Mindfulness

More and more we are hearing people myself included say "Be in the moment" or "Be present" but what heck does it really mean… It means to be grateful for the breathe you just took. To be aware of your surrounding and cherish what is happening in the here and now. Take a moment and think back to your Thanksgiving dinner last week and how many people at the table had their phone out. How many people took at picture of the table and posted it to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumbler, Snapchat, Pinterest or where else social media has taken over our lives.  How many people where texting during dinner or as soon as dinner was over? I'm sure there was at least one person in everyone's family who had their phone out. This is because we live in a society of instant gratification and contact. We have forgotten how to appreciate the little things in life, such as a meal with out loved ones. We would rather talk to some through an electronic device then face to face. Sorry… I'm going off on a tangent here… back to mindfulness…

A great way to help you live a more mindful life is with mindfulness meditation. Since I brought mindful meditation into my life a few years ago the changes I've seen in myself and my life have been amazing. Below is a great info graph from Health Central which describes mindlessness meditation, the science behind meditation, which I personally find fascinating, and both the mental and physical benefits of meditation.

Tomorrow I will share with you one of my favorite Kundalini meditations for letting go of the ego.

Keep Smiling,
Michelle :-)

Gratitude

With Thanksgiving being on Thursday, the theme for this week is gratitude.

The "attitude of gratitude" is something we should be expressing year round not just around the holidays. When we are grateful, it makes us happier and more optimistic. Expressing gratitude also improve our lives, lets check how...

Gratitude attracts what we want. The universal law of attraction states we attract into our live the things we think about and focus on. Let's think about this for a second... since this true, wouldn't you want more of what you are thankful for? (I know what my answer is, and I think yours is the same). When we are aware of how blessed we truly  are and express gratitude for these blessing, we are putting more focus on what we want in our lives - and therefore, are attracting an abundance of those things into our lives. Looking for more financial abundance, instead of focusing of the lack on money you have be grateful for the money you do have. As you are paying your bills, say 'Thank you for allowing me to be able to pay this bill." even if you owe $1,000 and are only making a $30 payment, express the gratitude to be able to pay the bill. Find a penny on the ground, pick it up and say 'thank you for this gift of abundance." To you its only a penny, to the Universe you are expressing gratitude for a gift and before long you will be finding dollar bills or bigger.

Gratitude improves relationships. As kids we are taught manners and to say "thank you". We say thank people for gestures and gifts; however, how often do we thank those people in our lives we are most appreciative of?  Let them know! Let these people know how you feel about them. How appreciative you are for them. Something I started to do is instead of birthday cards, I send a Thank You card. Thanking them for their friendship and being a part of my life. What better gift can you give them the gift of gratitude.

Gratitude reduces negativity and helps us learn.  There is a bright side to EVERYTHING and its hard to negative when you are focusing on the things you are grateful for. Count your blessing and your mood will improve.  Be grateful for every situation - it is through these situation we are learning and growing as a person.

My gift to you this week is a Gratitude Mediation from Deepka Chopra to help you express more gratitude.

Q&A Thursday

Does your head feel like it is about to explode with all the thoughts, questions, concerns and problems it has going through it? Take a deep breathe, and remember everything is going to be okay. We need to trust the process, the universe DOES NOT give us anything we can not handle. If you have a question, problem, fear, or anything you want to discuss, I invite you to ask below in the comments section and we can discuss it. If you don't feel comfortable asking below, feel free to drop me an email and we can talk there. I'm here to listen. I'm here to help.   

Laugh at Your Fear

Fear, it is something we all have. Each and everyone of us fears something. Now there are somethings we are naturally going to be afraid as we were taught at a young age we should fear them for our own safety. Such not touching a hot oven as we will get burned, or running into the street without looking, as we might get hit by a car. Now we also have those fears living deep within our soul, which we have been carrying around with us for years and are serving us no good. These fear are holding us back from living our lives to their fullest potential, this fear needs to be faced head on! I know it is easier said the done; however remember this… Fear is False, Expectations, Appearing, Real. Fear isn't real… its all in our subconscious mind, which is why we can release and detach from it.  Try these steps to help you release your fears

The MOST important step is first admitting the fear which is currently holding your back. Whether its not having enough money, never finding a partner, not having the body you want, whatever is it may be, write it down. I know this sounds so basic, yet, you'd be surprised how many people aren't willing to put what they are afraid of down on paper.   

As you are writing your fear, look at it and start to think about all the reasons why its insane. Look at all the different ways in which you can laugh at this fear. If writing doesn't work for you, call up a friend and tell them you need to confess your fears to them. When we see it and hear it, we realize how silly it sounds. For myself one of my fears was not being successful. I'm laughing as I type this because of how crazy I now realize it sounds. Why did I have this fear, because I always associated success with financial wealth, not personal wealth! It wasn't until someone said to me "I wish I had your success"which made me realize how successful I am. When I set a goal, I achieve it, equaling success.  My goal is life is to help realize their true potential and reach their goals. Just about everyday I have someone tell me how much I have helped them, and how much they value the relationship we have. I'd say thats pretty successful. 

So write down your fear, dissect it and laugh it. Laugh at how crazy it sounds. Laugh at the chaos. Laugh just to laugh, as laughter really is the best medicine. 

Toolbox Tuesday's First Tool… Laughter. 

Quote of the week….

Everyday we are given a chance to start a new. Are you someone who takes advantage of your do over or do you let it fall the waist side continuing along doing something which didn't work? Once you find the right path you will never look back….

Quote of the Week

I'm sorry the quote of the week is a day late… but better late then never. :-)

Spartan Race A Look Back.

This Saturday June 7th is my second Spartan Race, which has me thinking back to last year when I did my first race. I would like to share with you want I learned from my first race. 

When I woke-up on June 1, 2013 the temperature was about 90 degrees. The butterflies in my stomach were dancing around to the point I couldn’t eat, yet knew I needed too. I was about to do my first Spartan Race, even though I was doing the Biggest Loser Run/Walk, I was running with the Spartans and was beginning to wonder what I had gotten talked into.

As I started the race, I was nervous, VERY nervous! Into the first mud pit I went, and low and behold all the nerves were now replaced with adrenaline and making sure the people I was doing the race with were okay. When it came to the first obstacles I did it and succeeded, as the race progressed I cringed as I looked at some of the obstacles yet attempted it. When the walls got too high for me to go over, I had someone help me. When it got to the rope climb with the mud pit, I looked at it and said “NO WAY!” I had wrote it off because I was afraid. The guy I was doing the race with told me to try and he would hold the rope for me. After making a few faces at him, I made my way into the mud pit and began pulling myself up the rope. I didn’t make it to the top, but I did make it 6 feet from the top, which was good enough. Did I complete all of the obstacles successfully, no, but at least I tried. While nervous, I even jumped over the fire!

What I I learned, from this race is… when it comes to physical challenges, I need to leave my comfort zone more. Before the race I said “one (mud run) and done” now I can’t wait for my next one. I also learned I am stronger both physically and mentally then I give myself credit for. I watched Spartans in tears from the amount of pain they were in from muscles cramping, yet I was doing good. The only part of me which hurt were my feet. I owe being able to complete this race to my trainer Robert J. DeVito for this support and giving me the proper training and to my yoga instructors. Yes, I said yoga instructors. When it got to the point when I was about to hit the preverbal wall, I turned within to find my inner strength to go on. I focused on the job at hand, and was able to finish. Do I know my exact time, no. Do I want to know my exact time, no. I know, I completed something I never thought I would do and that is all that matters to me! 

I can't wait to share with you all what I learn from this years race. 

Keep Smiling,

Michelle