Posts Tagged ‘personal growth’

Deep Listening

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Much of my healing practice is about helping people expand beyond where they are, to where they want to be as they move along their healing path and their own personal evolution.

But what happens when we find ourselves at a cross-road where we aren’t sure what is next?

That’s where deep listening comes in.

Listening deeply to ourselves not only requires a quiet mind to hear our own thoughts…but a turning inward of all the ways that we perceive in order to hear what is truly ours—what is the sound of our Soul.

As we let go of what is “not ours”—all those thoughts and beliefs that we’ve acquired along the way trying to please, fit in or meet expectations—we must find and call back our own true energy, which in the process we’ve given away or let go of. And as we do, we need to begin to tune ourselves to that energy.

Often this can be hard to do. Many of us are accustomed to listening to what is outside of us, or to those we have given our power to, and may not trust the voice we hear when we listen deeply. Some may not even know how to connect to that inner voice which speaks to us softly.

Here’s a little exercise to try:

Imagine for a moment that you can give back the energy you have taken, for whatever need you had at the time, to all those you have encountered along the way. Give them the gift of their energy back…as much as you can. If this “energy thing” makes no sense to you, just imagine scooping up all that is not yours that you hold within you at this moment, and send it back to its right and perfect place. In return, you get back all the energy you have given away, even all the energy that you have put upon others in your need to be seen, heard or understood…call that back as well. Imagine that coming back to you gently and let it settle.

Now, listen deeply in a way that lets you feel your energy. There is a tune, a vibe, a sense that we get when we are connected to our fullness and our Truth. And that’s what we hear when we listen deeply.

This is a way of listening that can take practice. The amount of static out in the world is great right now. But when we learn to move within and consciously become aware of what is truly ours and not ours, we can have an awareness of when we are listening to our own voice or not. We can to tune our ears to the radio station within, and hear our own story clearly!

And, when we learn to listen deeply and then act from that place, the path begins to unfold in front of us step-by-step in a way in which we can trust the process.

Honor your Truth by listening deeply to it. And when you hear what expands your energy and resonates fully, act. Take the next step on your path. The more you do, the more you will hear!

Put Your Money Where Your Thoughts Are

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

I recently taught a class where we spent the hour focused on what we wanted. We didn’t focus on particular things, but what we really wanted our lives to feel like…the whole kit and kaboodle.

And although this may seem like a relatively simple thing to do…it proved a bit harder than we originally thought.

Connecting to the feelings of our lives wasn’t that hard. What was hard, was staying focused and not letting our minds wander to some trivial “other matter” or allowing in the negative self-talk that often gets the mic.

I started looking at this within myself, because now—more than ever—it seem imperative that we focus our thoughts.

Change is afoot, there is no doubt about that. But change seems to be happening at such a rapid pace, that if we hang back in our old thoughts that no longer serve, we may find ourselves getting left behind.

The time is now for us to bring to life that which we intend for ourselves and for the greater good. The only way to work with an ever changing field is to jump in and be a participant.  And the best way to participate, on an energetic level, is through intentional thought.

But why is it that holding intended thought can be so hard?

To really give up letting our mind just wandering about, and our ego-driven thought process from running rampant, self awareness must take center stage.

We love our inner stories, our self criticisms and sometimes our obsessive worries. But our thoughts collude with our emotions and the next thing we know…we’re sinking fast into a nose-dive of a convincing, yet untrue, picture of who we are.

The way out? Begin to listen!

Yep that may sound simple, but it can prove to be challenging. But the truth is, our thoughts are not us. And, we need to take responsibility for what we are thinking.

We actually have a choice. You get to choose what story you tell yourself. You can either tell yourself a good story or a bad one. One where you take yourself down into patterns that no longer serve you, or up into new thoughts and ways of Being.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about “Polly Anna” thinking here; but being responsible for what you think about and recognizing the correlation between thoughts and what you experience. And, that it is you and only you who can control what your thoughts are.

The more we can begin to catch ourselves in our thinking that may be negative or self destructive in any way, the more we can free ourselves from this. We can stop and shift gears, and begin to put our money where our thoughts are!

So here’s your challenge. Are you up for it?

Start with one day… and listen. Listen to what you are thinking as you go about your day. And when you catch the self destructive or critical thoughts full of negative vibes to self and others…stop.

Be kind to yourself but stop the thought. And choose another higher version.

You may be surprised at how often you have to hit the delete button in your thought realm. But the more you do, the more you will find your thoughts rising to the occasion of being in alignment with where you want to go.

Let me know how it goes!

The Time Between…The Rising Dark

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

I’m feeling the shifting of the seasons right now. Its almost as if there is a lull or a heaviness in the air, as we meet the in between time—the time between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice here in the Northern hemisphere.

Each day I feel the presence of that energy directing me to slow down. I feel it in my chest; a wanting to move within. And as each day grows shorter, more and more of the dark rises up and takes a bit of the light away.

Throughout my adult life I have always liked this time. It gives me the chance to connect with Innana and move into the underworld, to shed my layers. Some Winters call me deeper into this process than others. This year, it feels as if the call has already started.

Perhaps what I am feeling is more than just the seasonal change. After all we are undergoing a global evolutionary change which pulls and tugs at our consciousness in new ways. And those who are aware of this pull seem to have a growing sense of responsibility to change…the time is now.

But of course change is afoot all around us. And for me in this “time between,” I am asking myself the question over and over, “Where must I go within to hold a new way of being?”

The answers to this question, I am sure, lay in the rich darkness waiting for me.


Single posts

Deep Listening

Much of my healing practice is about helping people expand beyond where they are, to where they want to be as they move along their healing path and their own personal evolution.

But what happens when we find ourselves at a cross-road where we aren’t sure what is next?

That’s where deep listening comes in.

Listening deeply to ourselves not only requires a quiet mind to hear our own thoughts…but a turning inward of all the ways that we perceive in order to hear what is truly ours—what is the sound of our Soul.

As we let go of what is “not ours”—all those thoughts and beliefs that we’ve acquired along the way trying to please, fit in or meet expectations—we must find and call back our own true energy, which in the process we’ve given away or let go of. And as we do, we need to begin to tune ourselves to that energy.

Often this can be hard to do. Many of us are accustomed to listening to what is outside of us, or to those we have given our power to, and may not trust the voice we hear when we listen deeply. Some may not even know how to connect to that inner voice which speaks to us softly.

Here’s a little exercise to try:

Imagine for a moment that you can give back the energy you have taken, for whatever need you had at the time, to all those you have encountered along the way. Give them the gift of their energy back…as much as you can. If this “energy thing” makes no sense to you, just imagine scooping up all that is not yours that you hold within you at this moment, and send it back to its right and perfect place. In return, you get back all the energy you have given away, even all the energy that you have put upon others in your need to be seen, heard or understood…call that back as well. Imagine that coming back to you gently and let it settle.

Now, listen deeply in a way that lets you feel your energy. There is a tune, a vibe, a sense that we get when we are connected to our fullness and our Truth. And that’s what we hear when we listen deeply.

This is a way of listening that can take practice. The amount of static out in the world is great right now. But when we learn to move within and consciously become aware of what is truly ours and not ours, we can have an awareness of when we are listening to our own voice or not. We can to tune our ears to the radio station within, and hear our own story clearly!

And, when we learn to listen deeply and then act from that place, the path begins to unfold in front of us step-by-step in a way in which we can trust the process.

Honor your Truth by listening deeply to it. And when you hear what expands your energy and resonates fully, act. Take the next step on your path. The more you do, the more you will hear!

Tags: , , , ,

Put Your Money Where Your Thoughts Are

I recently taught a class where we spent the hour focused on what we wanted. We didn’t focus on particular things, but what we really wanted our lives to feel like…the whole kit and kaboodle.

And although this may seem like a relatively simple thing to do…it proved a bit harder than we originally thought.

Connecting to the feelings of our lives wasn’t that hard. What was hard, was staying focused and not letting our minds wander to some trivial “other matter” or allowing in the negative self-talk that often gets the mic.

I started looking at this within myself, because now—more than ever—it seem imperative that we focus our thoughts.

Change is afoot, there is no doubt about that. But change seems to be happening at such a rapid pace, that if we hang back in our old thoughts that no longer serve, we may find ourselves getting left behind.

The time is now for us to bring to life that which we intend for ourselves and for the greater good. The only way to work with an ever changing field is to jump in and be a participant.  And the best way to participate, on an energetic level, is through intentional thought.

But why is it that holding intended thought can be so hard?

To really give up letting our mind just wandering about, and our ego-driven thought process from running rampant, self awareness must take center stage.

We love our inner stories, our self criticisms and sometimes our obsessive worries. But our thoughts collude with our emotions and the next thing we know…we’re sinking fast into a nose-dive of a convincing, yet untrue, picture of who we are.

The way out? Begin to listen!

Yep that may sound simple, but it can prove to be challenging. But the truth is, our thoughts are not us. And, we need to take responsibility for what we are thinking.

We actually have a choice. You get to choose what story you tell yourself. You can either tell yourself a good story or a bad one. One where you take yourself down into patterns that no longer serve you, or up into new thoughts and ways of Being.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about “Polly Anna” thinking here; but being responsible for what you think about and recognizing the correlation between thoughts and what you experience. And, that it is you and only you who can control what your thoughts are.

The more we can begin to catch ourselves in our thinking that may be negative or self destructive in any way, the more we can free ourselves from this. We can stop and shift gears, and begin to put our money where our thoughts are!

So here’s your challenge. Are you up for it?

Start with one day… and listen. Listen to what you are thinking as you go about your day. And when you catch the self destructive or critical thoughts full of negative vibes to self and others…stop.

Be kind to yourself but stop the thought. And choose another higher version.

You may be surprised at how often you have to hit the delete button in your thought realm. But the more you do, the more you will find your thoughts rising to the occasion of being in alignment with where you want to go.

Let me know how it goes!

Tags: , , ,

The Time Between…The Rising Dark

I’m feeling the shifting of the seasons right now. Its almost as if there is a lull or a heaviness in the air, as we meet the in between time—the time between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice here in the Northern hemisphere.

Each day I feel the presence of that energy directing me to slow down. I feel it in my chest; a wanting to move within. And as each day grows shorter, more and more of the dark rises up and takes a bit of the light away.

Throughout my adult life I have always liked this time. It gives me the chance to connect with Innana and move into the underworld, to shed my layers. Some Winters call me deeper into this process than others. This year, it feels as if the call has already started.

Perhaps what I am feeling is more than just the seasonal change. After all we are undergoing a global evolutionary change which pulls and tugs at our consciousness in new ways. And those who are aware of this pull seem to have a growing sense of responsibility to change…the time is now.

But of course change is afoot all around us. And for me in this “time between,” I am asking myself the question over and over, “Where must I go within to hold a new way of being?”

The answers to this question, I am sure, lay in the rich darkness waiting for me.

Tags: , , ,