Afraid to Shine?

Well lookee what was in my inbox this morning! EFT wording about shining! (I will post it below) How fitting when this blog is called “Daring to Rise and Shine”. To explain: This is wording to say while one “taps” on certain acupressure points, it is called Emotional Freedom Technique (or EFT for short). I have been utilizing this fun method when I feel deep resistance to attaining something I really desire, or when I just feel that vague feeling of anxiety or uneasiness, like an open computer program running in the background…like it is using up valuable energy or RAM space which I could be using towards other better things! (Sound familiar to anyone?) Yet sometimes this vague feeling of uneasiness is enough to prevent me from acting towards what I really want, or believing I can experience it.

First of all the wording will not make sense unless you know a little more about EFT… but I am not even going to attempt to explain it like an expert would, I don’t even think I fully understand it myself. (I will include an intro by an expert below.) All I know is I have tried it and it has helped me many times. And it is easy to do, so why not? I know it has something to do with everything being made of energy, even our bodies- and the tapping is supposed to help release “energy blockages” that we are holding that do not serve us… potentially allowing us to be more “free” or able to feel better emotions about the subject we are addressing. This is done partly by being super honest about what we are really feeling. (A lot of times I think it helps me to move past blocks simply by being really honest and putting it into words, instead of trying to pretend that something isn’t really there that is nagging at me in the background.) The process is finished up by looking at more positive possibilities. Here is a short introductory video by Brad Yates, an expert in EFT. You can youtube all kinds of subjects… depression, success, etc. by Brad Yates and tap right along with him in the video. See how you feel, it can’t hurt, it’s just tapping right?

There are many sites which can teach you about EFT, and it is becoming more and more popular. Just google it and you will see what I mean. One of the founders, Gary Craig’s site is where I got much of my initial information: http://www.emofree.com. Great EFT information and wording (such as what is posted below) comes to my inbox every once in a while because I am subscribed to an E-newsletter by EFT practitioner Carol Look. The newsletter link is at the bottom of this post so you can visit Carol’s site if you like, and subscribe as well. I hope you enjoy! Here’s the wording:

“It’s Time to Shine….

“Even though I’m afraid to succeed and shine, I accept who I am anyway.”
“Even though I don’t feel safe when I shine, I accept how I feel and who I am.”
“Even though I don’t want to get in trouble for shining, I accept all of me now.”

***Now for the phrases that focus on the problem***

Eyebrow: “I’m afraid to shine.”
Side of Eye: “What if they get mad at me?”
Under Eye: “I’m afraid to succeed and shine.”
Nose: “It doesn’t feel safe to shine.”
Chin: “I didn’t even know that I could shine.”
Collarbone: “I’m not sure I have that much to offer.”
Under Arm: “I think it’s easier to stay where I am.”
Head: “I’d rather not get in trouble for standing out and shining.”

***Now for the positive focus on the solution***

Eyebrow: “What if I am supposed to succeed, even shine?”
Side of Eye: “When others shine, I know they help me.”
Under Eye: “Maybe I should try to shine at what I’m good at.”
Nose: “I wonder what would happen if I started to shine…”
Chin: “It might feel much better to start shining now.”
Collarbone: “Maybe it would be fun to try and succeed and shine.”
Under Arm: “I am considering showing up and shining!”
Head: “I choose to shine right now.”

Thank You, Universe for helping me learn how to shine and be at my best.
Thank You, Universe for allowing me to access my shining creativity.
Thank You, Universe for bringing me new ways to succeed and shine, it feels so good!
Carol Look
http://www.attractingabundance.com/newsletters/issue154.html

A Morning Routine that Serves and Inspires

Hello!

Have you ever gone to a meeting/ convention where there are lots of people and you can feel the buzz of everyone’s excitement and positive feelings?  Or even in a smaller setting, have you ever been in church or back in school at the pep rallies and felt the amazing feeling of power and motivation that comes from being in a large group?  (I guess that can work in the opposite way too, people can really get riled up… angry mob situations etc.) But it is almost like whatever the group is feeling gets multiplied!

I bring that up because I got back from my business convention a couple weeks ago.  I had the incredible gift of feeling the excitement of the group and adding to it with my own excitement.  We got to see top leaders receiving awards,  and seeing that did more than making me just want to get recognized as well (though I admit that would be nice)… it was more like seeing their whole lifestyle reminded me of my dreams in a big way!  It was such a gift to attend because I was feeling pretty flat lined before the convention, and just to be there feeling the powerful feelings was a great reminder that “I am ALIVE!  I have dreams!  I am capable!  Let’s see what I can do, it will be fun!” And best of all, “If they can do it, then I can too!”  But I also know that the incredible high one feels after a meeting can fade.  I really thought to myself, “What can I do on my own at home to best utilize and continue the energy and motivation I felt in the group setting?”

So I have been doing a morning routine for a little over a week.  Looking back, already I see that the couple days I did not do it were simply more difficult.  The days I did do it were MUCH better all around!  In every area… family, self-confidence, etc.  not just business.  Doing the routine before my kids get up works the best for me.  Since it is hard to do “mind over mattress” I am glad that I already had early workouts scheduled with a friend, it helped keep me accountable to get up and get moving.  After the workouts it was still early enough to have time to myself. 

What have I been doing in this routine? First of all I have been reading my notes from the convention, because I was SO inspired there and I believe that repetition can make it easier for me to make these ideas part of my life.  This could later be replaced with reading an inspiring book.  Next- I have read before and come to believe that asking myself questions is more effective that just saying affirmations that my brain can argue with.  (In other words:  If I say, “I am so rich and wealthy!” My brain starts saying:  “No you’re not, where is the evidence?”  And I may feel like I am fooling myself… which feels bad, the opposite of how I am wanting to feel.  Whereas if I ask myself questions like, “Why am I so rich?”  My brain goes to work to come up with answers! Which feels great and true!) So I got a mini notebook and have been asking myself questions and writing the answers!  I have asked so far:  Why am I so beautiful?  Why an I so lucky/ rich/ a great mom etc.  I have been adding  to these often.  This little notebook is becoming quite a treasure for me!  Just going back and reading this notebook is inspiring. 

Then I have been sitting back comfortably with some meditation music and imagining that I am the top level in our company and imagining the lifestyle that goes with it.  I started out visualizing certain things like accepting awards on stage and seeing team members on stage accepting their awards!  But the visualization has really taken on a life of its own and I have been enjoying seeing me and my family on trips, happy and enjoying life… our beautiful dream home, etc. and best of all… I am seeing myself as such a confident successful person, and I am actually feeling this way!  It has been such fun!  One time, I opened my eyes and I was surprised and disoriented that I was back at home in my office, it had felt SO much like I was really there in my visualization!  That’s how I know I am on the right track… everyone says if you can feel like you already have your dream, it will come in so fast. 

I know it also helps that I really believe I can reach this goal in the near future.  If I had chosen too big of a goal, then my mind would be arguing with me the whole time which would defeat the purpose.  Luckily I have moved up several levels in my company before this so I know moving up a couple more levels would be very possible for me.  The point is, I used the excitement and the things I had just experienced at convention to inspire me in my visualization.  (That must be why people who teach visualization say things like, “If it is a car you want, go test drive it!” That way you have actual experience to bring up in your visualization.) The other cool thing is now that I have visualized the same scenarios so much, it is becoming easier to get into that feeling place faster… for example, if I am waiting in line at a store etc. and I close my eyes, I can see a little of this dream.  It is a place that feels full of possibilities. This has also made it so much more easier to talk to myself differently.  When a negative thought or doubt about myself pops in my head, it has been easier not to believe it and to change my self talk into something positive.  This is so fun because it wasn’t too long ago that I would believe these thoughts, then one would lead to another worse thought, and pretty soon I would be in bed feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

I have wondered, “Will it always be this easy?  Maybe it is just this easy because the motivation from the meeting is so fresh. Maybe I will have to do something else over time.”  Well maybe I will, but for now I am not going to worry about that and I am just going to keep doing what is working.  But, maybe it can be so simple as “choosing easy”, and I don’t have to expect that things will ever get worse and harder.  Hmmm….possibilities…. 😀

People are Inspiring… Even Jerks

Sometimes when it seems I am mainly seeing the worst of people… I just need to change my perspective. People really are inspiring. I recently heard a speaker say, “Everyone has a story that if you knew it, it would break your heart or bring you to your knees.” When I look at someone, I have no idea what their story is. But all of us as humans have the ability (with some it seems to take much more “uncovering” to unearth this ability) to say, “That was definitely what I did not want/ do not want. So what do I want instead? And what steps can I take to start leading me there? What thoughts can I think to support myself in how I want to be?”

If I see someone who is acting like a real jerk, I sometimes think, “What is their story?” Maybe that is just how they are acting because they have put up so many walls to “protect” themselves from further pain or alienation; or maybe they are doing what they feel they can do to stay in control and never again get in a situation where they felt they had no control of things. Most people are just moving through life while trying to prevent things that hurt from happening again. Just the fact that some people are still continuing on and have not checked out from what has happened to them could be extremely inspiring, if their story was known.

I am not saying I want to go around and try to dig up people’s past and extremely personal stories, (some stories that may be buried so deeply that the person has put them out of their consciousness) but just knowing that everyone has a story leads me to have more compassion on people. When I judge people less, I naturally am not as hard on myself either, and when I am more accepting of me, then it always leads to good things! It ripples out to my being more accepting of my kids, for example.

Here is a story that brought me to tears, it is extremely inspiring. (See video below.) If someone met this guy today, they would probably never imagine his past story. I think life is so great that way…that the past can be like a whole different life that is no longer me- that the life I live now can be such a reflection of what I currently stand for and follow and believe in, instead of being stuck in a way of life that didn’t work that may have caused me pain. I hope you feel inspired by this great video too!

“Our (My) Deepest Fear”

I have heard this poem several times. I just heard it again last week at my business convention. It has really stuck with me this time… like a seed growing inside me…the possibility that fear (which sometimes feels like such a debilitating, paralyzing thing) is not a result of what circumstances and other people’s actions do TO me, but that fear is my own actions (or lack of actions) and responses holding me back from rising and shining.

Have you ever felt that feeling pushing against your chest like it is something that wants to get out… the urge to be more, to be daring, to take a new different or uncomfortable step? I am feeling it more and more and when I don’t follow that, I feel miserable and at odds with myself because of the inner tension. It is like my dreams are knocking and I am standing there with my hand on the door, wanting so badly to open it, but also afraid of what is on the other side. Well I feel I have turned a corner with making a firm decision last week to deserve and to attain the increase in joy, finances, and experiences that I desire. And to celebrate everything!!! This blog is a way to inspire myself… because to be inspiring to my family, my spouse, my team, my friends… I have to be inspired first. 🙂 Here is the wording of the poem:

“Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson

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’s 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’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”

This inspiring quote is taken from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love.

Why this Blog?

Why the blog name”Daring to Rise and Shine?”  For whatever reason, finding and retaining the courage, confidence and self-worth to “Rise and Shine” has been one of my biggest challenges in life.  I know I am not alone in this… the more experience I get on this planet, the more I realize that many people (especially women) struggle with confidence and to accept, love, honor,and believe in themselves.  If nothing else, the long absence of this desired confidence just makes it sweeter when the bright, powerful, worthy feelings are felt. But to me, the goal is to move closer to this self acceptance and love every day, instead of farther away.

 I realized that it is vital for me to feel inspired.  My dreams are simply too big to be pushed down… it becomes more painful every day that I choose to play small and not be my best self.  I also realize that I need to feel inspired in order to inspire anyone else.  If my pitcher is empty, I have nothing to overflow onto anyone.  But if I can do and allow whatever I can to keep my pitcher as full as I possibly can, there is no limit to the amount of good life that can be experienced.  When I feel inspired, I feel I am a better individual, wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister… a better human being.  After keeping myself so small and scared much of my life, it is very important for me at this time to have the expression that I have denied myself and the courage to dare to rise and shine… for my own well-being and for the example it will set to my children.   What better gift for a child than to see their parent(s) happy, joyful, content with who they are, grateful, and shining in a life they love? What could be a better life than CREATING BLISS wherever you are?