make that choice again and again, every day, every hour, every minute.
The good news is that beginning to follow your "Absolute Yes" is as easy as listening to your body. You feel open, good, powerful when you hear a "yes" response in the heart. That's the easy part. For many of us, our biggest challenge is learning to say "no." We let duty, other people's expectations and pride often drive us to say "yes" when our heart is telling us otherwise. We often put others health before our own, choosing things that shut us down or deplete us because we feel we have to. Ultimately this makes us sick, physically as well as emotionally.
So the Absolute Yes practice is this: For a week, or at minimum a day, try to only say "yes" to your Absolute Yes. Practice getting quiet enough so you can hear and feel that Absolute Yes in your heart. Then only follow its guidance and nothing else. You may be surprised at the things you say "yes" to!
And if you are finding it particularly tricky to say "no" to some things in your life, like your family or a work related event, then find something about that situation that you can feel a "yes" for and focus on that being the purpose for your participation, not the shoulds, musts and have tos.
One week of following your Absolute Yes and you will find that doors begin to open where you previously saw no way, and opportunities will begin to call to you that you had no idea were even a possibility. A lifetime of Absolute Yes and you will have truly lived the life you were born to live!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Unlocking the DNA Codes to Your Wellbeing
by Megan Woolever
A few years ago Gregg Braden, scientist, engineer and spiritual seeker, reported on some amazing findings regarding the relationship of your DNA to your thoughts and feelings. Three experiments were conducted that showed how our DNA can be activated or deactivated according to our intention. The first two experiments basically show how DNA is organizing and non-local, meaning it will organize random energy patterns around it and it is not effected by time or distance. The third experiment is what I want to focus on as it has powerful implications to our health and wellbeing.
As we learn more about the holographic nature of the universe (e.g. fractal geometry) and the inter-connectivity of our consciousness as a planet (e.g. the Gaia theory), you may begin to understand the broader implications of this work. There is a saying in metaphysical circles that illustrates this perfectly, "As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without." What this means is that what is true for you is true for the universe. What happens inside of you, your thoughts, feelings and attitudes, also gets reflected in the world around you.
Because we know that DNA likes to align itself and synchronize with other living systems, and that DNA is powerfully effected by the feelings we are holding, consider for a moment the impact you have on the world around you! Learning how to transform your negative feelings and thoughts to into more empowering ones is one way to begin to master your DNA codes. Meditating on your DNA and visualizing it relaxing, opening up and turning on according to healthier patterns is another way. One of the best ways I know to create a permanent, positive shift in your DNA is to receive a 22-Strand DNA Activation.
22-Strand DNA Activations actually turn on the dormant codes within you, codes that are like the hidden gems of your destiny and wellbeing. I've heard it said that most folks are only using 5-10 percent of their DNA at any given time. A DNA Activation helps you access more like 80-90 percent of the DNA codes, giving you more power, clarity and support in your life.
To learn more about DNA Activations I invite you to listen to an interview I recently did with metaphysician, Cece Converse, where we talked about DNA Activations, and also visit the DNA Activations page on Emerge Healing. If you would like more information about Gregg Braden's research, have any questions or would like to schedule a DNA Activation, please feel free to contact me at megan@emergehealing.com or call 415.652.8004.
Namaste.
A few years ago Gregg Braden, scientist, engineer and spiritual seeker, reported on some amazing findings regarding the relationship of your DNA to your thoughts and feelings. Three experiments were conducted that showed how our DNA can be activated or deactivated according to our intention. The first two experiments basically show how DNA is organizing and non-local, meaning it will organize random energy patterns around it and it is not effected by time or distance. The third experiment is what I want to focus on as it has powerful implications to our health and wellbeing.
This experiment was done by the Institute of Heart Math. In this experiment, some human placenta DNA (the most pristine form of DNA) was placed in a container from which they could measure changes in the DNA. Twenty-eight vials of DNA were given to twenty-eight trained researchers. Each researcher had been trained in how to generate and FEEL strong emotions.
What was discovered was that the DNA CHANGED ITS SHAPE according to the feelings of the researchers:
1. When the researchers FELT gratitude, love and appreciation, the DNA responded by RELAXING and the strands unwound. The length of the DNA became longer.
2. When the researchers FELT anger, fear, frustration, or stress, the DNA responded by TIGHTENING UP. It became shorter and SWITCHED OFF many of our DNA codes! If you've ever felt "shut down" by negative emotions, now you know why your body was equally shut down too.
3. The shut down of the DNA codes was reversed and the codes were switched back on again when feelings of love, joy, gratitude and appreciation were felt by the researchers.
This experiment was later followed up by testing HIV positive patients. They discovered that feelings of love, gratitude and appreciation created 300,000 TIMES the RESISTANCE they had without those feelings. So here's the answer to what can help you stay well, no matter what dreadful virus or bacteria may be floating around. Stay in feelings of joy, love, gratitude and appreciation!
These emotional changes went beyond the effects of electro-magnetics. Individuals trained in deep love were able to change the SHAPE of their DNA. Gregg Braden says this illustrates a new recognized form of energy that connects all of creation. This
energy appears to be a TIGHTLY WOVEN WEB that connects all matter. Essentially we're able to influence this web of creation through our VIBRATION.
As we learn more about the holographic nature of the universe (e.g. fractal geometry) and the inter-connectivity of our consciousness as a planet (e.g. the Gaia theory), you may begin to understand the broader implications of this work. There is a saying in metaphysical circles that illustrates this perfectly, "As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without." What this means is that what is true for you is true for the universe. What happens inside of you, your thoughts, feelings and attitudes, also gets reflected in the world around you.
Because we know that DNA likes to align itself and synchronize with other living systems, and that DNA is powerfully effected by the feelings we are holding, consider for a moment the impact you have on the world around you! Learning how to transform your negative feelings and thoughts to into more empowering ones is one way to begin to master your DNA codes. Meditating on your DNA and visualizing it relaxing, opening up and turning on according to healthier patterns is another way. One of the best ways I know to create a permanent, positive shift in your DNA is to receive a 22-Strand DNA Activation.
22-Strand DNA Activations actually turn on the dormant codes within you, codes that are like the hidden gems of your destiny and wellbeing. I've heard it said that most folks are only using 5-10 percent of their DNA at any given time. A DNA Activation helps you access more like 80-90 percent of the DNA codes, giving you more power, clarity and support in your life.
To learn more about DNA Activations I invite you to listen to an interview I recently did with metaphysician, Cece Converse, where we talked about DNA Activations, and also visit the DNA Activations page on Emerge Healing. If you would like more information about Gregg Braden's research, have any questions or would like to schedule a DNA Activation, please feel free to contact me at megan@emergehealing.com or call 415.652.8004.
Namaste.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The 6 Steps to Energy Bodybuilding
Recently on my radio show "Shine Your Light" I shared a technique for raising your vibration/resonance when you feel your energy has been drained or when you have been triggered by something in your life. This technique was taught to me by Marianne Weidlein, a powerhouse of a peak performance and self-employment mentor that I worked with a few years ago. I have written about a portion of this technique before, the Smiling Joy into Your Heart exercise. Since it is such a fantastic tool for shifting things in the moment I wanted to share the full protocol with you here.
When you are in a situation that triggers you try using this simple, easy technique, for moving through the negative emotion and attuning to a higher vibration. A trigger is anything that touches upon wounding, fear, or other negative emotions that you may experience, all those places that are still needing to be healed. What this often looks like is you are going along and everything in life feels just fine and dandy and then WHAMMO something or someone happens and all of a sudden you feel drained, upset, angry, scared or otherwise out of the flow of life.
Its important to understand that negative or lower vibrating energy isn't wrong or bad in and of itself, and what triggers one person may not trigger someone else. When we are triggered it is an indication of areas inside of us that still need some attention, love and healing. However, the prolonged effect of living 24/7 in a negative emotional resonance on our bodies, minds and spirits is depleting and deteriorating. Becoming a master of your emotions means learning how to identify when we are being triggered and knowing how to shift that energy to a place that gives you more freedom and creativity to deal with whatever you are facing.
So the first and most important step is recognition.
Step 1. Say to yourself, "I am being triggered."
The way we recognize a trigger is when we are not feeling powerful, positive and in the flow of our life. Typically, something has triggered us and we have begun the downwards spiral. Recognition of this fact is the first step in correcting the energy.
Step 2. Take a deep, slow breath.
This is another approach to the saying "When you're angry count to 10." Taking a deep breath oxygenates our system and gives us a pause. It creates a tiny little disruption in the body-mind, shifting us out of the contraction of a triggered state and ever so slightly expands and opens us to different options.
Step 3. Ask yourself, "How do I feel now?"
Taking an assessment of what remains after a deep, slow breath lets us see the effects that opening has had on our nervous system. Yes, we may still feel some of the anger or saddness or worry that we felt before, but typically taking a breath gives us a little more distance, and therefore a little more power, from the trigger.
Step 4. Smile joy into your heart.
This is the most important step. Up until now the work you have done is just a preparation for changing the energy. Taking a deep breath alone isn't really shifting your vibration, it is just giving you a bit of a breather, literally. It is only when we replace the triggered emotional state with a new, more powerful energy, that we actually begin to attune or master our vibration. So put a big smile on your face (and the physical act of smiling is very important because it engages the physiology of your body and all the muscles in your system respond in kind) and smile joy into your heart. Imagine a moment when you were full of utter joy. Perhaps it was playing with your dog, or watching a new born baby, or celebrating an important event, whatever it is imagine you are experiencing that feeling right now and then see or feel it melting into your heart and fill your heart with this joy.
Step 5. Ask yourself "What do I need now?"
This moves the energy out into the world. It puts it into action. Remember the point of mastering your energy isn't so you can levitate off the planet. The purpose of becoming a master of your energy is so you can live a better, more empowered life. So you can make a difference with whatever it is you are here to do. So when you ask yourself, "What do I need now?" be open to whatever comes. It may be that you need a break, or to eat something nourishing, or to focus on someone else for awhile. Trust whatever comes as an answer to that question, even if you just hear the word "red." Go out and buy yourself something red to eat, like a juicy strawberry, or buy a bunch of red flowers. The important part isn't the "what" it is simply that you listen and then follow through. So the final step is...
Step 6. Do It!
Whatever it is that you have determined you need, DO IT! Try within 24 hours of doing this exercise to fulfill whatever it is that you have determined you need. If what comes to you is a more long term goal like, "I need to go on vacation!" then take one small step towards that need within 24 hours, like going online to a vacation site and researching locations to visit or putting some money away towards the vacation. Again, the importance isn't in the "what" of the practice, it is in the follow through, the message you send to your self, your mind, your body that you are serious about mastering your energy and learning to live empowered by your fullest, most radiant self.
Write these 6 steps down on a piece of paper and keep it with you. Use it often, as many times a day as you need to, to keep practicing how to shift your energy. You will find that it becomes easier and easier to move through those 6 steps fluidly and quickly. You may not even consciously notice you are using them anymore, but you will also be feeling quite a bit more freedom and joy in your life naturally.
And like I always tell my clients, these techniques are powerful and they work, but only to the degree that you use them. If you read this and then never put these steps to practice in your life then guess what, they won't work for you. But if you take to heart the idea that you are the master of your emotional body and energy vibration, and you can practice these techniques to strengthen your agility, then there isn't any thing, any one, or any situation that can master you. Think of it like strength training for the energy body. The more times you use this, the stronger your vibration and your ability to sustain a higher vibration becomes.
When you are in a situation that triggers you try using this simple, easy technique, for moving through the negative emotion and attuning to a higher vibration. A trigger is anything that touches upon wounding, fear, or other negative emotions that you may experience, all those places that are still needing to be healed. What this often looks like is you are going along and everything in life feels just fine and dandy and then WHAMMO something or someone happens and all of a sudden you feel drained, upset, angry, scared or otherwise out of the flow of life.
Its important to understand that negative or lower vibrating energy isn't wrong or bad in and of itself, and what triggers one person may not trigger someone else. When we are triggered it is an indication of areas inside of us that still need some attention, love and healing. However, the prolonged effect of living 24/7 in a negative emotional resonance on our bodies, minds and spirits is depleting and deteriorating. Becoming a master of your emotions means learning how to identify when we are being triggered and knowing how to shift that energy to a place that gives you more freedom and creativity to deal with whatever you are facing.
So the first and most important step is recognition.
Step 1. Say to yourself, "I am being triggered."
The way we recognize a trigger is when we are not feeling powerful, positive and in the flow of our life. Typically, something has triggered us and we have begun the downwards spiral. Recognition of this fact is the first step in correcting the energy.
Step 2. Take a deep, slow breath.
This is another approach to the saying "When you're angry count to 10." Taking a deep breath oxygenates our system and gives us a pause. It creates a tiny little disruption in the body-mind, shifting us out of the contraction of a triggered state and ever so slightly expands and opens us to different options.
Step 3. Ask yourself, "How do I feel now?"
Taking an assessment of what remains after a deep, slow breath lets us see the effects that opening has had on our nervous system. Yes, we may still feel some of the anger or saddness or worry that we felt before, but typically taking a breath gives us a little more distance, and therefore a little more power, from the trigger.
Step 4. Smile joy into your heart.
This is the most important step. Up until now the work you have done is just a preparation for changing the energy. Taking a deep breath alone isn't really shifting your vibration, it is just giving you a bit of a breather, literally. It is only when we replace the triggered emotional state with a new, more powerful energy, that we actually begin to attune or master our vibration. So put a big smile on your face (and the physical act of smiling is very important because it engages the physiology of your body and all the muscles in your system respond in kind) and smile joy into your heart. Imagine a moment when you were full of utter joy. Perhaps it was playing with your dog, or watching a new born baby, or celebrating an important event, whatever it is imagine you are experiencing that feeling right now and then see or feel it melting into your heart and fill your heart with this joy.
Step 5. Ask yourself "What do I need now?"
This moves the energy out into the world. It puts it into action. Remember the point of mastering your energy isn't so you can levitate off the planet. The purpose of becoming a master of your energy is so you can live a better, more empowered life. So you can make a difference with whatever it is you are here to do. So when you ask yourself, "What do I need now?" be open to whatever comes. It may be that you need a break, or to eat something nourishing, or to focus on someone else for awhile. Trust whatever comes as an answer to that question, even if you just hear the word "red." Go out and buy yourself something red to eat, like a juicy strawberry, or buy a bunch of red flowers. The important part isn't the "what" it is simply that you listen and then follow through. So the final step is...
Step 6. Do It!
Whatever it is that you have determined you need, DO IT! Try within 24 hours of doing this exercise to fulfill whatever it is that you have determined you need. If what comes to you is a more long term goal like, "I need to go on vacation!" then take one small step towards that need within 24 hours, like going online to a vacation site and researching locations to visit or putting some money away towards the vacation. Again, the importance isn't in the "what" of the practice, it is in the follow through, the message you send to your self, your mind, your body that you are serious about mastering your energy and learning to live empowered by your fullest, most radiant self.
Write these 6 steps down on a piece of paper and keep it with you. Use it often, as many times a day as you need to, to keep practicing how to shift your energy. You will find that it becomes easier and easier to move through those 6 steps fluidly and quickly. You may not even consciously notice you are using them anymore, but you will also be feeling quite a bit more freedom and joy in your life naturally.
And like I always tell my clients, these techniques are powerful and they work, but only to the degree that you use them. If you read this and then never put these steps to practice in your life then guess what, they won't work for you. But if you take to heart the idea that you are the master of your emotional body and energy vibration, and you can practice these techniques to strengthen your agility, then there isn't any thing, any one, or any situation that can master you. Think of it like strength training for the energy body. The more times you use this, the stronger your vibration and your ability to sustain a higher vibration becomes.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Diving Deep for Your Destiny
by Megan Woolever
Our destiny is like a treasure chest buried deep in the ocean floor. Not knowing it is out there we play it safe on the shores of life. Sticking with what is familiar, what is known, what is comfortable. We see others on the shore and they seem happy, content with pails and shovels digging in the sand, splashing in the water. "Its a good life," we say to ourselves, never knowing that there is undiscovered treasure just out beyond the breakers.
As evolutionary beings our destiny is to grow, to change, to evolve. We are not destined to play it safe, for safety equals stagnation. Safety means that we are protecting what we already have, which means we will always have just that, what we have, whether it be an object, information or level of awareness. It is only when we muster up the courage to dive deeper, to explore the unknown that we open ourselves to our destiny, our hidden treasure.
When we wade out into deeper water we take the risk of not knowing what lies beneath. What lies hidden in the vast expanse of our potential? It may seem scary, overwhelming, yet we do not do this unprepared or alone. When we dive deep we take care to arm ourselves with the right equipment and support systems to anchor and sustain us while we explore, whether that is a person who supports us, a program or a belief system.
Diving deep requires we let go of the illusion of safety and control and allow our destiny to call us, to woo us, like sonar searching for a hidden location. Only when we learn to hear the siren call of destiny, asking us to expand beyond anything we thought we could ever be, do we arrive at the destination of our soul's purpose. It is then we realize that we are the key to this treasure box, we have held it always. But this process isn't mapped out, it is felt out. Each day, each moment, each breath.
We begin this odyssey by quieting ourselves so that we can hear the pulse of the ocean, sense the ebb and flow of the tide, see the pattern of the sea birds in flight. And from the heightened state of our senses we begin to distinguish the still, small voice of our destiny calling to us. The Rev. Michael Beckwith has said about destiny, "God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called." I would add that each of us are called. So the question that remains is, "Can you hear your destiny calling?"
If you feel safe in the area that you are working in you're not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you are capable of being in - go a little bit out of your depth - and when you feel your feet are not quite touching the bottom you are just about in the right place to do something exciting.
- David Bowie
Our destiny is like a treasure chest buried deep in the ocean floor. Not knowing it is out there we play it safe on the shores of life. Sticking with what is familiar, what is known, what is comfortable. We see others on the shore and they seem happy, content with pails and shovels digging in the sand, splashing in the water. "Its a good life," we say to ourselves, never knowing that there is undiscovered treasure just out beyond the breakers.
As evolutionary beings our destiny is to grow, to change, to evolve. We are not destined to play it safe, for safety equals stagnation. Safety means that we are protecting what we already have, which means we will always have just that, what we have, whether it be an object, information or level of awareness. It is only when we muster up the courage to dive deeper, to explore the unknown that we open ourselves to our destiny, our hidden treasure.
When we wade out into deeper water we take the risk of not knowing what lies beneath. What lies hidden in the vast expanse of our potential? It may seem scary, overwhelming, yet we do not do this unprepared or alone. When we dive deep we take care to arm ourselves with the right equipment and support systems to anchor and sustain us while we explore, whether that is a person who supports us, a program or a belief system.
Diving deep requires we let go of the illusion of safety and control and allow our destiny to call us, to woo us, like sonar searching for a hidden location. Only when we learn to hear the siren call of destiny, asking us to expand beyond anything we thought we could ever be, do we arrive at the destination of our soul's purpose. It is then we realize that we are the key to this treasure box, we have held it always. But this process isn't mapped out, it is felt out. Each day, each moment, each breath.
We begin this odyssey by quieting ourselves so that we can hear the pulse of the ocean, sense the ebb and flow of the tide, see the pattern of the sea birds in flight. And from the heightened state of our senses we begin to distinguish the still, small voice of our destiny calling to us. The Rev. Michael Beckwith has said about destiny, "God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called." I would add that each of us are called. So the question that remains is, "Can you hear your destiny calling?"
Friday, February 20, 2009
Stop Getting In Your Own Way
By Megan Woolever
We are often the biggest obstacles to having what we want in life, not ability, not education, not family history, not even money, just us, our thoughts, feelings and habits. To borrow from one of my favorite quotes by Marianne Williamson:
All the power to create the life you were born to live is inside of you...all you need to do is figure out how to tap into it.
That's where personal empowerment, or what I call "Self-Evolution," work comes in. When you say "Yes" to cultivating your personal empowerment, you are saying yes to growing and expanding into the power that is your birthright. And, as Marianne Williamson said, its not just in some of us, its in everyone.
For power is simply the ability to make a change in your life, but empowerment is making the change in a direction you want. In my practice I take my clients through four key steps to personal empowerment:
1. Awareness
2. Discernment
3. Choice
4. Action
These steps are crucial to becoming master of the power in your life. First, by cultivating Awareness, or recognition of the condition of your thoughts, feelings and habits, you create an open space where you begin to realize that you are something greater than your mind, body or emotions. You start getting out of the way for something bigger to come through you. Second, by learning Discernment, you begin to become aware of which thoughts, feelings and habits strengthen you and which weaken you. Third, you learn to make Choices towards the things that feed, empower and strengthen you. And you come to realize that we are making these choices again and again every day. Its not a one time thing and every choice counts! Finally, you cultivate powerful Actions that move you into greater alignment with your goals in life. All the internal work is great, but if you don't take it out into the physical world and put it into Action you are kind of missing the point of being a human, incarnated being.
Over the years I have watched as my clients move through these stages and amaze themselves and those around them with new-found power and freedom that they had no idea they were missing. I invite you to learn more about this process and contact me if you would like to learn more about how you can live your life more powerfully.
Learn More about Self-Evolution
We are often the biggest obstacles to having what we want in life, not ability, not education, not family history, not even money, just us, our thoughts, feelings and habits. To borrow from one of my favorite quotes by Marianne Williamson:
"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 in 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."
All the power to create the life you were born to live is inside of you...all you need to do is figure out how to tap into it.
That's where personal empowerment, or what I call "Self-Evolution," work comes in. When you say "Yes" to cultivating your personal empowerment, you are saying yes to growing and expanding into the power that is your birthright. And, as Marianne Williamson said, its not just in some of us, its in everyone.
For power is simply the ability to make a change in your life, but empowerment is making the change in a direction you want. In my practice I take my clients through four key steps to personal empowerment:
1. Awareness
2. Discernment
3. Choice
4. Action
These steps are crucial to becoming master of the power in your life. First, by cultivating Awareness, or recognition of the condition of your thoughts, feelings and habits, you create an open space where you begin to realize that you are something greater than your mind, body or emotions. You start getting out of the way for something bigger to come through you. Second, by learning Discernment, you begin to become aware of which thoughts, feelings and habits strengthen you and which weaken you. Third, you learn to make Choices towards the things that feed, empower and strengthen you. And you come to realize that we are making these choices again and again every day. Its not a one time thing and every choice counts! Finally, you cultivate powerful Actions that move you into greater alignment with your goals in life. All the internal work is great, but if you don't take it out into the physical world and put it into Action you are kind of missing the point of being a human, incarnated being.
Over the years I have watched as my clients move through these stages and amaze themselves and those around them with new-found power and freedom that they had no idea they were missing. I invite you to learn more about this process and contact me if you would like to learn more about how you can live your life more powerfully.
Learn More about Self-Evolution
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