Burst Into Bloom

“I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and you laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.” Clarissa Pinkola Estes We have had stories written about us in the minds of others, sometimes those stories are told so often to us that we make them ours and carry them over the lifetime with few alterations and seek supportive characters and scenes to add. But what truth is there in these stories, and if there is any does it even still apply? Have you ever dared to challenge it, to step out of the role, to author a new scene that does not fit the story at all and turns it on its end?

The above quote supports this idea. The shaman celebrates this concept. You need to work your story and bring your essence, your passion, your joy and your soul into it and allow it to unfold as you work with it into the beauty and the truth is revealed. It may have a few familiar verses of the old story. It may visit some of the pages, though torn and tattered, but it will have its own vibrancy, its own unique flavor of the you that you are now and are becoming. It will not need the history to support it or back it. It does not need the drama of the past. It cannot thrive or flourish there.

Instead take your new story and bring your authorship to task. Bring it out into the light of the day. Let it experience itself in the now. Bring to it new relationships, new experiences, new concepts and more. The more you invest in the story of who you really are the fuller and richer it becomes and the more vibrant and joy filled you become. You begin to see the possibilities in every situation, event, relationship and more. You let go of the excuses and step away from the stumbling blocks that you allowed to obstruct you in the past from moving forward to the gifts that life holds out to you.

It can be challenging to do, but it will be worth it. The power of your thoughts and your words will become clear as we begin this process. Be mindful of them. Be aware that others in your life may not want you to change the story. That is ok, that is their process, not yours. Step by beautiful step you will unwind the old and create the new. Be gentle and compassionate to yourself. Be honest and brave. And remember it is your life story, you are its author, you are the artist with the paintbrush, bringing it to its colorful life!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

How Strong Are Your Thoughts?

It is not always easy. We are human after all. But it has been proven that our thoughts are far more powerful than we give them credit for. Stay positive and stop worrying about things you can't control. Your thoughts are powerful. Healthy thoughts are crucial to a healthy body. Positive thoughts lead to happiness. We create the moment, the day, the world and the responses that surround us. We all have bad experiences, face stressful situations, have disappointments, make mistakes, or experience disagreements. But they do not need to be more than that. Imagine if we had a bad experience, remained present for it, did not reflect back into the past and compare or contrast it and did not carry it around with us for the rest of the day or the days to come. Imagine having a disagreement and not letting it be more than that, a difference of opinion, and not allowing it to impact our relationship or the mood that we are in for the rest of the day. By facing these types of life situations this way, we remain present and we are in control of our thoughts.

I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit for the power we have in our lives and over our reactions to what happens within them. We step into the role of victim too often. We react without fully being present with what is happening and allowing our body, mind, heart and soul to be with it. So when we react we are only partially present usually bringing our emotions and our memories to the scenario, but little else. Acting out of ego rarely involves the power of our thoughts, the intention of our soul or the love and compassion of our heart. Given the person I am striving to be, that does not make sense to me.

So how do we change this? It takes practice, intention and committed effort. Often our emotional reaction is a habit we have created for ourselves from repeated behavior. Often our thought process is not challenged by our inner truth and is allowed to run rampant through emotional land mines that explode at our touch and leave a pretty big mess for us to wade through. So that means to begin this way of living we first have to break the patterns of reaction. Stopping ourselves, using grounding techniques, whether it be breath work, meditation, prayer, journeying…whatever it takes to break the cycle of reaction without checking in with our authentic self, our inner truth and being present in the moment. We also have to challenge our thoughts, asking ourselves how does it support the greater good of our soul, our day, our life or our relationships? How does it reflect what we truly believe? Is it based upon fact or is it based upon emotional energies? Will the thought change once we have ridden through the pain, disappointment or loss? If so then we can release the thought for now and just be present.

Living this way takes perseverance and practice. It is not readily modeled for us by most of the people we interact with, but that does not mean it is not possible to embrace and adopt. Understanding that the power and energy behind our actions and thoughts has a great influence on our life’s happiness and wholeness and then ripples out to the lives of those around us helps us to return to this daily and bring our best efforts.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

An Investment in Self

It is Friday and I am coming off of a very busy and full week. My body, mind and soul are looking forward to the downtime of the weekend. While I still have quite a lot on my “plate” for the upcoming days there is a transition time of tomorrow that will give me the pause, the rest and the time for restoration. I honor that my body is telling me to slow down, to rest, and to have some pleasure and fun. I intend to listen fully. Do you listen to your body’s messages? Do you take notice? Or do you just keep plugging along until the bottom drops out and you get sick, hurt, angry, stressed or wait until some other unfortunate result occurs? If this is you, have you asked yourself why?

Some folks just don’t know how to slow down. They don’t know what that looks like for them. Sometimes their self worth is based on production and busy-ness. Sometimes people are afraid to stop and listen because of what they might hear will not be to their liking or frighten them. Some people just don’t know how to relax, it feels awkward, causes some anxiety and they feel lost.

Unfortunately, listening to our body’s messages and responding to its needs is one more thing to do. It truly is. But if you don’t, I can promise you that you will pay the price eventually and it could be far more than what you anticipated. And for those that have to learn how, it is an investment, but again I promise that it is a worthy investment.

The bottom line is this attention to your body’s needs cannot be done effectively by anyone else but you. And for all the time it may take, the effort it may need, the awkwardness it may cause, in the end it will be worth it. I recommend to my clients to try it fortwo weeks and if at the end of those two weeks you are noticing positive changes, try for another two weeks. It is amazing how this type of investment multiplies so quickly in its value. You will discover things that it improves that you were not even aware of or thought they needed improving.

You have one body. You have twenty-four hours in a day and seven days in a week. If you can give your body a mere 30 minutes as day of attention, whether it be exercise, healthy food choices, stress management or even laughter and companionship you are taking only three and one half hours out of 168 hours in a week for yourself. Now really, are you going to try to convince yourself that you don’t have the time? You know you are worth it and you know that in the end you will appreciate the difference and value the investment in Self.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

The Power in Women's Truth

Can you feel the difference when you speak your truth? Do you feel the fibers of your being stretch in recognition? Do you feel your soul expand within at the possibilities that your truth will bring? Do you feel the Universe respond with appreciation and blessings? When you speak your truth, do you hear your ancestors applauding and celebrating throughout time? Do you see your spirit guides shine brighter? When others hear your truth do you see them awaken and come to attention? Do you see how it calls to their truth? Over time and perhaps in some of our childhoods we have been told to play a role. We are often typecast as women to be less of who we are and are meant to be. We find ourselves scripting our words, our songs and our messages to fit this role and our truth is stifled and restrained. In some relationships we dare not speak our truth, for fear it will split it apart. In some situations we hold back from our truth out of fear that it will be shunned. In some lives the truth is so hidden, so unspoken and so unwelcome that it is forgotten.

But to empower a woman to share her truth is one of the most gracious gifts we can share. We can model, we can celebrate and we can support another’s truth, even when it differs from ours. That is not the point. The point is that personal power and beauty are embraced when the truth is shared. The point is wisdom and gifts are offered when we reveal the truth. The point is lives are saved when the truth is allowed. Helping a woman find her truth aligns the planets, brightens the stars, and welcomes the healing of time to all.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes shares, “It is that holy poetry and singing we are after. We want powerful words and songs that can be heard underwater and over land. It is the wild singing we are after, our chance to use the wild language we are learning by heart under the sea. When a woman speaks her truth, fires up her intention and feeling, staying tight with the instinctive nature, she is singing, she is living in the wild breath-stream of the soul. To live this way is a cycle in itself, one meant to go on, go on, go on.”

Bring the truth to your soul, witness the truth of others, celebrate the differences of our truths and recognize the power that is always within the truth. Encourage your daughter’s truth, welcome your sister’s truth, share your mother’s truth, embrace the truth of your grandmothers and great grandmothers and celebrate your truth as often and as proudly as you can.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade