Well done, you.

 Look after your own well-being by giving yourself some positive feedback. Think back over the day. What did you say that you really liked? What did you say that really mattered? It may have been open and honest, it may have been kind, or it may have been thoughtful. You may have made a comment that really connected with someone else, or that gave them some positive feedback, or that caused them to feel good. What did you do that was positive and really mattered? You may have shown consideration on the road. You may have offered someone some help, you may have smiled at someone, or shown appreciation. Well done, you.

Isn’t it interesting how emotions pop up unexpectedly. Someone pushes our “buttons” and suddenly the feeling is here. Where do the emotions come from? Emotions from the past are stored in our body. And a word, a tone of voice, a smell, a sight, a sound, a thought can trigger them.  We are so used to thinking that emotions, mind and body are separate. Whereas they aren’t. We make such a story about how we feel and blame the circumstances or someone else. How about just feeling and letting go – there does not have to be a reason or a story. You will feel so much freer

What is most important?

What is the most important thing to you in life? What do you value the most? Is it your family? Is it your status? Is it your possessions? Is it your safety and comfort? Is it your inner self? Is it truth? When you get to the end of your life, what will you look back on with the most pride? Will it be accomplishments? Or occasions of compassion and love? Will you have regrets? If so, what would they be? Maybe you could act on these now.  When you leave there is nothing to take other than your inner self, so treasure this and follow your own truth in every moment. Live consciously consulting your own deeper awareness of life and what it means for you.

Who are you really?

If you could be the person you really want to be, how would you live life? Would you be confident, happy and loving? Would you be kind and compassionate all the time? Would you be honest and loving towards yourself? Would you follow your dreams for your life? The question is – how to take that step into your real self. You may get a glimpse at times, and then the old monster thoughts kick in and tell you that you can’t do that. Maybe they tell you that you are not good enough or don’t deserve that. You might worry about what others will think of you. Oh, to be free of all the monster thoughts and able to live life fully. 

Permission to be free.

Whose permission do you need to live life fully with confidence? Do you feel stuck in grief because you feel that you will let the person down if you stop grieving? Maybe you need to ask their permission to let it go so you can enjoy the richness of life. Do you need your parent’s permission to let go of the beliefs that they instilled in you, so you can live life freely and make your own decisions about what you believe? Do you need your parent’s permission to be your real self and not worry for their approval all the time? Who else do you look to for approval? Ask their permission to make your own decisions from your own truth. Take time to sit and relax into yourself, picture the person in front of you and verbally ask their permission for anything that comes to mind. Be free.

Our minds.

Our minds are intriguing. On the one hand, the mind helps us plan, lets us learn, assists us to communicate, allows us to imagine. On the other hand it comes up with all sorts of doubts and negative stories. The past and the present can be thought about negatively. It gets distracted by worrying about other people’s approval. It doubts our own ability to do things. It questions what we plan to do. It tries to sort out the logical and best thing to do, and gets tied in knots doing it. Then some of us start to feel anxious, and our self-esteem goes down. Sometimes it is useful to realize that our mind is not who you really are. We need to trust our inner knowing about ourselves.

Emotional Pain

   Emotional pain! We don’t like it and we try to avoid it. We stuff those emotions away, we keep busy so we can’t feel them, we ignore them, we belittle them. Anything to avoid the pain and unpleasantness. We really want to be happy and positive, and we think that we can do this with will-power. We think we can do it by forcing ourselves to think positively. Does it work? Maybe, but only for a short time. And then it’s hard work. Those emotions are communicating strongly to you. Do you listen? What if you did? What is it that you fear? Would you fall apart? Try feeling. Give yourself some space to really feel. It might be subtle, it might be strong. Let it out and let it go.

Physical pain.

 Physical pain! We don’t like it and most of us like to avoid it. Little pain or big pain, it is telling us something. It’s giving us information about a part of our body and what is going on there. It alerts us that something is not working well. It reminds us to give respect and care to our body. With the information we can then make decisions about how best to look after our physical body. Breath into the pain, send that area of your body love, relax so it can do it’s best to heal. Show respect by listening and feeling the exact nature of the pain, visualize what is going on, and know there is message here about taking care of yourself. Show understanding of your body, and the pain it is experiencing and be gentle with yourself.

Peace.

Peace in the world. Imagine no wars, no conflict – just harmony and

people communicating to work things out together. The people

instigating wars and conflict are human beings. They have their

personal emotional issues which influence and guide their decisions.

If more of us ordinary people were at peace with ourselves, peace

would spread. You can do your bit by learning to be at peace with

yourself. Stop being the loser, or the winner, or the blamer. Face

your personal issues and release the attached feelings. Then you can

relax and be at peace with yourself and know your own truth.

  We can blame others for what we perceive that they have done to us, but does this really help? Whatever has happened is now in the past and can’t be changed. Accept this. If we continue to blame we become stuck in negativity and this increases over time until the emotion is an absolute block to living life fully. Release the emotion and be liberated by forgiving. There is no need to forgive or condone the action. Forgive the essence of the person, the best part of them, and understand that they were acting out their own conditioning and emotional issues.

 When I was little my parents said to me “Think before you speak”. As I grew up I thought that I would sooner be more spontaneous when speaking. On becoming older I realize the importance of speaking consciously. Our words have an impact on others. Even the words we use to speak of the earthquake can increase or neutralize fear. When we say the earthquake “struck”, isn’t there a subtle suggestion that something [the earth] is doing something deliberate to us. And is something to be feared. Why not say that the earthquake happened, which is neutral. Speak consciously – there is so much influence in our words.

Earthquake

 How has the earthquake changed you? Did it shake up your life – the emotions, behaviours, relationships, habits, physical health. Do you get stressed more easily? Do you get frights more easily? It’s interesting how difficult it is for some of us to be relaxed about it. How come we get so scared and fearful? And why do you have such a different reaction to other people. Consider the idea that your reaction may have something to do with earlier experiences in your life and how you perceived these. Your emotional response to early crises will reappear causing you to be fragile, or fearful or resilient.

  Are you able to be true to yourself? Do you speak truthfully about what is going on for you? Or do you cover up by saying you are fine when really you are not? What does this cost you? You might think you are making it easier for the other person when really you are denying yourself the opportunity to live in truth and to share openly. You may be fearful of the other person’s response and the effect on you. Don’t you get tired of being in fear? Step out of this fear and show your real self. You may be surprised at how this opens yourself to truthfulness and love from others.

Treasure yourself.

   Today is the day to get real and treasure yourself. You are a valuable person. You have lots to share – love, kindness, compassion. You can share these by living from them. Not by putting effort into trying hard to be or do good, but by feeling these qualities and allowing them be apparent in your day-to-day living. No matter how often your mind comes up with doubts;  love, kindness and compassion are in you, and with you. They are ready to guide your life, to help you be the best that you can. Relax and let your inner self guide you.

Resilience

To be strong and adaptable is a useful quality in these times. Being patient and kind are also valuable qualities. These all go out the window when we are stressed and tired - unless they are so embedded and part of our belief system that they work automatically. How do we build resilience? How can we learn to view life's experiences as chances to further develop and not let our fear get in the way of continuing to live fully in the moment?
Firstly, what has happened in the past for you? How have you been supported through previous crises? How do you perceive previous crises? What emotions are you hiding inside yourself from that time? You can improve your resilience by facing these emotions, and releasing them. You can express them by talking, writing, artwork, singing, being physically active. And you still need to feel them, to release them.
Secondly, you can also look after yourself right now by accepting support from others. You can be kind to yourself by accepting how you feel and being understanding of yourself. Give yourself a gift - a flower, a walk, a sit in the sun, a massage, a time for you. Maybe dance or sing. Treasure yourself and open deep inside yourself to find truth.

Are feelings a waste of time?

Do you think that feelings are a waste of time? Trouble is, they run our life. We can't get away from them. They are there even when we think we have them under control. Fear stops us from speaking up and saying what we really think. Fear stops us from trying a new activity. Fear creates that tight knot in our stomach and we think "I can't". Fear stops us from being confident. And we all want to feel confident and happy. Fear and other negative emotions get in the way. They block our real selves and reduce our potential for growth and development - no matter what age we are. Anger comes out at unexpected times, causing a ripple effect on other people.
Maybe we need to think differently about feelings. Try allowing yourself to feel, really feel. Try relaxing into the feeling. You might be surprised at the result.

How has the earthquake changed you?

Did it shake up your life  - emotions, bahaviours, relationships, habits, physical health? For some people there is no area of their lives that has not been affected by the earthquake. Do you get stressed more easily? Do you get frights more easily? Do you sleep as well as you did before?  It is difficult for some of us to be relaxed about the aftershocks.
How come we get so scared and fearful? Why do you have a different reaction to other people?
Consider the possibility that your reaction may have something to do with earlier experiences in your life. Your emotional response to earlier crises will have reappeared causing you to be fearful, or fragile, or stressed, or resilient. What is your emotional response? What is the cause of this response? Find out by undergoing a Journey process to uncover the memory, and allow yourself to release the emotions associated with it. Live life more freely.