Finding My Peace

"Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be ' there'" - Eckhart Tolle

Life is changing. Minute by minute, hour by hour, everything is changing.  It's easy to get caught up in the expectations and worrying about what is going to happen next. What's important is to just go with the flow. Ride life's waves and just be. Feel the feelings. Believe me; I know it's easier said than done. That's our human nature.  For years I've stressed and worried about anything and sometimes even things that weren't happening but they might. Those feelings don't feel good. My stomach gets in knots, I feel like I can't breathe, my heart is racing, and before I know it I have found myself in the kitchen looking for a way to swallow my feelings.  It's difficult to sit and just feel the feelings. Even now I'm not very good at it, but I'm working on it. Today in my life things are changing. Change is scary, it's unknown.  I fear the unknown. Not knowing how things will turn out, not knowing if the bills will be paid, there are lots of unknowns and that is scary.

So what can we do when we feel as though things are spiralling out of control? Here are a few things that work for me:

• I like to validate my feelings to myself.  I can do this by writing in my journal. In the book Weight Release a Liberating Journey by Freeman Michaels; he talks about upset needing a place to land. I've found for myself if I don't address the reasons (the truths) for my emotions I tend to dump them on whoever is nearby. What happens when I get to the truth of my feelings (which 9 times out of 10 is fear of something), is I don't feel so out of control. I'm able to acknowledge the feelings and say to myself, okay you are scared what do you need?
• I also like to take a few deep cleansing breaths. This can give me the time I need to figure out the next step I want to do to address my feelings.
• I also have recently learned to meditate.  I love this! I try to do this daily even if I'm not experiencing stress, but during times of stress it is especially helpful. It really helps me feel centered, calm and at peace. 

These are three things I know I can do anytime, anywhere; even if I have a house full of kids.  If I am able to squeeze some alone time; taking a walk (no earphones!) and listening to nature around me can help me - it gives me a chance to work through thoughts and take some good fresh air breaths.  Also taking a hot bath can help me de-stress too; especially if I meditate then.

What are some practices that you use to find your peace in times of heightened emotions?
☮peace.♥love.☺joy

Finding My Peace

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Dream Big

When you cry be sure to dry your eyes
'Cause better days are sure to come
And when you smile be sure to smile wide
Don't let them know that they have won
And when you walk, walk with pride
Don't show the hurt inside
Because the pain will soon be gone

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud
'Cause it will carry all your cares away
And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself
And it'll help you feel okay
And when you pray, pray for strength
To help you carry on
When the troubles come your way

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud
'Cause it will carry all your cares away
And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself
And it'll help you feel okay
And when you pray, pray for strength
To help you carry on
When the troubles come your way

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

I heard this song for the first time yesterday. Since then I've played it a few times and I often find myself thinking about the lyrics. I especially like the line that says "And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself". Little reminders like this are so helpful to me at this point in my journey. I'm discovering how to love myself and to see that I am beautiful, so I feel it's important to surround myself with reminders like this. And the message about dreaming big - Yes! Dream big! I'm dreaming big every day. I'm dreaming I can change the world - I think that's about the biggest dream around. And I am changing my world every day. You can too - Dream Big.

I love this song and I wanted to share it with you in case you haven't heard it yet. Give it a listen and go Dream Big.

Do have a favorite song that speaks to you?
☮peace.♥love.☺joy

Dream Big

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Mamavation Monday - July 5, 2010

I can't believe that my last Mamavation post was back in May. It's amazing how quickly time passes. I've been working hard on me since my last post. So much has changed and is changing each and every day. No longer is my focus on weight loss. That doesn't mean I don't want to weigh less or be healthier though. But that isn't my focus. My focus is on me, accepting myself, forgiving myself, finding my compassion, honoring my body. It's been a journey so far, parts of it have been extraordinarily difficult to work through, but the other side of it is bringing absolute freedom to my life.  There has been a new awakening within me and the journey is far from over. This is a lifelong journey and I'm ready and excited!

So what does all this mean in regards to my weight and my journey to better health?  Well, I've come to realize food has served a purpose for me. Perhaps not the healthiest purpose at all times - it's been a comfort, it's filled a need. I've also used it to punish myself. No more. I am working on accepting the parts of me that uses food for reasons other than nourishment; I'm learning how to sit in discontent and just feel the feelings. I am working on loving all the parts of myself. I intend to nourish my body and treat it like the temple that it is.  I am not depriving myself.  I am being mindful when I eat.  I am eating less but more often - I am not allowing myself to become overly hungry.

In regards to exercise - I've actually been exercising regularly for a few weeks now. Going for walks, doing some workouts with the Wii, and of course my 6 minute NEWO. Today I actually for the first time in, I would say 15 years, I jogged. Outside where people might see me. This is HUGE! I didn't care if they were all in their windows pointing and laughing (which we all know they weren't) but I didn't allow my inner critic to dictate what I did today. I did intervals of jogging and walking on my last km of my usual walk.  I'm sore now, but I lived! I jogged and it didn't kill me and I just might do it again. :)

My food plan for this week looks something like this:

	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6	Snack: 8
Sun	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea
	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6	Snack: 8
Mon	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea
	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6	Snack: 8
Tues	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea
	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6	Snack: 8
Wed	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea
	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6	Snack: 8
Thurs	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea
	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1 pm	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6 pm	Snack: 8 pm
Fri	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea
	Breakfast: 7	Snack: 10	Lunch: 1	Snack: 4	Dinner: 6	Snack: 8
Sat	yogurt & homemade granola	Green Smoothie	Large salad w/lean protein (meat, legumes or egg). Bowl of fresh fruit	1 cup fresh raw veggies 2 Tb hummus	lean protein whole grain vegetables	apple slices (or other fresh fruit) OR homemade energy bar Hot tea

And my exercise plan is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to go outdoors for a walk {jog if I feel led}. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to do some sort of workout with the Wii.  Every afternoon or evening I want to do the 6 minute NEWO strength training exercises.  Sunday is my day of rest and relaxation. :)  I also intend to include plenty of self-care practices.

I have no idea what I weigh and at this point in my journey I am not ready to bring back the scale or measurements. For me, right now, it's important for me to be loving towards myself and I am not sure I am capable of being as kind to me as I should when I'm basing my success on numbers.
☮peace.♥love.☺joy

Mamavation Monday - July 5, 2010

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Change is in the Air

Originally uploaded by icedgrandesoylatte

If you've been a reader of my blog for any length of time you know I'm not really great about regular posting but this time I've been gone for quite awhile.  I've been doing some personal work. By personal I mean I've been working on me.  I'm changing,  I feel like the butterfly.  Silly metaphor but that's how I feel.  I'm not going to stop blogging, but this blog might take a bit of a different direction.  I'm not sure how to go about it yet, or what exactly is going to change, but since I'm changing, I can't imagine that my blog would stay the same. Right now I have some ideas for things I want to do, say, and share; so it will be interesting to see where I am led to go. I hope that you'll stick around and see what happens in the next chapter.
☮peace.♥love.☺joy 

Change is in the Air

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