Shift now, avoid the rush!

It is amazing to see the outpouring of help that arises in the world when disaster strikes such as it has in Haiti this week. Compassion, empathy and a sincere desire to aid our fellow humans —the best in us—is openly displayed and freely given in times of great need. This is truly heartening—a kind of counterbalance to the terror and violence we also witness at times in our world and in our fellow humans.

 When disaster strikes it can rock the very foundation of our individual and collective psyches. It is  as though our deepest fears are shaken loose from the comfortable bed where they have been lying and rise up to remind us that they are still there. We become aware once again that safety is not a guarantee in this world. The truly terrifying emotion that gets triggered in such circumstances is one of powerlessness.

 Someone once said that the emotion we most feared was one of powerlessness. My experience and observation in this lifetime is that this is probably true. We REALLY do NOT like to feel that we are powerless in any area of our lives.

 Daily life, at least in most of the western world, can lull us into a sense of complacency where we can “forget” about this issue of powerlessness. Of course unconscious behaviors show us that in fact some part of us is trying mightily to hang on to a feeling of power, control and safety. However, when catastrophe strikes the mighty energy of fear awakens.

 Each person has their own unique way to defend or cope with the arousal of such fear. Some go on the offensive and cast hateful (and often totally illogical) blame on others. Some creatively weave stories that assign power to an external source with rules and regulations that they themselves just happen to be in alignment with, but the folks who are suffering the calamity are not and hence their troubles.  In fact it may be that we all carry some version of this story in our deepest of hidden places—be good, do this, follow that and no harm will come to you! But disaster has a way of shaking our belief systems and opening us up to our fears about safety, security, as well as to what is really important. This can be a time when we can discover things about ourselves and choose (or be forced!) to grow and develop aspects of ourselves that we may not otherwise.

 If we ask questions about our deepest fears…if we confront them and look to what it would take to dissolve them, heal them, let them go…and yes, maybe even accept that we may have to live with some part of them and learn to manage them more grace-fully.

 Our true power lies within the better part of ourselves, in our spiritual nature. We can choose to grow and develop this aspect—to learn how to attune to the energy of love, peace and ease and allow it to flow through us even in an imperfect world. Aligning with the energy of these higher qualities strengthens us and those around us through a kind of ripple effect.

 Learning to root and ground ourselves in these stronger energies opens us up so we become more aware of healthier choices and responses to our world –ones that nourish and enhance ourselves, others and the world. Centering in these energies brings clarity, a higher way of knowing and Being to us. Our choices and responses can become more kind, loving and wise.

 A question that often is asked is, “Is there a higher purpose in the disasters that strike us? “  Perhaps the answer is that is our choice. Perhaps the real question needs to be, “How do we want to respond to the challenges and conditions of our lives?” We can choose to develop our awareness and consciousness. We can choose to work toward an integration of mind and heart. It is there that we can find the deep choice of wisdom and love.

Great video on interaction of mind, experience and brain and the benefits of developing  mindfulness. Cultivating this state helps to improve  health, relationships, and the ability to learn and enjoy life. This video is focused on children but it has great wisdom for all of us!

Fear in all its forms, doubt, anxiety, uncertainty, is a feeling–a vibration that you can shift.

We can work with our minds to shift our energy or we can work directly with our energy to shift our minds—both work but I find it simpler, more effective and efficient to go directly to working with the energy—fewer stories, less resistance to change  and it is going to the source!

To beginto work from the level of energy: Choose to center within yourself and ground your energy (see Articles and Tips elsewhere on this site for information regarding these two concepts). Once grounded you can more easily place your attention on thoughts and feelings that open and build energy.

 Open from the inside out and feel the miracle of your life force coursing through you. Once in touch with your inner energy in this way it becomes easier to place your mind (feeling and thought) on things that enliven, nourish and strengthen you. As you become stronger, lighter and brighter in your energy you can more easily connect to soul and flow with more joy, peace and love.

A very dear and wise friend once said to me, “In my culture we are taught to choose well at the start”. Each morning we each have a new start….how will we choose? Your energy matters! Your heart matters! You matter…choose well what energy you live your day(s) in.

Your energy system has a direct influence on your mind, body and spirit. It impacts your health, your moods, your outlook on life and much more. By tuning into your personal energy level throughout the day you will feel better and begin to develop a foundation for being able to expand your ability to manage, focus and channel your energy.

1. Upon awakening, before you even get out of bed, notice how you feel. If you dreamt something that has a negative hangover effect, consciously release it. Use whatever means you can to accomplish this: EFT, breath-work, imagery and pivoting can help you shift your feelings.
2. Choose you emotional state for the day. Yes, you can! Let yourself feel ease, peace, well being to whatever level you can and imagine flowing that good feeling out from your deep inner center into your day.
3. As you move through the day notice what expands and opens you and make it a point to settle into these feelings. Appreciate and feel gratitude for all that is present that is adding to your life. (These feelings create very real biochemical and neuro-hormonal changes.)
4. Notice what triggers negative feelings or thought patterns and consciously release them as best you can as they arise. At times there may be a need for more than you can manage in the moment. If the latter is the case, schedule time to do what you need to in order to collapse those patterns more thoroughly from your bodymind.
5. As you notice what diminishes and drags you down can you also begin to think about how you can consciously make choices that eliminate those situations from your life. That may not be possible in all cases, but you may be able to let go of more than you realize. Over the longer term you can do what you can to build and strengthen your energy in order to more easily change de-energizing ways of reacting to the situations or people in your life that cannot be eliminated.

We would love to have you join us on our radio show on Diva Toolbox on Monday 11-23-09 @ 10 A.M. where our topic will be Practical Solutions for Holiday Stress. If you cannot make it at that time the show is aways recorded and you can access it from our link on Diva Toolbox.

http://www.divatoolbox.com/diva-toolbox-radio-/hosts/2007-peg-donahue-and-karen-kallie-living-energy.html

Have a happy stress free weekend!

We invite you to join us on our radio program today where our topic will be:

Is Fear Blocking Your Progress toward Creating a Life You’d Love to Live?

Fear has many faces. We all know it in some form. 

How does fear show up in your life?

We can eliminate some fears and for others we need effective management tools.

How do you let go of unnecessary fears?

What do you do with the ones that won’t go away??

On today’s show we will be discussing these topics as well as sharing some techniques to help you release and cope with fear. We hope to “hear’ you there!
http://www.divatoolbox.com/diva-toolbox-radio-/hosts/2007-peg-donahue-and-karen-kallie-living-energy.html

On our radio show, Monday Nov. 2, 2009 at 10 A.M. on the Diva Toolbox, we will be discussing:

What is personal power?

Why DO we fear it?

How do we release those fears?

What is the connection between personal power, energy & consciousness?

How can we become more empowered from the inside out?

We would love to have you join us http://www.divatoolbox.com/diva-toolbox-radio-/hosts/2007-peg-donahue-and-karen-kallie-living-energy.html and share your thoughts and questions on this topic OR if you would like  add your comments or questions here in the comment box! Remember, all shows are recorded and archived so you can listen at your convenience if you are not available at the time of the call.

Learning to connect with your authentic nature moves you into a personal energy flow that affects your entire life in a strong and positive way. Our personal energy system is the means through which we  directly contact and receive information regarding the people, places and things we come into contact with. Our higher nature or authentic self communicates with us through this energy system. Most people call this intuition.

We are in constant contact with information from our higher nature but tend to not understand it, discount it or ignore it. Emotional reactions to people and events, half formed or unexplained feelings, hunches are all ways that our psyche is trying to inform us of the true nature of our interactions. Our thoughts, wishes, desires and attitudes are all also a part of this mix. This can make it tricky to sort out what message is coming from which source. 

Working with your personal energy system so that it becomes more open, clear and flowing helps you to be more clear and in tune with the truth of things…helps you to move past the tangle of fears, old beliefs and conditioned reactions to live more freely from your true center –your authentic self.

It can be useful to have some cognitive awareness regarding the competing messages that crowd our inner world! The following chart may be helpful in sorting out the various “voices in your head”!

Normal Awareness                                       Higher Awareness

 Five Senses                                                        Senses Energy Fields

 Processes via Nervous System                  Experiences Directly

 Interprets via rational mind                       Processes via energy system

 Filters via past experience                          Direct ‘now’ experience

 Me centered, mechanical                             Heart centered

 Concern based in survival                           Spiritually aware

 Cause and effect                                               Non-linear awareness

 Three dimensional                                          Awareness of other dimensions

 Sequential time                                                 No limits to time & space

 Orderly, predictable                                       Not dependent on logic

Future= know present, remember past          Point of power in present         

Being aware of these differences can help you observe yourself throughout the day and help move you to make different choices about where to “live from”.       

We’d love to hear what you notice!

The quote below comes from Marianne Williamson and her book, A Return to Love. 

“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.”

On our radio show, Monday Nov. 2, 2009 at 10 A.M. on the Diva Toolbox, we will be discussing:

What is personal power?

Why DO we fear it?

How do we release those fears?

What is the connection between personal power, energy & consciousness?

How can we become more empowered from the inside out?

We would love to have you join us http://www.divatoolbox.com/diva-toolbox-radio-/hosts/2007-peg-donahue-and-karen-kallie-living-energy.html and share your thoughts and questions on this topic OR if you would like  add your comments or questions here in the comment box! Remember, all shows are recorded and archived so you can listen at your convenience if you are not available at the time of the call.