Manifesting works

We have more control over our lives than we realize. When we write down our dreams and take time to manifest what we want and desire in the form of affirmations, gratitude, and intentions, the world opens up for us. Believe me. It works.

Yesterday, Jewell Love and I dropped a new podcast episode in which we discuss New Moon Intentions and gratitude in our own lives. It is a great place to listen and learn more about how we implement and practice these things in our day to day lives! Jewell inspires me to continue to practice leaning in, being thankful for all that I have and have experienced, and tune into my energetic body. Listen to it here.

It is important to be grateful for all that life gives us and teaches us, even the painful parts or the parts we are taught to be ashamed of. Let go of shame. Turn to gratitude and trust in the unfolding. You are exactly where you need to be but you do not need to stay there.

Life is beautiful and fully of raw potential; the universe wants to help us reach our highest potential and evolve. We simply must be open to the blessings, lessons, and energy flowing around us each moment.

In my own life, I have been asking for and seeking financial independence, and within the last month three different job opportunities have presented themselves. I still have to show up, apply, and do the work to bring these opportunities to fruition, but I trust that things will come together as I co-create with the world around me.

What is that you are seeking? What is it that you need in your own life right now? Are you willing to take the steps to get there and trust the universe to do the rest?

The New Moon just passed and there is still time to sit down and write out your dreams, hopes, wishes, and intentions for the next 30 days. Be open and honest. Let it come from the deepest parts of yourself. There is magic waiting to happen.

We must do better

So this started as a Facebook post and I have also written and shared it on Medium.

I woke up this morning and was scrolling on Facebook and it made me mad. I wanted to say something but didn't just want to echo everyone else's anger and repetitive words but actually challenge people, including myself, to be better. Words are empty if we are not living a life that lines up to what we say. It is easy to blame others or see prejudice "out there" but the hard work and the most important work is internal and digging into our own prejudices and fears. So, if anything, I want you, yes you, to turn inward and ask yourself the hard questions:

"I am mad and confused about the senseless and brutal violence we see WAY to often in our media. This cruel use of power and privilege is NOT okay and no excuse makes the blood go away or the fear disappear in communities of color. We must do better. And that isn’t just about “those” people who act violently. Little subtle actions and words matter. We are also part of the problem if we aren’t willing to look at ourselves and do the hard work EVERY DAY to learn, grow, and unearth our own prejudices and fears. What scares me most is what we don’t see or what we brush aside because the wounds are not so blatant. We post on Facebook or twitter and say we are mad or anti-racist, but are we really doing anything different? Are we really doing the hard work to change the systems that we see so clearly are broken and fueled by hate? As white people, many of us are so scared of being called racist or of being attached to our history of systemic violence and hate that our country was founded on, but that, my friends, is part of the problem. And I get it. It is scary and painful. But, if we are not willing to lean in and have the hard conversations, be challenged to really listen to the stories of people of color, and intentionally cultivate lives that do not perpetuate white privilege and systemic injustice, then we are just talking heads. And yes, it is painful; yes, we have to walk through shame and pain and face the demons of a past we did not necessarily create, but if we really want the system to change and if we really want to be allies it our responsibility to be honest and brave and willing to look at ourselves in the mirror. My white friends and family, please don't just get mad and point fingers or cast blame or run of fuming that you are "not racist". No offense, but I'm over it. We need to look at ourselves and at our own lives. We must change. We must not just profess love and justice but actually cultivate lives around it. Today, I am diving into Layla F. Saad’s workbook on “Me and White Supremacy.”

Her resources are extremely helpful and the book really helps unpack all the nuances of White Supremacy. I highly recommend it! You can find more information at: https://www.meandwhitesupremacybook.com/

What will you do today to learn, grow, love, and help make yourself and the world a little better?

Please share! Challenge your family and friends. Start a book club. Have a hard conversation: listen more than you speak. Have a movie night and watch a documentary on the history of racism in our country.

Remember, we all have prejudices and fears; it is okay. But we must be willing to look at them, move them around in the light, and learn and grow from them. There, we get to re-write the narrative and stop senseless violence before it ever begins. We must do better. We must teach our children and their children to do better. We must."

Lessons from home

COVID-19 has shaken up the entire world. Literally. Everything is topsy-turvy. With rules and regulations changing and shifting every day, life easily feels whelming. This has been a difficult and uncertain season, with many people being forced to take on new kinds of roles and responsibilities and re-negotiate many, if not all, aspects of their life. Changing work environments and navigating new online platforms, figuring out how to take care of, educate, and entertain kids and/or other extended family, spending more time with loved ones (for better and for worse), and not being able to escape in the traditional ways that our culture so enjoys creates for an interesting new reality. Further, for many people this has been a time of loss and fear as they or ones they love face illness and death in its many forms. For those grieving the loss of a loved one or struggling with an addiction or an abusive relationship, being forced to stay home alone or with others is not easy or safe but is rather something to be feared and dreaded. I do not want to down play the seriousness of the situation or the harsh realities that it has placed on many people. My heart goes out to all of those who are struggling to make ends meet right now or facing circumstances larger than they can control. For those of us who are fortunate enough to still be standing, it is our job and our responsibility to look out for the people around us and offer support in the ways we can. This is a world wide pandemic which means it will require world wide healing and collaboration moving forward.

Now, turning to my own experience, this worldwide pandemic has been surprisingly positive and healing for me. And I do not think I am the only one. Yet, there is some serious shame around claiming that I have enjoyed this season and that there is part of me that does not want it to end or for life to just "go back to normal." There is shame around claiming these realities because, as mentioned above, this season has been and continues to be so difficult for so many. Please here me when I say that I do not want to downplay anybody's experience, pain, anger, or real fears about navigating into this unknown future. I do not have answers about any of it, and I never will pretend to. What I do have, however, is my own experience, strength, and hope; I have the lessons that are unfolding around me and the daily practices that are continuing to guide and shape me. I think that it is important to highlight these realities and lessons in hopes that they inspire someone, instill hope in someone, or maybe, just allow someone else to feel like it is okay to be okay right now. So, here are 3 of the lessons that I am learning during quarantine. I will share and expound more in further posts.

1. Every day, we have a choice

While we cannot always choose our circumstances, we can choose the way we approach each day and each moment. We can choose to lean into what feels good and life-giving rather than what is life-sucking and draining. We can choose to turn off the news, drink more water, go on a walk, write, draw, meditate, move our bodies, drink our favorite beverage, be grateful, and cultivate joy.

2. Energy matters & you have to put yourself first

So often, when the world was fully operational and moving full speed ahead, days would pass without me having spent more than an hour to just sit and be with myself, indulging in my own company. It was not until quarantine, when we are asked to stay home and refrain from our busyness, that I final caught my breath. Wow! I am learning how much I need this space to breath, think, create, and re-charge. Our culture tells us we need to go, go, go, but as I tune in, I am realizing how important it is to slow down and just be. This simple shift is life changing, healing, and grounding. It feels like I am meeting myself for the first time, and, hey, I think I am pretty cool!

3. Dream BIG but take it a day and a time

We are always creating our future with each decision and each moment. Don't be afraid to dream big and play with lofty goals that seem outside your grasp. There are so many groups of people out there coming together to support each other around various passions and aspirations! We are all given the same 24 hours and we are all capable of greatness! Just don't get stuck focusing on the huge scary and daunting dream, but ask yourself: what can I do today, right now, that moves me just a milometer closer to that goal? You can choose to stare at a tall mountain forever overwhelmed by its greatness, or you can choose to take a baby step and start the climb. One foot in front of the other. One day at a time.